Autumn Festival Parade

It's that time of year again with the leaves changing to some beautiful hues and the evenings cooling. The veges suffered last Saturday night with the first light frost for the season.

On a more photographic note though, the Autumn Festival Parade, the second longest parade in NSW happened on Saturday with three children supporting their causes. Grace marched with Drummond School but was expecting me on the other side of the road, so I couldn't snap her. Ellie and the Pipe band actually headed up the parade; and Jacob walked with the Stage One Creative (drama group) where he is learning rap dancing.

Maclean Highland Gathering

What a full weekend .... and a different. Terry, Ellie, Grace and myself arose at 4.30 am last Friday for the drive down to Maclean. Turns out we didn't need to leave quite so early as things didn't start until 4pm. Mum met us at the caravan park and we settled into our tents.

Friday evening we enjoyed a Ceilidh in the main street where dancers showed some of their pieces including a very interestingly choreographed African/Scottish piece. The other highlight was the Bellingen River Drum Corp which did an amazing routine of drumming combined with tricks with their sticks.

Saturday was the dancing competition with the girls performing very well. Grace was in an enormous group of 17 under 9 year olds and did well to gain two second place medals. This was Ellie's final competition and it was a lovely finish to gain a first, second and a third placing.

She then had to run over to join the band in their march competition. I think they got a fairly good review. The highlight of the whole weekend for us all had to be the 600 strong massed pipe bands in Ellie took her spot.

The evening was an Armidale Pipe band barbecue and then informal performance of piping and dancing.

Word of the Week: Ever heard of a Piobaireachd? (pronounced pee-brock) It is an ancient Gaelic style of music created before the music staff and any idea of timing came into existence. It is very hard to find a rhythm in but would sound beautiful on a mist filled Scottish highland!

Sunday and Monday were spent with Terry at the beach at Yamba (he got there every day!). At the Main Beach there is an ocean pool where at high tide the waves come crashing through a grill that was a bit of fun.

Mum and Ellie's weekend away

Last weekend was the Colour Conference put on by Hillsong Church. Ellie and I went down with our friends, the Rileys - Diana, Serena and Tara, as well as Rosie Pullar. The conference itself was totally awesome and the time away together without other siblings was rather special too. I know there is no picture of me... but I was there - maybe I was behind the camera. Will have to have time away like that again sometime.

Mum's 70th birthday

Sent to Coventry

"Sent to Coventry" was a new term for me until I was describing Samuel's new move to Mum. This lead on to a quick trip to Google and a little history lesson on Oliver Cromwell's era. This is a round about way of introducing Samuel's new abode on the edge of town. It is a ramshackle farmhouse that is owned by the Anglican Church and was once used as an orphanage. I am a little concerned that it will be fairly impossible to heat and am knitting him a nice warm jumper. Ultimately though he is young and healthy and he can always come home, here, to warm up in the evening before heading to his own home and bed armed with a hot water bottle. Actually, he said that he spends very little time at home as he is kept rather busy with his new role as Youth Pastor Intern at ACC, two days a week at the Optus shop and his lesser role at Young Life Drop in Centre. The first shot shows the rustic kitchen, then the new residence (bookshelf) for Samuel's old friend, Woofa and lastly, his office - pre cleanup.

Yo Ho Ho Me 'Arties.

Last night was Samuel's pirate night at ACC. In a half hour makeover Jacob brushed up fairly well as Pirate Jake. Ellie actually had a good time using my dark brown eye shadow creating a 'three o'clock shadow on her brother.
One comment on the night that pleased Jacob was that while some others had 'dressed' as pirates, Jacob was one!

A Picnic at the Park

One of the advantages of Home schooling is to make the most of a beautiful day. To pack lunch and go for a bike ride. Last Monday, Grace and I grabbed our bikes (Grace was on a geared bike!!) and headed up to McDonald Park. We enjoyed our lunch, a bit of reading and a little play before heading back home and hitting the books.

Australia Day

How about this for an Australia Day Long weekend. The Parises who never seem to go away for long weekends actually got to Nambucca Heads for two nights. Terry had a great time christening his brand new surfboard. I wasn't quick enough with the camera to catch the nanosecond he was up for! Grace had a really great time with some fishing gear - caught her first ever fish. Yes I know we should have put it back in but it had swallowed the hook and we put back the two smaller ones! The last shot is of Ellie being a typical teenager. One minute complaining that I don't put many pictures of her on the blog and the next, not wanting to turn around for the camera - well here she is. Grace and I contemplate Ellie's lack of rationality at times and Grace says that she is just not going to go through this phase. Well we shall see!

Our boy, Samuel

There has been a comment lately that Samuel hasn't been featured enough - well here he is. The first is him calling in after a full on week at Planet Shakers to be quickly followed by a week at Jindabyne as a cabin leader for the Young Life Summer camp. He called around for a little chat and ended up on the floor asleep. I'm not sure of the occasion with the balloons but the blue hair was after they had painted the Drop-in-Centre and things got a little out of control. I'm also not sure of the story behind the Coke can blowing up photo but there are a few things a bit unexplainable about our dear and fun loving boy.

Student accommodation at Mt Gravatt

Here are some internal shots of the house at Mt Gravatt (upper Mt Gravatt actually!) We had one week of removing old furniture, sugar soaping all the walls, painting the bedroom walls, and installing new furniture. It was a huge effort and we couldn't have done it without the help of Rory, Jacob, Talitha and even Grace. The end result was a house nearly ready for students to move in and help us pay the mortgage and make inroads on a more comfortable retirement. As of a week ago, three of the five bedrooms have been taken. Yeah!!

Christmas snaps

Christmas time at Grandma's. Again it was 'Ellie the Creative' who had made a beautiful gingerbread house for us all. I thought that in this photo Samuel doesn't even look like her brother!

We had a great time catching up with Yolanda, Rory, Talitha, Mark and Grandma, surfing lessons for Terry, cards, watching videos, shopping, walking on the beach, eating, oh and of course a few presents were opened.

One day I will work out how to get rid of the underlining e-gads I've done and I don't even know how!

Summer Sewing

What a pair of angels! Before Christmas Ellie did some sewing at school and made these beautiful medieval dresses, one being for Grace for Christmas. They have been worn heaps, commented on by all who see and are a credit to the creator.

The first couple show the lace-up back. Ellie did a prototype first and has since done a peasants dress out of calico dyed with brown onion skins with an overdress made from our old doona cover.

Who'd da thought that Terry and Fay would take up dancing lessons! 18 months ago Jacob was asked to escort a young lady to the local debutante ball and we went along for the free lessons as learning to waltz was something that had been on our 'want to do someday' list. Now we attend dances on a semi-regular basis and some would say cut a fine figure on the floor. It certainly keeps the gray matter on the move as well as mixing with a whole new swathe of people in Armidale.

Visiting the Cousins

December saw us visiting the cousins at Cedar Creek between Beenleigh and Beaudesert. The first shot shows Talitha, Jacob, Grace and Rory on or off horses, Rory (now 15) with Grace and then Minty and Chonsey having a short moment of tolerance on Talitha's lap. We had just one day here before heading up to Mark's.