Blog for Friday 11th September 2026

Ah-ha! A new day had arrived silently in the dark and I got to greet it when I staggered out the bedroom and into the living area of the shed.

As quick as a wink Pumpkin was waiting for me, demanding immediate attention to her empty stomach – nah, she really is such a well-mannered feline. She just waits patiently but watches me like a hawk! Once the food is dished out or in the process thereof, she loses any manners she may have had and dives in head-first and scoffs her food in case someone else may decide to help her!

Pumpkin ain’t stupid!

After my Quiet Time I showered and got dressed to go and visit my friend Karen, in Ellenborough. Well, that was the idea.

But when I got onto the quad bike the fuel light was blinking, saying it was empty. I tried to get it going and it started but halfway down the laneway it cut out, and I had to walk back up to the shed, wake Ken up to ask him to re-fuel the quad bike.

Good man! Without too much moaning and groaning he free wheeled down on the quad bike to the bottom shed and there he re-fueled the bike, so that I could cross the river to get to my car.

One has to get used to the little glitches and hitches that happen on the farm. It is the way it is.

I drove on to Karen’s home – Paul, her husband is over in the USA with their two sons, so Karen is home alone waiting to go in for a complete knee construction this coming Thursday. Thankfully, for her, Paul will be home the night before she has to go into hospital.

I spent a lovely morning with Karen and we caught up with all our news, plus she has offered to finish my African quilt that I began a few years ago when I attended embroidcry classes at Telegraph Point. I have decided that quilting is not my fun place or scene, but I have done an awful lot of work on this quilt and it would be a shame to cut it up for confetti – which I always threatened to do almost every second day when I was sewing it! I think I will take Karen up on her very kind offer to finish my quilt for me  and will bring it to her when I am up next time on the farm.

As I got back onto the farm I met Tamryn and Matt’ at the bottom shed where they were looking for the blower but in the end Matt’ found it in the top shed. They were off to begin the hard work on Tamryn’s container home – insulating and putting up the plaster boards!

In the afternoon I packed one container with bowls et cetera and I had to wrap them carefully in bubble wrap. I still need to pack another container to take back home with us. While I was busy doing that Pumpkin decided it was time I should be spending brushing her and making her beautiful and I could do the packing tomorrow instead.

Shame as the sun slid right fown the sky and disappeared in came Tamryn and Matt' looking and walking like Zombies they were that tired and worn out. They ate, showered and leapt into bed asap!

What lesson did I learn today? To enjoy the simple things in life – like sipping a mug of coffee with a friend.

What am I grateful for today? Spring time – all around me in the countryside there a blossoms of every colour, size and range – just beautiful!

My saying for today is …