Getting My Country On!

Country music has been known to bring on headaches in me. It's a widely known fact that I would rather listen to no music than to country and western! I don't go much on the whole 'my cat died, and my wife left me, and my girlfriend stole my car, sexy tractor' thing that country music has going on, but today the strangest thing happened.

I was watching the new 'Footloose' movie (which I've already seen about 357 times) and when it got to the part where the main characters go to a bar (and end up line dancing to 'Fake ID' , by Big and Rich), it was like a switch flicked inside of me. Suddenly I found myself singing along, tapping my feet, and (tragically) trying to learn the dance.

And then it occured to me...

I DO LIKE COUNTRY MUSIC!

(Well not all country music, but apparently modern American country music!) It's a start. Before you know it, I'll be wearing an Akubra, and line dancing with the best of them. But can someone tell me why cool country songs still need to have dodgy lyrics?

And now I am obsessed with trying to get this dance down. So this weekend I am devoting to doing this... (click here to see how tragic I really am).

This is how I think I look when I dance...

This is probably more like how I really look...

I suppose the main thing is that I can cross another thing that I swore would NEVER EVER EVER happen off my list. Now all I need is an Akubra. Seriously... why do I still not have one? And how excited am I to finally have my country on?! At least a little bit.

Shearing

We are shearing at home at the moment, so I took my new camera (Sony NEX5N) out to take some pictures. I thought I would share some for those of you who may not have seen it before (or who may want to look anyway!)

Enjoy!

Click on images to see them enlarged.

Merino sheep in the pens waiting to have their fleece removed.

Close up - smile girls!

Oh yeah - female shearer! There is no way I could ever attempt this, so I take my hat off to her!

Click go the shears... The little things around their waists are support for their backs.

The wool being sorted.

The pens where sheep gather after being shorn. Then they move from here into the race below.

The race, where sheep are drenched etc. CP in there 'keeping Australia running.'

The shearing shed.

Ahhh... another day, another blister!

What Happens In Vegas!

Well here I am! Back into reality. The kids have started fighting again, and we have just been through another local show (CP is the President this year), so things are well and truly back to normal. I am still trying to get my head back into the blogosphere, and bear with me... I WILL finish my story soon. In the meantime, I thought I would share some pics from our amazing trip to the USA. As we were there for my brother's wedding, it's very much a case of 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas', but here are a few snaps of some of my highlights! (Mostly care of Instagram!)

Jess x

Panoramic view of north east coast of Oahu, Hawaii

First beach we visited in Hawaii

Danielle and Paul (our hosts on Oahu)

Waikiki, Hawaii at sunset

Looking across Waikiki beach to Diamond Head lookout in the distance - sunset

Looking across Honolulu from Diamond Head lookout

North Shore, Hawaii

Alcatraz, San Francisco

Alcatraz, San Francisco

Inside cell block at Alcatraz

Alcatraz

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

And again!

Cable cars, San Fran

The Painted Ladies, San Fran

Lombard St, San Fran - world's windiest street

San Fran architecture

Muir Woods

Redwood in Muir Woods

Muir Woods

Me inside the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

Hoover Dam

Lake Mead

Helicopter Flight back into Vegas at sunset

MGM Grand - where we stayed when in Vegas

Bellagio Fountain show, Las Vegas

My brother Jackson (and his lovely new bride, Natalie - centre) - the reason we were over there. Love!

Anyone else had a fantastic holiday recently?

Men In The Kitchen

As I headed off to a local 'Hen's Party' last week, I waved goodbye to my three beautiful children - all standing on the front verandah blowing me kisses. I also waved goodbye to my nanny, who was 'clocking off' not long after I left, my sister-in-law (who was the reserve for 'just in case the nanny left before CP got home'), and then - at the last minute - CP, who stood and waved at the verandah moments before I drove out of sight. It occured to me that the image I left behind, summed up my life nicely.

It takes 3 adults to replace me when I am not there.

Once at the 'Hen's Party' I got talking to some other 'farmer's wives' of varying ages, and I discovered a common theme with our husbands; they are all useless in the kitchen. I'm sure this is not a complete assumption about all men (some of the world's best 'cooks' are, in fact, men), and certainly not limited to farmers by any stretch, but it was a similarity I noticed at any rate.

On the RARE occasion that CP actually cooks, I can expect to be served barbecued meat, and a tomato cut in half on the side. As a special treat, he might also add a slice of cheese. That's it. And that's perfectly acceptable as a meal by CP standards.


I like telling the old story of how I will spend hours slaving in the kitchen to produce sumptuous salads, delicious desserts and other tasty tidbits for a BBQ feast. Charlie will stand over a BBQ for 15 minutes and then proudly declare the BBQ he cooked to have been a huge success. No mention of the potato bakes, green and rice and pasta salads and nibbles.

Another woman at the party I attended spoke about the time she was in hospital, and her farmer hubby's menu while she was away went:

Day 1: Corned beef. No more, no less.
Day 2: Scrambled eggs. No more, no less.
Day 3: Corned beef and scrambled eggs. (To which the children whinged that the eggs were hot and the meat was cold). This Dad then mixed the two ingredients together to 'mix it up a bit.

Ever heard the phrase 'making a rod for your own back'? That's me. Whenever I am away from home, I pre-prepare meals that can be frozen, or easily assembled in my absence. What a sucker. It makes me smile that CP doesn't reciprocate when he is away. Rod...? Back...? Perhaps I could learn something from him...


I remember being a small-ish child and having my own mother on a vacation for a week or so. During that time my father took us shopping. It went something like this:
"Hey kids! Grab some of those chips over there! How about some of these lollies?! Hmmm... anyone want icecream?" At that point I burst into tears. "Are you okay Jess?"
"NO! Mum would want us to eat more fruit and veges than this!"


And that moment right there defines my adult life. I like my children to eat properly. We all eat our own fair share of 'rubbish' too, but living in the middle of nowhere certainly helps to stay healthier to some small extent.


It doesn't really take three people to replace me when I am gone. I just like to think that it does.It helps ease my mummy guilt when I put that rod up my back. I am something of a control freak, but I could learn from all these men around who know that 'close enough actually IS good enough.'

Border Living Magazine - look out for me!

HEY!

This is the Summer Edition cover.

BORDER LIVING MAGAZINE's Autumn Edition is out on shelves next week!

This edition will feature a special new page called 'Sitting On The Fence', which will be a 'he said/she said' section. Yours truly will be the 'she said' half of the feature (The Farmer's Wife), and regular readers of my blog will recognise my first column. (It's a personal favourite of mine).

How excited am I???!!!

Border Living Magazine is a stylish rural magazine

capturing the innovative and inspirational people and places within the Border Region!

The magazine is dedicated to showcasing a positive way of life for this part of the world with stories, profiles and businesses from all over the western regions of Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales. I love it because there is always someone or somewhere you recognise, and even if there isn't, it's always nice to look and learn.

Make sure you head out and get yourself a copy! You won't regret it. I'll be getting a copy or ten myself. You know... just because I'm a bit excited!

ENJOY!

My Book - Updated

I have been keeping busy this week writing more of 'The Book'. I've decided to get off my backside and finally start telling the story of how I ended up in the bush, met CP and then married him, with all the trials and tribulations in between.

I'm writing it in instalments - the only way I know how - but I'm loving it so much I've just about finished the eleventh chapter already!

So just in case you were wondering why I've been a bit quiet... I'm still posting, only I'm doing it over here for a bit. It's all linked into the tabs at the top of my page.

Check it out. It's a bit of light entertainment, though not completely different to my usual blogging style.

I'm loving the feedback so far!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement!

Enjoy!


Click here to start (or keep) reading!

Anywhere But Here...

As a result of localised flooding, I have been isolated on our property for almost a week already. We can expect to remain here for at least another ten days and possibly even up to three weeks. I have been homeschooling two of my children, and I've even taken on one of my neighbours children (the only neighbours we can access without driving through flood water). It's not horrible, but I keep bringing myself back to this blog I wrote early last year.... (I have adapted it).

I am dreaming of this... a holiday I took to Hayman Island early last year.

How on Earth did I ever survive this island paradise? Hayman Island, The Queen of all island resorts. I was there with my mother, sister and my sister's partner, to celebrate my sister's 'very important' birthday.

And now I am back, elbow deep in washing, cleaning, cooking and managing three small children, rationing bread and milk, and already out of fresh fruit, and living on the canned variety. But I am dreaming about this (dreaming about boosting my Vitamin B levels that is)...

Getting my fix of Vitamin B... ahhh... lovely Vitamin B.

And this...

Not Vitamin B, but an important element in the rejuvenation process.

And this...

There might be banana in that drink - more vitamin B maybe?

And this...

Definitely no vitamin B in this drink, but soaking up the glorious Queensland sunshine.

And this...

Does it get any better than this?

*sigh*

I am a glutton for punishment though. Before I left, CP went into such a meltdown about having to look after the children, that I ended up preparing a months worth of food (which I left in the freezer, so that all he had to do was reheat and serve), I stocked the fridges, freezers and pantry, I left all uniforms ironed and ready to wear, I even arranged for a girl to come in and help with child care and baths and lunches etc, AS WELL as leaving this...

Seven pages of 'notes' (including, meal planners, rosters, routines etc.) so that everything would function as per normal whilst I was away. Compulsive and controlling, I know. But as much as it was for CP, it was also for my own guilt-ridden piece of mind.

At the start of CP's meltdown he asked, "What would you do if I just packed up and went away for a week and left YOU at home with the kids?" To which I replied, "Probably just go on as per usual. Except that I would have one less child, so the stress might be less, and I would have one less person to cook for and pick up after. In fact, if you were planning on going, perhaps you should make it TWO weeks to give me a REAL break, and try not to call too much, because I might be having too much fun! I might not even notice you are gone." Perhaps a little harsh. But my point was that I DESERVE a break from the hum drum of my every day life. It stopped CP in his tracks anyway.

I loved being away, but I was racked with guilt for much of it. Needlessly, I might add. The kids were all happy and healthy upon my return. I am loving being home with my family again. I missed them terribly, and I'm pleased everything is still running smoothly. The question is, would it all still be running smoothly had I not left my 'freezer full of notes'?!

In any event, getting away is good for the soul. I am a firm believer in the family motto 'happy wife, happy life.'

And boy am I happy. Happy and relaxed. I'm feeling energised and content.

At least I WAS, a year ago. But thankfully Queensland Tourism are offering a $5000 dream Queensland holiday, and by golly, I am certainly going to be in it to win it!!!  

So pop on over to the link above if you think you see yourself enjoying some Vitamin B on a fantastic Queensland holiday. (Thanks to Queensland Tourism and Nuffnang!)