Ducks Patch

Well it's come to the end of another year. This year has been a very quiet one for us, not much adventure at all. Alamanda Estate is still a very pleasant place to be living. I go for a walk most morning when I'm not working. Although this changes next year as church will be in the mornings. At the back of Alamanda is the wetlands , this is an area of about 10 acres in size and is made up of a series of inter-connecting ponds. These ponds have really come to life this year as there has been plenty of water. (warning this is a movie file, do not play unless you have the bandwidth)

The morning starts with us all driving in to the city together. From the carpark, we all start to go our separate ways. But at 07:30 in the morning it can be very quiet time in the city. On peaceful morning the gallons are out, adding something special.

Last weekend with Melbourne cup day, Jennifer and myself took some time out. We drove up to the Grampians only to find that most of the tracks and lookout I like going too were all closed due to the winter flooding. The scenery was still great and it was pleasant day out, just the two of us.

I took this while we were in the Hanging Rock reserve. Timers on the Camera can be handy. As you can see, we're both getting older without losing the good looks.

This place is a nice picnic area just to the north of Mt Macedon. It has a history that goes back more then a 100 years, the rock formations are unique. We plan to be going to Hanging Rock a lot more in the future. It's a quiet and peaceful place to go and relax.

Jennifer and I went to Mt Macedon for a break and drove up the mountain, aright it's not a big mountain  compared with world mountains but it one of the biggest in Victoria. It was blowing a gale when we went up there. But it showed just how flat Australia.

This small country town is about 20 minutes NW of us and is a Vege patch Town. Lost of Market gardens. But on a Saturday drive I passed through there and took this picture. This scene was would suggest it was in Asia somewhere with all the hats and worker in the fields. But this was in Victoria, Australia.

When we purchased the lot, the question was raised. Do we get frosts, "NO" was the answer. Well explain this.. The black bark made it show up more, it was a very light one , but it was a frost.

Stephan has been asking what my office looks like. so here it is. Level 1 at IBM tower Melbourne..... Not flash at all..

Finally the front yard is finished. We just need to spend some time looking and finding the plants we want. We only have four plants but looking is the easy part. This weekend we moved 2m of loam and 5m of Bark mulch to finish it off. all the posts are in to support the large trees, mail box is in. The black bark goes well with the wood and house. it really draws the colour of the parts out. Now starts the big job of the back yard and patio area's but we need more money for that. And Stephan(jr) wants to rest up.

While heading to Work this morning I was slowed down by how quiet it was on the riverbank. OK it was only 6 degrees outside but it was calm before the Monday storm. Note The IBM Tower next to HWT Tower ( I work on Level 14 most of the time).

Gemma-ann has finished her 4 Years at Graduation and Lissa has completed 2 Years. They were got there certificates with family and friends around. I great evening out.

I know it's late but Easter was a quiet Family Affair this year. We only purchased Easter eggs for Family members only due to the budget being so tight this year.   As you can see we had enough.......

At last the front Deck is finished, now I just need to get on with the garden. The deck as you can see in the photos now has an extra post in the front, I was not going to pay the builder $2000 to install a post that cost us $128.00 and 2 hours for Stephan and me to install.   As you can see in this photo, The edge is what call a raw edge. All the boards were from recycled timber 200x45, so they all need to be dressed, routed, cut, predrilled and then finally painted before being screwed into place.  Then they were oiled once in place. It took a lot of work and a lot long then planned to do. We are using the same process for the front garden, Oh and the Mailbox is the same as the deck. The neighbours are impressed and it looks like a very expensive job but it cost less then $1000 to do. Now the garden design is coming together. we aiming for the bushy Australian look. Post, stones and rail all black except for the only colour coming from the garden plants. Lets see how that come

We went to the Brisbane ranges last weekend. Due to my car having to go in for servicing for the brakes. We took Jennifer's car. Bad move, the dirt tracks(they try to call them roads) were very dusty and the car needed the dirt scrubbed off it when we got back. We saw very little bird life and the scenery didn't change much

At the market, we occasionally see strange things. But this one is a crab. A very large crab. It was still alive and note the normal sized crab on the left side of him. And NO we did not buy him.

Well just to the south of us is the RAAF Museum, it only about 1.5 Km away as the crow flies or should I say as the Planes fly. The museum has regular flying display most weekends. Today it the turns for the De Havillands,  Mustang and Douglas Boston planes. All have large noisy engines but they are beautiful aircraft. And being so close, they fly low of us on a regular basis. Stephan and Myself like the planes and the noise they make. The girls couldn't care less. http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/index.htm

Each morning I go for a good long walk around the estate. It is now mushroom season and because most of the landscaping has ben done with a fine black mulch the mushrooms are out in full force. These are not edible.. but still beautiful.

Jenny took this photo of the kids asleep on the couch. And yes the couch is big enough. Lisa eventually got up first with because of the smell of someones feet……

Jennifer and I went tot he Melbourne Garden Show last weekend. A chance to look around a see what was for offer look at garden designs. We're gradually getting the front garden completed but it is very slow. this was to help choose plants and obtain Idea's. It was a good day out.

In the weekend, Stephan went to the Youth Raft race. It was held at the Anglesea river mouth. So on a not so warm day, the youth were racing rafts? Anyway Stephan's raft came in 3rd place of the 13 that were there. It came third due to Stephan Pushing Power mostly. as the river was shallow most of the way.

At the new house we have found the wherever there is a damp spot in the garden frogs will hide. So on Saturday morning while lifting so boards for the garden we found some Stripped Marsh Frogs. They are common in this area, but needed to be moved for building to commence. Stephan and Lissa went out and gathered them up and relocated them to a reserve. Lesson was; your never to old to go catching frogs.

Stephan has finally finished his "Duty to God" , He did it in just over 5 years where it should take 6 years. So he has done very well. In the Wyndham stake that we belong to, he is the second to do it in ten years. WELL DONE STEPHAN.

Well Last night we had a large storm cross Point Cook. Surrounding Suburbs were also hit hard. Many road closed and trees down. The local malls damaged and power lines down. For us we had water in the garage and alfresco. but nothing in the house. Speaking to the Nieghbours ths afternoon as we sweeped thing clean again. most had the same problem as well. But near by Laverton (1km away) they coped it a lot harder they us. A lot of houses with roofs, even the local rail station was closed. But we got off light,

What do you need when you gather all the girls in one place. A really big big Couch, And thats what finally arrived to make the family area just that. The couch is 3.6 Metre Long and fits in the space prefect. It has large goose down filled cushions and is big enough for any family gathering. From the Left is Emma, Jennifer, Ann, Lissa, Gemma-ann and Janet.