Slaughter day

Hello there. It feels like ages ago since I last wrote. I have started many blogs in my head but life has got in between my thoughts and the computer. Grr. Aj was on Senior camp last week and is on Outdoor Ed camp tomorrow until Friday so I seem a tad out of whack at the moment. Plus we seem to have taken a step backwards with Mr T so that doesn't help either.

Anyway, today we said goodbye and thank you to Angus and Scotch, our two steers.

We had a mobile butcher come out and dispatch them. It was really interesting. I have never seen an animal be shot. It was a nice clean shot between the eyes (never saw where it went in) and with a thud over 300kg of animal fell to the ground. I will spare you the details of the rest except to say it was a very quick process and I felt nothing but gratitude; both to butchers for their experience and to the steers for the meat that they are providing us. Also to our neighbour for the use of his tractor, saving a lot of time and effort in lifting and putting them in the coolroom, where they will hang until next week.

Yesterday we were blessed to have a local come out with a mini digger and dig us a MASSIVE hole for the offal. It only cost us a dozen eggs, such a blessing. So my exercise today was to partly fill it in the hole. The fat and some of the bones will go in next week when it is all cut up.

We will get a whole beast (Angus) for our freezer with three others sharing Scotch (½ , ¼, ¼). It is a massive process: the cutting up, packing, labelling and freezing, and who knows just how many cuts of meat there are. We will save all that though for butchering day.

Break through

We have had a break though with Mr T's behaviour!!!
While I saw aspects of many different disorders (lack of a better word) like aspergers, ADHD, or Executive Function, he never seemed to fit into the title properly. For example, too social or able to remember a sequence of tasks given. And their is a heart of gold there who seemed really upset when he did the wrong thing. 

I am not claiming to be an expert in these things but I have worked with teenagers with learning difficulties before kids and my mum has also had many years experience.

Why the change:
* he has been moved away from his classmates - helps with concentration and stops him getting into trouble as he cannot be bothered or be a bother to the person sitting beside him.
* He is getting harder work.
* I have stopped all sugary food in the lunch box. Really just my homemade cookie. He needs energy (the Graham's get tired and grumpy without food) but he is getting it through fruit and lots of it. His sandwich filling hasn't changed and I am giving him vegie chips (natural) as a snack/box filler.
* We have changed the night time routine so the the younger three kids go to bed and then we sit with Mr T and do spelling, reader etc He copes better on a full tummy, and without the distractions of his siblings. 
AND
* We have changed our prayer focus over him. Who would have thought...we should have done it agers ago!!! Praise God!

We have our cheery, beautiful little boy back. I see a change in our household too. He is happy to share toys that a week ago he would have made such a fuss over. A friend yesterday said that I seemed happy too. I am, I feel as though a weight has been lifted!

The other break though, my first sale on madeit. Some shoes. I am excited as sales mean more creating, like my latest brooches.

Have a wonderful weekend all.

What a wonderful weekend

Well it was a birthday weekend in our house. Miss Z turned four!

What a beautiful little lady you are. You are such a ray of sunshine to all that you meet. Your love of dancing, writing the alphabet and all things creative brings the family such joy. You have a wonderful sense of humour that makes us laugh even when the jokes aren’t funny.  You come out with the darnedest things and your understanding and use of words astounds me!

You are super excited to finally be four, and even more so that you have your very own kitten, Asha.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET. Love you more than words can say.

Thursday we collected 6 Australorp chicks to place under the Light Sussex who’s eggs were rotten. We also went to Miss Z's favourite café in Wynyard, Bruce’s, with a family friend. A lady my Grandma went to primary school with; my Grandma grew up here in Tassie.

Friday, her birthday,  we pottered here at home and had DIY mini pizzas for dinner.

Saturday was morning tea with cake.

Sunday, church followed by lunch, home at 3. I went for a snooze and there went Sunday J

Today is housework day. I like to try and do these as it means I can take it a tad easier during the week. Although with kids I do feel like I am just chasing my tail.

Oh yes, and Thursday evening I had all my hair chopped of. Well, almost all. Short enough that I can’t put it up anyways. I am loving it!