A bank manager just left discussing new plans- labouring the relationship metaphor of the previous posts we are onto a rebound purchase which if things happen will make a lot of our dreams come true. Simple ones and complicated ones. But if it happens I will babble about it all the time and you will get sick of it.
We had an adventure the other day, I made pattycakes (not cupcakes- elaborate swirls of buttercream end in tears here!) and popcorn and cheese straws, packed some carrots and we had a mini picnic by a river. The sun was shining, the roses were blooming, there were ducks- there was a platypus for Heaven's sake. we rambled along the river after a frenzied attack of eating (or having a picnic as the boys call it) and watched canoeing. It was simple and it was good. I find that living in Tasmania offers such a huge range of opportunities for incredibly simple but incredibly rich experiences. Like a platypus in the river in the middle of town, rambling echidnas, gorgeous views and amazing produce. I know I should be cooking intricate dishes with tiny bits and pieces with the produce but strawberries, cherries, carrots tomatoes all get eaten in their natural state, hot smoked salmon or cheeses are lucky to be given a bit of bread before they are eaten!
By the way that reminds me- I used to think rice paper rolls were expensive but the other night I made some, all julienne vegetables, prawns, noodles whilst trying to stop the baby crying, avoiding the cat and listening to Peppa Pig, managed to make about 8 of them (not enough for dinner) only to be told by the boys they didn't like them and made them a pot of spaghetti instead. Whoever can knock those things out quickly and elegantly deserves the money.
It has been a surprisingly productive day here at Apple Isle Cottages.
We have a big pile of bricks recently acquired from the next door cottage we have taken over and we were lamenting what to do with it when I looked at my very temporary path made of old fence palings (which has been there since January!) and decided that it was time to upgrade to something more permanent and decided to muck together a brick path using the great bricks we have in our pile which have "jorny & campbell Launceston" stamped in the top. In typical Dull roar philosophy style I used some of our existing large gravel pile as a base and an hours work later she was done..and I even found a few treasures..( ok one treasure- a teacup with no handle and not very old)..the path is a wee bit higgledy piggledy but Apple Isle Cottages is pretty higgledy piggledy itself, being built in reclaimed swamp 113 years ago.
So a new free path which my three year old hopefully won't fall over in such a spectacular slapstick fashion (although it was amusing the first couple of times, I won't lie to you!).
I have managed to fit in one 15 minute session of tidying, got the dishes done, tidied the boys room and put away the washing in that time!
What a beautiful day it is here today, I wouldn't live anywhere else in the world for quids! 
