Soothing our souls

We have all been finding ways to soothe our souls these last couple of weeks.

There's been lots of comfort food.......

                                              ( thanks Heidi )

.....and wine.

( to be perfectly honest, we just like the label!!!)
No, we actually do like the wine too.

And just being together on Mother's Day while the boys cooked a beautiful roast lunch and Jake practised his skills at being Roof Man.

Amy has been planting some of Pa's seed collection.

And having cuddles with her little pooches.

I've been looking at what's been happening in my own backyard and being thankful for how the simplest of things can be so calming.

Dad made the watering can.
On top is a seedling planter, also one of Dad's cleverly crafted creations. 

Bill has been out in his shed......making things.
Another mini hot house, this time for Amy's seed plantings.   

We brought home some pieces of glass from the windows of an old van that Dad had fashioned into a mini hot house in the vegie garden.
We are going to use them in exactly the same way to get our seedlings going in Winter.

And of course there will always be flowers even when we think there is nothing worth picking.

Thank you for the potted plants Ruth and Ross. Can't wait to smell the rose flowers.

This little boy soothes our souls and makes our hearts sing.

 He is off to the toy room on his scooter to show us his motorbike and ninja turtle nunchukka (????)

We are bouncing around in the orange bag (on the ipad  having Facetime). 
Bless him.

From a Jack to a King

Our beautiful Dad was buried last Friday.

He passed away unexpectedly early on Thursday morning April 23 from complications resulting from a broken hip suffered in a fall the previous Monday afternoon.

We buried him in his overalls....his comfy clothes of choice each and every day. 

We gave him a  tuneful  rousing send off around the pianola on Friday night.

  

( The Queen Mary sits on top. Made by Dad with help from Uncle Bob Baker.)

________________________________________ 

******* Letter to Dad *******

To be perfectly honest we are all a bit nervous about today Dad.

You knew everything there was to know about digging trenches and pipes and site orientation and tree roots and all things plumbing really.

So we know you will be watching the proceedings of the last few days with great interest.

We think you will be happy with your final resting place.You can keep an eye on things from here and you are not far from your old mate, Frank Pryor. You two will have a lot of catching up to do and lots of yarns to tell.

We think you will be delighted to have had one final ride in your beloved work ute. Dennis has given the chrome a bit of a polish, but has left the rest just as you would have wanted. After all, we know only too well the consequences of moving things around without your permission.

We are pretty sure you would approve of the cuppa and refreshments at the Minyip Golf Club. Your favourite mug was a Minyip Golf Club mug and truth be known you had some of your best times in the shed when Mum was out there playing golf.  (Bill said that......just to let you know!)

We think you would have had a good laugh with Michael and Mavis. They have been extremely kind and obliging and you would have liked that. You would have referred to them both as being good scouts.

Dennis has checked the pipes in the roof for the leak and crawled under the house to jack up the kitchen door as per your final instructions whilst in hospital.

We will all take care of Mum just as you would have wanted. She probably won't want to participate in cleaning out the sheds though. However, we WILL let her hold the hose in the back paddock when we burn off the branches.....just as you wanted her to do a couple of weeks ago.

No rush though.

All in good time.

You loved telling people that if there were no fish in Heaven, you weren't going! Well, you'll be pleased to know that we have googled it...and apparently it's teeming with fish! You will have such a good time catching up with those beautiful Britten brothers and your much loved sister Gwen and of course your old fishing mates.

You had so many funny little ways that we will always remember...and even more that drove us to distraction!!

But our all time favourite was the nudge, wink and wry smile you gave us when you were about to say something mischievous .....usually to Mum!

We have made sure you are warm and comfortable.

We hope we haven't missed anything.

Cheerio for now our dear Dad.

We will always love and remember you.

PS   Let us know how we went today.

No hurry though.

All in good time.

He was our Dad (Jack) and our King.

We are still in disbelief.

Click on the link below to see Dad with his fishing buddy Bert, filmed recently.

Bert and Dad got together several months ago thanks to the kind and caring people from Volunteering Western Victoria.

Dad was a reluctant film star, but we will treasure this footage forever.

Jack & Bert - Gone Fishin

Life is full of ups and downs

There is something quite beautiful and majestic about trees growing along the banks of a river and the bird life that frequents them.

The perfect spot for an afternoon of fishing. 

 Dad was able to set up his special fishing seat and tackle box and Bill was on life guard duty.
Dennis caught one ( ? ) and ended up winning the prizes for biggest fish and most fish!! 

It was a great day on the farm too.

Thanks Den and Aunty Ray.

We had visited Dad's friend Renus the day before, to collect some old sheets of iron to make into a compost/ worm farm. 
This magnificent old shearing shed took my breath away.

Bill and Dad then turned this.....

...into this.

Some riveting together and it will be done.

Thanks for the pomegranates Jo and all the cuttings.
( today's job)

Flynn tried collecting some rain......such a rare event for him in the Pilbara.

And the downs.....
We arrived home from Mum and Dad's yesterday only to receive a call to say that Dad had taken a tumble and had further damaged his hip.
He is in hospital. We are awaiting the outcome of the surgeon's visit to determine what can be done.
This photo was taken when we left them yesterday.

 That is Dad's fishing chair.
 He rescued a frame and used old fire hose fabric ( who knows where that came from!) sewn together with a needle he made himself and some waxed thread used by the former shoe maker in town (we're talking 50 years ago!) that Dad had saved on a card.
Dad would say....You never know when it might come in handy.
 The perfect recycler.