Another Thought

I have just had a light bulb moment, when considering our decision to do what we're doing.
We encouraged each of our kids to spread their wings and explore, step out of their comfort zones.
Which each one has, we've watch with a huge amount of pride as each one explored and ventured away from the "nest".  We've watched them venture to places and experience wonderful and exciting experiences.
But never thinking that we could also do that........until we stood back and had a good look at it.
Heck yeah!!! We can do that too!!!!
And our gorgeous kids couldn't be happier for us either.
They are interested, they are excited for us just as we are and will always be for them.

Dreampot - Cooking Time Saver

We finally got our Dreampot off Laybye a few weeks ago and I've been experimenting with it and it is everything that they rave about. I'm really happy with it and is worth every cent.
All these years of making stews, soups etc etc and simmering them all day, Oh all that Power I could have saved!! not to mention cooking Sweets at the same time....... All it takes is about 15 minutes cooking and preparing in the morning, put it in the Dreampot, walk away, no power, no stirring, no set time, and it's ready when you want it, doesn't over cook. I don't understand why it's mainly advertised with the camping community? It'd be great for the working person.....15 minutes before work to get it on the go and get home and eat. I remember using those wonderful slow cookers, but I hated the idea of the power running alllllll day, this does the same job and better but with no power, just thermal heat.

 LOVE IT!  LOVE IT!  LOVE IT!
I couldn't recommend it more highly.

 Have a look at their website http://www.dreampot.com.au/  there are some others out there, just google Thermal Cooker.

Organizing!!!!

Oh, the job of getting everything organized. We'll need heaps of storage in our Motorhome, seeing as I'm continuing my Business "wendyfrankdolls.com" what with material, paint, sewing stuff and all it's associated bits and pieces.....not to mention extras for Card Swaps etc. with varies wonderful Clubs I belong too.

I love making all my bits and pieces so it's essential in my world.....not to mention making $$$$!!!!

Speaking of my Dolls...I was chuffed to be asked to represent NSW Australia in the Famous Perinic Collection in Argentina.   www.croatianhistory.net/etf/dolls.html

This is the little one that was chosen

My dolls are by far better travellers than me....I've never left these shores and my dolls have gone to UK, USA, Canada, Argentina, New Calidonia, New Zealand, Holland, as well as all over Australia..........yep!!! Far more Travelled!!!!

Anyway......I got a bit side tracked!
So I have to figure out what to take or buy along the way??
How much material? How many embellishments? all the stuffing...mmmmmmm I have some thinking to do.
The sewing Machines will take up a lot of room alone. and Ash is extremely handy too, so he'll be taking Scroll Saw, drills etc etc.

WATCH THIS SPACE!!

Are we being selfish??

Somebody asked me this the other day, and I must admit I have thought of this before, are we being selfish spending all our money and not having anything left to leave the kids?
Each of our kids are extremely supportive of our plans and are really happy for us.
As for our view on this subject. All the kids can quite easily stand on their own feet and have made lives of their own.
 Now it's our turn to live our own lives & spend our hard earned money on ourselves, while we are still fit and healthy enough to enjoy it. Ash & I have spent our lives for the kids and each other,& worked hard to get to where we are now. 

 Seeing other couples our age, husbands are still working, wives are looking after grandkids, some every day while their daughters go to work. That might suit them fine and more power to them if that's what makes them happy. It's not for us in the immediate or near future.
Speaking for myself,  Life has been the best ever, I've loved every second of it and still do....I've had THE 3 best kids, hugely proud of them and where they are in their own lives,.......and I trust my judgement for the future too.   Our next Chapter is extremely exciting, we are on our own now, it's just Ash & I, so it's time to concider what's right for Ash & I.
Call it Selfish?  well so be it..........is that such a bad thing?  No.

More terrific Finds from Garage Sales

These are called Cinnabar Lacquer Vases, we picked the 2 larger ones up just yesterday for a mere 50 cents! I got the other smaller one ages ago for $2 just because I liked them! I decided to do a bit of "googling" research to see what they are...very interesting, they are made painting a multitude of coats of a tree resin  until it's thick enough to then carve in intricate designs. So needless to say they are worth more than we paid, not to mention the enjoyment of admiring them for their artmanship.
Now below are pictures of close up of our beloved Shibyama Screen.

This is an incredibly well made screen..certainly made by Masters, if only my camera could show how much detail it all has each piece is a carved stone, shell, ivory or wood then decorated with paint, I'd dearly love to have someone explain about it all, the art of it, what each piece is, the story of the scenes on each of the 4 screens?

332 days to go!

At last we've taken 3 trailer loads to the Auction house to be Auctioned next weekend!! That's such a relief. Now I can get in to the rest of the house and start sorting kids stuff, getting it all on pallets so the kids can come and go through it and take it all away. The carport was so full of all our collectables that there was no room to do it until now, so it's a huge relief!!. We've been collecting collectables for years now for one reason or another, mainly because I was planning on opening an antique store,but with looking after Mum and taking her out every weekend for the last 10 years (2 years with dad before he died and 8 since with just Mum....for those keeping count!!!) Mind you it's interesting and we have got some incredible collectables over that time which we'll keep and treasure.
One example is this Chinese Screen, we found out later that it's called Shibyama, it is inlaid with carved stones, shells, wood, possibly ivory and it is painted both front and back. We have tried to have it valued but have had no luck so far. We bought it for $10 at a church fair! It is gorgeous and my favourite collectable in the world.

Next is a cat which is quite ugly! but when you look at the intricate painting on it, it is beautiful. We bought this too at a chuch fair for 50 cents and later had it valued at $500.

But the majority, one full trailer load!!! had to go! No more clutter. So along with old chairs, wardrobes, antique rocking horse that needed doing up 30 years ago and still not done, sundrys, and furniture, as well as some depression glas from my collection.
After Xmas we'll put the rest in Auction and we'll be able to go a long way to being just back to the basics.
Which after sale of house will go into a "yet to be bought and built" shed, which will be erected at #1 daughter's home here in Lavington. Once stored will be shut up and out of mind for all until the hopefully long off day when we want to settle somewhere. except the odd times when we skype her to ask for this or that that we need on our travels! but hopefully that doesnt happen?

Free Camping.

We plan on Free Camping when we get away and save precious $'s. We'll have 3-4 solar Panels on the roof, Batteries and a generator.
The Seminar we went to at Penrith in July 2010 was fantastic and full of great information. There, they talked about Free Camping and all the advantages to it. You can stop pretty much anywhere as long as it's safe over night because you can view it as resting and "they" cant move you on as long as you arnt set up with awning down and chairs, mats etc. You are just stopping for a rest. Even if that's overnight!
We'll also have all the conveniences, toilet, shower, even washing machine, so we'll be self sufficient for a number of days, and just top up water, power, empty grey water tanks maybe once a week, and even then we might be able to get that from other places and not have to go to Caravan Parks. There are Dump Points here and there all over Australia some free some cost.
We have the Camps 5 Book which our daughter bought for us, they tell us it's invaluable, so I hope they are right. Although I noticed that there could be a lot more around this area added so imagine just what is not in it? But that's understandable.

#1 343 days to go

Oh yes!! This will be the time of our lives!!!! 12 months planning already and 343 days til we are off on the next exciting time of our lives.
Our 3 kids are all grown and living their own lives with their partners all over Australia, we miss them and dont feel like there's anything to keep us here in Albury NSW.  .I was born here, so it's well and truely time to move on to new adventures.
Having spent the last 35 years, bringing up our kids, building (from scratch) our home, garden, building businesses, working hard, working for School P&C's. establishing wonderful gardens, caring for very ill parent, and carer for mum left behind,.......Major Surgery on backs and hips, no holidays to speak of.......bar 2 weeks on the Gold Coast.  Mind you...looking at that on face value, it looks like I'm complaining, but there's absolutely NO complaints, we've had the best lives to date, loved and learnt sooooooooo much, that was a wonderful 35 years...... But that's just the beginning.............WOW!!!!!!!! is it what!!!!!   Really looking forward to the next 40 years!?
No more thinking and planning for the future, no more worrying and planning to hang on to a house for our golden years......whatever happens, happens!! if  it's in our RV for the rest of our days, moving or not! Moving into a home? No way will I put myself on my kids......no way!
It will all work out for the best, and we're going to live life now, while we're still good to go and boy are we going to "live" gunna step outta our comfort zones, step outta our box.
We've both had camping experience prior to getting Married. So we know we love it.

So hang on!! This is gunna be a great ride............That's a promise.

1st Step.....Get rid of all the excess of years of collecting.
2nd Step.... Get the house ready and spiffy to sell.
In between.......plenty of homework on Motorhomes and needs.

This is the plan....... Winnebago Alpine or Longreach towing a small 4x4  ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!

This is the inside view of the Winnie looking toward the cab of vehicle, the bathroom and bedroom are behind camera.