hi everyone
well - I thought i should get more active on the blog and post at least once a month as a wrap up...and boy...i didnt realise that it was April since we last blogged...eeeekkkk...where has that time gone?
I will try really hard and do a short wrap up of the last 6 months and PROMISE to be more discliplined! I must admit though, its been a pretty hard winter and archie has been sick alot through the cooler months, so it will be nice to celebrate alot more sun, and hopefully heaps less illness...
I know i say it often, but we really have been flat out...lots and lots of presentations and donations coming in from all over which has been brilliant. We also had our first community working bee at the cottage which by all accounts went great! The gardens and the cottage got a big spruce up and it come out beaming...so thanks so much to everyone who helped out...we are looking to do something similiar once a year...so we will keep you posted...
we have had some terrific donations which have been amazing...$12,000 from the WoodGroup PSN in sale and we are putting that towards a new kitchen for the cottage (which is scheduled for november)...just before christmas.
We have also been lucky with big donations from our service clubs, Rotary and Lions, our local schools who have held events on our behalf, and even a dance troup! We have also received a large donation from our local Palliative care group and from VIATEK down in Warragul...its great to know that our cottage is starting to be discussed broader than east and central gippsland...
we have had a busy 6 months with families...and are expecting a full house over christmas/new year period which we (and our local businesses) are looking forward too...
Anyways, i will leave it for now...
Happy birthday also to our beautiful boy Melon...Eli would have been 6 this year on the 28th of September...as always its a very hard time of year where we reflect on what should have been. The day he died we often spend time on reflecting what was...what we do know though is that he was so bloody brave...and for all those little poppets still fighting, keep going...sometimes you lose the battles, but win the war...good luck!
loads of love sunshine
the simpsons
xoxox
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Where has the time gone?
Hey everyone
Wow...where has the time gone...just looking at our previous post - almost a month has gone by! We have all been good (apart from the usual coughs and colds)...hard to believe that archie turns two in two weeks time...we cant believe it!
The last month or so has been really busy with the cottage - with 4 families staying since the end of Feb...we have really loved hosting the families...they have been terrific and have really appreciated their time together here at the cottage with their families...its been lovely. Heres hoping that they will all return again for their own family holidays in a beautiful part of the world :-)
We have been really lucky to have been approached by a couple of grade 6 girls from 2 local primary schools who are in the middle of doing some work to achieve their Rotary Service Certificates. Part of their gig is to spend time doing a 'community service'...and they have come and helped at the cottage - in two ways. One, we gave them a task and small budget to help decorate the inside of the cubby that the Paynesville Mens Shed donated to us (through the Paynesville Lioness), as well as helping to organise all facets of our mothers day raffle (our major fundraiser for the year). As you will see by the photos below, they have been great, and done a tremendous job with the cubby. We are advised that there a few 'loose' ends to tidy up, but they should have it done by Mothers day - its awesome.
The raffle is also going really well - again, the girls helped us to sell some tickets yesterday and together, we managed 6 books which is a terrific effort. We are hoping to head to the Metung Farmers market on 11 May...so if you still havent picked up a ticket, please come and say hello. it will definitely be the last chance, with the raffle drawn on Mothers Day.
We also had a lovely story shared with us last friday. I went to bank some raffle money, and Elaine from Just Books had said that three children had come to her to bank some money they raised for Melon's Cottage the weekend before by selling Lemonade locally here in Kalimna...So our bank account is $8.70 richer for their efforts - how fantastic is THAT! We are aiming to drop a big thankyou this week-but this is a shout out to Flynn, Sophie and Paris - THANKYOU guys...awesome!
We also had a terrific surprise when Archies care (Early Learning Centre) here in Lakes Entrance also held a funky hair day with proceeds to Melon's Cottage. They raised about $31.00 which is great! We used the money to pay for Easter Eggs, so the lucky family who was staying with us at the time received heaps of eggs through an easter egg hunt...it was fabulous fun...Its also nice to still be able to invite the families down to share a bbq or pizza with us...we always look forward to that :-)
anyways...if you are local and not doing much on 19 May, we are looking to have an open day/working bee for the cottage...just doing a few bits and bobs...with a bbq to boot...if you are interested in joining us (from 10.30 - 3.30), we would love to see you...just inbox us so we can organise catering if you are intending to stay for lunch...
take care, and please, if you have a chance, please buy a raffle ticket...its our major fundraiser for the year (plus there are heaps of groovy prizes to win - 11 in total!)
luv and hugs
the Simpsons
xoxox
Wow...where has the time gone...just looking at our previous post - almost a month has gone by! We have all been good (apart from the usual coughs and colds)...hard to believe that archie turns two in two weeks time...we cant believe it!
The last month or so has been really busy with the cottage - with 4 families staying since the end of Feb...we have really loved hosting the families...they have been terrific and have really appreciated their time together here at the cottage with their families...its been lovely. Heres hoping that they will all return again for their own family holidays in a beautiful part of the world :-)
We have been really lucky to have been approached by a couple of grade 6 girls from 2 local primary schools who are in the middle of doing some work to achieve their Rotary Service Certificates. Part of their gig is to spend time doing a 'community service'...and they have come and helped at the cottage - in two ways. One, we gave them a task and small budget to help decorate the inside of the cubby that the Paynesville Mens Shed donated to us (through the Paynesville Lioness), as well as helping to organise all facets of our mothers day raffle (our major fundraiser for the year). As you will see by the photos below, they have been great, and done a tremendous job with the cubby. We are advised that there a few 'loose' ends to tidy up, but they should have it done by Mothers day - its awesome.
The raffle is also going really well - again, the girls helped us to sell some tickets yesterday and together, we managed 6 books which is a terrific effort. We are hoping to head to the Metung Farmers market on 11 May...so if you still havent picked up a ticket, please come and say hello. it will definitely be the last chance, with the raffle drawn on Mothers Day.
We also had a lovely story shared with us last friday. I went to bank some raffle money, and Elaine from Just Books had said that three children had come to her to bank some money they raised for Melon's Cottage the weekend before by selling Lemonade locally here in Kalimna...So our bank account is $8.70 richer for their efforts - how fantastic is THAT! We are aiming to drop a big thankyou this week-but this is a shout out to Flynn, Sophie and Paris - THANKYOU guys...awesome!
We also had a terrific surprise when Archies care (Early Learning Centre) here in Lakes Entrance also held a funky hair day with proceeds to Melon's Cottage. They raised about $31.00 which is great! We used the money to pay for Easter Eggs, so the lucky family who was staying with us at the time received heaps of eggs through an easter egg hunt...it was fabulous fun...Its also nice to still be able to invite the families down to share a bbq or pizza with us...we always look forward to that :-)
anyways...if you are local and not doing much on 19 May, we are looking to have an open day/working bee for the cottage...just doing a few bits and bobs...with a bbq to boot...if you are interested in joining us (from 10.30 - 3.30), we would love to see you...just inbox us so we can organise catering if you are intending to stay for lunch...
take care, and please, if you have a chance, please buy a raffle ticket...its our major fundraiser for the year (plus there are heaps of groovy prizes to win - 11 in total!)
luv and hugs
the Simpsons
xoxox
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Easter is nearly upon us!
HI everyone
Well, what a couple of months it has been! We hope everyone is going really well, and the start of the year has been a cracker...
Its amazing to think that just over a year ago, Melon's Cottage opened its doors to families in need. It has been one monumental and emotional journey (although i dont like using the word)...but it truly has...we have had the most amazing families come and stay with us and we thank them for sharing their worlds with not only us, but the Lakes Entrance community. The families are continually amazed at what is available to them thanks to our local businesses, and the fact that they can just 'be'...it truly is a privledge to be part of this..and we know that melon would be just so proud..as we are of him.
So...since we last blogged, and including easter, we will have had another four families through our door...AWESOME! and a terrific way to begin another 12 months...we are so hoping for at least 20 families this year...and we think its an acheiveable target...we just need everyone to let people know the cottage is available for them...We had a lovely surprise from the Early Learning Centre in Lakes who held a 'funky hair friday' and donated the proceeds to the foundation. We are looking to spend the $31 on easter eggs for the family who is going to visit us and will be here for the easter break...im thinking an awesome easter egg hunt will be the go! I will see if i can get some photos!
We have also kicked off our mother's day raffle - our second year. By all accounts the ticket sales are steady as she goes...but with 11 fantastic prizes on offer - who WOULDNT be interested! its our major fundraiser for the year, so if you are interested, just email us on eli-simpson@hotmail.com and we will send you the info...
We are gearing up for easter, and are pretty sure its thankfully going to be a fairly quiet affair...the simpsons are good, and just busy like we normally are...but it will be nice to find some time to spend together...
anyways...please take care over the easter break and we will blog again soon!
Love and sunshine
the simpsons
xoxoxoxo
Well, what a couple of months it has been! We hope everyone is going really well, and the start of the year has been a cracker...
Its amazing to think that just over a year ago, Melon's Cottage opened its doors to families in need. It has been one monumental and emotional journey (although i dont like using the word)...but it truly has...we have had the most amazing families come and stay with us and we thank them for sharing their worlds with not only us, but the Lakes Entrance community. The families are continually amazed at what is available to them thanks to our local businesses, and the fact that they can just 'be'...it truly is a privledge to be part of this..and we know that melon would be just so proud..as we are of him.
So...since we last blogged, and including easter, we will have had another four families through our door...AWESOME! and a terrific way to begin another 12 months...we are so hoping for at least 20 families this year...and we think its an acheiveable target...we just need everyone to let people know the cottage is available for them...We had a lovely surprise from the Early Learning Centre in Lakes who held a 'funky hair friday' and donated the proceeds to the foundation. We are looking to spend the $31 on easter eggs for the family who is going to visit us and will be here for the easter break...im thinking an awesome easter egg hunt will be the go! I will see if i can get some photos!
We have also kicked off our mother's day raffle - our second year. By all accounts the ticket sales are steady as she goes...but with 11 fantastic prizes on offer - who WOULDNT be interested! its our major fundraiser for the year, so if you are interested, just email us on eli-simpson@hotmail.com and we will send you the info...
We are gearing up for easter, and are pretty sure its thankfully going to be a fairly quiet affair...the simpsons are good, and just busy like we normally are...but it will be nice to find some time to spend together...
anyways...please take care over the easter break and we will blog again soon!
Love and sunshine
the simpsons
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Merry Christmas and New Year
Hi everyone
Well - i cannot believe we are in the month of February - almost half way through...where has that time gone!
There has been plenty happening in the world of Melon's Cottage...with quite a few families coming to stay with us over the summer. We had a lovely time getting to know them and the path they are walking...every one of them has such an amazing story and we wish them well as they continue their treatments (or in some cases - just check ups because their treatments have finally finished)...
Christmas was a pretty quiet affair for us...we travelled to daylesford a couple of days to spend some time together (it doesnt happen very often)...then we headed to pete's side of the family for xmas day for some yummy christmas lunch...its always such a reflective day...but we got through it. We bought a couple of candles and made sure they were lit to remember melon...
We were busy all through January, with back to back visits in some cases..it was amazing. We are so very proud of the cottage...and the usuage. We are also really stoked that our local businesses continue to support us, by supplying some terrific stuff for the families FREE of charge...it includes a yummy fruit and vege platter, a meat pack, mini golf, dvds, and a cruise on the gippy lakes, as well as some fish and chips, and a meal voucher at the pub...the look on families faces as they realise all these things are free is seriously priceless...no one expects it, and it just makes a difference for them to enjoy that little bit more...SO THANKS!
the other amazing thing thats happened is that we won the Community Event of the Year - for Lakes Entrance with the opening of Melon's Cottage. We were both in shock when we received it...to be recognised for something we have worked so hard for is truly amazing..and we cant do what we do without the support of those around us - so it truly is a team effort. The award is a reflection of that...so well done to EVERYONE involved...
So we are expecting another family at the end of the month, and then Easter has been booked already which is terrific...
Our fundraising has also far surpassed our expectations...with donations continuing to come in. Many of them are left of field...but we are so happy with our position as it stands...we have a few events coming up this year, with our Mothers Day raffle (hopefully we can start selling tickets in March)...and then a few other little things in the later half of the year which still need to be confirmed. The main thing for us though is that our insurances have been paid, and we can still afford our bills - which is working well with all we have received through donations so far...
We hope that everyone continues to do really well this year...and for those that have had a very ordinary 2012...we hope 2013 is much better for you...
Please enjoy some of the photos...and if you are a facebook fan, we have set up a facebook page for Melon's Cottage which covers a bit more of the day to day stuff, particuarly around our fundraising...
take care everyone
loads of love and sunshine
the simpsons
xoxox
Well - i cannot believe we are in the month of February - almost half way through...where has that time gone!
There has been plenty happening in the world of Melon's Cottage...with quite a few families coming to stay with us over the summer. We had a lovely time getting to know them and the path they are walking...every one of them has such an amazing story and we wish them well as they continue their treatments (or in some cases - just check ups because their treatments have finally finished)...
Christmas was a pretty quiet affair for us...we travelled to daylesford a couple of days to spend some time together (it doesnt happen very often)...then we headed to pete's side of the family for xmas day for some yummy christmas lunch...its always such a reflective day...but we got through it. We bought a couple of candles and made sure they were lit to remember melon...
We were busy all through January, with back to back visits in some cases..it was amazing. We are so very proud of the cottage...and the usuage. We are also really stoked that our local businesses continue to support us, by supplying some terrific stuff for the families FREE of charge...it includes a yummy fruit and vege platter, a meat pack, mini golf, dvds, and a cruise on the gippy lakes, as well as some fish and chips, and a meal voucher at the pub...the look on families faces as they realise all these things are free is seriously priceless...no one expects it, and it just makes a difference for them to enjoy that little bit more...SO THANKS!
the other amazing thing thats happened is that we won the Community Event of the Year - for Lakes Entrance with the opening of Melon's Cottage. We were both in shock when we received it...to be recognised for something we have worked so hard for is truly amazing..and we cant do what we do without the support of those around us - so it truly is a team effort. The award is a reflection of that...so well done to EVERYONE involved...
So we are expecting another family at the end of the month, and then Easter has been booked already which is terrific...
Our fundraising has also far surpassed our expectations...with donations continuing to come in. Many of them are left of field...but we are so happy with our position as it stands...we have a few events coming up this year, with our Mothers Day raffle (hopefully we can start selling tickets in March)...and then a few other little things in the later half of the year which still need to be confirmed. The main thing for us though is that our insurances have been paid, and we can still afford our bills - which is working well with all we have received through donations so far...
We hope that everyone continues to do really well this year...and for those that have had a very ordinary 2012...we hope 2013 is much better for you...
Please enjoy some of the photos...and if you are a facebook fan, we have set up a facebook page for Melon's Cottage which covers a bit more of the day to day stuff, particuarly around our fundraising...
take care everyone
loads of love and sunshine
the simpsons
Our Australia Day award for the Community Event of the Year for LAKES ENTRANCE
Selfies after putting up our christmas tree
Thanks to the Paynesville Lioness and the Paynesville Mens Shed for building us a cubby for the Cottage...the Kids who have visited have LOVED it!
archie at christmas...
our candles for Christmas day
Archie with Great nan and poppa from Deni
Merry Christmas everyone - from Archie!
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