a dry summer

Why hello there! You would be forgiven in thinking that I had forgotten entirely about this little neglected space. As life just became too busy around me, I found that the blog became far less important in daily life, and I kept pushing it far back into the list of priorities. Before I knew it an entire two months had gone past. Of course the longer you leave something the harder it is to come back to it. Where to start? What to blog about? You certainly become rusty in the blogging department and the words do not flow easily.

It is not easy to blog when you don't feel like yourself as much as you used to. When you start to question if this really is the best way to live. When you lose your motivation.

I guess a combination of things contributed to the way I was feeling this summer. It was a terribly hot summer, and we went for a long time without rain. I can only begin to imagine how hard this would be if your livelihood depended up on it. As it was here, my vegie garden, that I had such high hopes for this year, that I had spent many hours on, so much money invested in, potatoes, seeds and seedlings, withered up and died. I gave up the twice day watering when I realised that I was no match for this harsh windy Summer and that I could no longer justify using so much precious tank water. It is the first summer here that I had no tomato crop. Then despite the hard work of pumping water twice weekly and watering all the trees, we still lost several. The grass died and you could feel the crunch under your feet while walking around after dark. Because that was the only time it was pleasant outside. Drought can suck the life right out of you.

When it doesn't rain the cows still need water, and pumping and fetching water becomes a huge headache. Having them 10 minutes away was not helping either, particularly when we had to buy their entire feed for the summer. I love my cows, I love the fresh milk, but I will not pretend that the whole experience has been an easy one. It has been a huge learning curve. Yet I still want to do it. I think an update post is due very soon.

Going back to the dry, I can now say that we were very fortunate this time around. It rained. Hard. Then it rained again. And again and again. We went from a dirt lawn to bright green grass. Everywhere. You can't underestimate just how much better you can feel when it finally rains. My thoughts are with those going through much tougher times, who haven't yet had rain, and can't afford to bring in feed.

Then there was the whole blogging thing. Sorry to say I had been keeping well away from the blogging community, becoming more drawn to the quieter, non-sponsored and less popular blogs. A click on an old favourite didn't always feel the same anymore. Amidst the new professional headers, wonderful  photography and the sometimes bombarding sponsorship, it seemed easier at times to slowly fade away and put that blogging chapter behind me. I lack the time to experiment, funds and expertise necessary to try to perfect my photography or to stylise this space professionally. So I've just decided to do the best I can do. Homemade header it is. Blurry pictures it may be.

So I'm feeling better now. Ready to put this harsh summer behind and look forward to a cooler, greener Autumn. My favourite season. I thank all those who wrote to me out of concern, and I did feel missed. Just don't expect anything too fancy. My life is not fancy, and I always wanted to maintain an honest truth within this blog. The ups and downs are all part of life, and it would be a lie to gloss over that. So as long as you don't expect anything too flash, but just a little journal of this not so perfect life here, I hope to see you again real soon.

christmas holidays

Nigella's Italian Christmas Pudding Cake. Just like last year.

Violet's Christmas stocking made up with a little old wool, needlework doily, ribbon and a little appliqued Liberty.

Christmas came and went this year without too much of a fuss. Sure there was that dreaded last Christmas shop, a fair bit of cooking (but not nearly so much as in other years past), and many days spent at home both with family and just ourselves. There has been some adjusting and compromising along the way as we haven't had the liberty of time that we've had in previous years. Sad to say not much at all in the way of handmade. Though Violet did finally get her stocking on Christmas Eve.

Brown paper, stamps we already had, string, bark, black marker and gumleaves made for budget wrapping this year.

 It has taken almost three weeks to really get into the routine of holidays. Holidays should be easy, right? Well, it is nice to imagine that it will be, but reality often reveals a different story. Sometimes all that time together brings out the very worst in us. There were clashes (I felt like I did nothing but break up fights amongst the kids for 2 weeks straight), there was the annual analyze your life discussions, as well as stopping to count all the jobs that need to be done around the house.

So although I have a small pile of pretty fabric just sitting there waiting to be made into a summer wardrobe of sorts, my house is only half clean and I have a sore throat, I can happily say that we are just now beginning to get into the swing of the holidays and truly enjoy each others company.  We've been enjoying homemade ice cream, allowing a few more treats than usual into the house (anyone else love panettone?), changing rooms around, long talks and having movie nights at home.

Funny, isn't it, that the week full of swimming lessons that I had been dreading has turned out the be the best week yet? But life is like that. Swimming lessons have gotten us all into the pool, with a coffee, lemonade or ice cream afterwards. Followed by a few lazy afternoons.

Our bottle fed calf has kept us grounded at home this holidays, but I think this has been a blessing in disguise. It has been good for us to just be at home doing home things.

Sadly it may be the final week that we are together as Daniel may be back to work next week. But I'm hoping that we can bring just a little holiday feeling with us as we get back into the daily grind of life. The odd movie night and a few more ice creams may be just what we need.

I do hope you are all enjoying and have enjoyed your christmas and new years break. Happy new year!

the gift of food

It never ceases to amaze me how generous most people are that live in this little valley. Over the time we have lived here we have been kindly gifted many eggs, bags of zucchinis, pickles, apples, pomegranates and numerous other vegies. Even a full load of compost. Interestingly, we don't live in a food growing region. The weather conditions are harsh, the soil eroded, and the whole region is in a rain shadow. Any local will tell you growing food here is not easy, to say the least. But not impossible.

So I try to find out as much as I can from these greenthumbs of the community. I think slowly we are getting there. We now know what is best to plant in Winter and when. That shade is very important in summer. We also know that we do need a green house and perhaps a poly tunnel to compensate for the short summer season.

ratatouille cooked from a neighbour's vegies

There is a lot to be said for the smaller communities, though living apart as they do in rural settings, there is a greater familiarity with neighbours than I ever did find in the suburbs. Perhaps a comfortable distance naturally brings people together.  I have seen this from various community gatherings, music bands, Sunday coffee drop-ins to the testing times of our recent fires. It is a reassuring to know that we live within a community of capable, down-to-earth type of people. Where old fashioned skills are not uncommon.

Sharing of food has it's way of bringing communities just that little bit closer. And isn't it wonderful to not have to put those items in the trolley?   If communities can grow what they can and informally barter then that has to be a very good thing.  For our health, the planet and our pockets.                                   

So meanwhile we make plans for chickens, new garden plots and a greenhouse. It has taken us some time to get to this stage, and while delays can be frustrating, I think we will eventually get there. Until then we are so very appreciative of the the occasional gifts of excess eggs or vegies that may happen to come our way.

the home haircut

I cut Daniel's hair last night. I'm not sure how many people cut hair at home anymore, but I am increasingly feeling like a bit of an oddity for choosing the home haircut route. Home haircuts can easily conjure up visions of bowl cuts and too short fringes. The occasional mishappen fringes of my past, though, did not put me off learning to cut hair. When I was newly married I always did the hair cuts. But as life got busier we began to pay to get it done. Occasionally we still do, but only for the adults in the family.

Back when I was a kid my mum always cut our hair. Dad's hair also. Though I do remember that she always went to the hairdressers (and would come home with the trendy 80's blow wave). I don't believe money would have stretched enough for us all to get a haircut.

But it's something I've started doing again since living out here. It kind of appeals to that inner diy-er attitude. Rather than outsourcing and paying someone else for haircuts, it's another skill that can be learned and practiced in the home. With practice, nobody will be able to tell. I've had one hairdresser's visit in two years and somehow managed to cut my own hair a few times.

While young girls with standard cuts are fairly easy, male cuts are a little trickier. You could head down the route of the clippers, but I find them unreliable and sometimes a little too harsh. Plus there was one incident many years ago when my brother accidentally shaved a huge chunk out of Daniel's hair. He had to wear a beanie for weeks. So I use scissors and a comb for a boys longer look or a short back and sides (last night's haircut was very similar to this method).

For those wondering you can pick up inexpensive hair cutting scissors from the supermarket. Though of course these are not of a professional standard, they will still do the job.
Dressmaking scissors that are not too heavy are also good. It is what my mum always used. You will also need a plain comb. You can wet the hair with a spray bottle, but I often don't do this.

Take your time. I take quite a bit of time to make sure there is no chunks or unevenness. Of course this does not make one very popular.

My mum always used an old shower curtain draped around the person to catch the hairs. You can occasionally pick these up in new condition from op shops. Fasten with a peg around the neck. Very glamorous! Once the cut hair is swept up it can be added to the compost pile.

There's plenty of you tube videos out there, and I've seen several books on the subject at the library. I learnt by watching hairdressers closely whenever I was waiting at the hairdressers, and through practice (fortunately with no disasters along the way!).




Have you / do you cut hair at home?
Any tips, disasters or successes to share?

purpose

(the roses continue to bloom despite the weather)

Thank you for your kinds words in my last post. I can report that the fire seems to be well contained and although there is a little smoke, it is apparently the smoke of containment lines.
So I've been doing loads of washing, and quite a bit of ironing (not managing to fold those creasable jeans and dresses straight away). Life has some normality to it once again.

Trying to salvage what is left of these school holidays hasn't been the easiest. It's mostly too hot for the kids to play outside, Daniel is back at work and I've been having wisdom tooth issues. The younger kids have been doing a little craft but I'm afraid the tv has been on far more longer than I would like.

I've never been one for New Years resolutions, but I can see that although much has been out of my control this year, that I need to re-organize myself a little, and get back on track with more vegetables and whole grains. Less sugar. For the past several weeks have been mainly about convenience, and I am not feeling the better for it.

a bouquet from my Mum

Sometimes it just so happens,  that your life doesn't really align with your ideals, that the values you hold close, seem to go by the wayside. Whether this is work, housework, what we eat or how we spend our free time. I can see a need to slow down and re-evaluate things. In all areas.

But I'm not beating myself up about this. Some things are totally out of your control. If anything, it makes your realize that making things yourself, having your routines and seeking out or growing the best for you food, is a far more satisfying way to live. I feel that sense of satisfaction naturally spreads to the rest of the family. But I guess life is like that. Constantly changing, and sometimes a need to re-evaluate your purpose and work out what is best for your family.

So although my (yet to fruit!) tomatoes are half dead, although I will miss the convenience of sliced bread and although I feel a need to wean myself off the commercial chemically laden washing powder that makes my whites whiter than white, I am looking forward to getting back on track. In a simple living way, so to speak.

And I'm thinking a Mum and kid's day out is in order!

I'm cleanin' out my closet

I'm not really sure what possessed me to clean out my cupboard right before christmas. Perhaps it is that inner obsessive compulsive that rears its head every now and then. Or perhaps that desire to have everything done, and the peace of mind that comes with that, to relax during those days after christmas.

It's not like I never clean out my clothing cupboard. It's had many a cull and clean out over the years, but I find every few months it needs attention to keep it functional and not looking like a tip.

It's a fairly small cupboard and I've tried to keep it that way. A cluttered cupboard I find goes hand in hand with that age old problem of having a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear. It all just gets a bit overwhelming finding something to wear.

And mine had cluttered. My pre-Violet clothes which had survived the last few culls, but which were not being worn because they had never quite fitted the same way again, were certainly taking up quite a lot of space. There were old shorts there, pretty little dresses and my old favourite jeans. I realised that I'd actually become quite emotionally attached to these items. They were the outfits of the last part of my 20's. I guess I'd hung onto them hoping to recapture that same (younger) person. And when I looked over them with a more critical eye I realized not only that I may never be quite that skinny again, but that I had changed. I am now approaching my mid thirties with three children, and I no longer had any desire to wear that cute, but impractical miniskirt.

But it wasn't without a little sadness that I packed them away and sent them to the op shop. My cupboard feels lighter and surprisingly a little more optimistic. There's not a lot in there now, and once grouped together I discovered there were more than a few sewn by me clothes. They seem to be the ones I turn to these days, which tells me that there will be more to come. It's a good thing to see at a glance exactly what is in there. And not many shoes, but all ones that I do regularly wear.

So while my days of wearing hipster skinny jeans, denim hot pants and buttoned pocket miniskirts may be over for now, I look forward to slowly adding some fun vintage inspired dresses, some skirts, comfy light tunics and a few pretty blouses. It's kind of liberating to know that I can now make these myself. Clothes that feel like me. Now.



Have you ever found it hard to get rid of certain items of clothing?
Do you become emotionally attached?
Have you grown out of some of your clothes too?

the not so abundant garden

I'd like to apologise in advance for this slightly depressing post.  Let me tell you about the sad state of my vegetable garden. Which hadn't been doing too badly.  Up until now that it is. It had managed through frost, occasional snow and icy winds to keep us supplied with spinach, silverbeet, rocket and kale over Winter. Of course every year I look forward to the time when we can put the frosts behind us and plant those tomatoes, zucchini, peas and other sorts of wonderful summer growing things.

But it's a bit of a jungle out there. In an aphid, cabbage moth infested kind of way. Not a lot has been spared. All my Winter greens have shot to seed. Despite daily watering and some mulching my garden is so very dry. Top ups with home grown compost, though improving the soil, don't make up for the scorching sun. Only a few seeds seem to make it to the seedling stage. Silverbeet is my one redeeming vegetable.

Locals here often wait until after Melbourne cup to plant frost prone vegies. So despite these setbacks I'll be visiting the nursery this week to pick up some seedlings, while praying for no more frosts. And for some much needed rain.

It's the most difficult area I've ever gardened in, and I have to admit that sometimes I question the wisdom in living in an area that is so very difficult for growing. Locals say that you need to undo all the gardening you have learnt elsewhere, as it's a different set of rules here. The cold is very cold and the hot is very hot, with not a lot of weather in between. I'm aware that I need to put more time into my garden, but the heat is so very draining. Some natural pesticides probably wouldn't go astray either.

However rain brings hope, and I know from experience that conditions can improve quite quickly here. It's all about timing and getting those seeds and seedlings in just before a rainy week forecast. If you are so fortunate as to get one.

I will keep reminding myself of the bumper zucchini crop of two years ago, the daily supply of little sweet cucumbers last year and the amazing potatoes dug up in Autumn.


On a more positive note our fruit trees are absolutely thriving. Our hedge is above head height and there are flowers in the front garden. It's been many years since I've had my own flowers, and I'm so grateful to have some once again.




Meanwhile I'll be watching the skies today hoping for that thunderstorm forecast to eventuate.

bare essentials

Sometimes it's good to give yourself permission to take the week a little slower. There is always so much to do out here. Outside, inside. Projects to be started and projects to be finished. When it comes to home things to do are a constant.

After the preparation and time spent away for even just a weekend, usually means I try to take things slowly for a week. After the unpacking, the inevitable washing that comes with going away, and the catching up on paperwork , well, it can leave me feeling quite tired.

So I'm slowly getting through the washing and doing the essentials that need to be done. I've baked bread and scones, but nothing else. I made a meat and vegetable soup that lasted two nights. The paperwork and school notes are up to date. I've done a mini shop, but not the usual big, full trolley shop.

There are many, many things that need to be done, particularly in the garden. But in the scheme of things one weeks delay will not do much harm.

Often it's a constant juggle, and though we're the sort of people that don't like to be "busy", life often has other ideas. At times though, it is a good thing to leave what is not necessary, to focus on the bare essentials. Even for just a week. Just to let yourself recharge a little.

perspectives

It's funny the perspective a weeks worth of holidaying can bring.

Though I love spending time on the internet, there is a certain clarity of mind to be had when you don't have it. There are less distractions on holidays. I still cooked dinner each night. I still put the compost out. I still cloth nappied my youngest. But I was able to step back and enjoy life just that little bit more.

I felt that I could hear myself think. I could hear my kids clearly. I felt rested with a certain sense of calm that only idle time can bring. No plans. No expectations. I wanted to bottle some of that and bring it home.

I'd like to make time to read more. To engross myself in the world of a novel every now and then.

I'd like to knit outdoors more.

I'd like to reawaken my senses and enjoy more of what is under my very nose.

I'd like to slow down, even just a little bit.

We saw many beautiful places; breathtaking beaches the colour of sapphires and topaz, sandy tracks lined with gnarled and twisted banksias, rolling hills dotted with black and white cows. At times we threw around the idea of moving to such places. But as we opened the gate into our driveway we realised that we have it pretty good here. It may not be very green. It may not have the scent of salt in the air and the echos of the ocean. But the blossoms had emerged while we were away and the sweet scent of them filled the valley. The lilac and apple trees are budding. It's been a long cold Winter. But we are sensing a change. A reawakening. And it really wouldn't be the same anywhere else.

We are home.

it whistles

Our kettle broke down over a month ago now. Like the one before that, and the one before that, and the one before that, it just stopped working. It's one of those appliances I've never had much luck with. You could add toasters and washing machines to that list too. Please don't start me on washing machines.

So I went online and began researching different kettles. I read pages of reviews. Most seemed to point to the same conclusion. That you could buy a cheap plastic kettle, or a more attractive, rather expensive one, but basically they both had the same reliability.

In my searches I stumbled across Simplex kettles, still manufactured in the UK. Of course I had to investigate further. It turned out to be the one kettle I found with constantly glowing reviews.

Of course the very big difference is that she sits on the stovetop and is not electric. And she whistles. Just like the ones you might remember when you were a kid. Maybe you still have one. But it is quite a new thing around here, and is still quite a novelty. She does take a little longer to boil, but I don't mind that. I like to think it's another way of slowing down in this faster paced world.

I ordered the chrome, as opposed to the higher maintenance copper. A quick wipe down and she is shiny as new.

She did cost a pretty penny, but I have a feeling she will outlast her disposable counterparts. Likely several times over.

I've started drinking tea again.

By the way, this is not a sponsored post, I just really like my kettle. Do you remember the old whistling kettles? Do you have one? Do you have luck with kettles?

a good at home kind of day

I've made a few changes to the routine of my day. I've never been one for routines, but if I think about it my days at home do follow a loose kind of routine.  I've stopped blogging early in the morning. I'm slowing down a little for breakfast. I take the kids to school and then I make a coffee and sit down to blog. Knowing that the dishes are done and the bed made.

Yesterday after hanging the washing out, I noticed that Violet didn't want to come back inside. So I did something I don't usually do. I grabbed my knitting and sat outside while she played. Soaked in a bit of the Wintery sun and listened to the stillness. I think it's something I need to do more of.

Lunch has always been a hurried kind of meal for me. But yesterday I started sitting at the table just my food and I (no reading allowed!). I enjoyed that leftovers meal of baked bread, cold scrambled egg (I never knew you could eat it cold and it would actually taste quite good) and kale, ricotta and roast pumpkin salad. I was glad I'd saved it the night before.


It was a good at home kind of day.

a tree of sticks

This year we hit upon a tree dilemma. While our plastic white tree has served us well, and no doubt will again, we wondered just how safe it was to have around a crawling little one with curious fingers and a tendency to pull herself up on certain things.

Keen to avoid a tree and ornament catastrophe, and ever the practical problem solver, the hubby promised that he would find an alternative.

So we found ourselves on the weekend gathering sticks, pinecones and branches at The Shed. Though the land is filled predominantly with eucalypts, there is old schoolhouse foundations on the site and they are surrounded by a very old group of pine trees. It has been my christmas go-to site for years. It is a pinecone and mossy branch treasure trove.

When we got home we propped the sticks in my yarn basket (still with the yarn in it) , which Daniel tied with a little more wool to hold in place. A piece of scrap fabric popped over the top and it was ready to go.

 

This stick tree kind of lent itself well to the handmade touches this year. Most of my usual glass baubles were just a bit too big (though Luca did sneak his in there).

Some made by me, some by the kids, with a little op shop Santa thrown in and a few vintage glass ornaments from Etsy last year.

In fact I put most of our decorations back in their wrapping this year. For some reason,  we were inclined to have a simpler, pared down version of christmas. Just some special little decorations that felt like they meant something to us. With a little nature thrown in. A few jugfulls of pine branches for that christmas tree scent. A bowl of pinecones. Just simple stuff.


Wishing you all a wonderful and calm Friday in the midst of this busy season.