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Lately…

Boy, these holidays have been busy. I had grand plans to spend some serious time decluttering the spare room, and cleaning out the kitchen cupboards (I did do a light cull of the tupperware and cookware), but alas, I ran out of time. We’ve had friends and family to visit, a trip to town to do a big shop, and a beach break as well, so I’m hardly in a place to complain, but we have only had q three days all holidays with nothing on. We need a break from our holidays!

Our garden has all but finished it’s summer harvest. We dug out the potatoes over the long weekend, and Hannah collected the worms. We have several boxes of potatoes sitting on our outdoor shelf ready to eat over the coming months! I think potatoes are my favourite vegetable.

Speaking of our beach break, it was lovely! We stayed in Narooma and got upgraded from the standard cabin, to the 3 bedroom deluxe spa model. We lived it up with the kids enjoying a deep spa every night (no tank water to worry about). One of the downsides of farm life is that there isn’t much down time, so a few nights away is always welcome.

We went for a drive down to Tilba one day so that the kids could fan girl about River Cottage Australia. I bought some cheese and we enjoyed a cheese platter for dinner that night. On the scenic route home, I saw this super cute roadside store. I really wish we had a little more through traffic here so that we could set up something similar.

Our good friends down the road have a lot of ducks that need eating, and we have a few pigs that need eating, so we are planning a sausage making day once the weather gets colder. Pork and duck sausages. I’m thinking up flavour combinations to go with them such as ginger and five spice for a slight asian twist, or sour cherry for a more european vibe. Last time we made sausages we bought a pre mix seasoning, though it turned out too salty for our liking. This time I’m thinking we will go completely from scratch. So many fun ideas!

It has rained! I probably should have written that first, because it is such a relief. The land has gone from dry and dusty and brown, to green and muddy. What a transformation! Our water tanks are getting fuller too!

We have been talking about building a wood fired pizza oven and a fire pit behind our house. We’ve walked around the yard trying to find the best spot to put it, and are debating the set up. Next up, I need to research the best way to make the pizza oven. It should be a fun project to get going.

We are heading into a few busy weeks again, but I’m looking forward to cosy evenings in front of the fire. I’ve finished reading Harry Potter number 4 to the girls. Hannah has taken on number 5 herself. I will have to find another book to read to them. It’s such a good thing to do together.

What have you been up to lately? Got any sausage making advice? Made a pizza oven? What should we read to the girls next?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mums Take FIve says

    May 14, 2015 at 10:59 am

    Great suggestions 🙂 bugs i dont do well with bugs and i like to have people and noise …. i like to visit the country lol Thanks for sharing with us for The Sunday Brunch Magazine , Bel & Eliza xx

    Reply
  2. amummy says

    April 28, 2015 at 8:06 am

    Pumpkin Soup, is the go to meal here.

    Reply
  3. Louise says

    April 28, 2015 at 1:13 am

    burritos with black beens and sweet potatoes!

    Reply
  4. Katie Writes Stuff says

    April 27, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    Autumn is the beginning of soup weather for me! It's been ages since I made a lovely chicken noodle soup but even longer since I made a pot of pea and ham, so I think I'll have to put that on my list of things to do soon.

    I love the idea of a seasonal recipe book. Thanks to supermarkets and their refrigerated storage, most of us have only the vaguest idea of when we should be eating particular foods. Not that it matters when it comes to buying from supermarkets, because who knows when the produce was originally harvested?

    P.S. I found your blog recently and enjoyed reading it right from the start. In fact, it inspired me to write about my own childhood in the country on my blog.

    Reply
  5. Annette says

    April 27, 2015 at 5:26 am

    Homemade pumpkin soup from homegrown pumpkins

    Reply
  6. Jessica Brown says

    April 26, 2015 at 1:45 pm

    It's a simple Almond Meal/Arrowroot/Egg Loaf with Ham, Zucchini, Green Olives, Parmesan and Pepitas on the top, it's delicious out of the oven, cold or dipped in some egg and milk to become savoury french toast.

    Reply
  7. Sonia@ LIfe Love and Hiccups says

    April 26, 2015 at 12:05 pm

    oooo how I would love a pizza oven. I will ne keen to see how you guys go and you may just inspire me to inspire the hubby lol xx

    Reply
  8. Olivia says

    April 26, 2015 at 10:03 am

    Banana bread with vanilla bean icing & a splash of popping candy.

    Reply
  9. Sarah White says

    April 26, 2015 at 7:36 am

    I love Lamb and veges in the slow cooker. Autumn means the beginning of slow cooked meals, which gives me more time to spend with the family at dinnertime. They love the meals and I love the no fuss!! lol

    Reply
  10. Beverley O'Brien says

    April 26, 2015 at 6:43 am

    As we live seasonal out of our vegie garden (no shops here); as with all seasons I make the most of what we harvest. Autumn here is tomatoes, the last of the beans, onions, spinach (always), pumpkin, corn and the last of the zucchini. Lots of herbs. Lots of eggs. So our favourite currently is vegie lasagne using the eggs for pasta and variety of vegies and herbs.Soo yummy! Cooked in our very old wood stove. Thanks Jo for the opportunity to win this wonderful book x

    Reply
  11. Jan says

    April 26, 2015 at 3:58 am

    Baked apples with brown sugar and butter. Or pretty well any flavour of soup.

    Jo, don't count me as an entrant. I have so many books.

    Reply
  12. Amelia Jane says

    April 25, 2015 at 5:30 am

    Autumn mornings start to get a bit fresh, so that's how I like my breakfast too. Warming porridge with stewed apple warms the cockles.

    Reply
  13. Jo@Countrylifeexperiment says

    April 25, 2015 at 2:58 am

    Too many ducks seems like a nice problem to have really! I will be hitting YouTube with a vengeance to get all the info.

    Reply
  14. Jo@Countrylifeexperiment says

    April 25, 2015 at 2:57 am

    Got any advice??

    Reply
  15. Karina Lee says

    April 25, 2015 at 1:53 am

    I love a good sweet corn chicken soup. Delicious served with salad and rice!

    Reply
  16. jay says

    April 25, 2015 at 12:45 am

    Cant go past a good old pumpkin soup!

    Reply
  17. Laura Powers says

    April 25, 2015 at 12:01 am

    Pear and hazelnut cake – This moist cake is a delicious way to blend many different flavours and textures. It brings together pears, hazelnuts and chocolate. The hazelnuts can be swapped for almonds, and pears for apples, if you prefer.

    Reply
  18. Malinda says

    April 25, 2015 at 9:46 am

    I've heard the pompeii style oven is very good

    Reply
  19. Lila Wolff says

    April 24, 2015 at 11:17 pm

    Sounds like a busy but amazing lot of holidays, I am looking forward to hearing more about the sausages when you make them!

    Reply
  20. Jacky Burkett says

    April 24, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    Blackberry and apple crumble – as a child I used to pick the blackberries from the hedges – now sadly they are from the shops but this recipe brings back so many happy memories.

    Reply
  21. Malinda says

    April 24, 2015 at 11:20 pm

    What a beautiful holiday break you had. I know what you mean though, we need a rest after holidays to recover from all of the 'doing'. On another note, we are planning a pizza oven too!

    Reply
  22. Helga Grenkowitz says

    April 24, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    We love a hearty beef vegetable onepot with all vegetables in season in it. You can mix and match something different every time.

    Reply
  23. Ern says

    April 24, 2015 at 8:49 am

    Chicken, leek and mushroom pies You know Winter's on the way when we start making these.

    Reply
  24. Di says

    April 24, 2015 at 6:47 am

    Chicken soup just like Gran used to make. Keeps the sniffles away as the cold creeps in.

    Reply
  25. Jodie@FreshHomeCook says

    April 24, 2015 at 6:31 am

    Oh this looks & sounds just delicious. I have never made pear paste, but I certainly want to now. I also love a good kitchen gadget & have longed for an apple slinky for a long time. Now I have another reason to want one! Hmmm … Mother's Day is just around the corner, perhaps I can drop some not so subtle hints!

    Beautiful recipe & such gorgeous pics! 🙂

    Reply
  26. Malinda says

    April 24, 2015 at 2:49 am

    I have always been intrigued by those apple slinkies and this recipe might be a good excuse to tell the hubby. And curly fries – fun!!

    Reply
  27. Alicia-OneMotherHen says

    April 23, 2015 at 9:13 am

    With lots of mushrooms around at the moment, I would have to say a creamy mushroom pasta. Yum!

    Reply
  28. Donna Hunt says

    April 23, 2015 at 8:17 am

    Another one for a soup recipe – Hearty Vegie Soup with Dumplings. Smells divine and very morish!

    Reply
  29. Helen says

    April 23, 2015 at 1:28 am

    Hi have just discovered your blog, it's lovely. There are some very helpful videos on YouTube for making a pizza oven. I'll be interested to see how you sausage making goes. And I do wish our neighbours had too many ducks! I wish I had two many ducks:)

    Reply
  30. Jo@Countrylifeexperiment says

    April 22, 2015 at 10:32 am

    We haven't read any of that series – will ask the girls if they have seen it!

    Reply
  31. Jo@Countrylifeexperiment says

    April 22, 2015 at 10:32 am

    Might just have to hunt that one down!!

    Reply
  32. Erin aussiebookthreads says

    April 22, 2015 at 6:32 am

    What to read – How about the Penderwicks series, family of three girls and one little brother. Lots of fantastic family interaction, the 4th book has just come out.

    Reply
  33. Alison says

    April 22, 2015 at 12:50 am

    There are great instructions for a pizza oven in the River Cottage Bread Handbook. (Which isn't actually written by Hugh – but still fantastic)

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Jo

I'm a city girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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A lovely, easy Christmas with family, good food, a A lovely, easy Christmas with family, good food, a few presents, an afternoon swim and dinner on the veranda as the sun set. Time to stop and be thankful for the many blessings of the year. I hope you had a lovely Christmas too!
We have been mulling over how to fix up the drivew We have been mulling over how to fix up the driveway and lead up to our house for a while. Currently it’s just a dumping ground for old bits of metal and a big pile of mulch, but C would like to create a turning area and put in a garden. First up though, there’s a huge old stump that needs to go. What better excuse is there to have a fire on Sunday afternoon? C and the kids jumped on the quad bike and trailer, and hauled back a big pile of sticks and logs to help the stump burn. Once the fire was going, marshmallows were found and roasted. No better way to spend time together.
Team work makes the dream work. We were asked rec Team work makes the dream work. 
We were asked recently whether we “make” our kids work on the farm. The answer is of course not. Having said that, all three love to help out whenever they can. They all work hard because they want to; because they take pride in working hard and contributing in a meaningful way to our family life; because they love living on our farm and don’t remember life before we moved here. Whether it be planting trees or doing sheep work or feeding animals, they all want to be involved. As a parent, nothing is better than watching them grow in skill and confidence as they work along side you. We’re so glad that we get to spend time with our three, working together.
We’ve had an unexpected addition to the family ☘️🐑. She is a lot easier to look after than the other family members but she does try to escape her yard and head butt people. Poddy lambs are super cute but they tend to think they are a human. Clover the lamb is sure that Meg is her mum. Can’t think why… 🤔🤣
The perfect way to end a long winter weekend: toge The perfect way to end a long winter weekend: together, cooking damper around the remains of the bonfire.
It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got through shearing without a hitch (thankfully 🙏) but we’ve had a run of the flu followed by Covid run through the family since then. The kids and I have tested positive (this is my second time getting it 🦠) though so far C has managed to avoid it. There has been a lot of lying on the couch feeling pretty ordinary. Han had to reschedule her driving test for a 4th time due to Covid, which is disappointing for her because she wants her freedom and for us because it would be so much more convenient if she could drive herself places. Just to add in to the mix, our hot water system has chosen now as a good time to die so we’re on cold showers until we’re all out of iso. This is not meant to be a whinging post but sometimes life just sucks a bit and it’s good to be real. Fortunately, the sight of the fire going with a stack of wood next to it cheers us up. Things will improve soon. Onwards we go…

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Hi, I’m Jo

City girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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