It’s been a long summer here on the farm. Long, and hot, and dry. So dry. On Friday we finally had some rain, and it feels, somehow, as though the season has changed. Autumn is here.
The last few weeks have been crazy. The local show, a trip to Dubbo for Hannah and I so that she could compete in a regional swimming competition, lots of swim training, a trip to Canberra for a plant fair and some shopping, and two trips to the South Coast for me as well – one on a school camp with work, and one with family. For the first time since we arrived in the farm, we don’t have anyone staying with us for the Easter long weekend. While we love having guests, we are looking forward to some quiet relaxation.
Making: A crochet blanket, and a crochet beanie. Yep I’ve been bitten by the crochet bug.
Cooking: chutneys, sauces, and other preserves with all the produce coming in from the garden.
Drinking: cool drinks during the hot weather – Summer lasted a long time this year.
Reading: Blossom + Sprout by my friend Emma, and Grow Just One Thing by my friend Kyrstie. Isn’t it wonderful to have clever friends!
Wanting: A quiet weekend.
Looking: at kitchen design ideas.
Playing: the piano with Hannah. We’ve been thumping out Daydream Believer.
Deciding: on garden designs.
Wishing: for more rain!
Enjoying: slipping and sliding down the hill on Sunday afternoon.
Waiting: for our extension to start… not too long now!
Liking: time spent at the beach with family.
Wondering: how Hannah managed to gain her athletic ability – we are off to the state swimming championships with her school relay team next month. #proudparent.
Loving: all the cute babies we have on the farm.
Pondering: how quickly the last 11 years have gone – I’m filling in High School enrollment forms for Hannah (sob).
Considering: buying another Boom Shankar skirt… I don’t have the blue cleo skirt yet (though I have it in the black, and green!).
Buying: new shoes for work.
Watching: Farmer Wants A Wife *cringe with embarrassment*
Hoping: for a quiet Easter long weekend.
Marveling: at how quickly Toby is learning to read at school.
Cringing: at the readers we now have coming home every night. I’d forgotten how much I hate them.
Needing: a new printer and a new kettle.
Questioning: whether 32 tomato plants is a little excessive for one family (FYI – it is!).
Smelling: basil and tomatoes.
Wearing: skirts, and flats to work each day.
Following: lots of interesting people on instagram.
Noticing: the land is looking tired and grey after a long, hot summer. We’ve finally had a little rain, so fingers crossed the grass pokes out soon.
Knowing: that I really should enjoy the warm weather while it lasts. It will be cold soon enough!
Thinking: that I need to get back on my #onething kick.
Sorting: my food photo props.
Getting: a new phone, after I dropped my old one and smashed it.
Bookmarking: crochet patterns.
Coveting: that 35mm lens for the camera – still.
Disliking: mice – we’ve had a few inside lately.
Opening: parcels of wool.
Giggling: at Toby, who periodically thinks he is a dragon. Five year old boys are fun.
Feeling: sore after slipping and sliding. It’s clear that I’m not as young as I used to be.
Snacking: on peach streusel cake.
Helping: my students get ready for exams.
Hearing: Meg practicing the piano – she just loves to practice!
We are just back from a weekend on the South Coast of NSW with Country Boy’s family. It’s always lovely to get away from the farm for a break. Farms are relentless beasts. They take as much time and effort as you have, and so we have to be careful to give ourselves breaks from it from time to time. Country Boy took the kids for a walk along the beach early on Saturday morning, so I thought I would leave you with a few of the pics he snapped. Isn’t he good!
What have you been up to lately?
