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18 Summers

*steps up to the microphone

tap tap tap… is this thing on???

Hello! Long time no blog. I’ve thought of at least a dozen things to blog about over the last however long, but none of them inspired me enough to actually open up ye olde computer and type something in.

Life has been full with work and kids and farms and droughts and plans and projects. Full but good. Something had to give and it was blogging that took the back seat. Rest assured that we are chugging along just fine.

We have spent the summer relaxing with family, making memories. I read somewhere many years ago that we only get 18 summers with our children. At the time, surrounded by small children, the prospect sounded daunting, but now on the tail end of our fourteenth summer, I can say that 18 summers are not enough. Not even close – so we are savouring every last minute of this summer.

We’ve spent time building giant turtles out of the sand on the beach and diving into the pool for hours on end, picking mulberries and playing on the dam, lying on the floor listening to stories being read by uncles and having adventures with cousins. It’s been magical.

We’ve played lego for hours, read books, done jigsaw puzzles, played board games, watched movies, helped C feed sheep and do bits around the farm and laid on the couch under the air conditioner enjoying the luxury of doing nothing. We’ve stayed up way too late and slept in before doing it all again. As I said, magical.

Last night I was wandering the garden in the fading light, enjoying the brief reprieve from the heat that an afternoon storm had brought. I looked back at the house, with the shadows of the kids in the windows (it was way past bedtime but they were still up – oh well), and was just so grateful that we are able to have this life. The physical space for them to grow and explore and create, and the emotional space that the physical distance gives us. Space for them to be who they want to be without some of the pressures of modern city life. I love that the farm gives our family a chance to work together and play together, not just in the summer, but all year round.

18 summers are not enough, and I’m coming to the conclusion that 18 years are not enough – not even close!

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Previous Post: « Twelve Months Later
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Comments

  1. Jim McKenna says

    December 28, 2019 at 8:19 pm

    Hi Jo. So great to her from you again and that your summer has been going along so fine. Hope we all get some good rain soon especially you guys on the land. Kind regards, Jim.

    Reply
  2. jeanieinparadise says

    February 17, 2019 at 9:46 pm

    Oh so true – I have one aged out, and it is so hard (especially for the little one) to know that they will never happen again…

    Reply
  3. Katie says

    January 28, 2019 at 1:03 pm

    I’m excited to find a new entry on the blog, Jo! Quite a summer, wasn’t it? Beautiful pictures and words; thanks for sharing them – and sharing the summer.

    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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We’re getting to the end of the summer break 😭. The kids have been staying up late, sleeping in, swimming and kayaking on the dam, reading and watching movies, and giving the LEGO a good run. I’ve been reading, sorting out things (it’s what I do in January), binge watching Netflix, and cooking. In the evenings I go for a walk and always arrive back to this view as the sun is setting. Also, I haven’t taken down the Christmas lights yet, and I probably won’t for a while longer because they are so pretty. Not ready for summer to end!
Wide open spaces... Wide open spaces...
It’s been a busy old day around here. Washing be It’s been a busy old day around here. Washing bed linen, getting rid of the cobwebs that spring up so quickly. I even pulled everything out on the bathroom vanity and gave it a purge and deep clean. I have no idea how half the stuff got there 🤷‍♀️. For me January is a time to reset the house, de clutter and get sorted. Something about a new year perhaps? 🤔
Anyhow, here’s a pic of my freshly decobwebbed (totally a word) window  which makes me happy- just don’t look too closely!
I’ve been baking today, in between watching the I’ve been baking today, in between watching the news coming out of the US in disbelief. The mulberry tree has begun to fruit so I whipped up this mulberry yoghurt cake. It’s delicious and easy. The mulberries go all jammy and the cake is soft and not too sweet. Perfect comfort food with a hot drink when it feels like the world has gone mad.
We’re beginning 2021 in the best way; at the bea We’re beginning 2021 in the best way; at the beach with cousins. Despite the occasional rain we are enjoying swimming, playing board games and just hanging out together.
Top 9 2020 Drought and lots of pics around the far Top 9 2020
Drought and lots of pics around the farm (and a bit of green at the end) really does sum up the year.

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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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