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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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Summer holidays seem a million years ago already. Summer holidays seem a million years ago already. It’s all systems go here as we try to get our rhythm going. School and work are busy, community events are coming back, and our harvest is in full swing. It’s a lot to manage. No matter how busy we are, I’ve been prioritising my evening walk. Sometimes C or the kids come with me and we talk and make plans, and sometimes I go alone, with a podcast for company. Either way, the golden hour is always breathtakingly beautiful and I snap way too many pics. None of them ever fully capture the magic, but I can’t help myself. I mean look!!! 😍
The kids have been wanting to build a raft for the The kids have been wanting to build a raft for the dam for a while. They collected some old barrels and pallets, and got some rope to lash it all together. This morning they put it together and floated it out into the middle of the dam. Plenty of magical days to be had playing on the dam ahead of us!
The orchard doesn’t stop. We’re getting basket The orchard doesn’t stop. We’re getting baskets and baskets of fruit each day and I’m running out of things to do with it all. I’ve taken quite a few to work to give away. I’ve made jams and pastes and chutney. I’ve cooked and frozen apricots and nectarines for fruit crumble this winter and dehydrated plums and apples for lunch boxes. The pantry and freezer are filling up.
I woke up yesterday and it was raining - a perfect I woke up yesterday and it was raining - a perfect time to deep clean. I dusted, de-cobwebbed, sorted, wiped, scrubbed, vacuumed and washed. Of course it will stay this way for 34 seconds, but it’s nice while it lasts.
We’re slowly (verrry slowly) getting back into t We’re slowly (verrry slowly) getting back into the swing of school and work. I think C might secretly be glad we’re leaving him each day so he can get through the many jobs that he always has at this time of year. He’s fencing and slashing thistles and drenching the lambs and a thousand other things that need to be done to keep the farm ticking over. In the evenings he often joins me on my walk and we talk about our plans for the garden and farm. We’ve had a lot of rain over the past few days and the air is so clear and the evening light is amazing. I keep stopping to take photos.
Late summer harvest is coming in. I’ve got tomat Late summer harvest is coming in. I’ve got tomatoes, stone fruit, corn, and even early apples sitting on my bench needing to be dealt with. I’ve got a big pot of tomato passata on the stove (I need to make at least 50 jars this year) and I went through our jams and pickles and made a list of what I need to make this year. Next week I will get out the dehydrator and start drying fruit for snacks and muesli. It’s all systems 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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