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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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Reader Interactions

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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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…
A picture perfect Autumn afternoon to end the scho A picture perfect Autumn afternoon to end the school holidays. We’ve been busy spending time with friends and family, harvesting the last of the summer produce, as well as a short escape to explore the big smoke. After the craziness of last term it was the break we all needed. It’s back to school for me tomorrow, and the kids are back on Wednesday. Shearing starts soon and so it’s all systems go over the next few weeks.
Covid has made some late changes to our weekend pl Covid has made some late changes to our weekend plans so we are embracing the unexpected and doing not much at home. Plenty of time for hanging out on the dam and enjoy the perfect weather.
Autumn has arrived in the orchard and the apple tr Autumn has arrived in the orchard and the apple trees are full of fruit. Yesterday we filled five baskets of apples that had fallen off the trees. Then we had apple crumble for dessert last night. Between the orchard and the vegetable garden this time of year is always super busy as we deal with all the harvest. No so busy though, that I can’t grab the camera and snap a few pics.
On weekends he makes himself a hot milo and lies o On weekends he makes himself a hot milo and lies on the veranda in the sun, just chilling and enjoying the freedom (until mum grabs her camera at least 🙄🤣).
Late summer evenings spent picking fruit in the or Late summer evenings spent picking fruit in the orchard are just the best. We take baskets down to gather the fruit and we inspect the trees and plan what we will do with it all. Tonight we gathered blackberries, nectarines and the first apples. The kids eat the fruit right off the trees - it tastes so much better than shop bought fruit. All the rain this year has not been good for all our plants; no mulberries and a lot less of some of the others. It reminds us of how much we depend on the weather and how much is out of our hands.

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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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