Nanne and Pa's New House

For the first time all year, I finally feel 'normal'. The new house is built and we are in it, and it is wonderful. We moved out of the caravan and 'bunkhouse' 2 weeks ago after nearly 5 months and a cold old winter. Below is the journey of Nanne's (and Pa's) new garden house

Marking out the spot



Right here



Breaking ground, lots of it



 The temporary accomodation



Marking out the foundations

 



Looking out of the 'lounge room window'



View from the window

Pa getting started on the lawn



Getting down to business



Lights

Nearly there

The verandah Pa built

Farmers at Last

We moved into the new farm on the last day of autumn and spent the first month in the 110 year old farmhouse with its 110 year old insulation in the coldest, wettest windiest winter ever. Or so it seemed. Renovations went on around us as the young'ns prepared the farmhouse for their arrival, and work commenced on our cottage. It's amazing what you can tolerate when you're living a dream.A good fire place and plenty of wood kept us warm, as did the many jobs that needed doing around the property.

Broken fences needed mending,

horses settled in,



"we're settled!"

fallen trees collected for firewood, (Pa's favourite job, really!)

visitors shown around, especially up the big hill,

lost calves brought in from the cold, fed, and returned to the neighbour

Nanne's Garden has Moved.

In spite of the gorgeous property that we enjoyed in Buln, we decided it was time for the Grande Vision to finally take shape.
The 2 acres were just great, but they weren't the vision. We had always dreamed of the real thing: land that would carry many animals, dirt that would produce orchards, abundant vegetables and flower  gardens, and potential for great beauty;  a place where we could learn to really care for the land and make it thrive; a place where family and friends could soak in the beauty and serenity when the world wearied.

In autumn this year, we placed our lovely home on the market and soon after sold it to a young family wanting to move out of the city and raise their children in the country. Good for them!
Our son, daughter-in-law and 2 kids sold their property in town and, with a matching dream, partnered with us to buy 55 beautiful acres 10 mins from town, an old dairy farm that needed love and hard work, which we had in spades.

As winter started to set in we picked the last of the summer veges, packed all our worldly goods and as many plants as I could pot into the horse trailer and made many trips across the valley to the dream farm. Horses and chickens soon followed.

Our last morning at Buln gave us a golden sunrise over a foggy landscape, and our first morning on the new farm was just as glorious.

The realities of a 120 year old farm house and a cold, wet, windy winter were soon to set in, but dreamers see the coming spring and fruit on the trees and grass in the paddocks.... and just keep adding jumpers, sox and scarves.






        Last sunrise at Buln.
First sunrise at the new farm. 

Holidays and Grandchildren

If you have 2 acres of land around your house it should definitely be an 'electronic free zone' (EFZ). There's nothing we like better than sharing our little farm with grandkids when the school holidays come, so Nanne and Pa have a few activities and lots of good food ready to keep them active and outside.

 There's the bikes, trikes, billy cart and the mighty 'mow-mobile', an old lawn mower used for down hill runs.

Darling little Cindy patiently teaching the next generation how to ride.

My beautiful Mez living up to her name "Mesmerize"


 



Big cousin , little cousin

Sewing projects, Blanket stitch purses

 

Home Made Lemon Drink

It has been a very hot summer here, the kind where even your appetite wilts.
Our lemon trees have been dropping fruit by the basket full ever since spring. Even after giving away bags full, we are still left with dozens.
It beggars belief that the supermarkets are selling American lemons for $1.50 each.

Pa is the chief cordial maker at our place.Here's his recipe:

2cups of sugar

2 cups of boiling water

2 cups of lemon juice



which gives you about a litre of cordial, and a few pips !!!
Store it in the fridge, where it will last for a few weeks, theoretically. Ours never lasts that long.









To make the most refreshing drink for a hot summer day,
add one part cordial to 3 parts water, plus lots of ice of course.

I can only imagine how healthy it must be with all that   vitamin C in it

(pesky little pip)

 

It's a Sign!

My first attempt at a little sign, thanks to Pinterest! A lump of wood from under the house, some left over paint, some country music and we're off.

Out with the old

                                                                In with the new

Everyone loves to cuddle a chook

The last of my winter veges, now stored under the house. I never get over the pleasure of cooking food I have grown in my own garden.