Twenty sixth

On the morning of the 26th day of the year we woke up in our caravan to the sounds of soft rain on the metal roof.

On the afternoon of this same day, after we had farewelled our family and friends, after we had drunk several strong coffees, after we had walked all the way up and all the way down the main street of Queenscliff and after Miss Pepper had finally learnt to ride a two wheeler bike, we had a caravan craft-er-ama-noon.

I can't tell you how much fun it is to have my farmer boy join me in this made-by-hand world. To have him happy to sit by my side for hours in silence cutting and curling and slicing off shavings of wood. For us to both to be so involved in what we are creating that we barely notice that we skipped lunch. And to have our girls coming in and out, chatting, joining us for a bit and then running off to play something else someplace else.

I can think of not many better ways to spend a chilly summer's afternoon.

His spoon was made from the other half of that piece of pine, and is one half of our new pair of salad servers. I only hope that during the crazy school year rush that begins again on Thursday, that he makes the time to complete the set.

We're heading home in the morning but I think we'll need to plan our next caravan trip soon.


Wishing you laughter.

Big love,

Kate xx

Twenty fifth

Hello lovelies,

It's 11.41pm here. Indi and Jazzy are dancing with the other guests at my cousin's wedding (I can hear Believe It Or Not I'm Walking On Air), Bren and Pepper are back at the caravan asleep and I've just snuck out for five minutes to take a breath and pop in and say hi to you.

It's been a gorgeous afternoon and night all round celebrating with loved ones, frocking up, getting away from home and getting back into Frankie Blue caravan - it's been so long, but she still feels like home.

I hope you guys have had/are having a wonderful day/night too.
I hope you're crying a bit less than I have been though, I'm such a wedding sook.

Great big love,

Kate xx

ps sorry about that enormous pic. I have no idea why I took a portrait photo this afternoon, I don't love how they look on my blog. But it's what I've got so it'll have to do. Until tomorrow...

In theory

I have a theory that mostly people get stuck on the details and don't see the bigger picture. At least I hope so when it comes to my crazy, chaotic, colourful home.

I have a theory that the mail you pick up in the morning dictates the type of day you'll have.

Too many bills - not so great.
No mail - blah.
An invitation or postcard - fun.
A surprise prezzy - WOHOOOO!!!!

Today I had a GREAT day!!

Thanks beautiful Dria and family for this amazing, amazing, amazing parcel of wool from Israel. The most wonderful present of all. xx

I have a theory that kale added to any meal automatically makes that meal extra healthy.

Tonight we ate kale in our pasties and in the salad. Healthy ++

I have a theory that once these last few tomatoes are finished, I can go without for the next six months if I find something to eat on my toast instead.

In the last few days I've tried pickled beetroot, semi dried tomatoes, pickled cucumbers and olives but I'd still prefer a little, rosy red cherry.

I HAD a theory that I would come home from Israel and cook Middle Eastern every day, but I really haven't. Except once. 

Maybe I should have had a theory about focusing on the actual food more and the eating less. 

I have a theory that my life is about to become VERY full of caravans and caravan merch.

I made 20 of these felt caravan book marks for some sales people out of that felt I bought last week. I hope they like 'em.

I have a theory that if you pop some interesting detail at your front door, people might not notice the enormous pile of shoes and gum boots. Maybe?

Actually, maybe that theory doesn't really work. If they don't notice them they're more likely to trip over them. Not so good after all.

And I have a theory that the excitement of winter's first broccoli is right up there with the excitement of spring's first asparagus and summer's first berries. Yum!

I have more.
But that's probably enough for now.
Do you have a theory on one of my theories, or a theory or two of your own?
I'm all ears.

xx

Hello happy & beautiful (almost) winter list

It's freeeeeezing cold here. Today was dark and grey and stormy and wet. Winter feels like it has well and truly settled in two weeks early. Although this weather feels like it could drag me under, this year I am determined not to let it. I'm determined to stay on top of it all. And what better way than by noticing and remembering and appreciating and being grateful for the good in my life. The great in my life. The beautiful in my life.

So here we go, here's my HELLO HAPPY and BEAUTIFUL (almost) WINTER list.

I love watching my little girls and their dogs. It reminds me of what we wanted, what we dreamed of, when we decided to move to the country to bring up our family. Jazzy and Willow.

I love the bits of bright colour in our garden. We're pretty good at growing the edible and the functional, but we often forget about the purely decorative. The decorative serves a pretty important function too, so I am learning.

I'm so happy that the kitchen garden is looking almost ready to take on the winter months. Kale and lettuce and rocket and herbs and garlic and broccoli and carrots and beetroots. I've got a bundle of seeds to plant in the hot house next time I get a chance too.

Pom pom parties!

We bought a Clover pom pom maker last weekend and it is rocking our world. It is quick and fun to use and makes the best, fluffiest pom poms around.

It may be freeeeeeeeezing, but Daylesford does autumn beautifully. This tree up near the poly tunnels seems to change colour and glow as the day goes on.

A sneaky, mid-week, wintery getaway with my farmer boy. We had the caravan park and the beach to ourselves and spent a whole luxurious two days alone. (Thanks heaps M and D xx)

The very last of autumn's colourful bounty. Yesterday I spent a bit of a disgusting few hours poking through the sloppy, mouldy vines in the poly tunnels for the final time of the season. Tomorrow the chooks will go in and clean them up. It's been a wonderful season but the time has come to say farewell.

A sunny Sunday's work in the kitchen garden resulted in a ute load of garden scraps for the compost. Out with the old and in with the new. Hooray!!

I've been catching glimpses of the cubby-house in different lights, from different angles and falling in love over and over again. 

Keeping the home fires burning. Cooking our food and warming our home. Late in the evenings we like to pull chairs up to her and open an oven for extra warmth. Then my farmer boy reads some Michael Pollan out loud and I knit. It's cozy. And MP is a great writer. And my farmer boy is a great reader and he took that photo and he's a bit cute too.

Ahhhhh, I feel better already. I think I might have to make this a regular thing.

Do you want to play too? Here in the comments or on your blog?
What are some of the little things making you feel up and happy at the moment?
What's chasing your grey away?

Big love peeps.
Be good. xx

Our beachy selves

On Friday afternoon we hitched up the caravan and we drove to the beach.

And we found the selves we had been looking for. Our beachy, slow, relaxed, funny, adventurous selves.

And we found time. Time to hang out, to crochet, to colour in, to eat out, to op-shop, to do magazine quizzes, to spend one-on-one time, to drink lots of coffee, to wander, to explore, to shoot photos for my book and to swim.

And we talked a lot about us. And we imagined a whole new life for our family in this small, beachy village. For six months or maybe a year. We couldn't stop talking about it. Adding bits and details to the story as the weekend went on.

We would live in a small cottage with a sun room facing the beach. Every morning we would wake up early and go surfing or swimming. Our girls would home school and go to nippers, their hair would beach blonde from the salt and sun. Indi might even have a beachy romance. And me and my farmer boy would have a break from organic farming for a bit. One of us would make coffees in the local cute cafe and the other would plant a flower and vegetable garden. I would leave the dresses and clogs behind and wear jeans and pastel coloured tees and sandals. And we would have time to read books, and sit in a hammock and walk for miles and miles and miles.

I don't think I want to be a school mama for the next 13 years.
I think it's time for us to plan our next adventure.

How are you doing?
Did you have a wonderful weekend?
Are you dreaming about a whole new you? A different way? Another place?

I hope your new week is such a happy one.

Bye! xx

Who farted?

This is not a back to school post, an Indi goes to high school post, or a Pepper's first day as a preppy post. Nope, I'm much too fragile for that.

This is not an end of a twelve year with small girls at home era post either.
I think I've already cried enough for one morning.

This is not even a post where I talk about what I want to do with my time now that I have some. Right now I have no idea. All I want to do is go back to bed and watch episodes of Breaking Bad. It's a shame we haven't got enough water in the tanks for me to have a long hot shower.

I have no idea what this post is. I feel lost and a bit empty. I guess I'm blogging because it felt like a bit of a comforting thing to do. Load photos, type text, publish.

I think I'll leave you with these words of wisdom my crew gave Miss Pepper on her first day of school;

Farmer Bren - Be nice to others and they will be nice to you.
Miss Indi - Shine bright like a diamond.
Miss Jazzy - If you fart, don't let anyone know it was you.
Me - Have fun.

I hope you and your gang have loads of fun too.
I think I'm going to go and get my hands dirty in the garden.

Bye! xx

ps. I don't know what's with the caravan tees. I printed them the other day when I should have been working on my book. They're in theme but I'm not sure how I'll use them. Maybe I need to reopen my shop. Hmmmmmmmm so much to think about.

My loving list.

Just for fun, because today is the first day of the school holidays and I feel happy and lucky and filled with love, I thought I'd make a list of some of the things that I'm loving right now. The things that are making me smile. The things that make me want to get out of bed in the morning. 

Ten things.

My loving list.

Top of the list are my gang. I heart them the most. They are my everything.

I'm loving crochet. And baskets of wool. And a blanket that is growing. And that meditative feeling that comes from having busy hands and a project you don't have to think to make.

I'm loving the autumn produce: apples and tomatoes and quinces and pears and carrots and grapes...

And I'm loving turning this into that, and that into this. It's like kitchen alchemy. It's quite magical don't you think?

I'm loving posies from my princesses and a kitchen table FULL of the gorgeous Gourmet Girlfriend's family. Great friends, beautiful food and lots of laughter is so much of what it's all about, I think.

I'm loving spotting little caravans around our town and imagining their road trips and what they've been up to.

And I'm loving the thought of Ms Frankie Blue taking us on many more adventures soon, after her time at the fixer uperer this week and next.

I'm loving knitting again. It's been quite some time between knitting projects, but it's lovely to be back. I'm using Kate's beautiful wool and knitting my first ever shawl. It's a very basic pattern but will be gorgeous to wear.

I am loving autumn's light and colours. Wow! She certainly is putting on quite a show this year.

I haven't had much time for treasure hunting lately but the little has been fun. A new to me dress and cardi, a bunch of Fowler's jars (soon to be filled with apples), some of my favourite pie crust edged Johnson Brothers crockery and a couple of pink floral cuties too.

I am loving farm life and it's variety of colours and flavours and jobs. I feel happy and proud to live here at the moment. 

And I love that my farmer boy has discovered a passion for turning a humble handful of flour into the most gorgeous loaves of bread, pies and pasta. It used to be my job but somewhere along the line he took over and I am in awe of his creativity and passion.

There's mine.
How about you?
What are you loving at the moment?
Have you got a loving list?
I'd love to know.
Let me know in the comments.
Or write a list on your blog and let us know and we can come and visit.

Happy week you guys.
I hope it's inspired and a bit silly.
xxhttp://gourmetgirl-friend.blogspot.com.au

What if? - The homecoming version.

Early last July, on the day before we left home, I wrote out a list of 'what if' questions. All the stuff I was worried about and stressing over was on that list. I knew we were heading for an awesome adventure, but it still helped to write down the niggly fears. The stuff at the back of my mind.

Yesterday we had a still day in Streaky Bay. We relaxed, admired our gorgeous view, did some housework and made a few plans for the next little while. 

Probably because we are homeward bound, last night I decided to visit that list for the first time since I published it. And then I found myself needing to answer those 'what ifs'.

Here goes:

What if I am as impatient with my kids as I feel today?

There were times when I was. Absolutely. But I think I mainly get impatient when I have an agenda and the girls are getting in the way and slowing me down. Life on the road is so much slower than life at home. And I have had more time and my farmer boy around to back me up when I have needed five minutes out to breathe.

What if it was all really about the styling and the fixing?

It wasn't but I'm so glad we spent that time. The curtains, the pale blue walls, the bed covers, the crocheted bits and bobs, the cupboard door handles...they have all gone to making this place a home. Our little nest. The styling and fixing made all the difference.

When we go home we have vowed to try a bit of styling there too. Perhaps it is possible to make our Copper-Art house more us with some paint, some rearranging and some special loving.

What if I am antisocial and don't feel like making new friends?

I guess the best part of travelling with a caravan is that you have your home with you where ever you go. Like a turtle. When you feel like being sociable and making new friends you do and when you don't, you can go inside. Back into your shell.

At home I often had issues with being sociable because I was always busy trying to get three hundred things done before the end of the day. Being sociable meant I'd do less. Achieve less. Somehow when we get home I have to reconcile the doing and the friending. Prioritise both. I hope I can.

What if something bad happens back home?

A few really bad things did happen. In six months it was inevitable.

I lost a friend to cancer. A young Mum with kids the same ages as mine. A friend who I spent time with a few times a week. My whole community has dealt with their loss. I really haven't. I am nervous about seeing her family without her and for dancing classes and play school drop offs when we get home. I miss her.

And my gorgeous grandfather had a terrible fall and ended up in hospital for a few weeks. I got progress reports all along the way but the photos of his face and being so far away were awfully painful.

What if I have no personal space?

I didn't. There is no personal space in a caravan.

Right now as I type these words Indi and Jazzy are singing some repetitive song about an elephant, Miss Pepper is throwing a lid of a cardboard box around and farmer Bren is trying to untangle his kite strings.

What if we only have access to crappy food?

We did. Right up the centre and then down the west coast until about Carnarvon we ate from the stupid market. We did our best to choose and cook well. But we didn't find anything organic or local or direct from the farmer until Carnarvon.

What if they don't make friends?

Thank goodness they did make friends and have friends around most of the time.

Well the smallest two did. Miss Indi found it a lot more difficult. There aren't many eleven year olds on the road. Which is a shame because eleven is such a great age to appreciate and learn from traveling. Its also a shame because she really could have benefited from the independence of friendships and we could have dealt with a bit more space on occasion too.

What if something runs out of batteries and we can't charge them?

I don't think this ever happened. We have that many chargers and cords that we have a whole cupboard dedicated to them.

What if they just fight all the time?

There have spent so much time together over the past six months that there were bound to be times when it felt like they did, but the majority of the time they have been great.

What if I have forgotten how to slow down and unplan?

I have relearned and remembered. My hope now is that I can maintain this slow when we get home.

What if I forget something important?

We didn't.

What if someone gets sick or hurt?

Miss Pepper was really sick for a while in Darwin, we also had to visit a dentist in Darwin and Miss Pepper dislocated her elbow in Abany. We survived. Its all part of the story of our trip now.

What if something important gets lost or stolen?

We have a week left and I'm afraid I'll jinx it if  I speak too soon, but up until now we have been incredibly lucky. We lost some tea-spoons and a couple of pairs of thongs early on, but we replaced them and moved on. 

What if we are being too ambitious?

We weren't.

But our next plan for sailing around the world might be. We are not boat people. Not yet anyway. We'll see.

What if I have packed the wrong things?

I think I packed well. And anything we needed we picked up along the way. Except for wool. There was a desperate shortage of wool for a couple of months until we got to Geraldton. But other than that we did great.

 

And finally here's the new list; the homecoming 'what ifs'. I am pretty sure that we are ready to go home. That we have plans and decisions in place and that we are ready and full of inspiration and strength. But 'what if'??

What if I spend too much of my time driving the girls in and out of town?

What if all our homecoming plans are too ambitious?

What if our house is unfixable?

What if everything is exactly the same?

What if everything is really different?

What if I don't have enough time to get everything done?

What if the girls are just too far behind in their schooling?

What if I get swallowed up by housework?

What if I feel sad and uninspired and coming home is a comedown?

What if the stresses we left behind are there waiting for us?

What if we go home rested and inspired and full of energy and enthusiasm and what if we are happy?! Let's hope so. We do live in one of the most beautiful parts in Australia and grow organic produce for us and for a living after all.

Travel safe peeps. xx