As I sit and look around I can hear the generator humming in the background, broken up by little birds singing and the occasional, distinctive call of the whip bird. The forest leaves are glistening as the sun rises above the hills and catches the remains of last nights dew. Aggie is curled up on the couch, and she lets out the occasional contented grunt. The yurt looks like a whirlwind has torn through it. The beds are unmade, the floor needs a sweep and there are dishes stacked haphazardly on the table waiting patiently to be taken to the sink.
School is back.
Instead of rushing to attend all the jobs that are waiting for me, I am here with you. A cuppa sits on the table cooling off as I try and gather my thoughts about the last couple of weeks and put them into some kind of order so I can catch you up.
Firstly the yurt is up and we are in! Goodness, it was a huge few days getting it up. It's not quite finished, the internal linings need a little straightening, the sliding window needs to be inserted, the flue needs to be fitted and a frame built to support it, awnings need to be set up and the external fitting need to be secured with what feels like 500 screws. But none the less we are in and it's wonderful. I was a little worried about space, but once the kitchen is in, the walls are up and the mezzanine is in the space will be just fine. Despite all that still needs to be done it feels like we are living in utter luxury. We now have 280L Bushmans gas fridge/freezer, and the Aga is up and running. Goodness, I love her. Every time I cook on her I feel like Ma Ingalls from Little House on the Prarie. I just need a full apron! I'm quickly learning her temperatures, how to get her hot, and how to cool her down and to ensure she has a good amount of coals to ensure an even temperature for baking.
The yurt has no running water or a bathroom yet, so there is a large plastic tub that everyone puts their dirty dishes into, then we wash them up in the caravan and bring them back to the yurt clean. Hopefully in the next week or two Grant will build a temporary sink area in the yurt out of materials we have on hand. We will continue to use the little makeshift bathroom off the back of the caravan until we have the yurt a little better set up. It will be a little while until we can function like we would in a normal house but in the meantime, the yurt makes for a clean, warm, dry and comfortable little home. Which is really all that matters.
Amongst all the building, moving things in from storage, sorting and organizing we have had family visit from South Australia for a week during the school holidays. It was lovely to explore our new district with them. We have been so busy trying to get our feet on the ground here that until they came we had not had much of a chance to get out and about. They spoilt us all and it gave us a much-needed boost in morale. By the end of last term, we were all tired and things were feeling extremely hard. But now we are in the yurt, we have an oven, a fridge and have taken some time out for fun with family and rest we are back on track.
Little Henry also turned 6 in the school holidays, oh how time flys. It called for a weekend of celebrations. Birthday cake shared at home with treasured new friends, a trip to the beach to collect shells and eat fish and chips, Henry's choice of birthday dinner of sausages mash and gravy and watching a movie at home.
It was lovely to have the boys home for school holidays, but if I'm honest the peace and quiet is also nice after the chaos that has been this year so far. On that note, I best get going. There are sheets to change, dishes to do and organizing to be done to ensure the yurt is well set up as we get back into the routine of the school term.
I hope all is well with you dear readers, and I'd love to hear what you have all been up too.
Much love,
Emma
xx
The yurt just set up. There is sorting and tidying to do, the tents to pack down but we are in and she is up!
School is back.
Instead of rushing to attend all the jobs that are waiting for me, I am here with you. A cuppa sits on the table cooling off as I try and gather my thoughts about the last couple of weeks and put them into some kind of order so I can catch you up.
Firstly the yurt is up and we are in! Goodness, it was a huge few days getting it up. It's not quite finished, the internal linings need a little straightening, the sliding window needs to be inserted, the flue needs to be fitted and a frame built to support it, awnings need to be set up and the external fitting need to be secured with what feels like 500 screws. But none the less we are in and it's wonderful. I was a little worried about space, but once the kitchen is in, the walls are up and the mezzanine is in the space will be just fine. Despite all that still needs to be done it feels like we are living in utter luxury. We now have 280L Bushmans gas fridge/freezer, and the Aga is up and running. Goodness, I love her. Every time I cook on her I feel like Ma Ingalls from Little House on the Prarie. I just need a full apron! I'm quickly learning her temperatures, how to get her hot, and how to cool her down and to ensure she has a good amount of coals to ensure an even temperature for baking.
The yurt has no running water or a bathroom yet, so there is a large plastic tub that everyone puts their dirty dishes into, then we wash them up in the caravan and bring them back to the yurt clean. Hopefully in the next week or two Grant will build a temporary sink area in the yurt out of materials we have on hand. We will continue to use the little makeshift bathroom off the back of the caravan until we have the yurt a little better set up. It will be a little while until we can function like we would in a normal house but in the meantime, the yurt makes for a clean, warm, dry and comfortable little home. Which is really all that matters.
Amongst all the building, moving things in from storage, sorting and organizing we have had family visit from South Australia for a week during the school holidays. It was lovely to explore our new district with them. We have been so busy trying to get our feet on the ground here that until they came we had not had much of a chance to get out and about. They spoilt us all and it gave us a much-needed boost in morale. By the end of last term, we were all tired and things were feeling extremely hard. But now we are in the yurt, we have an oven, a fridge and have taken some time out for fun with family and rest we are back on track.
Little Henry also turned 6 in the school holidays, oh how time flys. It called for a weekend of celebrations. Birthday cake shared at home with treasured new friends, a trip to the beach to collect shells and eat fish and chips, Henry's choice of birthday dinner of sausages mash and gravy and watching a movie at home.
I love this expression on Henry's face here. He wanted to spend the day in his new PJ's. I baked the cake in the Aga, and clearly, I forgot to buy birthday candles. But there was a chocolate cake with smarties and 6 candles and dear friends and family there to sing happy birthday so that's all that matters, yes?
It was lovely to have the boys home for school holidays, but if I'm honest the peace and quiet is also nice after the chaos that has been this year so far. On that note, I best get going. There are sheets to change, dishes to do and organizing to be done to ensure the yurt is well set up as we get back into the routine of the school term.
I hope all is well with you dear readers, and I'd love to hear what you have all been up too.
Much love,
Emma
xx
