Hello there dear readers, how are you?
I have been a little quiet in this space over the last few weeks with us all recuperating from the flu, school holidays and the usual list of things to do. But after a break and some time to catch up I'm back feeling refreshed.
School holidays were a real mixed bag this round. We started out sick and worn out so the first week was spent getting better, eating nourishing food and watching lots of movies between bouts of time outside in the sunshine. Then we had dear friends from South Australia come and visit which was the highlight. Our yurt is a small place to host 10, but we managed just fine. Our friends slept in the vintage caravan with a little heater to take the chill off the night air and our two big boys camped in a tent bundled up in their swags.
So often in today's world, we think we have to put on our best before we have people over. We feel embarrassed if our homes are a little daggy, messy or small. We worry that our cooking skills are not restaurant standard. So many people get anxious about having people over and to have someone drop in unannounced? Well, the thought alone can induce feelings of dread in many.
But then we read studies about how lonely people are, and we read about how people crave deeper connections and a village-like environment to raise their children in. Yet we cannot have one without the other. If we want a village, then we need to be willing to allow people into our homes and our hearts even when things are imperfect and a little messy, because people are imperfect and messy.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't have doubts about having our friends over while we are still getting established here. Would they cope with our simple makeshift bathroom? Would we all fit? Would they be comfortable in the caravan? Would I pull off decent meals on the Aga? Would they cope if the Aga went out overnight and we needed to re-light it to boil the kettle for a morning coffee?
But then I reminded myself they were travelling 2000kms across the country to see us. They know we are still getting established here and like us, they have spent many years renovating various houses so they understand these things take time. I took a deep breath, cleaned the caravan and washed all the curtains so it was bright and clean, scrubbed our basic bathroom, straightened up the yurt and planned some nice, simple winter meals and got ready to welcome them into our little home. Just as it is.
We went for bushwalks on the property, had campfires, the kids went out bush exploring and we showed them some local sites. Nights were spent in the yurt cooking and eating good simple food together. It was noisy, chaotic and utterly wonderful.
Our life here is a little unconventional and it's certainly not for everyone. But there is beauty here in simplicity, in doing things as we can afford them and by taking the time to up-cyle and be creative. I wasn't sure what our friends would think, but they came away touched and inspired by the simplicity of our lives, our thankfulness for what we have, and our resourcefulness on a tight budget. So much so they are already planning their next, longer trip which we cannot wait for!
One day when we have built a house and the yurt has become a lovely Bed and Breakfast, I hope we look back at this season of our lives with pride for having the courage to follow our dreams with lots of laughter and funny stories about having to make do. I hope our children will have learnt to be flexible, resourceful, patient and resilient with the courage to follow the beat of their own drum, despite what others may think.
Much love,
Emma
xx
5 out of the 6 kids balancing on an old stump.
I have been a little quiet in this space over the last few weeks with us all recuperating from the flu, school holidays and the usual list of things to do. But after a break and some time to catch up I'm back feeling refreshed.
School holidays were a real mixed bag this round. We started out sick and worn out so the first week was spent getting better, eating nourishing food and watching lots of movies between bouts of time outside in the sunshine. Then we had dear friends from South Australia come and visit which was the highlight. Our yurt is a small place to host 10, but we managed just fine. Our friends slept in the vintage caravan with a little heater to take the chill off the night air and our two big boys camped in a tent bundled up in their swags.
So often in today's world, we think we have to put on our best before we have people over. We feel embarrassed if our homes are a little daggy, messy or small. We worry that our cooking skills are not restaurant standard. So many people get anxious about having people over and to have someone drop in unannounced? Well, the thought alone can induce feelings of dread in many.
But then we read studies about how lonely people are, and we read about how people crave deeper connections and a village-like environment to raise their children in. Yet we cannot have one without the other. If we want a village, then we need to be willing to allow people into our homes and our hearts even when things are imperfect and a little messy, because people are imperfect and messy.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't have doubts about having our friends over while we are still getting established here. Would they cope with our simple makeshift bathroom? Would we all fit? Would they be comfortable in the caravan? Would I pull off decent meals on the Aga? Would they cope if the Aga went out overnight and we needed to re-light it to boil the kettle for a morning coffee?
But then I reminded myself they were travelling 2000kms across the country to see us. They know we are still getting established here and like us, they have spent many years renovating various houses so they understand these things take time. I took a deep breath, cleaned the caravan and washed all the curtains so it was bright and clean, scrubbed our basic bathroom, straightened up the yurt and planned some nice, simple winter meals and got ready to welcome them into our little home. Just as it is.
The blokes cooked up a ripper camp oven meal.
We went for bushwalks on the property, had campfires, the kids went out bush exploring and we showed them some local sites. Nights were spent in the yurt cooking and eating good simple food together. It was noisy, chaotic and utterly wonderful.
Our life here is a little unconventional and it's certainly not for everyone. But there is beauty here in simplicity, in doing things as we can afford them and by taking the time to up-cyle and be creative. I wasn't sure what our friends would think, but they came away touched and inspired by the simplicity of our lives, our thankfulness for what we have, and our resourcefulness on a tight budget. So much so they are already planning their next, longer trip which we cannot wait for!
Beautiful bushwalks on the farm.
Much love,
Emma
xx
