Note: this post was started on Monday but not finished until Friday. Such is the life of home educating with a new baby!
Today all three boys are back in school for the first time since the Covid 19 restrictions hit and goodness it's quiet. The yurt looks like a tornado went through after trying to get everyone ready, last nights clean dishes are waiting to get put away, the kitchen table needs a good wipe over and don't even get me started on the boots and muddy thongs dumped in the doorway. However, I'm going to ignore the mess while Elsie is sleeping and catch up with you!
I have mixed feelings about the boys returning to school full-time next week. I enjoyed home educating them when I could fully focus on them, but it was a struggle trying to manage it and a new baby who continues to think she is a koala. Writing has been nearly impossible, which is clear by my infrequent posts over the last couple of months, despite having stacks to write about. It was wonderful to see the boys working on the farm with Grant and they were far less tired. They usually have a long day when you add in the bus trip to and from school. However, they missed their peers and William is particularly excited to see all his mates again. Upon reflection, I think home educating has been a really positive experience for our family.
If you're following along in Instagram you will have seen that we finally have a proper kitchen in the yurt. It's wonderful! Though the kitchen is small it's a real pleasure to work in. Initially, we were going to put a second-hand kitchen in but we ended up choosing Bunnings kitchen cabinets. With a new baby and winter on the way, it was simpler, quicker and I had been unable to find a suitable second-hand option. We re-used our old tap and made open shelving from beautiful recycled timber. We bought a Chef LPG gas oven for when it's too hot for the wood oven. I cannot tell you how delightful it is to be able to boil the kettle and cook our meals without traipsing outside through the mud and the dark! I found little hand-painted ceramic knobs for the kitchen cabinets which add a splash of colour, the tiles are a basic white subway tile. It's not a big kitchen but with the walk-in pantry under the stairs and the small bench beside the Aga Grant made from the kitchen offcuts, it provides plenty of space. The kitchen table doubles up as a workspace too.
The weather is cool here now and the Aga is lit most days, a kettle of water gently bubbling away. The warm air rising makes the boys' loft nice and cozy on even the cold nights. We haven't got the water jacket in place yet, so to ensure we have enough hot water inside we have a 4.5L enamel kettle on the way. In summer the sun is usually enough to heat the water inside.
Grant has started building the new shed which will be 12x9m. It's been slow going as he had to fell the trees, dig the holes, strip the bark and level the ground all by hand. Now the groundwork is done we should begin to see some good progress.
I had more plans for this post but I concede and am just going to hit publish! The littlest member of the family has just woken up again, thwarting my plans for a more comprehensive post. I hope you are keeping well dear readers. I have been thinking of you all and your families during these times and wondering how you all are.
Much love,
Emma
xx
