How are you dear readers?
It seems COVID has taken off in NSW and Sydney is in hard lock down. It has also escaped to Melbourne and SA and as such, they are locked down too.
If you are reading this from Sydney or any other locked down area please know we are thinking of you and holding you in our prayers. While we are not locked down on the mid-north coast yet, there are more restrictions in place. Our family is unable to visit another family as we are more than 5 people. For the first time since COVID started, Will has to wear a mask at school. Masks are now compulsory for everyone over 12. This variant is affecting children and if the virus pops up any where near us we will be switching to home schooling quick smart. I have already decided if that happens again I will mostly not be using the school curriculum. The teachers do an amazing job in near impossible circumstances, but we wasted so much time juggling the various online platforms they were on and switching back and forth that it added a whole other layer of stress. Our satellite internet can be sluggish which doesn’t help. Because I am full time at home, I have the luxury of working out our own curriculum. We will be working out our own schedule, projects and work directed by what is relevant to us, while working towards the schools desired outcomes. Except perhaps maths. I have found the online maths component helpful. I figure if I look after our family it will also free up the teachers to focus on the families who are juggling the impossible of working from home and learning from home.
This past week Grant and I have been working on a new vlog, and if you are after something calm, soothing and a little daggy to watch the link is HERE. If you could take a moment to like, subscribe and even share it would mean a lot. We see a lot of American homesteaders online, but not so many Australian ones and we would love to contribute to that space from a mindful and sustainable viewpoint.
In this vlog we chat about our goats and show how we rotate them. I do a little cooking on the wood oven and you see plenty of little Elsie telling the goats who is boss. When did she get so big?! Even Grant sat down and had a bit of a yarn. Miracles will never cease. I have learnt a lot about filming and editing over the course of making these last few vlogs. I can say there is a vast improvement in the final product of this vlog, and I have many strategies in mind to continue to improve.
There are two schools of thought when undertaking a new endeavour. One is to practise and not release something until you have it nailed, the other is to start small and learn along the way, gathering encouragement and ideas as you go. I am a big fan of the latter. I learn best by doing and sharing. It is how this blog started and grew to what it is today and I think there is honesty and transparency in keeping things real. I think just giving things a good crack is a great life lesson. Whether it be starting a garden, learning to sew, knit, cook a new recipe, thrift, paint, mend, tinker or write. Not one ever got better at something by sitting on the couch simply thinking about it.
If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed by uncertainty of the worlds events, I encourage you to take a deep breath, make a cuppa and think about just one small thing you would like to do. It can be tiny. Do you love indoor plants? Look around your home and clear a nice sunny spot ready to welcome in an indoor plant next time you go to the shops. Or take a cutting off a succulent when you're going for a walk, which has the added bonus of being free. Rip up an old towel or sheet to use as cloth rags to stop buying chux. Buy vinegar, eucalyptus oil and bi-carb instead of that bottle of toxic disinfectant. Change your sheets and dust your bedside tables to help create a soothing bedtime routine.
Still too much? Perhaps eat a piece of fruit and take a nice hot shower. It's ok you're finding things hard. It is a bloody hard season. You are here and you are going to get though it day by day. When the world seems out of control, these small actions help us to create a form of self care and in turn we are taking meaningful action towards a more frugal, nourishing life within our home. It's so important we take the time to look after ourselves.Sure, listen in to the news to receive the daily updates as necessary and then switch it off and put on some uplifting music. Try to create pockets of loveliness in your day, even if you're surrounded by small children. I know it's hard! Perhaps, a nice hot cuppa with a choccie biscuit, or send the kids out to find 10 insects/leaves/flowers in the garden so you can breathe for just 5 minutes. My kids love having a cup of tea and a biscuit with me and it has the bonus effect of making me feel like we are civilised despite the chaos that might surround us.
Look after yourselves dear readers, and go gently.
Much love,
Emma
xx
Emma
xx
