Settling in

 

 

When we first left our old home town and arrived in our new one, we were in a Holiday House for the first Month while we waited for Settlement on our house.  We loved exploring our new home town - and are excited about all the places we have yet to visit.

Now we are settling into our new home and I no longer get lost trying to find certain shops in town.  We are making friends and are getting to know our neighbours.

After all the initial worry about moving our children it always amazes me how resilient they are.  They have taken to their new surroundings like ducks to water!

Now that Spring is here we are looking forward to the warmer weather arriving and dipping more than our toes into the lake.

We have lots of painting to do in the house along with curtains and carpet to be replaced ................. eventually and hopefully a bathroom update and kitchen extension. 

This weekend will be a long one and I'm dying to get my hands into the soil and start planting.  I have one more room to unpack, I can't believe the amount of boxes there were!  I was pleased to use the school holidays as an excuse to have a break - we had a full house of extra small people!

I often get asked if we miss our old town and our house in the country.  Sometimes, I do, especially our friends, (some) family and our awesome neighbour Jill.  But mostly I'm excited about our future.  I'm relishing the time I have with my family, and enjoying the newness of everything around us.  I love an Adventure me, and this journey feels like a good one.

Enjoy your week lovelies, and thank you so much for your comments and feedback on my last post.  I will definitely keep the blog name, so thank you!

Boo! Still here but changes a plenty!

 

Hello!  It's me, I'm still here........ I can't believe it has been 5 months since I last blogged.  It has been the longest break since I first started blogging three years ago and I feel so RUDE for not dropping in earlier and explaining my long absence.

It is true when bloggers say "the longer you are away the harder it is to get back into blogging again".

I have received some really lovely messages asking if everything is ok.  I know I feel a bit miffed when a blog I really enjoy reading suddenly drops off the net (Ivy Nest where are you???).

We have had huge changes around here - all good ones though.  Not long after my last post Mr H was offered a great job............ out of town.  We had 5 weeks to up sticks, leave current jobs, friends and family and move a little further North.  Our view is no longer countryside and grapevines but, a lake, snow capped mountains and the suburbs.  We are still in a small town (yay), just a little more inland.

The move has been a great change for us.  We have bought a house (a big chunk of a thing - 5 bedrooms and built in the 1970's) - we have renovations to tackle and I'm so looking forward to soaking this house in (subtle) retro tones.  We are walking distance to shops and the lake which is such a new bonus for us. I'm also madly eyeing up the garden and can't wait to get planting, and installing a vegetable garden.  Our dog and cat came with us, but I had to give my beloved chickens to our neighbour.  We have a great plot of land big enough to house some more chickens though.

Bell, Tom and George have settled easily, despite first day nerves on their first days of school and Kindy.  Tom loves being able to scooter to school as we had to jump in the car to go anywhere before - George and I slowly meander behind - Mr H is busy with his new job and for the last six weeks since we settled on our new house I have been unpacking and getting my bearings and making sure the family is settled and happy.

I'm not working and plan on running a business from home (watch this space) to work around Mr H's busy role and the task of keeping up with three children.

It wasn't until I sat down to write this post that I realise how much I have missed blogging.  I haven't read any other blogs in the last 5 months either, so I'm looking forward to catching up.

I have one dilemma that I would love your advice on.  What do I do about my blog name - I wasn't initially going to continue blogging but now I think I still want to.  Should I start a new blog or rename this one?  We are no longer in the country but I'm still determined to hold onto those ideals and plan on stamping a little country into our new life in the suburbs.

So there you have it - a quick update from me and more to follow I'm sure.

What have you all been up to?  Tell me EVERYTHING?!

 

 

 

 

I'll be as quick as I can!

This afternoon on a drive through town I made an unscheduled stop.  I was on my way to the beach to drop Bell off at a sleepover.  There is an Op Shop I often drive by but never seem to stop at.  I pulled over and said to Bell "I will be as quick as I can", to which she replied "Why mum, you don't need anymore Crown Lynn"!  Little did she know, but I had Pyrex on my mind.

I wandered around and found 3 pieces.  THREE!  Was not expecting that.  So here they are.  A yellow snowflake divided dish ($8), a medium sized Carnaby casserole dish ($5) and my favourite one, the blue patterned (unsure of the name) oval dish ($4).

I hurried back to the car with my box of treasures, to Bell and her eye rolling.  Ha!

It's also a long weekend, and this Autumn weather at the moment is beautiful.  Happy Days.

Happy Treasure Hunting.  xo

Indoors

We have been in hibernation mode this weekend.  It has been cold!  We stayed indoors for most of it.  The novelty of the change of season is still here.  No climbing of walls or cabin fever ....... yet.

 

 

 

 

This weekend has been all about...................

 

Pikelets and cups of tea for lunch

Homemade vegetable soup

Weekend papers

Keeping warm - roaring fires and heaters on in the bedrooms

Toys everywhere, from one end of the house to the other

Winter jackets

Exploring faraway places from the comfort of our couch

Movies

Cold drizzly days

Autumn leaves

and unmade beds.

Still here

 

 

 

 

This has been my longest break from blogging since I started, it wasn't intentional.  I guess life just gets in the way sometimes.  My camera hasn't been to hand, as much and when  it has been I have just wanted to take in every moment as it unfolds in front of me instead of witnessing it behind the lens.

 

But I miss this space when I am not here and the wonderful blogs I follow.

 

So I'm creeping back in, and am hoping you are still here.  How are you by the way?  Autumn is unfolding in our neck of the woods and it is beautiful.  How are things in your patch?

 

Elaina xo

 

 

 

 

In the kitchen.........chilli garlic sauce and marrow chutney

 

 

"A great way to use up marrows or courgettes when they have grown too big for their boots"

 

 

Out of the kitchen this week.....chilli garlic sauce and marrow chutney.

The jalapeno chilli's are from the garden and the garlic from a friends crop - blitzed in the food processor with salt and pepper added.  Bottled and topped with vinegar and ready to use.

And for the chutney - I was pleased to be able to make use of our very first marrow. 

Marrow chutney

You will need:

1.35kg marrow
salt
2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped
3 shallots, chopped
225g sultanas
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
450g dark brown soft sugar
375ml vinegar
1 ½ Tbsp grated ginger
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
¼ Tsp crushed chillies (less if desired)
 

Method:

 

Place the peeled, seeded and cubed marrow into a non-reactive bowl and sprinkle generously with salt. Cover and let sit overnight.
Drain marrow, rinse thoroughly and place into a large pot. Add remaining ingredients and slowly bring to the boil.
Lower the heat and gently simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until thick, stirring occasionally.
Pour into hot sterilised jars and seal immediately.

 

What's cooking in your kitchen?

In the kitchen..........easy lemonade scones

 

 

 

 

 

 

The easiest scone recipe ever!

 

Lemonade Scones

 

4 cups of self raising flour

300ml of thickened cream

300ml of lemonade

 

Combine the ingredients and mix until a dough is formed.

 

Flour your surface and roll out.  I used a cookie cutter to make into rounds

 

Bake until golden on 180 degrees.

 

They pull easily apart and are light and fluffy.  My previous scones are usually rock hard on the outside, so this recipe will be a firm favourite.

 

Top with  jam and cream and enjoy!