Iffley, Goomburra

 

Fifty years ago, my Nana and Pop left this home and took their family to a different place.  A place with further opportunities for farming.  A place that was my home.  A place that has allowed my family to be successful in their farming venture.

 

I have spoken about this home before here.  I had never visited this home.  The home of my family for generations before.  I have heard of it for the whole of my life and have never quite fathomed how my Nana left it.  What a sacrifice of love and devotion to her family.

 

 

 

A little while ago, the  family who live here were in contact with my Dad.  They were interested in the history of this home and of the people who have lived there before them.

 

We were invited to visit.  I was so thrilled.

 

And so, we visited.

 

Tears flow now as I remember this day.  It was wonderful.  To see my Dad walk the farm and tell us the stories.  Some of it I had heard many times in my life.  Some of it new.  All of it wonderful.

 

My Dad was brought home to this place as a baby in January 1942.  My Nana had moved here as a bride in 1940.  My Pop lived here his life with his parents.

 

This is our family home. 

 

Not that where we have been for the past fifty years is not, it is in the original history of our family arriving to Australia and taking up this land in the Goomburra Valley that holds my attention and my heart.

 

 

We strode accross these paddocks and saw where the animals had been kept and the buildings that had housed them.  Many of them built by Pop and Dad.  Many of them older than that.

 

 

The Wisteria that I have been told of over the years, magnificent in its stature, growing on the arbour built by our family.

 

Oh to see it in the Spring - I may have to take a little trip!

 

 

 

 

 

Stories of a young man helping his father build a barn with timber cut from the farm and allowed to develop in age to be used and of the barn up the road which is identical built to help a family member.

 

 

 

 

Yards and fences built by the hand of my Pop. 

 

I wanted to stay forever.

 

The method the same as the one my Dad used on the fence around my vegetable garden.

 

 

Eva and Mike so kindly invited us into their home.  I could almost not contain myself.  I felt tears slipping down my cheek constantly as I remembered my Nana and the wonderful woman that she was.

 

We went from room to room and Dad told me where each precious piece of furniture that I own had once been in that beautiful home. 

 

I imagined the card afternoons, the birthday parties and the dinner parties.  All in a different era when the ladies arrived and left their hats and gloves on Nan's bed until home time.

 

 

These handles all original to the house, I couldn't help but touch and remember those who have lived here and are no longer with us.  Worn with time but beautiful forever

 

Iffley, a moment in time etched in my heart forever.

 

 

High Tea...

 

 

Mother's Day been and gone.  One probably one I wouldn't like to repeat.  Thankfully, we had celebrated the weekend before - so - that will be my 2013 memory of Mother's Day.

 

The beautiful pink ruffle cake creation above, made by my lovely Mitchell and Amie - they are such a clever pair. It was beautiful. 

 

 

Even this celebration was a little topsy turvy.  It had been planned as a 3.30 High Tea which ended up as a 1pm lunch/High Tea! Not to worry though as our big boy surprised us with a visit from Darwin to celebrate with us and also to see his little sister in her lead role in the school musical.

 

The other reason for our early celebration was to spend time with my Mum and Dad before they jetted off on another wonderful trip.  This time to the east coast of the USA and then up into Canada.  Thinking of them tonight as they head off into Amish country - I should have requested a quilt maybe!

 

 

The food, flowers and table setting came together in such a rush - I surprised myself with how lovely it all looked.  I really must do it again soon.

 

 

We set a long table for 13 guests and enjoyed the company of my family for the afternoon.  It always comes to an end far too quickly.

 

 

I think I scrounged together enough roses from the garden to make five little vases for along the table.  Lovely assorted vintage vases and jugs were just the thing!

 

I love the mirrored cake stand below - a very lovely and thoughtful gift from my Sister Inlaw for Christmas.

 

 

Mother's Day for me was actually spent working at our shop from 6 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. - it was a long, busy day - I really wish people would turn up for their shift and do it happily. I will admit though, it is only one out of six - one too many though.

 

 

 

 

It is so hard to believe that we have celebrated Mother's Day already - the year almost to the middle.  What a busy time.  All good, but way too busy.

 

So May means dreaming of Spring even though Winter hasn't happened yet.  Busy planning and planting a Spring garden.  I so look forward to having a pretty garden in the Springtime!

 



A Darwin Visit...

We ventured to Darwin for Easter to visit Cameron.  It was hot, hot, hot and rainy - but lovely to visit our boy.  Up on Thursday night and home first thing Monday - a flying visit!

 

 

 

We went to visit some very large crocodiles while we were there - glad they were behind glass - I never want to encounter them any other way.  You can swim in a perspex cage with them - I don't think I would bother - yuck - just think about it!

 

 

 

 

Creatures along the way included water buffalo - we even saw a dingo on the side of the road.

 

 

 

On Easter Saturday we took a drive out to Litchfield National  Park.  It was lovely - driving south from Darwin is quite a lovely drive - it was far different from what I had imagined. 

 

The waterhole above had a beautiful waterfall into it - Brendon and Cameron had a swim.

 

 

Cameron had visited out here just a few weeks after he had moved to Darwin - which was at the very beginning of the wet season.  He couldn't believe the difference in the water levels at the end of the wet season.  The waterfall above was the one which Cameron had swum at on his previous visit - the water was far to high this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the picture below is quite a good indication of the vastness of this country we live in.  It was amazing. 

 

I am so glad this different place has opened up to our family - it is certainly one I have never imagined we would find.

 

 

Inheritence....

Today I am trying to get this lot sorted and somehow incorporated into my home...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overwhelmed much...

Ups and Downs... Life

 

 

I often wonder if we knew what life had in store for us, how many of life's circumstances would really end up. 

 

If I knew what the past month had in store for me I am pretty sure I would have run away.

 

The past twelve months has been another roller coaster ride for me.  Not necessarily bad, but certainly fast and at times crazy.

 

We have been back in the shop for almost a year. Unbelievable.  It has been good.  Hard work.  But good.

 

We have plans to keep us striving for a lovely 'food' experience for our customers - at times I think we would all just love to run away, but we keep going.

 

It is lovely just mostly working with our family.  So far.  So good.

 

Our two week break came and went in beautiful Tasmania.  Maybe one day I will get a moment to share some of that here.  But that moment is not now.

 

While we were away - BJ's parents sold their home - we had asked them not to list it until we were all back on deck - this was not taken into consideration - and it sold straight away.

 

To say we are tired and exhausted, emotionally and physically is an understatement.

 

In the past month we have sorted, cleaned, shifted and packed 50 years of everything.  And I really and truly mean everything. 

 

And we are nowhere near having them into their retirement unit by a long shot.

 

I have been angry, then sad, then angry again.  I write tonight to try and get some of it clearer within my own being.  I'm not sure that getting it all out here will do that - but maybe just a little of it.

 

During this process we have been given a lot of very lovely pieces which we will treasure for ever - but the process of these pieces coming into my home with no time to rearrange and clean up is causing it's own anguish I am afraid.

 

I know there is a season for everything.  This season is ours to help these people move into the next phase of their life - albeit too early for them to have to consider dementia care - but it has happened and he will need care. 

 

Am I selfish?  I don't know.  Help has not been offered to me through all that has gone before.  I struggle with my 'doing the right thing' and the thought that I could have not done any of it. After all I am the daughter in law. Was it really my place?

 

Lots of words which I am not sure have lightened the heaviness which I feel. 

 

Three weeks to go of a seven week marathon - wow - what a house pack up it has been. 

 

Maybe there has been a very great lesson in life to be learnt from this experience -  I know I will continue to sort and disperse all things from my home that are neither useful nor beautiful to me.

Christmas..3 days to go

 

 

Goodness, Christmas is here!

 

I can hardly believe that we are about to celebrate this season.  This year has passed in a blur of busyness.

 

 

Finally a little Christmas decorating has taken place as we prepare to begin our Christmas celebrations tomorrow with some of our family.

 

The decorations are streamlined and minimal this year - I just couldn't come at the whole decorated bit this year - the thought of having to put it all away was just too much.

 

 

In some ways I think I am the most organised I have ever been and I started way later than any other year.  It has been an exhausting week.

 

Just a few more little gifts to wrap and all will be complete.

 

 

A little baking has been done.  Hopefully a little more to come. 

 

We do so much at the shop that we just can't hardly look at by Christmas, so it's always nice to have some different bits and pieces to enjoy over the break.

 

With love, Christmas wishes and blessings to all who visit here.  May this Christmas be peaceful and restful for your family.

For the love of Vintage.....

 

I've been on the hunt again.  A little spare time on my way home and I find myself finding my favourite vintage treasure shops.

 

I have had to put my love of old and interesting bits and bobs on hold while our budget was so tight.  Thankfully, we are blessed with a little more in our budget through our newest work venture.

 

 

 

This little grouping is particularly lovely.  Two beautiful handworked pillow cases and a wonderful small table cloth.

 

I love to wonder at those whose hands have worked these beautiful items.  How does anyone part with them.

 

 

 Stunning hand crochet edging and tiny, weeny stitches.  So much love and thought. 

 

 

 

My fascination with hand towels continues - I must count them one day - or maybe not!!

 

I was on a mission for more - the ones above have been saved, too precious to cut up - only the raggy ones get cut and made into something else.

 

Old linens are a little hard to find where I live and so I continue to look and hope.

 

I did find some lovely ones in a condition not really worth saving and have had a lovely time creating once more. 

 

It was wonderful to be in my sewing room and just creating.  Yes, some late nights but oh so worth it.  You see, I am taking part in a market in a couple of weeks.  We are doing a joint stall with our bakery.  Beautiful Christmas food - cakes and puddings, white Christmas, rum balls, apricot balls and of course we will do some macarons. 

 

 

 

Three years between markets for Eleanor and Ruby.  I am quite looking forward to it.  However, the unknown side is a little daunting - maybe it will all come home with me!!

 

 

 

 Bracelets made with buttons made with vintage stitching.

 

 

Vintage stitched magnets.

 

 

 

Pushpins (thumbtacks) for the notice board.

 

 

 

Now to just get the next idea on the go - all in amongst the Christmas cake making!