The last post

2012 was a good year. A really good year. It was the year I realised that nothing is random, that everything we've done – that I've done – has brought us to this point right here.

2009 was a crappy year (the year we moved to Australia – take from that what you will), and 2010 started off well but ended up being worse than the previous year and 2011 was, well, just chaos from start to finish. There was a lot of moving for a start. Each move (overseas, into a caravan, and three house moves) took its toll.

But it all needed to happen.

So it's really lovely and calm-inducing and heart-warming and comforting to look back and breathe a sigh of relief. All those gritty bits I once talked about in the snow globe have settled now. We're here.

The garden seems to be echoing my words, almost as a way of confirming my sentiments. When things are a good fit, you see it around you. Abundant food from the garden and plenty of fish in the ocean for us to catch and eat.

Flow and calm. It's a good fit.

This is home.

Which is why the name of this blog hasn't sat right with me for a while now. It doesn't fit any more. Now, I know you shouldn't go changing something major like a blog name when you've been blogging for over a year, but it has to change. I'm happy to risk whatever it is they say happens when you start confusing your readers, because better things will come of this, and besides, I'm not confusing you, am I?

I'm only going to do it the once, and it's just the name I'm changing. Me, the boys, our life, what I write about and what brings you here will still be the same.

I'm really excited about this. I can move forward without the constant reminder that we spent so long looking. Of course we're still finding our feet and our place in this world – everyone is to a degree – but the focus now isn't on finding.

It's just being. Taking it slow and doing what makes our hearts sing*.

So this is my very last post as Finding that place called Home (I'm hoping... if I can get it all changed seamlessly!).

A new beginning. Happy new year to all of you.





* Psst, there's a clue to the new name right there.

Finding home

We're bringing up our children the way we want to. We're growing, catching, making and trying to do it all slowly and calmly away from all the madness.

It's not always easy. But it feels right.

I can't imagine living anywhere else now. And to think that over a year ago it was a stormy mess. It hasn't all fitted into place yet, but those clicks are happening all the time. We're living purposefully.

We're in the right place now.

And if it wasn't for Graeme suggesting we move here, I probably wouldn't be writing these words. So I'm very grateful to my husband for moving us here at a time when I'd almost given up.

I'm happy. 

(I wonder if this has anything to do with Graeme and I going away for three nights next week. On. Our. Own! What do you think? Or maybe it's because mum's coming for Christmas and spending all of January with us.)

Linking up with one of my favourite bloggers Maxabella loves...




Celebrating 100

I've reached 100 posts.

Can't believe it's been a year since I began my little blog!

I started Finding that place called Home as a way of recording family life. I'm only one year in, but I'm already thinking about where I want to take it.

I've written about family, our home and early childhood. I've also shared my gardening journey and what it will mean to me to have an abundant kitchen garden. I still want to write about all these things, because they are my life. Every day.

But I want to set the tone as it becomes clearer in my mind. The same purpose I had when I landed that job at the BBC feels like it should be the same purpose here.

To share my joy of food. To uncover great food.

Food and people.

So really it's still the same. Family. Like-minded souls. Kindred spirits. Around a table.

In case you've just joined me (welcome, by the way!), here are 100 moments from the past year.

I hope you'll join me for the next 100.


My technical advisor (aka my handsome spearfisherman) has just informed me that my rss button has been going to the wrong link. So that might be why some of you have missed a few posts. If that's you, easiest thing might be to click on whichever leaf button takes your fancy. Up in the top right-hand corner. See? Or if you like, you can join me on Facebook (which I'm still getting used to!).

Cuddles * Our own sashimi * Kian on his bike * Beach walk after Avoca Markets * Firescreek Winery *
Luca at the beach

Winter sun * Choc cupcakes * Playing with cans and string * Swimming with Kian * Lilies in our deep dark wood * Kian posing * Brothers on the seesaw * Fun in the deep dark wood * Best vegetable lasagne 

Trotting fun * Homegrown basil * Noise with saucepans * Watering the worms * Digger watching * A stroll with Sydney * Brotherly love * My first hydrangea

Green and red tomato chutney * Luca harvesting * Perfect passionfruit * No-churn strawberry ice cream *
Kian up to no good * My favourite way to see presents * Graeme's latte art * A pensive moment *
Summer fruit salad

A special trip on a trike * Homemade sign * Luca and an eastern rock lobster * Dinner * Kian chasing geese

Organic sourdough * Spinach at home * Kian climbing * Mucking about on the decking * Watering the brassicas * Mr and Mrs Shadow * Trying to grow basil from a cutting * Helping in the garden * Climbing high * Pant pant * Holding on tight to my cuddlebug

Autumn colour * Morning catch * Two brothers * Sydney Botanical Gardens * Amazing light at Terrigal *
Summer sun * Sydney's birthday

Family outing * Slow food * Luca catches a fish * Turning four * Rough and tumble with friends

Enjoying a party * Picking flowers * Sticking leaves * Sharing a muslin * Heavenly jonquils * Winter day out *
Kian's 1st * Snorkel and fins * At the pool * Cheeky grins * Crabbing at our favourite spot * Helping Daddy clean and fillet the fish * My beautiful mum and I

'Luca', made out of things from the garden * Pinning it on the door with Auntie Jennifer * Frangipani in our garden *
I love the Avoca markets * Oh so cheeky

Lazing about * Crabbing in winter * Putting together Kian's toddle truck *
My first mud crab with Opa * Straight into the water fully clothed

A week's worth of dinners * Watching Daddy fillet * Posing with Opa and the mud crab we just caught *
Christmas morning rainbow

My three boys * Playground fun * Our tomato glut * A much-loved umbrella *
A different way with paint * Crawling outside

Squelch squerch * Kian playing fetch * Smiles * Warm crumble * Pink rhubarb * Blocks at home




Chasing the sun with old wheelbarrows

I've never forgotten the sight of the garden at JoJo's, a little (well, it was back then) mezze restaurant in Whitstable, England. Nikki and Paul inspired me on so many levels when I met them back in 2004. I'm not sure they realise how much of an impact they had on me. And still do. Every time we move house, I go in search of a JoJo's. I'm half referring to JoJo's as a restaurant and half referring to the actual people. Friends who share my values to do with food, our environment, and a tremendously inspiring sense of style and resourcefulness...

Seriously, I really do go looking for a JoJo's everywhere I go. I haven't found one yet. I realise now as I type these words that this is another factor in why I gave my blog the name I did.

Anyway, I'm not getting to the point as usual... I remember one night Graeme and I took the train from London to Whitstable to catch up with Nikki and Paul. We sat at the bar and ate beer-battered calamari*, haddock goujons and patatas bravas, then when everyone else had gone home, they shut shop and we drank wine together.

I was pickled that night. So pickled I fell off my seat on the train back to Victoria.

This is that moment.

Thems were the days before kids...

Will I ever get to the point???**

Here it is, here it is: Somewhere between the lamb cannon and the cave-aged gorgonzola that night, we wandered out to their garden. An olive tree stood right at the back. I remember talking about their plans for a wild meadow. Nikki talked about how you can buy packets of wild meadow seed that you just scatter and voila, you have a patch thick with cornflowers and poppies.

What really stuck with me, though, were the butler sinks that she had planted with herbs, charming old troughs picked up in a nearby scrap yard, and was there a bath?? Can't remember now. You're picturing a higgledepiggledy mess of other people's rubbish. And yet, it was a higgledepiggledy thing of beauty.

I don't yet have any chipped troughs or butler sinks, but a plastic baby bath is doing the job nicely.

What I have been looking for, though, is a wheelbarrow. An old wheelbarrow that has served someone well for years, but can't go on anymore. I've looked on the roadsides for months.

Then two come along in the space of two weeks. Two garage sales. Both were going to the tip the minute their owners had sold all the bric-a-brac in them. Neither could believe I would want an old wheelbarrow.

But rescue them I did.

Graeme drilled holes and Luca took a hammer to old terracotta tiles and lined the bottoms.

We're not really sure what we're doing, but we mixed manure with organic compost and some mushroom compost. Then a wet blanket of sugarcane mulch and a drenching with worm juice.

I've replanted the leeks in one (replanted because the poor buggers were fighting for space in a tiny pot).

Now they can soak up all that sun in the front garden. Sunshine that has gone to waste till now.

Which has just given me another thought. All that lawn... A wild meadow. Just think, no more mowing. Cornflowers, poppies. Do they grow over here? Anyone?

I'll be picking two winners for the Amazement giveaway this coming Friday. If you'd like to visit, make sure you enter here.





* We've eaten a lot of calamari. Around the UK, in Spain, in France, in Greece, around Australia... OK, I'm just showing off now. Point is, Nikki's is the best. I haven't had any since my visit in July 2010.

** Believe it or not, I had to change the title of this post. I'd planned on talking to you about wintry pears, Hugh FW's savoury muffins and a rhubarb crumble. I was just going to mention the wheelbarrows. But all this just poured out. I needed to say it. 

Falling in love with Less

Image from here

At the beginning of the year, I remember reading about new year's resolutions and people who avoid making them. I was drawn to the idea of defining the year ahead with one word. A word to help you shape the year in your head. A word to live by and help you achieve what it is that makes you happy.

I didn't have to think about it. It popped into my head. Like someone had asked me my name.

Less.

I've been thinking it about it ever since. Notions of Less have been floating around in my head for the past two months, so I think it's time I put them down to make sense of it all.

It's no secret that we've been made to fall in love with More. More is better. More is, well, more... if you listen to all the messages out there.

Think about it. More money, more gadgets, more toys, more clothes, more presents, more food, more friends, more dinner parties, more days out, more organised activities, more friends at those parties, more Facebook likes, more Facebook friends, more blog followers...

Don't you sometimes feel like shutting the world out, covering your ears, squeezing your eyes shut and shouting enough!!

I did. It feels overwhelming. I sometimes forget and get sucked in. But then I realised that life doesn't get easier when you have more. It gets more complicated. It gets busy and it gets exhausting.

So Less is my little friend for the year. I've adopted Less, and if we all get on, then I'm hoping Less will stick around permanently after that.

It's not like Graeme and I have ever chased more of anything. We've always been drawn to keeping things simple, but like I say, sometimes you get carried away with the tide.

So far, Less and I, we're getting on famously. It's calming me. 

Less rushing around trying to fill our days. Fewer social outings. Less travelling. (We had to cancel a trip into Sydney in January to see Hairy Maclary at the Opera House, and as it turned out I was glad we didn't go in the end. You can really end up doing too much. Scheduling this and that in your diary and planning playdates, appointments and activities somehow makes it feel more worthwhile. More satisfying. Why is it empty diaries make you feel less important, less worthy? Think about it. Why is it so cool to be 'busy'?)

Some people don't mind dashing here, there and everywhere. Visiting places, taking in the sights, car journeys, dragging the kids to more 'experiences'. I've done it, and it doesn't suit me, or my family. So we're doing Less. I take the boys to a great music class in the week, because they love it, and they go swimming at the weekend. That's it. I'm not getting talked into anything else.

Toys. One of the worst traps. Like any mum out there, you want your child to have the best start in life. And you get sucked into 'the more toys the better'. But I've discovered, through Luca mainly, that simplicity and fewer toys are much more fun. The last two Christmases have taught me that too many presents is overwhelming, for my children at least, and it teaches them nothing. We were just as guilty. From now on, we'll be focusing on one special Christmas present and some books. And similarly for birthdays. How much nicer is it to get one very special present from each person? Special doesn't mean expensive. Just thoughtful and good quality. For Luca's birthday at the end of the month, we've specified no presents on the invitations. That way, all the focus is on having fun with his friends, playing games, creating memories. Not receiving stuff. Stuff that he probably won't play with.

As for toys at home, I now put away over half the boys' toys in a cupboard, and rotate every so often. I was amazed at the results the first time I did this. It created more space and more calm in their rooms. Less stuff to clutter their heads. They found more things to play with, and when I swapped things around, it was like Christmas again! Renewed interest in an old toy. 

There's still far too much in their rooms, though. And it's one job I must tackle. 

It's only February but I do feel like I've made quite a bit of progress with Less already. 

We go out less and we spend more time indoors (when Kian allows us!). Pottering. At home. Must be my favourite three words.

And when we meet friends at the beach, or go to their house to play, it's special, because we haven't worn ourselves out doing stuff beforehand. 

That's what Less does. Less makes everything more special.

I know it's all sounding a bit deep for a Friday evening, but let me tell you, I feel so much better now that's off my chest. 

I'm off to pour myself a glass of wine. Still not sure about Less when it comes to good food and wine, though...

Purple beauties

I haven't been able to keep track of what month it is since Kian was born, but I do know it must be November. The jacarandas are in full bloom.

It reminds me of when we visited Grafton two years ago and saw beautiful clumps of purple lining all the streets. A fond memory from our four-month caravan stint – there aren't very many!

Another feature of the summer roadsides are the rows of agapanthus flowers, or aggies as Mum likes to call them.

I guess it's a good thing that I'm slowly tuning into the seasons here. It might be heating up out there, but it's very pretty.

Mum, if you're reading this, this picture is for you.

From Garden World Images: Agapanthus in the Barossa Valley

Have a lovely weekend.

Vanessa

Creating our garden

Last weekend was busy, busy, busy. Graeme finished building the second frame for our vegetable garden.

We had the bales of hay, cow manure, organic chicken pellets and compost delivered the day before, so I was itching to get our gardens built, especially as I was planning on buying the plants at the markets the following day.

I have to add here that, in Graeme's words, we are winging it. Oddly enough for us, we haven't read and researched it to death like we do everything else. The boys have done this to us, which could be a good thing; we're just getting on with it with the little information we've gleaned and hoping it's not all a big flop.

If you grow your own and haven't heard about Esther Dean, it's definitely worth looking into. Here's a factsheet on ABC Gardening Australia that will help shed some light.

I still don't really understand the ins and outs, but we've basically layered the lucerne hay, the two types of fertiliser (cow and chicken poo) and compost. Luca was such a great help. He was back and forth filling his bucket with Graeme, and then helped me loosen the pads of hay. He was in his element.

Kian, on the other hand, wasn't as easy to keep happy. Anything cooler than bathwater isn't his idea of fun, apparently.

But we did it, and on Sunday I bought luscious pots of basil, mint, parsley, coriander, dill and tarragon, plus strawberries, black kale (or cavolo nero), tomatoes, cucumber, spinach and a few different lettuces.


Luca and I have nearly finished planting them and once we have, I'll post some more pictures (including the scorched lettuces from Monday).

I'll see how much room I have left in the beds and if I can fit in some beetroot. The boys love roasted beetroot so I serve it often, wincing though I do at the thought of the pink-hued clothes, walls and floors that always follow.

Next on the list are marigolds, mainly for their pest-repelling properties, but also for a splash of colour. I happened to mention to Luca that we can eat certain flowers, so he's itching to know which ones he can pick and eat. So might have to put nasturtiums in too, despite them taking over our garden in Beckenham a few years back.

I'm going to be very hot on the trail of any pests in my garden. I've already given the plants a strong caffeine hit with an early evening cold coffee spray and my mum has suggested broken-up egg shells. Luca, meanwhile, knows it's his job to 'relocate' any snails he sees around the garden, but if he doesn't get them all, I may have to give them a beer bath.

Vanessa

Today I wish for...

• A bigger kitchen with two dishwashers. Actually, if I'm being honest, three dishwashers would do very nicely. That way, I never have to put anything away. Just fill, and use from the dishwasher (the way I do now).

Southern Exposure

 

• Self-cleaning floors. They make self-cleaning ovens, why not floors? Three times a day please.

• Someone to come and fill those three dishwashers with what I've got on my benches right now, and cook my husband and I a lovely meal tonight. 

 Vanessa

P.S. OOoh, just thought of something else. My very own gardener, like the one Jamie Oliver had on his programme, Jamie at Home. I would love my very own patch of organic fruit and vegetables, but I want someone else to do all the hard work. I'll do all the hard work in the kitchen...

you know... once all the dirty dishes have gone...

Wordless Wednesday (kind of)

OK, the wordless part might take some practice from me. C'mon, have you seen how lengthy my posts are??

So, I'll at least keep it very short.

Graeme stumbled across this gorgeous bush area at the weekend when he took the boys and Sydney for a walk. I had just been saying the day before how I miss parks in England. We don't do much on the National Park front over here because you can't take dogs. So, we don't get to roam and roll amongst grass and trees.

Now I feel another box has been ticked, because look what is five minutes' walk away from the house!

It's right by the lagoon so Sydney will love it in the summer. Hey, she already loves it now. It's calm, it's serene and so far we're the only ones there.

And Luca, bless him, thinks it's Gruffalo territory... can we go to the deep dark wood again, Mummy?

I'd better stop now, or it'll be wordy Wednesday. I'll try harder next week.

Vanessa

On a very serious note

I'm ashamed to say this, but last night was the first time I'd heard about Taiji on the coast of Japan and the atrocious dolphin hunts. Graeme and I watched The Cove. We were shocked. It's horrific.

It's a brilliant film, and whilst I found the slaughter scenes very distressing, I'm no longer ignorant on issues of dolphin drives, dolphin captivity and mercury.

The annual hunting season starts in a couple of days. It's chilling to think about it.

I tell you one thing: I've never visited those sea life theme parks before, and I definitely won't be now.

Watch the trailer. Watch the film if you can. I'm so glad I did.

Vanessa

A moose loose aboot this hoose

Remember that fantastic wine gums ad in the 90s? I still hum the tune in my head now and again. But this post isn't about great ads or Scottish phrases for that matter.

It's about ruddy rodents.

I decided a while ago I needed to do something about getting people to take their shoes off when they come in. A lot of similarly minded folk will utter something like 'of course' and swiftly put their shoes to one side, but too many would give me a look. Like I'd just asked them to strip to their underwear. Tradesmen especially.

I was glad of the excuse that I had a baby that spent most of his day on the floor, but, hey, I shouldn't have to justify why I want shoes off. And besides he'll be walking before I know it.

So I figured the best way was to have a sign up outside the door. That way if you don't like it and feel too attached to your Jimmy Choos to take them off (like I know anyone who owns a pair!), you can turn around before I've had time to reach the door. It avoids that awkward door moment.

My clever husband came up with a cheeky rhyme and design, and I painted the canvas. We had it done in less than 20 minutes.

Recognise this famous little mouse?

Problem solved! Visitors come to the door and before I've even said hello, shoes are off and pleasantries are off to a good start (mostly to do with how much they love our new sign!). I wish I'd come up with this years ago.

Except....

some mice have obviously read this in the meantime and understood that they can waltz right in.

Och aye. There's a bloody moose loose aboot this house alright! For the past three mornings, we have woken to mouse poo all over the place.

We're talking droppings all over tables, floors, in amongst Luca's farmyard animals (what were the mice doing with the animals??) and under Kian's cot. What are you guys doing under there fer gawd's sake?

Look, I don't mind mice. I really don't. I don't mind Luca's imaginary little mouse friend. I don't mind the character in the Gruffalo, and I don't mind them peering from behind the teddy or whatever it is in those Usborne Touchy Feely books.

But I jolly well mind them in my house. Rustling away in the wee hours of the night only to stop as soon as I get out of bed to look for them. Graeme and I tried three times last night to find them.

We've bought traps and put them in their favourite spots and the wretched things are pooing around them! They're laughing at us.

Graeme's trying another tactic tonight. I just want them gone.

Maybe if I change the sign to read no pests in the house...

Vanessa

A new discovery

It was one of those days.

Actually, it was a lot worse. I'd been up all night, so Graeme decided to stay home. Then as I cheered up at the prospect of Daddy's helping hands especially at the doctor's later that morning, he got called in. Great.

I took the boys to the doctor's and after I get told to sort Kian's sleep out (like I haven't tried everything), the doctor tells me BOTH of Luca's grommets have fallen out and that he may need the surgery again. Joy.

Then it's jab time. I leave the surgery with Kian sobbing in my arms and Luca playing up. I'm struggling to get Kian into his car seat, so I put my purse, his blue book (red book for folks back home) and other bits and pieces on the roof of the car while I sort the boys out.

Yep, you guessed it. I drove straight off. Relieved to be back at home, I start feeding them their lunch when I get the call that someone has found my sorry-looking purse on the main road.

So we dash out again, food all over their faces and clothes, hoping against hope that I can find Kian's blue book.

A very kind man saw the contents of my purse on a very busy two-lane road and gathered up what he could – all pretty worthless reward card stuff, all important cards had gone. Dammit. God knows how he didn't get run over. He took it into the doctor's surgery and even returned the cash and my lottery ticket.

I walked and drove up the road to look for Kian's book, but it had gone too. I was quite upset at the time to lose all the notes from his check-ups, plus stuff from hospital and home visits. But I guess it'll be one of those stories I tell him when he's older. It won't matter then...

Anyhow, my purse had clearly been run over a few times, so I needed a new one. Thanks to some of the blogs I've been reading, I'd discovered this site called Etsy. Don't ask me why I haven't come across it before now, but it's an absolute godsend if, like me, you try and avoid buying most of the crap in the shops.

So this is what I got from Melbourne-based Mishmash Designs. Pretty cool, huh? Especially if you love chocolate brown and elephants!

It certainly did the job of cheering me up after that hideous day. 

There's some great stuff on the site. Very handy that you can choose the country you live in, and their Taste Test is fun to do too.

Am I preaching to the converted?


Vanessa

P.S. Funny thing is that lottery ticket won me $11. First time I've ever won. If you're reading this, kind man, I would have traced you and made your day had I won big time, but I didn't think it was worth it for a share of $11...

Your song

It's 25 degrees. I'm in the car, I wind the window down and turn the radio right down so I don't have to listen to the ads and constant plugs.

But then... I hear a faint but very familiar beat of a song that gets me very excited.

Easy Lover by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins. Wooohoooo!!!

I forget that Kian is in the back and turn it up. It takes me back to when I was learning to play the drums.

It's probably a bit too loud, but I love this song. If there was a car that could skip and jig, it was this one at 9am this morning.

Yep, I was dancing and was enjoying every second. People saw me and I didn't care! (Do you think it has anything to do with the fact I slept over 7 hours last night? Hope it's not the last time... Last time I posted about a good night's sleep, it didn't happen again.)

What's your song in the car? What tune makes you feel like you've just hit the jackpot and has you bouncing like a lunatic and beating it out on the steering wheel? 

Tell me, tell me, tell me!

Vanessa


P.S. Not sure why, but I seem to be naming a lot of my posts after song titles lately. Have you noticed, or am I the only one singing them in my head?

My first creation

It was meant to be an elephant design. I had started tracing over my favourite illustrations from Luca's books, but hubby came home and suggested I start small and build up my confidence.

He was right.

He came up with the idea of a rainbow and I'm proud to say it was a completely joint effort. He drew and cut the shapes (with one eye on the Tour de France). I painted, cut and glued the felt (with my back to the Tour de France).

Never imagined I'd enjoy this sort of thing, but it was fun. Especially doing it together.

Up on Luca's wall now. What do you think?

Vanessa

 

Should have put a darker colour in the middle

 

Fiddly raindrops

Pleased as punch

Luca's artwork

I hang most of his work from the ceiling

Until I come up with my first piece of felt art, I'll show you what I've done to liven up Luca's walls. I've used his artwork.

Happy to have finally found a home for all those frames I've got stashed away from garage sales.

This is a very special one
Luca's first (recognisable) face

I love this one

And now it's on the wall

His handprints on a canvas
We did this one together at home using those paint pads

It's all pretty basic but I'm having fun and Luca gets to feel a sense of pride at the same time.

Now, back to the felt...Maybe if Kian sleeps long enough today, I'll get a canvas painted at least.

Vanessa