I apologise for not blogging lately. I’m being very lazy. Actually, I am just *really* enjoying my new house. It is wonderful to be here. The journey, however is not over.

Monte has been using the tractor to do some landscaping. He has filled in the trenches in the front yard and he has moved some gravel into the carport. It’s great driving right into the carport and getting out of the car right beside the laudry door, especially now the wet (and frosty) weather is setting in!

Beginning some landscaping in front yard

Monte and Darren filling the tractor tyres up with water to increase stability

Spreading gravel into carport

The final coat of exterior rendering still needs to be done. As do the finishing off of the eaves. Monte’s plan is to work on those projects this winter. Then we will focus on more landscaping. I can’t wait to begin the garden. We are planning a cottage/vege garden out front and a play/entertaining garden out the back, including a fire pit overlooking the view.

We’ve got some plants underway however. One of the beauties of our north-facing windows is that they are great spots to grow plants, especially in this winter weather. We are growing lettuces, spinach, silverbeet, radishes, parsely and cabbages in our window alcoves. The children are in charge of looking after them. They watch them every day and they water them. Georgia is keeping a diary about the plants’ progress.

I love our stove. It cooks so evenly. Cakes are brilliant. Often I use the bottom/warming oven for baking. Roast meats are tender and very lush. Roast potatoes cook well and go very crispy. I love it that the stove is always on. We don’t use much power for our cooking or our heating. Could it be any better? Well, yes, because my gorgeous Esse CLEANS ITSELF! I love it.

For mothers day I got a slow cooker with Sally Wise’s slow cooker recipe book. A great gift, that I greatly appreciate, but Monte is right (don’t tell him I say this). I don’t need a slow cooker. With the stove on all the time, I can cook slowly in the warming oven an get equally good (or better) results. Still, if we are going out all day and want to cook dinner, using the slow cooker is very easy and convenient because we simply prepare the food and press the button. Then we come home to delicious smells of dinner.

Speaking of dinner, we are finally beginning to entertain again. Now that we have the kitchen and the space, and most of our bits and pieces unpacked, it is easier to have friends over. We are very lucky to have great friends and we are starting to discuss a special house warming party – sometime between completing some basic landscaping and October, when baby is due.

Am I happy? Yes, very very happy! After last winter, when we trudged our way through the wettest, most horrible winter in 50 years whilst living in that cabin (and special thanks to the lovely Steenholdts, who helped us out with our power dilemmas), I am so very thrilled to be in my house. The space is incredible. The dishwasher is incredible. The warmth and the light are incredible; it can be the yuckiest day outside, and inside we are wearing single layers, relaxing in the comfort and warmth of this great gift that Monte made. Happy doesn’t really cover it actually, but it comes close.

:D