It may have taken 12 months... but I have finally convinced the hubby that renovating the existing house is the way to go! Up until now he has been convinced that we should just knock the current house down and start over by building a kit home. No thanks.

I like the idea of being able to renovate the place slowly over time - in stages. This means that I will be able to pick up special bits and pieces as I find them rather than having to budget for each step of the way.

The first official step in our renovating was to remove the carpet out of the hallway that runs between each of the bedrooms. This is a dark hallway that was musty and smelly. I was at the stage I didn't care what was underneath!!! I was going to rip it out anyway!

The 'before' shot



And after!

We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the timber floor boards underneath! I was extra happy because it means that we can have real timber floor boards rather than my cheap alternative of floating laminate flooring from Bunnings!

Where to next?........Well we don't have a set plan and will probably end up with 10 things on the go at once! My sister is pulling her old kitchen out and we will be taking it off her hands. We will probably use the cupboard doors and a lot of things like that to re-do our country kitchen! So that will be the first major thing we tackle....

(and I'm looking forward to it! I think I have gone without a cold tap in my kitchen for about 6 months!)

Now for some reason I feel like I must find a lovely bathroom door next. I'm not sure why as the bathroom will be one of the last rooms that we renovate! Can't hurt to start looking now!

Bringing Brandie home

In 1993 when I was 9 years old my parents bought me my first horse, a 2 year old chestnut filly that I called Brandie. I was one of those horse mad children who dragged my parents kicking and screaming into the world of horses.

After all the nagging for a horse I used to cry when I came home from riding. Brandie was a mismatch for an inexperienced rider and bucked me off every time! Mum and Dad always said 'You got what you wanted.. now go out and ride her'.... After much persistence on my part, we clicked.

Brandie had a heart as big as Phar Lap... would jump anything I faced her with and was as tough as nails. I remember the endless days riding her down dirt roads with my girl friends... and jumping over locked gates into paddocks so we could jump the freshly baled hay.


Eventually I sold Brandie to a young girl via a horse dealer. I had replaced her with another horse who had papers, was registered and who was black, pretty and would look good in a show ring..... It didn't take me too long to regret selling my baby.


Brandie ended up getting sold on and on and seemed lost to me forever.... but after a number of years she showed up with lamness and attended a vet clinic that I was working at. The day I saw her, I approached her owner and told her that I would love the opportunity to buy my mare back.


The lady who had ended up with Brandie loved her as much as I did as a young girl. The woman told me that I couldn't buy her back, but I could have comfort in knowing that she would die happily, as she would never leave her property. Brandie had been used for fox hunting and was supposably the best horse that the lady had ever owned.

A few years later Brandie's owner was killed in an unfortunate farm accident. I was overseas at the time and was unable to attend the funeral where Brandie was used as the head of the guard of honour.


Another year later again and I received a phone call..... it was from the husband of the woman who had been killed. He said to me 'I was always told that if anything happened, you were to have first chance to buy your mare back'......


Of couse I couldn't say no. So I purchased Brandie for the same price I had sold her for.... and agisted her for another 3 years....


Yesterday, exactly 18 years and 23 days after I initially purchased her, Brandie finally came 'home'.



Brandie (left hand side) & Carrie



A wooden log seat. (Well it's not all I want for Christmas.. but it's a good start!)

I want a nice big chunky bench seat for next to the dam so I can sit and enjoy the view with a nice glass of red over the summer. Initially I wanted a wrought iron and timber bench seat similar to this......

But I have changed my mind (and as a female I am entitled to do that!). The dam can have a chunky log seat that I do not have to worry about... and I can get a nice wrought iron one for the house yard one day.

Hubby is out the back fashioning me a seat with a chainsaw as we speak!! I have no idea what sort of log seat I'm getting and I haven't even done my usual diagrams & build instructions.... Im pretty excited to see what he comes up with on his own! 

I wouldn't mind something like the following:


Sturdy, simple and could even be comfortable!



Wish I'd shown the hubby this before he headed out!




My expectations are really not that high! As long as the seat keeps me off the ground and is not too uncomfortable it will serve its purpose.

Based on the number of chainsaw cuts that I have been hearing... he could be building me a new house!! I really don't want to go outside yet and spoil the suprise. I want to wait until everything is finished. Pity the weather is no good for testing it!

Geese! That's what else I want for Christmas! Something to admire from my new wooden seat.....

Overdue for an update?

I know it has been a while... but it’s amazing how things change! I’ve found my way back to my blog and will (hopefully) be updating on a regular basis now.

This time 12 months ago I was spending my first few weeks on our farm wondering where life would lead after our 'tree change'. I was dreaming of home renovations, of immaculate gardens and new furnishings....

Things just seem to be put into perspective more when you live out here..... the home renovations have been put on hold, the garden is out of control and the new furnishings have given way to new livestock and feed!

Even though I no longer work a 9 – 5 job I feel like I have less time than ever before! I’ve fed the calves, chickens, duck and turkey, spent a few hours working from home on the computer and the day is almost over!... but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

A slice of heaven belongs to me!

Dreams do come true. All you have to do is be willing to take a plunge and stare change in the face! Who knows if it will all work out? A university educated woman out in the sticks? Will we earn enough to survive? Can I cope with living more than 5 minutes from the local supermarket (on foot!!)?, Can I handle the snakes and spiders and being so far from my family?

Well you will never know if you don't have a go! and why not do it why we don't have kids?.. we have no excuses!

and so here we are... officially farm owners! Well... not really a farm as such, but one hell of a farm compared to what we live in now.

The front of our new home. You can see the shadows of the trees
behind me.

This is looking out of the front lounge room window, towards
where the previous photo was taken from.

The house will require a lot of work... both inside and out .... but for starters we need a pressue pump for the water! We got the keys on Friday, only to find that after a long day of moving, we were unable to shower! The house water is currently gravity fed only.. and clearly not enough gravity to get shower pressure!

Our wonderful long driveway!

On the right hand side of the photo above you can see a large blue gum plantation that borders our property. This will be harvested in 4 - 5 years or so for timber products. Whether they even do this, re-plant the land or put it up for sale is yet to be known as the managed investment schemes suffered greatly during the global financial crisis and this provider is one that failed.

The first time we went for a walk down the driveway with our little jack russell terrier... it was a lovely warm sunny afternoon and we happened to stumble upon a snake. Luckily I heard and saw it first! So we grabbed the dog in time to make sure she didn't spot it and get bitten!

Based on my research it may have been a copperhead snake (the aussie type!). We have three common snakes around here according to our neighbours, the red bellied black snake, the copperhead and the tiger snake. Wonderful!

A copperhead with similar colouring to the snake that

I saw (not the actual snake).

Objective number one in garden - get the grass down to keep snakes out! (or at least allow them to be seen if they are in traffic areas!) The property has been 'let go' to say the least and really needs some clearing before summer gets here. This will require investment in some form of ride on mower or tractor & slasher based on the size and length of our driveway! Either that or a deal with the neighbour of some sort!

The mystery berry!

If anyone can identify the hedge above it would be greatly appreciated. The berries seem dry at the moment and the bush is not prickly enough to be something like a blackberry? It is in my garden and I can see it from the kitchen.... (shown on the left hand side of the photo below).

And now... the view from my kitchen window. Who wouldn't mind

washing the pots and pans whilst staring at that?

Other pretty items I have around the house garden.

From the image above (clockwise from top left) I think that the first image is that of a maple tree leaf. That is from the front garden of the house. The second image may be that of a native banksia. I would love it if someone was able to tell me what variety! The third image is some kind of protea (I think!) and maybe the 4th picture is that of another kind of banksia!

I would love it if someone could tell me exactly what any of the above pictures are! It will help me to plan my garden! I could be totally off with my current gusses.. so corrections are welcome!

A picture paints a thousand words.... so I hope that my selection above has give you a taste of my slice of heaven!

We are currently commuting 4 hours each way on the weekends to move our things down to our new home. We will be relocating for good in 18 days and I am counting down each and every one. 

This time next week we will be farm owners!

This time next week, all going well, we will be the proud owners of 18.5 acres in south western victoria. A bit of a childhood dream come true sort of story..... well it is for me anyway!

I've always loved the idea of moving to a farm... having my horse out the back and not being able to see the neighbours.. but until now it has seemed a far fetched dream rather than anything remotely possible. Especially when you spend over 4 years at University, your career is based in an office and a computer is your only tool of the trade

So...... the deposit has been paid, the packing is well under way and reality has surely set in. We are moving again... and for only two people we sure have a lot of stuff! It all becomes a bit overwhelming when the easy stuff is all packed up and you only have odds and ends left that don't seem to want to fit into any box you have available.

At least hubby seems to be quite relaxed about it all! I am not sure if it is because the whole size of the task has not yet sunk in yet, or because he moved so many times as a child it all seems second nature? What ever it is... I know he has never had to worry about the stress of making sure the keys are handed in on the rental house on time, that stuff moves down to the house in an orderly manner... or that the rental house is clean and the carpets done!

the stresses of the move, the first home purchase, being so far way from mum... all the worry that I have is beaten down by the absolute thrill and excitement that I WILL OWN A FARM! I am sure that it will be heaven on earth.... and I just cannot wait to get there!