The first days

The day we finally moved coincided with a minor cold front.  Rain lashed, wind blowing a gale - but, nonetheless we had timed it well.
As we were approaching a neighbour called RMan's mobile and said they had dinner waiting and they would meet us on the dirt road to hand it over.  Bless them.

A small lasagne each - how very thoughtful

A delicious lasagne...

And a delicious salad, complete with olive oil and
balsamic vinegar dressing ingredients

... and salad.  The lasagne was hot - straight out of the oven.  "Thank you" doesn't cover the gratitude we felt at their thoughtfulness.



We tumbled out of the car, schlepped the last of the boxes and suitcases into the house, collapsed on the dining room chairs, gobbled down the food and then headed straight to bed.


Chaos ensues inside - with boxes everywhere - seemingly on every inch of floor space.  And not just packing boxes either.  There are also cooler boxes which are filled with the last of the fridge and freezer contents.  And a dog.


And they are all determined to catch me unawares LOL  Nothing worse than hurdles, in dim light, to ensure that one stumbles headlong at least once an evening - with or without a cup of tea / coffee in your hands.

Chaos - and not easy to see at nighttime when the
kerosene lamplight creates dark area's and casts deep
shadows across the floor

But - this too will (eventually) pass.

MKid spent the last few days of of his school holidays with us - and like all little boys - the irresistible urge to make a warming fire in order to cook marshmallows supersedes even inclement weather, and the hurdles of a topsy turvy house LOL 

MKid on a mission...

Not even drizzle dripping down the back of his neck dampened his enthusiasm and the quest for (blackened) oozing hot marshmallows merely encouraged him to huddle closer to the warmth of the fire :)

The reward of wet clothing and raindrops dripping
down the back of his neck - melting
marshmallows :)

What we didn't know was that this minor cold front was a precursor of bigger and better things.

Seriously, our timing could not have been better... :)

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you :)

I'm writing two blog posts today - for a very special reason.


Wow - I'm completely blown away.

A few weeks ago I entered a blogger give-away. Kirsten, of Sustainable Suburbia wrote to me to tell me that my name had been drawn from the hat.


I was very excited to be the winner, but was worried that it would cost Kirsten too much to post it to me all the way from Aussie.  She replied: "Don't worry about the postage Dani. I said anywhere in the world, and I meant it - I just figured if the postage was too much I'd buy another copy on the book depository (free postage world wide), and give the copy I have to someone here in my local urban homesteaders group. :)"


And Kirsten did just that.


I am speechless.  I have just received a brand new copy of "One Magic Square" by Lolo Holbein, and it looks absolutely terrific!  Jam packed with brilliantidea's, companion planting hints and even recipes.  Even a chapter entitled "Soil Secrets".


So - if you will all give me a little time to get my hungry eyes between the pages - I feel a well-deserved book review coming on :)


Thanks again, Kirsten.  Thank you very much.  I feel very honoured and privileged.  I'm taking it to the farm with me tomorrow - and it is going to have pride of place on my bedside table.

Versatile Blogger

1st Man of Two Men and a Little Farm - thank you for nominating me with this award.  I'm honoured to receive it, and that you gave it to me.

Here are the rules of the prize.

1  Thank the person who gave you this award.

2  Include a link to their blog.

3  Select bloggers / blogs that you've recently discovered and nominate them for this award.

4  Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

A few of the blogs I have recently discovered are:

Mama Tea's blog at A Farmish Kind of Life - they've just moved into the first farm - what a delightful place it is with a stunningly beautiful big red barn :)

Teach & Englishman's blog Mad Dog and Englishman - they are neighbours of ours on the farm, who very kindly go out of their way to heck that all is OK at our place every time they visit theirs.

Jackie's blog The Slowvelder.  Jackie is a wonderful artist, who lives in the northern part of South Africa, near the Kruger National Park.  She has also just renovated a couple of cottages on her land in order to be able to offer accommodation to anyone who wants it.

Anna's blog Living Life in Rural Tennessee where she very energetically describes the (empty nest) homestead that she and her husband are building.  Who says life doesn't begin at 40 after the kids have left home!  :) 

Kate's blog Purple Pear Organics. Kate, and her partner, Mark are full time farmers and educators and her aim is to "Be the change you wish to see in the world" (Gandhi).

and, finally, Katie's blog  All Natural Katie where she is chronicling her path towards living more naturally.

Seven things about me:

1  I was born on an Air Force base in Tidworth, Hampshire, UK.

2  I spoke German before I spoke English.

3  I was named after a french actress whom my father fancied at the time.

4  Both my mother, fathers, four brothers, sister and my first name's all start with D.

5  I (British born) married someone of German decent - so much for wars.

6  I believe, and have proof, that change starts with one person at a time.  I know the course that RMan and I have adopted in the last 5 years has been willingly embraced by our children - but you'll have to wait until later this year to discover more about this fact...

7  Leo is my star sign :)

Happy, Happy...

I'm going to try and post this, but with numerous laptop blue screens, and my dicey, s-o-o-o-o slow, internet connection this may or may not happen...


So much to tell you / share,  but it will have to wait until we return to the adsl line.  I hope that everyone had a Merry, Merry, so all that is left now is to wish you all a Happy Happy...

Anticipation...MKid in front of the pomegranate
tree we had to use as our Christmas tree as we
couldn't fit our Christmas tree on the trailer :) 

Thank you all for your encouragement, for the inspiration you provide me with via your own blogs and e-mails, and for your friendship - I love that blogging allows me to bridge the many miles between us :)


May 2012 see the granting of your secret wishes, the fruition of your dreams, and may you have peace and harmony within all aspects of your lives.


God Bless - Happy New Year to you all :)