Ho! Ho! Ho!
Only five more sleeps until the man in the big red suit pops in for milk and Christmas cake. Of course anyone with children would know that this ubiquitous old man is actually a woman. Wink wink!
With the shopping done and the weather turning grey it’s actually been quite a peaceful week. The garden has been blessed with a drizzle of light rain, the tomatoes and basil in the veggie patch are flourishing and it smells like summer.
I’ve been plodding along dealing with the minutiae of everyday life whilst listening to and catching up on some favourite podcasts including Life on the Land, which celebrates and lends a voice to women in regional Australia, Days Like These, telling interesting stories about everyday people, and for non-stop laughs, Hamish and Andy who always bring a smile to your dial.
I’ve also been binge watching episodes of Schitts Creek and the new season of The Crown and the reruns of the comedic Frasier, whilst sitting on the floor and wrapping Christmas presents.
I’ve thought about and printed recipes for a simple Christmas lunch predominantly consisting of seafood and salads that I will enjoy together with my family on Christmas Day. I’m still tossing up which of two baked salmon dishes to cook.
Yesterday we left home to drive to Milton, a small village on the South Coast of NSW where we will spend the week together with our children in a pretty little farmhouse. We arrived under gloomy skies, the magnificent English style gardens refreshed by the rain were abundant and green and added to the quiet serenity surrounding the cottage. As we drove down the driveway to The White House we were welcomed by three curious and strikingly handsome llamas who would be our companions for the coming week.
After settling in to the cottage we headed out for lunch at Milk Haus, a cafe located in an old cheese factory at Woodstock about a kilometre out of Milton. The food they prepare is made from locally grown, in season produce that is nourishing and fresh. In the evening we dined at The Milton Hotel whilst enjoying the views to the distant horizon and Lake Conjola beach.
This morning after a relaxed breakfast of fresh farm eggs and tender leaves of spinach picked from the organic veggie garden on the farm, we headed out to explore the nearby beaches. We walked along the shores of Mollymook Beach barefoot, leaving footsteps in the sand whilst enjoying the quiet serenity and soothing sound of the gentle waves rolling into the shore.
In the afternoon we visited Cupitts, a small boutique vineyard where we relaxed in the garden sampling a curated selection of wine and cheese whilst taking in the view over the vines to the rolling green hills and Pigeon House Mountain.
We rounded out the day relaxing on the verandah eating homemade pizza cooked in the wood fired oven. As the sun started to fade, the appearance of a big round wombat creeping out from under the farmhouse had everyone jumping to their feet with excitement. We’d inadvertently discovered that we would have another companion to share the farmhouse with for the week and none of us were complaining about this unexpected guest.
Until next week, may your days be both serendipitous and enjoyable.
Eugenia