Wednesday, January 4, 2012

from the river house: the pace

We are still infused with the holiday pace. Lazy mornings, long breakfasts, gentle walks, afternoon naps, long reading sessions, copious amounts of tea. It's a pace that requires little planning and therefore hardly any thought. 

On our way up to the river house we stopped off at Morpeth for some sourdough and a coffee. We spent a few hours wandering the (partly) cobblestone high street, perusing antiquities and taste testing honey and ginger beer. Hard work.

From there we drove, zig-zagging through the country, spotting cows on the hillside, tin shacks near the road. Over the river, across the bridge, and at the foot of the Barrington Tops we found our abode, a house built in 1850 complete with a full commercial kitchen, exquisite bathrooms, to-die-for views and ripe grapes on the vine. 

We drove into the closest town a few times - sampled the coffee, checked out real-estate and discovered the church op-shop (oh the vintage sheets!). Not a day went by when I didn't think about living deep in the hills, cushioned by quiet. I think, like many of you no doubt, my dreams of settling in the country with a cottage and a little bit of land are constant. But that dream won't come to fruition for me just yet. And that's ok.

I'm remembering the wise words of a friend...bloom where you're planted. I'm going to take them with me, right through 2012. 

Flourish!

Top photo by Daniel, the rest by yours truly

36 comments:

  1. Ah! such a perfect way to unwind and soothe your bodies and souls. The portrait of you is especially beautiful, you and untamed nature sit well together :) My hope for the new year is much likes yours - growing gently and contently where I am.

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  2. Hi Jodi, what a beautiful post. Love the pic of you out in the field and Poet looking so relaxed with her daddy. I am one of those girls who has the constant dream to live in the country, and like you, not yet. enjoy every delicious moment of your stay. Jane x

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  3. It looks perfect. No country living for me either right now but it's important to dream. And meanwhile, yes - bloom where you are planted. Happy 2012 Jodi! x

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  4. Wonderful advice. This may not be our dream home in the country, but little by little it is becoming more the home we dream of and these 900 square meters are enough for now. Still, it's nice to have such gorgeous glimpses of your country escape.

    Flourish, a beautiful reminder indeed. xx

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  5. Easy, breezy ahhh I'm so relaxed....a montage of moments in the sun.....drifting of to dream of growing where I am planted

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  6. These photos are lovely. I wish I could escape to a place like this for a quick weekend.

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  7. Ah, we too dream of that life away from the hustle and bustle but for now are content with living in the here and now and patiently waiting for our dreams to be reached :)

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  8. I love that phrase "bloom where you're planted". I've never heard that before but I could certainly prescribe to a bit of that in my life! Beautiful photos Jodi, as always xx

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  9. Such pretty pictures. You all look divine. And it looks like a sensational place. Lucky lady xx

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  10. When people ask me where I come from I say inland. I think it makes sense to people living on the coast. I am not a coast person and even after 10 years still find being on the coast can be a strange dislocation. I am a river person and do miss the inland spaces they traverse. Your river journey does sound lovely. There's not enough credit for rivers. People think them sleepy things but they can change and mould landscapes, more slowly than the ocean maybe, but just look at how the floods in Queensland last year changed lives.

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  11. Stunning photos, the one of the grass simply took my breath away. A che he looks so relaxed, I love that moment when they (boys) just let go... stop being busy and just absorb. Wonderful times. Enjoy your holiday Jodi. Lou xx ps. the saying 'bloom where you are planted' seems so perfectly right and quite apt to me at the moment. Thank you .xx

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  12. beautiful photos! everything looks so peaceful.

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  13. Sounds like a perfect holiday. And i love your friends words, words to live by indeed. xx

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  14. It sounds divine, Jodi. And the photos are so calm and beautiful. I'm reminding myself this constantly... although we've been looking at houses on the Peninsula all week dreaming...

    Happy 2012 gorgeous family. xxx

    ps. mould advice – yes please!

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  15. Oh Jodi, what a perfect way to start the year; bathed in love, light and lots of deep breaths. Daniel, that photo of Jodi is one of jaw-dropping beauty, yes due partly to your photographic genius but the rest is that of Jodi and her stunning external and internal beauty, wow. Oh my goodness and that house looks like one of pure magic. Thank you for an amazing and inspiring 2011, it is such an honour to be able to peek into your little family's life. xxx jay.

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  16. Thank you for making me feel incredibly lucky to be moving to my country cottage by the river in just 2 weeks. I've been getting a bit anxious about leaving Sydney, but you have reminded me about all the reasons I wanted to go in the first place! Also isn't Barrington Tops beautiful we went there in Oct for a holiday and loved it! Gorgeous photos. *s*

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  17. ahhh the bliss.

    Do i spy Poet wearing one of Olives tops?

    xo em

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  18. Such a perfect place for you to lost in the beauty of the countryside. Enjoy your holiday adventures and spending quiet times together. Beautiful photos Jodi. Happy New Year to you. xx

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  19. Such beautiful photos- love the pace of holidays... just had a week at the beach and it's so lovely to read books & swim and sit on the verandah and enjoy being a family.

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  20. Almost everyone I know is about either the city or the beach. It's been rolling green hills for me always x

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  21. You always look so calm, peaceful, natural and beautiful.
    Any chance you can bottle some of that and send it to me please!

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  22. Oh such beautiful photos. Look so peaceful and calm. Such beautiful words also, I shall remember that.
    xx jody

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  23. Things still a little anxious and busy round this joint. Thanks for this little moment of calm. As usual you've given me a little prod to remember to slow down, take some time, find the peace. Happy New Year to you and that delightful little crew of yours. xxRach

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  24. oh Jodi,
    a year ago I thought the same.
    6 months ago we made the move.
    tonight we sit together, share a glass of vino and plan our move back to the ocean.
    the mountain, a wonderful retreat.
    the ocean, my home.
    peace xo

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  25. I adore every single one of these scenes. This is life isn't it. Meaningful moments spent with nature and family. "bloom where you're planted", I adore that too.
    Peaceful weekend to you lovely Jodi. x

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  26. so lovely. i can almost feel the tranquillity through those photos.

    but it makes my heart oh so heavy with longing for australia! what i wouldn't give to even have a 'small' house in the city. singapore gets a bit suffocating at times, when you grew up with big open spaces.

    guees i'll just live vicariously through your posts for awhile :)

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  27. Oh *I* want a river house to tuck ourselves away in for a week or two. It sounds (and looks) just heavenly!

    I think there's far too many of us sharing this very same dream. Best we all not move to the country... there'll be no space left! ;) x

    Happy New Year to you and that beautiful family x

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  28. Oh Jodi, these are the most beautiful photographs .... it all looks so divine, wishing you and your beautiful family a wonderful 2012 X

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  29. your images tell the whole story. I am just relaxed by looking at them... what a beautiful way to spend time with your family. happy new year lovely! x

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  30. Ahh! The river house sounds quite the fairy tale, it evokes images of the little town mouse, ratty and molley, a counrty hamper. Bliss. Thank you for your lovely comment!

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  31. Jodi that photo of you is incredible! It captures THE most gorgeous, strong, woman. Your trip looks and sounds wonderful. Happy new year to you! Kellie xx

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  32. oh my goodness that photo of daniel and poet are just the sweetest ever. ha ha ha commenting on the photo first... reading the blog now. xoxoxoxoxo

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  33. Truly beautiful pics and words. What an amazing place to stay. There is nothing like the aged beauty with it's history of an old house. I do love that saying.

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  34. Your photos are exquisite Jodi (and Daniel's one too!) And such a beautiful place to stay with your lovely family. You should definitely consider photography xo

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