Our simple patch of paradise

My husband and I first met in the far north of Australia on a tiny and very remote island in the Torres Strait just over a dozen years ago. We've lived in several other beautiful, tropical parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory since then before settling down in Canberra, an altogether different kind of paradise. It is one of the coldest parts of the country but in my eyes also one of the most beautiful with it's four very distinct seasons. Reminds me of when I lived in New York.

Before kids we shuddered at the thought of joining 'suburbia' with a house and yard and all the maintenance it entails. But then we moved to the nation's capital for hubby's last army posting and we both developed a longing to put down roots. While we loved the excitement of discovering a new town and making new friends, we desired stability and a home that was ours. Six months later we found it...a place to call our own, a place to raise our kids, a place to plant a vege patch and spend time pottering in the garden.

The house was a typical 1960s fibro cottage, backing onto the local primary school. It was far from grand but it met our needs as a first home and was within our budget, allowing me to be a stay at home mummy when the time came. The previous owner had renovated the interior including a very decent kitchen, bathroom and laundry so we were happy to move in and not touch a thing. The exterior was very dull...concrete driveways on both sides of the house with a very sad garden at the front and a rather plain yard with a little shed in the back.

Eighteen months ago we renovated and landscaped to put our stamp on it. We put in double glazed windows and doors to keep out the cold, clad and insulated the exterior of the house, installed solar tubes on the roof for hot water, removed three quarters of that awful concrete, planted a beautiful garden filled with trees from front to back and finished off with a vege patch complete with fruit trees and a hen house.

We now spend a huge amount of time outside in our garden. Its a wonderful safe and interesting place for our kids (and the neighborhood's kids) to play, a fabulous spot for entertaining and brings so much joy to our lives.

Hubby has done an amazing job with the veges, fruit trees and berries...we have a varied and abundant harvest all year round. The kids love getting their hands dirty and have a great understanding of where their food comes from.

I love filling baskets with our eggs, fruit & veg, herbs and preserves to share with our neighbors and friends.

 

I love our simple patch of paradise.

It is a healthy, healing space.

Suburbia...I can't believe that we ever scoffed at it!

 

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