First Post From Australia!

We're all moved in, and here's me doing my first post from the new house. Just to keep on topic, there are two quilts in the photo: my Wonky Star lap quilt, and my DH Ross' Cowboy Nap Quilt. The container arrived on schedule, there was no damage to any of our stuff, and we got things put away pretty quickly. Just in time to return to California...tomorrow! Then we'll be making the big move Down Under on Oct. 25. Here's my sweetie, Ross, with two of our donkeys. Blossom, on the right, is so jealous she will hardly let you pet either of the other two. Teddy, on the left, is very shy. Stella, the grey one, is nearby, grazing.
This morning we awoke to some spectacular early morning fog in the distant view. Even as Ross took the photo, it began to recede. Just beautiful!
Here's the new living room. Amazingly, all the furniture fit in just fine. It's a much smaller house than our California one, but sending some of our furniture to the condo in Oakland meant that we had enough stuff to furnish both places.
Yesterday we walked down to the bottom of our property, to the boundary. Along the way, our six steers were grazing in the lower paddock. They were very interested in meeting their new owners. Fortunately they were content just to look...I forgot to bring my red cape, so that was good!

The flight to California tomorrow will be horrible...it always seems harder to go from west to east, with jetlag lasting much longer. But we'll be anticipating a very busy three weeks to get ready for the "final" move, organizing the last paperwork and final vet visits for our seven cats, etc. Time will fly, I'm sure.

I've loaned my U.S. sewing machine to my DIL, and haven't had time to buy one in Australia yet, so I'll be antsy to do some sewing when we arrive back here. Have to content myself with reading everyone else's blogs to see what you are all doing.

So great to be here, and to be settled, at last!

Comments

Hi, Your new home and property looks great. What a great adventure you are going to have.
MARCIE said…
Your new home looks lovely and sunny! I think we need more info. Why are you there? Did the animals come with the house? (I know how silly that sounds). I feel excited for you and your new adventure!
Sweet P said…
My questions have already been asked so I'll wait for the answers. Until then you have a lovely place!
Anonymous said…
lovely space - I like the "mission" style furniture...

That foggy shot is AWESOME!
Tonya Ricucci said…
So thrilled all of your belongings made it there safely and you've set up house. Great to have that part of the move done. It all looks marvelous.
Dianne said…
It's Sunday morning, early, and nearly time to start packing for the flight home. Now that we're settled in, I'll be sad to leave so soon.

Got a vacuum cleaner yesterday, so I can do a quick clean-up before we leave.

To recap: Aussie husband, married here nearly 22 years ago, then nearly 21 years living in the U.S. DH now wants to return to Oz to live, which I think is fair. So, we kept a condo in the U.S. for regular visits to the SF Bay Area, but will live here in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales most of the time.

The livestock came with this farm, a real kick. I haven't had a large animal since I was a kid.

Our 7 cats are coming out when we return later this month.


We're planning to extend this house a little and so some remodeling, but I do think our Mission style furniture is looking good. Don't have all our paintings up yet, and many are in the wrong place...we just hung them where there was already a picture hanger. It'll be fun finding just the right place.

So, my next posts will be from CA again. Not looking forward to the looooooooonnnnnnngggggg flight!
Cynthia said…
hi Dianne, welcome to Australia!!!
Your house and property look great. Thanks for sharing the photos and for answering the questions as i was also wanting to ask the same things.
Oh it is all so beautiful! I have a friend who lives on a farm in Canberra and her yard/farm looks just like that. I've been itchin to get there so badly! Oh love your new place!
Jenni said…
Yes welcome to Oz. There are worse places to live! I'm up near Brisbane.
Dianne said…
Thanks, everybody, for your kind words about our new place, and for your welcome to Oz! We absolutely love the new place.

We're back in California after a very uncomfortable, long flight. Had a nap, which is helping, and are about to stroll down to our local restaurant for a bite to eat.

Remembered on the plane that we'd left a tap running outside that sends water to a trough for the steers. Fortunately, a phone call to our next-door neighbor brought the happy news that they'll go right over and turn it off. Thank heaven for nice neighbors!

Now to begin the final wrap-up here to make the move on 25 Oct. Tomorrow we visit the cats at the Feline B&B...hope they're still speaking to us. Can't wait till we're all together again, in Australia...
Lily Mulholland said…
Oh congrats Dianne! Glad the move part one went so well.

When Dawn comes to visit her friend in Canberra, we'll have to have a little get together!!!!!

Good luck with your pussycats and the move part two. Cheers!
Melzie said…
WOW beautiful :) I am excited to see your blog evolve from down under later this month! Thanks for taking us along ;) xoxo melzie

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