a quarter

A quarter of a century old I turn today. Just a regular day at Brindabella, maybe some wedding invites to finish, some photos to edit, some muffins to bake, some little people clothes to sew, some dogs to walk...that sort of thing. My nan is coming over for afternoon tea (I'm going to bust out the good china!) My sister is coming for a roast (we're going to bust out the beers!) 

When I was a little girl I had 'a plan' - I would marry at 22, have a baby at 24, I would be an author and then a 'homemaker'. I thought this was terribly sensible...and conservative - 24 was ancient, after all, to be having a baby. If you were 18 you were a grown up. Yes yes, I was quite the radical.

It hasn't panned out exactly that way, but perhaps not far off...although I am not marrying that little boy up the road who used to throw rocks at me (he got married this year too in case you were wondering - ha!) 

Here is my sister and I playing dress-ups circa 1993 - me as a bride. Naturally.

Yes. I was that little girl.

Image probably taken by my mum :)

point + shoot: birthday boy

This past weekend brought lots of family to Brindabella - it was Mr M's birthday! Quarter of a century. Older than me (for a few months anyway). He wasn't forthcoming with a birthday cake suggestion so I took it upon myself to make him a white chocolate mud cake...and it was a winner! Super easy to make and worked perfectly, even though the recipe was a bit vague as to cooking time I baked mine for 1 hour 20 minutes. Perfect.

We also finally finished Chateau le Chookie, played a mean game of Monopoly (ragers, I know), made some pretty awesome pizzas and cooked up 35 jars of jam for our wedding favours. Only 83 to go...

Playing point + shoot over at Lou's place.

Photos by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella

the darwin wedding

I'm baaack....refreshed, relaxed and a little bit browner. Ok maybe not more relaxed, it seems I may just need a holiday from the holiday?! I don't think I've drunk so much, eaten so much, talked so much in one week then the one I've just had. Lots of great friends in a great place having a great time.

And the wedding? Well the wedding was amazing. Fun, relaxed, just like the happy couple wanted with all their nearest and dearest in the tropical sun to celebrate with them.

Mr M and I had a blast hitting the Mindil Beach Markets with mates, going on a sunset cruise with the rest of the bridal party (as a surprise to the bride and myself!) and exploring Litchfield National Park where we discovered the most beautiful waterfalls, went on a few walks and found some great secluded swimming spots away from the tourist crowds.

Oh yeah and I totally rocked it as Maid of Honour for all of those wondering - lovely in lemon, frocked out in frangipani's and with an impromptu speech to boot. Sorry I don't have more photos of the actual wedding but well, I was busy! 

Holiday over. Boo! Back to work I guess, far far away from the tropics. Reality bites.

Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella and some by my friend Tegan - thanks! :)

farewell dumerilli

On the weekend we bid a bittersweet farewell to Mr M's childhood family home, Dumerilli. Yesterday the moving truck arrived and the only place Mr M has ever known as 'home' was left standing empty. It was sad, Mr M's sister was especially sad, but we were trying to be rather matter-of-fact about it all. My future in-laws are building a beautiful new home down by the seaside, a new home to fill with new memories.

I will miss heading out to what can only be described as the veggie garden of perfection to grab some ears of corn for dinner or raspberries for dessert...

And I will miss all the little touches that made Dumerilli such a happy home. The family pieces scattered throughout the house - Mr M's great-grandparents trunk which travelled on the ship with them from England, the Australian landscape oil paintings, the big exposed red brick chimney in the centre of the home to heat us all, the spices lined up neatly on the open kitchen shelving...

Purple viola's in terracotta pots and glasshouses will always remind me of Dumerilli and it's rambling cottage garden full of foxgloves, hollyhocks, granny's bonnet, anemones and Erica bush all surrounded by the giant towering gums of the state forest.

In the late afternoon on Sunday we all went for a final walk down the paddock to the hay shed. One last time. Mr M's parents bought Dumerilli 27 years ago, the house was half the size with no power, the garden hardly existed. They created a beautiful home for their three children to have an idyllic childhood. A home where they felt loved, comforted, warm and safe.

Farewell magical Dumerilli, we will miss you xxx

Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella

stripe mania

On the weekend I went to the hairdressers. I usually try and get my hair cut and coloured every six weeks. Yeah right. With work I can only go on a Saturday morning, and we always have a million things on a weekend to do. Mr M also thinks me sitting in a hairdressers for a few hours is utterly ridiculous. So, it's more like 8-10 weeks between drinks visits and every single time I tell my hairdresser (who also happens to be my best friends sister) that I'll be a good girl next time and come in sooner. I promise. After all, part of my new years resolutions was to take better care of my hair, to help it grow and be healthy for the wedding. Sigh.

I took this photo as part of Holly's Stripe Mania going on over on decor8 and on twitter, and well everywhere! It's in our not-so-finished-yet-in-the-decorating-stakes bedroom here in the ramshackle farmhouse, but basically it's a carbon copy of our bedroom in the cottage until I come up with a better brainwave.

Cardigan with belt: Big W

Stripe top: RM Williams (also seen here)

Skirt: Old jeans I made into a denim skirt

Leggings: Target

Ballet flats you can't see: Kmart

What can I say I'm a cheap-skate-chain-store shopper?? Cept for the RM top which I wear everywhere.

Have a lovely day, it's freeeeeeezing here! Brrr.....

Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella

point + shoot: packing a life

As I mentioned yesterday, we spent Mothers Day at Mr M's family home with his parents, his sister, her husband and two kids and Mr M's brother carefully sorting through and packaging up their entire lives. Thirty odd years of birthday parties, school projects, finger paintings, school reports, photos, camping trip maps, tricycles, abandoned teddy bears and that weird shaped grater that everyone loves. I helped carefully wrap prized possessions in newspaper, in between teaching my new nephew Ethan the finer points of making a good cup of coffee, and marvelled at the glorious environment Mr M got to grow up in - a little red brick cottage in an idyllic location, full of gorgeous antiques, organic cooking smells, a clawfoot bath he used to splash in, little cutout stain glass windows in the old walls, flowers fresh from the garden always on the kitchen table, warm open fires and love beyond measure. Home.

You might remember we held our engagement party at Dumerilli, it is just the most lovely spot - bordered by state forest on three sides and with creek frontage at the bottom of the garden. It's the only home Mr M has ever known - the home he was brought home to from the hospital, where he learnt how to ride a bike and bake terrible chocolate cakes, where he scribbled on the slate floors in permanent marker and blamed it on his imaginary friend, where he grew and became the wonderful man he is now. The man I love, and Dumerilli is such a huge part of him. I love this place just because of that (and many more reasons).

The actual moving day isn't until June, but boy is there a lot of stuff a whole family can accumulate over a lifetime. Understandable. It makes me wonder what Brindabella will be like in forty years time! I think we have a lot of 'stuff' now?! Mr M's parents are on the move down the coast so it's not all doom and gloom - holiday beach shack anyone?

Have your parents moved out of your childhood home? Did you have to pack up your entire life in a short period of time or did you take it with you when you moved out of home?

Images by Emma Durkin for Cinderella at Brindabella

Playing point + shoot with Lou

the last time

As Friday creeps closer I feel I am running about like a crazy lady trying to breathe it in, soak it up and create little snaps in my mind of Ythanbrae, the cottage, Yea, our home. 

Yesterday as I tried to scavenge boxes from local businesses I started to think: "Is that the last time I will talk to Nick at the hardware?" Then I couldn't stop!

"Is that the last time I'll pop into the post office to see Ant and Jen?" (most likely not at the rate I'm going through packing tape)

The last time I walk down the driveway, the last time Mr M mows the lawn, the last time I race Tess down to the dog runs at dinner time, the last time I collect the eggs, the time I reach the crest of the hill and look out over Ythanbrae and try to spot Mr M somewhere mustering his cattle on the motorbike. Tomorrow is the last time I will pick up Monty from kinder and chat to his lovely teacher Val. Sunday was the last time I worked at the gallery. The weekend was the last barbeque on the deck. Yesterday (I think) was the last time I will hang out the washing. The last time I'll get swooped by that darn magpie down at the washing line. 

On Monday night I went with Mr M over the back of Ythanbrae, over the new track that was carved into Mount Dorothy when we first moved here, and as I opened and shut the gates I thought "That's the last time I'll open that gate". The last beer after work at Tom and Liv's. The last time Monty and I will trundle over to the cattle yards with his ride on tractor to visit Mr M. 

 

So many last times. But there are going to be so many new times. A new adventures awaits and although I'm all nostalgic this week, next week I can't wait to jump feet first into our new home, our new jobs, our new community, our new life. 

I thought you might like one last glimpse at the cottage, I took these last week as at the moment most of the cottage is in boxes!!

point + shoot - the rock!

Ok so I am totally cheating for this week's point and shoot - these are from last Thursday, not my weekend (which by the way was lovely and blissful with lots of champagne, Mr M's brother, wedding musings, a hit of tennis on the brand new grass court here at Ythanbrae and more coffee making at the gallery).

 

{ Photos I was taking before the question was popped. Another beautiful sunset. Perfection. } 

 

{ My engagement ring. A replica of Mr M's late grandmothers engagement ring. Perfect in every way except for the ring band size, so it is at the jewelers for a little visit. Our dear friend Olivia's engagement ring is similar which Mr M knew I liked so he has been stalking her finger! }

 

 { The ever lovely Miss Lily watching on as we celebrated }

The wedding planning is underway don't you worry, we've had a great time sitting down over a glass of bubbles discussing our ideas - which are all on the same page and tastes, we have a clear vision of what we want our day to be and represent. I can't wait to document it and share it on my blog.

This week's point and shoot from fatmumslim herself is a cracker - a beautifully cute video of her weekend with her little girl and her man. I loved it, pop over to have a look.

little mrs emma

Yesterday afternoon, atop our beloved Ythanbrae at sunset with our dogs and a few beers, Mr M in his quiet little way asked me to be his wife.

I, naturally, said yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

little miss moving

I have some sad but also exciting news. No it's exciting. Definitely exciting.

After long deliberation, discussion, ho-humming, pro's and con's list writing and even a trip to Papua New Guinea, Mr M and I have decided that we are on the move.

We have been at Ythanbrae over two years now, in Yea for almost three. It has become our home, our sanctuary and haven. We have been overwhelmed with the welcoming into the Yea community we have received, all the lovely friends we have made and have really come to love our small country town. Not to mention how much I have fallen in love with Ythanbrae and the cottage.

{ image }

Our plan after university was always to be in Yea for 2 to 5 years - that time is now up and we are moving on to bigger and better things! We tossed up whether we would travel, pack everything up and hit the road jackarooing and governessing for a year, we also considered becoming ex-pat's and heading to PNG, Singapore, the US or Canada on bigger farms, Mr M had job offers which he pondered. But at the end of the day our hearts and our heads always came back to one place: Thorpdale. My home. Where I grew up and my heart will always be, on my family's farms Ballina Park and Pine Ridge. My two sisters and my brother have no plans to return home to the farm so Matty and I have stepped up to the plate - helpful that Dad's youngest daughter ended up with a graduate of agricultural science ;)

So come late Oct/early November we will be packing up the cottage and shipping south to a new home. A more permanent home. I can not tell you how much it means to me to be returning to the place my grandfather came to in the 1940's, with plans of a life of our own. Stay tuned for the next installment in our grand adventure - can't wait!





point + shoot

Mix one niece with one nephew, add one sister(in-law), a pinch of birthday cake for Unkie Matt, a dash of farming fun and you have a weekend filled with family, chooks, weighing (and pulling) some calves, motorbikes, gumboots and lemon curd making. 

A snapshot of what went down at Ythanbrae this weekend...

      

Tough work this farmer business says Ethan (or was that Uncle Matt who was tired from whirlwind 2 year old?) 

To see some other weekend snaps head over to fat mum slim :)

{ My Boy Buddy }

"And then there were two."

"Sorry?"

"Two dogs."

"Did you find someone to take Bud?"

"Yeah. He's gone."

And just like that my boy Buddy was gone. Without me saying good-bye. Without one more handshake or a high five walking past the back of the ute. Just gone. 

Buddy came to us when we first moved to Yea, when we were younger and red-hot-raring to jump into our new life as 'grown ups'. We lived in a terrible, terrible house, with no heating which gave me frostbite (yes frostbite) on my toes, for awhile we had no running water so I would boil several kettles for a 'shower' in the backyard. We had an outside toilet and resident possums living in the old Aga stove. But we were ridiculously happy. What we needed was a dog though. A girl I worked with had such a dog. A dog which her husband was going to shoot if he did not find a home. And so we adopted this crazy, bounding, dopey Kelpie cross. 

As time went on we eventually adopted Lily also after Mr M's boss left her to stay with us for a few weeks and didn't seem to want her back. Then along came the wonder dog Pippa, with her good bloodlines, agility and skill with sheep. And of course Tess, my little 'house dog'. Then Roxy came to live with us as her family moved overseas and got settled. Our family was filling up.

A few weeks ago we decided that we could no longer give Buddy the love and attention he deserved. So we decided we would ask around to see if a loving home could be found for him. I was in agreement with this, but I never really thought it would happen, or if it did he would go to friends and I would still see him or know where he was. Mr M went to a working dog workshop with all three dogs yesterday. And he came home with only two. I knew he might find someone there to take him, but the actual reality of it was like being hit by a bus, which was so very, very surprising. I didn't think I cared that much for Mr Buddy, the bumbling jester of our motley crew. Just how much he was my favourtie of the working dogs hit home as I uncontrollably cried into Mr M's shoulder.

Buddy had a new home now. And it was all so very sudden.

Good-bye Mr Buddy, I hope you get the work that you deserve, the cuddles that Monty will miss giving you and you are allowed to chase birdies like you love to.

{ Four Eyes }

My beautiful little niece Chloe has had trouble seeing at school and as a result is struggling in her reading, she says the letters jump off the page at her and won't sit still, those naughty little letters! The idea of wearing glasses to her is terrifying, as she has already suffered from some bullying. I have told her that all three of her beloved aunties wear glasses, and that it is not a big deal or something to worry about.

When I was about 10 years old my mum took me to the optometrist to get my eyes tested. My older sister had just been told that she had to wear glasses full-time. For some bizarre reason I really wanted glasses. I think to be just like my big sister. I was delighted to find that I did indeed need glasses, just to see the blackboard. It's funny that you want to be different from the crowd (I was the only person in my small primary school class with glasses to pull out and put on, very grown up and sophisticated) but when you are different from the crowd all you want to do is be a sheep again.

When other kids would call my sister and I 'four eyes' or something equally as original, we would cry to mum. She told us, like I tell Chloe, not to listen to them and that we were beautiful little girls. Years later as a teenager my mobile phone rang, I answered it, it was my mum, standing at the optometrist, being told she had to wear glasses and absolutely devastated.

"But Mum, remember you always told Louise and I that we were beautiful regardless of our imperfect eye-sight - I'm sure you are the same."

"Oh Emma - you and your sister were clearly the dorkiest looking children, I just told you that you were pretty. Now what frames am I going to choose to suit my face shape??!!"

Has parenting that you experienced as a kid backfired on you now as an adult or a parent yourself? 

Images via here.

{ Jungle Adventures }

It's booked. We're off. Can't wait.

 

We are making good on a promise we made to some friends that moved to Papua New Guinea earlier this year to come and visit. A two week tropical holiday is just what the doctor ordered going into another foggy and damp Murrindindi winter! Little Miss Emma will be out of action from the 8th until the 24th of June (as I will be sitting under a palm tree sipping a cocktail out of a coconut and wearing a grass skirt...naturally).

Mr M and I haven't been overseas since we were 17 so am getting very excited with the travel bug - although PNG is hardly even out of Australia it's so close! It's such a great opportunity to go there though, we were just saying last night we wouldn't have ever thought to go to PNG if our friends weren't living there, and the tourism business is really trying to kick off there with great diving, trekking, stunning landscape and beautiful, friendly locals.

I was slightly apprehensive about the whole security issue, Port Moresby is apparently the second most dangerous place on the planet after Baghdad! But we only fly in and fly out of the Port Moresby airport so I'm sure we'll be fine. Also have had a few injections for typhoid and hepatitis A and got our rounds of malaria drugs. I hate having to sit on a plane even going to my sister's in Brisbane so this whole two days of traveling thing will be interesting - Melb, Bris, stay the night there, Bris to Port Moresby, Port Moresby to Lae, then a few hours drive.

My friend in PNG sent me these bilums (bags) last week, handmade by the merri (housekeeper) next door, Rita. I asked for a chevron pattern and got this beauty in a vivid orange! I thought they would be big enough to use as shopping bags instead of my Woolies green ones but they're a bit small, but perfect to just throw my phone (which is my wallet as well), my keys and some lip balm in. 

So, if you are thinking of placing an order for yourself or a friend on the Little Miss Emma website, please ensure you do so by the 3rd of June at the latest to get it posted otherwise you will have to wait until I return on the 24th all relaxed and re-energised!