Narelle Hunter RURAL LIFESTYLE

Since my last blog I have been to Sydney for the boarding school pick-up and to Orange to get the car serviced. My yoga practice really helps me to keep feeling healthy and relaxed during all the running around. I practice every single day and love it but on a 6 km walk through the hills on the farm today I found myself a little breathless when my mobile phone rang. So it must be time to increase my exercise routine and face winter head on, literally. Pushing through the invisible barriers of our comfort zones takes determination and focus. As I tried to reach the top of a steep hill at a fast pace the muddy road seemed endless and part of me just wanted to turn around and say, ‘That’s enough for today.’ Once past the point of resistance I felt a rush of reward and I look forward to adding more and more km’s to my new walking routine. The winter months offer fabulous excuses to slow down and eat more but you just wind up spending half of summer trying to feel e

The plovers have returned to our garden again and walk around like they own the place. They nest on the ground, as Howard found out one year in the middle of the night. He could hear a bird calling in a very distressed way for hours in the night so he ventured out to investigate. He came back in laughing and telling me how funny it was to see three sheep looking over the plovers nest harmlessly as the bird remained with her eggs. My topic for today is contentment and I wonder how often we carry on like the plover when the things we fear are really no threat at all?? * The chickens were happy feeding until I called out for them to look at the camera. This was the result as they ran for their lives! (These are the chickens I photographed earlier in the year, they have grown hey!) The unknown is scary thats for sure... *This is a photo of the fog lifting and in some ways contentment has this effect. The oxford dictionary defines contentment as; satisfied, willing. I am finding

Winter has arrived!! Fog, frost, rainy days, cold temperatures and more rain. The drive to town is very different without the wide open views. The trees are silhouettes, the road is wet, the rising sun is sleeping in!    We don't like to be fussy but thats probably enough rain for now thanks...the grain is only just in the ground and we don't want it to wash away!   Howard and I are about to do a yoga weekend together after many weeks of managing very different work loads. Although we haven't had a lot of time together, we have made some great plans for the year ahead and how I can support him more and get more involved as the business grows. It is always a juggle, especially during shearing, sowing or harvest when Howard's hours are long and the family demands continue. I have been working on a blog topic very close to my heart, 'Being True to Yourself' but it is taking a while to put together. So I will keep you in suspense for now and share my thou

Any sort of meditation or relaxation practice is clearly dangerous when we are driving but mindfulness is possible. Mindfulness is being in a alert state where you notice your surroundings. When driving my main focus is on the road and the side of the road, as I check for kangaroos or when in town I look out  pedestrians (especially the ones texting) People say to me, 'I don't know how you live that far from town' but with some good music and an interest in the seasons changing, the drive is enjoyable. Sometimes I have the girls in the car with me but most of the time I am driving on my own. When something catches my eye I pull over to take a photograph but I cant do this all the time and often say to the girls, 'Oh that would have been a good shot.' Winter is a particularly beautiful time to drive through the countryside. On frosty mornings the sun rises through the mist and everything sparkles. It is always a challenge trying to capture just how b

Almost 2 inches of rain arrived at home over the weekend and we are thrilled. Most of the crop is planted so this is ideal. I was in Coonabarabran when the soft rain was falling at home. One of our daughters was participating in a four day equestrian event. It was a 5 ½ hr trip for us but a nice drive through Forbes, Parkes and Dubbo. This was worth the effort, an incredible opportunity to be a part of something amazing. This event is the largest secondary school equestrian event in Australia. The sight of all those horses, floats, children, adults, yards, stables and campfires was fascinating. Around 50 schools and over 700 students could choose from a number of events, including cross country riding, show jumping, polocrosse and sporting to name a few. The rain eventually arrived in Coonabarabran too but no one was really phased as raincoats, umbrellas, tarpaulins and gumboots appeared. The mud underfoot just added to the atmosphere. Like the Al