Narelle Hunter RURAL LIFESTYLE

  Before I begin, my thoughts go out to all those who are fighting the New South Wales fires at the moment. It makes me proud to be an Australian when I see all the volunteers and everyone involved in trying to stop the damage the fires are causing. Everyone is showing such courage and loyalty. Even at home we experienced frost, fire and extreme heat within one week. Many farms have had frost damage on their lovely crops and it is hard to take. Howard is out checking our crops now with his brother. (I have a photo included of the smoke rolling across from the Blue Mountains to Sydney last week) So my news for this week is that Mum and I passed our final yoga assessment!! Yay…. 3 years ago Mum and I started the Dru Yoga teacher training course in North Sydney together. Mum was starting to say she was having trouble getting off the floor if she sat down with the grandkids and had a sore shoulder all the time. I thought I could manage a yoga course while v

At the reception of my Wedding, over 20 years ago, my aunty said to me, “Be true To Yourself." I didn’t really understand what she meant or why she chose to say this at the wedding but it is something I could never forget. In our 20’s we are carefree and time is on our side. Life is fun and full of adventure. I didn’t think about the logistics of living on a farm or moving into a house that was very run down. I was in love and ready for anything. Howard and I made a family, a home, a success of our business and great friendships along the way. Now as the children grow and I am in my 40’s I still expect life to be wonderful. The challenge is to be true to myself more than ever before. It’s not time to put the slippers on and be the housewife just yet!!      If you think farmer’s wives sit at home waiting for the roast to cook, you have us all wrong. Most women I know in the industry are strong and independent, forging their own careers, participating in the far

#Champion Bloom of the Show!! One Direction Concert Breakfast at Bronte Beach   Mowing Hay    Yo u wouldn’t believe what I have been doing in the past week. The local Bribbaree Show was on during the final weekend of the school holidays so our 2 youngest girls entered a few events on their horses and Howard joined in the team penning. I walked around with our eldest daughter, passing some very well groomed dogs on our way to the equestrian area. The show ground was filling with families and local women were dropping off cakes and sandwich fillings at the canteen, while the children convinced their parents to let them go on some rides. Howard entered a big red rose for me, that had opened in our garden a few days earlier and I am pleased to ‘announce’ that we won ‘Best Bloom of the Show’. What fun!! We had tea, sandwiches and cake for lunch, Howard skipping the fatty food this year. By late afternoon we gathered with everyone for a cool drink befor

I woke very early this morning but so did the sun. It was light by 5.30am and I went outside wrapped in a blanket and found a place to settle for a peaceful meditation practice. It was only 1 degree and Howard was checking his weather machine to see how low the temperature had dropped overnight. Frost is a big concern now and can be very damaging to the crops. A truck is ready to load the oats we are selling and Howard asks me to make the driver breakfast. I cook up a grilled tomato, egg and ham sandwich. The coffee machine is a bit noisy and I don’t want to wake the girls but I decide to make a good cappuccino as a part of our breakfast treat. Our four daughters are at home at the moment and I love it! We went down to the Bribbaree Pub last night to celebrate John Coulter from Young who has cycled on a bike all the way from Western Australia (Bunbury) to New South Wales (Bribbaree) and will go onto Bondi Beach, a total of 4500km. John, his family and som

There is something delightful about having people stay in our home, who are not familiar with the farm environment. It is the time of the year many local country families host the city teenagers as a big thankyou to the people who support our beautiful boarding school children. Earlier in the holidays my brothers little children enjoyed the kitten, the chickens, the lambs, the turtle and spent all their time outside. This time the 'big kids' noticed the gorgeous sunsets, the long walks, the horses and the quiet. We enjoyed hot breakfasts together and picnics outside, went for a drive around the farm, taking lots of photos and prepared for the Saturday night party. Fortunately a brown snake decided to turn up after the visitors left. The last of the hay was sold so he probably came out from the shed. We hope he has moved on now so we can prepare for harvest without too many interruptions. Howard and the two men working for us are focused on