Some days it feels like you can see forever from our funny little deck-porch-verandah

but not today. Today it’s misty, rainy and kinda cold; I’m wearing a cardigan when yesterday I was gasping in 32 degrees. This crazy weather keeps you on your toes but it does make for a nice day to be sitting at the computer; a nice day to be wishing you all a happy, healthy, wonderful 2024.
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break wherever you are, whatever you believe, whoever you are. Ours ticked all the boxes: lots of easy meals, laughter, long discussions, dreaming and scheming. Of course, there’s very little photographic evidence because…oh, you know how I am by now; I just get caught up in the moment

but I did remember to document a visit to our old stomping ground to scare a few Christmas calories and look at the once familiar with today’s eyes.


I also caught a couple of hurried and blurry lily photos to prove the Christmas lilies did bloom (but missed the big day) and that, even when you’re slack with the weeding, the pretty stuff is still there. In all honesty, I included the second photo because I liked Pippin’s hiding-from-the-rain photobombing in this I-really-should-have-put-my-glasses-on shot.
And to prove it’s not all been lolling around eating chocolate and gasbagging, I include evidence of what a thoughtful gift can prompt


New shelves for the garage; the sort out begins….but it looks like we’re playing the long game
and that sometimes a change of venue is good motivation.


The Urban Outpost gets a garden makeover – and a lot of interested looks from passing traffic
As to what 2024 holds for us: there’s talk of an overseas jaunt, plans for the paddock dwellers, a bit of overdue DIY, and one of us will be, all things going to plan, seeing a little clearer in the near future.
Hope you’re new year’s looking good, too

Happy New Year! Sounds like a year full of possibility…can’t wait to see it unfold. Used to love beach walking…that’s something that would have been hard to give up if it had been me leaving your old homestead. Decluttering and organizing is on my mind these days too – not a garage, but the office/spare room. I too am playing the long game.
I miss the beach walks but the last tsunami warning where we had to evacuate, leaving our home and animals, tipped the balance for me. I feel happier 200 m above sea level. Yep, I’m on a major fault line but somehow I’m okay with that…makes no sense. Decluttering is like weeding…you never get to the end
A very happy new year to you and the rest of the Union Homestead crew.
Thank you! Here’s hoping 2024 is the year we all wish it to be
A very happy New Year to all of you! I so enjoy your posts and look forward to reading them in 2024, which sounds as though it is full of exciting adventures.
Thanks, Laurie. We are a bunch who always have grand plans…sometimes they even pan out!
Onward, ho!
Hello, I enjoyed the fragrance of Christmas Lilies on my walk with Chilli this morning. One of the good things about lilies is they grow taller than the weeds. Good luck with the year ahead.
A couple of my fellow Homesteaders suffer allergies so, until moving to the present Homestead,we kept them well away. Now they grow in the garden and I get to experience them while those that need to steer clear
A belated Happy New Year to you and yours! I hope you manage to achieve most, if not all you would like to do this year xx
Thanks, Clare. I wish the same for you and yours!
Thankyou!