Reflections on 12 months off grid in our caravan

We have just reached the 12 months off grid milestone. Our caravan has been parked on the family farm since this time last year. We travelled down from Mataranka Northern Territory in time to farm sit while the new baby was born. He turns one in a few days.

While we have ventured off sans caravan a few times,  the van has sat happily enjoying the view for a whole year.  At first it sat in its spot dressed in its summer gear. Shade cloth annex front and back. Solar power was abundant. Water had to be carried in from town though.


 Summer in Crookwell is very mild. Even so we did have occasion to run the generator to power the air conditioning once or twice.

Winter however is entirely another matter. When we realised K was gonna need to hang around for cardiologists, the shed was born.

As the weather grew colder, the caravan grew its winter skin of canvas annex. And the shed grew a closed in room and a wood fire.

We had rain, wind, fog, snow and sleet. Not all at once mind you. And the rainwater tank filled very fast. No more water carting. Yeh!!!!
There were wonderful sunny, cold winter days as well. Lots of farm things, and family time.

Then there was spring. Naked sheep after shearing and now lambs. While it is still cold at night the sun heats the annex quickly. Soon it will be time to shed the canvas annex in favour of shade cloth again.

Through all this our tiny home has remained just that. Home. K spent a weekend away recently and I cuddled up in the comfort of the van. Didn't even go out and light the fire.

We are still working out what the pattern of life will become. What mix of work, travelling and family time we will enjoy in the future, but we have really given the off grid setup of our caravan a proper work out. It is almost 10 years old now. Not so new anymore. (I will have to tell you about the last lot of repairs Mr Fix It has done.. Maybe next post)

We still haven't got to spend quality time with the QLD family. Maybe we will get to do that next year. K's heart is behaving so far post his operation. He is easing back into full days of activity and its hard to keep up with him again. All good!!


Love my life still.


Cheers Sue


A Ferg on the Move

Farm life. A sunny "spring" day

Just had to share with you this shot of Miss Four and a Half rounding up sheep with her dad. The sheep need to be yarded ready to be shorn.  They came past our camp site with the dogs. Miss has it all down pat. Hat on, walking stick in hand and trotting along next to dad up and down the hill.

We are expecting inclement weather ( posh way of saying cold and stormy and maybe snow)  before the weekend. K  has  delayed our run up to Newcastle in case there is a proper snow fall and we need to dismantle the caravan annex. A deep snow fall might be too much for the annex roof.

I had bought provisions to make a few meals today to take with us and decided to have  cook  up  anyway. So there is a  lasagne cooling on the kitchen bench, a crust less quiche cut into three, and two serves of chicken and mushroom pasta sauce in the freezer. I baked in my hooded BBQ as always. Then I decided to use the twin tub washer while there was sun to dry clothes so I am feeling quite like the proper homesteader.  I drew the line at a walk down the hill and back to the chickens so no cake ... I used the eggs in the quiche. Maybe I will con K into  taking the scraps down and snagging an egg for me. Mind you the chooks owners might beat me to it as they are here today as well.

After my busy morning  I am  now enjoying the sun watching the baby in the pram. He is supposed to be asleep but judging by the speed his feet are kicking that's not likely. He is playing his favourite peek a boo game  by pushing the sun cover out with his legs and grinning at me.  Not crying though so
its all good.



Down the hill at the shearing shed things are being set up for a day of shearing weather permitting tomorrow. There is hammering happening too. Mr Fix It is wiring speakers and attaching the wires to the rafters. Music is an essential part of shearing.it seems.



The horse has her coat off and is enjoying the sun as well.



Pretty good life.





Cheers Sue

A Ferg on the Move