Well, it’s certainly snuck up on me again this year. I can honestly say the I have NO IDEA what I am going to buy my children this festive season. I look around and see that they have so many things – toys, bikes, lego, etc, and the things they love to do the most usually happen outside on a pile of dirt, with a stick and a rope and each other. I think sometimes it’s easy to get so busy with work and life and “acquiring” things, that we forget that what our children and loved ones really want is to spend some downtime with each other and with us.
So, to that end I have enlisted the help of my 16 year old son Sam, and we are going to build a swimming pontoon to use on our lagoon, and I think that that will be the family present this year!
I have made an effort over the last 6 years or so to try and establish some family tradition, within our family, especially at this time of year. I’m not a naturally “homey” type of person, and I find it difficult to think of the right things to cook or dress the table with that make it special. Thankfully, I’m blessed with a 12 year old daughter who LOVES to do these things, and together we can have some amazing food and great atmosphere as well. I have also discovered Pinterest, and am happy to steal someone else’s idea to use!
When I think about what makes a great evening or celebration there are three things that come to mind: food, company and atmosphere.
So, Maggie and I plan some nice meals and treats (with a little help from Nigella and Jamie), we set our table with the “best” table ware, and we enjoy each others company and feast together! Usually, we have the odd grandparent and great aunty thrown into the mix as well!
We have had a hard old grind here this year as we wait for some rain, however, we consider ourselves to be blessed to live in our amazing country, to have our seven spirited children, and to be able to sleep at night without the threat of violence or war.
Farmer Dan and I sincerely thankyou all for your support, encouragement and feedback to us this year. You are the people who help us meet our goals of producing food this is
SUSTAINABLE, ETHICAL, REGENERATIVE AND LOCAL.
We wish you all a very blessed and holy Christmas.
Veronica
by 
