Life with less is more rewarding!
That’s something we’ve discovered over the past three years. With a baby on the way and a big move from Australia to New Zealand on a limited income, some crucial decisions were made to downsize our life and live as a little family with less.
2017 saw us moving back to Australia and relocating into an old home we once lived in (where I first started writing this blog) back in 2011. If you jump into the archives you’ll see what Mike and I were like as a fairly new couple who worked as farmhands here on this massive merino property.
We’ve been together nearly 9 years and have evolved as a couple, discovering the benefits of gardening, home cooking, vegetarianism, yoga, meditation, minimalism, parenthood and we absolutely enjoy getting out in nature and taking in the beauty surrounding us wherever we have lived.
The house we reside in is located in Warradarge, Western Australia and was built in the 1950’s as part of a program designed to introduce farming into the region. The offer was available to retired military personnel as an opportunity to start a new career.
The house is by most accounts still looking as charming and retro as it did when it was first constructed. The home is complete with 5 small rooms (three bedrooms) 1 outside toilet and shower; multicoloured carpeting and a geometric patterned vinyl floor throughout the kitchen and dining room.
We’re minimalists, and we spend a lot of time thinking about how to reuse old products that others are either throwing away or we’ve found on Gumtree.
We thoughtfully buy second-hand furniture, cars, toys and clothing – specifically things we need to get by.
Having a child did not slow our minimalist life down, in fact, it actually made us very aware of how many products we wouldn’t need to be attentive parents to our thriving little boy.
Currently, we have a number of projects underway; some of which are designed to maintain the home and keep it standing for another 70 years and others to make the property more self-sustainable and productive.
- Veggie Garden beds using free manure and old scavenged timber
- Free Range Eggs & Hens (some Roosters too)
- Hand build fire pit and firewood sourced from dead trees and fallen branches
- Native trees
- Drought hardy grass to complete a lawn surrounding a large portion of the home
Thanks for joining me – and by all means please introduce yourself. I always love to know more about the people who read Redterrain and where you come from.
So, new reader what brought you here?
Love the pictures!
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Hi Holly and Mike,
The photo of little Lena on “Australia” took me here to your site!
I really enjoyed to read about your “new” life in Australia.
I feel very sorry for you that Lena passed away, such a lovely little animal. I swept a tear away when i was reading the story about her, but when i saw the “sprinting Lena” it makes me laugh again!
You did your best to make her life as best as it can be! Lena will always be a part of you in your memories for sure.
I wish all the best for you.
Regards, Hélène Langerak (The Netherlands-Europe)
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Thank you so much for the kind words Helen. It means a lot that she could touch you all the way over in The Netherlands, just like she touched us here. Have you been to Australia?
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Hi
Yes, we have been there for the first time in 2008 (march-may) and really loved it!. It was so interesting for us, the unspoiled nature, the natural creatures, the underwater world, Aboriginal culture… everything was so beautiful! We saw a lot in the weeks we have been there, but most of all we liked the rough, quiet and vast W.A. and N.T. We travelled in big lines from: Perth (Cervantes-Kalbarri-Denham-Coral Bay- Karijini) Broome-Katherine-Kakadu N.P.- Alice Springs(Ayers Rock)- Kings Canyon-Simpson Desert- Arkaroola- Flinders Ranges-Victor Harbour- Grampians N.P.- Great Ocean Road- Great Alpine Road-Blue Mountains- Sydney. Mac Kay- Lady Elliot island (Great Barrier Reef).
We want to come back for sure, the plans are there for 2014! What did you attract the most in Australia to choose to go live there? Have you allready been travelling through Australia? Did i understand it well that you help insured and orphaned animals ? Good job, good job…go on!! It maked me sad when i saw all the dead animals beside the road, couldn’t anyone help them? In Tom Price we visited a one-man operated farm, where only animals live who are road victims or orphan Joey’s, we took al lot of food with us for them. It makes me happy that those people are still there!!
I didn’t read allready all of your blogs, but i like to. As far as i can see, you love nature, animals en Photograph? Are you a professional photographer? Hope you can understand my writing english a littlebit, sometimes i don’t know exactly how to say something, haha. Nice that you left a comment, thanks. And have a nice weekend, Bye!
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Hello Hellen,
Yes I am a professional photographer…though I don’t shoot as often as I probably should be! I have been getting some amazing opportunities to photograph the flora and fauna here in Western Australia.
You must have loved your time in Australia. You have seen so much of it!
I have grandparents living in Australia, so it was easy for me to make the choice to come back, not to mention Mike can work and live here easily as well. We’re not here permanently yet, but hopefully we can stay long term! We love the country life.
Do you take photographs in the Netherlands?
I would love to see some!
🙂 Hope your weekend well great!
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Hi Holly.
For sure you’ll love the countrylife of Australia, your are doing well.
Is it easy to get a “permit” to be an Australian citizen for life? The living in Australia can be hard, but normally everything is so quite and easy going on…should be everywhere like there!
Nice that you have your grandparents in Australia, did they, in the time, move to Australia or has your father or mother moved to Canada?
We’ve visited New Zealand, should also be nice to live only a bit colder and lot of sandflies instead of the flies you now have. The flies can be nasty but the little brothers in New Zealand are mean and have a stitch that gives a terrible itchy spot, we found out…brrrr! But you will allready found it out for yourself haha. We don’t know them in Holland, but in Norway we met them too!
So, about the photographs…. i’ve tried to sent you some of the dutch landscape but……it didn’t work out. Tonight we’ll give it another try and for sure my husband will fix it :-). You will see them come in!
Normally the work on the farm goes on every day, but is the ascension day a free day for you both? If the answer is yes…..Enjoy that day and otherwise enjoy it too, that must be no problem in that surrounding!
All the best!
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I was a Jillaroo for 4 years. I can certainly relate to your experiences. Wonderful photos. I will enjoy keeping up to date with your adventure.
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You were a Jillaroo, wow, what sort of work did you do? And where did you work?
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I have just started to write about it all in my blog actually. I started off working for an old drover, on the road with 5000 head of sheep in the Riverena. Welcome to have a read. Jen p.s. I love it that you named your photography “Red Terrain” before you even got here. That is so cool!
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This is some serious life you’ve chosen. Sounds amazing!
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Hello BSB, thanks it’s made easier considering I’ve got a good partner in crime to keep things interesting! It would be a lonely life if I were out here on my own!
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Hi my friend, I have just nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award !..go see my blog , hugs Ceri x
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Thank you so much Ceri, that was such a lovely thing to do! I’ll take a look now!
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go to my page and the beautiful blogger award pic and copy the url and pop it on your page to look pretty. your blog is awesome x
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copy the url of the award pic and get it on your blog..your blog is awesome
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your photos are amaizing
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Thank you DouglasMB! I appreciate the time you took to look at them.
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10,000 acres sounds like a lot of daily driving…unless you have cameras hooked into your computer .. My partner was a weekend farmer part-time with only 100 acres and some cattle, pigs, chickens. He had a full-time job in the city.
It was enough work.
Do you ever get lost on the farm ..at night?
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Hahah it takes us three hours (on a good day) to check every trough on the place. It’s a big job. We don’t normally go around the farm at night, but I can say I know this place like the back of my hand! Weekend farming would also be so rewarding…Thanks for commenting! Hope to see you around!
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Wow, 3 hrs. I remember walking around at night with dearie on his farm. And feeling very lost because it was pitch black…no streetlights. 🙂
Don’t fall into the trough at night. 🙂
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What a neat site! And I love the name. You are very brave to move to such a rural area. But… Where are you originally from? Is that where you moved from? I love the photos! Hope to visit Australia someday myself. Congrats on being freshly pressed!
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Hi Jessica, I moved to Australia from Canada (I have previously lived in the Canadian Rockies, Toronto, and Niagara Falls Region). We first set up in Melbourne, but have been living in rural Western Australia for nearly 2 years. It’s been an amazing experience for us…and We were just saying how our time together here has been the happiest for us in our 3 years together. Which can only mean it’s getting better! I love the name too! I’m glad you like it! Australia awaits you…
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That’s wonderful! I’m glad to hear it. And I’m looking forward to meeting Australia, too. 😉
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OMG! Y’all are too cool. Sorry you burned your face. Dang.
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Speaking of cool, I love the painting in your Avatar!
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Thanks! It’s my dog, Frank. I’ve done a ton of portraits of people’s pets in that style. http://www.robiniart.com. http://www.facebook.com/robiniart. I just started doing it about three months ago and have done about 30 commissions already. I guess I need to raise my prices! Haha! Again, loved your blog. Will start following it.
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Hi Holly, I mentioned you and your blog in my latest post. It started with Amber from The Usual Bliss and then The Liebster Blog Award was passed on to me from Katie at Brave Juice. You certainly do not have to participate, but I just wanted to honor your blog with this little mention.
If you would like to participate, you just share a post with some interesting tidbits about yourself and pass the award on to a few blogs you love.
Best,
Jane
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I nominated you for a Liebster award, hope that’s ok
http://grizztion.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/my-liebster-award/
I know it said under 200 followers, but I wanted to add your blog, I enjoy coming here.
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Grizyeti, Thank you so much for mentioning me. I really appreciate it, and I am so glad that you enjoy reading the blog.
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hey hollie!
so exciting to find another ag/rural blogger! i really hope you’ll consider writing some pieces for ausagventures.com 😀
cheers,
steph
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Hi Hollie
Anything ag or rural related, just like the post I reblogged 🙂
You can see some examples on the website, please excuse my brevity I just arrived in LA 🙂
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Hi Steph,
Thanks for the offer but I’d rather just keep my writing on my blog. I am sure you’ll find plenty of people to fill the content on the site!
Good luck!
– Holly
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Thanks for commenting over at “Indigo’s Ravens!” I’m so glad you did…I’m loving your blog with your photography! I spent about a year in Australia about 9 years ago…never got to Western Australia, but fell in love with Melbourne. Next visit I’m heading to Western Australia… looking forward to reading more of your stories and admiring your photography!
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Thanks for taking a look here Sara! I’m just as curious to see what the Indigo Ravens get up to! I’m so jealous of your trip to the far Northern reaches of Canada (it’s on my bucket list). Melbourne is a great city for urban living…I hope you get to see WA, is special and reveals itself in a less obvious way. I find it truly amazing…the flora and fauna in particular. Thanks for following along!
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G’Day Holly, which of your posts was Freshly Pressed?
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Hi Holly
Thanks for following. I’m a happy camper now you are joining me as I trip around by RV, plane, car and time machine to the past.
Comments, compliments, critiques and wisecracks are most welcome.
You have a great blog. “See” you again soon.
Which Way Now 101 aka Carol
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Hi holly! All your photos in the city turned out really well 🙂
You took a few pictures of me and my friend holly on that day and I was wondering how I could grab a copy of them?
Thanks!! Kennedy 🙂
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Hey Kennedy, awesome I’m glad you like the image. Of course you can have a copy! If you could email me your details I’ll send you a digital copy redterrain @ hotmail . com
HM
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Do you have a personal email? Redterrain.com doesnt seem to be an email
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Hey Kennedy – its: redterrain @ hotmail.com I’ve broked the email apart so I don’t get spam 🙂
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Thanks for following my blog Holly. Looking forward to see more from you and this hot environment that is Australia. A happy New Year to you!
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Wow, well overdue – sorry I missed your post! Thanks for following along I hope to see you again soon.
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Lovely Blog!
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Thank you AnaLuciaSilva – I don’t know how I missed your comment. I’m glad you came around – way back in Jan! 🙂 Hope you’re having a nice day.
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Holly, Thanks for visiting wingdbeauty.com. Reading your ‘About’ made me consider how much beauty you have seen and enjoyed over these years. Others might be overloaded by what you have experience. You have a very healthy ability to continue to enjoy all that you encounter, and best of all, Share with those ready to savor the world.
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When you discover Redterrain, you have not only uncovered beautiful images and thoughtful shares, but an esthete who understands . . . .
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