potential

We have moved into a new place. The process of moving just a couple of streets has taken an alarming amount of time and a difficult toll on all of our health. Cleaning two years worth of crud from the walls of our old place was quite a task- I became convinced that my children had spent the whole time walking around with a fistful of half-chewed lollies. And a permanent marker in the other hand. Sneezing, directly onto walls. But it is done, now. We no longer live in the little semi we landed in, just to try for six months. What adventures we had there! Now we seem to be fighting the uphill battle to wellness. I am sicker than I have been in years, and I'm blaming all the snot on the rather dirty reverse-cycle air conditioner we may have used a little too enthusiastically in our first week in the new place.

But despite the cleaning, lurgies and looming unpacking (I only found my shoes yesterday- amazing how versatile gumboots really are), I cannot dampen my enthusiasm about this place. We are different in this place. The boys are acting like children, pulling on their boots and playing in the yard. I am constantly scolding them for dirty hands and fingernails, but I secretly love that dirt.

Enough space for our furniture. We haven't used our dining table since we moved to the sea. If anyone came to visit, they used to sit on an esky. So people generally didn't come to visit. Looking very forward to setting this table for guests again.

A country-style kitchen that has been freshly painted white. With a brand-spanking oven. The great big window overlooks the backyard and peeks onto the 'main road' of our little village. I can watch my small people playing outside, and watch the comings and goings of the place.

A beautiful big bay window in the lounge room, and a smaller version in the master bedroom. I've thought bay windows the epitome of fanciness since I was a kid, so as far as I'm concerned, we've made it. Also, the lounge room window overlooks the ocean. In a dappled way, through some branches of gum trees. And is an awesome place for a Christmas tree, no?

In the yard, we discovered a section of the garden that must have been a successful veggie patch. Remnants of strawberries, curly parsley and rosemary are there, along with a piece of wire trellis attached to the fence- maybe for beans? I have a deep excitement about this little patch of garden, but have no idea about what to plant there. Can anyone help? We are on the central coast of NSW, no frost, morning sun. Do I plant now or wait until winter's end?