In a faraway corner of an enormous, lonely paddock lies the ruins of a tiny stone cottage.
Recently, on a Friday night we packed up homemade sausages and baguettes and reignited the little fireplace for the first time in many years.
Bread grilled and sausages sizzled while the sun set and the stars emerged.
We imagined when the last meal might have been cooked here and what those resilient pioneers might have eaten.
Whoever it was certainly wouldn’t have been posting photos on Instagram or demolishing a box of Jatz and a piece of oozy cheese on the back of a modern 4WD ute.
I quite fancy hosting tiny, open air dinner parties in this unique setting. It would be strictly BYO swags, torches and a sense of adventure. Any takers?
Happy Friday friends x
Chookyblue......
Would be a lovely spot to wear away an evening….
Jane S
Yes, it is 🙂
Dani Elis
Sounds absolutely lovely… and now you have me craving homemade sausages and baguettes. To top it off with a roasted marshmallow dark chocolate digestive biscuit sandwich would be a perfect evening 🙂
Jane S
Great idea 🙂
Kate @ Kate Writes
Yes please! What a fabulous picnic spot xx
Jane S
Please join us one of these days Kate! x
Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things
Glorious, just glorious! XXX
Jane S
Thank you Lizzy
Chantille Fleur
Oh yes! Although perhaps when the nights haven't such a chill to them – we're going through a cold snap again here! Camping under the stars would be delightful in Spring.
Jane S
Camping is always a bit easier when the weather warms up just a few degrees! Thanks Sarah.
pompom
Oh that sounds very inviting! What a great place to watch the sunset and enjoy a simple meal.!
Jane S
Thank you for calling in!
Anne
I think you have a new business proposition there! It looks wonderful. Do you know anything of the cottage's history?
Jane S
Thank you Anne. The cottage is near a very large tank, trough and water well that was used to water thousands of sheep, many years ago. We believe the people that looked after this watering system lived in the cottage. I wonder if you have any old ruins on your property? I know that some of your working buildings are very old with plenty of history attached to them.
Anne
No ruins but looking at old maps, there used to be a few little buildings dotted around the farm that I presume were houses. As our traditional houses around here are timber framed, they've all long since disappeared.
Cheryl
What a creative and imaginative thing to do! I'm already there!…in my mind…
Jane S
Happy to have you at our table Cheryl!
Jane
Yes please Jane…looks divine!
Jane S
You are welcome Jane!
Nancy | Plus Ate Six
It sounds totally idyllic. And we have our own BYO swag too.
Jane S
Thank you Nancy!
kidsinthebush
What would we do without the tray of the ute for a table? Nothing better than loading some drinks, sausages, marshmallows and the kids for an easy dinner on a fire somewhere outside. I have been missing our usual evenings outside under the stars – even by a fire it has just been too cold here lately to stay out after dark. This time last year we were just about to set off through the saltbush country of western NSW and spent a memorable 8th b'day morning camped in our swags in a dry creek bed next to the ruins of Milparinka. The kids loved the game of imagining who may have lived amongst the old ruined stone buildings. There is something about ruins in the middle of the bush – really loved the pic of the ruins of your old cottage – a great dinner spot.
Jane S
Wonderful memories from your travels…relatively speaking we are not that far away from Milparinka. But, I have never been there! Typical really. Hooray for the great outdoors, thanks for calling in!
e / dig in hobart
next time i'm in town, for sure 🙂 I can already imagine my face burnished by the heat from the flames.
Jane S
Thanks e, we will save a place for you at the table 🙂
Anonymous
Thanks for this lovely vignette. What a glorious spot and how wonderful that you're making the most of it!
Jane S
Thank you!
katiecrackernuts
Oh, I would definitely be in. It looks my idea of heaven.
Jane S
Thanks Katie!
katiecrackernuts
Oh, I would definitely be in. It looks my idea of heaven.
katiecrackernuts
Oh, I would definitely be in. It looks my idea of heaven.
Shell McClure
I love that you went to the effort of going out there for dinner, it looks amazing! Is this where you got the stone for your outdoor oven?
Jane S
Correct Shell…we took some of the stone that had already fallen on the ground to build our wood oven with. We wouldn't dream of doing any dismantling! You and Brock would love it out at this ruin, might have to do a tour one day x