Navigating International Travel During a Pandemic: Our Australia Journey, Farmhouse Renovation & Easy Pantry Meals

In an unprecedented time when the world stood still, we found ourselves almost 8,000 miles from home, grappling with the sudden onset of a global lockdown. What was meant to be a rejuvenating three-week adventure in Australia quickly transformed into a race against time, a story of unexpected twists, swift decisions, and an urgent journey back across continents. This episode captures the heart of our experience: the joy of our initial travels, the crucial decision to cut our trip short, and the intricate logistical challenges of securing a flight home as borders slammed shut around the globe. Beyond the international scramble, we delve into the realities of our mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for international arrivals – an unexpected period that, against all odds, offered a silver lining. This bonus time allowed us to immerse ourselves in our beloved farmhouse projects and cultivate our garden, turning isolation into an opportunity for creativity and growth. And because we truly are all in this self-isolation journey together, we’re excited to share five easy, comforting pantry meal ideas designed to simplify your life at home, along with some truly ‘cool things’ – including the astonishing remedy that helped us conquer jet lag, a tip we hope you’ll find invaluable for when international travel becomes a joyous reality once more.

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Traveling Internationally During a Global Pandemic

Our planned three-week escape to Australia was meant to be a carefree adventure, a much-anticipated break from our routine. However, as global circumstances rapidly deteriorated, our initial excitement turned into a vigilant monitoring of news and travel advisories. During our first week and a half Down Under, before the true gravity of the situation hit, we managed to embark on a memorable tour along southern Australia’s iconic Great Ocean Road. The vistas were breathtaking – endless stretches of rugged coastline, dramatic ocean views, and magnificent sandstone formations that seemed sculpted by ancient tides. We marveled at the famous “12 Apostles,” even though only about eight remain standing today, a testament to the powerful forces of nature. The sheer scale and beauty of these natural wonders offered a much-needed sense of peace, momentarily distracting us from the unsettling news emerging from around the world.

Despite being in what was technically their “summer,” the weather during our Great Ocean Road excursion was surprisingly reminiscent of home. As you can see, I’m bundled up because it was a rainy and cold day – definitely channeling major Oregon coast vibes, which brought a chuckle amidst the global uncertainty. The dramatic skies and crashing waves only added to the rugged beauty of the landscape, making for a truly immersive, albeit chilly, experience.

One of the absolute highlights of our trip, and a moment of pure magic, was encountering a koala in its natural habitat. This photo captures one of three koalas we spotted during our tour, casually hanging out in a tree right beside our walking path. What made this particular sighting so special was that this guy was wide awake, munching on eucalyptus leaves and moving around. Most koalas we saw were sound asleep, so witnessing an active one was a rare treat and a truly unforgettable experience. It definitely helped make up for not seeing a kangaroo, which was on our initial wish list, but honestly, the koala encounter felt even more uniquely Australian and special.

Farmhouse Updates: Progress Amidst Quarantine

Our unexpected 14-day self-quarantine provided an unforeseen gift: ample time to dedicate to our farmhouse renovation projects. It was a chance to shift our focus from the stress of international travel during a pandemic to the creative, grounding work of transforming our home. We made significant strides, particularly in areas like the laundry room, where we’re embracing the original character of the house.

Here, you can see the raw beauty of the laundry room walls we’ve been working on. They might appear rough to some, but to us, their texture, the unique width of the planks, and their undeniable age tell a story that we cherish. This is authentic farmhouse character, and we are determined to preserve it. The intriguing cut-out in the back wall, which you can just make out, was an original window that we joyfully uncovered during the demolition phase. We’re currently debating its future: it could become a practical pull-down laundry rack, space permitting, or perhaps transform into a charming niche with shelves, perfect for storing essentials or displaying vintage finds. Each decision is made with an eye towards blending functionality with the home’s historic charm.

To complement the rustic walls and bring a touch of industrial farmhouse style, I recently purchased these lights designed to go over the windows:

I stumbled upon them on the Home Depot website and immediately knew they were perfect. Their sleek black finish and classic white metal shades will provide just the right amount of illumination and industrial-chic aesthetic to the space, tying in beautifully with the raw wood. We’re so excited to see them installed!

Moving into the main bathroom, we’ve made another exciting selection for the flooring. This image is a rendering from the tile website, showcasing the beautiful Fiona tile we’ve chosen for the bathroom floor. It’s truly incredible how these online tools can give you such a clear and accurate visual of how a pattern will look within your space, making decision-making so much easier! The bold yet balanced black and white pattern instantly captivated us. We believe it offers the ideal amount of visual interest without being overly busy, perfectly complementing our vision for a classic yet contemporary farmhouse bathroom. The timeless encaustic look of this porcelain tile will add significant character and durability to the room.

Here is the direct link to the tile at Lowe’s, and if you’re looking to visualize your own renovation projects, this is the link to the Della Torre site where you can upload your room photo and experiment with different designs. We’re genuinely thrilled with this choice and anticipate it will be a stunning feature in our newly renovated bathroom.

Beyond the indoors, our garden has also been a focus during this time. This image shows the current status of my indoor seedlings, a testament to what I’m calling a year of “win some, lose some.” While some cells are thriving, others remain frustratingly empty, particularly for crops like lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage. Adding to the mystery, three of my tomato plants in the upper left section inexplicably succumbed, a puzzling setback. Despite these challenges, there’s always a solution. I’m incredibly thankful for local nurseries that can help fill in the gaps and ensure we still have a bountiful harvest, assuming, of course, I can safely get out to them! Gardening, even with its ups and downs, has been a wonderfully therapeutic and grounding activity during our self-isolation.

What’s Cooking: 5 Easy Pantry Meals for Staying In

With much of the world staying home, the need for simple, comforting, and pantry-friendly meal ideas has never been greater. During our quarantine, we leaned heavily on recipes that utilized ingredients we already had on hand or could easily procure. These five meals are tried-and-true favorites, perfect for busy weeknights, minimal grocery runs, and feeding the family with delicious, wholesome food.

5 Easy Pantry Meals for Staying In

1. 30-Minute Italian Sausage Pasta Primavera: This vibrant dish combines hearty Italian sausage with seasonal vegetables and pasta, all coated in a light, creamy sauce. It’s a fantastic way to use up whatever vegetables you have in your fridge and comes together quickly for a satisfying family dinner.

2. Black Bean Quesadillas: A pantry staple superstar, these quesadillas are incredibly versatile and satisfying. Made with canned black beans, cheese, and tortillas, you can easily customize them with corn, salsa, or any other fillings you have on hand for a quick and flavorful meal.

3. 20-Minute Mediterranean Chicken Pesto Pasta: Elevate your pasta night with this quick and flavorful Mediterranean-inspired dish. Featuring tender chicken, aromatic pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes, it’s a gourmet-tasting meal that’s surprisingly easy to whip up with minimal ingredients.

4. 10-Minute Chicken Lime Lettuce Wraps: For a fresh, light, and incredibly speedy meal, these chicken lime lettuce wraps are a winner. Using pre-cooked chicken or quickly sautéed ground chicken, they offer a burst of zesty flavor and a healthy, low-carb option that’s perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.

5. Frittatas!: Frittatas are the ultimate chameleon meal, perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and an excellent way to use up leftover vegetables and proteins. They’re forgiving, nutritious, and incredibly easy to customize based on what’s in your pantry and fridge. We love both our Greek Salmon Frittata for a richer flavor and our comforting Chicken Spinach Frittata with Tomatoes, which is a staple for wholesome home cooking.

This is Really Cool! Discoveries That Made Life Easier

Beyond the practicalities of travel and home life, we stumbled upon a couple of truly ‘cool’ things that made a significant difference during our international journey and subsequent quarantine:

Brian’s Pick: T-Mobile’s International Texting and Data, coupled with their 4th-line-free deal. For anyone traveling internationally, especially with the uncertainties we faced, reliable communication is paramount. T-Mobile was an absolute game-changer for us. We previously endured exorbitant international roaming charges with AT&T, but T-Mobile’s included international texting and data plan saved us a ton of money and provided invaluable peace of mind. Being able to effortlessly communicate and navigate overseas without worrying about hidden fees was a massive relief during an already stressful time. It’s truly a service we highly recommend for any future international adventures.

Jami’s Pick: No Jet Lag homeopathic remedy. This small, unassuming product proved to be absolutely miraculous during our long-haul flights to and from Australia. Jet lag can be debilitating, turning the first few days of a trip (or the return home) into a foggy, disoriented blur. This homeopathic remedy completely changed our experience. We took it as directed, and the difference was astonishing – we felt remarkably clear-headed and energized upon arrival, both in Australia and back home. If you’re planning any international flights in the future, please, please try this! It’s an amazing product that truly makes long-distance travel so much more enjoyable by eliminating the dreaded effects of jet lag.

 

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