A girls night out

Last week I took Jacinta and her daughter Isabella into the city to see Nutcracker On Ice. It was a treat for Isabella's birthday.

Jacinta decided that we would cut to the chase and have dinner at the Lindt Cafe in Collins Street. Waffles with vanilla bean ice cream and chocolate sauce. Yum!

Walking across the river and passing the recently renovated and reopened Hamer Hall, we found this tribute to Dame Edna Everage in the small garden next to the State theatre. Anyone who know the alter ego of Barry Humphrey's will understand the significance of the 8 metre high bunch of ceramic flowers!

Isabella pronounced the night a huge success, especially as we were in the front row and she caught a piece of ice from a flying skate! Jacinta was very impressed with some of the John Olsen art work that graces the State Theatre.

And who could forget the display of Dame Edna's outfits in the foyer either.

Birds of a Fether

It is quite cold and damp in Melbourne at  this time of year so birds often come down to feed on or near the ground. We often see Crimson Rosella in winter when they come closer to the house to eat the seeds on the Melaluca Armilaris near the house.

And just on the grass ear the birdbath were three Red Browed Firetails hopping through the grass. I have seen these flitting around the trees before but they have been too quick for me to be able to identify them. Nice to finally be able to put a name to them.

Home Sweet Home

Arrived home last night after ten hours on the road. Orange was soooo cold. The didn't change the whole time I was there. It was three degrees when I arrived and still three degrees when I left. At least it was consistent, consistently cold that is!I found time for a couple of quick stops on the way home, one at the Junee licorice factory which is in a restored flour mill.

There are a number af little towns along the Olympic Highway with rather strange names. There is Uranquinty, which has a fabulous bakery, a mandatory lunch stop. Then there is The Rock and I assume that this is the rock in question.

But now I am home at last and our new heater has been installed, yeah! Our old one of 34 years old, gave up while we were in Spain. So glad to have heat again especially as it is expected to be minus 1 overnight Friday and Saturday. Now I am getting stuck into orders that have piled up while I was away. So check back in a couple of days for some photos.

What a difference a day makes

I left Narrabri in beuatiful sunshine, after using a couple of jugs of water to get the ice of my windows. This is a photo taken of the Piliga State Forest which starts just to the south of Narrabri.

The further south I drove the more cloudy it became. I think the temperature just crept into double figures some time around midday.

The temperature in Orange when I arrived was three degrees celcius but with the wind chill it felt like minus two! I had a lovely time visiting the wonderful op shops in town and the craft cottage in Cook Park. Now it will be an early night for me as tomorrow will be the final 733 kilometres to home.

Another day, another dawn

When I am travelling, I like to make an early start. So I left Theodore at 6.45 am this morning just as the sun was coming up. Just out of town I crossed the Dawson River for the first time today. But this was the view behind me so I just had to stop for  photo.

And I had some feathered friends join me for lunch at Miles.

Now I am in Narrabri for the night, 676 kilometres later. Back in big sky country. But with only 422 kilometres to travel tomorrow and a cafe in town that has great coffee and does not open till 7am, I might not be able to see sunrise tomorrow morning.

Homeward bound

Well I was going to take a photo today of some of the work done at "Wrapt In Rocky" during the week. But I was so busy with customers that I couldn't get away from my stand. But I am now on the way home. This is typical of the country just inland from Rockhampton climbing up over the Great Dividing Range.

And this is the view looking back towards Rockhampton from near the top. The ocean is behind the far range of hills.

Just before I reached Theodore, my stop for the night, the sun set reflecting off some clouds low on the horizon.

Working in Rockhampton

Finally arrived late Monday morning. This is what the car looks like before I start to unpack

 And this is what it looks like when everything is unpacked

.And here it is  all set up and waiting for customers.

There is a felting class here so I hung the tissue silk on the outside of the door where it could float in the breeze.

And Jacinta's hand dyed petticoats hanging up to tempt the passer by.

And  her plant dyed salvage.

And yes it really does all fin in the car.