Good Timing

Quite a while ago I was watching an arts programme on television and it was about this particular festival.

The gorgeous cosy creation on the right was my purchase at the Alice Springs "Beanie Festival". I remember thinking how I'd love to see that festival and couldn't believe it would be on while we were here. It is the 16th festival and it is amazing.....everyone gets in the groove and there was beanie clad heads everywhere of every age, shape, man or woman. There is a wonderful exhibition that is judged but no photos were permitted (sorry) but  it was fascinating....gorgeous creations of hand felted, knitted, crocheted or combinations of all 3 were on show. I did take a couple of piccies of the madness at beanie central where you can purchase any of the creations.

How you would wear this pooch on your head beats me.

The one above was a fantasmagorical elf cap and the work was amazing.

There were also wonderful tea cosies too.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers are a renowned group of indigenous women artists who work with grass fibres and make baskets and sculptures. You could sit with them and make a basket but you had to have booked a place. The baskets were beautiful. Outside another photo opportunity beside the "BIG BEANIE"

After some yummy freshly brewed coffee and home baked cake we went through the Albert Namajira gallery which was something. What a talent he was. We also toured the Central Australian Museum and the Aviation Musuem which was interesting as well.
Next came the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame which was wonderful and I will dedicate a post to later. Just up the street was the Royal Flying Doctor's Service Centre which was begun in Cloncurry Queensland by the Reverend John Flynn. This is a marvellous service providing help to remote country Australians. Gary was very chuffed to take the pilots seat in the cockpit of the model on display.

I fell in love in the souvenir shop with another a pilot... a little furry teddy RFDS Pilot. How could I resist especially with funds going to the service. Even though we were getting a little weary I really wanted to visit the final resting place of John Flynn having seen a picture of his grave as a school girl. For some reason the image always stayed with me. A spectacular place to rest for eternity.

 We headed back to our little home on wheels thinking our day was done only to find ourselves being entertained by a very talented man called Marshall Whyler who plays the didgeridoo. He also gave a wonderful talk and demonstration on playing it. It was just fabulous. 

So that is as they say that. I am really looking forward to my bed this evening I can tell you which brings me to my last photo which my other half took and didn't think I would post. It is yours truly first thing this morning (looking decidedly gorgeous) under my blankies and wearing my beanie because it was sooooo cold......so the lesson here is you shouldn't dare me!!!

Bye for now
Blessings Michelle xx
A post script:
The National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame was established when it was noted that their contribution to our country was not highlighted at the "Stockman's Hall of Fame". It was wonderful to read about all of these inspiring and 'gutsy' pioneer women and see their images as well as lots of everyday implements they used to provide the daily necessities as well as their craft.

Of course I was immediately drawn to thus collection of sewing machines.....

There is also an amazing signature quilt signed by our 'women of substance' from every walk of life.

 It is a really big quilt and each block has fabric that has been chosen to represent what each woman's abliltity and contribution is.

I loved this little gathering of treasures...

This is called a Meat Safe cot. There was a very lovely Cathedral Window quilt inside the cot as well as a very cute golly but they didn't come out in my photo.

Last photo a very pretty 2 piece number in the palest powder blue.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here and it was wonderful to see such a celebration of Australian Women.

A Town Like Alice

Tonight we find ourselves in the jewel of the outback Alice Springs. Investigation of "Alice" begins tomorrow.
Yesterday we left Tennant Creek and headed south stopping at the incredible natural phenomena Karlu Karlu or Devil's Marbles. Aboriginal Dreamtime stories say The Rainbow Serpent laid her eggs here and they are the "Marbles". It is such a surprise to see so many scattered about the landscape.

Some of them you imagine will topple and fall at any moment as they seem to defy gravity.

Others are so round and smooth.

Of course you tell yourselves that you won't be idiots and take silly photos and of course you SO do!!!

And then you encourage your other half to do the same.....

I have wanted to visit here since I was a little girl and it exceeded my expectations. I took so many photos it's just plain ridiculous.

We spent last night at a little spot called Wycliffe Wells which is basically a stopover for campers. We met a lovely couple called Sharon & Brian from NSW and joined them for an Aussie dinner, steak burgers with the lot and chips They were great company and as Brian is an avid NSW supporter there was much bantering between Gary & Brian as you can imagine. We went to bed after a beautiful warm day only to wake to a very chilly morning and cold breeze...never got warmer than 16 degrees C. You know I am a sucker for a creature or two and this little donkey at WW stole our hearts. He had a friend but she was not interested in making any new mates.

Our journey took us 356 kms south towards Alice Springs. We stopped and had a cuppa at Alleron which has a roadhouse, caravan parkand an art gallery (which was closed) and these huge sculptures one of which is atop a hill behind the gallery. It is of an aboriginal 'Anmatjere' man standing spear in hand as if keeping watch over the surrounding landscape. He is 17 metres tall and was created by Mark Egan. He stood alone for 3 years until Mark created his wife and child in 2008.

They are located down below in the camping ground and are depicted just back from hunting with a huge goanna on the end of the woman's  spear. Just fascinating.

Anyway after nearly getting our coffee blown out of our mugs we had a hasty lunch and headed off again.

We are settled in here at "The Alice" for a few days (pardon the photo I took it from the car as we flew past) It is supposed to be -1 in the morning brrrrr!
I had this idea that the landscape I would see would be barren and desolate and even though there has been good rain out here which is not usual there is a real energy out here. The colours are amazing. I love the red earth and the sage greens of the brush, ghostly trunks of the gum trees and vibrant yellow wattle everywhere. The screeching sulphur crested cockatoos taking flight being pursued by a menacing wedgetail eagle, flocks of bright green budgerigars flying overhead (much nicer than seeing them in cages) There is life and actitvity everywhere. Even as I write this I feel like I am not doing it justice.
That's this instalment done, time for a Tim Tam (they seemed to have followed me from home) and a cuppa.
Nite all,
Blessings Michelle xx

Cloncurry to Tennant Creek.

Hello from Tennant Creek. Yesterday we left Cloncurry and headed up through Mt Isa where my daughter taught for 3 years and lived their with her husband and our eldest Grandson. I have to say it was so weird being there and they weren't. The first thing you see when you drive into Mt Isa is the huge stack it is visible from all over town so I felt I just had to snap it for DD and Family. 

There are some pretty spots around "The Isa" as it is known and also a sign used to boast "Your not a real Aussie until you've been to "The Isa". One such pretty spot is the man made Lake Moondarra.

From Cloncurry onwards I have been struck by the absolute beauty of the masses of golden wattle bushes all along the roadside and stretching back into the landscape. My roadside photo is not to good. If you were ever in any doubt as to why our Country's national colours are green and gold wonder no longer.

I have done a little of the driving and yesterday I drove the 306 kms from Cloncurry to Camoweal and was quite proud of myself although I can admit to a few moments of abject terror when these huge suckers veered just a little too close to my side of the highway and they don't go slowly either. Some are as long as 53.5 metres.

Last evening we stayed at the Barkly Homestead which is 260 kms from Camoweal and in the Northern Territory. It is like an oasis in the middle of nowhere. My friend Kay had told me of the myriad of stars visible from this  part of the world and I have to say Kay my darling you were oh so right....awesome! It was bloody freezing but we didn't care we sat out in our chairs and gazed upwards. We had a late start this morning as we felt we had earned it and meandered on towards the Stuart Highway and Tennant Creek.

Approximately 15kms south we stopped to visit the the Old Telegraph Station. The line was over 3,000 miles long and took just under 2 years to construct. It was completed in 1872 and ran from Adelaide to Darwin. This station was one of a number built every 250kms along the line.

Boy was it warm here the jumper in this photo soon came off.

This was the workers homestead.

The old Telegraph building was the first building in the surrounding landscape and was built alongside the creek named after John Tennant.

We drove on into Tennant Creek and set up camp.

Time for a bit of relaxation and a quiet drink. We also went to the Battery Hill Museum which preserves relics from the regions pioneering and gold rush days and as they say there is one in every crowd and I am posting this photo to embarrass the children. I tried to talk him out of it.

See you next time folks....hope you're not bored yet.

Blessings Michelle xxx

G'day from outback Queensland.

Tonight we find ourselves in Cloncurry about 300 kms from the Northern Territory border. It holds the record for having the highest temperature in Australia 127.5f degrees. Tad hot I'd say. Thankfully not today.
We have done an awful lot of kms since we left home 3 days ago.

The days have been beautiful and sunny with quite cool nights. We travelled out through my birthplace Roma which is a lovely country town. I lived here until I was 3 yrs. My Dad was an Ambulance Officer here until is premature death and it is his final resting place. So we usually stop here, have a cuppa and think of Mick.

We encountered a lot of road works. Repair work from the last 2 years floods. We stopped for such a long time at one spot I got out my stitching and stitched a whole heart and holly leaves (a stitcher is never bored tee hee)
After spending our first night in the tiny town of Augathella we headed for Barcaldine which has a very unusual memorial to a 100 year old tree called the "Tree of Knowledge" which was sabotaged and killed a few years ago. The dead tree remains with this sculptural canopy above it. Apparently the Australian labour party was formed underneath the branches of this tree.

Last night we stayed at Longreach gateway to the outback and the home of the "Stockman's Hall of Fame". A wonderful tribute to all those incredible men who spent their lives with horses, cattle & sheep. Lots about droving and the tools of their trade...really fascinating.

Also at Longreach is the Qantas museum a favourite with my husband.

We headed off this morning to Winton which boasts the first time Banjo Paterson recited "Waltzing Matilda" to a lass he was keen on in the district. There is a centre here where you can learn more about our iconic

song. Banjo even has a statue in front of the music to Waltzing Matilda outside the centre. Now I don't know about you but I reckon that swaggie would have had a spot of bother trying to fit this jumbuck in his tucker bag...

On to McKinlay where the pub scenes at Walkabout Creek were filmed for the movie Crocodile Dundee. They have moved the pub from in the township to on to the main highway.

You've got stop and say G'day mate and have a beer. As you can see Gary did.

Well that's it from me out here in the back of beyond. One last thing you should see the road trains out here....HUGE! Not just one trailer 4 & 5!! Tomorrow we are off to Mt Isa and beyond. 

Blessings Michelle xx

Favourite Things Friday with Shay

Well this will come as no surprise my favourite thing this Friday is HOLIDAYS!!!!! Woo Hoo!
The houseminders are primed, the mail is sorted, the stitching is in the bag and in the box, oh and under the bed, the fruit cake ( for cuppa's along the way) is in the oven, my lovely friend Sandra had been and delivered some of her yummies to add to the larder  and the van is packed.....so Uluru here we come!

I am so looking forward to experiencing this natural wonder for  myself. I think like all Australians I know the image so well it will be interesting to see how I feel when we're there and yes lovely Kay we are going to view it at sunrise. Also I promise dear Helen I will not open my Birthday pressie until the day...thank you xx
So that is my favourite for today. I am linking up to the lovely SHAY for more favourites and then I shall talk to you from somewhere out there in our beautiful unique countryside.

Blessings Michelle xxx

Hello from across the Sea

A little while ago I received a lovely email from a lady called Mary in Washington USA wishing to purchase my "Down Reindeer Lane" pattern. I sent it off and a little while later she sent me a photo of her favourite beach.... Cannon's Beach Oregon with a twist.

Her beautifully stitched blocks of my little reindeers. I was so thrilled to see them all the way acoss the world so imagine my joy when she sent me these.....

Mary returned to her favourite beach with "Down Reindeer Lane" completed. So beautifully stitched.

This next photo is of this gorgeous place.

Mary tells me she has entered her quilt in "The Covington WA Quilt Show". I hope my little reindeers and Mary's beautiful stitching do well for her. She told me "Everyone who sees the quilt just loves the faces on the deer". I know I shouldn't have favourites but sometimes you just really love a particular design and my reindeers have a special place in my heart. I had always imagined as a child that Santa would go to a special place to choose his reindeers where they played and lived and of course it was called "Reindeer Lane".
So thank you Mary you made my day and Good Luck in the show!

Lastly I would just like to say....
GO THE MIGHTY MAROONS !!!! Make it seven in a row boys!

You didn't honestly think I would forget did you. Enjoy your evening,
Blessings Michelle xxx

Tuesday's Treasure.

Well Our lovely hostess MELODY has burnt herself and the poor girl can't sew and type at the moment. I thought I would still post today's treasure as I know she loves seeing all our treasures.
I love yarn and hand knitted and crocheted items. I think they are things of beauty.I can crochet but can't knit to save myself apart from rows of plain and then I always have to ring my Mum and ask how to cast off....a tragic thing I know. My Grandmother was a beautiful knitter and crocheter and when the weather gets a bit chilly many of my family will pull one of her warm rugs over them and cuddle up. My treasure this week is a gorgeous blanket (it's to big to be a rug) she gave to me that she had made because she knew I loved green. I love it. I love that the wool and blanket have been in her lovely very clever hands. But mostly because it was given to me with love.

Her work was always so beautiful.

Lastly, hugs and healing to our dear Melody for a quick recovery and hope she is back to her stitching very quickly.

Blessings Michelle xxx