Moving On

It was really hard to leave our very tranquil spot by the Golburn River. We had a lovely rest and I did quite a bit of stitching and we had lovely walks along the river or just sat and watched it go by.

We loved this old bridge up river, we think it is called Chinaman's Bridge but don't quote us.

New horizons awaited. So we set off and I have to say we managed to take the 'road less travelled...

Our mission was to cut across to the Hume Highway....a simple undertaking according to my map....ah nope! Somewhere we missed a critical turn ended up with the beautiful vista above but on a not very accommodating gravel road with bemused livestock turning their heads to gaze at us on both sides. We did eventually find our path more luck than good management and saw an area we otherwise wouldn't have.
Our plans to get an early start had turned pear shaped and so lunch was next on the agenda. We entered Ned Kelly country and cruised into a lovely little town called Benalla. After lunch we visited the museum and had a look at their "Kelly Collection" which for some reason has always fascinated both of us.
Next to the museum is a small area of parkland next to lake Benalla with the most amazing Mural created by Ceramic artists....

It has little areas for children to play in, areas to sit and reflect or just rest. It is really quite wonderful. I found it utterly fascinating...there were new things to discover wherever you turned.
This little seat was close by.

We walked back to the car via the board walk along  Lake Benalla, below the murals which is really quite lovely.

On our way back we came across a sundial I am sorry I can' remember the name of it but if you stand on the month in the centre your shadow should fall on the correct time of the day. Mr R, tested the theory and...

it  correctly shadowed just past 1pm....really interesting.
Because of our unintended scenic tour in the morning we spent the evening in the little town of Holbrook that we always like to stop and have breakfast in when travelling. As the Hume Highway bypass now runs right on top of the caravan park (or so it seemed) not a lot of sleep was had with big trucks making there way down the highway all night! Brekky was however delicious as always!
We broke our journey at a little spot that is a favourite of mine as I have always loved the songs and poems about this little dog 'who sits on the tuckerbox 5 miles from Gundagai' since I was a child.

So of course...tourist! Photo!

If you enlarge the sign hopefully you can read about the story of the bullocky's dog.
We turned off the Hume and have had a lovely drive and the landscape has changed again. Undulating hills dotted with plump woolly jumpers nibbling on the grass. The bright yellow fields of canola are with us again stretching out into the distance like some exotic carpet. I have to also say that the wattles still have their best golden yellow dresses on. They have been spectacular! Every now and then we would come across fruit trees which have exploded into blossom...white, pale pink through to a deep almost cerise pink. I have no idea what they are. Whether they are cherry trees??? They pop up in the oddest of places and are often along the side of the road. Even had a pat and a chat with a truckies mate "Blue" at a pitstop. He was such a gorgeous dog. We throughly enjoyed our journey today.
But that's it from me...my bed is calling....ahhh no big trucks!
Blessings Michelle xxx

Happy Father's Day & Wattle Day

Well being the 1st September it means that finally Spring has Sprung and also here in Australia it is "Wattle Day". So Happy Wattle Day!

Yesterday we set out to do the 'tourist' thing and headed for Sovereign Hill at Ballarat. Now I will have to tell you I dislike intensely being in crowds of people particularly at places like this but I have to say all in all I did enjoy the day. We began with a ride with these beautiful gentle giants around the precinct. This place is dedicated to portraying a slice of life on the Ballarat Goldfields about the mid 1850's.

Seeing as I had imparted to one of the "Trap" (police) that my Family were indeed free settlers and not convict stock we struck up a very amiable relationship..

Gary on the other hand being of convict stock was not so fortunate..

We watched this officer of sullied character ( his words) fire his musket (very loud!!!)

Gary went for a mine tour...underground! Not this little aboveground chikadee!
I went for a wee wander to look at some of the old cottages and of course what should I spy on one of the beds?

Back to the mine tour. They went down in this train affair...

NO Thanks! We watched an ingot of gold being poured..

And here is the ingot...$160,000 worth folks and it is only slighty bigger than a Mars Bar.

Gary was struck down with gold fever and tried his luck at making our fortune gold panning...

He did strike it rich, 3 small midgey size pieces. So he won't be retiring just yet.
We rounded off the day watching the Regiment perform their daily drill

and fire a 5 gun salute to the then Queen of England again very loud!

After a bag of boiled sweets, a pastie I was ready for our little home on wheels. This gorgeous sunset finished the day off very nicely thank you.

This morning we set out to tick off another little "really want to visit" spots on my list.

Mr R. detoured just so I could visit Mill Rose patchwork gallery in Ballan....oh so very nice! Donation made!
The gallery is housed in the old Masonic Building and right next door is Mill Rose Cottage.

Morning tea was definitely in order so in we went.

The girls in the gallery had told me that they make their very own vanilla slices...so we had to try one. Delicious and devine are words that spring to mind!!!

Energy restored we set out for Daylesford. I had been looking forward to having a bit of a browse but unfortunately forgot that it would be very busy being Father's Day and also their market day. We didn't stop as finding parking with the van was just to hard :( Next time Daylesford!!!
I got over my disappointment pretty quickly as the beautiful scenery unfolded as we drove along helped by the very mellow voice of James Taylor and nothing adds to an Australian bush drive than Mr Keith Urban.We stopped and had a very nice lunch at Country Cob Bakery in Kyneton...so tonight we are very chilled out (but not chilly..short sleeves people!) Camped beside Lake Ngambie on the one side...

and Goulburn River on the other...

Such a pretty spot...

This is one of many of our new friends here.

Lastly but certainly not least I would like to wish my Dear Husband, My Son and my adopted Son (SIL) a very happy Father's Day. You are three of the best. Lots of love and hugs xxx I hope all the other wonderful and committed Father's out there had a wonderful day....your loving deeds will have a ripple effect far more than you will ever know.
Blessings Michelle xxx

A fun Morning in Breezy Ballarat

Hi everyone. We are here in Ballarat and I have to say it is decidedly chillier. We nearly got blown to Kingdom Come yesterday when we arrived. We did venture out in the afternoon after a shower of rain to visit the famous Eureka Site where disgruntled miners on the 3rd December 1851 clashed with dire consequences with Soldiers and Police over unfair mining licenses which were 30 shillings per month a Kings ransom in those days.

Allegedly 3 miners wives constructed and stitched a flag which is known as The Southern Cross flag. They pledged allegiance to the Southern Cross and each other. We visited the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka and found it very interesting. We especially loved seeing the remnants of the original flag. I tried to take a photo but it was not very successful so I have borrowed this one from the Government Heritage site.

I did however get a close up of the star.

The stitching was so neat and tiny and amazing when you think it was all stitched by hand.

M.A.D.E was well worth the visit to help understand this important event in our history.

Now on a less serious note but seriously fun note, today I was able to meet long time blogging friend Shez...picked up at my door almost. What a beautiful fun girl she is and I was so touched that even though she has had serious illness in her family she still insisted on sharing some of her favourite places with me. We first visited a shop which is closing down. Such a shame as it was a sweet shop but as they were having a sale 30% off I bought some lovely background fabrics, felt and buttons...very happy here.
The next place was a darling little coffee and gift shop Such & Such where we had a good look around before settling down with a nice cuppa and exchanged gifts. Look at this gorgeous little bag Shez has made for me....I just love it! It has sweet little birdies on the fabric and the stitchery has other favs like cupcakes and a teacup. Beautifully stitched too...

I gave Shez some sewing charms, knitting wool and my new Birdie in a Teacup tote bag pattern ( you would have seen my sneaky peeks) which I will be releasing when I get home...Shez seemed very pleased to have her own copy.

Next we were off to Gail's Patchwork Emporium Oh my goodness! I was in love when we drove up the drive...I had always wanted to go there!!!!

What an adorable place. I just loved every square inch of it. The fabrics and notions, not to mention gorgeous braids and laces...did I mention buttons and threads and beautiful gift line objects sprinkled so loving amongst all the other gorgeousness. Vintage china and clothes, I also found a new piece of Cranberry & White china ( a lidded butter dish) to bring home...needless to say a donation was definitely made here....

Every time Shez and I walked around it we found something else to wonder at. If you are ever in Sebastapol  near Ballarat you just have to visit. You will walk out smiling and with a little package or three...
Gail the owner is a delightful person and I was thrilled to have a piccie with her.

And I just had to have a photo with my lovely friend Shez too.

Thank you Shez for a very special morning and for showing me your town...loved every minute!
Off now to do a little stitching...I have been doing a bit of redwork and a little work on my French General Dresdens but not anything to take a piccie of just yet.
Blessings Michelle xxx

Well as promised I have my lovely gift from Cheryl to show you..better piccie this time.
How cute is that and it is so beautifully stitched in variegated thread. Can't wait to find a spot for it come Christmas...and it came with a gorgeous little hanger too...very spoilt here.
If you thought the nature pics were over...Sorry!
Today we thought we would visit some of the more sedate and easily accessible lookouts. We began with the Boroka lookout and the views were quite stunning and such a lovely vista over the valley.

It was quite windy hence the 'windblown and carefree' look.

The next on the agenda was the Reid lookout which has a 1km walk there and back to a spot called "The Balconies"....no problems thinks I, 2kms is not far and another great view.

I was struck along the way by these little pink bell type beauties which seem to be just coming into bloom.

Now as we were powering along and enjoying ourselves we thought that we would make the Mackenzie Falls our last stop and we also had it on good authority that we could view the falls from the top and it was not to strenuous walk. Here is Gary looking cheerful on the path to the falls.

The view of the falls from the top was wonderful..

Isn't this lovely I thought and then I heard the voice beside me say 'it would certainly be some thing to see from the bottom and you know seeing as we are here'.....I groaned but off I went. I then find out there are 300 steps down which means there are also 300 steps back up. Did I think to turn around and say NO! Of course not....down I went...
Following the smiling sadist..

The "voice" was right and it was certainly something to see from the bottom...

Couldn't resist a photo mainly to show you the size of it and this is only one section of the falls....his and

hers...

These are a few of the 300 steps it took to get down here and that I had to then walk back up.

The "voice" then discovered this was not the end...ohh noo! There was more yet to see and walk too...

and..

Oh wait and then there was this..

and then thankfully the end was in sight and as they say the peasants were revolting and so I viewed the end from afar...

Then the mighty journey up all those steps and pathways to where it all began..oh my! You know how you get really silly and incoherent when you have over exerted yourself...well that was me. I even came up with a name for us as we moaned and groaned our way to the top..."The Mutant Whinger Turtles" being not myself by this stage I thought that was hilarious and hysterical laughter insued.
Finally we reach the blessed, beloved top and head for the carpark only to be diverted by "him" to look at "Broken Falls"...

I tell you I was not only broken I was shattered..I just know I will be thrilled I went to see these wonders of nature...when the pain subsides. That's the Grampians for us folks. I will leave you with a few of Mr. R's friends that he couldn't resist playing with.

Gotta fly,
Blessings Michelle xxx