A rare day out

At the end of every visit with my cousin, the same conversation always happens, it goes something like this:

"Well, we didn't get time to .......... or to ........... or to............."

One of us will say this with a chuckle, as we know full well, that our plans for our time together is always just a little bit too ambitious.

This time our conversation went like this:

"Well, we didn't get time to eat all of the giant brie we had bought with wine, we didn't get time to make cheese, we never did make poached eggs with smoked salmon, asparagus and hollandaise, we never went to Bill Beans to get a takeaway coffee for the park, we never made it to Bathhurst, we didn't teach/learn crochet and we didn't write out that recipe."

But one thing that we did do, was have a rare day out.

Well, there was a bit of 'toing and froing' back home during the day (that's a whole other story) but in essence, Karen and I were able to go out for; not only coffee, but lunch too!

We realised that it was the first time that we have been 'alone' together in nine years. Nine years ago, we went to lunch for my 30th Birthday, while her children (she only had two then) were at school.

(Yes, you will notice that the beautiful Miss L did come with us, but really, she was a joy to go shopping and have coffee with)

We were able to visit this lovely shop and linger in the courtyard over coffee and melting moments. Honestly I could have sat there all day. It was just so lovely. The relaxed atmosphere, the company, the dappled sunlight. Heaven.



A few more shops and eventually time for lunch. We both had wanted to try the Byng Street Local Store. I loved this place, I would move to Orange just for a place like this. I loved the decor, loved the bread and loved our lunch. We sat out the back in a quiet corner of the courtyard facing out onto the pretty street. We shared a toasted baguette and very yummy rocket salad. It was so peaceful, we happily sat long enough for lunch and couple of coffees.

A big thank-you goes out to Mr Gooseberry for making this all possible, who knows, it could be another nine years before it happens again!

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Parks and personalities

Lake Canobolas Reserve

It has always been very important to me that my cousin's children and my children grow up to be close. We had that with our own childhood and we are where we are in life today, because of that.

Despite the distance between our homes (both now and before) I think that a comfortable bond has been created. Whenever our children come together, they quickly and easily fall into play with the cousin or sibling with a similar personality.

However, our time spent together, has usually only been two to three days. This we have always found, is just enough. Never long enough for us mums to catch-up, but too much longer, and the 'rattiness' begins.



I guess I (we?) did not take this into consideration when planning this holiday. As I was going to be on the road for six days, I wanted to stay longer than two or three days. After all, there was lots (lots) to do and see. After only a couple of months, I was missing my cousin terribly and I was desperate to see her new home town.

Eight days was perhaps, four days too long - for the kids at least.

We also found life in town very different to spending time on the farm. Spunky Monkey is an outdoor boy and needs to be kept busy. On the farm, from 6am until 6 pm he could be outdoors. He would be sent to collect eggs, feed the chooks, open the gate for the chooks, put the chooks in for the night. He would be sent to the vegie patch to collect herbs or tomatoes and one day, the dried beans still on the vine, which he then colour coded. He would be sent into the paddock to look for rocks or collect sheep poo for the garden. At other times he would climb trees, dig around in the shed or ride bikes. Try putting this boy inside all day with seven other kids!

So..... we spend our days at the some of the beautiful parks in the area.

Elephant Park

But for us too, this was much more time consuming. Our farm days were lazy, the kids dressed themselves and ran wild, we drank way to much tea, leisurely putting out food when required.

Picnics out and about, meant that our mornings were spent dressing everyone in weather appropriate (and presentable) clothing and packing our picnic lunches. At the end of the day, when we arrived home late, the cars needed to be unpacked, the picnic sets washed, everyone needed a bath (eight kids) and dinner needed to be prepared.  Our days were lovely, but they were very busy.



Please don't misunderstand me. Our holiday was FANTASTIC!

I just need to maybe do things a little differently on our next visit. This is a new chapter for our families, there is a different future ahead for our times together. We are adjusting.

I know that we will find our new rhythm soon enough. There will be many more visits to Orange to come.

 A day at the Adventure Playground and the Orange Botanical Gardens

We certainly did have some wonderful days out.

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'Under The Jacaranda'

I have fallen in love with all of the beautiful blossom trees on our recent visit to country New Souths Wales.

However, while driving through the city streets of Brisbane on Saturday, I was reminded of one of Queensland's great beauties. The Jacaranda tree, a favourite of mine, we had three large trees on the footpath of my childhood home.

I had forgotten just how beautiful Brisbane can be at this time of the year. At almost every glance you could see the magnificent purple haze from the Jacaranda's in flower.

I instantly thought of this beautiful painting, that hangs in the Queensland Art Gallery.  

Oh, to be taking tea "under the Jacaranda's!"

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"There's no place like home"

I wish that I could have just tapped my heels together to get home from our holiday. At least on that last day of travelling, with the least amount of driving hours, it was definitely the longest day.

We arrived back in Queensland late last week.

Just in time to go to this stunning (oh, soooo beautiful) ballet production of "The Wizard of Oz". An annual event for Miss Moo Moo and I.

We hadn't intended to stay the day in Brisbane, but ended up enjoying a couple of hours at the art gallery and museum after the show.


We happily stumbled across this fashion exhibition and enjoyed our 'girls only' time drawing up a few fashion sketches of our own.

We are back to 35 degree temperatures and sleeveless dresses. Last night it was even to hot to sleep. Is it time to put away the doona's already? And right now, as I write, it is still 34 degrees. I can't even think about dinner! It seems like a world away from our time in Orange.

I have been washing and tiding and preparing for the new school term that begins tomorrow. The kids have terrible coughs and headcolds and I have a feeling I will collapse into a heap sometime later this week.

I am hoping for an easy week. There will be more photos of our holidays to come, it is a nice way to show our holiday to some of my family and friends here in Queensland. I hope you are enjoying the photos too.

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Carcoar

On a Thursday afternoon, we had the whole town to ourselves. Really, just us! and one or two locals.
We stopped at the swings down by the tennis courts, we ate egg and lettuce sandwiches as dark clouds settled over the village and threatened rain.




We didn't mind. It just added to the charm.
 


























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Blayney

If you want to visit the quaint little town of Carcoar for the day and you have six kids under the age of seven in the car with you, it is almost essential to stop at an op shop (for a toy) while passing through the town of Blayney.





Everybody out.

But when one op shop is closed and the other shop is without a barbie or matchbox car in sight, it is then essential that you stop at the playground.





However, when Spunky Monkey does not listen when you say, "DO NOT JUMP" (for the 20th time) over the slimy, muddy creek that runs through the middle of the playground, then that means it's back to the op shop to see if they have something else to wear for the day.

No, "No tracksuits." his only choice. Almost dry, after an hour at the playground, he decides that he will stay as he is, in his very muddy clothes.

I hope that no one will notice.

While at the op shop, there was a request to buy a fairy book for everyone, for the rest of the trip, 

after all it was 1:30pm and we hadn't made it to Carcoar yet!

Despite constant bickering and bribery with lollies and fairy books (I bought 10 for $5) the drive to Carcoar was beautiful.

Just look at this stunning countryside, around every corner was another picture postcard of green rolling hills, zig-zagged with windbreaks and dotted with farm animals. I do love green rolling hills.

We eventually arrived in Carcoar at about 2 in the afternoon. It was well worth the wait.

Pictures of Carcoar tomorrow, I promise. 

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