around the bend

Sometimes an opportunity presents itself to do something a little different from the everyday tasks. Such an opportunity arose last weekend and my family and I went for a drive.

About an hour away from our town lies the Darling river and the Menindee lake system and, while there is very little water to speak of in the lakes (we won't go into that now!), there is a little water in the river, affording us a different aspect for the day.

We also took the chance to be a tourist in our own spot visiting Kinchega National Park, it's many camping spots and the historic Kinchega Woolshed.



I wonder how long this monster has been here for?



native bluebells



old railway bridge over the Darling River



lift off



no wool here now, just visitors and spiders



I can almost hear the noises from the past.
Shearing time was a time of much
excitement as a child

With hot weather, a serious lack of water in the town, small businesses finding it tough going at the moment and a severe lack of good news to be found anywhere, it was lovely to step away. I embraced the quiet, the wildlife, the promise of a chance to spend more time here under canvas (maybe my husband and my children more enthusiastically than me!) and time together as a family!

Here's to more family escapes

Kate xx

Linking with Trish for Wordless Wednesday

Here & Now ~ Lazy Days, Vintage Love & Pizza

  

vintage clothes



making pizzas at a family celebration



I fell in love with this old grandstand

Loving // All the photo opportunities there are in my everyday. I just need to make the time and look up.
Eating //  Too much! I am still thinking about the banana bread and mascarpone with strawberries and coconut that I had for breakfast while in Adelaide recently with my mum. It is definitely time to go back to work and get some order back in the eating regime!

Drinking //  I have a little thing for rose at the moment and I got my hands on a Bird in Hand D&B Pour Les Amour rose 2015....so lovely

Feeling // Rather soggy. It is very humid here, not something that happens often and I will only put up with it if there is rain accompanying the sogginess! We've had a little...fingers crossed for more.

Making //  Photo books on Snapfish. I have many photos and while we have a digital screen and photo screen savers, it is still nice to hold them. I have made a book with a selection of pictures from 2015 and another with photos of my dad to help the grandchildren remember,and cherish those special memories.

Thinking // About a family holiday. I have the travel bug since our family adventure last year. Where to next I wonder...N.Z., Canada, Italy, Switzerland, maybe Austria again???

Dreaming // Of finding some cool vintage clothing. I have been watching Dawn O'Porter in This Old Thing, Friday nights on ABC2. I love her clothes, as well as some of the finds she has made in vintage and second hand clothing shops

I'm joining in 'Here & Now' with Sarah at Say! Little Hen. Pop over and see her 'Here & Now' post if you have time...such beautiful photos :)

Kate xx

...and so the adventure begins

                                     "one's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things" ~ Henry Miller  

I have been lucky enough to have been on a big family adventure. I have seen some things I have thought about for a long time and some things I couldn't have imagined and I have learnt, questioned, wondered, laughed, despaired, followed, led, tasted...
Here are some random thoughts and some new ways of seeing things!

travelling with children is an adventure, exhausting, eye opening, challenging...

                                                              Australia has REALLY good coffee

    for every moment that is uncomfortable, there will be a thing of immeasurable beauty

                               
                               go to see the things you've heard much of, but be prepared to share it!

                                        breath...

never underestimate the value of pictures and arrows on signs

                            
                         explore what is under the city as well as above

                                                          look up

do it your way
                              

                                                                                                     wear good shoes

                    everyone knows where Sydney, NSW is...

                                                        in Europe, Australia really is the other side of the world!

hunger is a traveller's enemy

                                airport security is a necessary evil

                                                                                       catch up with old friends

             make new friends

                                 keep a journal

there is nothing quite like your own pillow

                                                                                     pack your sense of humour

...and of fun!

                                                                                                   free wifi is your friend

There are so many stories, too many to share and so much was gained by all of us, big and small.
The most important thing I will take away, other than memories, is to enjoy the little things for one day I will look back and realise they were the big things!

Kate xx
                              

Making dreams come true

Back in September, last year, I was asked by Lisa from Random Acts of Zen to share my dream. On reflection I decided that one of my dreams was to travel. This is what I wrote for Lisa's blog post:

"One of my most incredible dreams is to travel. There are so many things on my bucket list that I would love to see, particularly in Europe, the Netherlands and the UK. I want to hear the guards marching to Buckingham Palace, munch on flaky, French croissants, pedal through the Amsterdam countryside, see the Lipizzaner Stallions perform, sit under the sky lit up by the Northern lights, eat gelato in Italy…and more, the list is extensive!"

When I answered Lisa's questions I knew I would make these dreams come true but I didn't know when. If you are prone to holiday envy then look away now... 

I am about to fling some clothes in a case and go on an adventure to tick off some of these things on my wish list.  Does this sound casual and carefree? I hope so but in reality there are things ALL over the house, bags half packed, Easter hat parades happening in the middle of it and one very excited family!

I might hear marching guards, there is a very good chance there will be flaky pastry consumed and I have informed my work friends that if I don't return, then the coffee houses in Vienna could be a good starting point to look for me!

Happy Easter to you all and stay tuned for some holiday sharing on my return.

Kate xxx