Long Weekend - Marrawah

A few more shots from the weekend, we took a little drive to Marrawah, wow that place is so incredibly beautiful. You may or may not know that I love green and seeing those hills with the ocean and trees like that...kinda blew me away.

Long Weekend - Stanley

We headed off to the north west coast of Tasmania on friday for the long weekend and I loved it, it is so beautiful up there, all green and beautiful big landscapes, quite different to the scenery I am used to in the south. Admittedly the weather was pretty amazing for winter, perfect blue skies and sunshine and possibly an extra few minutes of daylight (it truly does seem to make a difference), but it was wonderful in every other way too. I am realising that there are so many places in my home state I don't know at all and think maybe more holidays at home are in order for the future.

Early Long Weekend

Tomorrow I'm starting the long weekend a day early and I can't wait, I'm of to see parts of Tasmania I haven't been to since I was a child. I forget sometimes that there are places here to be excited to visit. This week has been tiring, but my head cold is finally going away so I'm looking forward to a change of scenery and some exploration. Hopefully some photographs to share once I get back.

Snowy Easter Break

I spent the easter break at a friends place up in the Tasmanian highlands, so nice to get away and just take it very easy, the most exciting part though was waking up to snow yesterday morning!

  PS it was my friend's 30th birthday so I got a massive balloon and decked it out with tissue paper tassels, I made a cake too - it will be up on Island Menu this week.

The Agrarian Kitchen

On monday (which now feels like a lifetime ago) I was lucky enough to have the day off and attend a class with friends at the Agrarian Kitchen. We booked almost six months ago but it was definitely worth the wait, we did the agrarian experience class and I would highly recommend it. Seriously nothing better than spending a monday walking around a veggie garden, milking a goat and then cooking up beautiful food in an amazing kitchen. I went a bit crazy taking pictures but nevermind (!), like I say if you get the chance definitely book in a class.

Road Trip...

to Bicheno on the east cost, despite the long drive and crazy grey weather it was worth it, loved that teepee on the beach.

Misty Grey

On saturday despite the fact that it was pouring with rain I visited some places in Tasmania I had never been before. I have to say it was really quite cool, the landscapes looked so spooky and dramatic in the mist. It was good to get out of town, even if it was only for an afternoon.

On the mountain

I went up Mt Wellington yesterday and it was icy cold. The snow wasn't snow it was ice, and the sun was melting it so that you could hear the cracking and shattering as it fell to the ground. Very beautiful.

Taking It Easy

Finally today there was a break in the grey and rain (I spent all day yesterday watching the BBC's Pride and Prejudice - perfect rainy day entertainment!) So to make the most of it I went for a little trip to Richmond. I haven't been there for years and there weren't as many antique shops to look in as I remember, but it was good to be out in the fresh air and sunshine. Some of the little cottages are so lovely, but so tiny!

Ten Days

My neighbourhood has been filled with these public notices for the past Ten Days. The first few times I walked past them and thought they were all the same and then I realised in fact each was completely unique to the people who live in the house. It's a wonderful idea, these three are my particular favourites but there are some other lovely decisions (such as one taking a picture of all the dogs who walk past and having them on the fence, another was a chart for people to write down all the birds they have seen).
The above read:

1. For ten days the residents of this home will bake a batch of cookies each day and deliver them to friends and family

2. For ten days the residents of this home will dance together in the evenings

3. For ten days the owner will post a hand-written letter to friends every day

Discoveries

Today at lunch I decided I would start thinking about my christmas shopping and headed to Salamanca (where there are lots of galleries, a brilliant bookshop and the best smelling chocolate shop!)
Instead of finding potential gifts I stumbled upon the beautiful paintings of Junko Go which I felt I had to share here. I could have spent the whole of my lunch hour discovering all the little things on the big canvasas and they look amazing in person.

Blues and Greens

I have realised I am posting a little about our landscape, the light and generally being outside, it does seem to be a big influence on me right now, it is summer, and warm and the sun has been out and because this is the first summer ever I have worked full time, trying to make the most of those precious moments of freedom.

This weekend was the Australia day long weekend, and our tradition of camping and beaches, we went with my dad this year, who must be one of the most organised and fully equiped campers ever. We spent time swimming, walking and plenty of eating, a little drinking, some Irish music and I managed to make some progress with my crochet. So right now I feel salty and still a little sandy, covered in mozzie bites and sunburnt, but wonderfully relaxed and full of fresh air, I wanted to post the above two pictures I managed to take, one in the evening the other in the middle of the day, I found the colour of the water quite incredible, and so changeable, almost impossible to capture the brilliance of the blues and greens.

The Hill

Last night after work we went walking at one of my favourite places in the world, I love the history of this hill and bay, my family history there and the bigger more inspiring history of the Tasmanian aboriginies. The light was perfect and golden and it was so great to be out in the fresh air watching the world go by.