Blossom Cottage

West Coast Tasmania

It felt like the time was right to have a holiday and explore Tasmania's great west coast.  Always good for someone working in the tourism industry in Tas to be up-to-date with what is going on around the state and for updating ideas...  what a better way than a four day trip away from home.

We set off Thursday, stopping in at Lake St Clair, the weather was fantastic as you will see from the photo, lunch at Derwent Park Hotel, we opted for a steak sandwich, yummo.   Then on the road again to Queenstown, the photo shows how the mining operations have scared the hills surrounding Queenstown, soil run off has hindered the trees growing back.  Funnily, this adds to the towns uniqueness and makes it quite impressive.

The journey onwards to Strahan Village, to be our home for 2 nights : )  Lovely and quiet, beautiful scenery, quaint eating places and accommodation.  We journeyed out to Macquarie Harbour and Great Ocean Beach, amazing stuff.. 33 kms of beach!   An amazing campground which reminded me of Cockle Creek in the far south.  Amazing potential for the land management owners, seemed to be ran by the local council with input from other land managers... signage not too great for first time tourists, evidenced by the car following me who also didn't know where the road was taking them to!  Lets hope the old tacky signs are replaced soon.

Lots of favourite shots below..... 

 

Day 2 we headed off on the boat, Lady Jane Franklin to explore the harbour and the world heritage area.   Unspoilt beauty for sure.  Great to see that our Captain was very mindful of the delicacy of the river banks and the world heritage area.   Hells Gates once accessed.. land further on is South America or South Africa.. wow!  Great lighthouses and lovely colours on the edge of the banks.

 

Sarah Island was a port of call, convicts there must have had a very hard life... spooky enough to give me cold goose bumps in 2 areas on the island.  The guide provided the group with his opinion of Parks management on the island.  Sometimes good to be an unknown in the crowd!

Making a skirt for Bonnie

My new overlocker arrived :)  so what a better way than to spend a Sunday arvo.. than trying it out on a skirt for Bonnie Bear..  mm not a very cooperative photo on Sunday evening!   Little Miss wore it all afternoon over her jeans..

Water a wonderful resource...but...

Well Tasmania hasn't seen so much rain since I think around 1956.. !  Every day it seems to rain and last night it bucketed down again, and blew a gale..there is now so much water coming down the hill above our house that the water flooded out our carport and garage.. not to mention the final mess when drains have had to be dug to carry off the rainwater.  In the 14 years we have lived here, we have never had problems like this with water run off..

Cooking with Bonnie

Bonnie came for a visit while mummy was working.. armed with her apron ready for cooking, there was no escape for nanna!  Pikelets first up.. and then some play dough that Bonnie had fun making!

Play dough..  1 cup plain flour, 1 tablespoon cream of tartar, 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 cup cooking salt, mix together, add 1 cup boiling water with a few drops of colouring..  (mummy or nanna may have to stir the boiling water in initially- test to ensure dough is cool enough for your helper to continue with) Keep in an airtight bag.. 

 

Visiting the East Coast of Tasmania

It was raining on Saturday, so we decided to head up the East Coast and join Tanya, Scott, Georgia and Izzy at Swansea.  We stayed at Swansea Cottages (lovely), ate out the Bush Mill, played in the great exercise playground by the river.. and took our time heading home today.   I also got to shop at the little craft shop again that I mentioned in my last post.. lots of little bits and pieces came home from there.

 

Sewing Patchwork Cushions & Quilt on Sunday

The weather was shocking (AGAIN!) so decided to get out the precut squares that I bought from a cute craft/secondhand shop in Triabunna on the East Coast of Tasmania in April..  The first are cushion covers, basic, but brighten up the sofa bed.   The next is a mini quilt that I am making for Kama - I have to decide which colour to back it with, I am guessing Kama will choose green.

 

Christmas Project

I have some great friends, recently Erica made herself a strip in cross stitch displaying 24 days leading up to Xmas..I loved it and tah dah, she has presented me with a strip as well.  Last night she visited and showed me how to backstitch along the tape in gold thread... then the strips will be cut and placed on red fabric, edged in cream..  Erica's was all finished, she chose a lovely dark blue fabric with green xmas trees, however I have gone for a different look which will hopefully come up as beautiful as her advent calendar is...  so stay tuned, over the next few months I will show you how I am progressing in advancing the quilting, etc.. 

Sylvanian Family Furniture

Gina gave me this lovely little dolls house for my grandchildren to play with..  yesterday I was in Toyworld and spotted these lovely little pieces of furniture, thought they would be perfect for the doll's house, so now I have a new project : ) fitting out the dolls house, making some small rugs and tincy wincy pieces, as well as finding some more furniture.  

 

Whats happening here and what I enjoy..

eating passionfruit, diet food (mm), and this weekend before the diet starts some chocolate and cinnamon scrolls - find the recipe here Gina  (not together)
...watching my AFL footy team Carlton win!  And watching my lovely grandchildren play....

...reading nothing at present, just enjoying magazines, diet sheets and craft dreams

...walking on the treadmill (psyching myself back into it)..  and wearing my new orthotics for an hour each day until I get used to them.
..crafting... well I'm thinking on the next project, some patchwork squares to sew up.  Also making some cute hair accessories.
...thinking about sewing some gifts for xmas, reorganising the end bedroom, and planning the menu for our diet.. ...Hoping that I will be able to move forward with my work ideas and soon we start to enjoy some nice warm weather...looking forward to starting my christmas shopping (lol) 

Queensland Photos

Our little jinxed Olympus camera had another little disappearing act in Queensland.. some may remember the first story, lost for six months and replaced by the Canon camera.. found after six months under dh's work vehicle back seat!  Lost at Dreamworld in Queensland : ( I was not very popular..  but with all the people visiting there the day we were there someone was very honest and handed it into lost property... and the great staff there posted it home to us in Tassie..  now I am having trouble with the Canon - the lens stuck on while on holiday, under warranty, it seems the retailer who sold it to me has a long process to send to repair, return, etc.   (aggh)