Day 23 - AUTUMN

Today is the first day of winter and the branches on the trees are all bare. So as we head into this new season, I just wanted to take a final look back at what was a stunning first Autumn here for me in Tassie. Never before have I seen red leaves!! But here in Tassie many of the trees go the most amazing red or yellow colour before then going brown and falling off. It's also fun here on windy days because there are so many of these trees that lose their leaves, when a wind picks up you see leaves going everywhere!

Day 22 - TODAY'S SKY

Clear and blue just how I like it! In fact, it was such a beautiful mild day today that I really wish I had of gotten outside (such a shame). Instead I baked these

Or to be exact I made two lots of ANZAC biscuits from different recipes in order to try and work out which was the best. I'm really not sure we could decide.

Oh and whilst I baked, she had fun pretending to!!

Day 21 - TODAY I SPENT TIME WITH....

...these two, Mia 4 years and Luke 8 years as we went on a shopping expedition into the city so they could buy a birthday present for their soon to be 11 year old brother. We call them 'The Curlies" :o)

Day 20 - SOUVENIRS

I have been lucky enough to have travelled to many overseas places over the years: London, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Nashville, LA and Hawaaii. During these travels we've collected some lovely souvenirs but I have to say that one of my favourites is actually the least prettiest of the lot.

This may look like very plain, boring old stones and in a way they are. Until you find out where they came from. These were the stones I collected and placed in my Ugandan made shoulder bag from the dried up river bed of the Zambezi River in Zambia, as our family of then 4, were lead on a guided trek. 

In telling this story I had to include a photo of the two gorgeous Zambian guides who carried my boys (aged 3 and 5 years) on their shoulders for the two or so hours trek. In what was an almost 40 degree day in Africa this was no mean feat. They were awesome and gave us the best time.....especially since the trek ended with this amazing experience for Paul and 5 year old Owen.....

(Devil's Pool, Livingstone Island, Victoria Falls, Zambia, 2006)

Day 19 - SOMETHING BOUGHT

If Hobartians had a uniform this would be it.....the puffer jacket. After seeing them absolutely everywhere here I realised that the puffer jacket must be the secret to surviving the Tassie winter. So when Kathmandu had a sale at the weekend Paul and I headed over and got ourselves kitted out. With it's light weight but warm goose down filling I can tell that I am going to live and die in mine! So are we officially Hobartians now??

This little one also needed a winter coat. Disney Princesses for her! :o)

Day 18 - SOMETHING FREE

My new infinity scarf!! Ok so I'm not really sure whether this counts as free or not. It supposedly came free with a $10.95 copy of Harper's Bazaar magazine. But the magazine itself was one of those ones that seem to be solely made up of ads. So I would never in a million years spend that amount of money for such a rubbish magazine. But I figured that $10.95 for a scarf was a cheap buy. So did I buy the magazine or the scarf?? Either way I'm happy!

Day 17 - SOMETHING BLUE

So the first thing that I found that was blue was my lovely teapot that I bought for myself many years ago, and the sugar and milk set that was part of an engagement present. I love tea! I am a tea drinker. But unfortunately it has always been a quick tea bag deal. But now we're in Tassie I've been trying to do lots of new things so one of which is taking the time to make a pot of tea, slow down, and enjoy the process. I've also been inspired to do this by finding this lovely Tassie grown tea. Support local!!

Also, I was recently discussing collecting with a friend and we both decided that if we ever were to start collecting anything it would be teapots. I currently have two but don't have my own kitchen yet, so maybe it can be a slowly built collection in anticipation of it's permanent home :)