A Special Gift

When we were in Glen Innes we visited the 

Knick-Knackery antique store. There were some ladies 

sitting out the front in the sun stitching, 

one of them being the owner. She was working 

on a doily quilt. We got chatting, as you do, 

and I mentioned that I love vintage linen and have

 been collecting doilies as I want to make a

 doily quilt myself one day. The owner got up and said

 she had something to show me. 

 

She went inside and came out with these 

three beautiful Irish linen tea towels.

They are quite large - 75cm x 54cm. 

(Sorry. I really should have given them a press!)

 

   The colour doesn't show up but 

they are a very pretty mint green. 

 

The owner (unfortunately I didn't get her name) 

was given these many years ago from a lady 

who had purchased them in 1945. At some point 

she had to go to hospital and unfortunately, got 

an infection and lost her sight. 

Hence she never got to do the embroidery.

I asked how much they were to buy. 

The lady told me that they were now mine. 

They weren't something she wanted to do but had 

hung on to them. She said one day the 

right person would come along 

who was meant to have them 

and that person was me!

It was so lovely of her to give them to me. 

She had never met me before but she knew 

I would love them. I plan to do the embroidery. 

Hopefully, the lady who originally purchased them 

will be looking down when I'm stitching 

and she will have a big smile.

I also wanted to share this gorgeous vase I bought

 at the antique store in Hartley Historic Village, NSW. 

"Miss Daffodil" is a Lefton ladies head vase 

from the 1950s and is about 5 inches tall. 

I just fell in love with her and 

had to bring her home.

Road Trip Rug #4

As you know I like to crochet in the car on 

our road trips as it's too bumpy to stitch.

Road trip rug #4 finished.

Onto road trip rug #5!

 When we were in Cairns, I bought some more wool

 as I knew I would finish the stripey rug along the way.

I did extra crocheting when we were 

relaxing as I had finished the

stitcheries I had taken to work on.

2025 Outback Queensland and NSW Road Trip (Part 2)

We separated. Different states that is! 

Australian Standing Stones at Glen Innes, NSW.

 

I couldn't find Jamie aka 

James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser 

from Outlander when we were in Scotland so 

thought I'd try again. No luck here either!

Big Golden Guitar, Country Music Wax Museum 

and National Guitar Museum, Tamworth.

 Australian Country Music Hall of Fame, Tamworth.

Crocheted yarn bombed guitar, Tamworth. 

 

 Pool of Reflection, 

Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

We spent the whole day here, finishing up with 

the Last Post Ceremony at the end of the day. 

 

 Roll of Honour, 

Australian War Memorial, Canberra. 

 

This is my Great Uncle Bert, Herbert James Meikle. 

I was able to find lots of information about him. 

The family always thought he died as a 

POW in Changi. He actually died as a POW 

working on the Burma Railway. 

Records showed he was missing for over a year and 

that must have been when he was sent to Burma.

 

One of two Changi Quilts,

 Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

 

The other Changi Quilt, 

Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

There was a Mr Squiggle and Friends exhibition 

at the National Museum of Australia, Canberra.

It was fabulous and brought back 

lots of childhood memories.

The Senate Chamber,

Parliament House, Canberra. 

Cape Conran Coastal Park 

near Marlo, Victoria.

Seven weeks and just under 10,000km later, 

we arrived back home.

We had a fabulous time and explored many lovely 

country towns (too many to mention). In the 7 weeks

 away we had blue sunny skies almost every day, 

albeit cold at times, with only 4 days of rain. 

One in Sydney, two days of light showers in Cairns 

and one day in Tamworth. I think we were very lucky.

 

I hope you've enjoyed a snapshot of our trip. 

On our travels, I was gifted something very special

which I will share that in another post.

Thought I'd share this photo.

Kade is now 5 months old! 

We certainly missed this little munchkin!

2025 Outback Queensland and NSW Road Trip (Part 1)

I've been MIA for a couple of months as 

we've been road tripping up the 

East coast of Australia to Cape Tribulation. 

First up we headed to Chiltern to see our 

niece Andrea at her Lulu and Didge 

50's inspired diner.

Then it was off to Sydney to visit 

another niece, Alisha, and her family. 

Next up was Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo.

Explored Lightning Ridge. 

 Went on an opal mine tour of the 

Chambers of the Black Hand and sculptures. 

  

Caught the Chicken Bus to the 

Royal Carrangarra Hotel in Tambo

 to attend the famous Ben's Chicken Races! 

It was such a fun night.

People bid on a chicken and if their chicken wins, 

they win half of the money pool. 

The other half goes to a charity to 

support children in the outback. 

I can't show you the actual race 

as it is too long for blogger.

After having a quick lunch stop at Longreach 

on our way back from the Kimberley last year, 

we knew we had to come back and 

spend a few days. We did three experiences with 

Outback Pioneers Longreach. 

Spent a morning at Nogo Sheep Station.

This is our host Jeremy. 

After touring around the station we 

enjoyed a stockmans saddlebag lunch.

Starlight's Cruise Experience. We went on a

 sunset paddlewheeler cruise. 

After a yummy stockmans 

meal of campfire stew followed by 

damper and golden syrup, 

we enjoyed listening to bush poetry.

Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience.

This was lots of fun, especially when they got 

the horses running.  

We finished up at the Old Time Tent Show 

and watched the 1958 movie 

"Smiley Gets A Gun".

Stockman's Hall of Fame.

  Qantas Founders Museum.

1890 Wellshot Hotel in the town of Ilfracombe.

Seats at the Wellshot Hotel.

Now you know why I wear dresses! Haha!

Historic Village Herberton.

Daintree Rainforest at Cape Tribulation.

We were lucky enough to spot 

a couple of wild cassowaries 

on the way back to the Daintree Ferry.

Snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef at Cairns.

Paranella Park at Mena Creek. 

It was Jose Paranella's dream to build a 

castle which he started in 1929.

The evening experience at Paranella Park.

Paranella Park.

We had some interesting campsites. 

This one was at Possom Park near Miles. 

You can stay in the plane.

Horse sculpture at Warwick.