Summer at last.........

It's been a while since my last post, so here's a post especially to welcome summer. Summer has arrived in all its beauty with a welcome burst of lovely warm days and clear blue skies. This weekend was especially wonderful - it even gave us a hot 30 degree day yesterday! So I hope you have also enjoyed a relaxing weekend.

Before I get to the events of this weekend I must tell you about my trip to the city last weekend! Last Sunday I travelled to Sydney to visit the Kirribilli Art & Design Markets. A long time favourite of mine the markets are held on the second Sunday of each month - for more information see here

I must confess I had a special reason to visit the markets to catch up with my lovely niece Merran & other family members. Merran was working on a stall selling a wonderful range of products created by the very talented Peta of Smitten. The girls did a roaring trade offering a lovely range of scented candles with a wide range of delicious scents to warm your home. I bought a Lemongrass & Sage scented candle and am enjoying the gentle spicey aroma. I recommend a visit to the Smitten website: Smitten - also check out the link to their blog for some delicious recipes. You can also visit the Smitten stall at the Mosman Markets on the first Saturday in October.



Peta & Merran and the gorgeous Smitten stall

Apart from visiting markets I continue to embrace the freedom of retirement and exploring the world of textiles and crafts. This weekend I enjoyed the company of friends for our inaugural sewing day and yesterday I delighted the senses with a visit to the annual Maitland Garden Ramble – but more about those events in my next post.

I hope you enjoy a creative week. Until the next post, K.... 

More than a hint of Spring.................

August has arrived & bought with it welcome hints of spring & summer! I found this winter really bleak with its many cold, wet & windy days, so the recent burst of glorious sunny days have been very welcome. Plants springing into flower have added to the feeling of summer just around the corner. Pansies are such happy little plants.............

 Today was another glorious sun drenched day, so I continued to explore the local area with a visit to Maitland Park, one of the oldest parks in Australia having been in use from the 1840's. Prior to its formation as a public park in the 1880's it was the site of a privately funded racecourse. A very interesting historical feature of the park is its 4 picnic copper boilers which were constructed in the early 1900's to cater for hundreds of picnickers who visited the park . On weekends and special occasions, the park caretaker fuelled the fires in the early morning ensuring there was a continuous supply of boiling water for making tea throughout the day.




Every park needs a rotunda!!





The Picnic Copper Boilers 




The Richard Alexander Young Memorial Drinking Fountain, circa early 1900's

The park is also home to number of memorials to soldiers and others, from the Maitland area, who contributed to wars, other conflicts and peace keeping activities from the Boer War to recent times. A great uncle of mine is remembered for his contributed to the Boer War. Family folk-lore has it that while Great Uncle Charlie contributed to the Boer War & World War 1 he was somewhat of a scoundrel and research indicates that he was discharged from both war services for a range of misdemeanors!! Every family needs a member with a "history" - if nothing else, its adds mystery & intrigue to family story telling......

The Boer War Memorial

Today the park has beautiful trees and gardens, thanks to the work of the local council and remains well used by local people & visitors. Its facilities include picnic areas, a well utilised children's play area and playing fields for sports such as netball, hockey and tennis.

Lets hope the early spring weather continues! Until the next patch, K.........