I couldn't convince Mr T to come along to the Tesslar Tulip Festival again. As much as he didn't mind it last year, Bunnings was calling his name. So after the 1000 steps, and popping into a few nurseries, Mum and I spent a gorgeous spring day admiring the tulips and the pretty countryside of Monbulk.
Started with a hearty and healthy breakfast before climbing the 1000 steps at Ferntree Gully National Park. It's a workout! One that comes highly recommended and should definitely not be attempted with a hangover like I did last year (and failed miserably).
This, this is the ticket to my weekend. It will be punctuated by a bit of cycling, gardening and for the first time since May, enjoying double digit temperatures that start with a 2!
It's been years since I've been to Heide and I thoroughly enjoyed roaming through the gardens by the house, to the Yarra and beyond. I loved that it was a hub for Australian artists, but in staying there one had to contribute to the household chores, cooking and gardening. Most of the meals were prepared fresh from the garden. That's certainly something to aspire to.
It's been a long time since we've been out and about on a Sunday. It started with a pre-midday yum cha session with my family for Father's day. Then Mr T and I wandered the city; shopping and stopping in at the library for some inspiration, South Melbourne; for coffee supplies at St Ali and Albert Park; to spend fast expiring voucher at Wool baa. I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with new stash, but I'm sure it won't be long until I decide.
A wander through Fed Square's atrium turned up this gem as part of their Festival of light.
I first saw images of Donna Marcus' "Re-entry" over at The Design Files. I had to see the sculptures for myself. Aluminum kitchen ware has never looked so good as it hangs from The Atrium at Federation Square.
I couldn't help but make the most of being in the Botanic gardens. I need to add a visit in spring to my list of things to do. But just the short walk we took was enough to be privy to some gorgeous flora.
This garden is situated in the Royal Botanic Gardens at the top of Anderson st. Running regularly around 'the Tan' I watched this develop and was keen to check it out. It was a vision that started in 1876 and was only finished recently. It's a water reservoir that's surrounded by low-water use plants and is really quite striking.
After seeing Kick Ass (funnily inappropriate) on Saturday we opted for some high brow on Sunday. Enter the Ron Mueck exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. A thoroughly moving experience. The emotion he captures in his sculptures is palpable. The detail remarkable.
The weekend was near on perfect, it started Friday night with some late night shopping, seriously good dumplings at Hutong Dumpling Bar (Market Lane, Melbourne), an early Saturday morning run, a beautiful but relaxed Vineyard wedding, BBQ with friends and finally some Sunday cooking. I haven't cooked on a Sunday in what feels like forever, recently we've always been coming back late from the beach.
Just some of the colour from last night's Hawker Market (as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival) at the Queen Victoria Market. The tickets were part of Mr T's Christmas present. I bought them back in November, it's hard to fathom how quickly the time has passed.
Things are anything but grey around here. Melbourne is squeezing out the last few days of Summer in early Autumn. I'm enjoying it while it lasts.
Yesterday the weather played nice, so we headed into the city for Year of the Tiger celebrations. So did many others. The city was alive with drumming and the sound of fire crackers going off. We celebrated with plates of dumplings in China town.
I spent a satisfying afternoon in and around the city, making necessary purchases before the big trip. Without the accompaniment of Mr T, I had the luxury of stopping in at the State Library to check out the artists at this week's Craft Hatch. Then it was off to the Library's 'Til You Drop Shopping: A Melbourne History. Which was full of nostalgia, the old maroon Georges bag bought back a few memories.
The grey skies of this morning cleared and we headed to Williamstown for a stroll along the piers. We finished the day with Heston's Feasts. Currently my fave show on tv.
It's been six months since I've run by the river, I love what's appeared since I've been gone. Mentally the break has been good, physically it hurts like hell. But it's good to be back.
It's happening in my neighbourhood! I noticed this a couple of weeks ago, but only have I had time and weather cooperation today.
We have had November's average rainfall come down in one day. Today! After a record heat wave to start the month, it's almost gone full circle. The garden is soaked through and the water tank full. There's been a lot of time spent indoors. Plenty of crocheting been done and we've sorted out most of our trip through Vietnam. Just Japan to go.
Yesterday the heat was turned on. I spent a good part of the morning pottering in the garden, weeding, killing aphids, watering and mulching. Mr T and I then strolled through Footscray before landing on the banks of the Maribyrnong for afternoon tea. I'd picked up a red bean bun at the bakery and ate it while waiting for the race of the day. From our vantage point we could see the horses run clearly and almost hear the race call!
