Thistledown Country Cottage

In the days after Christmas it feels like the real holiday begins. The pace leading up to Christmas slackens and is followed by quiet days with simple plans. Dave joins us at home and the children all climb into bed for cuddles in the mornings. Our two year old notes with new surprise each morning that Dada isn't leaving for work. Later nights. Afternoon naps. Day trips and adventures to celebrate with family and friends. Bliss.

Yesterday we traveled to Mount Barney, in Queensland's Scenic Rim, to visit Dave's Mother for her birthday. She is staying at the lovely Thistledown Country Retreat. We enjoyed lunch with her (prawns and watermelon make such a wonderful combination), we wandered the grounds, fed the sheep, explored the kitchen garden and rose garden. We took in the beautiful old home, with it's chandeliered dining room and charming country kitchen. The rain came in gently and the first mist turned into a drizzle. The mountains were hung with clouds, obscuring their peaks. The birds sat dripping among the tree branches and wallabys' bounded picturesquely across lush green hills.

As we drove home and the children napped in the car, I felt the joy and happiness of the season in great measure. Wishing you days of beauty and connection with your loved ones as the year nears it's end.

Happy days

Some things become a family tradition without any planning or intention. They just sneak up on you. One day you may notice that you are repeating something which has meaning and brings happiness, as I did today. I realised one of those sneaky traditions is a visit each season to the botanical gardens at Mount Tamborine. When we want to wander and 'just be' as a family, we automatically drive up the mountain. 

Our last visit was a Summer day, the first of January. This time, as Autumn unfurls, I remembered to pack a picnic basket. Turkish bread with baby spinach, boiled eggs and ham, grapes, carrot sticks and homemade hommus, and a thermos of tea. There were eels and turtles in the water, competing for floating bread. The lake bare looking without it's cloak of water lillies. Leaves were turning and the ground was damp underfoot. And once more we wandered.

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PS. Don't forget to enter the High Tea Vintage bag giveaway. I am really enjoying reading the comments and can relate to many of them.

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Cohen and I took a trip to the mountain today to visit with friends. The drive through the country landscape was so welcome and refreshing. Driving out of suburbia it's as if the sky widens, the eye rests and a calm descends upon me. 

Cohen pointed and made animal noises as we drove. Wattle bloomed alongside the road. Paddocks were dotted with cattle. Horses stood between fence and mountain. And the warm tones of the grass, soil and gum trees reminded me of an Albert Namatjira painting.

Once arrived I was spoilt with scones fresh from the oven, warm conversation and the gift of children playing as we sat knitting and crocheting. It's the kind of day I hope to repeat quite soon. 

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It was a beautiful sunny day today, after weeks of rain, with predictions of more wet weather this coming week. We took advantage of the bright day to venture up the mountains and explore the Botanic Gardens of Mount Tamborine. Such a beautiful place to visit. I always feel so much more relaxed and at home in the mountains.

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Thanks to our wonderful friends who shared their home with us, so that we could enjoy a little mountain escape for the weekend. We had such a fantastic time and wandered from the mountains to the beach today, enjoying the cool breeze as we soaked up the sun.

I find weekends such as this just so refreshing.

Hope you had a great weekend too.

Mount Tamborine II...

We stopped in at two antique shops in Mount Tamborine, which you go straight past as you reach the top of the mountain. This would be by far my favorite antique store at the moment, Felicity's Vintage and Cafe (I cannot find a website). There is a funny little beer bar next door to drop the boys off at to give you time for a good wander.

The rooms of the house are used to display the collection of antiques, while the balcony is home to the cafe seating. There are so many lovely pieces here and if not to buy, then to admire. There were things that I recognised from my parents collections and others that I have at home, there were two jars half full of wooden spools and I picked out four reels to come home with me.

There were some lovely and pricier antiques in this store a couple of shops down the road. The front rooms of the house are filled with more serious antiques and then, strangely, the middle of the room is filled with shiny new handbags.

We drove home via Canungra and marveled at the views as we made our way back down the mountain.

All in all it was a lovely day in the mountains.

Mount Tamborine...

Rather than spend Labour day at the beach we decided to drive up Tamborine Mountain and take ourselves along the gallery walk. As luck would have it, at the top of the mountain we spotted signs for a craft fair and made our way there. Surely I was meant to go?!

We stopped for lunch nearby and I have to tell you, I was served a slice of salmonella in a wrap of undercooked chicken. I declined a replacement wrap and left $10 lighter, disappointed and still hungry.

Thank goodness for bakeries.

A lovely old cottage on top of the mountain.

The weather was beautiful and quite a crowd was gathered at the craft extravaganza. Dave was not very keen on looking at the craft and he and Cohen played in the leaves while I made my way into the hall.

There were teddies, sachets of lavender, pincushions and baskets, brooches, bags, beads and dolls, all with an old country feel. There were lovely older ladies ready to talk craft, children buying gifts for mothers day and men raising money for the rural fire brigade.

And lots of little tables displayed with handmade treasure.

From there we made our way to the antique shops. More photos to come.