Birthday Weekend

Here are some pics from our weekend away!

We drove to the Hunter Valley, the wine country thats about 2 hours from where we live. On the way we went through a town called Kurri Kurri which happened to have a car show/ 50's festival going on so we decided to stop by and check things out. They had lots of cars, markets and dancing in the streets. It was fun!





We then went to a few wineries to do some wine tasting. Some were good, some were gross but we ended up with a few bottles to take home.





After the wineries we headed to our hotel. We stayed at a hotel that is part of the chain of hotels I work for so we got it cheaper than usual and all of our food half price! Love job perks :) The grounds surrounding the hotel were beautiful and full of kangaroos with their joeys.




The hotel Pool




The next morning we went to the Hunter Valley Gardens.



Part of the gardens is Story Book Gardens where there is many famous nursery rhymes made out of shrubs and statues. I decided to sit in the big red chair.




We had such a relaxing time away and I can't wait to do it again. Maybe we'll have to make it an annual occasion!

Lights Out

Just a friendly reminder that Earth Hour is this Saturday, March 31 from 830-930pm!!

Turn off your lights, get out the candles and enjoy an hour without technology :)

For us, it means an hour of cribbage and a glass of wine!

Happy Weekend Folks

Quarter of a Century

Well... I'm officially closer to 30 than I am to 20. That's probably a good thing!

Barney had to work on my birthday so Jessie and I spent the day together. I started by opening all my cards from family and friends. Thank you!!



After I slept in, I went into the lounge room to find a floor length mirror. I've wanted one for a while so Barney got me one!


Jessie and I went out to Boat Harbour for a walk and when we came home there was beautiful flowers waiting for me at the door! Barney's so thoughtful :)





Jessie and I at Boat Harbour. Not flattering much but at least we're both smiling big haha.



Barney came home from work so we walked Jessie again then went to see the Hunger Games. I was a little disappointed with the movie since I loved the books but it was still alright. The books are just so full of detail and intense it would be hard to put it in film.

Overall I had a great, relaxing day! The next day we headed to the Hunter Valley for a night but I'll save that for my next post!

Thank you for all of the birthday wishes. I've felt very loved!

Birthdays

I would like to wish everyone who is having a birthday in these few weeks a very Happy Birthday!! I know many people who are celebrating!

And in my family alone, my brother James, sis in law Heidi, my dad, and baby Serenity was born all within a week.

Not to mention many friends I grew up with as well.

Happy Birthday!!

Serenity Rae

My brother James and his wife Jocelyn have welcomed a daughter!

Serenity Rae was born March 15th, little sister to Judah.





I couldn't be more happy for them and I'm excited to meet her in August.

I love being an aunty :)

Growing

This my friend is a capsicum (pepper) growing in our veggie garden! It may be the size of my fingernail but at least something is growing.




I think its fair to say it's been a success. Our herbs are also thriving thanks to lots of rain and sun!

Camping

On Sunday afternoon, we decided to go camping so we headed into the sand dunes, just 15 minutes away. We also needed to 'bomb' our house for bugs so it was perfect timing. We need to bomb in order to keep the cockroaches and spiders out of the house. Lovely hey?


(Jessie was trying to eat the kindling)

We arrived and quickly set up camp. We walked Jessie down the beach than came back to start our fire. We had heaps of old shelving and other wooden things we no longer needed so they were used as fire wood.



We began to get dinner ready when we realized we didn't bring a frying pan for our propane stove, so we put dinner into some foil and chucked it on the fire. It turned out great! We drank a bottle of wine, watched the sun set and played some cribbage before retiring to our tent. Jessie didn't really like sleeping in the tent but we couldn't leave her out because of foxes who roam about.



I didn't sleep very well and woke up at 6am as you do camping. Thankfully, we got to see the sunrise and it was beautiful. We walked Jessie again before packing up and heading home. We actually saw a council ranger so we had to run away before he saw us since you are not allowed to have dogs off leash on the beach :)




15 minutes later we were back home. I like camping in the dunes because you feel far away from everything when you're really not.


(Jessie watching a man go by with his horse)


(Beautiful sunset)




(Sunrise!)


It was a great night away and good to relax and enjoy each others company without distractions of TV, computers or phones. Hopefully we can do it again soon!

Official Member

For the low price of $7, Barney and I are now official members of the Soldiers Point Bowling Club! I think I just aged 20 years.



The club consists of a restaurant, bar, mini casino and lawn bowls of course!

For your birthday, they give you a free drink, a free Keno ticket and a 15$ voucher in the restaurant. You can use it any day in the month of your birthday so last week we went for dinner. The membership has already paid off!

Us in a few decades:


I can't wait to practice bowling :)