A camping we will go...

My extended family goes camping regularly - at the beach over summer and in the country hills in autumn over Easter.  It has been a constant in my life and one of my great joys.

Since 2010, when I made a deliberate decision to live a life full of happiness and adventuring, 'GO CAMPING' has stayed at the top of my various to-do and dream lists.

I know tents and hole-in-ground loos are not for everyone.  But you can also camp in huts and cabins and chalets and modernist boxes in forests.  For me, 'camping' and the urge to constantly do it has become more than falling asleep in a contraption made from poles and canvas (which I love like nothing else); it is about welcoming a different space - involving deeper breathing, an open mind and an adventuring heart.  It's travelling to somewhere different to your home and surrounding yourself with nature.

I find it bemusing how much hunting, fishing, canoeing, adventuring, mountaineering etcetera have become the latest 'thing' when, for country people, they are quite literally a daily reality.  But I also just love it, because the logos and designs and endless photographs of hills and streams and mountains are so freaking rad. And I'm a sucker for that and movies like Moonrise Kingdom just make my little heart swell and my chest puff out with pride and excitement.  Whether it's aspiration or inspiration or complete fantasy, I don't care - as long as more people make it out of the city streets and into the country hills then it doesn't matter what inspired them to do it.

I'm off to the High Country today to begin my slow breathing/adventuring sojourn.  I can't wait to pack up my little car on the weekends and head for the hills.  A camping we will go, a camping we will go!

Wilson's Prom.

I've been going through some pics that I hadn't had a chance to download and file including this little batch.  I went hiking in Wilson's Promontory on the southeastern tip of Australia in April and it is one of the most beautiful places in the country; just utterly stunning.

My dear friend Loz (in the top pic) and I dreamt up plans for sailing in and day-hiking. For 'one day' but a real one day, not an imaginary one day.

BBQ Days.

I love special Saturdays with special friends. It's been a bit of a mad month, as I'm sure you could tell from my radio silence.

So, a country adventure at Ro and Kate's place was such and exciting and terrific prospect, and reality, made even more special when the stupidly-talented Tom captured our fun on his iPhone. Gawd, I need to learn this kind of stuff, stat!!

Oh, and check out just how stupidly-talented Tom is...click here below to hear his first single.

Red Weekends.

I popped home to the farm for the weekend. And, man, it was all about trees and leaves. Gosh, the colours were so amazing. Yellows and greens and reds - EVERYWHERE my wee eyes looked.

But it was that minx, red, that stole the show. Mum proudly boasted about her beautiful red rose (the last of the season apparently) while Dad found a fairy mushroom hiding at the bottom of the garden.

I spent the weekend reading health books searching for various nuggets of inspiration for my current detox and taking pics of my antiques which will be ready to sell SOON!

xoxo
ps - that is our giant oak in the middle pic - it turns 100 this year!

Hall Homes.

Oh, Sunday. It's here. I've had such a glorious weekend.

Yesterday, I was up super-early to go over adventuring north of Melbourne. I met up with my terrific parents at an antique market in a wee spot called Tolmie where we wandered about before heading to Mansfield for a picnic lunch.

Then, on my way back home, I quite literally did a crazy skidding-off-road move when I spotted these two gems hidden behind some beautiful trees.

They were right next door to each other, and both obviously loved by someone. I wish they were loved by Frances of course. I was imagining myself in the blue-doored one with dear friends in the green-y neighbour and the parties we would hold in the compound. Oh, the fun we would have.

I hope you too made some random discoveries on your adventures this weekend.

Butterland.

I'm still reliving the magic of the weekend. Here are some more pics of Butterland - Greg + Katie's paradise in regional Victoria which they generously opened up for Passata Day.

I hope the week is starting well for you my dears!

Tiny Town Fete.

Hello loves. Golly gosh, I have been a slack little writer haven't I? I'm sorry. Do you forgive me? I hope so. I've been buuuusy!

So, my hometown fete was a great success last weekend. It looked and felt just how I wanted it to; well worth the severe lack of sleep and brainpower!

Most importantly though I had some insanely beautiful friends make the long journey to my small town to get involved, hang out and just be wonderful.

One such friend was blog superstar Whole Larder Love who took these gorgeous shots and posted about the little town. His post is well worth a look!

Gold Rush.

I was going to post about Beechworth, a beautiful little town in North East Victoria, a few weeks ago but I...just didn't. And I'm glad I waited as I visited again today and got some new shots that I'd missed last time. 

I grew up only a half hour away from this little gem of a town and it was always the place to take visitors who wanted to feel like a tourist.

Beechworth is most well known as a gold-rush town and for its jail where Ned Kelly was once incarcerated. The town is still steeped in history; you do feel as though you've stepped back in time while strolling the streets.

Today I visited some of my favourite spots - homewares/gift shops Frances Pilley, The Growing Suitcase and Salisbury and Maude. I bought some fresh almonds from the greengrocer (pictured above) and a beautiful little oil burner for the ladypad from Divine Linen.

I also had one of my favourite food-treats, a cheesy caulioccoli pie from the Beechworth Bakery and my fellow road-tripper, Laura, bought a snickerdoodle for the car ride back to Melbourne.

And there was even a shop for lease with a little apartment at the back...sigh. Another day, maybe.

For some expert tips on what to see and do in and around Beechworth, click here for a guide recently put together by Melbourne's Broadsheet.