Small World

Isn't funny how somethings just jump out at us and prove just how small this world really is. When I first started writing my blog back in February 2009, I was writing just for me and didn't really think that anyone would really follow what I was saying. I had a couple of friends commenting and then one day I had a comment and follower that I didn't know. I was so thrilled to think that someone who didn't know me was taking the time to comment. This person was Darlene from Canada and she had also recently started her blog My Life for a Year. Since then we have connected via our blogs, through Facebook and emails. We have even sent each other gifts. Well yesterday it was my absolute pleasure to finally meet my friend Darlene. She is currently in Australia and staying with her friend Debbie in Ballarat. Between Debbie and I  we surprised Darlene with a visit to Daylesford. The three of us spent a lovely afternoon eating, talking and enjoying great company.  Thank you Darlene and Debbie for a great day and I am privileged to call you both my friends.

Darlene and Davine

Abundance

My "Medicine Wheel" theme for September has been "Abundance" and that is exactly how it has turned out. Every facet of my life this month has definitely been abundant. I have have had an abundance of work, even been offered another part time job. I have had an abundance of things to do. But the best part has been that I have had an abundance of "LOVE" in my life. I am now into my 4th month at Old Chilli Bed and Breakfast in Daylesford and I am really loving my time in the country. I can't believe I only have eight more months to go. But my intention was to make this twelve months for ME and that is exactly what I am doing. I am getting myself back into regular meditating, doing some walking and I am also getting lots of arty things completed.  As anyone who does any sort of craft knows you always have lots of things on the go and if your like me you will have lots of things half done. With that in mind that has been part of my mission - to finish all of my UFO's (unfinished objects). For someone who is a procrastinator that is a challenge.

It's Almost Spring in Daylesford.

It's Easy To See That It Is Almost Spring In Daylesford.

Playfulness from "Tiny Buddha"

This week I read this very appropriate post - "10 ways to make your life more playful" from "Tiny Buddha" and I just have to share it with you. It is so true that as we grow and become adults we either forget or feel all our childish playful activities are inappropriate!! Well might I say that is just plain and simply ridiculous. We all need to connect with that little child inside us every now and then. In my case I try to do it every day. Today I took myself of for a walk through the bush and to make it a bit more playful I pulled on my Gumboots and went a walking through the puddles. Yes I was like a little kid splashing in puddles. I would love to throw out a challenge to everyone to connect with that inner child at least once this week and let us know how your playful time was spent. Don't forget by leaving your comment you do will not only be bringing a bit of playfulness into your life but you will also have the chance of winning a piece of my jeweller. So come on lets have some fun this week.

Even the Kookaburras were having a laugh with me!!!

Every Man & his Dog

 With such a beautiful sunny day as we had today it was not surprising to see lots of people at the Daylesford Sunday Market. It was also a given that people would have their dogs out walking with them, but oh my goodness I have never seen so many dogs in all my life. Now don't get me wrong I do love dogs but at some points when there were a few dogs with their owners you couldn't walk past without stepping over a dog.
There were big dogs, little dogs, happy dogs, angry dogs - all sort of dogs.



Dog Day Afternoon at Daylesford Sunday Market

My Little Road Trip

Last week while in Daylesford I took myself on a little road trip. First stop was Creswick - I haven't been to this little town for years. When my son Shane was at Melbourne University doing Forestry he lived in Creswick as this is where their Forestry Campus is.

Creswick

Creswick was built on the proceeds of rich gold deposits mined from the 1850's, Creswick today proudly displays fine examples of the grand architecture so reminiscent of the era. A stroll down the main street will reveal a number of historic buildings including the former State Savings Bank, Post Office, Library, and Havilah Masonic Lodge.

Creswick

Talbot

Talbot was originally first born for servicing a mining population of over 15,000 during the 1850s, today only a few hundred people live in Talbot. The town retains a number of historic buildings from its prosperous gold mining days which can be observed by taking a stroll along Scandinavian Crescent in the heart of the town.

Talbot

Clunes

Clunes was the site of Victoria's first gold strike. It is located in a steep valley surrounded by rounded hills, which are actually extinct volcanoes (they can be best seen 3 km south along the road to Ballarat).
Clunes is one of the most intact 19th-century towns in the Central Goldfields, boasting numerous bluestone and brick buildings. Fraser St, the commercial centre, is wide and elegant, full of 19th-century shops with original store-fronts and distinctive verandas. Fraser St has been the setting for many films including 'Mad Max' and 'Ned Kelly'. The Djadja Wurrung people were the first inhabitants and these people occupied most of central Victoria. The words Djadja Wurrung defines the name of the tribe and the language they spoke. It is a combination of 'djadja' (yes) and 'wurrung' (speech). Being called the "yes people" suggests that the tribe were considered to be a friendly group of people.

Clunes

Maryborough

When Mark Twain visited Maryborough in the 1890s he described it as 'a railway station with a town attached'. The Maryborough Railway Station is a really a wonder to behold. It is huge and gracious: a vast 25-room edifice which is surely Maryborough's finest building.

Erected in 1890, it is a red-brick structure with plenty of stucco trimming for contrast. Highlights include the ornate clock tower, Flemish gables, massive portico, marble dressing tables in the women's toilets, some attractive wrought-iron work on the veranda, oak wall panels and the longest platform in Country Victoria.

Maryborough

My "F....." Week

No it's not what you think - but yes my week has been an "F" week. 

.

Farewell - Monday was the farewell day,as I dropped Shane of at Melbourne Airport

for his 10 days in Darwin.

Darwin Sunset

Friends - Tuesday I had lunch with some old and new Angel Friends.

These lunches are always so enriching. I always head on home on a bit of a high.

Family - Wednesday was very special as I had dinner with my beautiful

daughter Rachel and my gorgeous grandaughter Clare.

Clare

Fun - Wednesday was also time for some good old fun with Arch. My leg finally

felt good enough to head down the park with Arch to throw the ball around.

Arch loves his ball

Freeway Frenzy - Today (Thursday) my "F" experience was definitely freeway frenzy.

On the freeway I was driving along is currently having lots of road works happening

and there is no emergency lane and some poor person had broken down.

I always feel sorry for people who break down but oh my it did cause a bit of havoc.

Overdue Update

I have been so slack lately with updating my blog, although I have had a few things on. So what have I been up to since I last posted. I spent most of the week in Melbourne doing a bit of work at "Homing Instincts". I haven't worked there for about a month and Jennie has got lots of new groovy stuff in, so of course I ended up partially spending my wages. I have had the stitches taken out of my shin and the Dr was very pleased with the healing of the skin graft. For those who remember my posting about my allergic reaction that makes my throat/tongue swell, well I think I may have found out what it could be. I also had an appointment with the specialist last week and he also thinks I may have had a bit of  a breakthrough. I have always been a bit of a coke-aholic. I have always loved my diet coke and drank a lot. But I have not had any since April 10th and the allergic reactions have all but ceased. Apparently my body has decided to react to one of the additives. I really hope this is the problem. My next grand baby was also due last Friday, but he is way to cosy and doesn't want to emerge just yet. So hopefully sometime this week I will be able to share him will you all. I am now back in Daylesford  and have just spent a great weekend with some girlfriends who came up for the weekend - fun fun fun. So that's my recent adventures and now onto my life for another week.

Waiting for "Shaggy"

Well I Never!!

Back in Daylesford for the weekend, breakfast for my guests was all over so Shane and I decided to go for a drive to Castlemaine. Castlemaine was originally started in the gold rush days but a lot of employment now is farming and one of their main pests are foxes. As foxes are an introduced animal in Australia they can be very devastating to a paddock full of sheep. Driving along the road we came across something I have never seen before. Someone has had a busy day getting rid of their enemy and from their display they are pretty proud of themselves. ### Thats 35 times proud ###. Can you believe I didn't even have my camera with me - so I had to take this shot with my phone. Bit blurry because it was pretty windy and I was getting blown around.

Good Bye Castlemaine Foxes

Ouch !!!

Well I had my little skin cancer removed from my shin and unfortunately the skin was to taut to just be sewn together so the Dr's. had to do a skin graft. The process was performed while I had a local anesthetic ( would much rather have been put to sleep) although they did give me something to calm me down so I think I did sleep for a bit of the 40mins it took. I had two Dr's. working on me - one taking the piece of skin from my groin and the other removing the skin lesion. I felt pretty good yesterday after the operation but I think it might have been the drugs I was on because today my leg is quite sore. I have to keep my leg up as much as I can for about 5 days - bit hard when I run a Bed & Breakfast. I am so lucky I have a good friend -Vicki - coming up to Daylesford for a few days to help me out. But at least it is now over and I just have to deal with the next week until I head back to Outpatients and they do whatever they have to do. I am a bit of a wimp so I'm really not thinking of what they have to do.

Even though my poor old leg was hurting my heart was singing while I cuddled Clare - she needed a Granny cuddle as she had her 1st lot of immunisation needles today. She was so good and took it all beautifully.

Sore Leg

This morning in Daylesford it was once again a foggy, drizzly rainy start to Monday. I think I am probably going to experience quite a few of these sorts of mornings as we work our way through Winter. But I don't mind after all it is Winter. I am now back in Eltham tonight because I am having a small skin cancer removed from my shin tomorrow morning. It is only a small spot but as it is on my shin the Dr. may have to do a skin graft if the skin cannot be stretched enough. So this time tomorrow night I will know just how long I will have to keep my leg up. I am a little bit nervous - but all will be OK.

Daybreak in Daylesford

Those out there who have followed my blog know I love the beginning of a day, especially sunrise. When I have guests staying at "Old Chilli" I head down the street early to get the days newspaper and if it's market day I get some freshly baked bread. This morning when I headed down the street I was greeted not with a sunrise but lots of fog and drizzly rain. This didn't put a damper on my day at all - I love when it is foggy, almost as much as a beautiful sunrise. I always have loved fog, as a little girl I used to pretend I was in the middle of nowhere. Even as an adult fog gives me the feeling of being able to hide and it may sound strange but it also makes me feel cosy.

Our Little Bunny

I have just returned back to the country after having a couple of days in the city. The main thing I notice when I get back to Daylesford is just how quiet it is and the amazing show the stars put on when there is no cloud cover. I have had guests every weekend, so I am now quite comfortable getting breakfasts and doing all I have to do. The guests I have had have all been really nice and all comment on just how beautiful "Old Chilli B&B" is. I must say I agree with them, even though it was only built in 2001 it has been designed with lots of older features and there is lots of antique furniture, so you get the feeling it has been here for a lot more than 10 years.
I did have two wonderful days in Eltham looking after our new little angel Clare. She is a very good little lady and at almost 6 weeks she is starting to focus on your face. Here is a photo of her in her little bunny suit.

Olives !!!!!!!

Tonight's post is a request of help from me to you. This beautiful property here in Daylesford has lots of trees and plants I will eventually be able to get food from. Me being a city girl, I know I am going to have to be a bit of googling to find out the what, when and where of what I have. Now as I don't eat olives this produce is an interesting challenge. I have three olive trees and the fruit have now turned dark so I am thinking it it time to harvest and actually do something with them. I am intending on marinating them (don't know how!!) and giving them to my family, who do eat them. That's where I need your help - what do I do with these Olives ??????

My Three Olive Trees

Are these ready to be picked????

Garden Visitors

It is so wonderful going to sleep to the sound of frogs croaking to each other around the pond outside my bedroom window and then waking up of a morning to the sound of the many birds greeting each other good morning. I also have a few Crimson Rosella's that visit the garden and enjoy having a chew on the Quinces.

My Daylesford Family

As well as looking after Old Chilli B&B in Daylesford for the next 12 months I am also looking after "Arch" a very clever Kelpie X and two very beautiful Alpacas "Bilbo" and "Groucho".

Clever Arch

Beautiful Arch

Bilbo

Groucho

Farmers Market

I love markets, whether they be craft markets, fruit & veggie markets, clothes markets, trash & treasure markets or the Daylesford Farmers Market I went to on the weekend.

Daylesford Farmers Market

Beer

Vegetables

Honey

Back In Daylesford

Previously Old Chill B&B had only taken bookings for the weekends as the owners Tim & Brian both had full time jobs. I have continued that system for now but as of June 10th I will open up a few more week days as well. Luckily I am able to open and close days so I can still head back to Eltham if there is anything I need to do in Melbourne.

A Brief History of Daylesford

Gold was the main reason Daylesford was founded, but saw-milling and agriculture played a part after the easily won alluvial gold was exhausted. After 1865 local businessmen approached the Government and the development of Mineral Springs began to play a major part in the growth of the town as a tourist destination. These days Daylesford and the Hepburn Spring area draw many tourists to the area to not only experience the beauty of the area but also pamper themselves with the mineral springs and the many Spas, and massage and pampering businesses. During my time here I fully intend to pamper myself with a few massages too.

Daylesford ca1908

Back In Town

Wow it's Wednesday already - time just travels way to fast. So after my very enjoyable first few days in the country I am back in Eltham for a couple of days. On the morning I left Daylesford it was a very clear but chilly morning but that didn't deter the local ducks. As soon as they found a bit of sunshine they decided to have a feed on the grass.

Daylesford Ducks - Wood Ducks I think??

As I am dealing with food and people I have to get a certificate in food handling. So that what was on the agenda today. The four hour course was quite interesting and really a lot was just common sense. But now I am happy I have that little certificate and I can cross that job of my list. As the course was short and I was in the city, I decided to have a wander and just enjoy the sights and sounds of Melbourne.

Busker in Bourke St Mall

Some of the Buskers Audience

The Old Shot Tour in Melbourne Central

 The best thing about getting home was I get to catch up with my beautiful daughter Rachel and her beautiful daughter Clare.

Clare looks so tiny in the Port a Cot

Survived the Weekend

Well I have survived my first weekend in Daylesford. Old Chilli B&B only has two guest rooms, so it is not  an overwhelming job looking after the guests, preparing breakfast and cleaning the rooms. In fact looking after the guests is actually a pleasure - it's great meeting different people from different walks of life. When Tim & Brian designed and built "Old Chilli" in 2001, they made it so the two rooms are separate from the main house and the guests have their own entry and door out onto the balcony. They really only have to come into the house to have breakfast. So the guests can have as much privacy as they want - yet they have me around to answer any questions they might have. As well as looking after the B&B for 12 months I am also looking after "Arch" the family dog and the two Alpacas "Bilbo" & "Groucho". So as you can see my life for next 12 months is going to be a little different than my norm.

Old Chilli Dining Room

Even though I do love being here but I am missing our new little angel "Clare",
but I will see her on Tuesday.