Picnic by the River

We've been having such a lovely, busy time with the cousins that until now we hadn't ventured farther afield than Grandma's house. Today, however, we put together a picnic and took the children down to one of our favourite local spots: the little river.

There were sausages and buns, biscuits, popcorn, turkey and rice cakes, and leftover barbecue.

But, as always, the highlight was pottering about in the warm, shallow water. We even saw two little eels glide by!

The boys built rock dams, sailed little boats down to the newly built 'harbour', climbed the dirt banks, and went adventuring along the little dirt paths that wend through the surrounding bushland.

Then home to Grandma's for tea and a chance to play in Maggie and Robin's new tent, which is set up for a trial run before they set off on a camping adventure tomorrow.

Lunchtime BBQ

A perfect day for outdoor dining.

A summer lunchtime BBQ with visiting friends and family: rosemary marinated lamb chops, three types of salad, warm rolls and melting butter.

Busy children fill the day with a walk around the garden, collecting eggs, a swim and digging in the sandpit.

Then the attack and wholesale destruction of the gingerbread houses!

The Year That Was

Steamy January brought us:

New Year with the extended family.

Our first dozen eggs.

Fun at the Country Show.

Wet February brought us:

Torrential rain turns the Valley into a lake.

Baking for Valentine's Day.

Evenings at the beach.

Autumnal March brought us:

Preparing for preschool.

Autumn days begin.

Boo swims without floats.

Easter with family and friends.

Our baby turns three.

April brought us:
Cousins on holiday.
Autumn beauty.

The smell of bread baking.

Dark May brought us:

Sunrise on our Tasmanian family holiday.

Autumn cosiness.

Cold morning dew.

Boo learns to ride.

June brought us:

Fishing on the wharf with "the big boys".

The first daffodils.

Morning walk.

Frost rimes the leaves.

July brought us: Boo's new preschool building:

Spiderman at sea.

A visit to the Buddhist temple.

Magnolias in bloom.

August brought us:

First dentist visit.A trip to big town's acquarium.

Rory turns 6.

September brought us:

Opera in the Valley.

Time at the beach with cousins.

October brought us:

Three little Indian braves.

Pink flounces of cherry blossom.

Boo swims his first lap and earns a dollar from Granny.

A holiday in Vanuatu.

November brought us:

A visit to the rose show.

A ladies-only trip to Tassie.

Kilos of homegrown potatoes.

A cheesemaking weekend.

Merry December brought us:A house wreathed in roses.

Haystacks in the fields.

Christmas trees with beaded stars.

Gingerbread houses.

Christmas Day with family and friends.