Creswick woolen mills

I did not know these existed which seems a bit strange as how we used to live not far from here, I guess it was before the internet was so widely used.

We were going to go back to Ballarat and go to Sovereign hill but it started to rain and it rained all morning so we had a very lazy morning,stayed in bed reading it was nice and warm and comfy.

As our water was empty and Warren had fixed it he put a bucket out to catch the rain and once that filled he then put it into the water tank, nice fresh water.

This was the entrance this afternoon, it stated $15 for the tour but they gave us one for nothing. I think they have quite a few Chinese bus loads and there were tables and chairs so maybe they give them a full tour and morning tea. Three of the girls were multilingual, speaking Malay, Cantonese and Mandarin. 

Eileen who had all four languages took on the start and then left us to look around, we enjoyed speaking with her in Chinese.

This was part of 100 metre picnic blanket that they made, the previous record holder was 49 metres. Afterwards it was cut into blanket pieces and given to charity.

This was one of the displays, it was very well set out with videos and hands on things to feel. Even though it is called Woolen mills, very few items are pure wool, mostly it is mixed with Alpaca wool to make it softer. None of the wool, sheep or alpaca is imported, all Australian. They do some possum in some items and that is imported from New Zealand.

We came away with some socks for Warren and a cardigan for me, his socks were on specail, buy four pairs and pay half price and mine was $19 marked down from $69 

Our Weekend Jaunt

After a few days of feeling blah! I requested that we go on a picnic. Just an aside, I cant think of the word picnic without being reminded of something I was told at the IT department the other week. I went with a student hoping that an adult presence would help to get the problem solved (it did!). The ID guy said to me that often IT problems are a PICNIC, standing for Problem In Chair Not In Computer, which is pretty funny only if they can fix the problem on the spot.

We drove to Mt Mee lookout and realised that it had been years since we have been there. The drive up is very pretty and the roads sign are all aimed at bikers as it is a well known loop for bikers to use on a day trip from Brisbane. Surprisingly we didn't see any on the road, the reason was evident when we pulled into the lookout, they were all parked there enjoying a coffee from the coffee van that is new since we have been there. Good business sense for the coffee van man.

This is from the lookout itself with the Glass House Mountains in the background.

The creek twists and turns.

When I suggested a picnic, my first thought was What have we got to take to eat? A forage in the freezer soon turned up, two muffins, a bacon and ham bread roll, some rice crackers and the rest of the garlic dip and then I cooked a couple of fish cakes that had been bought for one of those nights that I don't want to cook. A flask, coffee sugar and milk and we were well covered. 

It was cold up there thank goodness we had both taken jackets and we weren't the only ones in shorts and jackets.

One last photo from our picnic table, it doesn't show up as dark as it was getting. We turned for home before the rain came, we did have a few spots on the way home and it has been raining quite solidly for a couple of hours now. Glad we got our picnic in before it came and we do need the rain.

A winter picnic

Warren had gone to archery for a shoot on Sunday morning and I was reading some forums, one woman was asking for ideas for a picnic without needing to heat/cook anything while out. The picnic idea appealed to me as it was a nice sunny day  Didn't have much in the way of picnic food (I thought), raided the freezer for some frozen spring rolls, heated them in the oven and when heated through I wrapped them in some tin foil.

I made two small individual salads with some tinned meat, couple of cupcakes again from the freezer, couple of pieces of fruit and a flask of hot water. I found my choc/coffee mixture which is brilliant to take as the milk is already mixed in. Two cups wrapped in a couple of paper towel and it was all done.

Luckily Warren, is most times just happy to fall into my ideas. Next thing was where to go, he decided to check out a place on the way to tennis, its alongside the river off the road and reasonable quiet. Well, on a Sunday it wasn't that quiet as there were heaps of people fishing. We choose a place between the fishing groups, laid out our blanket, mixed the coffee and enjoyed our lunch and the sun. Forty minutes after we packed up and drove home after a restful hour or so.

Woody Point

Often we decide (usually me!) to go for a drive in our great state. Today Warren's choice was to go to Woody Point. I had made sausages rolls last night while dinner was cooking, I try to do at least two things in the oven at once. I packed some of the rolls, a sandwich, fruit for afters and a flask to make hot coffee/chocolate.

I love Jarra coffees the favorite is Swiss, which says it has "a hint of chocolate". After paying $6.75 for a small jar a few weeks ago, I had a go at making my own and this is what we use now. Cup of chocolate, coffee, sugar and powered milk, mix together, two teaspoons into a cup and fill with hot water. It makes a nice change from coffee, taste a little bit naughty and saves having to take milk on a trip like today.

 After lunch we walked along to the jetty and there was a wedding taking place, the footpath was just behind the ceremony so we made a detour, as they were saying their vows as we would have been behind them, not too good for photos! It was an enjoyable day out and only cost a bit of petrol to get there. Masses of little fish in the water and we amused ourselves by moving our arms and seeing them scatter in the water