Bush walk

Yesterday Mum, my sister, my niece and I took our dogs for a walk in the bush.

It was a fire trail in a local water catchment area.

It drizzled almost the entire time.

Great patterns wherever I looked.

Gus and Molly haven't always been very good friends but they behaved surprisingly well yesterday. Not one argument.

Look at this monster that emerged from the big puddle of water.

My little niece picking flowers. She enjoyed jumping in the puddles too.

Some sort of heath flower. I brought a bit home too.

Wherever there's a picture of Molly there's generally a stick as well.

I had to put this dirty, wet creature in my car and bring her home. Yuck. 

So long as Molly has fun, that's the main thing.

It's so grey and miserable outside it looks like a good day for some housework (hmmph) and some craftiness.

How about The Block last night? The girls just missed out. I really liked their kitchen with that fab big table. I love a big kitchen table. Gosh, Josh and Jenna improved their rooms from last week. A good effort. I'm wondering what the heck I'm going to watch when this has all finished?

Have a lovely week friends!

xx

A Sunday walk

Lyndon, Molly and I went for a wander down to the creek this afternoon. Molly gets so excited if anyone says the "w" word.

It's nice for her to be able to run around off the lead.

Look at that happy face! Isn't my girl adorable?

The creek must have been freezing, but Molly went in anyway. It is very difficult to keep her out of water.

Shaking the water off. Not the most flattering photo!

Her legs look very skinny when they're wet. We always have a chuckle at her expense when she looks like this.

We walked past some really interesting old properties on our way home. I'd love to have a snoop. I'm sure they could tell some great stories.

I hope you all had a nice weekend too. Did you do anything fun? 

Looks like fish and chips for dinner and a relax in front of the fire watching Downton Abbey on tv. Do you watch it? I adore the dresses they wear :)

xx

More Newcastle sights - a wander around the cliffs

Last Saturday I went for a wander around Newcastle. I walked up around the cliffs. I have to say, I found a lot of it really very spooky. This is the Shepherd's Hill fort area. It was a battery last century, high on Cooks Hill. I believe it had a big gun, but that's no longer there.

From here I wandered down around the cliff and noticed all these flowers attached to the guard fence.

I thought they were beautiful and I have to admit I very naively thought these were memorials to family who's ashes had been scattered at this very picturesque spot.

It wasn't until I had taken some photos that I read some of the plaques and realised they were memorials to people who had taken their own lives at this spot. This gave me the chills. 

I thought maybe I shouldn't post about it but have to say I was amazed at my naivety!

The energy of this place really got to me.

From here I kept wandering North down the cliff to a spot called Bogey Hole.

The Heritage Council of NSW says ... "a surviving example of construction from the days of the earliest European settlement in Newcastle, the Bogey Hole is a convict-built baths hewn out of a rock face for the personal use of Major James Morisset, a notable military figure from the early period of European settlement in Australia. Built in 1819, this place is the first recorded European purpose-built ocean pool on the NSW coast".

The waves were crashing and the sun was going down and I have to say, I found this spot very gloomy. There were a couple of bunches of teenagers swimming and climbing around on the rocks, despite all the warning signs. I believe the local council are talking about closing the spot due to the dangers.

I'm sure it's beautiful on a calm day.

Can you imagine how difficult it would be to build it? I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

I just realised it's Friday and I'll feel bad if I don't post a flower for you.

I'll have to go out into the garden and see what's survived all the heavy rain over the last few days.

xx

Local discoveries

We went walking the other day and I discovered a lovely little spot only a few minutes walk from our home. It is Molly's new favourite place.

Sh just had to get in the rivulet to cool off. She looks tiny in the pic above, but in fact, that is one huge tree stump.

A lovely spot :)

We also wandered around a few streets I had not ventured down and found gorgeous old buildings.

Beautiful roses growing on rusty fences.

Old brick walls with shards of glass concreted in the top as a deterrent.

Wonder what's behind that old door?

There used to be a race course nearby here in the old days and we thought these may have been part of the stable area.

I had to stop every few minutes to smell all the amazing rose blooms. The roses are doing so well this year down our way. I have to admit, I love walking so I can get a close-up look at all the plants in people's gardens :)

Big yay for Friday! Feels like a long week but at least I have this weekend off to get some jobs done.

 Have a good one friends! xx