Ok kids, this is the part where I tell you about my trip to Australia and you very politely try not to nod off. (Or, just skip it altogether!)
It’s so hard to even know where to start, but my trip sort of neatly divided itself into parts, so I’m going to follow it’s lead.
Some of you may remember that last fall, Kellie and her family visited the states and I met them in New York City for a few days and we had a blast. So, when Kellie invited me to come on their Australian vacation with them, it was an offer that was too hard to resist. I spent the first four days of my trip in Melbourne, seeing a few of the sights and just playing and having fun with Kellie and her family. I was also thrilled when it worked out that I was able to spend an afternoon and evening with Jan (who came to market with Kellie three times) and an hour or so with Kathy (who came to market with Kellie once). The best part of the trip was visiting and catching up! So, I’ll tell you about the Melbourne part of the trip first, and save the vacation, fabric stores, and food for another day.
Kellie picked me up from the airport in the morning and immediately took me to a super cute little garden center that had a tea shop. We had scones with jam and clotted cream and I was in heaven — I felt like I was back in the UK! Did I take any pictures? No. I was too busy rolling my eyes over the delicious mile-high scone!
We did see a kookaburra right away though. At least Kellie assured me that it was a kookaburra (and it sure looks like the ones on the internet) but I was skeptical. I mean, does that look like an old gum tree to you???
After our morning tea, Kellie took me to Williamstown where we walked around and saw some beautiful views of the harbor and Melbourne across the bay. We also had a delicious lunch of fish and chips while in Williamstown — fish and chips … scones … where am I???
I loved seeing all the houses — the architecture is so different from ours here in the midwest. The only thing I knew about houses in Australia is what I saw decades ago on The Thornbirds (ha!) so it was fun to see so many verandahs with fretwork.
The next day, we went fabric shopping and met up with Jan. Jan then took me on a whirlwind tour of downtown Melbourne. More confusion with the mother country — London style shopping arcades.
And c’mon — tell me this doesn’t look like a European pastry shop. Oh My!
Lots of fantastic artwork in downtown Melbourne. I didn’t get a lot of pictures — it was crowded and we were hustling. I did want to remember the flying pig and the one-eyed monster though.
The third day was a fun fabric excursion (more later) and on my last full day in Victoria, we left Melbourne for the country to see some animals. When Kellie asked me what I wanted to do while in Melbourne I jokingly said “Hold a Koala and see a kangaroo in the wild” (Yeah, yeah — you Aussies can make fun of me now!) My wish was her command, although the kangaroo in the wild part proved to be a little problematic.
Anyway, I have no idea where we went (I really should have paid attention), but we went to a small animal park somewhere out in the country. You’re not allowed to actually hold koalas in Victoria, but you can get close to them and pet them. The picture below is my very favorite, even though it’s blurry. (It’s a running joke with my camera — whenever someone offers to take a picture of me, the focus almost always ends up on the background. If you’re the person who took the pictures (and you know who you are LOL), in your defense, the others were in focus but I look much better blurry ;-D ).
Lots of kangaroos — even if they’re not in the wild.
And we think we have problems getting our kids to leave home. This little guy was really crowded in that pouch — no room for his feet in the house!
Is that an Australian Emu?
Because this is what Americans think of as an Emu. ;-P
And sheepies. Australian SHEEPIES!!!! Look how cute. That one in the front has a little curly top and the one in the back must be the male — he’s bald.
The scenery in the countryside was beautiful. Unfortunately I didn’t get very many pictures — I was always too busy talking.
And back to Melbourne — I’d had no idea it’s such a big city!
I know that doesn’t seem like a lot for four days, but there was a lot of fabric and talking tucked in there. More on those later. In the meantime, have a great weekend!
XOXO,
Anna
P.S. All you Aunt’s Quilt ladies should be starting to get your patterns in the mail. Use this week to gather your thoughts and fabrics and whatever else you need and we’ll get going in ten days or so. If you didn’t get a pattern and want one, don’t despair just yet — I still have a few that haven’t been claimed, so we’ll see what happens in the next few days.
Anna, I’m so envious. I’d love to visit Australia, it does look very European. Thank you for sharing your trip and I hope the jet is getting better. P.s., I love the picture of you.
I would love to see both Australia and New Zealand one day – lucky you – share more!! I love seeing vacation photos!
It’s wonderful to see where you went and your thoughts about Melbourne. I love Williamstown and the city arcades are fun to get lost in. Aren’t emus the funniest birds, not the ones that look like donkeys :)
Thanks for sharing “your” Melbourne, Anna. There’s always so much to see there and I’m pleased you enjoyed visiting. How great that you had Kellie to show you round, glad you met some of the other locals to ! I’m lucky enough to live in Ballarat, which is in Victoria’s historic and picturesque goldfields area and so close to beautiful countryside and to Melbourne too. I guess visiting Australia is a bit like visiting the USA in that they’re both big countries and take many hours (and many dollars!) to get to.
I live in Ballarat near Jan…and I thought your 4day wrap was very good. Melbourne is a great city. I’ve just been on school camp where we had kangaroos outside our windows each morning…just hanging about, even some with joeys in their pouch.
You’ve had so many fun adventures! Australia is on my list…as is New Zealand. Fun to see a pic of you too. You’re so cute, and you look way too young to have such grown up kids:)
I could have sent you the photos of my trip to Melbourne two years ago, and saved you the expense and the jet lag of going to take them yourself!!
Lovely post, Anna! I agree totally that Melbourne is a very European city, probably the most of all Australian cities. Glad you had to opportunity to get up close with the Australian wildlife as well as explore the city and surrounding.
Anna! I’ve been reading your blog for ages (years and years!) and I think that’s the first time I’ve seen a photo of you. How lovely to see you! :o)
Scones and fish and chips does sound very British. I don’t think they have our weather, though! Lucky them. :oD
Amazing! and fun! what a fun experience. Loved seeing the house and animals photos.
can’t wait to see more!
Looks amazing!!! Just love that picture of the shopping arcade…all those shops to explore!
I have the same problem when I hand my camera over to the DH… He always gets the background sharp and me blurry…I’m forever saying, “the square… the square…needs to be on my face!!” :)
I love it! I hope you gave Kellie my love!
I hope to see or email chat with you soon and hear even more about your trip!
(I’m loving the Auntie Quilt, too! So tempting!!!!)
You have just taken my dream trip! Love your pictures and can’t wait to see more! I received my Aunts’ Quilt pattern yesterday. So excited! I love it!
You werent too far from me when you were in Melbourne. Nice to hear that Kellie is still around as I havent seen much of her on the internet lately. Williamstown is gorgeous. The last time I was there was when we had fish and chips and visited the lovely Stitchery Blue store but it has moved to Ocean Grove now. Luckily you didnt hold the koala as apparently they have clamidia. Love to see your face too even though the photo is blurry!
What a wonderful time you had!!! I am so glad that you went and enjoyed it so very much! xx
Oh, Anna, your photos are so beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing with us a place I’d love to visit and probably never will. Ah, the joys of blogland! More, please!!!
We certainly live in a beautiful city! Thanks for the views Anna. I think you may have gone to Healesville Sanctuary for the Aussie animals.
Looks like the start to a wonderful trip! Can’t wait to read more! But welcome back to good ole Indiana!
Gosh! You’ve been a LONG way away! Glad you had such a lovely time. How exciting!
(I’m not quite finished my wee quilt because I did the binding before the quilting on the border, not trusting that the centre of the border pre-binding would be the same as the centre (of the narrow bit) of the border post-binding. Also I had a lot of quilting ends to sew in and yes, I know I should have done them at the time.)
I would love to do your quiltalong but could you delay it about 10 years till I get better at sewing?
Ha! At this stage of my life I prefer to be out of focus too! Sounds like a fantastic trip!
Love those cute verandas. They remind me of houses in the little town in northern CA where CA Girl lives!
Yes, out of focus is good! LOL At least I always thinks so when I am in the photo! looks like a very fun vacation and I love that you didn’t get lots of photos, you were there and enjoy it all for YOU as it should be.
I am totally ignoring your comment about the quilt a long. Nope! Although I have signed up for a Jen Kingwell BOM straight from Amitie…yes I have officially lost my mind.
Oooooh so very cool…..read every word, will wait for the next chapter, I want to get there one day and to have guides!!! Awesome!
Oooooh so very cool…..read every word, will wait for the next chapter, I want to get there one day and to have guides!!! Awesome!
Oh I’ve loved catching up and reading about your Australian adventure! Sorry I’ve been away so long xxx
So stunning! Love the photographs. What an amazing trip!