Spring Has Sprung!

Well, Spring has definitely sprung around here! I love to see the new leaves on the silver birch and liquidambar trees. The Manchurian pears are out in full blossom with new leaves just forming.

Charlie and the Lemon Scented Gum which two years ago was about 1m tall and it's trunk was only as thick as your finger - look at it now!!

Pear blossoms

Day 3 - Even More Country Bumpkins

Day 3 yesterday saw Farmer Phil and I doing even more touristy stuff in Sydney! A walk around Darling Harbour and a visit to the Powerhouse Museum were the order for the day. We really needed more time at the Powerhouse so we've pencilled in visiting there next time we're in Sydney.

Imagine me driving this tractor to put the crop in!!!

Or heading off to a bush fire in this rig!!!

The Zoo and Aquarium that we've visited on other trips to Sydney so no need to do it this time!

The Maritime Museum which we've visited before and found very interesting.

PS - We arrive home at 1pm this afternoon - so glad to be away from the cars, people and pollution of Sydney and back to our rolling hills, green paddocks, fresh air, and peace and quiet!!!

Day 2 - Country Bumpkins!!

Day 2 in Sydney yesterday saw Farmer Phil and I playing the typical tourists with visits to The Rocks, the Harbour Bridge and Sydney CBD. Emma had rehearsal the whole day at the Opera House so we had to keep ourselves occupied for the day.

Farmer Phil has a very good friend "Cookie" who he's know since his school days who works in the CBD in one of the business skyscrapers. As we were walking along George St at lunchtime (you can imagine how many people were on the street at that time), we thought "wouldn't it be funny if we ran into Cookie amongst this crowd". Guess what?? We did!!! How flukey is that!! We're having lunch with him today for a longer catch up.

Sydney Opera House

Luna Park

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Farmer Phil under the Harbour Bridge

Emma outside the Opera House after performing with the NSW Public Schools Choir

Day 1

There is only one word to describe Mary Poppins the Musical - sensational!!! From the superb acting, singing and dancing to the fabulous set designs it was truly a wonderful Australian production. So if you're in Sydney in the next few months it's a must see (or Brisbane at the end of 2011). Also the Capitol Theatre is a Sydney icon - just beautiful!
We visited Adriano Zumbo's patisserie at Rozelle.

And bought a 5-pack of his famous macarons - don't they look pretty!

Sydney Accommodation

We arrived at our Sydney accommodation at 9pm last night. We're staying in an apartment at the Hyde Park Inn in Elizabeth St - it's perfect. Emma has an all day rehearsal today so Farmer Phil and I will be putting in a day at the DFO at Homebush and then tonight we're off to see Mary Poppins.

The view of the ANZAC Memorial at Hyde Park from our balcony

Farmer Phil and Emma chilling

The kitchen in the apartment

4 Days in Sydney

Farmer Phil, Emma and I are currently driving to Sydney for 4 days for Emma to sing at the Opera House as part of the NSW Public Schools Choir. Emma was part of this event last year as well, so this year we know exactly where to go and where to stay, eat and be entertained! I've already pencilled in a trip to the DFO at Homebush, IKEA, Adriano Zumbo's patisserie (from Masterchef fame), and a theatre visit to see Mary Poppins!

I'll post some photos over the weekend as Farmer Phil and I are so up with technology that I can now use the laptop in the car or apartment hooked up to a wi-fi hotspot through the mobile phone! Wow, never thought I'd ever be able to do that! Don't really understand the technology but who cares - it works!!

Gotta Love a Country Show!!

Today was the annual Ganmain Show Day. It's a typical country show with a side show alley consisting of the Cha-Cha, dodgem cars and blow up play castle thingies! But Ganmain also has the added attractions of hay stack making, quick shear competition, sheaf tossing competition, famous Ganmain pie eating competition, yard dog trials and of course the Master, Junior Miss and Miss showgirl events.

Farmer Phil was asked to judge the quick shear compeition which is hilarious and quite ironic as we do not have a single sheep on our farm!! Farmer Phil absolutely hates working with sheep! At least the judging he had to do only consisted of timing each shearer and making sure that the sheep were shorn cleanly.

Emma and I went along to have a quick look through the pavillions to see all the chooks, sheep, baby farmyard animals, farm produce, wool fleeces, cooking, handicrafts and photography. It was a beautiful sunny day and the crowd was huge so that is fantastic for a small country town where they sometimes struggle to even put on a show each year.

Ag n Chat Metalwork Day

Yesterday I went to the monthly Ag n Chat meeting which was held at Jo's learning how to make metal flowers for the garden. It had rained 30mm overnight so we worked in very cold and damp conditions. My flower is held by Michelle - 3rd flower from the right. Click on the photo for a closer look and check out http://www.marraragnchat.blogspot.com/ for the full story and also what our group has been up to lately.

Getting to Know Me

Julia at Bushbelles asked to get to know some of her readers - here are my answers!!

Town or Country

Definitely country! We're off to Sydney for 4 nights this weekend and after the first day the novelty will have worn off!!

Music or Books

Love both - read every night in bed but sing to my hearts content alone in the car!

Perfect Day

A day out with friends, eating and drinking, and water skiing

Clooney or Pitt

Brad Pitt ♥

Romantic Hero or Action Hero

Romantic Hero - any actor in a rom com who sweeps the girl off her feet!

Prince Frederick or Prince William

Prince Frederick - he's a man's man and because he picked "our Mary"!

Princess Diana or Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge

Princess Diana

Heels or favourite winter boots

Boots - I have 4 pair of RM's and 3 pair of dressy boots (I'm too tall for high heels!)

Australian Stockman or Surfer

Definitely rugged Australian Stockman ♥

Chocolate or Coffee

Chocolate ♥ - can't stand the smell of coffee!

Great Shoes or Gorgeous Underwear

Love to look at pretty shoes - only two people get to see the undies!!

Pedicure, manicure or massage

Massage although I've never had one!

Rodeo's or Picnic Races

Only been to one rodeo and never been to picnics so can't decide (horse races are always on at busy farm times

Talk it out or keep it to yourself

Keep it to myself - don't want to burden people

Karaoke - first to sing, last to sing or absolutely-no-not-ever

Never really had the opportunity but dream of getting up on stage and singing to my hearts content

One Beauty Product that you would recommend or can't live without

Body Shop Shea Body Butter - yum!

One book you would recommend to anyone or that you love and can read over and over again
Loved Twilight series, Harry Potter series and anything by Rachael Treasure

Summer or winter

Summer - hate being cold and layered in clothing

One life-changing moment

The day I met Farmer Phil

Camping or 5 star

Love our annual summer camping holiday although we've graduated to a caravan now, but also love to stay in a nice 5 star hotel for the weekend

One movie that makes you cry everytime

The Notebook

One moment you would like to revisit if you could

The days before my dad died from lung/brain cancer - just didn't say the things I wanted to, although I'm sure dad knew what I was thinking

Favourite movie/song

Grease/The Notebook/Sweet Home Alabama/Love Actually - the list goes on.....

Have too many favourite songs - I have a mix of music on my iPod from classical to AC/DC

Who would play you in the movie of your life

Maybe Jennifer Aniston or Reece Witherspoon

Who would play the handsome hero in the movie of your life

Josh Hartnett - have you seen him in Pearl Harbour - YUM

How long have you known your oldest friend

Since I was 11 - we only had 2 years together at school but keep in contact even though we're in different countries

3 things you have yet to do

Travel overseas - Canada, New Zealand and Europe

Would also love to Trek the Kokoda Trail
Become a squillionaire!!

School days - happy or sad, good or bad memories

Happy, but just wish I hadn't been so shy!

What - or who - always makes you feel better on those more challenging days

Alone time just pottering around the house or reading blogs I love

Recommend a blog/website

Favourite blogs are Bushbelles of course, Ree at The Pioneer Woman, Fiona from Cattle, Kids and Chaos and The Itty, Bitty, Kitty Committee (I ♥ cats!)

Something you are passionate about now

Women in agriculture can do anything!
Happier now than you were at 20 - honestly

Happier - at 20 I was newly married with a small baby!

Describe yourself in one word only

Content

Words to live by

"Keep Calm and Carry On" World War II slogan from Great Britain - just get on with it!

What is the one thing you know for sure

Life goes on no matter what!

Busy, Busy Emma .........

Emma has had a busy first 2 weeks back at school. Last week she had a 3 day excursion to Sydney to see Mary Poppins - she said it was fantastic!

This week she was at the Riverina Choral Camp and the video of Emily, Emma and Courtney singing "Jar of Hearts" was recorded at the end of camp concert yesterday. I think all three girls did a fantastic job!

Now, this weekend Emma is at Morundah attending a Children's Workshop with Victoria Opera. She attended this weekend 18 months ago when they performed "Brundibar". This year the workshop is "A History of Music" so Emma should have an even better time as it's all singing!

So next week Emma will actually be at school for the whole 5 days!!!