Naracoorte Swimming Lake

Firstly - We Love This Place!

An hour and a half drive from us is the town of Naracoorte, just over the border in SA.

Last summer, on a stinking hot day, during a heat wave,

the boys and I could not stand to be cooped up inside with each other

for one more day - we needed to get out - desperately!

We decided on a day trip to the Naracoorte Caves, it would be nice and cool underground.
We asked Mrs Google about Naracoorte Swimming Pool, 

as we planned to pack a picnic lunch and check out their pool too.



An image came up of a beautiful lake, apparently, this was the town pool,

we expected mud, reeds, maybe a yabby nip on the toe and to look out for broken glass.

Boy - did we get a surprise

 This lake has a cement bottom, is chlorinated, the water is a lovely temperature,

it has a sandy beach, 2 pontoons, a safety fence,

lush green grass under shady gum tree's for picnics

Is right next to a caravan park, and walking distance to the CBD.

There is even a kiosk and clean change rooms.

AND ITS FREE - crazy I know

We loved our day there so much,

we packed up the next week too and took the husband over for a swim.

 About a week ago, I took the boys over for 3 nights.

We stayed in the caravan park with another family from here.

The caravan park is very well run, has a big new camp kitchen

(that has a bbq inside which is ridiculous

as it makes the lovely room fill with stinky bbq smoke and fumes),

 mini train rides, a basic mini golf a games room

and a great grassy area for a game of cricket

and its right next door to the lake,

 and the CBD is a 2 minute walk from the caravan park.

the weather was not as warm, but the kids did'nt care

It was not warm enough for me to go in this time,

very lucky to have a friend that went swimming with the boys each day :-)

We had a trip out to the Naracoorte Caves one morning

We flew the kite on the oval next door

We went on a 1 1/2 hour trail ride at Limestone Coast Horse Riding,

the boys really, really, really loved this activity,

(our groups seven years old did not ride)

the staff were great and very thorough in their pre ride lessons,

and the horses and equipment were in great condition

and looked to be very well looked after.

(I do know a thing or 2 about horses)

We will definitely be back

Last year when we went over on our day trips,

we spent the day at the pool, then had an early meal at the pub before driving home

This was the sunset as we were coming back into town

from one our our Naracoorte trips last year - a lovely way to end a great day

This is not a sponsored post for any of the above business's,

it's just going to be bloody hot this week in The Wimmera,

so wanted to share this great spot to spend a 40+ deg day!

Because, it seems not many locals know about it.

Let me know if you visit the lake this summer, might even see you there

Have a great week

Jacqueline.



I Made a Pencil Case

I sew a lot for my little shop,

but don't often get to make goodies for my boys.

When the firstborn's school pencil case burst at the seams

I decided to make a new one for him.

 

The back...

 

Has an extra pocket.

 

And the front.

He loves it, he's grade 5 this year,

so I always a worry about if he would still like things made by his mum.

No need to worry at this stage, he "gets" handmade,

and so far, is not fussed about the whole brand thing.

I'm very glad that he has the confidence to not have to

have/wear and be like everyone else.

He picked out his fabrics and watched it take shape,

then off to school it went.

 

Happy Boy

Happy Mum

 

Snack Container Lids

Like most mum's, I pack a lot of school lunches.

I send rubbish free lunch boxes,

I peel and core the fruit as our compost benefits from all those scraps,

rather than binning them at school   

 

 And, I wash a lot of school lunch containers.

The boys are very good at not leaving their containers at school,

but, somehow, the lids of the smash snack tubes do go missing.

I was going to buy some more, then wondered if I could just get the lid's,

rather than buying more containers.

 

I found them online at Bonzoo.

The lids were 50c each and even with postage, it was cheaper than buying new containers

 

The only thing was that the lids arrived in this huge box!

How can that be, it's just bloody ridiculous.

Anyway, I have my extra lids now, all ready for next term.

 

This is not a sponsored post,

just sharing the info in case you may have some missing lids too :)

 

Have a great weekend

Jacqueline



Easter Gift Bag Tutorial

I found a tutorial on how to make

this sweet little Easter Gift Bag and another beautiful sample here

and had the urge to make one today.

I printed off the template, and as I was cutting it out,

thought I might try making it out of brown paper

rather than the denim I had in mind.

So here is my paper version.

(The original in the above link on Merrilee's Blog is made of felt)

 

Trace the template onto a double thickness of brown paper,

but do not cut it out.

Sew along the traced line, stitching both pieces of paper together, 

but do not sew between the ears,

this is where you will put the goodies in.

 

Trim around the edge of the stitching, about 1/4 inch

You can see from this pic,

you could also just use a paper bag and cut out the ears at the top.

Add some fabric onto the ears,

I used heat n bond to adhere the fabric to the paper,

or you could use pretty paper or even washi tape

 

Find some treasure to put inside,

pop them in through the opening between the ears 

 

Flex the ears, so the curve towards the front,

gather up the paper and tie with some pretty twine

 

This project was easy and nice and quick,

the gift bag would also look great

made from coloured paper or baking paper

 

Have a great Easter

Jacqueline

Today, It's All About The Colour

 

That's the one red pumpkin Mr Coles

(apologies if you have already seen this on FB or Instagram)

 

 

I saw this in the Spotlight catalogue,

I bought some today for a little project I have in mind...

 

See you tomorrow

Jacqueline

Playing along with Blogtoberfest 2012

 

Remington Letter-Riter

 

 

 

 

 

 

I picked up this old treasure at the op shop last year for $5.

We get it out most school holidays

and everyone has a turn.

It's hours of entertainment for 3 boys,

they find it so fascinating, money well spent

 

See you tomorrow

Jacqueline.

 

Boardwalk Empire

 

I am loving this show, its on Saturday nights, so I'm usually home



 

 

I love the characters

 

 

The sets are amazing, story is great and the acting is wonderful

 

  

If you are sick of all the crap on the teev - give it a go,

SBS on Saturday nights 9:30

 

Have you been watching it?

Whats you favourite program to watch at the moment?

 

As you can see, I now have computer access again,

so my Blogtoberfest campaign will continue



Letters

This is a note I encouraged The Second Born to write a while ago.

A thankyou note after going to a party.

Did'nt take long.

Then a quick run across the road to the mail box to post it.

The last letter I recieved, was probably a few years ago,

it was from my grandmothers brother and his wife.

We met them back in the late 90's, when visiting Noosa.

We started writting to each other, it was lovely to recieve hand written mail. 

Do you write letters?

I should prompt the boys to write more letters, even just notes.

It really is a thing of the past, but so nice to recieve.

Jacqueline.

See you tomorrow for Blogtoberfest

Gumboot Garden

I don't think I have ever thrown out a pair of the boys gum boots.

They get passed from big boy, to middle boy, down to small boy.

Even when they get a split in the bottom, or the lining comes loose,

for some reason, they just stay in the shoe box on the verandah.

We have been busy preparing for a garage sale,

but I did not want the little boots sold, op shopped or tossed out.

Instead, during the holidays, I let the first born drill some holes in the bottom.

Then he filled them with some soil and compost

And planted some herbs and a few flowers.

So now we have a Boot Garden.

They make cute little plant pots,

there's still quite a few boots to be done,

he'll get to those another day.

See you tomorrow for Blogtoberfest

Jacqueline

Please Explain

I sneakily snapped this pic a few days ago.

Can anyone please explain this fashion statement?

Do your boy's wear their pants like this?

Maybe you are reading this and you wear your pants this way...

Is it comfortable to wear your pants like this?

Do you have to buy your pants a size smaller to wear them like this?

How do you actually keep them up?

Is there a secret code in the wearing of them a bit higher or lower?

At least the guy on the left has fun jocks on.

I don't wear my pants like this.

Will my boys wear their pants like this?

In the words of the delightful Mrs Brown...

I feckn hope not. 

Maybe I should have just asked

But I was too feckn chicken

Do you have any info on this trend?

Jacqueline

see you tomorrow for Blogtoberfest

Quiet Giant

This is a shot I capured at The Horsham Show today,

The eye of a beautiful Clydesdale.

Many years ago, I was very lucky to ride one regularly.

When I was younger, I spent some time living on Magnetic Island,

my job - which was hardly called work,

was to take tourists for horse rides,

through the rainforest and along the beach,

then take the tourists and their mounts into the water for a bareback swim.

The lodge had many horses, amongst them was Clyde,

a lovely gentle giant Clydesdale.

He was the favourite of all the staff,

he loved the water,

he was like a giant rocking horse when he was swimming

Here is the only pic I have of Clyde,

thats me riding him to round up the other horses in the morning

those were the days....

See you tomorrow for Blogtoberfest

Jacqueline.

Blogtoberfest

Here I am,

12 minutes late for the first day of Blogtoberfest

but it's still the first of the month somewhere.....

Jacqueline.

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