the lighter side of

{death}. Don't worry this isn't like my last post on {death}.

While we were away, we stopped in at a lovely little township (3 or so shops, is that a township? a village? a group of shops?) called Newrybar. It was about 15 mins from the place we were staying. A beautiful drive along country roads. 

'It's all good stuff. Old is beautiful'. 

Makes me feel better about having passed another birthday.

The cafe,  Harvest, was delicious and a beautiful setting.

And then, across the road was a very interesting looking antique shop. Look at all those chairs lined up. I do wish we'd had space in our car to bring something home. But, you know, four people do need a whole car boot-ful of things for only three nights away!

 We brought home that purple glass old electricity topper thing. To add to our collection of 

electricity topped things that we have. What are they called, anyone know?

Country House Antiques is a quirky looking antique shop with so many perfectly little styled little corners. 

And what about the signs. 

This is where the {death} comes in. 'Dead People's Stuff Now On Sale'

'Antiques Made Daily'. Doesn't that make you look at your surroundings just that bit closer. The things you take for daily granted are the things that in two generations will be 'antiques'.  (Like this computer I'm using, and you're using - I do suppose. Or the sewing machine you'll sitting at sometime this weekend).

The flower arrangements were very pretty. Old fashioned camellias picked from the garden, presented in a sort of modern way. Against the corrogated tin walls.

This is a very homely, friendly place. The kids loved it, and the lady who owned the place chatted happily to them and us. I never once felt like the kids were 'unwelcome' as can often happen at somewhere with so many fragile things. 

In fact, I think the whole trip away was like that. Most everywhere we went people were friendly, and chatted to our kids. I did love watching them chat back, interact in conversation. It's so great to see Ari growing into someone who can stand strongly on his own two feet, and doesn't need us to assist him in every single aspect of life.

the light at the end

The final day of our holiday was the best, I think. 

The most relaxing - the kids + Sam / me all a bit wound down from our previous tension moments. {Loosing the car keys while packing the car may have helped. I found the final walk up the hill to be particularly breath-taking - in many ways; beautiful and a big hill to walk up!}

We stopped off at Byron Bay. One of the most visited places in the whole of Australia. (I imagine, not going to bother looking for stats or anything. It really is a big draw card for International and National tourists. Photos will show you the reasons).

We checked out all the skate-type shops in town. Which really were just surf and street wear with a few out-of-date skate boards hanging off the wall.

There were two interesting shops - but no photos as I always feel too self conscious photographing people's shops. Same thing for the quirky, trendy, tasty sushi train. I'd say it's the best looking sushi train I've ever been in. Really modern, yet with beautiful traditional Japanese aspects as well. And the vegetarian plates were clearly labeled - which always makes it much easier to try new things.

Then we headed up to the beautiful, landmark Byron Lighthouse.

The lighthouse keepers buildings date from 1901. 

We missed the tour to walk up the lighthouse by about 45mins (which Ari says wouldn't have happened had we not gone to all those boring shops). But we had a wonderful look around. 

The weather was perfect - look at those clouds. The light shinning on the water was divine - it simply couldn't be captured in all it's gloriousness in photos. 

Friendly people to chat with and smile at. Japanese tourists wanting to take our photo - they said we looked like a lovely family. What do you think?

The little museum inside the lighthouse was really interesting. Collections and old things. Lots of blown bulbs and maps. And this fantastic shelf of flags all folded. I wanted to unfold them all, and look at the great fabric.

*For those of you non-Aussies :: Byron Bay is the most easterly point of Australia. It gets the first light - well actually Mount Warning near Murwillumbah does. Byron is a thriving, bustling town. I spent many wonderful memories there as a child with my (extended) family, and haven't been for years. The beaches are some of the best in - dare I say it - the world. This is my thought anyway; though of course I admit I haven't trialed that many worldly beaches. They really are beautiful waters, none-the-less. 

Dolphin + whale spotting is a regular activity, depending on the day or time of year.

The lighthouse still shines every night, to warn passing boats of the perils of the rocks along the coast.

in case you forgot... tomorrow is mother's day

Some Mother's Day love :: ideas.
(in case you happen to read this Sam*, I don't mind if it arrives in the post a tab bit late)."embossed Japanese print silk scarf" by Green Olive Designs; available here. Martine is from Melbourne, Australia.
"count me the stars" by Kylie Johnson - available here. Brisbane, Australia."bird pendant necklace" by That Vintage; available here. Tasmania, Australia.
"linen golden halter with buttons at the back" by BlueSeaBlue ; available here. Brisbane, Australia.
"round shoulder tote rust" by Textilis; available here. Brisbane, Australia.
"snow walker" by Flying Star Toys; available here. Florence Forrest is from Brisbane, Australia.
"flat white eco shopping bag with hemp lining" by WheresBeckyBean; available here. Bec and Jade are from Brisbane, Australia.

Alright I could go on and on. And, really - these are things I want. I'm sure my mum would have loved to receive anything from this list, and even my mother-in-law would be happy with some.
So - breakfast in bed, the dishes done, a beautiful card and a big sloppy kiss, or a phone call to your far-away mother (grandmother, sisters, aunts...).

*Sam does not, ever read this blog; except over my shoulder while I'm writing it occassionally. So, really I know that none of these things are actually going to arrive in the post, unless I treat myself (which happens even less occassionally......).
** all photos sourced from each designer's site.

the long drive :: part 1 :: brown and dry

brown and dry stretched out.
hills that look the same,
but each one so different.
trees that pop up out of the brown, dusty ground.
blue endless sky, puffy clouds.
making me think of Russell Drysdale
or Fred Williams.
stretches of straight long road.
and, surprisingly, lots of talking and drawing and laughing and sleeping (and minimal whinging) from the two little ones in the back.





And the devastating fire remains, when we came into the outskirts of Melbourne.

Thanks to Pip over at Meet me at Mike's for hosting a words & pictures : long drive theme. Perfect nudge for me to show you the spectacular Australian landscape we experienced while driving from Brisbane to Melbourne and back again this past month.Most of these photos were taken while the car was moving - so some of them have that moody feel about them.