Come on a journey of inspiration & adventure while renovate & restore a beautiful Victorian home 'St Elmo' in the picturesque Hunter Valley, Australia & laugh at a few of our family adventures along the way.




Monday, June 20, 2011

Dedication

Dream child No. 4 is a huge book worm, in fact if she is not reading, she is drawing & should I add singing whilst she is drawing!!!
She REFUSES to go to bed at night unless she is read at least one story


Sometimes though even after the lights are out she likes to gather some books & read a little more, in her own special 4 year old way.... lucky she has a big bed!!!

I guess tonight she was a little tired!!
(she is sound asleep in this picture)

How about you, do you enjoy a good bed time story?

CHEERS
Trish xxx


Monday, June 13, 2011

Fabulous colour scheme

Heather Garrett Design contemporary living room

Im really loving this colour scheme at the moment. This lounge or sitting room has so many features I would love for my own home...

Heather Garrett Design contemporary living room

I dream of a fireplace & a tufted ottoman, love the round mirror & the patterned cushions.
I still have plans of attempting to make a tufted ottoman, BUT, haven't decided if it should be rectangle like the one in this image, or square(900x900mm)

 I am generally a girl that paints my house a warm white right through, but I am considering adding some drama into the more formal areas with the use of a darker grey, perhaps not quite as dark as this as Im not THAT daring, unfortunately.

I also love the drum pendant light, I wonder how it looks close up?

The weather has been rather miserable here this weekend, so I have had plenty of blog reading time which has been fabulous.
Unfortunately blogger hasn't always allowed me to comment.
I just wanted to let you know I have dropped by to visit. I have been inspired by so much creativity, Ive learnt from some fabulous tutorials & chuckled at some fun stories of your weekend adventures & thoriughly enjoyed the beautiful images you have all displayed.
Hopefully these commenting issues will be ironed out soon. I am now trying to learn how to navigate the new changes to my dashboard.
Have you been converted to the new blogger or are you still enjoying the old system?

Have a tremendous week everyone!!

CHEERS
Trish xxx





 


Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Progress at last


Progress at last on the dream house front, WOOO HOOO!!!!

We actually sat down with an architect yesterday to get some plans drawn up for the dream house.This will take a couple of weeks for the first draft.
We will go through the process of plans & development application to council & hopefully by this stage we will have one or two properties sold & be able to begin building.
We will be going owner builder so it will all happen slowly but from cost estimates so far it looks like we will save approx 30%  on what the two different builders quoted price.



I thought I would leave you with a little eye candy as well....Dont you just love this gorgeous room...the rug...those cushions...Oh I love it all!!!!

CHEERS
Trish xxx

Friday, June 3, 2011

Bloggy manners

You know even though I am a crazy obsessed blogger, I really don't have very good computer skills.
I love when I receive an email after leaving a comment on someones latest post, I don't know about you, but, this really does make me feel wanted & that my time & interest have been appreciated.


Image via Apartment Therapy

Now I didn't know how to do this without making it a labor intensive task & lets face it, I want to read everyone's posts, not spend forever tracking down email addresses, then ....
along comes the very clever Jane over at
Mind you, Jane posted this fabulous tutorial back in February & I have only just gotten around to implementing it.
SO from here on in I  can have lovely bloggy manners & shoot you back a little email, answering any questions you may have & returning the luuuurrrrrve!!!!!



Image via Mark Burstyn Photography

Thank you Thank you Thank you Jane, these flowers are for you because I know life at Planet baby is preeeeetttttty hectic right now!!!

Jane has a fabulous blog telling of her adventures with her 3 beautiful pixies in Tasmania Australia, she inspires, educates & brings us readers lots of smiles with her wonderfully honest & witty posts,if your not already a planetarium you will be after your first visit.



I cant remember where I got this image from but I thought a giant clock was a great representation of how I take my sweet time getting around to things, LOL!!!

So are you using follow up emails for the lovely readers that leave comments?

Do you think its good bloggy manners or it doesn't bother you either way?

I'd love to hear what you think!

CHEERS
Trish xxx

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

A trip to the Red Centre

The dream guy & I had an amazing time at Uluru (Ayers Rock)


This is Uluru at sunset.
It really is a magical place, you can watch it change colours throughout the day, but the changes are dramatic at sunrise & sunset!


Sunrise at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park


Sunrise, the sky was incredible



Kata Tjuta at sunrise

Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) has 36 domes & looks so different depending on where you are at, but like Uluru it changes colours before your very eyes



Kata Tjuta at sunset


Also Kata Tjuta at sunset, you can see what I mean about the colours changing...


We actually went out there to climb the rock, you know, conquer one of the 7 wonders of the world, but on the day we planned it, the climb was closed due to gusty winds...I was very disappointed about this.
The next day we had a tour booked that included a base walk & there was enough time for us to climb part of the way.
I have to say that after starting the climb I realize I wouldn't have gone all the way after all, its extremely steep & I found it a little terrifying. This is a pic of the dream guy & I sitting on what they call chicken rock, apparently if you make it past here, you can make it all the way!!!


This is the view looking down from as far as I managed to climb, which is approximately 25metres up, the entire climb takes you to a great height of 346 metres. I can only imagine how incredible the view would be!!!



These incredible chairs are placed at all the viewing areas throughout the national park & each one is individual, apparently you can have them made for your own place, you just have to get on the end of the 2yr waiting list!!


We attanded a Sounds of Silence dinner, which was at a secret location in the desert with incredible views of the sunset & a variety of Australian cuisine & wines.
I sampled crocodile, Kangaroo & of course barrumundi. The food was superb & we got to meet some really lovely people.

I have to say, this really is a place you have to see for yourself, the sheer size is overwhelming, the colours are stunning & the history behind why it is so sacred to the aboriginal community really does make you feel priveledged to be there.

If its on your travel wish list, then you must go ASAP, you wont regret it!!!

CHEERS
Trish xxx

P.S Ive been catching up on everyones blogs & really would love to leave some comments, but, unfortunately blogger wont play fair.
Thank you so much for dropping by, hopefully blogger will get it togethor soon & I can let you know I dropped by to appreciate your work.
Downloading photos for this post took FOREVER!!!!!
( I actually took 360 photos in 4 days, LOL..... I luuuuurve my new camera & all of the tricks I have been learning from the internet on how to use it)










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