CHA here we come

January 2011 will see Karen and I  jetting off  to Los Angeles and San Fransisco for 10 days to attend CHA.
CHA is America's Craft and Hobby Association's 4 day trade show. We will get to see new release products, have the opportunity to attend classes and well just have lots of fun. We've been talking about going for about two years now and decided life is too short we were going! We have booked our flights and accommodation and I think the next four months will just fly by.

Wonderful Weekend in Healseville and Marysville

I had a fantastic weekend away in the Yara Valley and am feeling very chilled. We stayed in an awesome 4 bedroom house in Healesville - country charm and nick knacks EVERYWHERE. Along with the charm of the house it had the most comfy beds and came with a 4 legged security alarm / alarm clock - Jasper the donkey. He greeted us loudly as we got out of the car just on dark - well 4 women near dropped their luggage in fright.

My room

Country Kitchen

Jedda House

it even came with games

and a pool table

and a piano - the candle sticks were freaky

gorgeous gardens

We spent Saturday wandering the streets of Healesville and Yarra Glen and all managed to buy something special to remember the weekend by.
The afternoon was spent at a couple of wineries tasting a mix of really nice to screw your face up and spit wines. I actually managed to find 2 at Innocent Bystander that I really loved.

Tasting Champagne at Chandon

Stunning views

Sunday saw us heading home via Marysville - still very moving and hard to comprehend the damage and devastation.

signs of the fires are still everywhere

there are signs of recovery

once lined with shops and homes

 

The local post office still operates out of a container

We visited the lolly shop - still in a container and with the most amazing selection of lollys from our childhood .... Fry's bars, Choo Choo bars, honey bears, apple lollypops and wine gums in a roll ....yum yum yum! We had a quick coffee then headed to Bruno's sculpture garden. Devastated on Black Saturday Bruno has restored much of the garden - while rebuilding his home - lost in the fires.

photos of the devastation of the gardens

I loved the toolman

the drunken man

along the entrance path after the fires

she looks gorgeous on the creek

The piano man

one of the many restored sculpture

there is still a lot to smile at