Cake Decorating

 At approx. AUD 110.00 per 1kg* Cocoa Butter is not my first choice for Cake Decorating but today's Workshop gave us the opportunity to try it out.

(With a HUGE Thank you to our demonstrator for supplying the Cocoa butter)

After having traced the provided Image onto our Plaques we then melted the Cocoa butter over hot water and coloured it with dusting powder.

(A small amount of Cocoa Butter went a long way!)

Then the fun began.

Painting our Christmas Bird. 

The Cocoa Butter flowed beautifully leaving a waxy finish which could be worked on indefinitely with a warm finger if needed.

By the end of the day, everyone had learned a lot and we had a table full of Christmas Robins.

I can imagine beautiful artwork on a cake using this medium.  

My only advice - Don't leave it near a heat source!

*Price & Image from Savour Melbourne

 (Home of The Chocolate Queen Kirstin Tibballs) 

May

May 3rd :
This tiny little ball of fluff is Logan.

The newest member of the Family - 

I think  DS#2 is going to have his hands full!

May 16: Happy Anniversary - 

This year we managed a Weekend Getaway to Healesville. 

Lunch at The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice-Creamery and Dinner at RACV Banyalla Restaurant.

We were going to go to Healesville Sanctuary but Sunday's weather was so wet we doubted that even the Ducks would be out!

If Spring is time to clean the House, then Autumn must be the perfect time to clean the Computer...

19,961 Files taking up 93.32 GB.

And that was just so I could continue with the Great Photo Purge of  2024!

May 25

This giant Meccano Set is a Storage Hoist for DS#2's Garage.

In a perfect world with perfect conditions it may have 'just' taken a weekend.

but a solid week of work and a few headaches later, not only had the Christmas Tree and other rarely used items been hoisted up to the ceiling. 

He also had extra access ports into the roof 

(No more Tradies traipsing through the house!)

May 27

Our Street has been far from tranquil these past few months, with new Townhouses being built so lots of Tradies trucks as well as a regular Bus service.

But today they blocked off the street, brought in bigger trucks and replaced 3 Power Poles.

Time to say 'Good bye' to one of the more "Interesting" characters in our street.  

This piece of fun mysteriously appeared a few years ago and ... although we haven't named him he has been very much part of our street.

Sadly his Pole is one of those being replaced.

So that's a wrap from Our Place for May.

The Rest of April

Wouldn't it be nice If the only thing you had to worry about is where the next puddle of Sunshine was?

I think he has forgiven us for going away.

So with that, it is back to whatever passes for Normal around here...

What can we pack into the final 10 days of April?

1.  (DS#2) My new desk has arrived can I get help with assembling it?

It is VERY Beautiful  …

Are you sure this is going to be big enough?

2. (DS#1) The Hedge needs trimming - 

Can you help? 

Oh and Bring the Shredder...

(I still can't work out why he planted Pittosporum down the narrow sideway....)

3.  Between a Rock and a Hard Place. 

How come I can't grow Cyclamen but my Mother can grow them in the path?

4.  Time to check out the 'new' Coffee Shop! - Note to Self...

 Remember not to turn up on Mondays or after 3.00pm !

And here is something I have never tried before... (I hope it works!)

5.  Poor Buster - I know exactly how you feel!

Day 12 - Homeward Bound

 But not before...

You Guessed it - ANOTHER Early Start!

8:40 am 

To the First Nations People it is Kunanyi.  To us it was Mount Wellington and so it is now Kunanyi/ Mount Wellington. 

At 1270 m above Sea Level, it is not the highest Peak in Tasmania, but stands watch over Hobart and from the Summit - on a clear day, you can pretty much see forever.

For us, the early morning mist shrouded the View in an ethereal blanket. 

 

Although we couldn't see those 'forever horizons' we were told about, it was still magical. 

Back down to the Hustle of a Saturday Morning, an unexpected bonus - Hobart's Salamanca Market was open, and we had just enough time to have a quick look at the many stalls. 

Then one last Tour Bus Ride - Dropping some, who were staying longer, at their Hotels before heading to the Airport - Waving fond fare-well and hugging people we may never cross paths with again.

We have seen so much yet only scratched the surface of this World Heritage Place - some of which is only available to Tour Companies like Outback Spirit.

And I have challenged my Comfort Zone on several occasions - But then, isn't this WHY we travel?

Hobart is just 1 hr 15 min flight from Melbourne or if you want to take longer The Spirit of Tasmania takes around 10 hours to cross Bass Straight to Devonport.

Outback Spirit Tours - DestinationTasmania

Spirit of Tasmania

Salamanca market.com.au

Day 11 - Bruny Island, Part Two

Standing on the Jetty at Adventure Bay, I am afraid my sense of humor escaped, and I hummed a few bars of the Gilligan's Island Theme Song. It wasn't lost on some, as we were about to embark on a 'Three Hour Tour.....'

Fortunately the Weather was Perfect as we climbed aboard the purpose built 12 .5 Naiad Boat, donned our Red Waterproof Coats and happily accepted Ginger Tablets, just in case we felt a little "Other".

And with the mandatory Safety spiel out of the way -We were Off...

The fact that we had the company of a second tour group and were not heading into the Southern Ocean alone was comforting. 

We marvelled at the coastline in all its ancient beauty

And got up close and personal with massive Blowholes

We heard stories of Adventurers Past, One who used to jump off the boat and swim through this gap - 

Eventually deciding that it wasn't such a good idea, when one day he was followed by a Shark! 

(Fortunately for him and the passengers on board, He lived to tell the tale.)

They took us out to see the Black-Faced Cormorants - 

Confidently standing atop their Rocky Perch while the Ocean boils beneath them 

We went out to where the Tasman Sea meets the Southern Ocean

Then back past The Friars, to see the Australian Fur Seals taking a break before heading back into the water.

 

I debate with myself, if I should pack my 35mm Camera when we go on holidays now.

But then you get some shots that my iPhone just can't manage.  And This is one of them!

It was an awesome Adventure and once safely  back on dry land we were treated to Warming Soup and the Most Architecturally Stunning Salad Roll I have ever seen!

Further Information:

Bruny cruises

Day 11 - Bruny Island, Part One

It was only half an hour away but when the Bus driver wants to catch the 7:45 am Ferry - 

We had to be Up and at Breakfast by 6:30.

Today was going to be Quite the Adventure!

With the urgency to beat the School Bus Rush over - we were allowed to wander the deck where others took the opportunity to take some Holiday Snaps.

And now, we can take our time.

Our first stop was at Bruny Island Neck. 

A narrow Isthmus joining North and South ends of Bruny and separating Adventure and Isthmus Bays.  

Had I climbed the  almost 300 steps to Truganini Lookout - I would have been rewarded with 360 degree Views of the Neck, the rest of the Island and some of Mainland Tasmania.  

I didn't discover the incredible view until I was researching this post...

Instead we walked the boardwalk from the carpark to Adventure Bay Beach

It was good to feel the sun on my face, the wind in my hair and the sand beneath my feet.

And to deeply breathe that incredible Clean Sea Air.

15 minutes down the road was our stop for an early Morning Tea.

Parking at the Local Bowls Club and Picnic area we wandered across the road to investigate a fascinating sculpture showing the World with the Continents on the Outside.

By Local Artist Matthew Carney (1966-2011)

It is difficult to see the detail of this thought provoking piece.

  

In my second photo I have brought up the contrast - almost showing the Artwork in silhouette where you can see Inside the Globe there is a Sperm Whale and its Calf.

There is much more of Today left but I feel this is a good point to pause and will leave this post here with the Artist's Statement.

(Come back tomorrow for Part 2)

GLOBE SCULPTURE – Matthew Carney | 2006

Artist statement: “When we encounter the enormous mass of a whale, we are struck by the insignificance of our own form and thus realise the true relationship that we share with our world. This work is a meeting place for the community and the people who visit the island and a source of discussion in acknowledging the symbiotic relationship that we have with the other inhabitants of the earth. The Inter-generational dependence of mother and calf depicts the continuity we experience from past and present.”

Installed at Adventure Bay Foreshore, Bruny Island

Globe Sculpture - Further Information

Day 10 - Touring Hobart

Now THIS is a View that I don't think I would ever tire of waking up to!

Sunrise over Constitution Dock and River Derwent.  

9:00 am and we were already at Our first Stop for today.

The Botanical Gardens and with Maps in hand...

We set off to explore on our own.

It was a beautiful morning and happily strolled the pathways.

(Finding some delicious Tassie 

Ice-cream to quietly enjoy made it Perfect!)

Morning Tea appeared from 'Beneath the Bus' at a Local Park. 

 

Giving us time to get that all Important (but not very good)  Group Photo, and catch our breath before heading off to ...

The Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary.

We had a Guided Tour and informative talk on their Rescue & Rehabilitation program. 

-This is their resident Tasmanian Devil.  Unfortunately she is Blind and won't be able to be released.

After Lunch we returned to Hobart and a Walking Tour of the Towns Historic Buildings.

Walking for me is fine but, standing around listening to the local guide is when my back gave out on me and I had to pull out of the tour.  We hadn't even left the Hotel foyer.

I rested until I could walk again and saw that the group was still only at the next corner!

We decided to do some sightseeing at our own pace.

Whereas we choose not to drink, Our Son is partial to a good Whisky.  

And seeing that one of his favourite Brands comes from Hobart, we thought we'd check them out on his behalf.

I did have the idea we could bring him home something you could ONLY get from the Cellar Door.

But a $400 souvenir that he may not even like - was way over the budget.

We did get him a beautiful Crystal Whisky glass and a Free Coaster!

Well, that sums up today -

We were all looking forward to Dinner.

They had a bad night last night with problems in most dishes. Unfortunately, tonight was no different.

To be honest, We have had better meals at The training Restaurant at our local TAFE.

Anyway - Tomorrow is our last Full Day and an Adventure awaits!