On the 6th day of Christmas

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:

Six geese laying…not true you say…and you’d be right. This is a voucher which entitles you to see a movie after the dawn has trod…get it!!

Mathilda on her first Christmas

Mel knitted these delightful garments for a very special little girl.

We spent today with Mathilda and her family. It was warmish in the hills but I know two girls that enjoyed each others company in spite of the weather!

On the 5th day of Christmas

 

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Five gold rings…well one ring actually(and its silver!) its used to attach something to something else which is kind of golden in colour…sort of!!

 And because it was rather a warm evening...but who can really complain about high temperatures this summer....a dip in the ocean seemed called for.

A beautiful sunset to end a wonderful day!

on the fourth day of Christmas

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me four colly birds. I haven’t a clue what colly birds are,do you? But they seem to know!!?! Maybe playing a turn of this game might make us wiser…or not…wouldn’t hurt to try it!!

Anstey Hill walk

Prior to European settlement, the Kaurna (Gar-na) people lived in areas like Anstey Hill during the cooler months, using the woodlands for fire, warmth and shelter. During the summer, the Kaurna lived along the coast, taking advantage of cool, ocean breezes.
Anstey Hill was named after George Alexander Anstey (1814–1895), a local viticulturalist. Ruins throughout the park provide evidence of early European settlement, including Ellis Cottage and Bakehouse and Newman’s Nursery. Restored by the Friends of Anstey Hill, the cottage is located inside gate one. Newman’s Nursery was one of the first commercial nurseries in the Adelaide area.
Dolomite and quartzite was mined in the park for many years, and was used in the construction of roads throughout Tea Tree Gully. Stone quarried at Anstey Hill is featured in the Adelaide War Memorial on North Terrace, Adelaide Town Hall, St Peters Cathedral and Adelaide General Post Office. The last quarry closed in 1982.
The park was dedicated in 1989 in response to public demand that the government protect the land from development.

setting off

walk on "water"

lost in the wilderness

walk on

can you see what I see!

and here

at the nursery

In 1854 C F Newman purchased 68 acres within the Park and named it Water Gully, where he pioneered a nursery. At the height of it's operation the property covered 469 acres, with extensive glass and hot houses. By 1889, stock included 500,000 fruit trees, 100,000 orange trees, 100,000 vines, 300 varieties of orchids and 600 varieties of roses. A retail outlet established in rundle Street marketed produce to Australia and overseas. Newman was killed when he fell from his horse while returning from a council meeting in 1899. His family carried on the business until 1913, when two major storms caused extensive damage, from which the nursery never fully recovered.

a cool place to hide

and be found!

catch a stick insect!

another view?

view of ruins

the road back down

Down by the river

Down by the river....find me some rocks

there's always some sticks

look for a dog

find something to climb

restores our peace

On the third day of Christmas

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me three french hens . I ask you three hens from France, as if we haven’t enough trouble remembering all the birds that visit our yard. Anyway before they flew back to Paris!! they left  you these books …useful to identify other feathered friends!

On the second day of Christmas

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me two turtle doves .... but they wouldn’t stay and play cause they said they felt we had enough birds in our yard already!! But they knew how much you like to play games so they left you this as their “calling” card(game of backwords)

On the 1st day of Christmas

We have a tradition going back just a few years where we celebrate the twelve days of Christmas in a fun family orientated way. this is not to take away from the faith filled celebrations that also occur over this time period, nor is it to explain the possible significance of these 12 days to those of our faith in England of old, it is simply to extend the joy we feel in a way that is significant for the younger members of our family.God invented laughter and I'm sure there was a great deal of it in the Holy family as the Christ child grew.

 

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me

A partridge in a pear tree.

Sorry but the partridge flew off to find his family…

But he left behind his picture and “somethings” fruity inside!