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We have been enjoying such a wealth of beautiful weather this April. It begs to live life outdoors as much as possible! Today was no exception. With our good friend Mary we decided to take an afternoon stroll down a mountain...Adelaide size mountain!)

 We weren't expecting to intrude upon this prickly fellow !

We walked at a steady even pace downhill having left one car at the bottom to drive us back to the top. Next holidays the boys want to go both ways.

It just keeps on growing!

An image of our Easter tomb...the miniature crosses at the top of the hill are no longer visible

St Aloysius’ Church : Seven Hill

 We took a drive on Tuesday through parts of the Clare Valley. We decided to look at Seven Hill winery because it was founded by a Catholic religious order(Jesuits) in an area where Catholicism was not strong.Two Jesuit priests, Father Aloysius Kranewitter and Father Maximillian Klinkowstriom, traveled to Australia as chaplains to a group of 130 Catholics led by Franz Weikert, a Silesian farmer, whose vision was to establish a community in South Australia which could enjoy religious freedom.
I wondered how much of a struggle it was to found a Catholic community for these people who fled from religeous persecution in the country of their birth . Were they ostracized when they reached Australia, what was their reception like in rural south Australia with its strong Lutheran flavor? I think we need to dig deeper into history to discover more. Our Australian history topic  for this term perhaps?

 The building of the church started in 1864 and was completed in 1875.

 A painting presented to the Jesuits by King Ludwig of Bavaria in 1848 also resides in the church.










We also loved the stained glass art work in particular the vibrant colours used in the depiction of the Madonna.

 

The church still operates as a parish church with a vigil Mass every Saturday at 6pm. Perhaps one day we could visit to attend Mass.

We spent several quiet moments in the church....making sure as we entered to close the side door firmly to prevent birds entering...they also like to visit apparently!

The church is the only parish church in Australia to have a crypt beneath it.

Palm Sunday preparation and the making of a tomb

 We Toby put up our Palm Sunday display on the altar this year.

You've surely got to pity the poor donkey with our wooden figure to carry but we couldn't find a larger one.








Then both boys worked to make our Easter tomb. To make it you need a clay flower pot which you lay on its side inside a larger clay dish. Then you surround the pot with gravel and stones and make 3 small crosses. We tacked the crosses on with blue tac until we had made our earth. This involves a large supply of dirt and a bucket of water. Gradually" introduce" the water to the dirt until you have a nice thick porridge mixture.

 Then throw put the mixture all over your brother the flowerpot and shape it to resemble a hill. Finally sprinkle wheat all over your hill. Give it a good spray with water and that's it. All the fun is done and now we wait patiently for the transformation to begin. This is oldish wheat so we are unsure how well it will sprout. Ah well there might be a lesson in that too.

What a beautiful cake....strawberries with cream

....... and it tasted every bit as good as it looks !

   and that hint of almond in the cake went so well with the caramel sauce on the side

But its Lent you say.........

a season of fasting and abstinence

Well that's what its like when your birthday falls
  in April

And you have a fabulous family to celebrate

   and share it with!

and are treated to surprise bouquets that arrive on the doorstep! and loving greetings from those far and farther away

Happy Birthday to me ?
Yes definitely!

Shorn again

Little lamb,little lamb

We looked after a friends pet lamb for a short while. He was so much easier to feed than any marsupial baby! We were very impressed.He really was like Mary's lamb though...he had to follow us wherever we went,even inside if he thought he could get away with it. His name is Shorn(as in the sheep was shorn)