Ipswich Weekend.

My niece has a new home near Ipswich and my sister and I travelled up for a 3 day weekend to help her with  her new garden. It is a lovely old home with an impressive backyard. Miss B wants to become self sufficient, and do all the things I love. Nice to have at least one of the children follow in the footsteps, with not only growing but preserving as well.

It is roughly a 5 hour trip so we stopped at Woodburn on the way for morning tea. What a lot of work has gone on here with a new toilet block, play area and BBQ plus  seating with tables. All with great views of the river.

Mosaic in front of the new toilet block.

Part of the new seating .

While we waited for Miss B to come home from work, Jan knew of a great material shop that sold quilting fabrics, as well as other dress fabrics and really cheap prices. So of course bought some there, followed by a trip through Ikea,

We finally arrived about 4 and toured the garden which is going to be great. All the many trees mostly self sown, were cut down and great clumps of palms cleared out.

Fire wood from a few trees they cut down.

New garden beds being put in, and first one is filled and ready to go.

3 spoilt chickens.

Saturday  we visited Rocklea  Markets, which is huge and has been extended recently. Lots and lots of fresh vegetables, plus the usual clothing stalls. The fruit and veg were also very cheap in comparison what the supermarkets sell it at. Fresh Stanthorpe apples were a highlight, unwaxed and fresh off the trees.

Miss B bought me a Pink Geranium, so will have to propagate it for her plus the many others I have.

We also visited a wholesale fruit nursery miles out of town, and she got 10 fruit/ berry trees, of which were all planted after we left.

Ready for planting

Area Fruit Trees are going in.

 The weather of course turned very hot in the 35C mark and extremely windy, only to be 11 overnight and early morning. I wasn't allowed to do to much digging but the girls were very tired each day.

One of the largest bins I have ever seen.

Front yard area was cleaned of anything ferny, yuccas, palm, including the two on the LHS as we travelled home. Lavenders, frangipanni, some herbs and a few low growing aussie natives going in here.

 Miss B also cooked a wonderful Vegetable Lasagna as I am still a bit wary of meat, and feeling very well, now that it is nearly 3 weeks after operation.

Super delicious using roasted veg, and very filling.

 The pasta dough was made with spinach as well.

Our trip home, was smoked filled after all the fires and the wind making it worse over the weekend. We stopped at Ulmarra for lunch, and looked in all the little shops there.

Miss B made delicious mini quiches and cake.

Bats hanging out in a nearby tree

Another great river view.

All in all it was a great girls weekend, and we will go back to do some more help. I really appreciated getting away from here, and having time to think and plan. Family is so much fun.

Hope your weekend was just as great.

Till next time.