5 week break - Day 8 Burrawang Easter Market

One of our favourite outings of the year we faithfully traipsed off to the Burrawang Easter market this morning in the pouring rain. Wonderful stalls down the length of the main street make this market a must do on the Southern Highlands calendar. It was heavy rain this year - the last couple of years have been fine - but often the autumn rains come just in time.  When you live where we do, if you stayed home because it was raining you'd miss a lot of outings. Boots and coats came out and off we went.

We came home with ewes' milk cheese, olive oil infused with truffles and chilli, fudge and fresh organic almond butter. No antiques captured our eyes this year but they often do.

Its still raining so again, we are seated in front of the fire.  Watching movies, chilling out.  Week 1 is over in a flash and week 2 begins.

Queen Victoria Markets, Melbourne, awesome fresh fruit and vegetable on sale

Marvellous Melbourne.  

The Queen Victoria markets are so wonderful. 

If I lived in Melbourne I'd head to the markets every weekend for fresh produce, cheeses, bread, wine and flowers. I'm sad there is nothing like it near where I live.  

Click play to hear how the market sounded while you view my photos below: 

Foodie fair excursion: Southern Highlands Food and Wine Fair

We had a lovely Sunday outing to the Southern Highlands Food and Wine fair. I love a food market. Wish I lived in Paris or Venice when they're on every week. Its a special thing here.

We bought wine, olive oil, hot sauce, lots of cheeses, artisan bread.  There are so many more wineries lcoally now. Once upon a time we havd been to all of them, but not anymore. We need to get back on the wine trail. We ate gozleme and local gelato. We have lots of foodie delights for tonight's dinner. There must have been more than 1000 people there when we were. So wonderful to see such a huge turn out.

Here are some random foodie pics.

Adelaide Central markets - wish we had these near home

The Adelaide Central Markets are a wonderful traditional food market in the best tradition of Sydney's Paddys and Melbourne's Victoria Markets. The halls are thriving, full of cheese, nuts, fruit and veg, delis, organic whole food stores. If I lived here I would do all my food shopping here.

Lovely visit to Kiama markets on a sunny Sunday

A Sunday drive, visit to markets, a picnic and happy Harry hound.

All the glitz and spectacle of a country show

Good friends from Sydney joined us today at the Moss Vale show.

A few days away: big city, beach and country studio trails

I am stuck in a loud, busy airport on my way home from almost a week away.
I have retreated into my laptop and courtesy of free wi-fi I am sharing this post.

Last Wednesday I travelled to Surfers Paradise for a work conference. Then a couple of days later headed into the country to stay with family. Today I am on my way home. Tomorrow its back to work.

As I did with last weekend's adventures, I'd like to share a few quick snap shots to describe the week I've had.

For the conference I stayed in the heart of Surfers Paradise. I grew up here but moved away about 15 years ago. It was fun to be a tourist for a little while in my home town. The conference was really full on but I managed to go to an evening market ...

and walk along the beach early in the morning.

 My family have all moved away, as I did. My parents live in a beautiful country town with an active artistic community. This weekend the Butter Factory studios were open.

So there ends my little story.  Home to animals galore, my garden, kitchen and own humble studio.

What did you do this weekend?

A few quick vignettes from my weekend

We are just home from a weekend away.  I thought I'd share a few small moments with you. On Saturday we went to a friend's wedding at Collaroy, on Sydney's Northern Beaches, overlooking the ocean. It was a beautiful wedding and a beautiful venue.

Family and friends weren't the only witnesses.

We stayed the night at Newport. This is the view we were greeted with this morning.

Into Sydney, and spied a delightful installation down a narrow laneway.

Tiles at an old pub in Sydney's Rocks, the oldest and quaintest part of Sydney.

Our dear friends Marcelo and Rachael at the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) Zine Fair. Click on Rach and Marcelo's names to link to their blogs. Marcelo is an illustrator and comic book creator and Rach a keen and talented polaroid photographer.

It was a lovely break in routine. It was energising to spend time with friends, be inspired by beautiful scenery and great creations at the zine fair.

Hope you had a good weekend too.

Wollongong Friday Markets and Good Friday brunch

Every Friday the Wollongong mall is taken over with a market. Everyone rushes out of the building at lunchtime to go shopping. I like to wander around the stalls and see the regulars and what's new. The weather was truly dismal all summer so the autumn sunshine makes the market even more special.

The Friday market was cleverly held on Thursday this week to get in before the Easter long weekend.

I took my camera with me to have a play and see if I could get some pretty snaps.

 I bought up big this time: potted herbs, vegetables, bread and more. I headed back to work with arms laden with (re-usable) shopping bags.

 Aydin and Danny from Razerback olive farm - makers of the best olive oil, haloumi and baklava. I stocked up on stuffed olives, haloumi and fresh figs.

An intergalactic visitor?

 I bought a piece of rainbow onyx to help become master of my own fate and a hematite chip bracelet for a friend who is studying from this easter bunny.

 Easter Friday brunch consisted of sourdough baguette, grilled haloumi, olives and poached eggs fresh from the coop. We'll be enjoying market delights all weekend. Will keep you posted.

Enjoy your Easter