Another lovely week in Cygnet

Sunday and it is Market Day.
We have a bit of a sleep in...then get organised to walk Tom down to the Scout Hall for his Leadership day. It's a lovely morning.

John and I open the shop.
We take turns visiting the Market to look about and make a few purchases.
Cameron is set up out the front with his bread and soon has a queue of customers.

With our door open, we attract alot of customers today.. It's a wonderful atmosphere.
We sell quite a number of books during the morning.
The weather turns as the day progresses and a front comes through with rain and wind. It turns bitterly cold..
We close up and decide to take a drive out to Allen's Rivulet to look at a house...it's a lovely drive...but not one you'd want to do every day.
We enjoy a quiet read for half an hour then drive down to pick up Thomas as the rain is coming across again. We are glad to have a peaceful afternoon of reading and lego play before enjoying a yummy roast for dinner.
The boys settle down to have a happy reading session..

I watch the start of the women's Olympic Marathon ...wishing I was fit enough to run 1km let alone 42!!  Oh well,instead  I console myself with a cup of tea and some licorice John has brought back from Sydney..then off to bed..

Monday and it rains and rains. There have been snow falls down to 300 metres overnight...
Thomas is supposed to be walking with his class to a local Garden Nursery this morning... I hope they postpone the walk...as the rain is not letting up.
At one point there is a short break of sun, but soon the rain comes down again..

We are busy with orders throughout the morning, so do not mind the weather at all..its cosy inside.
We have a couple of customers in today.
I have a visit from Vicki...one of my Book Club friends. She has made me a beautiful bead necklace to thank me for hosting Bookclub here again tonight..what a lovely thoughtful gesture..

Ryan is dropping by this afternoon to talk more about house plans.
We have a really productive session with Ryan and are quite delighted with the revised plan..it's amazing how our original plan has evolved.
Thomas is champing at the bit to get to cub scouts...I enjoy the walk down to Burtons' rugged up in my lovely green overcoat.

It's wonderful to see the Spring flowers in the Community garden.

We have a quick meal together..then I prepare for the Book Club group to arrive.
We have a lovely evening together with lots of laughs and good conversation and food/wine of course.

Tuesday and the sun shines...wonderful after such a dreary day yesterday.

I finish the tidy-up from last night and re-set the book table in the shop.
After usual chores and routines we get started with the day's orders..
Then I head down to Community Garden for the morning.
There is so much water pooling  around the trees!!.

We begin by building up the pathway with sand so you don't have to wade through the water there.
Then on to some weeding. We move the chook house again and finally relocate some artichokes that are getting too wet.
During the course of the morning we delight in conversation and quietly working together too. Our youngest member who is 2yrs entertains us with his chatter. Honey, the lovely Labrador keeps us company and surprises us all by sniffing out a baby rabbit that is huddling in the bushes. We decide to take it to a woman down the road who has pet rabbits..(only to discover it is one of hers that got away some time ago) The little rabbit has been feasting on veges in the garden.

Back at the shop John has had a busy morning with customers..really nice.
We complete some orders and get on with paperwork in the afternoon.
Thomas' "friends" have been mucking up today... Devouring Tim Tams in the window of the shop - for all to see !!

After work we take a drive over in the grey afternoon...to Franklin and Castle Forbes Bay to look at a couple of houses over there...just out of interest.. We really don't want to have to commute every day though.

Tuesday night social is on again tonight...with free soup and bread at RV. We have a delightful evening chatting with locals we know and meeting a few more again. Its such a great idea... Thanks to Steve and Cate.

Wednesday and its fairly warm out today. The sky is pretty threatening though...I think we will see more rain today..

The boys are busy doing more research on Curiosity...the Mars landing.. They are getting together a folder of interesting information, photos and articles from the paper. Thomas is quite intrigued.
Before long its school time.        I go across to Lisa for a haircut..
We have a very quiet morning ...few orders and few customers.. Feels quite disconcerting.
I find things to do to keep busy...and John does paperwork.
We have some book sales after lunch which is good..but otherwise its a really quiet day.
I enjoy afternoon tea at School House cafe with some of the St James gang..(a small roll up today as many are attending  a PD course after school)
Tom gets his Scout camp gear together while I cook some Choc-chip cookies for him to take along. Its a Pirate theme..and the note said everyone was to bring biscuits/cake to share..if these are not handed in at the beginning of camp then you will be made to "walk the plank"!!
John goes for a walk to visit a local English woman who we heard has a delightful garden of English plants. He takes her a Belladonna plant for her collection.
Cosy dinner and Olympic Pole-vaulting/Athletics/Equestrian and Sailing...good viewing!!

Thursday and its a nice morning out.

I stop to look in the Trove windows..they always look so enticing.

Its very chilly out today. I give the windows a good wash during the morning...but have to come in and thaw my hands out by the fire for a bit.
The rain comes across in heavy downpours...then the sun shines...then rain again. John has to time his walk to the bank and post office to avoid being drenched.
The view from out the back sees Mount Cygnet disappear in the clouds...

We have some orders coming in today which is good.
I go across to Tom's class in the afternoon to help out with the planned activities..
Tom's teacher Kim always delights in telling me what I will be doing with the groups. Today, I am helping them make slime (as a science experiment). We mix cornflour, water and green food colouring....and voila!! The hardest part is getting the children to move on to write up the procedure..which is the aim of the exercise. They all have their hands in the gooey slime and are having such fun.
John does a run to the post and comes back quite excited about a car he has spotted up the street...he insists I take a look...hmmm..

Even though the clouds are looming..I decide to go for a walk around town..feeling so tired...and its either exercise or more food (and I've already eaten my way through the day). It is really beautiful wander the back streets and look at the views...so lucky to live here..

I get back and crash..really pooped all of a sudden..I think I'm coming down with a cold..
We have Devour burgers for dinner...so delicious!!
The boys have their usual romp before shower time..

Some Olympic diving...then bed.

Friday is a cool start. I decide to just potter with morning chores instead of doing my walk..
Tom is all packed and ready for Camp tonight. His friend Finn is coming over this afternoon and we'll take them both down to Charlotte Cove at 7.30 tonight.
The sun breaks though in the morning...makes such a difference to the day..

I can't resist taking a look out the back while I make a cuppa..I never tire of the view..

We have a few orders through the morning and some browsing customers too.
There are alot of cars in town this morning..

I go for a walk to the post office and enjoy the sunshine...even if the breeze is pretty cold..
After lunch we spy Tallon putting out wooden boxes across at Trove.

John wanders across and finds two that he buys for our wood storage.

Before long the boys arrive home from school.
They go over for a play with Brody in the lovely sunshine.
Then afternoon tea and a play, watch a movie then dinner and off to the camp..

Its bedlam at Charlotte Cove when we drop the boys off...some very excited and hyped up children.
We hope Thomas survives the camp!!

Saturday and we head in to Hobart early to a Book sale. We arrive about 9-ish and spend 2 hours fossicking. We are happy with our haul.
Then we drive to Glenorchy Recovery Shop to suss it out. Loads of re-cycled building materials etc. Its well laid out and we are very impressed. We pick up a good quantity of pots for John's seedlings for a fraction of their retail price..

We enjoy lunch at Raincheck Lounge in North Hobart then swing past a Bakery in Hobart to  buy pies for later.
Its good to be home.

We both have a sleep then John goes for a coffee while I drive up the Hill to collect some kindling. Its just magical up there..so peaceful. I collect a couple of box loads then have a walk about for awhile.

We go over to the Supper room next door at 6.30 to watch a documentary called The End of the Line...re the depleting fish stocks around the world. The film is presented by the Greens in light of the imminent arrival of the Super trawler "Margiris" in Tassie waters. We share supper together afterwards and discuss the implications and possible strategies to petition the Government.
It's a very informative evening.
We head to bed hoping Thomas is having a happy time..

Winter delights....

Sunday morning we make an early start at 6.30..heading to Kingston to a Book Sale in the hall there.
It is really cold in the hall as we look for books...and John suggests that Tom and I take a walk down down to the beach to get our blood circulating!!.
Its truly beautiful down by the water ..even if it is chilly.

Looking back we could see snow on the mountain...so that's why it's so cold!!

We came away with a few boxes of books that look interesting. Then dropped in to Blackman's Bay Beach cafe for second breakfast!! Yummo!!

We decided to have a drive about and stopped in at the Uni where we saw these ...

Believe it or not...they are life size male Elephant seals...Yikes!!

I showed John the accommodation area that Hannah looked at...

Then we decided to drive up Mount Wellington..well as high as we could anyway. The road was closed at gate 3 due to snow.

We had a magical walk up the road...Thomas had such fun..

We walked quite a way up...and were nicely protected from the wind..

As we returned to the car, the snow began to fall heavily...just wonderful..

We stopped in at the Fern tree Tavern to have hot lunch...went down well... then home via the old Hobart road..

Glad to be home we had a snooze..then got organised for the working week.

Had a yummy soup then enjoyed some Olympic viewing before bed.

Monday and the rain comes and goes first thing ..so I walk up Mary St to stay undercover a bit.

On my way home I notice a little finch perched in a curious place..

It's a cold day today, but we keep warm in the shop with the fire roaring.. it attracts a few passing customers through the day. We have a good day of book sales today and get on with orders that come during the morning.

I bake a plain sourdough bread for a change..it comes out well..very satisfying..

We have some lovely discussions with some locals who pass though today...a good day.

Tom is keen to get to scouts as usual. Today they are doing map and compass work..so he has to rug up.

We enjoy hot soup and sausages for dinner...then have a short Olympics viewing time before bed..

Tuesday and its wet wet wet....and cool too.

Its lovely out though..

By school time the rain is falling again so I walk Tom across to the classroom..

I'm not sure if we will be working in the Community Garden today so I give Kate a call.

There is plenty to be done in the poly-tunnel, so I set out about 9.30 and spend a very enjoyable morning weeding and tidying.

We stop for a cuppa and chat at 12 as usual. I love it.

I also come home with some fresh produce from the garden...yummy.

John has had a very quiet morning order-wise.

He has spent his time pricing the books we bought on Sunday..

We have a few customers through buying books ..but its pretty quiet day..

We head up to Red Velvet in the evening. Steve and Cate are starting a Tuesday social night providing soup and bread between 5.30 and 7...so locals can get together. A nice idea.

Its a cold wet night and we enjoy the food and company..chatting to locals we know and meeting a few more..

Wednesday and again it is grey and damp..but lovely to be out..

Delightful window display at Lotus Eaters..

We busy ourselves with various tasks. John brings in wood, Tom does a tidy-up of books and Lego and I get John's mobile up and going in preparation for his drive to Sydney tomorrow. He is taking our Prius back to NSW so Aaron can sell it for us..a big adventure for John..

We had a pleasant day of orders and a few customers dropping in to browse and buy books.

John organised for his journey north.

We set up the shop area for afternoon tea. Ben from Red Velvet is coming over for a farewell get together with the St James gang as he leaves RV this week.

We have a wonderful gathering...everyone contributing to the feast.

Ben, Bec and their children Lily and Oscar enjoy the afternoon with us. Its great to have the opportunity to thank Ben for all his welcoming service to us all.

After tidying up we graze in the left-over cheeses and dips for dinner..then Olympics and bed..

Thursday and John heads north today.

I get busy cleaning the shop floor and re-setting up the book table.

The boys bring wood in for the night.

The mist is rising from the hills ..just spectacular..

  

After morning coffee, John heads off for his drive up to Devonport.

The Spirit of Tasmania sails tonight so he will have plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely drive.

Its a fairly quiet morning with a few orders coming through. I have a few customers come in during the morning...mainly to enjoy the warmth of the fire. Its cool out today.

I get a couple of calls from John letting me know that he is travelling well.

I splurge on a Lotus eaters soup for lunch.. Red lentil and veges with baguette..delish..

Before long Thomas is in the door from school. He does the post run for me today then he goes over to play with Brodie for a while.

We have a peaceful afternoon with late customers staying to browse. Tom gets on with homework while I attend to the customers and a few phone calls..

The evening closes in and we go out to the flat after 5pm..

We have a reading session...then get takeaway dinner from Dani and Pete...and come home to watch some Olympics and enjoy a chat together...really special moments with my boy.

Friday and its a grey start but a beautiful sunrise.

Tom and I are up and getting the fires going in the shop.

We attend to the other morning routines then have breakfast. Thomas has set up Quolly in John's usual place at the table...he is missing Dad.

We go into the shop about 8am so I can begin some orders. Tom finishes off his homework..what a good boy.

It's cross-country day today and Thomas is really looking forward to the run. Hopefully the damp ground won't cause too many issues. I'm pretty sure they are running from Burton's reserve down to the Sailing Club...so a nice track.

John rang to let us know he had a good crossing ...already 100km north of Melbourne.

It's a busy morning of orders so the time passes quickly..

Just before 11am the St James children pass the shop on their way down to the park..Its lovely to see the older students looking after the young ones.

There is big funeral this afternoon..a former teacher at St James, local mother of 7 children..who all schooled at St James..The St James senior students are form a guard of honour..

Before long, Tom is in the door..proudly showing me his ribbons..

I have a few customers in late in the day buying medicines and books.

Tallon who owns Trove (the second hand shop across the road)brings in beautiful tin I can't resist. She knows I love collecting little tins for my sewing bits and pieces..

Tom and I enjoy the last hour in the shop ..he is emailing his friend Jahan while I look after customers.

We close up and get the flat warmed up. Tonight we are going to Cinema Cygnet to see a French Film called Welcome to the Sticks..not sure how much Tom will get..but we'll give it a go anyway..

Tom and I had a lovely night. He was able to follow the story without too much trouble...managing to read alot of the subtitles...

It's such a good feeling being able to chat with people I'm getting to know during the intermission/tea break. Alot of people from Community Garden go along.

Saturday and Tom and I have a slow start. We watch some olympics while eating breakie...then get on with making a batch of Chocolate Crackles. (Tom has a scout leaders training day tomorrow at Burton's Reserve Hall so he'll take these along)

We head out looking for some kindling and end up down at Drip Beach , off Cygnet Coast Rd. Its beautiful down there.. so peaceful.

We drop the kindling back home then proceed in to Hobart.

First stop lunch at Jackman and McCross Bakery at Battery Point...yummy..

Then we have a wander through Salamanca Market stopping to enjoy the atmosphere and music.

We are off to the Hobart Aquatic Centre for the afternoon.

Tom has a fabulous time..doing freestyle and backstroke laps...then had a great time playing aroung with kick boards and noodles. He had  quite a few goes on the slide too.. A fun afternoon.

We showered and had a nibble before going to the airport to pick John up from his whirlwind journey to Sydney..

Jackman's Beef and Guiness pies for dinner then some exciting Olympic viewing before snuggling down for the night. A great week..