Postcards from Home - Part 2

The second in my little series of Postcards from Home

takes us a scenic half hour drive to the west of my little spot here in the valley -

up the steep and winding Gillies Range Road to the Far North Queensland tropical highlands gem of

Lake Barrine

Lake Barrine is actually the crater left by a volcanic eruption approximately 10,000 years ago

and is surrounded by pristine World Heritage rainforest not far from the pretty little village of Yungaburra. 

Apart from the natural beauty of the lake and surrounding flora and fauna -the historic 

Lake Barrine Teahouse is a popular attraction for locals and visitors.

The timber Tea House was originally built in the 1930's as a dance hall 

 and has since had many uses, including an aquatic centre, guest house, school and a convalescent home during World War II. 

Today the Tea House (nestled right on the lake's edge) provides breakfasts, lunches, and their famous prize winning Devonshire teas and looks pretty much like it would have 

back the 1930's. 

 

The ornate metal verandah railings, timber floors and french doors offer a subtle glimpse 

into a time gone by.

The old piano in the corner of the dining room is a wonderful link to its days as a dance hall.  

Close your eyes and you can almost hear the sounds of 

those old familiar dance tunes tinkling out across the lake.

What a romantic spot it must have been. 

"Take your partners for a Quick Step......"  

It is so easy to be transported back in time in this magical place. 

Special little touches like home grown roses on each table

just add to the joy.

Our favourite place to go for breakfast on a Sunday morning. 

Sitting on the verandah with the Sunday papers, scrambled eggs and a cappuccino - 

the troubles of the world seem to disappear!

A wander around the beautiful gardens......

 
and a chance to sit for a while....

and admire the Tibouchina.

It truly is what I imagine heaven must be like!

(and.... can I let you in on a little secret)

Kendall and I reckon this would be the perfect spot for a wedding.   Shhh....(don't we Kendall?)

Anyway

So glad to have been able to show you this beautiful little corner of my world. 

Please call back again next week for another little

"Postcard from Home"

Happy travels everyone!

Postcards from Home - Part 1

It seems hard to imagine now.... 

 However there was a time when travel (particularly overseas travel) was only really

for the rich and famous.

As a young child growing up in inner city Sydney - holidays for us were very few and far between.

Dad and Mum were both kept pretty busy in our family business and there was just simply not the 

time (or money) to go traipsing off on long, exotic holidays. 

My father's sister however was an exception. 

Auntie Val was a woman ahead of her times.

A single career woman in her thirties - every year she would jet off (or maybe that should  be "fly" off - jets might not have been invented then?) to places like Fiji, Singapore, Tokyo, Greece. 

She was my childhood idol. 

I longed for the time when I would be able to travel to faraway places.

The Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids, Big Ben, New York - I used to dream of visiting these places. 

"One day" I promised myself - "I'm going to travel the world just like Auntie Val"

The fact that I never got to fulfill my childhood dreams until I was fifty - well, that's another story!

In the meantime I survived on Postcards!

Postcards that Auntie Val would send;  postcards that my parent's friends would send;  

and then much later on - postcards that work colleagues and childhood friends would send. 

Just gazing at those scenes of far off places - made me feel like I was really there.

Transported me to another time.... another place. 

So for all those people (just like me) who long to travel and visit new and interesting places - 

I have decided to put together this little series called :

"Postcards from Home"

I am so fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful places in Australia and this is my 

opportunity to share some of the beauty of this region - 

all without leaving the comfort of  your PC or laptop!

First up - an hour's drive north from my little spot here in the valley is the 

 quaint little seaside village of Port Douglas......

and this is the gorgeous 

St Mary's by the Sea

Surrounded by palms, crotons, cordylines and exotic gingers

Built in the 1940's - a gorgeous example of tropical ecclesiastical architecture

Weddings, baptisms, worship....

This little church is kept extremely busy

And just look at this view from the pulpit!

The soaring ceilings, leadlight windows 

and of course, the obligatory ceiling fans.

 It is the tropics afterall!

Row upon row of highly polished mahogany pews against crisp white walls and timber 

flooring. 

This surely must be one of the most beautiful little churches in Australia!

Please call back again next week for another little

"Postcard from Home"

Happy travels everyone!

The Power of the Sun

In this part of the world there is one thing that we are never short of.

And that is SUN!

So it makes sense that given the expected increase in electricity charges we keep hearing about – that we should utilise this free energy to offset the cost of power.

I also feel a moral obligation to the planet to reduce our carbon imprint.  We live in such a beautiful, pristine part of the world.   I would love to think it will still be the same in 100 years time!

So – here is our own little power generating plant – right on my very own roof!

I had been contemplating solar panels for quite a while and when I realised the Government’s subsidy on solar panels was going to be reduced on the 30^th June – I sprang into action.


These sparkling little diamonds were installed today – a beautiful, sunny day in tropical Far North Queensland.   Just look at the sun reflecting off those panels .

I am hoping they are going to significantly reduce our power bills and with a bit of luck – we might even be able to  sell power back to the grid.  Who would have thought it – a CREDIT balance with the electricity company!

There have been times when I have questioned decisions I have made – what is that old saying about “decisions made in haste.”   However, this is not one of them.   

I am positively glowing!

Sunday Morning Bliss

The first rays of sunlight on a wintery tropical morn.

 

A hot cup of tea

The latest Donna Hay mag

and

A furry friend to share it all with.

Bliss!

The Rain has Stopped!

Yah!  

The rain has FINALLY stopped falling......

The butterflys have emerged from their hiding spots........

All the  flowers in the garden are smiling.......

 

and I have my laptop back again (after its little holiday away!).........

All is well in the Valley

We're going to build an ARK!

Is this rain EVER going to stop?

Here it is Day 3 and we are still marooned the other side of the mighty Mulgrave.   Fortunately the river levels dropped a couple of hours yesterday afternoon which allowed us to make a quick dash into town to pick up some much needed supplies. 

Things were looking a bit grim in the pantry department - although I'm sure I could have concocted something with baked beans, coconut cream and three bean mix!

At least the power has stayed on!

Mother Nature certainly has no regard for the necessities of modern life.   Here it is 2011 and I feel like the pioneers who settled this valley 150 years ago.  They would have experienced exactly what we are going through at the moment - completely cut off from civilisation.   Thank goodness for the Internet!

Not only am I able to check the river heights on the BOM (Bureau of Meteorology) site (without having to actually go down to the river to see).........

But I'm also able to check out some really useful sites with excellent instructions on how to build one of these :

Wish me Luck!

My Aussie Tropical Garden

 

One week ago I didn't know if I would have any garden left at all.......

One week ago Cyclone Yasi crossed the Far North Queensland coast devastating communities and townships to the south of my Valley........

My garden has been left a little battered..... a little bruised.......but it will bounce back.
And so will I........

Thank you to the fabulous (and ever inspiring)  Sarah at Modern Country Style for hosting her
English Garden Linky Party. 
(She must have known I was in desperate need of some serious prettiness right now)

So......
Welcome to my Aussie Tropical Garden!
  Pop your hat on........Come in and  take a look around

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My garden is (and always will be!) a work in progress.  It is the first thing I look at in the morning and the last thing I look at in the evening.  

 It is what makes me happy!