I have just arrived home from a wonderful dinner... a night out in the bush.
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It was an impromptu gathering of three families - neighbours around our age here near Granite Glen.
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My darling friend Elle - a gorgeous bubbling well of life and laughter - decided to celebrate her family's move into the "big house" on the historic property they manage, from a tiny cottage nearby. She is still "feeling out" the huge home, with its five bedrooms, enormous living area and a kitchen you could have almost fit their previous home within. I visited briefly the other day, and marvelled at the changes she has already wrought. Paint pots in the laundry tell of the hours she has laboured to transform this hulking-but-beautifulold dark house into a warm place she can call home.
...
We had been working all day, through the wet weather, to sort and treat our newly weaned calves out of the muddy yards and into a warm paddock. We were tired, and had to gather our energies to shower, get in the car and drive the half hour to Elle's place.
...
Our weariness was forgotten the moment we walked in the door. Our kids squealed and raced through the hallways to their kids bedrooms, seeking out treasures and new corners to explore. Elle and her husband Harv, with his wicked sense of humour, had us giggling within seconds. Other friends W and P (whose photogenic spurs featured here and whose butts also featured here) were there too - a quieter but no less delightful and entertaining foil for our hosts' antics. And my Dad came along for the ride, fitting nicely at the end of the table with Harv's parents, and putting his two-bob's worth in at regular intervals.
...
The huge living area came alive with conversation, laughter, anecdotes and tall stories, and before we knew it, four hours had flown by. Too much fab food was eaten, plenty of wine was imbibed and our offspring ran riot (although the meltdown count was remarkably low).
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Everyone is now asleep except me... I'm tired, sure. But I'm smiling through the yawns as I quickly jot this down, before I hit the hay.
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I leave you with images from the drive home from Elle and Harv's place.
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.
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Hope your day was tiring but smile-worthy too.
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It was an impromptu gathering of three families - neighbours around our age here near Granite Glen.
...
My darling friend Elle - a gorgeous bubbling well of life and laughter - decided to celebrate her family's move into the "big house" on the historic property they manage, from a tiny cottage nearby. She is still "feeling out" the huge home, with its five bedrooms, enormous living area and a kitchen you could have almost fit their previous home within. I visited briefly the other day, and marvelled at the changes she has already wrought. Paint pots in the laundry tell of the hours she has laboured to transform this hulking-but-beautifulold dark house into a warm place she can call home.
...
We had been working all day, through the wet weather, to sort and treat our newly weaned calves out of the muddy yards and into a warm paddock. We were tired, and had to gather our energies to shower, get in the car and drive the half hour to Elle's place.
...
Our weariness was forgotten the moment we walked in the door. Our kids squealed and raced through the hallways to their kids bedrooms, seeking out treasures and new corners to explore. Elle and her husband Harv, with his wicked sense of humour, had us giggling within seconds. Other friends W and P (whose photogenic spurs featured here and whose butts also featured here) were there too - a quieter but no less delightful and entertaining foil for our hosts' antics. And my Dad came along for the ride, fitting nicely at the end of the table with Harv's parents, and putting his two-bob's worth in at regular intervals.
...
The huge living area came alive with conversation, laughter, anecdotes and tall stories, and before we knew it, four hours had flown by. Too much fab food was eaten, plenty of wine was imbibed and our offspring ran riot (although the meltdown count was remarkably low).
...
Everyone is now asleep except me... I'm tired, sure. But I'm smiling through the yawns as I quickly jot this down, before I hit the hay.
...
I leave you with images from the drive home from Elle and Harv's place.
.
.
.
.
.
Hope your day was tiring but smile-worthy too. 
But they get over it, and soon figure out that it's better to shut up and eat hay (while the sun shines!). That's the spirit, little man!
My daughter thrives on a litte dirt and dust! 
Mmmmm.
Did they wonder who lived here, miles below, as I wonder about them?
I am not a train addict or a kid, but as you 
I am sure this kind of seating position is totally against QR policy but as we drew near a bridge, everyone hurled themselves to the best vantage points. I'm sure the train rolled sharply to the right. Not that I was nervous... how long does it take rust to set in on old unused railway lines?
Train paparazzi...
But I was in my element anyway... check out the pressed metal ceilings...
And the timber panelling (loved our ticket man - he had those kids in the palm of his hands!)
The waving from our little train-riders was almost continuous - to the paps, to the mums at various spots along the way, to the horses... 
See how brown it is inside our white fence?
And this is Kink. 
They sleep VERY well between bouts of playing...
Oh yeah... shut your eyes and pretend you don't see those shoes, my friend! I can read your mind... 
Oh Hello Pitch! Come here too... good boy! 
