Return from Melbourne - long weekend

FRIDAY
Warning.... LONG post... many photos! On Friday night Manda, baby Delilah and I caught up with our family at Mutti Robin's in the Dandenongs. I noticed in my dreamy oh-I-wish-I-lived-in-Melbourne state that there was a house for sale nearby! Probably better I don't look it up on realestatedotcom. Anyway, it was so great to see everyone so relaxed. Noel and Sandy had returned from their New Zealand trip and Noel had all these funny puzzle books that amused us all, including the children. Mutti, Karissa, Igby and Escher were travelling to their little river holiday the next day. Leon and Jennifer brought their dog, Satchmo, along and we also saw Noni and Mike briefly.

My cousin Noel definitely looks like Prince William, don't you think?

SATURDAY

At last, a chance to visit Wendy and her new baby Kirrily. We also caught up with her sister Kerry and husband, Brian. The new parents looked a little tired, but very well and very happy. The house was orderly and they seem to have everything under control. Your baby is the sweetest, Wendy... Oh, apart from baby Delilah! Well done you two.

SUNDAY

It had been a little bit of a challenge driving home from Wendy's as baby Delilah was tired and wanted to be out of that car. We pulled over and found somewhere to have dinner and afterwards she was quite happy to get back into the car to get home. Sunday was another long drive, with a break in between for the baby, and a little visit to a scrapbook shop - Creative Dreams in Boronia. We had exactly 20 minutes there (enough time to buy some chipboard pieces and blue embossing powder) before heading off again. It was such a highlight of our trip to get to Auntie Patty's house where the sun was shining and she and Uncle Bob made a barbeque lunch for us. Ahhh, bliss! I was thrilled when Patty let me have some fabric scraps from patchwork quilts she's made for Angus and baby Delilah. Can't wait to get my hands on those now I'm using more fabric in my scrapbooking and crafts.

See her beautiful country-style kitchen...

The outdoor courtyard setting for lunch, where coincidentally Manda had her wedding in 2009...

Like me, Patty is also working on a photo project, scanning in precious family photos from the 1970's and 1980's eras. Here is a photo of a Christmas get-together and that's my Mum in the middle, with the fabulous beehive, circa 1971...

This is me, in a green dress Aunty Patty had made for me, that I'm wearing to my birthday party, maybe my 10th? That's my sister Amanda on my right. She was smaller than me, then!

I could show hundreds of fabulous garden photos, but here's just one of the beautiful hydrangeas. How great is the colour!

I even had my photo taken with baby Delilah.

MONDAY

We stayed overnight at Patty's and the next day several people arrived to celebrate my Aunty Edna's 80th birthday. My late Dad's five sisters, Patty, Shirley, Edna, Hilda and Jenny all get together for each other's birthdays plus one big Christmas get together every year. It's such a privilege to join them for these celebrations. I love my aunties.

Here's Jenny with baby Delilah (Jenny reminds me so much of my Dad)...

Here's Shirley (left) and Patty (right) with baby Delilah...

Patty's house is filled with beauty...

Lunch in the light filled dining room. My Aunty Edna is on the right hand side end, and that's Aunty Hilda, third from the right. She's already had her 80th but you couldn't tell!

I had to show just one of these paintings. I discoverd with amazement that many of the beautiful framed paintings around the walls were painted by Aunty Patty. Isn't she talented. There were two I picked out that I would have bought if they'd been for sale in a gallery.

I promise to post some scrapbook layouts soon...