Buying Australian Made Everything....

There has been so much press lately about Australian manufacturing and industries being closed down or sold off to overseas companies that everyone has an opinion about it and according to the latest statistics Australians are finally starting to get behind their country and purchasing Australian made products.  To that end, I thought I would remind  you of a few of the products I have promoted over time and some new ones that have come to my notice.  

I couldn't continue my quest for promoting Australian made goods without first going to the Mornington Peninsula Food Map and the Farm Gate producers.  Seasonal fresh produce readily available and at such good prices.

Image - Mornington Peninsula Gourmet

A copy of the Farm Gate Map is available from any of the above marked sites, or at the Tourist Information centre in Main Street, Mornington...here

The Green Olive Grove is a favourite and a visit to the Farm Shop at Red Hill is where you can enjoy coffee from beans roasted on site, savour the smell of herbs and spices as they roast and enjoy homemade sausages or tapas dishes and then take a taste of the farm home with you, including the olives of course.  Located at  1180 Mornington Flinders Road, Red Hill....or visit their site.....

Image - Green Olive Grove

The Little Shop Summerhill Farm, at 264 Bakers Road, Main Ridge, is where you will find beautiful Alpaca items, beautifully soft, light, warm and stylish.  As you drive in to this property you are greeted by these quaint and curious animals as they graze in their paddocks, view their site here....little alpaca.

Image - Little Shop Summerhill Farm

The Little Shop Summerhill Farm is currently open 11am-4pm weekends...well worth a visit or perhaps call before you do visit, 

5989 6077

If you are able to visit the Mornington Peninsula, I am sure you will be able to find many Australian Made products...........Wendy

The Australian Ballet...Free Performance

Ballet in the Bowl

A FREE evening of ballet favourites under the stars

Friday 7 March

Arts Centre Melbourne, Sidney Myer Music Bowl

 The Australian Ballet, will be performing excerpts from favourite works, including The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty,Cinderella and more.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see the Australian Ballet free; take a rug and a picnic and enjoy a spectacular evening of ballet's best accompanied by Orchestra Victoria.

Gates open at 4pm

Class on stage at 7pm

Performance starts at 8pm

2014 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award nominees announced on stage

Admission is FREE and tickets are available at the gate, no pre-booking required.

Definitely put this one in the diary....wonderful....Wendy

Fructose Friendly Foodie

Happy 2014 to everyone.....

As a blogger I have failed miserably over the holidays and there are several excuses....not all acceptable I suppose .... one excuse being an accident I had whilst doing my shopping on Christmas Eve, where I ended up with five stitches in my finger...very, very annoying and so inconvenient and I've found it rather difficult to type...being a traditional typist my habit is to use all fingers, and this has been a problem for me! 

However, my finger is on the mend and here I am blogging again...wonderful....

My friend Helen from Fructose Friendly Foodie has been sending through some lovely summer recipes and because as we are all saying the weather has been ferociously hot "Down Under" and continues to be, Helen's latest recipe is a pleasant relief...here is her take on Caesar Salad, which she suggests could be called "Julius Salad"....it is quite delicious and I love the dressing....here

Image - Fructose Friendly Foodie

Of course there are many other recipes on her site, and I would invite you to visit this fun blogger!

Enjoy......Wendy

Sparkling Wine...Christmas...Champagne

Champagne....And now to celebrate........

I read these few words of wisdom on a blog recently and thought I would share them with you…

“There comes a time in every woman’s life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne.”

Bette Davis

“In success you deserve it and in defeat, you need it.” 

Winston Churchill

“I drink Champagne when I win, to celebrate…
And I drink Champagne when I lose, to console myself.”

Napoleon Bonaparte

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.”

Mark Twain

“Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking it.”

Madame de Pompadour

“I only drink champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad.
Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone.
When I have company I consider it obligatory.
I trifle with it if I’m not in a hurry and drink it when I am, otherwise I never touch the stuff unless I am thirsty.”

 Lily Bollinger

With very best wishes for a very happy Christmas....Wendy

Fabulous Australian Gifts....

 Paul Bangay's latest book, the beautiful "Stonefields"...here

Kate Morton's intriguing book.... "The Secret Keeper" ...here

Australian made Organic Babies clothes.....here

Unique ladies wear at Flinders...Zeega...here

Salmon Bon Bons from the Tassal Shop..here is the recipe...here

Beautiful cakes and biscuits from....The Iced Biscuit..here..

Glasshouse Candles, Diffusers.....special fragrances...here

The Padpod...innovative and inexpensive for a different gift......here 


And some extra special gifts.....


Willie Wildlife Sculptures...so many choices.....here

.......and fabulous jewellery.....Jan Logan....here

An array of many different choices for all..enjoy the shopping....Wendy

Christmas gifts from Australia...

Here are a couple of my favourite Australian products that would make wonderful Christmas gifts for loved ones...beautiful throws from Creswick Wool...they are made from Alpacas...here in Victoria... and are excellent when the summer nights are not quite so summery......here

Alpaca Throws

Just love these cute Alpacas.....

Images - Creswick Wool, 6 Roche Street, Hawthorn

And if you would like some Australian sheets, summer quilt sets, etc., then why not go to Abode Living for some beautiful linen, the fabric is luxurious Italian, but the products are all made  in Victoria.....here

Images - Abode Living, Camberwell Road, Camberwell

Happy Christmas buying.....Wendy

Uluru...the ultimate Christmas gift....

Why is it every year Christmas seems to come around earlier?  Is it just that we are getting older and time is so precious and we are all so busy?  I think it is the latter, what do you think?  

Of course our minds turn to holidays as well as gifts and I wonder have you booked your vacation yet?   I was thinking about this and wondered about Uluru, this has to be the ultimate gift with lasting memories.

Image -  Voyages.us5list

Wouldn't that be memorable?  ....why not give yourself and/or someone you love the ultimate gift this Christmas, lasting memories enriched with a new understanding of the majestic living cultural landscape of Australia's "spiritual heart" Uluru...Visit the website

During the Christmas holiday period there are many activities including, I believe, the already popular free daily Indigenous activities at Ayers Rock Resort...Here 

There is the ability to participate and engage in activities such as boomerang and spear throwing and traditional Indigenous games...here

Watch world-renowned artists from Maruku Arts demonstrate the technique of fine poker work on wooden artefacts synonymous to Central Australian Aboriginal art.....Visit the website

Image - Ayersrockresort.com.au

There are many and varied types of accommodation...for instance there is relaxed dining under the desert sky...here...a real treat....or for those who enjoy to stay within their comfort zone, there are many hotels from 3 star to a luxurious 4 1/2 star from which to choose...there is a variety of dining experiences...perhaps you might enjoy grilling a barramundi on the BBQ...so many choices....Here

Image - outbackaustralia.com

Image - desertgardenshotel.com

One thing is definite, if you are still deciding where to go this Christmas, then you will need to book quickly....

Next week more Christmas gifts.....Wendy

 Paul Bangay's Garden....23 & 24 November...a must see

I have been an avid admirer of Paul Bangay and the wonderful magic he works with gardens and to see his own garden is really something special.  His garden along with Stuart Rattle's Musk Farm, are open on Saturday & Sunday 23-24 November...I have not seen Stuart Rattle's Musk Farm, but I believe that it is well worth the visit...for both gardens tickets available on line...Click here...

All images - Paul Bangay

Paul is arguably Australia's pre-eminent garden designer...here is a small glimpse of his beautiful garden...a short drive via Daylesford....for directions see his website.... Here

Paul is also a proud member on the board for "The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation" committed to ensuring the learning of cooking and food growing for children nationally...proceeds will be donated to this excellent cause.    Stonefields is the focus of a new Paul Bangay book with photography by Simon Griffiths just released and will be available to purchase at Stonefields on 23 and 24 November...here

Be quick to get your tickets, this is fabulous......Wendy

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Climb the Auburn Tower........

Auburn Uniting Church 

 Cnr.Oxley Rd./Hepburn Street, Hawthorn

Open on Saturday 26 October, 10am -4pm

If you have never done a climb up this gorgeous Venetian type tower, don't miss out as it is only open once annually.  The view from the tower is unforgettable with the ability to see the Sacred Heart dome in Kew, Xavier dome and the City towers, of course.

The tower is often lit up at night and also its Venetian type lamps on fence posts are lit. Restoration is ongoing on this magnificent church with a superb interior.  The pillars at the top are of cast iron and are in need or urgent restoration and any support you can give by doing the climb would go towards the maintenance.

The church is one of the biggest church complexes in Melbourne with Manse, Gardner's Cottage, Stables, a large hall and a Caretaker's cottage and there are many other points of interest.  

The tower will be open to the public in conjunction with the Jewellery Bling Fling in the hall on Saturday 26 October, same time, 10 am to 4pm.  

Further information on the Bling Fling may be found... here

If you would like further information on becoming a member of the Friends of the Auburn Tower the email address is.....here

Auburn Tower & Jewellery Bling Fling both Open on 
Saturday 26 October, 10am -4pm

Looking forward to seeing you at The Tower......Wendy

The Secret Keeper....by Kate Morton

I have been wanting to read The Secret Keeper written by Australian Kate Morton for some time and have only just done so and what a wonderful book...first a little about the author, Kate Morton...

Image - Kate Morton

Kate Morton is the eldest of three sisters.  Her family moved several times before settling on Tamborine Mountain where she attended a small country school.  Kate enjoyed reading books from an early age, her favourites being those by Enid Blyton...read more about  Kate here.

Growing up in Tamborine Mountain and spending a great deal of time climbing trees and hiding in them, led Kate to an idea for the beginning of her book The Secret Keeper. This book encompasses mystery, a love story, friendship, trust and loyalty, second chances and the power of love...all the necessities for a good read...I just loved it and an added bonus, it is printed in Australia...here

Image - by  Kate Morton

Here is a glimpse of the story....

"1961: On a sweltering summer's day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, 16 year old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can't wait to seize.  But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.

2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past.  Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history.  A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds, Dorothy, Viven and Jimmy, who are brought together by chance in wartime London and whose lives become fiercely and fatally entwined......."

It's a fascinating tale and a quite surprising, unpredictable end...I would highly recommend The Secret Keeper by this Australian Author ... also have a listen to a delightful interview with Kate on her website 

.... when you finish The Secret Keeper,  her other best selling novels, The Shifting Fog and The Forgotten Garden have also won worldwide acclaim...read more about them here

Enjoy this excellent book ....Wendy