We Had a Day Out

For once, we had nothing in the calendar today, other than the groceries and a few other bits and bobs around town.  So, what to do for the rest of the day?  Why not go for a drive.  But where to?  Why not head to Lithgow and visit my friend at her farmer’s markets stall.  That sounded like a good plan.

It was nearly 11 o’clock before we were on our way and decided to take the scenic route, via Portland. We only ever seem to get there on the weekend or in the late afternoon for the bonfire night.

The weather was lovely and sunny here for the first part of the morning,  but was gradually clouding over from the east.  That didn’t bode well for where we were headed.  By the time we reached Yetholme the wipers were on and it was looking rather miserable.  Yetholme is about 15kms east of Bathurst and where the easterly weather seems to usually finish.  Not to worry, we would still have a good day out.

To our surprise, and somewhat relief, the drizzle stopped and the sun even tried, in vain, to shine when we reached Portland.  We just went for a wander up and down the street, enjoying the murals that are painted on the shops.  There are a few nice old buildings.  

We popped into Vinnies, where I found a little Quilt Journal that may be handy.

There are a group of people that visit most years and add more reproduction old advertising art to the buildings.

From there, we headed into Lithgow to discover the farmer’s markets weren’t on today, despite all the advertising saying the first and third Thursday.  This month it was changed to the second and fourth.  Not to worry, there will be another time.  

Fortunately, the rain was still holding off. It was only 7 degrees C, but no wind, so not too bad, as we were rugged up. 

By now it was lunch time and we knew just the place to go on a cold and bleak day for a nice meal.  The Tin Shed.  

We weren’t disappointed.  The food was delicious and the wood fired heater was keeping the place nice and toasty warm.

After lunch, we just wandered up and down Main Street.  That always brings back many memories for me, as we used to go shopping there when visiting Grandma.  

The businesses are very different now, but most of the buildings are still there and I remember the old shops and what we bought there over the years.  The newspaper building is now an op shop.

There are two old picture theatres in Lithgow.  One has been empty for some time, but the Union Theatre is still functioning with a keen little movie club.  The building is rather lovely and I have never noticed the details on the top of the facade before.  I wonder what they mean?

We popped into a few op shops.  The ones in Lithgow are on the whole pretty good and the prices reasonable.

Yes, a few treasures came home with me.  Mainly vintage linens.  The Queensland souvenir tablecloth will come with us in the caravan when we head to Queensland next time.

I noticed this cute little rabbit, made from a recycled woollen blanket and didn’t initially buy it, but when walking back past the shop on the way to the car I had a change of heart and brought her home.  She is so sweet, and I’m sure someone would have originally paid way more than the $5 I paid.  I now have to think of a name for her and decide where she will live.

Mick is on the hunt for one particular novel to complete a series he is reading.  He could, of course, buy it on line, but it is much more fun to look for it on our travels.  There are two second hand book stores in Lithgow, but neither had it.  However,  the second one had one of the Elm Creek series that I was looking for, so I was rather happy with that.

Once we left Lithgow, we took another detour on the way home, this time via Oberon.  We didn’t even take the most usual route, but took a more minor road, which we haven’t traveled on for many years.  Looking east to the Blue Mountains, the weather was still looking rather murky.  I tried to take a photo looking down a valley, but missed and ended up with this photo of some gates.  I rather like it, although it was by accident.

At Oberon, we popped into another op shop, but it had nothing of interest and was rather expensive.  We did however, pop into one of the two butcher shops that has a good reputation.  What to buy?  Ooh!  Look at that….kidneys.  You don’t see them very often these days.  

Therefore, we bought some stewing steak and kidneys and had a delicious steak and kidney potato pie for tea.  (We took the lazy option, rather than waiting for the meat to cool and topping it with pastry.)  I don’t know how long it is since I last made it, I’m guessing about 25 years or so.

So that topped off a lovely, random day out.  We should do it more often.