Back Home Again!

After an uneventful flight back to Brisbane from Mt.Isa and an equally uneventful trip from the airport with Greyhound, I arrived home last night after spending a little over a week with my daughter, son-in-law and my grandchildren. The baby especially had grown so much since I was there in December and he is an absolute delight at nearly five months.

My daughter and I had seen some gorgeous photos online which were taken with babies and their grandparents and just before I left we tried to take a few but have you ever tried to keep a baby still long enough to take a really great photo? We did end up with a couple and I edited the one above but the effect I chose makes my hand look like it is cyanosed. LOL! I didn't take my new DSLR camera up with me which was just as well as it would have been wet from the pouring rain when I was running to board the plane during the rain event on the 1st May. 

Here are a few photos I took with my camera which I couldn't include in a post when I was there as I had to use the Blogsy App on my iPad as my girl's laptop has gone kaput. This is the sign at the school where the young teacher who was killed the night after I arrived taught Year 3. She was only in her twenties and it was such a waste of a young life.

If you ever visit Mt.Isa, Outback at Isa is the place to visit to plan your time there especially if you want to explore the area. There is plenty of information available for tourists as well as a cafe and I think there may be a museum or art gallery as well.

My littlest granddaughter turned five at the weekend and her birthday party was held at the Mt.Isa Family Fun Park. That chimney stack in the background is from the Mount Isa Mines which isn't far from the fun park.

In the grounds of the fun park there sits 'Mucker Duck'. There is an explanation of the artwork as follows:

'Mucker Duck' 2009. This artwork is centred around a 1950s heritage mining 'rail shovel' (or 'mucker') once used at Mt.Isa Mines and has been created by Queensland artist Christopher Trotter. The 'rail shovel' was generously donated by 'Outback at Isa'. 

With regard to this piece, Christopher explains that he endeavours to create new life through the careful selection of recycled objects, colour and composition. Adding qualities of humour and playfulness to the public place, the 'Mucker Duck' has elements of both delight and discovery.'

Upon further inspection the viewer is rewarded with the hidden layers of life. 

How many ducks can you find?

I found six ducks!

While we were waiting for the birthday guests to arrive I spied these jean planters at the back of the PCYC next door so zoomed in with my camera to get a shot. How funny are they? LOL!

Anyone with a baby would know how hard it is to go clothes shopping and, as my daughter needed to find some winter clothes, I looked after bub while we checked out a few shops including Oasis which is where we found Jac, one of the finalists in My Kitchen Rules. I asked her if she minded if I took a photo for my granddaughter who was sad that they didn't win and I think my daughter was mortified when I asked her to be in the photo too. :-) Jac was very nice and extremely helpful and she is just a down to earth lady.

 I took a couple of photos of the plants that are growing in the garden but couldn't remember what the name of this yellow flower is. Does anyone know? The CEO couldn't remember either and said we used to have it in another colour.

These are the roses that were given out to all the mothers at church on Sunday which was a lovely gesture. They are very pretty I must say.

 
Just before we left for the airport yesterday this little cutie rolled over for the first time much to the delight of his nanna. 

So now it is back to routine once more. Cold weather is forecast for tomorrow so I have just packed away the clothes I took to Mt.Isa as they won't be needed for some time. There will be no 34C days here in the coming months. :-)