A Perfect Day

Even though we are experiencing above average temperatures this winter with a couple of days coming up when it will be 10 degrees hotter than average, it was perfect weather for catching up with old friends for an outside lunch at one of my favourite local spots, Danish Flower Art. I have mentioned this fabulous tourist attraction before in the posts Having a Gourd Time and and Danish Flower Art...Home of the Gourd Bird.

Pink gourds decorate the tables scattered outside the cafe.

 Multi coloured gourds hang on the walls...

...and many are available for sale.  If you would like to grow your own gourds there are several varieties available from Eden Seeds.

 Some are decorative and others have had a hole cut in them for adding plants. However, I was looking for a coloured one to use for a planter as I saw Sophie Thomson on Gardening Australia make one for using indoors recently in this episode Gorgeous Gourds. I didn't see quite what I was looking for unfortunately but was able to buy a small gift for an interstate friend from the beading shop there and felt quite proud of myself that I didn't succumb to the temptation to buy more beads as I already have more than enough to use up from the years when beading was a very popular craft.

 As you would have read in the previous posts one of the sheds features mainly glass beads but, if you ever visit, then make sure you go into both buildings as another one is chockablock full of colourful beads, many of which would be great for children's crafts.

 I asked the staff what doing stocktake was like and I believe it is done by weighing the beads but what a massive job it must be.

We had a little child with us and the playground was very popular. It is next to the cafe so you can watch your child play while catching up with friends. 

These birds (whose name escapes me now) enjoy wandering around the complex - especially around the tables after lunch :-) Don't you love the feathers?

As the Carnival of Flowers is just around the corner as it starts on the 15th September, this will be a popular place to visit if you happen to be in the Toowoomba region for a few days. Danish Flower Art is on the New England Highway near Highfields and is not far from The Chocolate Cottage which is also a must-see tourist attraction. Here you can sit outside with friends and look out over the Toowoomba Range. Nearby there is also a patchwork shop, Quilters Angel and a number of gift shops which are always interesting to look through. 

I have known the friends I met up with today since the 1970s. Five years ago we lost one of our group to cancer so each year we have the joy of catching up with her lovely daughter and granddaughter to remember our old friend who was a very faithful friend over the years and to see her granddaughter grow up. I can tell you she is growing into a delightful little girl. 

All in all it was a perfect day!