Camping out west

As a family, we love nothing more than to explore the beautiful country we live in. Whether it's going on little adventures in the car, or taking camping holidays. Being outdoors and experiencing nature, as well as discovering new towns, and bushwalks are exciting to us. There is nothing better than sitting around a campfire on a crisp, clear night and looking up at a starry sky!

For a while, we had been planning to go on a camping trip with our friends that travelled along the Newell highway to places like Dubbo, Coonabarabran, Warrabumgunles National Park, Glen Innes, Inverell, and Tamworth. So when Popette asked if we could purchase a bale of hay or donate some money to the farmers, we thought it would be a good idea to go during the holidays and visit the areas where we could donate directly to the rural towns and support the farming communities.

Being able to visit small businesses and see farms who weren't getting any rain, was a good life lesson for our girls. It taught them what measures farmers had to take so they could feed themselves, their stock, and water their crops.

Driving along the Newell we spotted numerous rigs hauling bales of hay

On the stretch to the Warrumbungles NP

The views up the top of Siding Springs - you must go on the behind-the-scenes tour!

Kangaroos are everywhere!

The Kangaroos in the afternoon sun at Copeton Dam

Pilliga Sandstone caves at Coonabarabran

View of Mt Kaputar in the distance

With the Giraffes at Dubbo Zoo (and yes Popette is nearly taller than me!)

Emu chicks - from an Emu farm we visited in Tooraweenah - we purchased some emu oil
 and a couple of knitted emu soft toys. The farm was having a bad year and
 worried that if they couldn't buy feed from a local, they would have to cull some more of their emus.

Popette running with the emus

Standing stones at Glen Innes

Taking in the view of the lake while enjoying breakfast

Within the Warrumbungles - the view from our site

Warrumbungles

Fossicking for sapphires, Hubby had good eyes and found me one!

It's lovely seeing stock grazing on the side of the road

You can't stop in Tamworth without visiting the Giant Golden Guitar - my first visit!

Here are some ways you can help support farmers, if you are thinking of taking a camping trip out west:

• Visit towns that are affected by the drought,
• Stay in the local caravan parks or hotels, 
• Purchase items from the local stores, 
• Instead of taking groceries with you, buy them when you get there.
• Enjoy a meal at the local pub, or pickup some pies and bread rolls from the bakery, 
• Visit the family-run tourist attractions - some of the attractions we visited included: fossicking at Sapphire, a Crystal Museum/Shop at Coonabarabran, Dubbo Zoo, Siding Springs Observatory & behind the scenes tour, and an Emu Farm at Tooraweenah.

You might have seen some of these pics shared on IG or FB. I tend to spend more time posting photos to my Instagram account rather than posting to my Facebook page, so it would be great if you would come over and join me. 😊

A letter to Cherub - now you are 7

To my little Cherub,

Little, you are not so much, as you are growing up to be a tall girl. I can't believe you are 7! Ever since you started school, time seems to have flown by. The days of us sitting on the back deck painting or joining friends at playgroup are slowly becoming a distant memory in place of home readers, book parades, playdates and homework.

You are still a chatterbox. Your constant chitter chatter drives us & Popette crazy at times. You are our "Boo Boo", and the baby of the family. Out of all of us, you are the one who always wakes up happy and ready to give out cuddles.

Your sweet nature has earned you many friends at school with numerous party invitations throughout the year much to your sister's jealousness.

Popette at the river earlier this year

You and Popette both love playing games together involving your ponies, unicorns, princesses and BFFs animals. The imaginary worlds you both create bring you countless hours of joy. If only you had as much enthusiasm in cleaning up after yourself and putting your toys away as you do with coming up with ideas of different games to play.

You are thoughtful and will offer one of your own lollies or chocolates to us if we don't have any.

You wear your heart on your sleeve and believe in the goodness of people even though sometimes that means you get hurt.

You had a lovely birthday! First enjoying opening your presents on our bed at 6.30am! So much for sleeping in! After a breakfast of mushrooms on toast (your request), we played a game of tenpin bowling (Daddy won!) and games at playtime. Then had some morning tea at Krispy Kreme.

You can't go to tenpin bowling without strutting out some dance moves

Deciding against a ride on your bike we had a backyard picnic then you and Popette coloured-in and played with your new BFFs and Shopkins toys together.

Popette's 7th birthday (back in September)

It was a lovely day which ended with your favourite meal and chocolate mud birthday cake with Nanna.

Lots of love,
Mumma xxxx