Market days and more.......

During the last month it has not been all work and no play.  We have managed to get out and about each weekend to check out the local farmers markets.

Our first stop was Violet Town to see their well known Community Market.  Held on the second Saturday of each month this is the biggest market in the district and people come from miles to enjoy.  I had first seen it on TV a few years ago and on our first visit was not disappointed.  A lovely sunny day helped make our few hours out very pleasant.  We left with fresh fruit and a bottle of Mocha Liqueur.

The next morning we drove to Avenel to see their Make It, Bake It, Grow It market.  This was a much smaller market but had some lovely fresh produce which we bought and enjoyed during the week.  Leaving the market we drove into Seymour for a quick look but have decided that Shepparton will be a much better option for our 'Big Smoke' needs.

The next week it was time for Euroa Village Farmers Market.  It was a very cold and damp day so not too many people had ventured out.  Again, though small there was lots of lovely fresh produce and also a huge pumpkin competition.  I didn't know pumpkins could grow that big!

On Sunday morning we braved the cold and the wind and made our way to Sevens Creeks Estate to attend their annual Garden Party.  This was advertised as the major fund raising event for the Euroa Hospital.  We had a walk around the beautiful gardens here, stopped and had a Devonshire Tea before meeting up with Judy and Geoff.  

We joined them for a short while before deciding to head home out of the cold.  It was such a shame as the week before had been glorious. The paper this week told us that 500 people had attended but I think most were like us, just in and out fairly quickly.

We have enjoyed checking out our local Cafes and love the Euroa Bakery, The Weekend Local, Fare Enough and Alberts.  A little further around the Seven Creek walk we found The Euroa Butter Factory.  This lovely old building now operates as a B and B with Cafe.  They do dinner each Friday night so perhaps a visit is in order.

When we arrived one month ago we found Seven Creek almost empty, something we had never seen before on our previous visits.  We discovered the reason for this was that new weir gates were being installed so the water had run out when the old gates had been removed.

The new gates have now been installed and with a few days of rain the creek is running again and the weir at Seven Creek park is full and looking lovely again.

Along the creek a little further we come to VC Memorial Park where there are three new bronze statues of Euroa's Victoria Cross recipients.  These statues are of Lt Col L Maygar who was awarded his Victoria Cross during The Boer War 1901.  While in the 5th Victoria Mountain Rifles 1917 led the last 30 men off Galipoli. 

Frederick Tubb, a local lad from Longwood and Alexander Burton from Euroa are the other two recipients whose actions at Galipoli earned them their VC.  

With ANZAC Day this year commemorating the 100th year since the landing on Galipoli we have heard much about the heroic deeds of these three young men.

All three have local landmarks named after them with Burtons Bridge in Euroa crossing Seven Creek.  Tubb Hill and Maygars Hill are on the way to Lockwood.  Maygars Hill is also a Vineyard and cottage where you will find a small museum and a very nice wine.  We visited here on Anzac Day and left with a couple of bottles of their very good Shiraz.

During the week before Anzac Day we had timed it just right to see three horses being ridden down Binney St with a piper leading the way.  Three riders from the Upper Murray are commemorating the ANZAC centenary by bringing the eternal flame from Melbourne to Corryong on horse back.  We joined a few people who had braved the cold to come and see them.

On Wednesday morning last week we enjoyed some time at the local library listening to the Australian Author Fleur McDonald.  Raised near Orroroo in SA and farming for many years near Esperance WA She writes stories of life in the Australian Outback.  She was a lovely lady and we enjoyed hearing all about how she became an author.  

The next night we joined Faye and Kevin for dinner at The Longwood Hotel.  We had a great night enjoying a very nice chicken Parma, a glass or two of Longwood Shiraz and great company.  

A visit into Melbourne for a Jazz lunch with Mum turned into a bit more of an adventure than I wanted.  At the station to catch the 8.28 train we were told that it had been replaced by a bus as there had been a derailment at Mangalore.  As the bus still hadn't arrived 45 mins later I got Bill to drive me to Seymour and caught the train from there.  It was a good trip in, mum and the Jazz were all good and Bill met me in Seymour later that evening.  We drove back and had dinner at the Euroa Hotel before heading home.  It was a big day out.

A few weeks ago we read about the release of some Regent Honey Eaters at the old Magenta mine site in Chiltern so we decided to drive up on Sunday and see if we could find any.  Still elusive but we had a lovely day with morning tea at The Mulberry Tree, a walk through the local market stalls at the Lake View House and then spent some time at the mine site and Green Dam.  Lots of pretty little birds at the dam and two very hardworking galahs determined to dig a hole in this huge tree.  I'm sure there were many old holes available in the forest but they seemed hell bent on this spot.

The next week we drove to the city for our Dr's appointments and once done went and visited Suzie to meet their gorgeous little girl Alexandra Anne.  At just 6 weeks old she looks just like a little doll and I certainly enjoyed my cuddles with her.  We enjoyed our visit with Suzie, Sharni and Nan but were sorry we had missed seeing Bryce, the proud Dad. We said goodbye and drove home to soup for dinner glad we did not have to face more traffic any time soon.

This last week it has been very busy at home with the electricians, plumbers, tree loppers and the carport guys all coming in and out doing their jobs.  I'm sure Wilma and Gordon will be happy when all the noisy work is done.  I know I will be!  

The next week saw us with two lots of visitors as Joy and David came to stay on the Monday night and Astrid and Hans arrived on Thursday and stayed till Saturday.  A visit to the Euroa Farmers Market on Saturday morning was enjoyed in the glorious sunshine.

And so as you can see we have enjoyed our first weeks here in Euroa and look forward to many years of quiet country living but for now I'll be off 

Until next time........