Berrima

Ok, now after the market on Saturday, we made a short trip to Berrima.

We have been here before, so I will have to dig out some of the old photos to share of the historical places as I did not take any this time around.

Berrima was initially earmarked as the hub of the southern region around the 1830's, but then the railway went through to Moss Vale abt 1860 and that was the end of Berrima.

Well not entirely, Berrima still has its goal, which is still in operation.

Actually, just as an aside, I have found records listing an ancestor of mine being here -
Honorah/Norah/Honor CONNOR/CONNORS/O'CONNOR nee COLLINS with 2 of her sons

No - they were not incarcerated (I think that is spelt right).  Berrima Goal was used as a overnight stop for those travelling between Sydney and further south.  The CONNORS & COLLINS family lived in the Monaro Region, which is south of Canberra.  Both families were from Ireland, but different counties.

Ok back to Berrima - well it has 2 sides to a street - ok not unusual, most streets have 2 sides, except that between the two sides is a lovely, very large park.  It would have been impressive if development had of progressed.

Berrima has quite a few little touristy shops - lollies, cafes, bakeries, nick-nacks, cafes, jams, ice-cream, cafes, christmas shop, cafes, clothing, alpaca shops and lots and lots of antique shops.  Actually the Southern Highlands is renown for the number and variety of antique shops - from junky bits and pieces that would be perfect in your home to internationally old, old pieces of beautiful, quality furniture.

Yes, I visited just about as many as I could squeeze in - hubby loves the timber pieces, so its not a chore or boring for him.  Just we tend to go in different directions and gets a bit frustrating wanting to show each other pieces we have found  ☺

No I did not buy anything, self-control all the way.  But next time ...... well he has been warned

One of my favourite shops has no furniture.  Sorry no photos, I was in a hurry to get inside and look.  Next time - promise. 

It looks just like a very old house from the front, the front room (which is an entire old home) is filled with all those little bits - there are drawers and boxes and drawers and boxes full of cutlery, kitchenware, tools - so much.  The next large sheddy-type room has nothing but linen - again, drawers, drawers, shelves, shelves and shelves - so much

And the next large sheddy-type room has books, books, books, books and oh yeah books

When you go outside and look sideways at the property, it looks like a HUGE farm shed attached to a house at front

Oh yeah - they also have the longest running hotel licence in Australia - The Surveyor General Inn.  There are lots of other older pubs in Australia, but not with a continuing running licence.  Did not stop in this time as we had just had yummy pies and coffee at Gumnut Bakery

We would love to take this on as a project

Birds

Just a couple of photos of a few of the birds we saw and heard down on the farm.

Morning was always wonderful with lots of bird music

They were unusually very considerate

As the sun was well and truly up before the carrolling began

Most were quick and just the flash of colour and the whirr of wings were to be seen and heard.

So I didn't get photos of Blue Wrens (love them, so sweet, we used to have lots of them visit at our old home and I do miss them), Currawongs, Crows, Lorikeets, Rosellas, White Cockatoos

that's only a list of those I can name and remember

Others were so tiny and so well camoflauged that the photos just do not show them - unless you have super detective eyes and can blow up photos and know what you are looking for.

And I know that there are 20 - 30 finch type birds in this photo and I can only see one and I know where to look!!!!

Ok I know its difficult - supremely so

So I zoomed the photo and marked those I could see

There were more though still hidden

And the big square has 3 birds in it!!!!

A pair of Black cockatoos

These birds have a distinctive call

and they are HUGE (wing span 60-69cm/24-28in)

much bigger than the Yellow Crested Cockatoo

I think their nest is here as they are usually in hollow logs

White Wagtail who we have always called Willy Wagtails

As for animals

Well, unusual in that we did not see any Kangaroos or Wallabies

I did get to see a VERY, VERY, LARGE wombat

But he was dead

Thought I would spare you the photo  - VBG!!!!!

I'm baaaccckkkk ....... well sort of

I just want to go back!!!!

I fell in love!!!!

It called to me

I felt completely and utterly "at home"

Ok, so I spent the weekend at Moss Vale in our Southern Highlands

About 2 hour drive from home

Hubby and I have been before

This trip just reconfirmed our love for the area

Our home for the weekend was "Sugar Glider" (a native animal)

more info here about the property,

but my photos are better

(me with very smug look and probably half closed eyes)

Sugar Glider

The original part of the house (the front) was built c1913

The place is tiny - dining, lounge, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom/laundry

And it was perfect for us!!!!!

The weather was perfect

Yes it was colder than we are use to, but we quickly adapted

Actually I spent Sunday in a singlet top (in the middle of the day) soaking up the sun

We had breakfast out here on Saturday morning

but Sunday and Monday was inside in the sunny dining room cause

we are a bit woosie and loved the warmth inside

Sorry about the blurry photo

It was taken after lunch on Sunday  ☺

Saturday morning we went to the local Farmers Market at Moss Vale,

sorry no photos

I was too busy taste testing

Coffee, Jam, Cheese, Bread

they came home with us

but I should have also got some

pumpkin, goats milk soap, chicken, fruit & veg

there was even some beautiful hand-woven alpaca items - so soft

Then we went to Berrima

But that's another story .......

The property is a cattle farm which has these beautiful, friendly, very quiet animals

Angus Cattle

They came up to have a chat

And there were birds !!!!!!!

Hard to get photos

Some were only about a foot flying above my head

And I was too slow to get a photo

Currawongs, Crows, Rosellas, Lorikeets, Willy Wagtails, Finches, Cockatoos

many more that I can't name

so my bird book has come out to identify them

Enough for now

you will be bored and sleepy