Toys in Tumut

APEC was a blessing! How else would we have gotten a long weekend in September to head down to Tumut for some fun on the big tonka toys?...oh and of course to eat our body weight in fine home cookin' and laze in the sun amidst gorgeous green rolling hills and gently lowing cattle!

Arriving late Thursday night to a warm fire and freely flowing wine was a fabulous start. Then to a bright sunny Friday morning and a trip into town for some coffee and supplies while the Franklin family headed to Wagga to farewell their beloved Granddad.

Friday night saw a Nick and Margaret Feast of epic proportions (scaled down to just 4 courses in the end for practicality sake) and a tired but enthusiastic bunch looking forward to our Tonka toy day the next day.

Bright and early Saturday morning while Nick, Sarah and I headed into town for some last minute purchases, the boys took to the Excavator (you're not allowed to call it a Digger apparently or you won't be allowed to have a go on it!) and knocked down some huge pine trees that were irritating Miles. On our return we headed out to find the ute, which brought a whole new bunch of problems with it. We couldn't find the key, then we couldn't get it started, then when we got it out of the shed we found the trailer attached (a good thing) but full of hay (a bad thing). Of course the only solution worth contemplating at Quidong is to pull out a few large tonka toys to sort things out. We all pondered on what a normal farmer might do who doesn't have access to large earth moving equipment?? Anyway, with Sarah the Bacco Whiz fixing the situation we were at least ready to start getting the Ute in working order.

Sarah the Bacco Whiz!

With the trailer empty, the Ute jump started (with a tow from the Bacco), ....and some scary looking chain saws loaded in the back, we headed for the hills and some logging activities while G'Nick stayed home playing on the excavator (much to Sarah's concern) and mowed like a madman!

Nick on the Excavator

Nick the Mowing god!

Since utes have limited cabin space, Sarah and I sat in the trailer...what a view! And such a different colour from the brown dry land pre-wedding!!
Miles took the lead in yet another toy...
...until we found the perfect tree. Miles needed a new telegraph pole so a straight sturdy tree needed to be brought back with us.

I did my bit(e)!

We chopped and we carried and we loaded the Ute full of firewood

With Flit driving the ute, Sarah and I holding on and freezing in the back, Matt and Miles drove the tractor and dragged our new telegraph pole home. There were a few hairy moments going around corners where the log threatened to roll off the side of the hill or get stuck in a pesty blackberry bush, but we were triumphant in the end! Even Noodle (who had stayed home studying Med Chem all day) came out to see us parade through the gates!

Matt in the tractor leading the parade home.

After some yummy scones and jam, and a quick look at the handy work of mowing man Nick, we headed out for one last go on the yellow toy. The trees the boys had knocked down earlier in the day needed to be pushed into a pile for our giant bonfire!

Sarah showing me how to drive the excavator out to the bonfire! SOOOO much FUN!!

Sunday brought more sun and a relaxing breakky.

One of Noodle's rare appearances.

MMMMM...pancakes and ice cream for breakfast!

We left early (about 11.30am) after breakfast to avoid the holiday traffic. After many visits out this way Flit finally won the battle and was allowed to visit the Dog on the Tuckerbox. Happy as a pig in mud!
....Not really sure what happened to the holiday traffic though...we got home in record time!

A brilliant way to spend a weekend and a first wedding anniversary to boot!