big blackbutt weekend

he

 

- He spent most of the formal parts of the wedding (which were very casual, on an expanse of grass under the gum trees, with lots of people getting up to share stories and memories and songs) drawing pictures and asking questions. At one point he announced - to the delight of those around us - "I like birthdays and I like parties. But I don't like weddings!" After drawing one more octopus he paused, changed his mind, and added, "I do like weddings because they have music." Later, he proved this true as he sat close to the stage, sometimes visited by friends but mostly alone, transfixed by the live music, drumming on the ground with his sticks for hours into the night.
- He helped light a candle and float it on the dam as part of wedding celebrations. That was pretty special. Particularly the part where a huge cane toad splashed right beside him. 
- His friends crawled in to read books with him in our amazing borrowed tee-pee once he woke up the following morning.
- A winning op shop purchase a few days beforehand (along with his new camp bed/sleeping bag combo) was this travel desk/kit, perfect for his current passion for drawing. He used it for the entire travel time until falling asleep while shaping the twelfth leg of an octopus on the drive home, crayon poised (though the photo was taken after the crayon dropped).
- We spent Sunday afternoon visiting an old friend and his young family out that way, enjoying their deck, veggie lasagne, plethora of musical instruments (some hand made by him), veggie gardens, play equipment and acre of land to run on.

she

First ride on a swing, first wedding, first camping trip. Lots of big smiles and sooo many willing cuddlers.

me

- The entire weekend was delightful. I expected all of the visits and events to be great, but the actual traveling parts were surprisingly lovely (this was such a relief for me as our overseas trip - with lots of plane/car/RV/train traveling parts - is imminent)! We loved driving through the countryside on Saturday morning, spotting cows and horses and interesting trees, stopping at the pretty Toogoolawah markets before finally making it up the Blackbutt Range.

- Googa Outdoor Education Centre, in the Blackbutt forestry, was my home for two years, and our wedding venue, as I've mentioned before. It has a very special place in my heart and my history. We spent a couple of lazy hours there before heading back to Blackbutt for the wedding; I really wanted my little He and She to see the place. Wandering around, it concurrently felt like nothing and everything had changed.

- Camping with friends is delicious. Especially the first-thing-in-the-morning part, where everyone gradually emerges and gathers, cradling warm mugs of tea and remarking on the beauty of the day.

- Another of my favourite moments was on the drive home, Sunday evening. We were watching the sky grow colourful and then darken. Little He looked out and remarked, "It's like the sun is painting." Yep.