Ballarat the Beautiful Part I and another fab giveaway....

.... as many of you know, TraderVic and I escaped to Ballarat on the Cup Day weekend to stay with my uncle and aunt.  As always, they spoilt me rotten and we did some fun things together.  Do you want to see?

[Edit: I wrote a lovely long post the other day - it took me ages to upload the photos and write it all but then blogger just deleted everything- aaaghhh! So, I am starting again and my Ballarat adventures will now be over three posts - I hope that you enjoy reading all of them.]

So, first off we went to the Ballarat Springfest, set around the shores of Lake Wendouree on the Sunday:

Despite just having had breakfast we had to have a Bretzel to share (it was so good that we had to buy some more for morning tea on the way back!)

Then we wandered past all of the stalls.  There was lots to see and admire.  Like these wonderful birdhouses.

Here is my uncle, one of my favourite people in all the world.  He and I have been soul mates forever!

Black swans with their cygnets.  I tried to get a bit closer but the papa swan (on the left) started getting a bit aggressive, so I beat a hasty retreat.

Scenes by the lake.

A reminder that Lake Wendouree was the venue for the rowing at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.

Some scenes from Ballarat's gold rush days.

.... and then it started to rain so we went home to have some more bretzels!

Nancy from Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe is having another fabulous giveaway:

You can enter here and you have until the 30th November to enter.  Please tell Nancy I sent you.

Good luck.

Blessings on you all,