Before getting down to business I just had to include these pics of the best rainbow ever! - picture taken from our winter garden windows towards Mt Ainslie late last Thursday late afternoon........
But the big business this week was Abi starting Saturday morning horse riding lessons at Forest Park Riding School - out on the Cotter Road towards Mt Stromlo.
It sure looks like this could be the start of a love affair for Abi .........
Abi couldn't wait to tell us she'd scored "Sparkles" her favourite pony as her lesson mount (please note the very hairy llama like Wally following behind Sparkles - NOT Abi's favourite!)
The mirror is perfectly positioned to admire the horse - and the riding posture!
Abi had no trouble mastering the stand sit action in line with the movement of the horse's shoulders.
...and the complicated leg rein actions required to make your horse turn in a circle.
Cantering is a breeze ..........
The first lesson was a complete and utter satisfying success.......
This is the second year we've headed up to Thredbo with the kids - in the quiet week after the end of the official ski season. We love these mountains and the chance to have some fun together in a completely different environment, with a bit of remnant snow thrown in, is a great drawcard for us.
Rob and I arrived at our fave Snowgoose Apartments on Friday afternoon. The kids didn't arrive until about 9.00ish. We'd had some pretty bad weather reports for this weekend so expectations weren't high for being able to get out and about.
Our apartments have great views of the mountains and the chairlift up to Eagles Nest. The view did indeed look a bit forbidding on our first grey and gloomy Saturday morning.......
But we set off in high spirits anyway!
From Eagles Nest we started the walk to the Mt Kosciuszko lookout. A lot of the trail was still covered in snow but in the early stages it was pretty easy to walk through it just in our sneakers.
All the girls wanted to do was play in the snow!
I've never seen this area at this stage of snow thaw before. The landscape is just extraordinary - especially on this unsettled day with clouds and mist scudding around the sky, to add to the atmosphere ....
Ella took this great pic of her Mum and Dad ....
Jody Josh and Ella kept walking on the trail to the Lookout, but Abi preferred to do some exploring with us ....
She loves nature in all its forms , and all its small details.......
But she really loves snow!!
The girls were STARVING by the time we made it back to the village for lunch. There were few options available this super quiet weekend - lucky the Thredbo Hotel Bistro offers quite a few tasty (and healthy even) options.
The girls are at a stage where they squabble a bit and then enjoy a kiss and make up (before the next squabble starts!). Having a full tummy after lunch has quite a harmonising effect.
Our timing was perfect on Saturday because rain squalls (and even a light dusting of snow) started after lunch - perfect conditions for playing board games together (and the best game of Monopoly EVER!), drinking Veuve, and eating gourmet snacks.
Our fave Black Bear Inn was closed this weekend too so it was back to the Hotel Bistro again for dinner on Saturday night.
However we woke to a perfect sunny day in Thredbo this morning. Yay!
With time for a play in the park .......
before we headed back up the mountain .... such a change from yesterday.......
Harrison Redford goes to the mountains - with his stockwhip (for the wild Brumbies) and his hat ....
We made sure we had time to try the famous chocolate drinks from Eagles Nest today .......
... before heading for some more snow play again ....
the bigger the better today...
All too soon we were heading back down the mountain, our time at Thredbo finished for this year at least ......
A short drive later we were at Wild Brumby Schnapps Distillery for our long awaited lunch.
Although I think Abi was mostly waiting to see all the animals (including the inert ones) that surround the beautiful Wild Brumby property.
We enjoy the food at the Wild Brumby restaurant with its hearty German inspired dishes, but its mostly known in these parts for its schnapps distillery.
It's all very rustic and country style. Abi asked me to take a picture of her on this tractor seat - an unaccustomed request granted she hates having her photo taken.
She also took a lot of photos herself around our table (mostly very up close and very unflattering IMHO). I took this one of this gorgeous couple!!!
Abi was extremely put out that last year's friendly bulls weren't at the property this year... only this old man kangaroo ......
and a last minute sighting of some cows in the next paddock....
which made the visit to Wild Brumby worthwhile - for Abi at least.
We'll look forward to keeping this tradition of our Spring weekend in Thredbo next year too - we've all LOVED it!
But the big business this week was Abi starting Saturday morning horse riding lessons at Forest Park Riding School - out on the Cotter Road towards Mt Stromlo.
Abi couldn't wait to tell us she'd scored "Sparkles" her favourite pony as her lesson mount (please note the very hairy llama like Wally following behind Sparkles - NOT Abi's favourite!)
The mirror is perfectly positioned to admire the horse - and the riding posture!
Abi had no trouble mastering the stand sit action in line with the movement of the horse's shoulders.
...and the complicated leg rein actions required to make your horse turn in a circle.
Cantering is a breeze ..........
The first lesson was a complete and utter satisfying success.......
