After our picnic in the park was over, we went for a short walk to the Chinese Gardens to explore. After living in and around Bendigo for most of our lives, we had never been to visit here before. Always the way though isn't it? We will have to try to visit some more attractions around the place. The kids love exploring.
There is the Chinese Museum there too but we didn't go in this time. The kids would like to go back again though. It houses the Dragons that are used in the Easter Fair parade.
I loved these paper cranes made from old catalogues.
We wandered back past the park and spotted these bats that are famous for being pests there. I couldn't believe how noisy they were. The girls thought they were cool but kind of creepy. I am glad we weren't any closer to them I must admit.
We walked up to the old Post Office building which now houses the tourist information centre for Bendigo. Inside there was this exhibition of dresses made from farming waste that is a feature of the Elmore Field Days (a farming show) every year. As you can imagine, Esther, Ellamay and Amelia all thought this was great. It reminded them of the dresses we saw at Floriade last year.
They were made of things like old bags, fencing wire, shell casings, weed matting, bird netting, electric fence tape and my favourite, the yellow dress made from plastic banana bags. I was annoyed when I got home because I realised that I didn't get a picture of the whole dress only the back lace detail. How cool are they though? To be made of rubbish but too look kind of pretty... not that you would really pick them to wear out to party but you know what I mean.
After all this exploring it seemed like a good time for ice cream so we packed up and went to McDonald's and had ice cream and a cuppa. The kids played on the play ground and we sat and relaxed. Then everyone had frozen cokes and more playing.
By the time we went home, everyone was worn out. What a day though! To me, it was perfect. Lots of fun, lots of time together and lots of treats. We don't know what the future will bring. Our plan is to always celebrate moments like this.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
Psalm 145:7
Sounds like a wonderful day. We must take our kids to some of these places as we too forget that they are on our doorstep.
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