Last weekend was a very tasty weekend. :) We spent it with some friends, a ute, a whole bunch of massive granite boulders, and a few delightful little wineries.Stanthorpe is a little town about as far south as you can go and still be Queensland. It's just on the border with New South Wales. It's quite a drive from Brissy, but we enjoyed the travelling too. Sometimes, at the end of a long week, the further you get from the city, the more the country air seems to seep in and let you breathe easier and smile bigger, you know? :)
Wherever I go I look at the trees. It sounds a bit boring I guess, and I'm only rarely nerdy or informed enough to know actually know the names of the trees, but I just love being surrounded by them. I especially love to note how many different kinds of gum trees there are here. And in this far southern part of the state, surprisingly scattered with the eucalyptus, there are some maples and other deciduous trees and vines. they reminded me that March really is Auttumn here. So anyway.... I just hope that explains why I have so many photos of trees. Lots of wildlife frolicking about as well :)
We visited three different wineries along the road over the weekend. Queensland is not normally noted for its wines, but apparently the industry is just beginning to really take off in recent years. And we certainly didn't mind sampling what this region has to offer. I was happily surprised. Inside and out, the wineries had all kinds of character and charm. I felt so sophisticated and relaxed! it may have been all the tasting :)
Saturday night there was a big opening dinner put on by one of the wineries, to celebrate their re-opening. that's where the photo you see at the top fits in. They had a local Italian restaurant cater the feast. I was so impressed, they had excellent Tiramisu -- one of the most perfect desserts ever invented if you ask me -- and they even designed a special gluten free meal and beautiful dessert just for Danny. So if you're ever in Queensland, this is my unashamed plug for the Summit Estate Winery in Stanthorpe -- it's fantastic.
There's a beautiful National park nearby with a satisfyingly strange-sounding Aboriginal name: Giraween National Park. It's all Granite boulders and gum tree forests, which we got to navigate with some stomach-churning but very exciting off-road driving. And then we also did some more lesiurely strolls and climbs. I thought of my family and outdoorsy friends in MN, you guys would love it out there!
In this photo you will see a ute: it's short for "utility vehicle," and it's basically just an Aussie word for pick-up truck. 
It was so nice to be out in the country with friends, just enjoying ourselves. I'll have to hang on those memories for a long time now, as it seems it'll be awhile before we can take a weekend away anywhere again. but that's news for the next post...stay tuned!
