Moana beach and a wedding

We spent a little time by the beach during the holidays, despite the fact Spring really hadn't sprung in South Australia and it was still rainy, COLD and windy. We did see some sunshine briefly, but like they say, wait five minutes and you will have four seasons in one day.

I was in awe of this fantastic wood carving in Meningie, created by Millicent's own Ant Martin.
The Ant Trail

We stayed by the beach at Moana, south of Adelaide, for a family wedding in the first week of holidays. The marriage of my neice Claire was held at a winery in the McLaren Vale wine region. She married a Danish lad, Sam, who's family are all outrageously good looking. It was a fantastic wedding, though aren't they all in their own respective ways. It special when it's family.

Our place settings double up as our bonbennieres.  

Izzy and I woke early in the morning and went for a walk on the beach. With the rough weather, the usually beautiful sand was gone and the beach was covered with rocks. I like collecting rocks from beaches all over the place.

In the second week of the holidays I took the girls fishing. Izzy is as keen as mustard, but Summer not so much. We went to the Southend drain with no luck and then to the jetty. It has been so wet, the drain is more fresh water than salt. The fish don't like it.

Summer sat in the car playing with my phone because she was too scared to go on the jetty. We caught a couple of slimy cod which weren't much to write home about. They tasted good!

             All the brown, fresh water running out to sea. It's so brown from the dirt that has been washed away from other swelling drains and paddocks. We've had a ridiculous amount of rain.

Izzy had pink hair for the holidays! 

Ant's Redgum Gallery

My place in time #36 - One kilometre from my house


I am ashamed to say, this is one of those place that I really should have been to, way before now. It is usually the places that we see everyday, the local attractions, that we should support, but don't.

I am so glad I got myself off the couch and went to have a look.

Ant's Redgum Gallery is situated on Williams Road in Millicent. I was interested to find out the building originally started life as an engineering shed, owned by the McCourt family. It was then home to a roller skating rink and squash courts. I can't remember this, but I do remember when it was Bondy's second hand bazaar, that's what I would have called it. After Bondy died, the building was bought by a local business woman and used as a place of business and held markets on a Sunday.

Ant and Hat Martin now own it and have made it their home, studio and gallery.

His work is phenomenal and has taken him to Adelaide to do commissioned works on three occasions. He has carved wood sculptures made from old trees, in Brighton, Victoria Square and the Glover playground in North Adelaide. A real achievement. The all have plaques with his name, and he proudly says you don't get them unless "you're really good or dead!".

He's just really good at what he does. I was blown away by Ant's wood work and the detailed work that he does.

I learnt something about feng shui, and this frog is supposed to have three legs. His name is Jin Chan, and is supposed to bring fortune. Hat says it's not working for them yet, as they would love to have more visitors to the gallery.

Here Ant is putting the finishing touches on his latest piece, The Lion. It is just amazing to think that this was just a huge tree trunk to start with.