Jumpers and Jazz in July, Warwick Queensland
Of the more than 100 decorated trees in this year’s Tree Jumper competition, our favourite was the Tree House. Inspired by the Tree House series of books by children’s author Andy Griffiths, the creators of this work of art incorporated many details from his stories.
Life in this tree house would definitely be an adventure.
Other birds gathered at the yarn bombed trees on Palmerin Street.
Warwick, Queensland
In 2004 a group of citizens in Warwick who shared a passion for yarn had a bright idea. They decided to decorate the bare winter trees in the main street of their southern Queensland town. The keen crafters probably never imagined that their yarnbombing project would be the catalyst for an annual festival which now attracts thousands of visitors.
That first year, staff at the Warwick Art Gallery assembled a group of knitters, crocheters and weavers who worked together to create “tree jumpers” for every tree in the main shopping area. A program of jazz performances was planned to accompany the yarnbombing and Jumpers and Jazz in July was born!
Now decorating the trees is competitive, with cash prizes offered in several sections including excellence in knitting and/or crochet and best community and school groups.
One popular section in the competition is the theme challenge, with this year’s theme being Crackers – from Christmas bonbons
to firecrackers and fireworks
and even cheese and crackers!
While the trees take centre stage, public buildings undergo a yarnbombing transformation too. The sandstone pillars of Warwick Town Hall and the bollards on the pedestrian crossings wear their own colourful jumpers.
In July, Warwick comes alive with Jumpers and Jazz.
During Becky’s April Bright Square photo challenge I opened the archives to December 2019 and January 2020. Now I’m sharing more of our pre-pandemic holiday in California and Nevada with stories that just couldn’t be squared!
Postcards from America
One day we rugged up against the cold and spent a few hours exploring the streets of San Francisco.
We started on Steiner Street at the beautiful “Painted Ladies”
before making our way along avenues lined with winter trees.
We walked down the stairs beside the hairpin turns of Lombard Street.
At the bottom we made an exciting discovery. We weren’t far away from the warming treats at Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. A second visit was very welcome after a chilly day of walking!
During Becky’s April Bright Square photo challenge I opened the archives to December 2019 and January 2020. Now I’m sharing more of our pre-pandemic holiday in California and Nevada with stories that just couldn’t be squared!
Postcards from America
We descended from the lofty heights of Twin Peaks and made our way to sea level for our next view of San Francisco. A cruise around the bay on a Red and White Fleet boat showed us the city from a completely different perspective.
We took the green route on the Bridge2Bridge tour. Leaving from Pier 43½ in the city, we sailed east to the Golden Gate Bridge before looping back past Alcatraz towards to the multiple spans of the Bay Bridge.
As it sank low in the sky the afternoon sun glowed, embellishing the bridges and the city skyline with a gilded trim.
During Becky’s April Bright Square photo challenge I opened the archives to December 2019 and January 2020. Now I’m sharing more of our pre-pandemic holiday in California and Nevada with stories that just couldn’t be squared!
Postcards from America
The views from our Airbnb home in San Francisco were fabulous. In one direction we could see ships on the sparkling waters of San Francisco Bay.
Further round, we looked out across the suburbs and the always busy freeway to the Sutro Tower, high atop a hill between Mount Sutro and Twin Peaks.
While we thought this outlook was great, we were even more impressed when we visited Twin Peaks.
Perfectly positioned at the geographic centre of San Francisco with an elevation of 282 metres, the two hills of Twin Peaks have unrivalled views of the city and its surrounds.
Our walk from the car park up to Christmas Tree Point went right past the Sutro Tower, a radio and television tower which was once the tallest structure in San Francisco.
Although we could have stayed at the lookout at Christmas Tree Point, we couldn’t resist the challenge of climbing to the top of the hill. We were glad we did, because the 360° panoramic views of the city were spectacular.
On this clear winter’s morning, we could see the skyscrapers of downtown San Francisco, Alcatraz Island and its formidable prison and the glowing orange spans of the Golden Gate Bridge.
As well as the lookouts, there’s a short walking track which follows the curves of the road. Apart from the communications towers and a water reservoir the area is a designated wilderness reserve, dedicated to preserving the habitat of the endangered mission blue butterfly.
We spent almost as long looking for butterflies as we had looking out over the city, but our search was futile.
The only creatures we saw were a few birds. From their perches high above the city, they seemed to be enjoying the views too.
Joining Jo for Monday Walks
During Becky’s April Bright Square photo challenge I opened the archives to December 2019 and January 2020. Now I’m sharing more of our pre-pandemic holiday in California and Nevada with stories that just couldn’t be squared!
Postcards from America
Fun fact #1: Mr ET and I first met at Caesars Palace!
I know what you’re thinking. What are the odds of two Australians from the same city meeting in a crowded casino in Las Vegas?
Don’t get too excited – it wasn’t that Caesars Palace.
In the early 1980s there was another Caesars Palace, a fancy downtown nightclub in our Queensland city. It was the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights – and that’s where we met.
More than 40 years after that very first meeting we found ourselves in the other Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and, with just a few days to go until our 38th wedding anniversary, it was the perfect venue for a celebratory dinner.
With the Emperor and his friends looking on we dined in style in the Forum on arancini balls, pasta carbonara and a delectable chocolate cake.
It was a once in a lifetime occasion.
Fun Fact #2: A few days later on our actual anniversary in San Francisco we celebrated again. At Golden Gate Park Mr ET promised me another memorable meal and he certainly delivered – hot dogs and cans of root beer from the hot dog van.
What a guy!
During Becky’s April Bright Square photo challenge I opened the archives to December 2019 and January 2020. Now I’m sharing more of our pre-pandemic holiday in California and Nevada with stories that just couldn’t be squared!
Postcards from America
Many cities’ art galleries are full of works depicting the region’s history and culture and the city of Exeter in Tulare County, California is no exception. What makes Exeter’s gallery unique is the location – it’s outdoors!
More than 30 spectacular murals have been created on the walls of historic buildings in the city centre. Some are time capsules, showing street scenes from bygone days. Others portray the people of Exeter going about their daily work, both in the past and the present. The scenic Sierra Nevada mountains and their native flora and fauna are also featured.
Come with me for a walk along the streets of downtown Exeter to see some of these beautiful works of art.
Orange Harvest 1996: the first mural painted in Exeter
Exeter Road Race Circa 1916 2006: competitors prepare for a race through the streets of Exeter
Our Town, Circa 1925 1999: a sepia depiction of Pine Street
Yokuts Harvest 1997: Yokuts Indians harvest sour berries in spring
Timber Trail 2001: a mule train and wagons transport timber to Atwell Mill in the late 1800s
Golden Harvest 2000: farmers harvest a wheat crop circa 1915
Hometown News 2004: Staff busy at work in the Exeter Sun Newsroom circa 1920s
The People Behind the Label 2000: farmers harvest emperor grapes mid 20th Century
Packing Ladies 1997: Exeter Citrus Packing House circa 1950
Exeter Fruit Labels 1999: labels used by Exeter’s fruit packing houses
Mineral King “In Our Backyard” 2009: featuring the mountains of the historical Mineral King area
Poppies and Lupine 1998: California poppies and lupine grow beside the Kaweah River
Rocky Hill Guardina 2008: a mountain lion guards the entrance to a cave on Rocky Hill
One long mural honours those who have served in the Armed Forces.
Freedom Fighters 2010: dedicated to veterans in all branches of the armed forces
Freedom Fighters 2010
Another, taking up almost a whole city block, celebrates Exeter’s centenary.
Exeter Centennial 1911-2011 2011: Celebrating the city’s centennial with depictions of Pine Street circa 1911
Exeter Centennial 1911-2011
Every year since that first wall was painted in 1996 more murals are added to the collection. The tradition of visual story telling is alive and well in Exeter.
Joining Jo for Monday Walks
As part of Becky’s April Bright Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B, I’ve opened the archives to January 2020 to share our 19 day trip to USA. Join me on a pictorial travelogue of the best and brightest of our pre-pandemic adventures in California and Nevada! The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word bright. Look for #brightsquare.
Postcards from America
We’ve come to our last day in USA!
Our flight wasn’t leaving until just before midnight. We had one full day in LA so we booked a whistle-stop tour of the city’s highlights. From Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach to Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, the Griffith Park Observatory and Hollywood, we saw it all.
It was a thrill to see these famous places – many we’d read about or seen on TV.
Even the street names were familiar.
We also had time for some last minute shopping – here…
and here,
but not here!
As part of Becky’s April Bright Square Photo Challenge over at The Life of B, I’ve opened the archives to January 2020 to share our 19 day trip to USA. Join me on a pictorial travelogue of the best and brightest of our pre-pandemic adventures in California and Nevada! The rules of the challenge are simple: most photos must be square and fit the theme word bright. Look for #brightsquare.
Postcards from America
When the sun went down the lights turned on at Santa Monica Pier.
And the best view of the night lights was from the top of the Pacific Wheel.
