Easter Fun!

I really am a holiday junkie. I love everything about holidays, especially the decorating and baking! I haven't had a lot of time to prepare for Easter this year but I'm doing as much as I can squeeze in, in only a couple of days. I made the bunny bunting I mentioned in my last post. I kind of did the quick version, so it's not nearly as nice as the example, but I still think it's cute. Next year, I want to take the time to make some more in different colors, this time doing it a bit more properly, a.k.a. more sewing involved.

I also made some Easter sugar cookies. I do wish my camera took better photos in evening! The pink is much prettier in real life. I must say, Australia does food coloring well. I find the colors come out much deeper and nicer than with food coloring at home. I dyed eggs today with the kids in my class and I really noticed the power of the food coloring then! Wow! They turned out really cool!

And what Easter is complete without carrot muffins? Bunnies eat carrots. Okay, so maybe not as an Easter treat, but how about just cause I've been craving them allllll week. I did use my Eastery muffin liners though. I've realized that I am a collector of muffin liners. If I see a cute pack, I can't help but buy it. I'm getting a pretty awesome collection! It makes baking even more fun:) Although, these spring muffin liners aren't really Eastery here in Australia where it's autumn now. I swear, I'll never ever get used to the mixed up seasons when it comes to holidays. Easter will forever be about spring and Christmas will always have snow in my heart.

I'm off to bed. It's a big day at work tomorrow. We're having a Easter party, complete with face painting and an Easter egg hunt. I'll be wearing my bunny ears for sure!

Must find time.

I really want to try to find the time to make some of this bunny bunting, found here on this lovely blog. I put up my Easter egg garland last night (after lots of untangling!) and thought how amazing it is that I've hanged it 4 years in a row now! That's a lot of Easters in Australia! I do want to add to my Easter decor traditions and I think this adorable idea is just the thing. Finding the time between now and the weekend might be a challenge, but Steve's Mom and Aunt left this morning for their long journey back to Canada, so it should be pretty quiet around here for the next couple of days. Have you made anything cute yet for Easter?

Phillip Island Wildlife Park

We've been to lots of zoos and animal sanctuaries since moving to Australia but Phillip Island Wildlife Park is by far my most favorite yet. It was 60 acres of animals roaming free and other than the four of us, there was only 2 other people there! The wallabies, roos and emus followed us everywhere for some of the pellets they gave us when we first entered the park. Unlike busy zoos, the animals were begging for more to eat. We had a fantastic time feeding them!

They were so cute!

They would actually put their paw in your hand and wrap their claw around your finger to keep you feeding them. It was really adorable!

This guy was very curious about the camera!

Even the birds and animals that lived in cages were very easy to interact with. We were shocked that you could walk right up to the cage, even the hawks and cassowaries (which you could feed...a big deal because they can kill a man!).

Kookaburra sits on the old gum tree (a kid song I can't get out of my head lately!)

A flying fox.

Sleeping dingo.

Can't remember what this guy is...anyone know?

I love this picture...it's like he's saying..."You lookin' at me?"

Okay, so most of you know my fear of birds. I'm kind of overcoming it but, emus...I'm sorry. They just freak. me. out. Big birds that look pre-historic and come right at you. At nose level. Eeeek.

See the emu creeping around Linda in this pic? Well, right after this was taken, the emu snatched her bag of food and ate the whole thing!

Still, Linda was quick to get over any fear of them and actually quite liked them by the time we left! I tried feeding them but couldn't do it after the first not so little peck at my hand!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek. Pretty much a scene from my worst nightmare!

We had a fabulous time! If ever you're on Phillip Island, it's a great place to visit!

Koala Conservation Centre - Phillip Island

The Koala Conservation Centre was very quiet and peaceful. The koalas were a bit tricky to spot but made for a fun game of looking! There are also snakes and wallabies that live there too, not many but a few here and there. We saw one very shy wallaby munching on leaves.

We liked it because it was very natural. They have a koala proof fence around the property to keep the koalas safe but they move around within the park happily, no cages.

Aren't they just the cutest laziest creature that you ever did see?!

The Nobbies - Phillip Island

We headed to the Nobbies on our last morning on Phillip Island. It was really windy and cold! It was the only day that we got a little bit of rain, but even then it was just spitting and eventually cleared up. Even this poor little birdie was cold! It kind of broke my heart.

You can see seals and sometimes whales at the Nobbies. Plus, the scenery is really beautiful.

Debbie (Steve's Mom), Steve and Linda (Steve's aunt)...they look cold!

I really liked how green everything was. I have never been to Ireland (it's on the list!) but I imagine this is kind of what it might look and feel like.

Me with the Grandy ladies.

My handsome hubby and my chilly self.

Blowhole!

There were a few penguins around. Most of the penguins go out at daylight to fish but some stay back in their burrows. We had to really zoom to get this picture but aren't they cute peeking out of there?! We went to the Penguin Parade while on Phillip Island and it was fantastic! Highly recommend it. I'm not sure how many we saw but they just kept coming and coming! We tried keeping count but lost track at about 200ish. The evening before we were told they had 1700 penguins come out of the water! We don't have any photos though, as cameras weren't allowed. They disturb the poor little penguins just trying to make it back to their burrow after a long day. Some of the penguins walk for 2 km from the shoreline to their home! That's a long way for a little penguin! I was very excited to see a baby penguin and a few very chubby molting penguins!

The sun was starting to shine by the time we left. Doesn't a little cold rain and wind make you appreciate the sun that much more!

We're home!

We had the most amazing time on Phillip Island. We relaxed, explored, relaxed and explored some more. We took over 200 photos, so I have lots to post. It's a busy week for me at work this week though, so you might have to wait a couple of days! Stay tuned...

Yummy, yummy!

We went for dinner tonight on Lygon Street. My goodness, the Italian food there is amazing. We have never ever been disappointed! Steve's Mom bravely tried the Morton Bay bugs. She quite liked them!

I had the most amazing fettuccine with mussels. Wow. So delicious! We ate outside and it was simply lovely. The weather has been fabulous all week!

Steve and I both have the next couple of days off. The four of us are heading to Phillip Island for some relaxation and exploring. Our neighbors have kindly offered us the keys to their cottage there (which happens to be right on the beach!) They really are the nicest people ever! We're going to owe them big time! I'll be back in a few days with lots of pics from our adventures! Take good care until then. xoxo