Tanunda (Barossa Valley) Day 4

I think I might move here when I grow up!
Today started early with a visit to the Barossa Farmers' Market in Angaston. It was a good thing we didn't have more cash in our pockets that we did, because it would have been very easy to spend! We did buy a few things, but just walking around and looking was fun, too.

The history of the area is so interesting. After the market we drove out to have a look at the "Herbig Family Tree".  In the mid-1800s this big tree was home to a German settler, Friedrich Herbig, and his 18-year old bride.  They had two children before building a cottage and later a homestead on the land they farmed... where they had fourteen more children! I've bought an interesting little book about their story.

From there we headed back through the lovely hills of the Eden Valley (which adjoins the Barossa valley and is a mixed farming region- sheep, cattle and fruit) to Collingrove Homestead.

This homestead is leased from the National Trust by a family with three young boys (10, 6 and 2) who live there and operate a business including bed-and-breakfast, catering for functions and devonshire teas for visitors like us! The Mum took time to tell us a bit about the Angas family who had migrated from England and built the homestead in the 1850s, as well as having a friendly chat about our own kids, the joys of motherhood and the fun they had using the fancy dining room and library of the homestead when they felt like "pretending to be posh"! She then served our Devonshire tea on the verandah so that the children could run around the gardens while we relaxed.  The nice thing about this homestead was that, although it was fully furnished with beautiful old furniture and knick-knacks, the children were allowed to roam freely.  They were even invited to come into the family's private quarters to play in the boys' playroom.

It had been overcast and rather fresh all morning, but by the time we got "home" the sun had come out and the children could change into shorts again. To their huge delight we had acquired neighbours who have two children of about their age. While they played together and burned energy on the jumping pillow (of course!) I took a walk into Tanunda to buy some postcards, and then decided to update this blog.

Minutes after the above photo was taken, it started to rain and I had to move into the annexe... but it didn't last long and then Esther came running in, full of excitement, to tell me there was a rainbow!

The forecast is for a nice day tomorrow, and at this stage we have no set plans- just a relaxing day "at home", with maybe a local walk or so.
Thanks to all those who've been commenting- either here or via email or Facebook. It's fun to get feedback.  (We decided not to take the video camera, Henkela- which means I can spend more time just enjoying the trip, rather than filming every minute! I'm taking heaps of photos with my nice new Olympus camera, though!)