What an adventure we had yesterday.
The journey began for us in little old Bega.Then Lewi and I travelled to the Powell's lovely nest in the Candelo hills and then exchanged our white steed for the lovely black Honda.
We all piled into the Powell's car and off we went together in search of our natural learners group in the heart of the valley, somewhere out yonder. Travelling along the back roads, the kids chatted and laughed and so too did Nicole and I, having our usual merry banter, forgetting momentarily, that neither of us are great with directions and finding our way. We both admit that, growing up, we were no girl guides!
On looking up {you know that moment you have when you can't remember if you've been looking out at the scenery or had your head in the clouds while driving or being a passenger?}... I suddenly I remembered that we had no idea where we were going and hadn't yet bothered to read the directions! Woops! I quickly read the instructions Dona had given us and found that we were on the right track...so far so good. Phew.
All was going well until we passed the bridge. Dona's instructions told us to turn right after the bridge. We drove and drove. There was nowhere to turn right. We drove and drove some more. Thankfully for our kidlets, Nicole and I had forgotten, after awhile, that we were supposed to be looking for a right hand turn. When we eventually came to and realised that we'd been driving for quite awhile and nothing on the right had come up for, perhaps, too many, dusty kilometres, we momentarily freaked.
Here's a little sample of the conversation between Nicole and I and the kids at that time:
"Help!"
" Do we turn back?"
" What do you think?"
" This doesn't look right?"
"Did we miss the turn?"
" We must have missed the turn?"
" Have we been concentrating?"
" No, we haven't been concentrating!"
" Aggh!"
" No more laughing, Nicole. We must focus."
" We must get the kids there alive and safe and...not lost."
"MUUUUUM! We're going to die!!!!!"
" OK, I'll look for a place to turn around."..........
..........."Oh...that bridge???"
In our ever so slight panic and lack of quick turning around decision-making we'd realised that up ahead was the actual bridge we had supposed to be looking for...not, it seems, the first, much smaller one miles back. Phew again.
From that point on, as a self-designated navigator and reader-of-directions, I focussed and read and re-read and read again, Dona's directions. I became diligent beyond belief. I was focussed. We'll make it there alive kids, I promise. I must say, my focus did waiver slightly though, when Nicole pumped up her favourite ABBA song {When I Kissed The Teacher....she's not sure why she's always loved that one. I was concerned!!} and began singing loudly and dancing at the wheel - Lynda would know exactly how I may have been feeling at that moment - don't you Lynda? Thankfully the windy, narrow roads and kids becoming a little restless in the back brought Nicole back to her senses and she grabbed the wheel with determination and focus and...to my relief, two hands.
As we realised that we were definitely on the right track and that our destination would soon be upon us we began to relax and notice our surroundings a little more. What a pretty valley! And look, manikins, heaps of them, all dressed up!
This scene most definitely caused us to pull over and snap a photo or two.
What a surprise. So cool. And fun. In the absolute middle of nowhere, these manikins are set up, all dressed up, in a paddock, facing the road.
A little further along and we had made it!
We pulled into the driveway of our destination, ever so thankful to have made it and not missed anything. Actually, Nicole was a little panicky as she has the opposite phobia to me...she doesn't like being early! HIHIHIHIHIIIIII. She had forgotten that she'd been travelling with an early freak who has a phobia about being late and we'd arrived 10 minutes early!
As we all fell out of the car, relieved to have made it in one piece, the tranquillity of our destination gently blanketed us like a fine and comforting mist. Agh the serenity!
The worries of our being lost {and mine of being late!} quickly vanished as we became immersed in the gorgeousness of this setting.
We were then warmly greeted by the owners of the property and lovely hosts of our Bonsai experience, Pushpa and Vads.
These guys were the most lovely hosts, making the kids feel quickly at ease and in love with their surroundings and the beautiful Japanese style garden that enveloped the stone and mud brick nest where Pushpa and Vads live.
After some settling in time and meanderings around the garden...
....Pushpa began his wonderful Bosai demonstration. 
He showed us how to make a bonsai from beginning to end. 
He told us how to care for a bonsai and what sorts of plants make the best bonsais. 
Taj had bought along a bonsai that Dona had bought awhile ago. It was in need of some TLC and fixing up. Pushpa did just that:)
Once it was time to put the finishing touches on the potted up plant, Pushpa asked us all to help him look for some moss to add to the pot. Off we went in search of naturally growing moss. 
The kids helped Pushpa find and excavate the moss and collect it for Taj's lovely bonsai.
Pushpa then showed us around one of the two bonsai nurseries that he painstakingly runs. Bonsais everywhere! It was amazing to see so many plants in one area. The work that Pushpa must have to put in to grow these beautiful plants astounds me.
After a look at the nursery we brought the moss back to be added to Taj's bonsai.
Voila! Doesn't it look fantastic?
Every child and adult was enthralled at Pushpa's enthusiasm for bonsais. It was contagious. Now we all want a bonsai {Lewi has wanted one for awhile now} and we were so happy to hear that privets make fantastic bonsai trees. We've certainly got plenty of those! 
Unfortunately Myoung, Luca and Anise made it a little late. They had thought what Nicole and I had thought at the first bridge and had turned around thinking they'd gone the wrong way . Woops!
Some of the lovely bonsais.
This one isn't a maple, as I'd first thought. It's actually ivy growing up some dead mangrove wood. Doesn't it look amazing?
Thank you so much, Pushpa and Vads. We had a truly wonderful, wonderful day. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you for sharing some of your lives with us and for allowing us to visit your gorgeous nest, deep in the heart of the Bega Valley.
You have so inspired us by your love of Bonsai and we will certainly have a good go at it ourselves. We may need to come back next year for some extra little tips;)
Thank you also for mentioning the 2 arty constructions along the road that we had previously missed on our way in. We stopped and took photos of them as we passed. So cool!
An octopus .
A naked lady! {The person who did the manikins also did these fantastic art works. He is an artist and knows how to have fun. So cool!}
On the way home I also captured this loveliness. Who would have thought....bunting! Barbed wire fence undies bunting! I must ring Lynda. She'll be so please with my newest ideas for her wonderful craftiness.
On arriving back to the Powell's nest we enjoyed a much needed cuppa and the kids had some computer fun. We thoroughly enjoyed our Bonsai experience and can't wait to make our own little bonsais.
What a lovely, lovely day we all had.
We are so blessed to be homeschooling in this beautiful, beautiful valley we call home xx
