A Day at Dayboro

We often drive through or past the quaint little town of Dayboro but rarely stop by,  so today we decided to have a little Saturday morning outing.  The weather was lovely and much too nice to stay indoors.  

A wander around town (which is two main streets really) revealed quite a few nice little hang-outs including a deli, a combined cafe and vintage store, a small restaurant, and some more I am tempted to go back and explore further.  

After a little look here....

...we headed to the bakery for TechnoHusband's obligatory pie and jam donut.

He has been coming here since he was a kid, and swears they are the BEST pies and jam donuts around.  Unfortunately I can neither confirm nor deny that statement as my coeliac disease prevents me from doing so.  However, it did not prevent me from tucking in to a delicious gluten-free apple and cinnamon muffin with my coffee at a very cool cafe/bookstore.  Food, coffee, books.  What more could a girl want? 

I'll tell you what more a girl could want.  Across the road from the the bakery is a MUST SEE.  It would have to be the highlight of my week.  It is the Arts and Crafts store at Hay Cottage.  It is SO cool! This cute cottage is loaded with handmade goodies by locals.  You name it, the cottage has it.  The most adorable knitted, crocheted, hand sewn and embroidered baby and kiddy toys, clothes and accessories.  Jams, pickles, preserves.  Jewellery, tea-towels, sweet frilly flowery aprons.  Paintings,decoupage, wood-carvings, carpentry.  And so much more! I couldn't help myself.  I just had to get these....

This gorgeous little girl's backpack and matching pouch.

This necklace - because I liked the glass beads and the colours

A bit different, I know.  It's a wheat bag, but I actually got this to use with some of the kiddies I teach who have trouble sitting still on a chair.  The weight of the wheat over their laps gives them some feedback and helps keep them 'grounded'.  This is the perfect shape and size, and the fact that it has a face is an added bonus!  I think I'll be phoning the cottage with orders from some keen parents too. The volunteer said the crafter can customise.  I'm thinking lions and tigers.

These are very little, very cute, teeny-tiny toddler aprons.  Don't you love the patterns?  Nieces and nephew- they are headed your way.  And YES - they DO have these in adult size, and just as cute!!

There are no words. Other than that I bought this for a friend's baby, until little man saw it.  His eyes lit up. His chubby little fingers wrapped around it.  He look over to us with absolute joy written all over his face, and said his very first ever two-word sentence.  It went like this:
'Dadda, pup-pyyy!'
I cried.  And now I will need to go back to get another one. 

 

 

Unlike the puppy, this elephant was intended for my munchkin - and was also quickly adopted...

 

 

 

...and both lovables have been happily re-homed where only the very best of toys get to live...

...in the fire truck, of course.

I couldn't help but feel like I was ripping the crafters off though as all the items were so inexpensive, considering the materials and time and effort that goes in to making them.  I can only hope they know how much joy their goodies bring to others.  In fact, I'm sure they already do.

For those history buffs, the cottage itself has a really interesting background.  It was built in 1872,  and Mr and Mrs Hay raised five children in this tiny timber place.  The cottage displays historical photos and artefacts beautifully preserved from the original owners and homesite.   I love that the old wood-stove still has pride of place.  After all, the heart of a home is the kitchen, and a historical cottage that still has a heart is a very special place indeed.

Hay Cottage is run by volunteers, and as the elderly gentlemen advised me on entry, does not have a 'Bored Husbands Corner'.  But there is a playground around the back where husband can take the kids while you swoon over itty bitty booties, patchwork quilts and hand-carved salt and pepper shakers.  

I really do recommend a visit.  It is the sweetest place ever. 

After a play in the aforementioned playground, BoyWonder was thoroughly worn out, TechnoHusband quietly satisfied with his pie and donut, and I glowing with a brown paper bag full of goodies.

And that was our day at Dayboro.

Oh.  And as I'm still new to this blogging thing I need some training in the ins and outs of legal whatevers, but basically; none of the people or places in this post asked me to mention them or say anything about them, and all the opinions expressed about these adorable places are solely mine, but be could be yours too if you ever get to visit them . How did I do?