They may speak English, but

Australia is different from the USA.

Here are a few of my observations; definitely not a definitive list.

It’s “G’day”, not “hello”
It’s “How’re you going?” not “How are you doing?”
It’s kookaburras maniacally cackling at 5 am outside the window.

It’s a lot of beautiful and unusual animals not seen anywhere else.

It’s driving on the left, so look right before crossing the streets.

Pedestrians don’t have the right of way. See above.
It’s muesli, not granola.
It’s meals served on planes as well as snacks for morning and afternoon tea times.

It’s a lot of weird meats.

It’s one and two dollar coins instead of bills.
It’s shopping malls that are pedestrian streets with shops.
It’s shopping centres that are enclosed shopping malls.
Roundabouts, lots of roundabouts.
More on the driving: highway exits are on the left, slow lane is to the left.
Coffee is long black, short black, or flat white.

More on the driving: the turn signal indicator is on the wrong side, so you keep turning on the windshield wipers to indicate a turn.

Woolworth’s is a large grocery store chain.

There’s a large indoor fresh food market in every city.

It’s very friendly and helpful people everywhere you go.

2010 Hill Country Yarn Crawl Haul

Just got back from finishing up the 4th annual Hill Country Yarn Crawl. 323 miles on my car, plus about 60 miles on DH’s car when we did a shop together. I think this was the best yarn crawl so far, organized by 11 shops and supported by many more suppliers. I ended up going to 10 shops (sorry, Yarnorama, but you were just too far for me to go this time) and bought supplies at a few shops.

For $20 you get a logo tote bag- this time made out of nylon- and the information booklet with the passport page in the back. Each shop stamps the book and has a giveaway, usually a ball or skein of yarn and a pattern. The shops were supposed to give away something worth about $8.00 in retail value, but I think most shops gave away more than that. In addition to the yarn there was the creation and printing of patterns, booklets, putting together of kits, etc.

Yarnivore offered 2 different patterns: one for crochet, one for knit, that made the same basic wrist cuff with the same yarn. Very helpful.

The Tinsmith’s Wife is in a great old building with high ceilings and 2 large rooms. They have a huge selection of yarn and other fiber arts supplies. I picked up a ball of metallic (sparkly) sock yarn there.

Hill Country Weavers gave away yarn and a booklet with 9 patterns in it produced just for the yarn crawl.

Rosewood Yarns gave away a split ring with a mini-crochet hook, 2 darning needles and a stitch marker on it. Very cute and usable.

Gauge Knits gave away a coupon for 10% off your next visit (hope it will be good until next year?) in addition to a choice of free patterns and a skein of yarn. They also said there would be patterns on their Ravelry page soon.

Several shops ( The Knitting Nest, Stonehill Spinning, The Yarn Barn) gave away packaged kits with yarn and directions and any extras needed to make the project. The packaged kits are greatly appreciated.

New to me this year were Nan’s Needleworks and Old Oaks Ranch.

Old Oaks Ranch alpaca.

Each shop has a drawing for a prize selected from the names of people who actually purchase something from the shop.

If you get to at least 8 shops (with stamped passport) you can be entered into the prize drawings, of which there are a number.

If you get to all 11 shops, you can also be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing, which is a huge gift basket worth over $500.00.

The information booklet was well-designed, and the mini-maps for each shop were helpful. All shops agreed to have basically the same hours for all 4 days of the yarn crawl, making it easy to go from one to the other, especially on Sunday.

I don’t know what I’ll make first from my haul. Probably a set of fingerless mitts since I promised them to DD.

All-in-all, a great way to spend a beautiful fall weekend. Thanks to all the shops!