Pioneer Village

Today we joined some other home-educators for a trip to the Australiana Pioneer Village. We watched sheep shearing using the old fashioned shears, explored the buildings with our guides and experienced an 1800s school room and church.

Nan Tien Temple

Today we joined some friends for an amazing excursion to Nan Tien Buddhist Temple. Our guide was fantastic and we learnt all about the temple, its buildings, shrines, saints and stories. Our tour include a Tai Chi lesson and a delicious, authentic, Chinese, vegetarian lunch.

Tai Chi lesson

Tai Chi lesson

L rings the huge bell

Incense pot

Sake Factory tour

Today we took a tour of the Sake brewery in Penrith. We went around the factory and found out all about the process of turning rice into Sake. Our guide was the factory owner who was very interesting and informative. The adults got to taste some different types of Sake and a Sake cocktail. The children tried a little when we got home but declared it a bit strong.

Here the rice is polished to remove the outer layers.

After the rice is washed fungi and yeast is added.

After fermenting for several weeks the liquid is filtered.

Here the Sake is put into bottles.

When the bottles are filled a label is applied.

Combewood House

Today we attended our last excursion of the month with Home Education Penrith at Combewood Historic house. We put on our 19th Century costumes one more time and went along to visit this house completed in 1890. That's pretty old for Australia. The children enjoyed old-time games on the lawn and a cream tea whilst waiting their turn to look inside the old house which once belonged to the Cox family - the builder of the road over the Blue Mountains.

The Arms of Australia Inn Museum

Today we went along to a great excursion with our friends to The Arms of Australia Inn Museum. Lots of us dressed up in 1800s attire. We got to see lots of old objects and furniture inside the old inn and the barn. We had a chance to churn butter, and juice vegetables the old fashioned way. We played olden-days games and did our laundry by hand. We even spent some time at "school". A really fun day.

Getting water for the laundry

Scrubbing the clothes with soap

Wringing the water from the clothes

Pegging out the clothes to dry

Writing on a slate in the school room