The Last Day...

Wednesday afternoon, we stole Chris's bartercard and drove to St Kilda for dinner and some authentic gelato. Earlier in the afternoon we'd watched a TV show on how it was made, and it looked positively Drool-Worthy. I'd never had it, either, and that HAD to be rectified.

It took twice as long as it should have to get to St Kilda because we'd timed it perfectly with rush hour traffic. By the time we got to the main street where the restaurant was, night had fallen and the streetlights lit up the very posh shopping strip. Because we still had an hour before our dinner reservations, we were total rebels and had gelato FIRST. 7 Apples provided us with some EXCELLENT treats: a scoop of cherries and cream and a scoop of award winning hazelnut...



BEAUTIFUL.

With a few minutes before dinner, we walked up and down the street to help things digest. ;) There were SO many cake shops!!



Also, there was a homeless man singing Queen's We Are the Champions at the top of his lungs. ;)

We ate dinner at Amigos, directly across from 7 Apples. The place was small and dim and manned by two women and an Asian man... no Mexicans in sight. The menu claimed the food was Mexican 'Inspired', which sent up a small red flag but the food still sounded good. Caroline went for a sampler dinner of traditional tacos and such, and I tried a ricotta and grilled veggie burrito. Since the meal was free, we also tried some cocktails.


The food was disappointing. It was good, but once we got the bill for $75, we were horrified. I've had far better homemade Mexican.

After eating, Caroline showed me St Kilda beach. In the darkness, the water looked inky and ominous. Seagulls circled the lighthouse. Yachts floated silently in the distance. It was cool and peaceful--but this popular beach gets very crowded during the day.

The days have been filled with relaxation and shopping. Thursday Caroline and I went out for more photography. We returned to Heildleburg park, where Caroline takes Paddy to play ball, and walked the winding, secluded trail. Each turn brings a new landscape; ponds to paddocks, creeks to woodland. Beautiful old eucalyptus and red gum provide whispering shade and perfume the air. There is plenty of space to lose yourself, and aside from the occasional Mad Cyclist, it is easy to believe you are in a private heaven.


That night, we had Tara over for dinner and TV. She brought some episodes of her new favorite show, NCIS: LA, and we watched three episodes while chowing down on a HOMEMADE (even the dough) pizza!

Most of the toppings came from Caroline's garden, too. We'd done some more gardening out back, tearing out the expired plants and grass and preparing for a new rotation of winter crops. Although it didn't take more than a couple hours, the result was amazing!

Friday morning Caroline and I packed the wagon and headed to Chris's house. We'd talked him into coming with us up to Hillie's for the weekend, as a mini-vacation and as a chance to do some work on the house. He doesn't get to to go Pyramid as often as Caroline does, so he had a lot to take up there: an old blue BMW and a tandem trailer full of rubbish to burn. The trailer was attached to the station wagon and Caroline was given the choice of either driving the pulling the trailer (on a fairly windy day) or driving the BMW, which had only been certified to make the single trip, as it was not truly trustworthy. But manhandling the wagon and the trailer was more intimidating, so Caroline and I took the little blue Beamer. Which turned out to be the safer choice; Chris didn't even make it out of the driveway before the trailer started to come loose and then rammed the car. Between Caroline and Chris, they got everything sorted out, but the wagon's bumper is now dented and pierced with a bolt. ;)

The Beamer ran pretty well. Aside from sounding like a lawnmower and struggling to get above 100 kms/hr, it was safe and would make for a great story later. We stopped for lunch about an hour in to the trip, at which point we noticed one of the BMW's rear tires was low. CHRIS told us it was a slow leak, and that he needed gas for the wagon so we'd stop at the next PETROL station and air up the tire. Everyone loaded up and I got the sunroof open on the BMW, and we pulled out onto the road.

And then we hear The Noise. A strange buzzing sound, lower in pitch than the lawnmower-engine. It seemed to be coming from the back of the car. I checked the rear view mirror and saw that we would not be able to simply air up the tire...

It was shredded. I assume since the car hadn't been driven in ages, the rubber had dry rotted? But Good Big Brother Chris had it replaced in ten minutes, and we were back on the road and made it to Hillie's with no other problems.

Friday night Chris, Caroline and I wandered next door and chatted with Hillie's long-time neighbor, Con, around a small fire. Another local, Terry, stopped by for a few minutes and everyone caught up on some town gossip. Close to 10pm, Con's family arrived: his wife and four boys, and his parents-in-law. Like Caroline and Chris, when they aren't living in Pyramid, they live in Melbourne, and they have known each other for roughly 20 years. Soon after, Caroline and I headed off to bed.

The weekend was spent working and relaxing. Chris did an AMAZING job on in the kitchen, installing some beautiful cupboard doors and installing a new sink.


Even though it rained all day Saturday, we were still able to have a much-anticipated bonfire. Caroline, Hillie and I, with the help of Con's boys, unloaded the trailer and made a huge pile of rubbish in Con's backyard. Chris and Caroline and I went grocery shopping and that night, everyone enjoyed sausages and chicken wings and later, toasted marshmallows.

Because he had to work, Chris got a ride back to Melbourne with Con on Monday. That afternoon, Hillie's brother John came over for lunch. Hillie made a delicious pan of slop--LASAGNA--and we enjoyed the meal outside. Then we played another few rounds of Dutch Euchre, of which I won by a landslide. Still beginner's luck, I think. ;)




Tuesday Caroline and I spent the ENTIRE day shopping. We hit EIGHT op shops in Bendigo between 10am and 4pm--see Track my Tour for the map. The back of the station wagon was FULL. And I bet we spent no more than a couple hundred dollars, max. If bargain hunting was a sport, we would be in the pro league. :)

Wednesday Caroline and I (with the dogs in tow) headed back to Melbourne. After very strategicly packing the car, everyone got big hugs and we said goodbye. Hillie is so generous and I appreciate her opening her home to me. I'll miss her!

Traveling through Bendigo, Caroline and I accidentally got sucked in to a few more op shops. The dogs were angels in the car and thankfully it was cloudy and cool. To reward them we took a couple jaunts through some parks. When the car was COMPLETELY full, we decided to call it quits and get some food.

The View Street Cafe seemed as good a place as any, so we walked in and stared at the menu. Everything sounded great! I ended up with pumpkin soup and Caroline ordered Risotto. Both were delicious! We also snagged some desserts: I got a berry and ricotta tart and Caroline got a lemon meringue slice. Then we headed home FOR REAL.



Getting home was good. We unloaded and filled the living room with our goodies. The dogs ran around like made (they hadn't been in Melbourne for a few weeks) and for dinner we had some leftovers and a heap of stir-fried veggies from Caroline's thriving garden. We drank tea with our cafe desserts (YUM) and watched Dog Squad; a German shepherd tracking some copper thieves and a German Shorthair detecting drugs in cars at a prison entrance.

So that brings me to today, my last day. *sigh*

This morning we refused to mope. We headed to Bulleen so I could make a list of the veggies I'll be planting when I create my garden, and then we had to make one last stop at Tea Too since customs will let me take unopened packs of tea over the border. After buying out the store, Caroline and I stopped at one last op shop and we got some stuffed animals at a seriously discounted price. Then the grocery store to buy ingredients for my Last Supper... MEXICAN! Tonight Chris and Tanya and Tara and her mum and nan are all coming over. Caroline and I are making a black forest cake for dessert, and will have lots of types of tea to sample.

The guests will be here in half an hour, and this will be my last blog entry until I'm home. I will be logging my travel through Track My Tour, Facebook, and Twitter. Here's the itinerary:

 QANTAS AIRWAYS          QF25    ECONOMY CLASS   (O)  CONFIRMED
DEPART     30APR10   MELBOURNE                          0600
ARRIVE     30APR10   LOS ANGELES                        0630
CHANGE OF AIRCRAFT ENROUTE (2 hours in Auckland, New Zealand between 11:40am and 1:30pm)
DEPARTS FROM:TERMINAL 2
ARRIVES AT:  TERMINAL B

Friday, April 30, 2010
Midwest Airlines # 1926 Operated by: /REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC - Please check in with the operating carrier

Los Angeles International (LAX) to Kansas City International (MCI)
Departure (LAX): April 30, 11:55 AM PDT (morning)
Arrival (MCI): April 30, 5:15 PM CDT (evening)


Class: Economy Seat: 13B | Seat is confirmed


UNTIL NEXT TIME!!!

Bargain hunting and Gardens

The past week has been soo relaxing. Wednesday morning we dropped off Chris and Tanya at the airport (they were taking a holiday in Sydney) then headed out to go shopping. In preparation for the real world, we've started setting the alarm for 7 and are keeping to the habit of doing yoga, breakfast, then getting out. The house is quiet without the dogs, who are still at Hillie's house. We're going to go back to Pryamid on Wednesday to spend the weekend and have a bon fire and do more sightseeing. The plans for the beach house fell through and it's okay because we're really quite content to take it slow and enjoy the simple things. While Chris and Tanya were gone, we did some weeding in Caroline's front yard and hauled the green waste over to stuff it in Chris's bin (we'd filled Caroline's too). It's amazing how much grass will compact when a person jumps on it repeatedly. ;)



Friday we packed the cameras and a lunch and took the train into the city, to the Royal Botanic Gardens. What an AMAZING place! It's huge, and the landscaping is thought-out and well-tended. It's obviously been around for a while, judging by the size of the plants. There's a Children's Garden with a water feature for them to play in, and a gorgeous lake where dozens of waterbirds have taken up residence. We ate lunch on a grassy rolling hill overlooking the water. Although there were quite a few tourists walking about, it was very tranquil and restorative. A lot of the plants were labeled by species and each turn of the path could make you feel like you'd wandered into an entirely different landscape. I took so many photos that I filled up my SD card! I had a back up, thankfully. We stayed until the sun start to set and then hurried across the street to the war memorial to watch the last of the rays flare above the city.




After catching the train back home, we grabbed a quick dinner and headed to Tara's house. We'd missed games night but spent over an hour just catching up. The night before, we'd joined her at her dad's house to watch Supernatural and I got to meet her impressive little dog, Izzy. Izzy is part Kelpie and part Border Collie, just under two years old, and super submissive and lovey. She's intense and intelligent and has loads of potential. I really enjoyed meeting her (and the rest of Tara's family!).

Saturday Caroline and I headed back to Paddy's Park with some lunch and the cameras. I'm so jealous of the park; on the weekend it's home to the local obedience clubs and every afternoon, the local dog owners meet up to let their dogs play off-leash as they walk around the main field. It is not truly fenced in, and I'm convinced that Aussie dogs are just born more obedient than American ones. But the park is so much more than that--it's also got miles of paved and dirt paths that wind around abandoned paddocks and ponds and follow the river. Caroline said that the bike path will actually take you into the city if you stayed on it long enough. The longer you walk the trails, the more you feel like a trailblazer. Aside from echoing dog barks and children shouting, the air is broken only by birdsong. Crash and Lucky would love it--and I would too. I could easily see myself setting off with them and walking for hours. For such a large city, it's surprising that there are still places like this--but I suppose it's also crucial. Visiting a quiet park like this at least once a week would be the only way I could tolerate such a dense population.

We finished the night with dinner, Wonder Boys, and BROWNIES.



Sunday the weather was BEAUTIFUL again. After getting up early and going to the grocery store, we went back to the airport to collect Chris and Tanya and take them to their house. There we looked at all the pictures they had taken in Sydney. They both had some amazing shots of the architecture, as well as playful ones of themselves. We left around lunch time and went to some new op shops, which were extremely crowded (because it was Sunday?). But I found some new pants and a few other odds and ends, and when we'd gotten tired of bargain hunting we returned home and started to prepare an early dinner. Caroline and I played a couple rounds of scrabble then, when I could no longer think straight, we watched the 100th episode of Supernatural (not bad) that Tara had loaned us a couple nights before. Of course brownies and ice cream were involved, and we started to watch a movie I'd bought from Blockbuster on a whim, called Buried Lies, but it sucked out loud so hard that I can't even find a link for you. We turned it off and went to bed.

Monday night Tara is coming over to introduce us to NCIS: LA, and we're making pizza!! *smacks lips*

Great food and Great bargains

The past couple of days have been lazy and wonderful. The bargain-hunting but has bit us hard, and we've been scouring the local op shops for the Caroline's perfect teapot. But the great thing about trolling op shops is that you never know what you're going to find.

Sunday we got a late start and spent the day planning the rest of my time here. We've found a rental house through Chris's barter card book, which means it would be free. It's on the ocean, too, and sounds perfect for photography. We've left a message with them but are still waiting to hear back.

Monday morning we got a bunch of more serious things taken care of in the morning (renewing Paddy's registration and un-registering Caroline's old car) and then treated ourselves to a nice lunch at Rivers. I had a pumpkin/spinach/feta fritatta and Caronline had a steak sandwich:



We rounded out the day with more bargain hunting and then picked up a new batch of movies from Blockbuster, along with another box of brownie mix from the grocery store. Dinner was soup with some nice crusty sourdough bread while we watched The Skulls.

Tuesday we started the morning with some weeding and Caroline fixed a pipe that had been leaking for quite some time. Then we came in for breakfast and then headed out to find more stores! Our wandering soon found us in the neighboring town of Ivanhoe, where we grabbed lunch at Subway and then hit the main street on foot. We stopped in a few shops and oogled fancy kitchen tools and overpriced antiques, then finally broke down and ducked inside a cafe/bakery. Caroline ordered some hot chocolate and I got a chai latte, and we split a decadent caramel slice:


It was SO good! We felt indulgent and spoiled as we sat in the window and watched the rest of the world scramble by outside.

So this is Caroline's collection (so far):



Impressive, huh?? I love the color of the shelf. It really makes everything pop. And she's now accepting reservations for the grand opening of her own private Tea Room. ;)

That night we played a game of Spelldown (Scrabble) and then numbed our brains on Australia's got talent (actually, it does!!) and we headed to bed fairly early. Tomorrow Chris and Tanya are flying to Sydney for a vacation and need to be at the airport at 7am. I haven't woken up that early in weeks! :)

Birthdays and Caddy Shack

Saturday, April 10th

Before I go any further, I want to thank Jessie and Melanie and all the girls at work for creating this:

http://sevenweekstwodogs.blogspot.com/

I look at it at least once a day and anxiously await each new posting. It makes me feel so much better knowing that my dogs are happy and safe, and this blog is the best gift I've received in a long time. Thank you SO much, girls. You're amazing and I love you all.



Saturday morning, Caroline and I packed up and drove back to Melbourne. We left the dogs with Hillie so that we could take another trip later this week, to stay in some beach houses along the southern coast. Accommodation is free thanks to Chris, who is letting us use his barter card points. We plan to spend a few days exploring the land and taking LOTS of pictures!

The drive back was gray and rainy, but we avoided the swarms of locusts and got home safely around lunch time. Caroline pulled into the driveway and we could see through the backyard-gate, an orange cat sun bathing on the concrete. Mush-ums, Paddy's nemesis, the one who traumatized him when he was a puppy and ultimately made him the cat-hating maniac he is today.

And then we saw the flies.

I'll spare you the gory details, but poor Mush-ums had been dead for 2-3 days. He was the neighbor's cat, and Caroline said he was fairly old and had been showing signs of sickness for some time. I put him in a cardboard box and we tried to work out how to break the news. The neighbor is in the process of moving, and the house was actually open for inspection (by appointment) and mostly empty already. Her car was not out front, but we knocked anyway and got no answer. Another car was in the front bay window, happily tip-toeing back and forth. There was no vet information on his tags, nor cell phone numbers. There was nothing we could do but wait for the owner to return.

Dazed, we wandered over to the other neighbor to collect the mail they'd been holding for Caroline. She invited us in and we told her about the cat, which led to a discussion about the price of houses. The housing market in the city is so vicious that every house is auctioned off and sells for nearly five times what it's worth. It's hard to find a nice home for under one million dollars.

Back at home, we had a lunch of leftover lamb and veggies (still as yummy as the first time!). Caroline had a message on her phone from her mom, who got a call from Chris saying that he had come by Caroline's house to pick up a trailer and had found the dead cat underneath, but didn't have the stomach to do anything with it. Chris has a weak spot for dead animals. ;)

After eating, we headed off to the birthday party. Beck was turning 21 (the drinking age here is 18) and this was also a farewell party since she's flying home to England soon for a vacation. Although we got there nearly an hour late, we were the first guests. Beck was glad to see us and very welcoming. She took us on a tour of her new house that she shares with her long-term boyfriend and his brother, and their Jack Russell Nicky. The house was modest and homey with nice wood floors and a up-to-date kitchen and a cute little back yard great for entertaining. A few more coworkers showed up and we sat in Beck's kitchen to talk and nibble and drink. The girls got caught up with work and although not all of the people she'd invited turned up, it was still a great time. Beck is a very warm and energetic person, but sincere and sensitive. I hope I see her again.

When we left the party, Caroline and I went to Chris's house to pick up his barter card book so that we could find a scenic place to spend a few days. We stayed for a while and looked at pictures of the cabinets he'd just installed for a client, then we made plans for him to come by Caroline's house for hamburgers and to watch Caddy Shack (at his insistence).

After a run through the grocery store, we came home and saw that Mush-um's owner was home. Time to do the deed. We left him at the corner of her house and rang the bell. It was awkward, but I don't think there's really any one way to tell someone you've found their dead cat in your backyard. She seemed to take it fairly well, but was obviously shocked and in disbelief. We showed her the box and made her promise not to look, and told her we'd be home if she needed anything. It was a downer, but at least she won't wonder what happened to him and knows he died (we assume) peacefully. Caroline handled the situation very well. We returned home to make the hamburgers.

There were some hiccups with Chris getting here, but he finally made it and we enjoyed a late dinner (AMAZING hamburgers with all the toppings!!) and watched not only Caddy Shack but also its sequel (well, Chris did. Caroline and I fell asleep). ;) He left at nearly 2 AM and we went straight to bed!

A Week with Mum

Guess I left off at the part before we headed out to the pub, so let me finish with Wednesday night:


Here we are in our new outfits made from nearly entirely all op shop finds! My entire outfit (excluding a necklace borrowed from Hillie but including the blouse and cami, skirt and sandals) cost $8! And can you tell?? Op shops are great, I don't think I'll ever buy anything new.

The three of us clip-clopped our way down to the pub and definitely got the attention of all the boys. Rosco, Hillie's 'acquaintance' met us there and we placed our orders. The special was steak and although that was why we had picked tonight to go, Rosco was the only one who ordered steak. Hillie and I got grilled fish and chips, and Caroline ordered chicken Parmesan. Rosco got us some garlic bread appetizers and like a gentleman, paid for our soft drinks. We sat in a secluded room away from the TVs and bar. The conversation was great and our food was excellent! Rosco and Hillie are adorable together, and he really makes her smile. :)



After eating, us girls returned home and changed into our jammies. We played a round of Spelldown and drank a pot of tea, then went to bed.

Thursday Hillie had to work at the op shop again, so after breakfast Caroline and I headed out to hunt for more op shops. We traveled about half an hour to the neighboring town of Kerang (pop. 4000) and trolled through a gift store and two op shops, with a break for Chinese food in between. The first shop was homey and highly fruitful, while the second seemed more commercialized and had higher prices. With a little bargain-hunting lust still in us, we drove to Cohuna (pop. 2000) and got sidetracked by this quirky little gem museum, Crystal Paradise. The walls were lined with display cases crammed with every sort of rock and gem, and then the room held a bunch of large tables with polished rocks and jewelry for sale. The shopkeeper stayed close by and answered all of our questions and showed us a gadget that read the color of your aura (I was green, Caroline was purple). But the color can change, sometimes minute to minute, so I'm not really sure what it all meant, but it was neat anyway. :)





We were then shown the back room, which was mainly a studio for meditation workshops but also had a few more display cases and at the front of the room, a long hand-made wooden table that held a series of large opaque crystal bowls. The woman showed us how the bowls 'sing' by catching sound and amplify it as you rub a soft stick around the top. It was amazing; the sound became almost deafening but still beautiful, like church bells. Although we got to try it, the bowls did not sing for us as well as they did for her.

Also on display was this amazing ram's skull that had been found in a salt pan, completely covered in a thick blanket of pure white salt crystals.

We left about an hour later and when we found the town's only op shop, found out that Thursday was the only day of the week they weren't open. :( But we wandered around the town's beautiful little park, complete with a pond and a fountain and a skate park and a really spiffy playground. We sat on the swings and watched the birds flying over the water, then decided to head for home.



Caroline took us on a detour to see Mt Hope, a stunning tower of boulders that overlooks miles of patchwork farmland in all directions. We climbed nearly to the top and watched the sun set to the sound of birds calls and bleating sheep from the pasture below. To stand among such an ancient and powerful creation reminds you of how majestic and beautiful the natural world really is. Your thoughts seem to echo and your mind clears and stills. I could sit there for hours without realizing it.



We had gotten in the car and were starting to leave when we jumped out for a few last sunset pictures, which caught the attention of a flock of freshly-shaved sheep. Unable to resist, I approached the fence as they hesitantly approached me. We stood there, me facing a hundred bleating sheep, for a few minutes before they realized I was not there to feed them and turned tail. But it was enough to satisfy my 'animal craving'. ;)



When we arrived home it was dark, and Hillie thawed some of the potato and sweet corn soup she'd made in preparation for our arrival. It was DELICIOUS!! The secret must have been the bits of bacon. YUUUMMMM... So good.

Friday we had plans to make a big lunch and play cards with Hillie's brother, John, and Rosco. Caroline and I hurried through our yoga routine and then we all ran down to the butcher to get a leg of lamb. Then while Hillie got her hair done, Caroline and I bought some veggies and snacks before returning home and getting the roast and veggies in the oven.

At about 10:30 we headed out to visit a nearby salt pan. I've wanted to see one since my last visit because in my mind, it looked amazing. I could imagine it glistening like water but to touch it and taste the salt crystals would be fascinating. We'd driven past one on the way home last night, but it had been too dark. So Caroline drove me back out and I was super-excited and curious to finally be able to stand on one.



It looked like a really big, dried-up puddle, but there was a definite layer of white over the top. It felt like wet, compacted sand/dirt, and upon closer inspection I found tiny white crystals. I showed Caroline, who was sitting up on the road watching me with her camera, and after brushing off the dirt, I tasted it.

It tasted like nothing.

Maybe it wasn't the opaque rocks, maybe it was the clear rocks that were salt. So I put that one in my mouth next.

It tasted like a rock.

I was beginning to think that this was some nation-wide practical joke, a devious plot to get the tourists to eat dirt. But the pan was still beautiful, and I wandered around taking pictures before getting closer to the one area where the water hadn't evaporated.



The ground became squishy the closer I got to the water, and the mud beneath the thin layer of red topsoil was pitch black. I took a few more pictures and then--for reasons I can't explain--decided to taste the warm water.

SALT!

At last, I can say that I've tasted salt from a salt pan! I continued walking around the water's edge, taking pictures of dead insects and even a dead frog before I was satisfied enough to leave. At the car, I realized that it might not have been a good idea to drink water with a bunch of dead things floating in it. *wince*

We still had a little time before the lamb would be ready, so Caroline took me to Pyramid Hill. Unlike Mt Hope the night before, we could use a walking track to get up the side. But just like Mt Hope, Pyramid appears to be a giant heap of loose boulders, some of which could come tumbling down at any second. It looks so out of place among the miles of flat pasture surrounding it, like it had to have been man-made but the boulders are so huge that would be impossible. Caroline explained to me about volcanic activity and how the different types of rock rise and settle over time, and I suppose it makes sense but to see such a formation up close is simply stunning. Birds swirled over the very top of the mountain and on the way up, I spotted a wallaby! I was too slow for a picture, though. :(

At lunchtime we hurried back home just as Hillie was taking the lamb out of the oven. John was already there and Rosco would be coming shortly (lunch was running a little late) so Caroline and I walked Paddy down to the grocery store for some drinks. The house smelled amazing and Hillie had brought out all her fancy dinnerware. The lamb was carved and the veggies were plated up and Rosco arrived just as we sat down to an amazing meal! Everything was so good!

For dessert, John had brought some home-made Oliebollen, a simple and traditional Dutch pastry made mainly of flour and raisins that has been fried and is rolled in powdered sugar prior to eating. They were delicious but dangerous... I could easily eat a whole batch of those puppies!

After eating, the table was cleared and the playing cards were brought out. We were playing Dutch Euchre, an old family favorite. Rosco and I were newbies so the first round was practice, but as the game proceeded the rules were coming back to me. Fairly confident I could manage without Caroline's help, the game turned serious.

I forget how many rounds we played, but it was at least five and we finished close to four after having broken out the chips and candy. The final round was between Hillie and I, and I actually won! Hillie took it like a good sport, though. ;) It was a great afternoon full of fun and laughter and I'd do it again any day.

Then men left shortly after the game was over, and Caroline and I played three rounds of Spelldown (and finished off the junk food) before watching an episode of Frasier in bed.

I had a GREAT week with Hillie and really enjoyed meeting all of her family. Everyone is so happy and made me feel very welcome. Thank you Hillie, for opening your home to me. *hug*



Tomorrow: back to Melbourne and a three o'clock birthday party for Caroline's coworker!

Rainy Days

Tuesday was a relaxing day, starting off with yoga outside under an overcast sky. The sun came out for a bit while we were walking Hillie down to the op shop where she volunteers, but disapeared again in the late afternoon.

That morning, though, Caroline and I went crazy in the op shop! I can't believe that such a small town can have such awesome finds! I found quite a few gifts (books and knick knacks) and a few shirts. Then Hillie showed us the 'dress up' box, where the more outlandish articles were stored, and I found an awesome yellow cape and a red silk karate robe. :) When other shoppers showed up, and gave me a wide berth, I thought I'd better start behaving.



But things turned serious when Caroline found some really pretty skirts. We could each find a new outfit to wear to the pub tomorrow night! Hillie's brother, John, was meeting us, along with Roscoe, Hillie's boy toy. ;) It was as good as occasion as any to dress up, so why not?!

Caroline and I left with big bags of goodies, including some games. When we got home again, it was time for lunch and writing. Hillie returned at a little past three, and while we were trying to psyche ourselves up for yard-work it started raining.

Caroline made us dinner (roast chicken drumsticks and gravy with roast veggies) and I helped Hillie do some dinnerware-rearranging. The rain continued through dinner and a game of Scrabble (Hillie's first) and throughout most of the night.

Also during the night, Squeakers came to visit me. I happened to wake up and hear movement on the floor behind me, then I felt delicate movement on the doona coming towards the back of my neck. Even as I hoped it was only Chester, I knew it was much to small and silent. I flung the blanket away from me and heard a small thump, followed by some scratchy scrabbles around the baseboards to the door.

Turns out none of us slept very well; while I was listening for Squeakers, Hillie and Caroline were getting eaten alive by mozzies. :(

Wednesday was much the same: too wet for yoga but we ate breakfast and returned to the op shop. It was closed but Hillie let us in and showed us the Back Room. Caroline and I needed shoes to go with our new pretty outfits, and Caroline needed a better blouse. We turned over every inch of the place and left with just as much stuff as the day before! I found three really nice backpacks, too, and some knee-high black leather boots! Caroline found a few really great tops that compliment her gorgeous bohemian-style skirt.

On the way home we stopped at the Pyramid Bakery for some cakes for after lunch, and some chips (fries). Lunch was a combo of leftovers and the crispy, salty, yummy fries and Caroline and I worked on our novels while Hillie caught up with Facebook.

When we got restless, we headed out to do some yard work. After a while of weeding and mowing, we came to enjoy the cake and tea, and Caroline and I got in some more writing.

Now we are getting ready for our night out... Gotta go get dressed!! Pictures will come!

Easter Monday (April 5)

Today was one of the best days ever. Caroline and I did yoga outside under the prettiest country sky... hundreds of white fluffy clouds against brilliant blue, and a clear yellow sun giving off gentle warmth. The birds were fluttering about and singing from the trees.

Caroline drove Hillie and I about an hour east to visit Caroline's 91 year-old grandmother in the Rochester hospital. They have a really nice elderly nursing wing, and extremely friendly and caring staff. Hillie's brother John was already there visiting and flirting with the nurses. ;) At his request, Caroline and I signed a guest as per the ritual for all Aaltje's visitors, and the book held quite an impressive list of names. And above her bed was a large collection of black and white photos of the family, some dated 50 years before they moved to Australia from Holland. We would all hope to feel so loved when we're at that stage of our lives.

At lunch time, we headed out to Dawn and Ap's house for an Easter BARBIE. They live on a 16-acre farm and own 20 horses, a great dane, numerous barn cats, and are fostering an injured Gallah that crash-landed in their back yard. John showed up too, as well as many other relatives and everyone contributed to the menu. Caroline and Hillie prepared some potato salad and marinated chicken, which was added to the grill with a huge spread of steaks, burgers, and hot dogs. There was an immense amount of food: salads and macaroni salad and chips and crackers and dips and fries and crab and breads and later, a delicious chocolate/mint cake and vanilla ice cream. Everyone was so welcome, and I immediately felt welcome. As we ate, I heard all sorts of hilarious stories about John and Ap working on the dairy farm, and I could see a lot of my own grandfather in them both. Everyone was so happy and relaxed, and the weather was perfect.

After eating, Ap took us on a tour of his land. He showed us his new-used car, which seemed to be in mint condition despite being 7 years old--and I had to mention how my own grandfather cares for his cars as well. ;) Then we headed out to the PADDOCKS and the horses took interest and came up to the fences. My 8 year-old tour guide, Jay, told me each of their names and was obviously quite comfortable (and talented) with them. Ap took us to see the irrigation canal and told us how it was dug with actual horse power many years ago, and how the flow control has recently been converted to solar power. Heading back to the house, we walked right through a paddock with 4 very friendly horses, which sent me to all kinds of heaven. I had to practically be dragged away. It goes without saying that I've got a zillion pictures!












Just before we headed out, Ap's wife Dawn (along with Jay and little sister Ella) took us out to see the new colt, who hadn't been handled much and was still just a (white) shadow of his mother. When we got back to the house, the dogs had been released (they'd been tied out back while the food was out) and I tried to get some action shots of a Staffy playing fetch but I'd just about killed the camera battery by that point.

So we said goodbyes and headed off back home, stopping for a while at the cemetery to visit Hillie's father, who'd passed away exactly 16 years ago. It was a beautiful final resting place with lots of flowers and cared for grounds. Very peaceful.

We drove home under a beautifully simple sunset. I can't describe how amazing it is to stand upon a stretch of flat earth and be surrounded by an unbroken sky, to turn 360 degrees and not see a single building... it's just such a powerful feeling that I often forget about, and that some people have never experienced. It's inspiring, uplifting. To remember that you are but a tiny speck upon this magnificent planet, coexisting with so many animals and plants and subject to whatever weather mother nature throws at us... It was a perfect ending to a perfect day. I'll remember it fondly forever.

Side-notes:

1. There are locusts. Like, Apocalyptic amounts of locusts. They litter the road and sound like hail hitting the car. It's amazing.

2. I am peeling.

3. The Australian mosquito sucks. It's bite resembles poison ivy and that totally freaks me out. By they're extremely agile bastards.

Or else I have unbelievably poor aim.

4. I went to the DUNNY last night and scared a mouse. :D I'm totally naming him Squeakers. And coincidentally, as I write this, he just ran out of my room.

Tomorrow: writing and trolling the town. And Wednesday, steak night at the pub!
NIGHT!

Happy Easter!

This afternoon Caroline and I caught up with Tara and her family. Tara lives just down the road from Chris, about 10 minutes from Caroline's house. She currently is staying with her mom and brother, and Tara's friend Lisa and Lisa's family were also visiting. Every Friday night, Tara and her family hold a games night, which I've heard from Caroline can be crazy!fun--plus, Tara downloads episodes of Supernatural as soon as they've aired in the States (otherwise, the lag time between countries is a few weeks if watching it on TV). So we invited ourselves over and got on our way!

We piled in Tara's living room and the 9 of us watched two less-then-stellar episodes in which all hope was lost because it is revealed that God doesn't care about humans or the impending Apocalypse. *eye roll* We we then joined by Tara's brother and Grandmother (and a cat) and ate a lent-friendly dinner of fish and chips before breaking open Scattergories. True to reputation, things got crazy!

The game lasted over an hour and was prefect for my initiation night, as I love word games and you didn't have to do anything embarrassing. :) The Horaks are a loud, hilarious bunch and Lisa and her family are great as well. Everyone had an awesome time and it really felt like one big happy family. I left feeling happy and exhausted. We'll defiantly be doing it again!

Saturday morning was a lazy indulgent one. We lazed around and enjoyed the sunshine and played ball with Paddy, then Caroline had a brilliant idea for dinner: soup! Tomorrow we'd be leaving to go to her mom's house, so it made sense to clean out the fridge and use whatever we could from the garden. We harvested a huge pile of beans and chard and a couple beautiful red bell peppers, and from the pantry some potatoes and tomatoes and onion, and from the freezer corn and beef mince. We only needed an extra can of kidney beans from the store, and as soon as we got home we started preparing the veggies and cooking the beef.

It took a good half hour (during which we also had to entertain a Screaming Sheltie with ADHD) to wash and dice everything, but one by one the ingredients went into a huge steel pot to bathe in chicken stock and spices. We left it meld for a while while Caroline found us another online episode of My Kitchen Rules, and we were enjoying restaurant-quality bowls of beef and veggie soup by the end of it. I loved it! Plus, we had enough for ten extra portions to freeze for later. If I thought I could get it through customs, I'd smuggle one back with me!

Sunday morning we got a proper start on the day. We woke up at 6:30 (daylight savings changed overnight) and we did our yoga routine then ate breakfast and packed for our week with Hillie. The dogs were on to us! They were all-too-happy when they were leashed up and bedded down in the back of the station wagon, watching while we loaded in our own bags. At the last minute, Chris asked us to come by his house and pick up a trailer that he wanted brought to Hillie's house. He helped us get on our way, and after just one quick pit stop to switch the luggage and the dogs (Paddy decided he no longer wanted to look out the back window and jumped the seat), we made it safe and sound to Pyramid Hill.

Actually, we pulled up to Hillie's house right behind Russell and Sheree (Caroline's cousin) and their two children. After Russ fixed Hillie's lawnmower, we all sat around the table. Caroline and I had a late lunch while the others snacked and everyone caught up. My iPhone stole the show for a while, after a brief glitch with accessing Hillie's wifi. It was a great, comfortable afternoon and Caroline's entire family is proving to be wonderful! Which is good, because tomorrow I'm meeting even more! ;)

After Russ and his family left, the rest of the night was spent getting settled and making a tasty, simple dinner of soft tacos. I've got the same bedroom as I did two years ago! We went to bed fairly early but my mind was too active. First it was a Rabid Australian mozzie trying to drain my lifeblood, then the bedside clock was too loud. And I had to pee three times. And play with the phone. Then John and Kristine woke up and we played a couple rounds of Words with Friends.

Eventually, though, I fell asleep and had a few really messed up dreams. And when I got up later for yet another pee, a tiny little mouse and I startled each other in the DUNNY. ;)

Thurday, April 1--MOVIE DAY

This morning we finished Into The Wild and then lazed our way through Conversations with God and Life as a House. I've seen Into the Wild once before, long ago, and it was just as powerful the second time around. I can rave about this movie for DAYS, so just take my word for it: if you want a long film and enjoy exploring another lifestyle, this true-life movie can't be beat.

Conversations with God was originally a trio of books, basically transcribing the author's 'conversations' with God. Even if you're not a highly spiritual person, the film is still enjoyable and simplistic, and is packed with many take-home lessons with which you can enrich your life. Caroline owns all three books so afterward, she brought them out and I am slowly making my way through the first.

Life as a House was another surprisingly good movie, laced with spunky dialogue but based on some truly emotional situations. The character arcs are bold and satisfactory, and the ending is both morose and fitting. Those that enjoy Hallmark movies would enjoy this movie, which I consider to be superior but cut from the same cloth.

And then since we were doing so much introspection, decided to pop in The Art of Happiness book on tape--CASSETTE TAPE, that is. Even though we only completed one of the two tapes, I've got four pages of notes. Narrated in part by the Dalai Lama, the advice within is insightful and exploratory. Caroline and I had to pause after each side of the tape to reflect on what we'd learned. The purpose of living is to be happy, but happiness is not easily attained. There are many secrets that when applied, will positively influence anyone's life.

For dinner we had a warm salad made of produce from Caroline's garden (and added tuna on top):


We sat down to watch some mindless TV after all this serious soul-searching, and skipped between a show about vacation getaways, So You Think You Can Dance, and some show on weird-ass food where the chef made meatballs to look like fruit, a pigeon pie with actual pigeon, and for dessert, edible tableware. The silverware was made of chocolate and dusted with silver, the decorative walnuts were marzipan, and napkins were sheets of icing, and the CANDLES WERE WHITE CHOCOLATE FILLED WITH CARAMEL SAUCE. Guh.

But like St. Patrick's Day, I didn't even realize it was April Fool's until it was over. *whine* That's the curse of being on vacation and losing all sense of time. :)

An afternoon in the CITY

This afternoon we decided to try Sacs Gluten Free cafe, which used to be named Silly Yaks and obviously specializes in gluten free foods, mainly breads, cakes, and cookies. Our ulterior motive is to form a roster of cafes suitable for all-day writing stints. The place has to be fairly quiet, have comfortable seating, a view of something, and have good food at fair prices. We can't feel in the way, either. And it has to be fairly close to home or easy to get to.

So we loaded up the laptops (just in case we got lucky first time out) and after returning the two overnight rentals, headed into the city. We stopped at a couple of Op shops along the way but didn't find any must-haves.

Walking into Sacs, I noticed a sign on the door that forbid the entry of outside food. Sacs stands for Special Allergy Cafe and Store and is has quite a reputation. We sat down and ordered lunch and for a while, we were the only ones sitting down at a table. One by one, customers would come in to buy a loaf of bread or a few desserts (which looked SPECTACULAR), but by the time our meals were served, the lunch crowd came filtering in.


I ordered the gnocchi ragu:


And Caroline ordered a steak and bacon pie:


Both dishes were great and I wouldn't have known either were suited for dietary restraints. In fact, there were several other dishes that I'd love to go back and try. AND DESSERT!!!! Although not really suitable as a writing cafe, I still give it a major two thumbs up!

Since we didn't get any writing done (but wanted to) Caroline took me to the State Library so we could sit for a while there. What an amazing place! The building is HUGE and crowded with high school and college-aged kids, both eating on the front lawn and packed into the many computer/reading rooms. They are doing homework. And being quiet. It's WEIRD.

We checked out the Victorian Writer's Center, a writing group that recently moved into one of the buildings connected to the library. One day soon, Caroline is going to join the group.



After stowing my backpack in a locker (yes, the library has a rental locker room), we passed through SECURITY and made our way into one of the less crowded reading rooms. The room was massive, with a second floor bordering the edge and a huge glass dome ceiling. The center of the room was filled with tables and chairs and on either side, rows of long work stations with power outlets. We found a pair of empty seats next to some girls working on math homework and quickly got to work. It's a great place to be if you need a more disciplined work environment, as the near-silence while everyone around you works puts a you-should-be-busy-too feeling in the air. We stayed for a couple hours and squeezed out a few hundred words before deciding to take our leave in hopes of beating rush hour.

For dinner that night we got set up with leftover fajitas and another movie, Into the Wild. But about an hour into it, Caroline's brother Chris called and wanted us to accompany him to the art gallery where he's been working, while he did some late-night touch-ups. We put everything away and got changed back into presentable clothes, and he picked us up around 8.

The art gallery is located on the second and third floors of an old building that used to be a house. Chris has been doing renovations since before my first visit to Australia and he walked us through all the transformations he's made. His work is incredible (walls and windows removed or installed, lighting rewired, paint, even a huge movable wall that is both functional and beautiful. Caroline and I looked at the questionable artwork on display while Chris worked, and encountered the third floor's resident Ghost Cat.



I do not understand most modern art:



But to each their own, I guess. I think the trick to selling artwork is to have a huge gallery opening and get everyone drunk enough to shell out hundreds of dollars. Who else would spend that much for a 'Golden Vagina' original print??

When Chris was done working we followed him to Grill'd and stole some of his fries as he ate and we talked about the differences between Australian and American culture.

Back at home, we tried to finish Into the Wild but the night was late and we had to save the ending for the next day. *yawn*

*Tracked my Tour today...