Piggys Flying

Wombat Foundation

2010-07-14T13:52:00.000-07:00

I am going to be doing some volunteer work for the Wombat Foundation. There are less than 150 Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombats left on the Planet. If you would like to see how you can help out these guys please visit www.wombatfoundation.com.

Duval Ditty

2010-07-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Gotta Love a Jacksonville girl singing about her home town!! Especially since Macaroni and Cheese is featured in the video.

Animal Pictures

2010-06-27T05:24:00.001-07:00

I just got a new camera so of course the first thing I want to go take pictures of is animals. I don't think it is any big secret that I LOVE animals!!

Little cheeky kangaroo. He was hopping around trying to box any other kangaroo that would pay attention to him.
It was pretty cold today so the wombats (who are usually in their burrows) were out sleeping in the sun.

Lizard hanging out under the heat lamp

Young Tassie devil hugging his friend to stay warm.

Fresh water crocodile

The Emu was making all kinds of funny noises. I think he was over me taking his photo.

And, of course the most beautiful animal of all!!!

Midsummer's Dance

2010-06-27T05:14:00.000-07:00

I just got a copy of the cover for Midsummer's Dance from the publisher. I am not sure when the book will be available (assuming late 2010/early 2011) but it is so exciting to see the cover. YAY!!!

Back from Hiatus

2010-06-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

I am back from my blog hiataus!!! Two big things have happened.....
my friend Chris came for a visit which was absolutely fantasitc!!!

And Matt had his 40th birthday. We had a Star Wars themed karaoke party...bad idea??
Matt didn't let go of the microphone for HOURS!!

GOOD TIMES!!!!

Tassie Devils at feeding time in Ballarat

2010-05-01T15:06:00.001-07:00

These young guys loved to climb their keeper at the Ballarat Wildlife Park.

Illustrations

2010-04-12T20:21:00.001-07:00

I have been fortunate enough to have two illustrations published in the past few months.

"Scary Go Round" is in an anthology of goose bump raising stories for kids called Short and Scary. Edited by Karen Tayleur and published by Black Dog Books.

www.bdb.com.au/books/short_scary

"Train Ride" is an illustration for a short story of the same name by Tina M. Cho
published by Guardian Angel Kids, a free online children's magazine.
http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/

Update

2010-04-08T15:22:00.001-07:00

I have been a seriously bad blogger recently!! So here is a quick recap.....

My wonderful Aunt Jenell came to visit and we just had the BEST time with her!! She got to meet Elliott the koala which was great and we all went up to Port Douglas and out on the reef together. It was a very special visit!!

My friend George was nice enough to invite us to her birthday at her parents house. Her Mom went all out and made fabulous chicken pies with each person's initials baked on the pie.

Over Easter weekend we headed up to Omeo again for camping and the rodeo. The camping was awesome but a horse was hurt at the rodeo and that was awful. Camping, check! Rodeo, not any more for me thank you. So....there's a quickie update but I promise to do better keeping up!!

Ella Kazoo USA

2010-04-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

My friend Lee Fox has just had her fabulous children's book "Ella Kazoo Will Not Brush Her Hair" released in the USA. It's a fun read and I can seriously relate... I HATED brushing my hair as a kid. If you have kids go out and get a copy.

Kangaroos in the Grampians

2010-02-03T04:05:00.001-08:00

Holiday Recap

2010-01-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

Before Matt and I left Melbourne we went to check out some of the decorated houses around town especially on the Boulevard in Ivanhoe. The block off the street and everyone walks up and down looking at the Christmas lights.
Christmas lights and Giant mice!!

The Christmas Mouse theme was reoccurring quite a bit. I loved the book "Santa Mouse" when I was a kid but I have never seen so many mice of the lawn ornament variety.

The Giant Christmas Kangaroo paid a special visit to Luke and Natarsha.

So off we went the the USA expecting to be in Florida by Christmas Eve. The snow had other plans. Here is Matt enjoying his Christmas breakfast in the Dallas Airport Grand Hyatt. Luckily, we were able to fly out that morning and made it home in time for my Mom's beautiful Christmas dinner.

We got to catch up with lots of friends from my high school including Cliff, my 4th grade square dancing partner. GOOD TIMES!

I hadn't been to the Jacksonville Zoo since I was a kid and let me tell you it's a completely different place. It's an exceptional zoo. Amy, Sam and Matt are feeding the stingrays.

And Colt is holding onto Julie for her carousel ride.

My wonderful friend Debbie organized for us to have lunch with a bunch of friends but I was having so much fun catching up with everyone I forgot to take any pictures. After lunch, Judy, Matt and I went to one of my favorite places in Jacksonville.

To me the Cummer Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. I have such happy memories running around this place as a child.

New Years in New York City with Chris and Elizabeth.

We had a great time hanging out, bumbling around the city and drinking "Pork Slap" Ale.

Yep...that's right "Pork Slap". How great is that name?!?

However, I don't think anybody had as much fun as this guy.

Party on the Train!!

We headed to Coney Island for the famous Nathan's Hotdog stand.

Some crazy people were becoming members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club. Did I mention there was snow on the ground??

CR-AAA-ZEEEE!!!!!

I haven't seen my friends Clare and Karen for YEARS so it was great to catch up with them.

Good Bye New York City...

Off to Chicago!!!

Jack and I built a gingerbread house with a kit from DaDa Dawson with surprisingly little mess.

Colin's Aunt Lenore was sweet enough to get Matt and I a gift certificate to Portillos. YUM!!!

More delicious hot dogs! It is almost impossible to find a good hot dog in Australia so I was trying to meet my yearly hotdog quota while in the States. Did you know the average American eats 60 hotdogs a year?? Very useful information.

Visiting some of my old stomping grounds with Mardi and Angela.

We hit Zebra and Jilly's and Moodys...

Can you tell this trip was very "junkfoodcentric"?

Last year Matt was absolutely devastated when we got back from Chicago and he realized we forgot to go to Moodys. He got his burger fix this time around.

We stayed in the gorgeous Palmer House Hilton. I love this hotel not only because it's stunning but because of all the Chicago history that is tied up in this place.

The best thing about Chicago is of course catching up with all of my wonderful friends.

It's always good to get a snow fix too. Chicago is always good for that!

We had a fantastic time on our vacation and it was so great to see so many loved ones and great friends!! Happy 2010!!!

NO TREE NO ME

2010-01-13T10:57:00.001-08:00

Tree Decorating

2009-12-15T02:03:00.000-08:00

As grown ups there aren't many times when you can sit down at a table full of glue, paint and sparkling things and are told to go nuts. Why is this fun only reserved for kids?? I think this is
something that should be remedied so to decorate our new "big" tree and to celebrate Saint Nicholas Day I enlisted the help of some friends to make ornaments.

It's been eons since I made a clothespin Rudolph but it was just as fun as I remember. We made glitter balls, angels with glasses, paper chains, an alien bird thing and many clothespin reindeer. It was a fantastic way to get the big tree full of decorations.

It was a perfect St Nicholas Day!!

Koala Tree

2009-12-15T01:58:00.000-08:00

Our little $4 tree from last year has been transformed into my koala themed tree. Only Christmas Koalas Allowed!! The big tree is coming soon....................................

Christmas Season

2009-12-08T01:21:00.000-08:00

On a mission to get a bit fitter, Matt and I got bikes as our Christmas presents to each other this year (early Christmas present). I forgot how fun bikes can be and how quickly stationary objects come out of nowhere. I hate the helmet but you get fined here is you don't wear one. I look like a giant pink q-tip but my bike's so cute it doesn't matter.

The Swedish Church in Toorak holds a Scandinavian Christmas Bazaar every year. It was so much fun! There were loads of stalls with Scandinavian ornaments and clothing. There was even a St Lucia parade with carol singing. There were also a ton of tall, blonde people.

We tried a few new things, i.e. who knew there was a "Danish Style" hot dog?? It has roumalade, mustard, fried onions and pickled cucumber and was very yummy. We also tried a Scandanavian Christmas favorite called JulMust. It's a seasonal soda made from hops and barley. When the JulMust comes out Coca-Cola sales drop in Scandinavia by 50%. It tastes like a bit like a lighter flavored rootbeer.

It was a fun place to kick off the Christmas season!!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-03T12:26:00.001-08:00

I think I get homesick the most during holiday times. When the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade was shown on the news here I started blubbering all over the place. Luckily, once a year Matt's sister, Rebecca is nice enough to let me invade her kitchen and have Thanksgiving. Luke and Natarsha helped put out the turkeys and napkins to make everything festive.

Nick seemed pretty happy with his Thanksgiving plate! I have never had much luck making sweet potato casserole but this year I was pretty happy with the results I must say!! Happy Thanksgiving everybody....now on to decorate the Christmas Tree!!

Art in an Alley

2009-11-26T02:46:00.000-08:00

Just another random piece of street art I like in an alley of the Melbourne CBD.

Koala Video

2009-11-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

Bimbi Park

2009-11-15T16:56:00.000-08:00

Our friends, Rob and Anna, are moving back to Ireland at the end of the month that is unless Matt and I come up with a brilliant kidnapping plan. Bimbi Park had been recommended to me 2 years ago as a great place to camp by the Great Ocean Road and see wildlife. We all headed down for the weekend. There was a sausage sizzle break along the way where the nature watching began. A couple of Ravens were hanging around hoping for a bit of sausage. I through a bit and who knew but the raven buried the sausage piece. She buried about three pieces and when another raven came over to her pile to check things out she karate kicked him with her foot to keep him away. It was a David Attneborough moment if ever I have seen one...the sausage hiding behavior of crows.First let me say Bimbi Park is FANTASTIC!! We had only been there a few minutes when a koala walked by going from one tree to another. He was trying to get the attention of a girl koala

in the next tree over but she just kept eating eucalyptus leaves and pretty much ignored all of his bellowing no matter how loud he got.The kookaburras were out and about and more than happy to take a little snack from Matt. This is Tommy. The owner of the park was walking by and told us he liked to be fed. The two girl kookaburras he was hanging out with picked up a bit of a feed too.
We took a walk through the park and there were the most beautiful, twisted eucalyptus trees along with lots of spider webs. There was a big kangaroo that went hopping by just as the sun started to go down. We cooked shish kabobs around the camp fire and watched the four koalas in the trees around our cabins eating and sleeping. It was absolutely lovely. One little problem,

the caravans were covered with a tin roof and one koala was in a tree above Rob and Anna's. Koalas tend to potty a lot and every time there was a good bang on the tin roof. I thought it was funny.When it comes to our lovely Irish friends, Matt can't seem to help himself and makes loads of potato jokes. He was snickering to himself when we passed by this "No Potato Material Past This Point" sign so we had to go back for a photo. Rob and Anna were good sports.The sea around the Apostles was absolutely beautiful. The sun was out and the sea was greenish blue. I should have thought about some sunscreen at this point but alas I am now the color of beetroot. On the way to the Rainforest Tree Top Walk there were street signs for Apostle Whey Cheese and GORGE Chocolate. I just can't pass up locally made yumminess so we went on a tangent and what a lovely tangent it was! Julian, who did our tasting at Apostle Whey couldn't have been nicer and after trying 14 different kinds of cheese we came away with a bag full of wonderful cheeses! Once we got to the rainforest Rob was on the menu for the T-Rex.

I kept telling myself that this time I would get to the top of the tower in the middle of the walk. I was going to conquer my fear! Well, no fear was conquered per se but I did get a little higher than I went last time. I seem to like my feet on the ground. It was still worth it just to breathe in the lovely smell in the middle of the rainforest. It was a wonderful weekend with Rob and Anna and we sure will miss them when they go back home. On the upside it makes for more friends to visit in Ireland.

Melbourne Cup Day

2009-11-04T00:33:00.000-08:00

"The Race that Stops a Nation"...that's what they call Melbourne Cup here and true enough there is a public holiday...WOOHOO!! But the most important part was I got to wear a hat!Matt went for a 40's look Zoot Suit pants and all. He even got some cute spectators shoes.With lots of wagers pending on the ponies there were some "cheers" in order.I put my hopes on Daffodil but she let me down. Juan Carlos did well in Race 3 though.After it was all over the hats were off and the lost bets were left crumpled on the table. I do love this Australian tradition...especially the hats!

Itchy Bum Bird

2009-11-04T00:27:00.001-08:00

Matty's arch nemesis when it comes to sleeping in is the "Itchy Bum Bird". The bird has been so named because of his very distinct call that goes "itchy bum bum bum, itchy bum." (at least according to Matt that is what the call sounds like.) In the rest of Australia he would be called a Red Wattlebird. At first I thought Matt was crazy but I must admit I hear it now too...early in the morning....just as the sun is rising....itchy bum bum bum, itchy bum.

Halloween 2009

2009-10-30T14:18:00.001-07:00

Matt and I decided to go as Day of the Dead dolls this year. I used an IKEA blanket to make a poncho. We found Lombards party store had LOADS of Halloween stuff and got some new gravestones, a ghoul and a massive spider that Matt still refuses to touch. Of course we had our cauldron full of witches brew too.We had way more people go to Trick or Trunk this year. 3 cars and 12 people in our group. It was great fun! Natarsha was a pro at bobbing for apples!After Trick or Trunk we decorated sugar skulls and ate Halloween cake. Lots and Lots of sugar for one day.

I do love spreading Halloween fun.
I even managed to finagle Halloween at Work. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Search for the Great Pumpkin

2009-10-20T14:57:00.000-07:00

No matter how I try, it is very hard to get a lot of Australians super enthusiastic about Halloween. Some people here have even called my favorite holiday satanic... Whatever! If it's satanic how come 1000's of churches have halloween carnivals? As a kid how can you not love a holiday where you get to wear whatever you want, run around the streets at night and eat as much candy as humanly possible?? I LOVE IT!!! So with the lack of Halloween enthusiasts comes a lack of Jack o' Lantern type pumpkins. We found some last year at the Vic Market but they were $50 a piece and that just seemed crazy. Winn Dixie sells pumpkins for $4.99...how could I blow $50 on a pumpkin? Last year we passed but this year at the South Melbourne we found a bargain..$35! Ok so not a BARGAIN exactly but better. It was well worth it for Matt to see his first Jack o' Lantern and have his first pumpkin seeds. Now we are getting ready for Trick or Trunk with other Halloween lovers..WOOHOOO!!!

Best Day Ever at Jirrahlinga

2009-10-12T02:46:00.001-07:00

Matt organized the BEST Birthday present ever for me this year!! Tehree Gordon (Senior Australian of the Year 2004) runs a sanctuary just outside of Geelong. I had visited before but never thought I would get up and personal with the koalas there. Matt organized for me to shadow Judy (the koala keeper who is absolutely lovely) with Mrs. Gordon. I got to help clean up the animal hospital and change over the eucalyptus leaves. I was over the moon happy just to be around the koalas and it gave me such a great appreciation for all of the work the people at the sanctuary do. The big guys above was injured in the bush fires and he is scheduled to be released back into the wild any day now.

This little bub isn't gaining weight the way she should be so she is getting supplemental feedings. She has to be fed almost every two hours 24 hours a day. Making sure she grows up takes a big commitment but she is so beautiful I can see why wildlife carers do what they do.

There are loads of orphans who end up at the sanctuary. I got to meet baby ringtail possums, brushtail possums, magpies and this rolly polly wombat. She was very busy.These two dingo pups, Itchy and Scratchy, absolutely captured my heart. Theya re so cute! The little girl got scared at one point and ran in between my legs. I wanted to pop them in my pocket and take them home. In some states Dingo's can be pets but it takes special licences and they are supposed to be big howlers so aren't often popular with neighbors. These two sure are gorgeous. It really was one of the best days ever!!

Mom and Dad in Australia Part 2

2009-10-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

One not to be missed stop for Mom and Dad was the Ballarat Wildlife Park.
Here they are meeting Elliott for the first time. He came out especially to say hello. He is so beautiful and was very excited to meet his foster grandparents!!

Luke and Natarsha were showing this kangaroo how to hop.

After the park we went up to Bendigo to stay at the historic Shamrock Hotel and got there just in time for sunset.

This is the old post office in Bendigo which is now the visitor's centre. When Dame Nellie Melba stayed across the street at the Shamrock she couldn't sleep because of the clock on the post office tower. She demanded the hands be stopped. Ahhh, the perks of being an Opera Diva.
Matt, Barry and Dad in front of the Talking Tourist Tram.
On the way back to Melbourne we went to the see the cross on Mount Macedon. We also saw a massive kangaroo and a little dark brown wallaby. I was so happy Mom and Dad saw some native animals in the wild.
We had the best time with Mom and Dad and were very sad to say goodbye. At least there was a good entourage to see them off.