Australian Loves

Several years ago now, we hosted a foreign exchange student through AFS when we lived in the Chicago suburbs.  Her name was Sandy and she was from a small town outside of Melbourne.  I called her Sandra Dee, much to her dismay.  If anyone gets that reference, then kudos to you.

With AFS, students typically stay for 11 months.  It takes time for them and you to adjust, usually a few months.  She arrived in August and after Christmas, I think she started feeling more at home.  Or was it that new boy she'd met?  Being responsible for someone else's 16 year old daughter when they begin dating is SCARY, let me tell you.

Fast forward 16 years and they are happily married and living in Australia. I hadn't seen their two oldest children in 7 years and had never seen the youngest, she'll be 5 this month.  While my husband was traveling to Mexico and the US, I decided I should go visit.  I AM on the right side of the world these days, but it is still a pretty long flight.  The price was reasonable and Sandy said, "come".  So, I did.  Here's a glimpse of my very fast visit with them.  I played a lot!

 This area is called Lake's Entrance which borders along the Bass Strait.  

We walked over to the beach for a lovely view.  

Another day we drove to Raymond Island and took the ferry across.  

We were hoping to see Koalas and Kangaroo.  

This is a Galah, part of the cockatoo family. Alas, I saw NO KANGAROO, the entire visit!  

 The cute kiddos on a busy afternoon after school.

 My last day there we spent the day in Melbourne. This is an alley of cafes.

 It poured the day we were in Melbourne, which was the day I left.

Little bit was tired out. 

We found the alley of graffiti and took advantage of the photo opportunity.  It was so fun to be with them and HH and I need to go back TOGETHER.  I realized that I need to do a post on a visit to Kyoto.  Sorry about that.  It will be a little out of order.  Have a great weekend!


Karen

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Since mailing Christmas cards this year is a little more expensive and complicated than in recent years, I decided to make a Christmas video to send to everyone.  Many of these photos you have seen throughout the year, but if you want to see a quick review of 2015, please enjoy a video Christmas card.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.  We are so grateful for the Lord's guidance and presence us with us in this past year of change.  He never fails to be our guide and comfort.  We pray that the unsurpassable gift of his Son, Jesus to a world that is hurting will be a reality in your life this next year.

Snowed In?

I thought I'd show you how we began 2015.  We got 10 inches of snow and lost our electricity for around 62 hours.  As you can tell by the photos, it was very beautiful.  My little shed is going to be the star of many of my photos.  It was especially lovely covered in snow.

 Isn't she pretty?

My husband is a hiker which I'm sure you remember.  He has a lot of necessary supplies that helped us survive the power outage.  He was loving his Jet Boil, but our gas stove worked fine and we made do.  We also used our charcoal grill for some delicious steaks.  I even popped popcorn in a pan on the stove the way my Mom use to do it.  It was delicious.

The headlamp came in handy at night when I wanted to read.  You won't be seeing any photos of me with the headlamp on.  Not happening.

 I was reading Unbroken, which is so good.  My little annoying difficulties were nothing in comparison to what Louis Zamporini endured.

 Yay for powered up Kindles.

 Seriously!  Isn't it gorgeous?

We have long ago gotten rid of our snow shovels.  My husband ended up shoveling our very steep driveway with a regular garden shovel.  We still could not get out, because we live along very steep hills and our city does not have equipment to plow snow.  So we waited.  We finally got out four days later.

 Our new refrigerator.

 So many trees in our area were shattered.  It's really sad.

My beautiful Aeonium tipped over and so these pieces are going to friends who want to start their own.

Yesterday (less than a week later) it was 82 and so we are back to normal California weather, if not a little warm for the month.  Big changes are on the horizon at our house.  I'll try to keep you up to speed a little better in 2015.  Hope your New Year was wonderful and not as eventful as ours. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

November in Paris

Yes, you read that right.  I was in Paris in November.  It was awesome.  I thought I'd share with you a few pictures.

 We flew on an Airbus A380 which is the largest airplane in commercial flight.  Can you see the three different walkways into the plane?  There are two floors, although I didn't explore to find out.

 Our hotel was across the street from The Palais Garnier, the Opera House.

We took a walk around the Jardin de Tuileries.

And around the local streets.

The first day we toured the Musee d'Orsay which houses several Impressionist paintings.  Photography is not allowed, except a couple of places where I could get pictures of the restored train station, but no art.  It was beautiful!

Because it was a train station there are several big clocks.  I loved this perspective from this large, clock window.  You can see Montemarte and the Sacre Coeur. 

 We joined the rest of our group for lunch on the Eiffel Tower.

After lunch we went for a LONG walk.

 The first stop was the Arc de Triomphe.

We found this beautiful park with cute school children walking back to class.

More to come, I promise.  And sooner rather than later.  

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!