BACK TO QUEENSLAND

Little Aussie,  2015

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY, Dear Readers

I knew I was back in Australia when:

• The washing dried on the outside clothes line in a fraction of the time it takes in a tumble dryer - costs no $$$$, and no harm to the environment..
• I met a little brown snake (deadly) on my daily walk, just glanced down in time as I went round a bend in the path...walking quickly so body in motion I did an arty sideways leap and forward jump to safety.  Can't imagine doing that when I am 80...
• The lorikeets were back on day one, insisting on their daily seed - wonder where they go when we are away?
• The garden greenery has grown by half a metre in under a month...
• There are very few flowers...
• And when a rose opens, it shrivels in a day unless cut and put in a vase..
• A cup of tea cools you down, rather than warms you up..
• We are eating salad most days because it is too hot to be bothered..

I think that about covers it.

Bought these at the Museum Christmas tree display in Ottawa - $5 set.  Love them.

For the first time in 14 years, our little hydrangea has produced blue blooms...

Always been pink until now...

I enjoy the unexplained change...

Tree-loppers attack our giant fig

Forced to buy a few cheap blooms to keep things bright

As we travelled home from Canada, the saddest thing happened.

We lost one of our Sewing Sisters, the lovely Rosie, after a long illness.

We have met every month for over ten years, and she was the loveliest girl, talented and full of laughter and fun.

She made me this block for my French-themed quilt, so clever and so pretty..

She made each of us a pair of these earrings..

Can you tell what the base is?

And she made me this pretty paper angel one Christmas.

Rest in peace with the angels, Dear Rosie.

We miss you so much...

Take care

XXXX

A FROSTY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year, dear Readers.

We came home from Canada to face an Australian heatwave...

The only selfie I took on our trip is but a distant memory -

face and hands frozen in -18c, in glaring white snow against a stunning blue sky.

You can even see the snow reflected in my sunglasses.

After Christmas we had a few more adventures...

One night we bundled up and went to a drive-through Christmas light show.

It was set up in a Summer camp ground, with a winding road through the snow and trees, taking 30 minutes to drive slowly past it all (no leaving the car permitted!)

Various themes unfolded, to the delight of all, including the complete song, Twelve Days of Christmas.

Our organised daughter brought chocolate treats and drinks to enjoy during the spectacle - and the boys were spellbound by it all.

Eventually we came to the Nativity scenes, and then exited through this:

When the 'Big Freeze' hit the area, we were undeterred and drove to Brockville on the St Lawrence Seaway.  That is New York state across the water.

We visited a Maritime Museum, which is particularly well set up for children.

It kept the boys entertained for several hours.

Here is young M mounting the guns of a full-size Pirate Ship.

Here is H, at the Otter acquarium.  Those otters were the biggest I have ever seen...huge!

I never tired of trying to photograph the snowy vistas from the car, just trying to preserve the beautiful memories.

A very special treat awaited us on New Year's Day.

We drove two hours north and into Quebec, where we visited Escapade Eskimo, at Otter Lake.  

This was the coldest weather we experienced.
Despite my fur-lined snow boots and two pair of thick wool socks, in a heated car, my feet became frozen from the cold which seeped in via the crack around the car door!

barn en route, not our lodge!

We were warmly greeted by the owner of a large wooden lodge, our accommodation for the night.

We were here for the adventure of Dog Sledding -
it was so cold I could only stay outside about 5-10 minutes at a time.
We all had a ride, about five minutes going very fast through the woodland, inches from the snowy forest floor.

Reader, I did it!

It was too fast and too cold to take photos during the ride, but I did take the shot of my feet at the end.  Those boots certainly had some adventures.

Previous three photos from Escapade Eskimo website

Mr C and young H

That night there was another heavy snow fall, and it continued next morning as we left, having trouble getting the car up a slope of snow drifts to the main road.   Which was also covered in snow - the snow plough had not reached us in the wilderness.  To we Australians, it was like another planet...

Driving through snow

Frozen Lake Otter

We are so grateful to our daughter and her family, for arranging many wonderful White Christmas experiences, and looking after us so well.

It was so sad to leave, not knowing when we will see them again.

I can still here those dear little voices, singing 'Oh Canada' to us in French, as we drove to the airport...

XXXXX