Willow & Wattle

Preteens, Holidays and Stuffed Paramecium

2011-12-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

The festivities of the season - the decorating of the tree - in our case with ornaments that I remember as a kid, growing up with various glass shapes such as gold glittered pine cones, balls, the old style fluffy tinselly stuff (which my girls thought was great to anoint the tree with)..figuring out what to have for lunch and dinner on Chrissy day... Christmas lists being made, with several interesting items added to the lists this year. Though, with several of the expected routines for Christmas, there was also the induction for me of a reChristmasing in Australia, and the girls their first experience.

Though we have a kitten now. A very energetic one. It wasn't long before tree climbing became a constant game for Boston. Knocking down ornaments seemed to become a 'how far can I swipe this one' routine which left lighter ornaments strewn across the lounge/living room and Bostons people running back and forth trying to save glass objects from being completely shattered, while tinsel was ceremoniously stripped to its string core, and candy canes knocked from great heights, I believe, so he could hear the snap of broken candy. The little horror. All the while we were attacked at the ankles while Bostons stalking and fighting skills were in full practice.

Checking the Christmas lists, I was up for a challenge - who elses preteen asked for a plush paramecium toy? (among other things on the list.) Ok, well to be fair, she did ask for other stuffed toys, but added "I'd really like to see a stuffed paramecium"..

What else was I supposed to do? Naturally, I checked the internet and behold.. I found it!

They say everything is on the net... well, yep, it was right there. Right along with plush nerves, brain stems (below) , viruses and a miriad of other biological stuffed wonders.

But thats not the only thing that is different this year (you wonder, don't you)

Its different from the usual ice and snow. Instead we have summer heat and a bit of humidity here. Though the presents for the most part, are under the tree. We've been busy taking that hour or so long trip into our nearest bigger town a couple of times a week, and still have to return tomorrow to get those last minute items.

In all, its going to be an interesting, exciting time for us. Packages waiting to arrive, finding different items than what we might normally see in the US, watching kangaroos during the mornings in the mist, not only in the paddocks but near town at the old railway station.

Have a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!

Thanksgiving: The Aussie/American Initiation

2011-11-25T13:58:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving, that great feast the most American families look forward to for time together, a long weekend of cooking, eating..and for some, the black friday gallop to the stores.

While discussing our own upcoming celebration, working out what to do here in Australia, my oldest child and I were interested to hear some celeb gossip on the radio, concerning Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and how they were not spending thanksgiving with Brads mum. Though what interested us more was the radio personality mentioned Thanksgiving 'coming up this weekend' not realizing that she was speaking about this on Thursday 24th November - Thanksgiving day.

Australia doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, it being an American (and Canadian) tradition and holiday, and naturally, this radio personality didn't realize 'Thanksgiving weekend' actually started on the Thursday as a long weekend. I found this interesting, being Australian, having had resided in the US for so long, it had reoccured to me that I had had the opportunity to l.i.v.e this stuff, knowing what Thanksgiving weekend, black Friday and cyber Monday etc meant in general conversation, unlike some of my fellow compatriates. It was one of those epiphanies that lept out and said 'ohh yeah, well, they wouldn't know, would they'.

But that realization also confirmed that our Thanksgiving project - trying to find a restaurant to celebrate in, may be a little tricky. Namely because of the obvious, not a holiday here mate. Our social experimentation, trying to explain this to friends was also tricky in a humorous sense, using excuses to procrastinate for the day or endow oneself as 'princess for the day' because one just wanted to not do much, didn't go over at ALL...

'...but its THANKSGIVING!'
'ahh, no, its thursday...'

Tricky it was, to a certain extent.
Because we are in a small town, with not many stores, and no restaurants to speak of, we had to travel into the nearest larger town, with a few restaurants, approximately 1 hour away, give or take 15 minutes or so, depending on road work.

We were given the name of a sports club, and a restaurant at the same location, so after traveling in, we were intiated into the real world of restauranting practices in the local area. They open for lunch, and close until 5 or 6pm. Of course we arrived at 2:15pm, and everything was closed.

Trying to explain to the receptionist that we were looking for a restaurant in which to have Thanksgiving was to no avail. It was suggested we go to the cafe past the gaming area to get sandwiches.
...But its Thanksgiving!..(don't bother using this expression, it really doesn't work, we've tested it several times, hehehe) nothing from the receptionist... of course...
Auto sad pout faces occured and we slipped out, dejected from our formerly chosen feasting venue.

So driving around, realizing there probably wasn't going to be much open, we opted for the only available location - now when I say opted, we saw it, realized it was actually open and with just a tad of excitement decided in approx 3 seconds that we should go there - a restaurant - but not having had very good reviews from a friend, I was dubious. But we ventured in anyway, deciding between ourselves that if it was bad, we'd sit there and laugh about it. It was great actually. No telling why this friend believed it was not such a hot place, but that's ok.

So with just the 2 of us, my youngest being away at a school camp, we were formally initiated to a Thanksgiving in Australia. We learned that saying 'but its thanksgiving' much the same way as people would say 'but its my birthday' or 'but its Christmas' or whatever, has no sigificant impact on people in Australia - no kidding huh...nope doesn't work at all!

Australiana...

2011-10-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

Its a beautiful thing, really, to come back home and listen to (and eat) everything you have missed for over a decade!

Currently here in a small country town, there is no lack of wildlife. Kangaroos, Kookaburras, Rainbow Lorikeets, Kites, Hawks... not to mention beautiful sunrises - early morning mist wafting along the landskape during a new spring season. Colourful sunsets, a bright red sun and pink to blue skys. My first couple of weeks here were spent simply taking it all in, listening, watching, remembering.

Then there is the food...

Pies! Meat pies were the number one thing on my list to tackle when I first arrived back. Since then, I've learned that most expats tend to make them thier first priority on returning to Australia. Not surprising really since they are virtually non existant everywhere else. But then there are sausage rolls, milo, chico rolls, spring rolls, different pastries, lamingtons... I could go on. I've almost tried 1 of everything so far, and most importantly managed to keep my weight in check! Score for me! Who said you can't have your cake and eat it too!

We have several bakery type places in this small town. One is apparently famous for pies, another has the best coffee, another has the best fish and chips, another is a full on bakery with all very good stuff (and personally, I prefer thier pies and sausage rolls) another is never mentioned, but that's ok. So having been given the details on all where to go for the 'best of', I have duly done the rounds. You can never beat local information, always right on target, particularly when several people have mentioned the same things.

I have also found the best service station coffee in town. There are several servos around here, and usually service stations not being known for coffee, I had my work potentially cut out for me, well I have to mention a friend who helped with that task also.. but we did succeed and found a winner, pretty dang good. I had to get something close to starbucks, and yep, this isn't a bad runner up.

Playing the Passport Game...

2011-07-05T01:46:00.000-07:00

This game can send the novice into a complete nervous state, particularly when a lot of risk is involved while navigating the paperwork. Players should be advised to have as many backups as possible, mostly documents and guarantors. It is excedingly helpful to have contacts in local government of the land you are currently residing as this can be immediately beneficial, to a certain point.

To play this game, you will need original documents and any expired documentation proving prior allegiance/existance to origin as well as current documentation proving you are still the same person. Photos may or may not help.

Step one: The Connections - make friends with your local (or regional) consolate which could be 3 days drive away. If anything goes wrong, and it probably will, its great to have a first name contact and phone number. You should also know that these people are very used to stressful babbling....

Well, if they weren't, they certainly are now.

Step two: The unauthorized birth certificate - this step is much more fun if you need your passport immediately and have no 'approved' birth certificate. In this case, a relative in your country of origin can send your document to said consulate via fax. Keep in mind here that when your said relative faxes the copy of your certificate, it does need to be carefully and thoroughly examined by the person in charge of authentication at your relatives respective post office or passport office. If it is simply faxed, you will regret it. This is a step that not all post offices, relatives or novices are aware of.

Step 3: The Guarantors - it is essential that your guarantor understand the difference between date formats between the USA and Australia. If the format is not written in day//month//year, and instead is written in month//day//year, you will be sentenced by formal letter to retraining classes on date formats, along with your guarantor, who will be regarded mearly as collateral damage. It will repeat until your application shows the correct format.

As well as this, if your guarantor is in local government, it is quite necessary for that individual to write 'local government' and not their actual occupation, even if he/she is the local chief of police and has stated as such in accordance with the list of authorized professions and corresponding profession number specified. Your regional consulate will send it back anyway, with the formal letter and the returned application. You will very quickly be retrained in this procedure as by this time, you will have approximately 3 days to achieve your ultimate goal, your passport in hand.

Step 4: The Follow Up - At this stage you should have one day left before you leave on your flight. Your passport application and faxed birth certificate should have arrived at the regional consulate, so take note that a call to your consulate will be necessary in order to reset your stress button, and to assure that your application has not yet been processed. Here you will learn that your birth certificate although faxed and received in perfect condition was not authenticated by the local post office of your respective relative (refer to step 2). At this point you may or may not cry or 'freak out'. The latter is suggested as it will bring swift results.

Step 5: Post Freak Out - You will find that despite retraining and repeated applications, your passport will be processed as an emergency official document due to time restraints. You the player, will discover that your name has been passed through all the delegates from Washington DC to Canberra due to your unauthorized birth certificate. While this can be somewhat daunting, as sudden onset fame often is, you will discover that the Australian passport office will have managed to entirely complete your emergency passport in the space of 2 hours, to be returned on the day of departure to you, the player.

Step 6: Return of Documents and Certification - By now, you will be known to them on a first name basis and later have your case used as a training exercise. This may or may not happen in the advanced novice stages of the game. Should this occur, the player really should be awarded certification for stress management and logistics and be paid for training the civil service, for crying out loud... and should be awarded a medal for investigation particuarly if told their missing returned drivers license was in a particular envelope of a specified color and was not, and instead somewhere completely different that the Creator Himself wouldn't dream of looking until approximately 3 weeks later...

...naturally the former comes much later in the process of the passport game; see steps 5-200, but was worth a mention for those passport game professionals who may just need a refresher.

Special thanks to the Australian passport office staff in Washington DC for their amazing support and help in getting my passport through in time!!

The Battle Begins...

2011-05-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

My Dad, career RAAF serviceman and veteran was one never to miss an Anzac day dawn service. Each year, for as long as I can remember, he would be up early, swallow a quick cuppa, don his dark blue uniform, medals and carefully polished black shoes and head to the town memorial. He and other past and present servicemen and women gathering just before the crack of dawn in remembrance.

I'm not even sure if he had done this his entire life, he just may have, since my grandfather was also a serviceman and war veteran. I could imagine the boys all going to the dawn service each year...

This year he missed it. He just wasn't feeling that great.

It was a concern. Along with a varied grouping of other seemingly odd health issues, headaches, dizziness that wouldn't go away, he finally went back to the doctor.

Yesterday I found out he has a brain tumor, and other areas of cancer. A nightmarish event that obviously has hit the entire family, but has also created a great deal of guilt and anxiety for me here.

In the US, 10,000 miles away.

What would I do in the event that something happened at home, and I wouldn't have the money to get back?

So reality having hit hard, on top of a variety of other things I have realized the enormous amount of preparation, phone calls, arrangements and other issues that comes with getting back home. Its usually this kind of thing that causes great concern to expats, one of those things always at the back of the mind, every so often invading the thoughts.

The sad truth of the matter is that my fears have become a glaring reality, I have no money to get home. Among the economic woes of a hard hit work force here in the US, and earning very little, the complexity of what to do and stress of the overall situation has undoubtedly brought out the fear in all of us. However it also brings to the forefront a deep rooted determination and many brainstormed ideas, that probably wouldn't have emerged had not a crisis situation developed. So its with these ideas that we have developed plans and counter plans.

This is War!
and the battle begins, on two fronts. One for my dad and one for me. Determined to get home, my family half way round the world with the same determination, all of us ripping apart the seams of impossibility.

And Back to the Real World...

2011-05-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

It seems odd that having been in Texas for almost 3 years now, we have not visited the Grassy Knoll, Dealey Plaza. Something to be said for that. It just seems like something that should have been done, you know? Wisconsin, I considered an old red school bus used for the sale of flowers, fruit and vegies a quirky small town photo worthy opportunity. In Michigan it was a replica of a Danish statue, Illinois, mostly the botanical garden, and Kentucky it was everything, mostly due to it being the first state I lived in, in the US.

Though in hindsight, I never thought I'd be living in Texas, for one. And I guess never considered the fact that I may have had the opportunity to visit an area of such controversial history. I've decided that perhaps next weekend might just be the time to take the girls to visit. Now the weather is a little better.. kind of, in comparison to say, where we've lived before.

Dealey Plaza MU.EDU

For me, this is of probably a little more significance that my girls would care to explore. I'm a history buff, number 1, number 2, I have a degree covering investigations that, in this case compels a little extra research into exactly where the whole horrid issue had taken place; that is, which window, or shrub (depending on which side of the controversy you may wish to lean) was the cover. Research of course also means that I can extend that knowledge to my fledglings... regardless of whether they really want to hear it or not.

Its one of the things that parents can do to brighten thier day...

Nails, Teens and Shiny Things...

2011-01-25T08:11:00.000-08:00

What else would bring sheer joy to a regular teen girl other than Justin Bieber? Some type of blank canvas to decorate, to polish and glitter, and otherwise adorn - naturally it has to be fingernails! Yes, I'm sure someone out there would like to decorate The Biebs too... and incase you haven't heard, I have it on VERY good authority, the future Mrs. Justin Bieber (help me!) has informed me that her wishlist counterpart is coming out with his own line of polish, by O.P.I., of course...

Oh, great', I hear you say, 'another line of polish, just what I need'. Or you could be saying 'my child already has a gazillion bottles of polish, in pink, lime green, black, holographic, scented, chrome plated, electroplated, enamel glittered, 25th century futuristic, and silver. I don't NEED anymore...' But we're not really talking polishing fingernails as much as simple nail transfers..I realize same could be said for nail transfers, you have enough, right?

But, do you have this? Something so simple it will knock your socks right off your dang feet! Its FREE and enough to keep your child still for 5 minutes without asking you for more polish colors, or talking about... Justin. We're talking Newspaper Nail Transfers!!

I caught my child engaging in this activity at the kitchen table a couple of days ago.. I noticed mainly because of the eerie silence, and heavily focused appearance. Naturally, I enquired. Immediately I thought it was probably one of the most brilliant things I have seen, mostly due to the aforementioned, lack of squabbles, happy sibling involvement and use of time not involving the tv. Not to mention use of papers and creative time, discovering something partially useful. And free.

This is what you need.

Nail polish
clear top coat polish
newspaper or those book club papers your child brings home from school
rubbing alcohol

Doesn't matter whether its pictures or text, but the smaller the object the better, since large pics will just add a block of color to the nails, rather than pattern.

How to

Polish nails in whatever color of polish
when dry, dip fingernail of choice in rubbing alcohol just for a second or two
take selected newspaper/print and apply directly to nail surface. Hold for about 5 or 6 seconds. Peel off
let dry
apply clear top coat.

You're done! fantastic huh!

Jumpers, Trollies and Other Confusing Objects

2010-12-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

First it was half and half, a very confounding experience in which I discovered the 10 million different types of dairy product available for a single cup of coffee - you can read all about that in Half and Half, Coffee Tales in America, but as interesting as it was for me, it didn't hold a candle to the number of Australian expressions and words I could pour out in a matter of minutes, completely bewildering anyone within earshot I'm sure, during my initial appearance to American society.
I came to the US from Roma, a little town in the country, several hours drive from the nearest big city, to Louisville, Kentucky.

There were some differences.

I entered the supermarket and reached for a trolley, passed the lolly aisle looking for chook for tea. I would need a cuppa in the morning and strolled down the beverage aisle, needed bread for sangas, was perplexed when I couldn't find any proper barbie snags for tea on tuesday, or some bikkies for smoko. There were also no custard apples.

On the other hand, the clothing section had some really nice jumpers that would be great to wear with jeans, some pretty cool sand shoes, and I noticed, though not that I ever felt the need for one, bum bags were plentiful, but here in the U.S were called by a name I couldn't ever really catch myself saying in polite society. *blush*

I quickly realized that in speaking to the occasional older person who told tales of depression period menus mentioned eating 'coon', and they didn't mean cheese, at all!

I also learned eventually that a rubber wasn't what I thought it was. At the time I was very grateful NOT to have found out immediately because I would have run out of the office supply store mortified, and very, very red. Needless to say, hubby got a huge kick out of that and didn't tell me at ALL that what I should have called it was an eraser! I had to learn that myself.

I say eraser all the time now.

I am still horrified on occasion that there are names like um... Randy which means something completely different where I come from, and still chuckle every so often when people say 'meds'.. being that it is a brand of feminine product in my world.

I also found out after years of wondering, growing up with Sesame Street and hearing about it often, what a stick of butter was and that snowflakes really aren't as big as they try to make out on that same show either.

Then there are those items that are very much displaced in a car accessory store - boot, bonnet, rear vision mirror...

Though now, living in Texas, I have discovered a number of Texan phrases creeping in to my already renowned vocab, try mixing Australian and Texan together - ya'll want yall's cuppa now or wait until yall's tea time, or godamit, I forgot my money, can't go on smoko now, have yall got a couple dollar notes?... then realizing that many people here speak spanish, then add that to the mix..

hola, como estas? yall want tea now? Si? It probably would be worse but I can't speak much Spanish.

Hooroo, Helen

Autism

2010-07-13T00:25:00.000-07:00

While living in Wisconsin, I was working part time, was a full time student and my husband had already moved to Iowa. We had our house on the market, and trying to juggle everything was an experience - it was a whirlwind of a time. But one of the other things we came to discover during this time, was Sensory Processing Disorder. I had not really heard of this before, though I was studying various forms of Psychology and behavioral analysis, and was familiar with Autism.

Little did I know that some of that knowledge would come in very handy. We discovered, after a lot of research and visits to councelors that my youngest daughters social problems were part of an Austim spectrum disorder.

My daughter has Sensory Processing Disorder, also known as Sensory Intergration Disorder, currently considered on the high functioning end of the Autism spectrum, a little different from Aspergers syndrome, yet with a number of the same aspects found with Aspergers.

The most intriguing aspect of sensory processing disorder, is that it can improve as one grows into adulthood. I've heard some describe it as 'the type of Aspergers that improves with age'. Many of the issues children have is the inability to naturally learn what most children pick up on, or simply, SPD children have to be taught many of the usual reactions to social and everyday situations that might occur. Everything from how to say 'no thanks' to a particular disliked food while in the school cafeteria line, to knowing how to react correctly to a comment or how to deal with an overload of sensory stimuli. And there are a LOT of new situations that can occur on a daily basis.

Sensory processing effects the 'senses' as the name suggests. This means usually that light, sound, touch and taste for her can be at times a little too overwhelming, basically leading to sensory overload. Often children's intentions are misunderstood, they may be mistaken for having Attention Deficit Disorder, or are accused of being disruptive, because of thier unique learning style, and habit of multitasking during class.

Yet, many of these children are also highly intelligent, usually focus on a particular goal, animal or object. For Caitlyn, its animals, but in particular, cats. She draws cats, has her own cat website that contains her original artwork for sale or trade with internet points or money. At only 11 years old, she has taught herself how to design her own website using html, animates her characters among other things, and has a career vision as a cartoonist. At school, she completed exams in 15-30 minutes, scoring usually 97-100%, was invited to attend several different honors programs at middle school all of which certainly makes any parent proud, but also shows the 2 extremes that SPD portrays.

Socially, she makes friends more or less, but is so focused on websites, cats and drawing, that her friends occasionally get, well, a tad bored. Social awkwardness can also become a problem, when reaction to any given situation can cause friendship problems.

Like most children in the Autism Spectrum range, some foods simply can't be tolerated, but sweets and carbohydrates are really no problem at all, though not necessarily good for them, neurologically speaking. I am constantly amazed that this child managed to grow to a current height of 5'7" on mostly chicken nuggets (a spectrum disorder staple) and mashed potato.

The SPD foundation is doing an amazing amount of research in order to have SPD included in the DSM, under a seperate disorder, much the same as Aspergers and Autistic Disorder is recorded. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual is written by the American Psychiatric Association, the same used by counselors everywhere to help diagnose and treat disorders. For more information, click on the link provided to the right.

The Darling Downs, Cows and Forbidden Milk

2010-04-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

It was lush and beautiful around the Darling Downs. Pig country, some sheep, and a few dairies thrown in the mix out our way a bit more. The back road carried us past the farms and pastures. We ignored the local tannery and the 'pig factory' when we passed it on the road, they both smelled, some days better than others.

That road had the 'big dipper' One of those sweeping valley dips that made your stomach go weird when you went racing downward and then suddenly upward. It was a fantastic rush. We loved it. Mum and dad both used to go extra quick on the downward side just for that extra kick of adrenaline. We were so hooked. Our area, bordering the Downs, was not quite as lush, but still set amongst rolling hills. We had a block that was 2 miles long, a rocky hill, a creek, and a local history.

Exactly one mile from each other were the 2 Mr. B's, Mr Burke senior, was conveniently located on the appropriately named road. Father and son, they were both dairy farmers, thier houses situated exactly a 1/2 mile from my house on either side. The cows went out every morning at 5am and took themselves back at 4pm for milking. Mr Burke, was the neighborhood milkman.

It was a dastardly conspiracy known only to a handful of families.
(you should take that with the tongue in cheek approach)

It was at Mr B's (the elder) dairy where it all occured. The handful of hamlet residents who snuck up during or just after milking on a 'need basis' to collect thier stash of forbidden milk from Mr B who delighted in the fruits of country dairy exploits, right along with his wifes Pumpkin Scones.

It was the nectar that built the bones of country kids
Fresh, creamy goodness.

I learned how to hand milk a cow, despite the fact that Mr B used the latest in humane dairy milk extracting devices - I have no idea what they are actually called. They were those things that were attached to the udder of cows, who really didn't seem to mind at all. As full as many of them were, they were probably relieved, actually.

I learned how to churn butter with this milk, skimming the dairy fresh cream from the top.
...something I learned from the next door neighbors, who of course were in on the whole conspiracy, and churned butter each week in the country kitchen of the old homestead that was once the home base of much of the surrounding landscape, decades before. Land that was part of the now segmented 1 and 2 acre lots dotting the hills and ditches in our block.

Those of us, in our little hamlet, sneaking off to the local dairy with our 5 gallon plastic containers to obtain fresh milk straight from the vat, a usual biweekly event that was sworn to secrecy.

It was all great, life in the country was full of interesting experiences, the least of which was the local store, when we finally got one.

As progress would have it, people moved in, and built a shop attached to thier house, down on the corner, just down the road from us. We enjoyed it. We wouldn't have to drive 40 miles into town to buy icecream. But there is usually a price, and for us, it was soon to end the wayward ways of country residents, and the way Mr B conducted business.

The shop of course always wondered why they couldn't sell thier fancy milk in glass and/or plastic bottles for 3 times the price. Then of course they found out... and so did the appropriate government authority...and so ended out milk escapades. We were fresh out of milk, forced to buy from the shop, in bottles. Never again to skim cream from the top of the 5 gallon container.

It changed things in the countryside. Mr B instead had us mow his lawn after which we sat and enjoyed his wifes pumpkin scones from thier back porch, watching the cows, looking at the dairy. Remembering the butter that we churned, the cream we skimmed. We very rarely went into the dairy after that. But I still remember the big stainless steal vat that took up most of the floor in the front room of the dairy, near the office.

Texas Stadium

2010-04-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

RON JENKINS/STAR TELEGRAM

In less than 1 minute, this morning beginning at just after 7am, Texas Stadium came crashing down. Piles of cement and steel destined for recycling.

Being a relative newcomer to Texas, and not particularly a fan of football, I had very little background knowledge of Texas Stadium. I knew where it was, I had driven past it on my way to various towns in the DFW area, and I knew the Cowboys played there.

Though during news casts, viewers were updated on the progress of deconstruction which officially began in November 2009. We learned everything from the amount of explosives, the number of holes drilled to hold those explosives to details on the implosion, how it would implode, to how some of the dust would mushroom upward through the hole in the roof - a hole I have since found out, according to local legend was there so 'God could watch his team'

I had almost forgotten it was all to occur this morning. But over the last couple of weeks, I did have a vague interest in its 39 year history. Still, I hadn't officially planned on watching the demolition, but as all the local channels were tuned to the emminent demise of the stadium this morning, it seemed that should I want the TV on, I would have no choice to become involved in the process via live broadcast - I gave up and decided that I might as well, kind of, watch it whilst I read my book.. and secretly (while I am not sure who I was attempting to keep it a secret from, exactly) my interest had a sudden upward surge. Particularly when they started in with the pretty, sparkly fireworks (no really, it doesn't take much...)

(no really, I'm kidding. kinda)

I decided it was necessary to muster the girls together to watch the destruction, and the pretty fireworks. Just as a side note here, even very young teens, eg: 13 year old girls, have an overWHELMING desire to sleep until noon. She did not appreciate my 7am early bird Texas Stadium call to action this morning. I got a grunt and that was about it. My about to be 11 year old had the opposite reaction, and came down immediately to watch.

So we watched. And yep, it imploded, exactly as it was predicted. The domino effect, the smoke plume through Gods window...

Texas Stadium is gone, the end of an era.

I can't help but understand a little of the sentimental value of the place. Most people though do agree that it was past its prime, it was falling apart and at the very least needed a good coat of paint. The people who had began to gather there since 11pm last night, and had been until the button was pushed, whooping it up in excitement were now quiet.

My Brilliant Career...

2010-04-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

Australian literature can be quite unique, just take Picnic At Hanging Rock for example. The Australian bush - Eucalypt forests which can be difficult to describe because of the distinctly different flora and fauna. It can be hauntingly beautiful, yet so familar to any of us who have spent any length of time anywhere near a Gum Tree. The bird calls, the occasional crack of dry twigs, rustling of leaves, a mild scent of Eucalyptus... That particular story was set deep inside the bush, housed in myth, that until the 1980's kept a secrecy of fact or fiction. It turned out to be a fictional story, but the allure of the setting and the movie still holds.

"My Brilliant Career" written in the early 1900's I think, another of those books made into a movie, set in a distinctly Australian setting, was a story of a young Australian woman who turned down love to become a writer. It was followed up with the book "My Career Goes Bung" bung, in other words, her career dropped dead. The Australian bush really has nothing more to do with a career than the setting I always find myself thinking of when pondering these particular books, bung careers, and if I'd have better luck back in the bush.  My daily wishful thinking is to maybe get back home one day, hear those sounds and smell the eucalyptus... start a business as a dingo whisperer or something...

or something...
I'm just saying...

I've never read either My Brilliant Career, or its followup. Course, I always meant to read them, but it just never seemed to happen. I began thinking about this 2 book series again, while contemplating a future, the economy, and my current circumstances. While this book really is more about feminist ideals, a woman's desire to work in a world of constraints, of men... However, I feel I can relate, on so many levels. Not as a writer, or a feminist - to start, I'd never make the cause of a feminist, I believe way too much in chivalry (open that dang door for me, thankyouverymuchsir) but as a graduate 2.5 years ago, who is still looking for that first foot in the door, and out of work for 13 months...the restraints of living with a lifetime of collected skills and new knowledge offcially backed up with a degree, that I am not able to put to any good use. Living on basically nothing, with undeferable student loans to pay, is not an ideal situation. The last of my savings were spent on the upkeep of Sallie Mae back in January. The inevitable had occured, and my greatest fears realized all at one time. No money, and still no job. To put it bluntly, it kinda bites.

My career still up in the air, still wondering what the difference would have been if I had taken the job at the Nicholson Museum at Sydney University when it was offered, years ago. I had always wanted to become involved in Archeology, that was my chance, but I hadn't finished high school yet. The second time it was offered to me, I was about to be married, and moving to the U.S.

Instead, I enthusiastically became tied to investigations, forensics, law and other related areas covered by my degree. However, one does begin to consider if one's career has gone quite "bung" after awhile of waiting around. Entry level jobs are very difficult to find, I've discovered, and even to graduate at the top of the class seems to give no real guarantee that it will be any easier.

Still it could be worse. I know that personally. Attending to those in need at the soup kitchen run by our church, in Dallas has shown us first hand how lucky we are to have a roof over our heads.  I've spoken to people who have been out of work only to find themselves living out of a car, or worse. And knowing that anyone, from any economic background, could face the same fate, is alarming, really.

Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Ah ...

2010-02-19T19:19:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned my parents love of radio a couple of times, their administration of music old, and relatively new to the general public on community radio stations.

I would make the usual faces at the thought of having to listen to another one of these music cueing sessions, the chance of being sucked into that same void that seemed to dominate my parents world... Edith Piaf, Glenn Miller, any kind of country music and most definately those original vintage music recordings my dad avidly collected, that only about 1000 years ago were themselves played on a gramophone.
So imagine my surprise, when I realized that my attempted avoidance of hearing any of that kind of music while I was growing up backfired and I began singing The Witch Doctor song yesterday... you know, Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Ah.

These are songs I never thought in a million years, I would have remembered, songs I put so much effort into not knowing about. Songs and particularly this one, that probably might have stayed buried in my subconscious had it not been for a story my oldest wrote with a character called King Alla Walla Squish Squash of the Volcano, (really, I have no idea) which reminded me instantly of The Witch Doctor.. its a BFF thing, apparently. The story that is, which is another story in itself I think.

Then passing such songs on to my children - songs originating in the 50's, when my parents were growing up, a song that might normally cause a similar reaction as mine in my teen years, or at least an eye roll, for goodness sakes, but instead, my girls got an unexpected kick out of my sudden launch into music history when I began singing. I did not expect it to delight them, my girls at all.

They started singing it too!

After mention of it by my youngest, and of course as a parent who was suddenly considered cool, I was determined to get every dimes worth out of this baby, promptly looked it up on you tube, which both entertained and further delighted said girls! Shocker!
Incidently, everything imaginable seems to be on You Tube, so no surprise this song was there also. After all, it has been immortilized by Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Enjoy! :D

To Love... {a slight spin off the traditional..

2010-02-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

"Somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near..."
E.E Cummings

Where have you travelled, that you have truely loved? A place that you would go back to in a heartbeat..

Who would you go to, if you were to choose one person on earth?

If you had one bad experience from which you learned something important, an experience that impacted your life, ulitmately for the better, what would it be?

While EE Cummings probably wasn't talking so much about traveling in his poem, it is interesting to ponder questions occasionally that have something to do with your own travels, your own life. Events and people in your life shape how you choose to love, and why, what you learn, and what you believe, where you fit...

Would you choose a villa in Tuscany, the desert, the mountains, soaring in a plane across the wetlands or sitting on a porch in the country...

For me, its the middle of nowhere, the country, the Outback, Arizona... the colors, the peace, the history.. totally the history - flashing back to my fossil finds some years ago. I am very comfortable just digging stuff up with not much else around...

Why do you love that place? that person? and why did that event or crisis help you grow? Ultimately, its these things in life that are really part of who we are, what we are passionate about. Consequently, its this love we pass onto others.

Happy Valentines Day.

Snow in Texas

2010-02-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

exaggeration warning ahead - necessary wind up introduction to reproduce current citizen enthusiasm.

There are certain things that happen in life that cause great excitement among the population.

The invention of the camera, the theory of gravity, you get the idea...

We here in the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex experienced the same such excitement.. Ok, well.. maybe not quite that much excitement but excitement none the less.

We have snow. Not just snow, but S N O W ... 10"!

Now of course people in the northern and midwestern parts of the country, and probably (just guessing here) the north and south poles and possibly Iceland, Greenland, Finland and Mt Kosciusco, are all more than aware that snow falls in abundance, on a regular basis, in Winter.... well, yahhh.. course, right?

However, this is Texas. And I may be mistaken but I had been under this huge impression (just to prove I was paying attention) when I moved from Iowa to well, here, that snow was just a tad unusual.
Other areas got 11 or so inches, not bad for here.

The Longhorns at the Texas Ranch, I do not believe used the word delightful, yesterday. They just looked annoyed. I do not know what their opinion might be today, but guessing it might be a little of the same.

Molly loved it. She loved it yesterday, but this morning it was right up to her belly, and she flounced and played in the stuff until she ran completely out of energy, and once tuckered out, she actually brought herself home. Believe me, that is not one, but two outstanding feats right there.

Yep, by afternoon yesterday, in a this school district, kids knew they would be home today, they had already made a new best friend, the National Weather Service. By late afternoon, winter weather warnings confirmed a snow day.

Some parents may have wept. I'm not sure.

Yesterday, the same street was sporting a little snow, but the roads were clean, traffic was running along smoothly.

Course this is relatively important, because here in Texas, they sand, not salt. And it seems that sand is in limited supply, simply because we don't normally get mini ice ages here.

And there you have it. Snow in Texas. The roads have cleared a bit since this morning. I stayed home, the youngest saturated her clothes several times while playing outside. Its one of those times I wished we still had snow gear.

UFO In Texas!

2010-01-27T07:34:00.000-08:00

Ok, so not a real UFO..

but pretty close to anything I know I'll ever see here...

In every town there is always at least one quirky and interesting item. This particular attraction, is just outside of Rockwall, Texas, towards Poetry. We used to drive past it on a weekly basis. Course, we had to stop and check it out. Then I took my friend Laura, during a visit from Chicago to see it. Turns out this little UFO has quite a family history....

Here's another one...

eichlernetwork.com

And just a couple more...

Wow.

Danger, Will Robinson!!

A child of the 60's, only 96 Futuro's were ever created. The Futuro House, by the Finnish Architect Matti Suuronen was spawned by the 'space age' craze, and is apparently the only authentic example of period architecture. 14 were created in Finland while licences were granted to 24 other countries. Apparently there is one in Canberra, Australia also. It was designed to reflect the hope people had at the time in technology and futurism. It was believed the advances in technology would enhance lives, solve a large proportion of problems, and conquer space. Unfortuantly, skyrocketing oil prices put the kibosh on the concept and it became inviable.

The interesting thing about these fiberglass structures is that they were originally designed for use as a ski cabin, to be an easily constructed and portable home.

Yep, just engage your local military chinook... attach a few lines and voila! One very portable UFO - and if you happen to glance upwards at the right time..

The seats were designed to fold down for use as beds, and other modern amenities included the usual kitchen, bathroom, but also a neato fireplace that could be doubled as a grill (and you could also get them in mauve!). Groovy man...

There is quite a bit of information on the net, and even one to rent as a vacation home.
Well, there you go.
I think next time I'll stick with just finding out what the mailbox on the curb up the road is all about.

Kidding!

Catch ya later
WW

Australia Day!

2010-01-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oy, Oy, Oy! goes the modern battle cry. Most other countries I suppose have or at least had in thier history, a slightly more ferocious cry, however, we're a rather laid back bunch, so yelling Aussie, Aussie, Aussie at the top of our lungs is probably as good as it gets, but at least you know who we are, right?

And in keeping with tradition, you are supposed to yell back 'Oy, Oy, Oy'.

Thats how it works.

As you might imagine, Australians like a little bit of a party

Its summer, colored zinc on faces, backyard barbies and cricket, swimming at the local pool, and fireworks, Awards...

Its Tuesday January 26th, Australia Day!

Well, actually, right now in Australia, it is tomorrow...

Being approximately 15 hours ahead of the US, give or take an hour or two, depending on the state, daylight savings time etc, they are pretty much done with thier celebrations, but don't let that stop you!

I intend to celebrate with some made from scratch Aussie meat pies, Tim Tams, a Vegemite sandwich and maybe some kind of half decent Aussie beer... dunno yet.

But Australia Day is also much more. Over the last few years, the national holiday has to the general public, become much more patriotic than it used to be - Aussies celebrating Aussieness in the way only an Aussie can - a few snags on the barbie, and an eskie, and a stubbie or two... and unique cultural performances

The armed forces have always honored the day with a special ceremony, flag raising, fly over of an F111 and 21 gun salute. The unmistakable roar of the F111, is something you will hear a few miles away, after the plane is almost out of sight, but is always something spectacular to experience.

Incase you're wondering, and you would like a really good excuse to party today, you can click on my link up there for a meat pie recipe, pick up Vegemite at Cost Plus World Market (though it is a tad expensive there, worth it though in my humble opinon)
Tim Tams can be bought at Target, and if you really have to get Fosters and thats all that is available, you can get that at Walmart or Target too. We can discuss states and thier respective beers at a later date.

Cheers and Happy Australia Day!

Reality Show...

2010-01-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

We have seen some amazing sites, gone through challenges, taken some neat trips to places, are battling the new economy, currently living in two different states, facing career changes and trying to work out where we are heading.

Move over Tori and Dean.

We should be a reality show.
(I'm kidding. I have no desire, really)

Looking back, it might have been unfathomable that a 22 year old from a small town in South Western Queensland, and a penpal from Indiana, USA who had been writing for the past 7 years would end up married. I still have the stacks of letters we sent each other, the humorous stickers and pins, photos, and cards that we sent over the years.

Looking back I would never have known I would have the opportunity to see as much of the country as I have. I wouldn't have known the road that continues to be a bittersweet journey, the same that many of us face in our lives. The twists and turns, the realities of joy and heartbreak.

Leaving it all behind, as an expat from any country can be a challenge, particularly when doing it alone. Without question, when I first came to the US, I met up with some interesting challenges, ones I really had no idea existed, or at least expected to run into.

My arrival hardly heralded a welcome in the apartment complex we lived in. Instead, I was introduced head on to the regional thought concerning immigration and the number of misconceptions about legal immigration. There were questions concerning my 'entry' and where I should rightfully be living (bluntly, it apparently was not the US). But it wasn't until much later that I began to hear the full issues concerning illegal immigration, I put two and two together. I had dark hair and a tan. The blue eyes and European features I guess, didn't throw anyone off.
And yes, I do speak English, and no I do not need to learn to 'talk' it better.

Expat lesson numero uno - reduce the culture shock. Ask in an impartial manor, and in advance about any issues, political or cultural, that you should be aware of.
Expat lesson 2, there are gits everywhere, you'll laugh it off soon enough.

In many cases, expats particularly from Australia and even those vacationing are caught by surprise at the culture shock and general differences between the US and Australia. Both countries you might expect to be similar, but its that, that contributes to the unexpected surprise. Its definately an adventure, and can be at times quite humorous.

Catch ya later
Helen

Haiti

2010-01-16T08:45:00.000-08:00

A stream of images, and news of those searching for lost family and friend and those injured or lost, become more heartbreaking. Pictures of children the same age as my own with horrible injuries, and the news of a an 11 year old girl who died due to a leg injury, unable to be treated.

Its the aid of others that always comes through and shows the human spirit at its best. If you're interested in helping those in Haiti, but want to be sure your donation is being used in a wise and sufficiant manner, Charity Navigator is a great site - evaluates charities, lists links and supplies a great deal of helpful information. Their current blog post Hope for Haiti Telethon also links to several well known charities.

Helen

Hooked...

2010-01-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

Swinging gently on sunny mornings as a 7 year old, I'd listen to the birds chirping then add my own personal symphony, music that seemed to resonate constantly in my mind. If I wasn't adding music to one thing or another, I'd find myself humming something I'd heard or singing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' which wouldn't have been so bad had I not sung it every 5 minutes.

It wasn't until I was 10 that I first heard the phrase 'perfect pitch' and even then I didn't really take too much notice. I had always loved music, and at school I was drawn to learning scores and connecting them to the played note, but at the same time I thought it was a nuisance, I couldn't see the sense of reading music when I could just go ahead a play it anyway.

I'm not sure what my parents were thinking when they bought my Christmas present that year. It may have been the years of listening to my warbling and the hope that if I was going to hum all day that perhaps it might be something a little more sophisticated than the Eta Margerine commercial.  I opened the present that morning and something unexpected happened

And when I say unexpected, I mean my change of perspective on classical music due to one record - Hooked on Classics.
You know, vinyl and one of those old fashioned things they called record players, wayyy back in the 80's. Yeah that. I was particularly hooked on the second half. About 5 minutes into the record until the end, I knew every note by heart. Decades later, I still can, for the most part, anticipate every note and hum away... much to the horror of my girls...and oddly enough, each piece has either an associative memory, or its own visual pattern dancing around in my mind.

Not only did I take a new interest in reading notes, but I was drawn to Mozarts 4th Symphony and In The Hall of the Mountain King, a song we listened to quite a bit at school had a new life, eventually becoming one of my favourite pieces. I was propelled into a sudden interest in playing piano, and saved for my very first keyboard, a little Casio that cost $80.

...I still find myself humming away to my own personal orchestra in the car while my 13 year old looks on with a dull stare.
It used to be shock, but we've moved on from there.
Now she just rolls her eyes and continues listening to Tokio Hotel on her IPOD. When she thinks I'm not looking, she smiles.

Then I get her back by humming the entire album in Target as we stroll up the aisles, only for my efforts to end up as our own private comedy as we try to outdo each other.

So if you see a couple of people trying to hide the clown like behavior in Target, you'll know who it is.

Catch ya later
Helen

Merry Christmas Y'all!

2009-12-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

I hope Christmas is all you wish it to be, and that your New Year goes beyond that. We wish you joy, a better economy, a good job, health and decent chocolate.

Here in our world its been an interesting week -

Hubby arrived from Missouri on Monday to spend Christmas with us. Molly the dog approves, the cat on the other hand really couldn't care less.

We have determined that Erin would like to see New Moon again. And Jacob.

Christmas parcels from Australia don't really take too long to get here.

It snows in Texas on occasion

They do have snuggies in Australia. They are called Ozi Cozys.

I know.
Ask me how I know.

The girls want to know if they do the dance on the commercial down there also.

I have no answer to that.

You can buy Tim Tams at Target in the US now!!! (just an FYI for all you expats out there) They are sold as Tim Tams by Pepperidge Farm. You can also buy them at World Market, but they are sold as Arnotts. Not Tim Tams. Which is a little disturbing - kinda like selling Oreos as Nabiscos

Parts of Iowa are snowed in. I feel for you all, but can honestly say I don't miss subzero fahrenheit temperatures.

It was 71 here in Texas 3 days ago. Today its 38. boooo.

Catch y'all later

Oz e in Tx

Christmas, Puddings and...

2009-12-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

Its Christmas time, trying to think up things for the girls, special treats, traditions I should be engaged in, or ones I could create -

I must have been lost somewhere out there for a few minutes.. (like that's unusual, really..)

and while thinking back years ago to Christmas in Australia as a child - it wasn't the toys I remembered so much, it was these little Christmas Nougat Puddings.

Every year without fail, there they were, right along with our filled stockings on Christmas morning.
They came in a cute little gift box, with a printed tag on top announcing the giver -
'From Santa.'
White coconut nougat, covered in chocolate, with white chocolate icing on top, simulating the look of a real Plum Pudding. They sat on an equally cute little plate, and if I remember correctly, even had a little spoon. Ready for complete annihilation. And they were. Annihilated that is. It would never have been the same without them.

Needless to say, an affiliation with Darrell Lea would be nice this time of year, but sadly, the only connection I have is memories of devouring this special little confection every Christmas. Darrell Lea is one of those companies I grew up with, right along with Vegemite and trips to the local bakery for Hot Cross Buns on chilly mornings at Easter time. I can't tell you how happy I was to see packets of Darrell Lea Liquorice in World Market and Target more recently right here in Texas - I loved the ginger.

Naturally, I decided I had to search for these little puddings and thats when I found a number of other items I had forgotten all about - Muskettes and Bo Peep jars filled with tiny, pastel striped lolly (candy) morsels. Darn.

Thinking back to when my brothers and I sat around just DYING to get into our stockings at 4am. Begging and pleading, and then the usual relenting...

"Just your stockings, nothing else"

To which we happily obliged, unloading and finding these old fashioned little treats amongst the paint brushes, mini water colour sets and new socks...

Catch ya later
Helen

Meringues...

2009-12-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

There were always meringues at any given local bakery in Australia, along with other usual fare. Crunchy, sweet, a little chewy in the middle, a few happy little sprinkles on top. Very light, void of fat...

...ok, void of real nutrients too, but not really the point here huh.

...and perfect for a summer day, or a kids birthday party.

Meringue is wonderfully versatile, and can be used as a base for more eleborate desserts, served with ice cream or simply eaten as they are. And of course, they are perfect for Christmas. You can add coloring and/or flavoring. As mentioned, in Australia, they always have little colored sprinkles, so feel free to add them to the top before baking.

Preheat oven to 250F or 120c.

You'll need:

Ziploc bag with a corner cut off, or piping bag, large coupler and tip. I like the star tip. Cooking parchment paper or 'greaseproof' paper

2 egg whites

1/2 cup of sugar (castor sugar, 'berry sugar' or superfine sugar if you have it),

2 pinches of Cream of Tartar (available in the spice aisle)

and a dash of vanilla or other flavoring.

Beat egg white and cream of tartar in an electric mixer until very stiff, then gradually add sugar.

Tip: is not to add a whole lot at one time, add in 1/4 amounts, reduce the speed while adding.

Scrape sides and bottom after each addition, and beat until a good portion of the sugar has dissolved. If you have superfine or castor sugar, you should be able to get almost all of the sugar dissolved.

Keep going until all the sugar has been added, and it will resemble this:

Add a dash of vanilla and beat until blended.

Fill the prepared bag with the meringue, and pipe onto a tray lined with cooking parchment (or greaseproof) paper. You can make these large or small. Its entirely up to you. They will expand a little while cooking, but not much. I made smaller ones here (about 2" diameter), but my girls like larger ones (3" diameter)

Place tray in oven and bake for about 35-40 minutes. Meringues should release easily from the paper when they are done. They are fragile, so be careful not to squeeze them too hard. Though I can totally understand if you do. Ooops, it broke, I better eat it....

Let them cool on a rack, and then enjoy, or keep in an airtight container for up to a week.

see ya later,

Helen

Turn Left on Route 66: A Thanksgiving Special...

2009-11-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

By 5:30am we had organized, packed the dog into the car and pulled out into the chilly 47 degree F morning. It took approximately 15 minutes of whining and yips before Molly got a chance to stick her face out the window. And by 7am she realized that we were not opening that window for her again.

Several hours later, and well into Oklahoma, quickly approaching Missouri, we were on familiar road, a road that had intrigued me with its history for a long time. Just that I had the opportunity to travel on the Historic Route 66 was enough to make me happy, enough to say I had done it, traveled along another area that held some significance, and one that I never thought I'd have the opportunity to do. Yet, this was our 3rd return trip along the path.

The left turn off I-44 onto route 66 brings us to the curvy mountain road toward St. Louis where the old style service station should be. The station I have been attempting to get a photo of since the first time I laid eyes on it, but somehow, despite my attempts and determination to rediscover its location, I keep missing it. This time, I have begun to wonder if it was a phantom. It is driving me just a little crazy.

While Route 66 has some historical significance, we're driving on it for another reason, to meet with our missing family member (my husband) for Thanksgiving. But the history of the road compels me to think of who traveled on this road before, and who was thankful that it was around back then. We're thankful we can travel on such a significant road, that history plays a part in our travel and makes it a little more interesting than perhaps if it was a dusty trail. Of course I could go on about the other things we're thankful for, but I'm all for recognizing the less obvious things too, like the roads, the ability to travel and the relative safety in it. The ability to visit family and friends when we like and the interesting things we can think about while we're doing it.

If you're traveling, stay safe. Don't tailgate. Happy Thanksgiving.

Crutches, Teens and Shiny Things...

2009-11-18T05:11:00.000-08:00

If you were EVER worried about your young teen girl having crutches, I can confidently say, don't.

Along with the usual things, such as self made animal print pillows, sheer black spotty curtains - the ones we saw in Target yesterday, posters adorning the walls, and the upcoming latest Twilight, there appears to be an insatiable desire to bling stuff out, or at least add a peace sign where ever possible.

Hospitals incidently, are usually where one finds crutches. Well, duh... right? But let me point something out here. You might worry about a sprained ankle, but your child will see only bling heaven. The thought of something to decorate! With shiny things! A new raw canvas - blank metal!

Craft stores, Walmart and Target have bling - pearls, gems, glittery things, in quantity with varying price points, which can be fantastic when we have to rush out and immediately get something like say, pearls, gems... $2 can be cheap teen bliss. And lets not kid around, teen bliss sometimes can be more likely, parental bliss.

And I'm not necessarily talking about artsy girls either here. There is absolutely NO need to worry about set of boring, plain, metal crutches when there is a 13 year old girl around.

Finished result, a pair of crutches definately show worthy. Take to school worthy. Crutches friends will take for a spin, worthy. And they did.

I can also assure you that should your child wish to bling blank metal, it is not strange. Noooo Ma'am... or Sir..

As we stepped into the barren halls of Awesome Heights Middle School (fashionably late that morning) one of Erins guy/bloke teachers, after the usual and obvious questions, mentioned, or perhaps naively suggested, that she may have something new to bling. With a swift lift of one crutch, positioned to diplay the row of black and white pearls, was the reply,

"I already have"

And there was an air of disbelief, the upward stare, then the drop and defeated slow shaking of the head, he again briefly looked at the crutch and then sauntered into the office, one upped by a 13 year old girl. Silly man. I mean, like, you know, bling! So obviously necessary.

Cheers,
Helen

Water!!

2009-11-05T17:11:00.000-08:00

This is Molly, and she is a tad silly.

Oh, I know, she doesn't look like it here, but believe me, she is definately a character. Deceivingly mellow, isn't she...

We know she is part German Shepherd, and possibly part Catahoula Leopard dog, and she talks. Ask her anything, she will respond with a concurrent stream of whines and yips. But what Molly is known for in these parts is 'playing water'

Molly, want to play water? 10, 9, 8....

Molly, play water? 7, 6, 5...

Water Molly? 4, 3, 2, .. and commence conversation ... 1, 0...

and we have lift off!...

What is that blur, you ask, why, that's Molly in her preferred method of transportation, The Rush, also known as The Train Wreck on her way to the back door, where she will commence on climbing (almost) up the wall, jumping back and forth in anticipation, rollicking, caracoling and talking..lots of talking, in compilation with obedient sitting and tail wagging, sometimes she just can't make up her mind, its all very exciting. Jump, sit, rollick, sit..stand, no sit again, rollick, open the door already, sit, jump and so on. Its the sheer focus on that door that should be admired. Then we get outside and its immediate...

dog in wait... mellow, yet dramatic..

and.... pause. Notice the pointer foot there wall side?. Its called the 'pose' (she is a very young teenager in people years you know) and darn it, you better get your butt there or she'll come back and make sure you know how to get to the hose.

Then we have the stand and stare and... wait for it, wait for it..

Strike! We're off!!...

and that's pretty much how it goes, all over the back yard for as long as you want. Then when the water is 'all gone' we have the shake, and the happy prance, and another great water hunt and destroy mission accomplished. She has the routine down pretty well. She doesn't care how cold it is outside...

just as long as it isn't raining...

catch ya later

w&w

Twilight New Moon Fans... read on...

2009-10-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

My 13 year old is crazy about Twilight. We have the Twilight font, she has read the series, bought the first movie and has watched it, I don't know, about 10,000 times I think, and badly wants to see New Moon on its release, has posters, like any teen, and I know is NOT on Edwards team (I um, just can't remember the name of the other guy... Jake, Jack, Jacob... Bob... ???)

It should be obvious by now that I have not succumbed to reading the books or watching the movie... yet...
But I do love the sound track, so scroll down and enjoy!

****************

North on US-69...

2009-10-25T02:49:00.000-07:00

Cats are known as resilient creatures, graceful, usually, always landing the right way, on thier feet, as our cat Callie will tell you.
But its not always easy to know where you are going to land.
Or even if you'll land feet first, sometimes.

Our move to Texas 15 months ago was one we had been looking forward to, but the economy had its own ideas. Soon after we were faced with moving along to a 7th state, my first post here looking toward another adventure, wrapped in undying love for discovery of another new city, another state. It hasn't changed, I haven't finished discovering the Dallas area let alone the rest of this state. We have yet to see the Grassy Knoll among other places. Willie and those roads, are never far from my mind despite it being an unusual choice of theme, we, the song and I, seem to have become attached, and it will probably remain a moderately enduring theme for my entire life, if only in rememberance. On the road again...

But a broken heart and a family separated by states has its challenges. My husband being relocated 5 months ago in Missouri, North on US-69, part of the road there, the girls in school, and my career...
...my career, with its best chance of getting off the ground here in Texas, while I wait for a job opening in either state, has had its share of dissapointments. The economy has hit hard for us. As a graduate in December 2007, with a great GPA, going into a field that is economy proof, I figured the world was that proverbial oyster, just a matter of time before I landed my dream job... now I await any job. anywhere.

Sometimes its not easy finding your way in the world, as much as we like to believe we are resilient, circumstances and God sometimes find a way of deciding for you, whatever that might be. Its times like this, when desperation sets in, the fear of what might not happen, one can't help pondering the green grass on the other side, becoming homesick, the lack of family or friends in a relatively new place can sometimes be more than resilience alone can tolerate. Then prayer on sleepless nights when stress becomes too much, longing for that peace, the calm in the storm even if its temporary...and thanks, that you still have a roof over your head...

...landing on your feet is sometimes a road in itself. Sometimes cats have to twist themselves around for a good landing too.

Catch ya later
W&W

Half and Half - Coffee tales in America.

2009-10-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

A cup of coffee please.
cream? um, no thanks (cream, what! CREAM in coffee *gag*)
do you have milk?
ahh, yes, if you do.
2%? (Is that regular milk? 2???...)
Do you have just regular milk? (what do I say here, this is new, regular milk??...what do I call it? aaahrrgg)
no?
no, plain milk?
...She means whole milk.... (2% is regular milk --)
Ooooh. 2% is fine, thanks.

I can't tell you how many faux pas there were on both sides when I first came to the US. My first thoughts on 'cream' in coffee, were not pleasant, not having more info at that time. Ask for cream in Australia and that's what you will get. The American equivalent I've since found out, is referred to here by its full name, 'heavy whipping cream.' Possibly to avoid the previous scenario.

Then I found out about half and half. So the conversation took a twist.

Just coffee please
Half and half? um, no just cream is fine thanks
Oh. What? so then what is half and half.
Exactly half of what?
OOOhhhhhh.
So half and half is cream?
So why do they call it cream if its half and half?
So what do ya'll (we were living in Kentucky, I could say y'all) call cream then?
cream? And you distinguish that between cream and cream and half and half how?
But tea is different. Tea is tea, but tea is a cup of tea. See what I'm saying? (He didn't see what I was saying)

Welcome to Helen's Australian-American Dictionary of Terms:
Tea: Tea in Australia is generally referred to as 'dinner' or 'supper' in the US.
-But Tea can also refer to a cup of tea (usually with milk and sugar, depending on how you like it)
-or it can be referred to as morning tea, which would be a mid morning snack, which everyone generally takes at work and school.

And this is where it can get interesting.
Welcome to Helen's American-Australian-British Dictionary of Terms:
-Half and half is half whole milk and half cream.
Or it can be half 2% milk and half cream, that is, heavy whipping cream.
-Apparently this is also known as 'single cream' in Britain.
ahh.. i'll take your word for it. I have never really heard the expression 'single cream' either.
-But apparently, single cream as apposed to 'double cream'
They have double cream in Britain? I have no idea really. I am lost to both, but I am assuming that double cream may be heavy whipping cream, or simply cream, in Australia...

See how this can go?
It was a very confusing time in my life.

Culturally speaking, my Aussie-American girls are half peanut butter and jelly, and half Vegemite. I should explain that I suppose. One is obviously an American thing, as much as Cherry pie and Cracker Jack. The other is an incredibly tasty and extremely healthy alternative, a national icon (well, I am out of stock right now, I feel I need to make up for lost time) So in order to win favor for our own sides, that being the USA or AUS, we naturally tried to win the girls over with one food item, or the fabulous other.

They won't go near either of them.

Great ambassadors we are.

Hooroo,
Helen

Elevation: 1200 m

2009-10-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

(etriptips.com)

I remember several of the drives we took as a family while living in the Riverina, it was an intergral part of growing up. Our car, probably an old Holden, though I have no idea what model, might have been pretty sleek at the time. It had state of the art automatic climate control (painted a color that would reflect blistering summer heat), air conditioning system (an open window with manual roll down) controlled by fingertip precision (wherever the window stopped when your hand got too tired to roll more), entertainment system (whatever was out the window) and navigation system (Dad and Mum and a map), stereo (all 3 of us kids singing at the same time to the radio), equiped with a smart drive (Mum saying we should ask for directions) and precision traction control (when Dad told us kids we had to move to the other side of the car so it wouldn't fall off the edge of the road/mountain/hill/bridge or whatever we were driving over or near at the time). You can see why Dad liked it so much. Driving that is.

Tumbarumba. "Delightful small country town which is largely untouched by the modern world. Located 504 km south west of Sydney and 701 metres above sea level, Tumbarumba is situated on the southern slopes of the Snowy Mountains..." (SMH.com)

Tumbarumba. I hadn't thought of that town for years. A beautiful area, wine country. This is when I first encountered part of the area considered 'the Snowy Mountains' in New South Wales, Australia. The winding road we traveled on at that time resembled more of a hikers trail the way it seemed to meander up the mountain. Eucalyptus, (or Gum) trees to the left towering far above, gradually getting shorter the higher we went. One of the first times I ever saw snow. Much of it had melted at the roads' side, and there was just a hint of icy white, little dentations where melting ice had forced its way toward the ground, that I remember most. Mum mentioning how it was dissapointing there wasn't more for us kids to see...

... we made up for it later when we took the second half of our dastardly drive - with that traction control I mentioned earlier - around the actual snowy part of the mountains, with roads that barely fit two vehicles (and some parts didn't at all) and no guard rails. Where the real snow was. Its this particular road I remember. Winter, grey, cliff, snow, ice and another car coming toward us on this little slip of a 'road'.

The mountains of Tumbarumba, and our visit to the higher peaks of the Snowy Mountains (2,228m at its highest peak) are the only places I really remember actually MOVING very quickly to the other side of the car, apparently to save us from slipping to our untimely deaths from the roadside to the depths of the mountain valley approximately 1 million feet below. I just remember a lot of Eucalypts between us and whatever that dark area was waaaaayyyy down there.

Visit the local tourism site and it will tell you that the

"Snowy Mountain Drive is like no other"

Oooh, yeah. I remember it. The drama of going to the snow. Scarred for life, I tell you. Perpetually in fear when higher off the ground than the first 3 steps of a ladder. This is why I am not a firefighter. I like cats, but mate, I'm not climbing that dang tree.

Who would have thought that years later, I would be in the U.S., hearing of early snows in many parts of the area, hubby getting caught in Green Bay, Wisconsin because of snow, wondering how the kids in those parts will enjoy Halloween, and how many spooky creatures could be made from snow suits. Seems the season has landed. Having now lived in Northern and Midwestern United States where snow is plentiful, I can assure you that I now am very familiar with snow... my introduction to it so many years ago had accomplished many things. Traction control. I have a subaru, with much traction control, which worked very nicely thank you very much, in Wisconsin and Iowa. I like snow, but I am happy right now that here in northern Texas, we are flat, and winter happens for a few days in January.

Hooroo,
Helen

isnack2.0... the new Vegemite?

2009-10-03T19:08:00.000-07:00

It was ineviatable of course. A name was chosen from about 50,000 entries in the new Vegemite 'name me' contest. The new version of Vegemite which combines the original recipe with cream cheese, was an addition to the store shelves, and seemed to go over well with the Australian public. But the new name,

entered by a father of two who works in the computer industry, and announced at the end of September, seems has quite a few Australians in an uproar. The web is full of complaints, newspapers are reporting it as a tasteless choice and youtube videos are mocking it. Google isnack2.0 and you'll come up with a number of sites all voicing thier dissaproval.

I wrote about the new version of Vegemite previously, here

Living here in the US, I haven't had the opportunity to try the new version yet. I can't imagine the cost at World Market. Gosh...just the thought of it. A 150g of the original version here is $6.99, and only about $2 something in Australia... but I digress.

The uproar has kraft foods in a bit of a bind. I've read some reports of them agreeing the name is somewhat 'stupid' and 'lame' and apparently, they have ditched the new name altogther, much to the delight of consumers. There are 500,000 jars of it to get through first though, so it won't be dissapearing off the shelves immediately. Apparently that is about 3 months supply. Though, there is a new name on the horizon, one of 3 they'll choose from.

Closer to Spooky...

2009-10-02T16:11:00.000-07:00

Autumn Farm in Waunakee, Wisconsin, 2007.

Its that time of year again. In some parts of the country, the leaves are turning, its colder, the winds are starting I bet in Iowa and Wisconsin. I remember all too well those October days when trick or treating in costumes way too thin for any real midwestern autumn, left us with chills from more than just a spooky night. We learned quickly that the warmest costumes are usually better with just a tad more insulation.

Our youngest tends to enjoy being some type of fluffy animal. In 2005 it was a black cat, in 2006 it was a mouse, go figure, in 2007 it was a bunny, 2008 we were cat and this year, we would like to be a...cat. But we are trying to compromise with perhaps a cat, from the musical Cats - still a cat, but with a twist... well, its not so convincing yet, apparently. Then we have the just turned teenager...

Black Cat and Shopaholic. 2006

There was only one time, while we were living in Michigan, a freakishly warm October allowed children everywhere to experience a new sensation. It was called 'thawing.' We were able to take our then 2 year old out for her first ever trick or treat, and without 3 layers of insulation. She was a cheerleader - perhaps we set the stage for her, that's another story. Since then, our '2' year old has progressed with age. We have gone from being benign things such as Cinderella, and a shopaholic, to becoming a dead cheerleader, a dead prom queen a grave yard fairy and this year, it could be anything. The jury is still out. She believes it could be something dead. A dead bag, a dead leaf, dead dirt... I don't know.... (I would show you a photo of her as a dead prom queen, but with photoshop, it has become a little um, realistic)... But whatever it is, it is going to have a pink streak in its hair. And so is the dead friend. Apparently.

It should be an interesting autumn this year. Our first halloween in Texas last year was a delightful experience. No -5F wind, it was warm. And warm is nice. As we speak, I need to go, because the two potential 'dead something' teenagers, that is, oldest child and friend both of whom have informed me that they might be 'dead university pink' (whatever that is) cheerleaders... would like to eat (another teen phenomenon, right?)

hooroo,
Helen

An Article...

2009-10-01T04:06:00.000-07:00

Wading through the debris in the construction zone here to let you all know about my new article! Some of you may have seen this jar here before. It is now on its own, published online. You can see it here http://scrapbooking.com/article/73724

Update: We now have a new page devoted entirely to Art and Craft called Creative. Please visit, and I know I value your input. If you can think of a better name for example, leave a comment and I might send something to the most creative response :)

Hooroo,
Helen

Australian Recipes

2009-08-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

This collection has just begun. If you would like to add your own Aussie recipe, feel free to leave a message on the latest post

Recipes:

Meringues
Australian Meat Pies (traditional recipe)

Aussie Meat Pies

2009-08-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

Traditional Australian meat pies were created with a special base pastry that could be held in the hand, so that way back when, hardworking men could eat a hot meal with the convenience of not having to grab a plate and utensils. They are as much a national icon as Vegemite and can be bought at any bakery, and most convenience stores. This recipe comes from the Australian Womans Weekly Cooking Class Cookbook (1992)

You will need 4 individual pie forms, greased.

Filling:
750g (1.5lbs) minced steak (ground beef)                  2 tablespoons plain flour (all purpose flour)
2 beef stock cubes                                                    1/4 cup of water, extra
salt, pepper                                                               1 teaspoon soy sauce
pinch nutmeg

Place meat into a pan, stir over low heat until meat is well browned. Drain off any surplus fat. Add crumbled stock cubes, water, salt, pepper and nutmeg, stir until boiling, reduce heat, cover, simmer gently 20 minutes; remove from heat.
Combine extra water and flour, stir until combined. Return to heat, stir until meat boils and thickens. Add soy sauce, stir until combined. Simmer uncovered 5-10 minutes
Remove from heat, allow to cool.

Pie Base:
2 cups plain flour (all purpose flour)                         1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cups of water                                                    60g (2oz) beef dripping (or beef shortening)

Pie Top:
375g (12oz) packaged puff pastry
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon water

Base: Sift flour and salt into a bowl. Place water and dripping/shortening into suacepan, stir unil dripping melts; remove from heat.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add liquid, stir until combined.
Turn out on to lightly floured surface, knead lightly. Roll out pastry to line pie tins/forms. Cut excess pastry around sides of dishes using a sharp knife. Fill with filling.

Top: Roll out puff pastry on lightly floured surface, cut out rounds for top of pies; use saucer as guide. Wet edges of base pastry, and gently press tips winto place, trim around edges with sharp knife. Pierce center with pointed knife. Brush tips with combined egg yolk and water.
Bake in hot oven - 200c (475F) for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to moderate 180c (350F) and continue to bake for 10 minutes.

Looking for Halloween crafts?

2009-08-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

Its that time of year again, The next one will be in January. New fun craft products have been released, craft stores have ordered thier new product, and designers have previewed and created.

Creative Memories is no exception. I am here to tell you that thier new lines are just beautiful, and funky AND fun! In the next few days, I'll be giving you a preview of the Creative Memories BRAND NEW Halloween line! This really is one of the best I've seen to date. Keep an eye out here!

Hooroo,
Helen

The Alamo

2009-08-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

..."there are your brothers, Travis, Bowie, Crockett, and others whose valor places them in the rank of my heroes."
Juan Seguin, February 25, 1837.

Alamo at Night.

The Alamo is one of those places I have wanted to see for a long time, at least 10 years or so. I always wanted to be a 'fossil digger upper' or in regular english, a Paleontologist. I even found some of my own large fossils!... and very nearly chose a career in Archeology, after being offered a nice position at a museum in Sydney University years ago, but I was still in high school, in another state. I'd still definately jump at the chance to be a field tech somewhere. So naturally, since we're in Texas, how could I not take the girls?...

ahhh... well, as you can see, I took them anyway.

The architecture is recognized world wide, the original stone walls of the church, over 250 years old...(theAlamo.org) where in one of the rooms, only a few survivors of the seige took refuge. The wall in that room is forever etched with names and dates.
The skeletons of four people were found buried in the floor of the church. They still remain there, inturred. No one really knows for sure who they are, there has been some speculation.

By the time you leave the Alamo, you are taken by the bravery and the significance the Alamo had on American history. The Texians, the Tejanos, defenders from Tennessee, Michigan, Missouri...the heros, some well known, others less so, are all paid tribute in the church - now a museum.

I'm not sure if its because I seem to have an 'old soul' so to speak, but I can't walk past any historical site without thinking of the people who were once there and the details. I love details. The style of the windows, the old stone, the morter that is still in place, the etching, memorializing the existance of someone, long ago. I love the look of old wood and remnants, how it got that way, the investigation and analysis. The Alamo was no exception.

Here you can see where the old stone wall ended and the blending line of the 'new' cement roof. The church had never actually had a full roof previously.

The gardens were beautiful!
I really enjoyed this trip.

TheAlamo.org

Long Live ORIGINAL Vegemite!

2009-07-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Its black. Its beautiful.
Its unique. Its an Australian icon.
The fact is, Vegemite has been around since 1922. The jingle is known to basically every australian - the orginal Vegemite commercial has been seen by almost everyone down under. Its on every grocers shelf. Little packets of it can be found at restaurants, along with those nifty little packs of butter, and there are even little lunchbox packs. Everyone and their Grandma loves vegemite

"We're happy little Vegemites
As Bright as Bright can be
We all enjoy our vegemite
for breakfast, lunch and tea..."

...and its being messed with...
Sacrilage I tell you! Sacrilage!!

Its a sad time for happy little Vegemites everywhere.
Very.
Sad.

Let me give you a little history.
God created the Earth,
then He created man,
and man brought forth the Fred Walker Cheese Company.
And God was pleased.

Then God invented Cyril Callister who invented Vegemite.
And God was EXTREMELY pleased.
And Australians were very happy.
And that's really as far as we need to go.
The end.

Dubbed "The new Vegemite experience" as reported by Australian newspaper The Age , an American company and new owners of Kraft Foods LTD have decided to combine Vegemite with Cream Cheese to create a new version of Vegemite that is smoother and easier to spread.

Can you hear me weeping yet.

But one issue the company may not have thought about is that Vegemite can be used in cooking, for stews, casseroles, gravies, barbeque and other wonderful and delightful works of culinary goodness. I don't think the combination of cream cheese and original Vegemite would work quite as well.

*Gag*

Ok, good news for Australians is that we still get to keep the original version too - which is obviously much better to cook with...I can tell you that was good news to me because I was about this ----- close to beginning a Vegemite stock pile for the apocolypse.
(There 'aint no vegemite in the US, folks).
Of course I'm sure the company did think of the cooking side of things too, and were apparently very careful before deciding to mess with a national icon.

whew. that was close wasn't it.
But be warned company that bought Kraft Foods LTD (wagging finger)...just be careful

Construction Street

2009-07-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Where I had grown up, people always seemed to be around. Lawns were mowed on a saturday morning by every dad on the street, wearing a button down shirt or in very warm weather, sporting the most practical in lawn mowing fashion, a white Bonds singlet.

I woke every saturday to the scent of freshly clipped green grass and the sound of mowers humming, up and down the street. I would listen to the sound of mowers waaay up the road. Eventually, there would only be the faint, unmistakeable sound of one, and by 10am most, if not all the lawns had usually been diligently processed and the dads had sauntered inside out of the heat, for morning tea.

Our neighborhood is quiet. We don't have many lawn mowers out on a saturday morning yet, but our street is amazingly full of activity. We have construction, which I find interesting. And by interesting, I mean the sheer rate of how these houses are built. None of these houses were here 2 months ago.

All these house are to the left of us. They are beautiful. All the houses in Texas appear to be brick. Lots of brick and no siding. And no basements. Its a little different from the Midwest.

Its a little odd seeing houses there insead of vacant lots too.

This is the other side of the street to the right of us. None of these houses were there 4 months ago.

Again, amazing how fast they go up.

Perhaps soon, we'll be hearing those lawn mowers going. I wonder sometimes what kinds of memories my girls will have of the neighborhood, and if they will think of our lawn being mowed, smelling that freshly clipped green grass, construction or neighbors. Life in the 'burbs, life in the US. I'm not sure if I am noticing the contrast of the generations, or the societies and countries we live in.

Giveaway winner!

2009-07-23T15:49:00.000-07:00

AMY!!!

My youngest chose your name out of a hat! Congrats.
Your prize is on its way as we speak.

Thanks to those who entered!

Win a Treasures Journal Jar!

2009-07-22T13:17:00.001-07:00

I'm happy to announce my first giveaway! These journal jars are beautiful. Really. I love them! These are not wimpy jars. They are antique white ceramic, a great size 4"w x 6"l x 3.25"d,
come with a beautiful enameled metal face plate embossed with the phrase 'Lifes Moments' hanging on a beautiful sheer ribbon, and a pad of 40 sheets of paper.

Sorry, this journal jar is currently....

Would you decorate it or use it as is?
To enter, leave a comment and let me know.

Entries from now until ~~midnight~~ 3pm central time today ~~(july 22)~~ July 23rd
I will announce the winner at ~~12pm tomorrow, the 23rd.~~ 4pm today, july 23

Ready for a giveaway?

2009-07-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

Remember the journaling jar project I showed you?

Its your chance to win a beautiful ceramic antique style, Creative Memories journaling jar of your own to decorate, or just use as is.

Check back tomorrow for details and photos!

The Rodeo - Mesquite, Texas - Part 2

2009-07-14T08:59:00.001-07:00

from part 1...and stadium seating. STADIUM SEATING. very wrong. But very right at the same time. It was a very mixed day. What was, and is now. Progress.

We sat smack in the middle of the stadium with great views where my friend waved to someone. I had to wonder there for a minute if she was trying for her 15 minutes. There was a camera man...

The kids did get in on the act too, but not by jumping to get a peek at the action (did I mention the fancy stadium seating?) They had a chance to chase calves for a prize. That was a sight, I mean for the calves. Can you imagine being led into a ring where approximately 500,000 prize hungry children stood, lined up ready for the big chase. And you are the chasee? And you're a baby!! I almost felt sorry for them.
No animals were hurt or injured..not physically anyway, emotionally maybe...NO I'm kidding. The calves couldn't have cared less.

Then theres this...

Steer wrestlin'..or something like that - hey, I don't pretend to know the terms, I call it how it is.
A steer, a man.
In the dirt.
wrestlin'

and these...

Unfortuantly, this cowboy was disqualified.
Taking a nap maybe?
kidding.
I imagine its pretty hard to sit up once you're in the wrong position on a bucking horse. Whiplash could be a concern at the wrong time.

Connections - default or otherwise, paid off at half time (ok, I know its not half time. But it was the equivalent in rodeo...whatever that's called) Here's my youngest in the 'even fancier than stadium seating at a rodeo' box, above the camera man that my friend was waving to so furiously, while in fancy stadium seating...as it turned out, she wasn't looking for 15 minutes. So the people behind us didn't really need to move back further after all.
Silly people.

The End.

PS I should note here that 13 year olds might actually admit to enjoying rodeos after all. And they might admit they were glad they went, after all. AND they might even say they'd like to go to another one! I KNOW!! amazing huh!

The Rodeo - Mesquite, Texas. Part 1

2009-07-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

I remember being at a rodeo for the very first time as a kid. I had some of my best clothes on, and knee length brown boots. Not cowgirl boots, just boots. And an apricot skirt with a shirt to match (ok, that's what I looked like in the photo)

Forever engrained into my mind are the fences. Then the dust, the rusty brown dirt, the smell of horses, or moreso, cattle.
At a guess, we went because my uncle was riding and it wasn't too far away this time, from where we were living.

When a friend of mine called me last week and mentioned tickets for the girls and I to see the rodeo along with her and another friend, my first thoughts were of the fences, the dust, and dirt and the heat. It has been so warm here, I couldn't imagine how we'd stand it, however it seemed to go hand in hand. Rodeos, noise, dirt, dust, heat and sweat. That's how it should be, right? Especially in a place called Mesquite!
I imagined kids jumping up and down, trying to peek between viewers and over the shoulders of adult patrons for quick views of the action. I looked forward to it. Who would have ever thought an aussie from a little town would have the opportunity to go to a rodeo in the US, let alone here in the big T! When we were living in Michigan, I can't say it would have been the first thing to cross my mind...no. I really don't think it would have.
Though my first child refrained from showing too much interest. 13. Need I say more?

I had mixed reactions when I discovered the rodeo was indoors - not bad necessarily, it just didn't fit with my vision. Who has ever heard of an indoor rodeo? Especially in Texas! Especially in a place called Mesquite, in Texas. Something seemed very wrong with that.

On the other hand, it has been getting into the 105 - 108f (40 - 42c), with humidity. Indoor and air conditioning sounded very pleasant. My friend as it turned out, also had connections in Box seating - oh la la. Who knew. She didn't know either - it was a very random incident - being well connected, that is. :)

As it turned out, the rodeo began at 8pm, indoors. In air conditioning. It was very pleasant. It was all there; the familiar cattle pee smell, the rusty brown dirt, the fences with paint scraped off here and there, hats everywhere, cowboys, horses...

...and stadium seating. STADIUM SEATING. very wrong. But very right at the same time. It was a very mixed day.

summer in a cup!

2009-07-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

What WAS this?

This. was. Delicious!
You have NOT LIVED until you have had one of these. I kid you not.

I don't normally gush over something as simple as a drink but boy..
This is summer in a cup. This is joy defined.

at the risk of sounding like an ad - this WAS...

A Culvers strawberry smoothie. But its not a regular smoothie, that's the thing. It has this little hint of tangy lemon sorbet in the background, right along with the strawberries and custard icecream. 'Custard' in the US is not the same as people from Australia or Britain would consider it. It is a very smooth, denser, creamier version of ice cream with a traditional custard base. My first ever custard experience was at a Culvers just outside of Rockford, Illinois. Then of course, living in Wisconsin...I probably don't even need to explain that.
Lets take another look shall we, this time in black and white -

mmmmmmm....
Was this the best EVER!
If you ever get the chance, you have to have one.

Just thought I'd let you know.

My public service announcement for the week.
Next up, the Mesquite Rodeo.

July 4th, 2009.

2009-07-11T05:25:00.000-07:00

There is one thing I've learned since occupying myself with moving all over the US, and that is Americans are usually very passionate about July 4th. Naturally. Flags flying, anthems playing, fireworks, family, friends, party, party, party! whoohoo!

Autralians are still warming up to the whole idea of being emotionally swept up in patriotism about Australia Day. Not that we aren't just as passionate about our country, but we're not really used to actually showing it as much. We're not really a soppy bunch. We're tough and ready for anything - to wrestle wayward crocodiles at a moments notice, swat more than one fly at a time, eat burned sausages off the grill and LIKE it. Yep, we can mow lawns in 100 degree heat and NOT sweat! No, not really. I bet I tricked you huh. Before I left, I hadn't seen a crocodile in the yard since the cane toads ran the last one off.... really!
no, not really. I'm pulling your leg.

But July 4th is something else. I haven't been in one place quite long enough to collect any recipes specifically for the 4th to grill out, but this year, we hung out with new friends.

This is my oldest AKA the Willow half of Willow and Wattle, I guess (left) and her friend.

Hubby took a flight down from Missouri, where he finally relocated to his new job , I was so happy to finally have my camera back in time for the 4th! Even as an immigrant, its easy to get caught up in the festivities, and as a new citizen, even a little emotional.

Its assimilation. I feel like a Borg recruit. Adaptation is eminent, resistance futile. Then I visit sites like The Pioneer Woman (who is beyond amazing) and see sumptuous recipes.

Yep. Futile.

Get Journaling! Jars

2009-07-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Love these! Antique Style Ceramic Jars you can play with, alter to your hearts content.

These come with a beautiful enameled metal face plate for the front. So if you don't want to decorate it up with various rubons and ribbon like I have here, you can just hang the face plate over the jar knob with the ribbon, it is very elegant. It also comes with a notebook/journaling pad.

Creative Memories is sadly discontinuing it in July. However, I might just have a giveaway soon. One of the very last! More details soon!

Oooops.

2009-07-08T07:13:00.001-07:00

Due to a blogging mishap..(yeah, I know), we are currently undergoing some changes. We will be keeping this blog, but partially moving to a Wordpress site, and possibly utilizing a Wix website...

...as soon as I work out how to use the thing...

yay! Fun!

Our apologies for the inconvenience.

W&W

Texas Alleys and Shorthorns

2009-07-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

When you move to Texas, the first thing you tend to hear about, other than the heat and humidity, is Longhorns and even Shorthorns. The variety will very much depend on where you live. This might not necessarily be the bovine variety. There is an affiliate breed, generally recognised by the emblem on their posse while driving over the speed limit down the nearest freeway hahaha... um... nope, not those ones.

These ones:

Lucky for us, the neighborhood we live in has bovines. Not any bovines, TEXAS bovines. Real in your face Longhorns! Just up the road a bit and around the bendy road. This is quite new to us after spending close to 7 years looking at dairy cows, particularly in Wisconsin. I bet that was a surprise right? Dairy cows in Wisconsin. Hah! Reminded me of growing up. I actually know how to milk a cow, thanks to Mr Burke, the shameless milk smuggler. It was the neighborhood secret. But that's another story, we're talking about longhorns...and shorthorns. We have shorthorns just one block over from us.

Just up the road and down an alley...Texas has alleys, they're behind most houses that have garages in the back...I never really got that when watching King of the Hill until we moved here, it makes sense now...just never seen it before...anyway...there is the Texas ranch. All that is left is just over 6 acres, with shorthorns, mostly bulls. Houses surrounding the perimeter. I intend to get a photo of the gate plate before the property is sold. Yep, its for sale. It seems sad. I'm not sure if it was part of the other ranch on the other side of the neighborhood or not...the one not far from Super Target on the Big A...

Reposted from old blog

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Back on that road...

2009-07-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

You really never know where a road will take you, what that big picture is.

Just like Mr. W. Nelson says,

roads can take you to places you've never been before,

or places you'll never see again, and as ironic as it was for me to remember that one song out of the hundreds that Mum and Dad cued so frequently on those afternoons and mornings before their radio show, I had until the last couple of years been traveling, riding along oblivious to the concept of it being a literal journey, I reached an epiphany, quite suddenly - somewhere it changed.

Journey [jur-nee] Option 2
2. a very complicated passage or progress from one stage to
another that seems to get worse as you get older.

As Willie Nelson has his penchant for traveling, I have one for taking photos of roads. I have photos of roads we've traveled on in Arizona, snow covered roads in Michigan, roads that lead towards farm houses in Wisconsin, rural county roads in summer, skirted either side by prairie wildflowers - they all lead somewhere.

I probably took them while I was singing "On the Road again" to myself. I've been singing it for years. Quietly.

Our road is currently between a smallish town in Texas, and a city in Missouri. Hubby has taken his new job, and has now relocated.

While driving the 10 hours back home to Texas this morning, I was amused, annoyed and amazed.

Amused at the quirky small town things discovered in the morning daylight of rural Oklahoma. Signs that said things like 'Bobs Good Junk' Maybe because it was in the middle of...well, nowhere actually, I found it to be humorous. Straight to the point irony.

Annoyed because I didn't have a camera and didn't stop to get the disposable variety, and amazed at where we were going, I mean, in life.

Reposted from Old blog.

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Your Favorite Neurotic?

2009-07-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen House, or Monk? I love those shows - recognize the song playing? Both characters are brilliant, each with his own hang ups and one definately a tad more neurotic than the other. Sadly, Mr. Monk has just one season left - this summer, or winter, depending on where in the world you live. I will diligently watch every last one of those episodes!Their characters are portrayed well enough to make you stop and think from a different perspective. It can be quite eye opening. Vague resemblences of neurosis ensue as you suddenly recognise at least a couple of symptoms in yourself. The characters seem real and even somewhat familiar.Ask any university psychology major, or anyone studying several psych classes and they will tell you about neurosis.

Why?

Simple.

You read the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and come to the likely conclusion that you have every disorder in the book.After a brief episodal period, you come back to the real world and months later, after everything is forgotten, you speak with a practicing psychologist or two, who recall in jester like fashion, that very strain of thought that occured to them while they were in University years before.

Its a fact that everyone tends to have some symptom of 'something in the book'. So this is the thing. 97% of genius's have some emotional issue or disorder to varying degrees.So, when something happens, you can just put it down to brilliance, right? Of course you can!! Trip over yourself in public, burst into tears due to the ever uncompromising PMS, and its simply your brilliance dripping so shamelessly and effortlessly - you have no control over it - one vote for psuedo delusional ego-um-parasodial....brilli... whatever....

Ok, just run with it.

Reposted from old blog, early 2009
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Is it Murphys Law, or Just Some Funky Supporting Music?

2009-07-06T13:55:00.001-07:00

I remember this corny joke Dad used to tell on a very regular basis. We ALL knew the ending.
We all had it memorized (and still do - thanks Dad)
Ants running quickly down cereal packets ... it reminds me very vaguely of cars and people.

'...and all of a sudden the first ant started running
very quickly across the top of the cereal packet
the other ant watched him fly past,
and when he finally caught up with him,
asked why the first ant had suddenly taken off running like that...'

Having lived in the frozen north of the midwestern states, and having driven on those winter roads for 12 years, one tends to learn that driving on ice and snow can be somewhat interesting, at the best of times. Though not so bad because really, when you are used to it, sliding a little really isn't a big deal. You learn how to stop and start slowly. If you have a bomb of a car, you learn how not to crash into anything if your brakes lock up...aaahh, good times...

We all went out and had fun regardless of the weather. We'd happily* rug up into our 10 layers of clothing, trudging, shivering out into the frozen tundra that we called our home state, knowing that if we EVER dared to stay still, we would surely freeze to death...
ok, from where I sit, I KNOW that freezing to death in a couple of seconds in the midwest is pure FACT! You probably haven't seen me in winter, but if you did, you are truely likely to believe me. Midwesterners used to laugh at me, they seemed strangely immune to this.
But I know!!

We drove over ice and through snow storms, we'd slide, laugh, drive some more, on occasion, gripping the steering wheel till our knuckles turned white while watching for deer and guessing where or if there was black ice.
And, if you are lucky enough to live in Iowa, then you know ALL about winter lasagna. Its different. Ice, snow, ice, snow, occasional sleet, ice, snow, ice, snow, ic...oh wait, I think thats enough layers. It was a lot of fun*

Not once, in all this time did I get a citation, a warning or get in an accident.

'....and the first ant said,
'the packet said tear across dotted line''

Drivers Ed 101.
Question 10a. You may _______ across DOTTED lines.
10b. You may NOT ______ across solid lines.

So, then we arrive in the very dry state of Texas, where all the roads are clean and ice free; blacktop for miles, with barely a blemish and 9 months of beautiful weather. Here where we don't turn purple or look like the walking dead in 'winter'. Roads with solid white "DO NOT CROSS THIS LINE" lines that separate the lanes. Particularly lanes that go around corners. Sometimes that lane is OCCuPIed.
go figure.
Sometimes, its occupied by people like me, who have kept thier cute little sporty model fast mobile in top notch, accident free condition EVEN in the dead of winter in the frozen tundra of the midwest.

*sigh*

And so it goes. My side is crunched in. That was a naughty driver who failed question 10a and b and crossed the solid white line, and tried to occupy the already obviously occupied lane. My very first accident. But on the bright side, my very first rental car...wooooohooooo! What should I get? a corvette, a convertible...the possibilities....

Ok, the ant joke was a stretch, but you know what, I had to share. Its not fair of me to be the only one remembering that thing...and the nervous wreck and the frayed knot.... I'll tell you about those later.
* any apparent and uncanny resemblance to gleeful, happy optimism in weather where I would turn several different shades of dead, is purely coincidental.
Helen.

Orignally Posted by Willow and Wattle at Saturday, April 25, 2009
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Willie, and those roads he mentioned.

2009-07-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

I know about Willie Nelson. He apparently had a penchant for traveling. I guess singing all over the world, it has to be said somewhere doesn't it.

'On the Road Again
goin places that I've never been...'

- I remember that playing often at our house when I was growing up. You are singing along aren't you?It was initially Mum who was into country. Dad eventually grew to like it, enough to co-host a country music show with Mum, on community radio in Roma, a small town in south west Queensland, Australia.

I remember the cueing of endless. country. music. in advance for programs. LISTS- of songs, chosen for variety and entertainment value that had my teenage mind reeling and running for cover before trance set in (yeah, you know what I'm talking about)

I can't remember most of those songs, but I do remember Willie Nelson getting back on that road. A lot. Who knew, that one day I'd be singing that song to myself (yeah, yeah, don't say it) as I accompanied my husband all over a foreign country. And yes, we are considering yet another move, but not by choice. 7 states.

The economy might not be as bad as some polititians like to make out, but I can tell you that professional jobs are being hit just like any other. We've experienced the economy first hand this time.

We're on the road again. Hubby has offers, will be relocating at some point, thought its complicated because well, entry level Criminal Justice/CSI/legal jobs for me, are not as common where his job offers are, and then with kids... we'll see what happens.

Hooroo
helen

Reposted from old blog
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Welcome to the Willow and Wattle blog.

2009-07-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

We're currently under construction, but will be here soon to offer our outback edgy, urban romantic, and whimsicle handmade or custom items with a personal touch: that friendly, family like service, info and conversation that was so common in stores so many years ago.

Here you will see our new shop items as well as other fun. We're excited to be here!

Sincerely,Willow & Wattle

Reposted from old blog
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