Wednesday, May 26, 2010

CHIT CHAT

I was very comfortable this morning, warm in bed and listening to the early news on the radio when I was jolted out of my snuggery by the telephone ringing. I reached over to get the handset only to find a nothingness with the ringing still happening in the other handset. I leaped out of bed but missed the call by a hair's breadth! Called the number back - it was daughter - grandson L4 had been unwell through the night and was still sleeping - could I come to her place while she took E6 to school! I scurried! That was the start of my day!
The weather is coolish - as one would expect when it's only a day or two off the beginning of winter here 'down under' and sprinkling with rain. We've had downpours over the last 24 hours enough to almost fill the pool - which is good - we need it badly. The morning has had patches of brightness amongst the showers but basically its a bit of a dull day here in Sydney-town.
Occasionally I remember to go into my email provider and clear my inbox of all the unwanted stuff that accumulates. I was a bit surprised to find I had over 3000 emails there! It's been a long job but I've now only got just over 200 left - things I need to go back to - one day I'll get around to doing that. Many of the messages are from people who've made contact with me about our family history lines. It just needs me to make sure I've copied all of their information and saved it before I delete their original messages -
oh no! I smell burning - I intend to treat myself to one of my most favourite foods for lunch today - a total break from my recent eating plan - a grilled croissant filled with ham, cheese and avocado! The griller is burning it - nevermind - I turf that one into the garbage and retrieve another from the freezer.
I've popped it under the griller - I'm salivating at the thought of eating it. Oh Not Again!! I can't believe I've done that twice...

I have to run before the smoke alarm goes off!

Blessings!

LAST DAYS WITH THE TEXAS CONNECTION

The following days passed too quickly. With the children at their respective schools during the week, we had time to wander through shops, sit in the sun, more shops. The wildflowers of Texas are so beautiful - they grow along the sides of highways, out on sidewalk gardens, in ‘yet unbuilt on’ parts of new housing areas. Beautiful bluebonnets, evening primrose, pretty coloured daisy varieties, Indian paintbrush - all so brilliant and showing God’s handiwork in colour. The school where Grand-daughter A11 (soon to graduate for Middle School) attends, has a wildflower garden - DIL had provided them with seed of red bluebonnet flowers which had been growing in her garden, and they were also blooming amongst the other varieties. So, so pretty. A visit to the school during lunchtime allowed me to photograph some of them. A11’s classmates also had the opportunity to taste some ’down under’ Vegemite on crackers as well as a chocolate ’Freddo Frog’! One afternoon was spent watching Grandson A13 playing tennis against another school team. Considering he had only been playing for about a month, he did extremely well - but then he is a born sportsman and does well at most sports - just like his Dad and Grandpa!


Son took a day off work and took his Dad out to the ‘range’ - DIL and I presumed they meant the golf practice range. When they got back we were informed that it was the shooting range - they weren’t sure what my reaction would be if I’d known beforehand! In Australia it is illegal to carry guns unless you have a licence to do so - for instance police officers carry them on duty. I have never been able to get my head around the idea of people having guns in their homes (let alone carrying them). However Son has become quite proficient at shooting as a hobby and every so often goes with a group to areas specifically for the purpose of shooting wildlife. Son and a friend had a great morning ‘teaching’ Dad how to shoot targets! Of course got a photo for posterity! LOL

Sitting out on the deck some afternoons I was fascinated by the red cardinal birds who appeared to be nesting somewhere close by. The male, so vibrant in colour and his paler little mate would fly from tree to tree gathering nest-building material. I managed to get a photo of him but his back was turned - they are so quick and the trees so large it was difficult to just get the ‘perfect’ shot. Other cheeky birds were bolder and came closer to the house. Feeders for hummingbirds were hung during the week with great excitement when the first one came to drink. I managed to see one at quite a distance and was amazed at the minute size. Such amazing little birds!

Red Cardinal




Texas wildflowers Red Bonnets


Our son had purchased a shade sail to put up over his newly built deck - Dad came in handy with suggestions of what was needed to erect it and assisting to buy the necessary equipment then helping to get it up. It certainly made a big difference to the area and with a new outdoor setting gifted, outdoor meals and lounging during the summer months should be more comfortable this year.


The night before we left, we were treated to a great meal at The Salt Lick BBQ restaurant a little distance outside of Austin. The weather was warm and meeting with friends ensured a very memorable evening. We were sad to be leaving the family the next morning but all good holidays come to an end and in many ways it felt good to be going back home and sleeping in our own bed again.



The family at The Salt Lick



Resident peacock at The Salt Lick

Our flight back to Los Angeles was uneventful and we arrived there about 1pm - our flight to Sydney Australia wasn't due out until 10.30pm that night and as we didn't fancy sitting around the airport for all those hours, we took a bus to Westwood Village, near to UCLA and spent a couple of hours wandering around the area. Before we headed back to the airport we had coffee and cake at a little coffee shop. It was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

We were quite excited to know that the aircraft we were to fly in back to Sydney was a new A380 - what a huge machine! Fortunate also to have seats in a row which enabled DH to stretch his legs out in front of him - a treat indeed when travelling economy class!

Our son was at the airport to meet us when we arrived at 6.30am the next morning and once home and unpacked, sad to say it didn't take long to get back into the 'normal everyday' mode! Still we were grateful for good health and safe travels all the way around the world - I know our Heavenly Father had something to do with that!