It's raining.
A lot.
It started last night about suppertime and hasn't stopped. Martin needed the van at work today so last night I reminded the kids we'd be walking to school today - regardless of the weather. So this morning we grabbed our umbrellas and headed out - all of us in sneakers or canvas shoes (you'd think we'd know better!!) Before we'd gone half a block we all had wet shoes and socks and Patrick's pants were wet up to his knees.
Made me kinda homesick (sniff).
As we walked along the sidewalk, commenting on the rivers of water flowing towards the spring debris-plugged drains, I warned the kids not to complain at all about the rain in earshot of any Taswegian. I reminded them this may be standard weather for November in Vancouver but in Tasmania it is much-needed and quite welcome by many - especially the farmers. Emily commented one of her teachers had said she would be catching the rainwater in barrels to use for watering her garden, rather than using precious drinking water. Something I'm certain many people do here.
Upon arriving at school we noted most of the older kids hurrying into classrooms, not playing on the playground as usual (no surprise). I said goodbye to Emily as we dropped her off at her classroom and headed to the other side of the school where the younger grades are located. When we came around the corner of the building I saw lots of kids running around in the rain, none with raincoats and Patrick's teacher standing under cover imploring the kids to come in out of the rain.
Come in?? No way! They were having too much fun. They were laughing and chasing each other around, they were playing in the rain! A few of the girls from Patrick's class gathered around us as I was helping the boys fold up their umbrellas. "Good morning Patrick's Mom" said one girl. "Good morning" I replied. "Did you walk?" they asked. I told them in Vancouver it rained a lot like this in November so we were quite used to it. One girl beamed at me and said "I've brought an extra change of clothes so I can go out later and get nice and wet!"
Yes, just like Vancouver . . . but not :)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
All Hallows Eve
Okay so I'm feeling prolific so here's another little blurb . . .
I may have mentioned to some of you we expected Hallowe'en to be a bit different here. We had been told there would be no trick or treating as it wasn't something Australians do. We decided we'd have our own little party if necessary but it seems some other Canadian ex-pats had got the jump on things.
Our friends Andrew & Jill invited us to celebrate Hallowe'en with them and some other families last Friday night. Emily as a pirate, Patrick and Ethan as sword-wielding DJ/rockstar guys (??), Martin as a mad scientist and me as Old Mother Hubbard. We were to join them for a BBQ down at 7 mile beach followed by some door to door trick or treating in that neighbourhood. Seems that particular neighbourhood had 'gotten into' the spirit of handing out candy to little ghosts and gremlins so who were we to let them down?!
Although we were late in joining our friends, the kids caught up with some other late-comers and managed to race around the neighbourhood before all the homes ran out of candy. Racing around was necessary as, contrary to what many of you might think, it's darned cold down here! Part of my costume as old mother hubbard included a plastic shower cap on my head. Let me tell you - never underestimate the thermal value of a plastic shower cap when you're on the beach and the wind is blowing and it's about 8 degrees celsius!!
So Hallowe'en was a little different for us but the kids had fun and that's what it's all about.
I may have mentioned to some of you we expected Hallowe'en to be a bit different here. We had been told there would be no trick or treating as it wasn't something Australians do. We decided we'd have our own little party if necessary but it seems some other Canadian ex-pats had got the jump on things.
Our friends Andrew & Jill invited us to celebrate Hallowe'en with them and some other families last Friday night. Emily as a pirate, Patrick and Ethan as sword-wielding DJ/rockstar guys (??), Martin as a mad scientist and me as Old Mother Hubbard. We were to join them for a BBQ down at 7 mile beach followed by some door to door trick or treating in that neighbourhood. Seems that particular neighbourhood had 'gotten into' the spirit of handing out candy to little ghosts and gremlins so who were we to let them down?!
Although we were late in joining our friends, the kids caught up with some other late-comers and managed to race around the neighbourhood before all the homes ran out of candy. Racing around was necessary as, contrary to what many of you might think, it's darned cold down here! Part of my costume as old mother hubbard included a plastic shower cap on my head. Let me tell you - never underestimate the thermal value of a plastic shower cap when you're on the beach and the wind is blowing and it's about 8 degrees celsius!!
So Hallowe'en was a little different for us but the kids had fun and that's what it's all about.
Stop and Smell the Roses
As many of you know I'm a real home-body. I love being in my home - especially alone. I love the peace and quiet and rarely even turn on any music at all.
I still love being inside my 'new home' but there's something special about being outside in a new place and just . . . discovering. When I walk the kids to school it's usually along the same route every time (there are a couple of slight variations but basically the same streets). Each time I discover something new along the way and most often it's a plant or tree. Of course it's spring here now and so many plants are just coming into bloom. One of the first flowering plants I noticed when we arrived in Australia a month ago, was a lilac. Now, I love lilacs. They are my absolute favourite flower. I love the way they look and I love their smell. I could fill my house with lilacs and not get tired of the smell. Sadly, their bloom time is really short - typically lasting no more than a couple to three weeks. So when I saw lilacs here I was overjoyed to have lilacs for the second time in a year! There doesn't seem to be any on our property here but I've seen plenty in the neighbourhood.
The gardens here are so prolific and varied. It's nice to see so many plants that I recognize; hydrangea, cala lilies, tulips, daffodils, dianthus, iris', columbine, azaleas, fuschias, rhododendrons, alstromeria and dozens more. There's also some very beautiful plants that I've never seen and will hopefully learn the names of eventually.
But the roses . . . they are everywhere. They seem to be one of the most popular plants, or maybe they just grow extremely well. They abound. And the colours are amazing; crisp whites, soft yellows, deep, rich reds, delicate pinks and mauves and peachy tones. Some are huge blossoms - bigger than my hand. Some are miniatures. I've seen tall rosebushes, small rosebushes, climbing roses and even a hedge of roses.
And they smell . . . heavenly. The scent is everywhere as we walk down the street and sometimes, when we're not too rushed, they beckon with their velvety petals and we just have to stop - and smell the roses.
I still love being inside my 'new home' but there's something special about being outside in a new place and just . . . discovering. When I walk the kids to school it's usually along the same route every time (there are a couple of slight variations but basically the same streets). Each time I discover something new along the way and most often it's a plant or tree. Of course it's spring here now and so many plants are just coming into bloom. One of the first flowering plants I noticed when we arrived in Australia a month ago, was a lilac. Now, I love lilacs. They are my absolute favourite flower. I love the way they look and I love their smell. I could fill my house with lilacs and not get tired of the smell. Sadly, their bloom time is really short - typically lasting no more than a couple to three weeks. So when I saw lilacs here I was overjoyed to have lilacs for the second time in a year! There doesn't seem to be any on our property here but I've seen plenty in the neighbourhood.
The gardens here are so prolific and varied. It's nice to see so many plants that I recognize; hydrangea, cala lilies, tulips, daffodils, dianthus, iris', columbine, azaleas, fuschias, rhododendrons, alstromeria and dozens more. There's also some very beautiful plants that I've never seen and will hopefully learn the names of eventually.
But the roses . . . they are everywhere. They seem to be one of the most popular plants, or maybe they just grow extremely well. They abound. And the colours are amazing; crisp whites, soft yellows, deep, rich reds, delicate pinks and mauves and peachy tones. Some are huge blossoms - bigger than my hand. Some are miniatures. I've seen tall rosebushes, small rosebushes, climbing roses and even a hedge of roses.
And they smell . . . heavenly. The scent is everywhere as we walk down the street and sometimes, when we're not too rushed, they beckon with their velvety petals and we just have to stop - and smell the roses.
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