highlights

It's somewhat of a lazy day here at Hightor. Started the day out with a netball match for Pasca, and a football match for Benson. It was pretty enjoyable, until the rain started pouring down. And then Sophia and I had a ball sprinting to the car for some shelter and snacks. After a quick muesli bar and plugging ABBA in for the drive home, we arrived back at Hightor and everyone set about achieving their goals for the day. Pasca and Leilani went off to the ranch for their trail ride, Sophia went back home, the boys of the house settled in to play some video games, and I found my place in the kitchen. Sarah and I enjoyed a delicious scone with jam and cream at a cafe in town yesterday, and sought to replicate it at home. So I whipped together some basic scones, and when everyone was back home and a bit calm, we all sat down for afternoon tea. It was absolutely marvelous, crowding around the small kitchen table with all those kids, chatting and laughing and covering every bit of scone surface with jam, cream, honey, berries, and even Trader Joe's cookie butter. A very civilized little exercise for a rainy afternoon. And now Sarah and I are situated on the couch, pulled as close to the fire as we dare, and both working away on our computers. And luckily for me and you, she just sent me some wonderful, almost forgotten photos from past adventures. So here's a few leftover treasures, randomly thrown together for your viewing pleasure.

In one of several runs to Bunnings (a big hardware store here in Oz), Pasca and Blossom disappeared for a bit while Sarah and I were browsing. And then two giggly boxes walked by. The girls found these huge boxes and claimed them for their own, even carving holes so they could see where they were going. It was rather hilarious. And a joyful end to a routine shopping trip. 

A wonderfully named car we spotted in Point Lonsdale, on our beach holiday there.

And a nice evening story time in Point Lonsdale. I read everyone the legend of Sacagawea aiding Lewis and Clark in their great expedition. An American classic in an American accent!

And a few more great captures of our silly times on the ferry from Queenscliff. Enjoying the sunshine, salt water smells, and high winds. 

wide brown land

The National Arboretum. My favorite spot in Canberra. I was lucky enough to visit around twilight, and seeing the newly laid plans, young forests, and grand visions for the future in the golden light was spectacular. Overwhelmingly peaceful, still, and beautiful.

cockington green

Maeve, me and Pasca with some large creatures greeting us at the entrance

On our second morning waking up in Canberra, Papa, Pasca, Maeve and I headed to Cockington Green, a formal gardenscape populated with miniature recreations of British village life and remarkable buildings from all around the world. It was strange and beautiful and hilarious. There was even a dizzying labyrinth, which the girls and I tried to navigate with our gaze, but ultimately proved to be too much. We rode the steam train around, played a quick game of hop-o bump-o (thanks John!), and admired the flowers (and hardworking bees). A great way to while away the morning.

Wouldn't be English without cricket! 

Love pastoral scenes, even in fake miniature

Freddy and Jason, an odd find

Gorgeous banks of begonias

Dahlias and bees, what's not to love?

The mesmerizing labyrinth

There were also a few dinosaurs tucked away in the hedges...

The paths were lined with all sorts of plants, including tons of peppers. I picked a few for our dinner of tortilla soup that night

Hop-o bump-o! Good times

day one

The girls and I found a perfect post outside Parliament House

So here we are in Canberra. The first thing we did on this full day was to visit Parliament House. It's the perfect example of Australia's mentality. Oh so extremely casual. Yes, there was a quick security screening before we were let loose in the building, but apparently they didn't mind that I always carry (and just forgot to take out) a rather lethal little knife in my bag. Oh well! After that surprise, it was on to the great hall, then upstairs to see the Senate chambers and the House of Representatives. It was a free day, but if the elected officials happen to be sitting that day, anyone can enter the gallery and watch. And then even stay for "Question Time"! How insane is that?? Really, some of you American citizens will surely share my amazement at just how relaxed everything is. After taking that all in, it was on to Questacon for Papa and the girls, and the National Gallery for me. The basin is rimmed with galleries, museums and such, and it was a perfect day for walking around. Reminded me a lot of D.C.'s own basin, just maybe...less majestic? It's hard to compare a metropolitan capital like that with Australia's "bush capital". But both completely beautiful in their own ways.

The hall we entered into on the ground floor. All marble and very sparse. 

The Great Hall, again very much undecorated. I'm so used to seeing ornate moldings and such on American and European buildings of importance, and have to remind myself that Australia as a nation is younger even than the U.S., and Canberra itself is even more recently established, so the architectural "trends" are vastly different

The upstairs had a miniature display of Australian art. Loved these two tapestries

And of course, in a place of importance among portraits of past Prime Ministers, was Her Majesty the Queen.

The girls and I in the Senate Hall

The House of Representatives was déjà vu in blue

The gorgeous scenery as we walked to Questacon

I loved these black swans that were so abundant on the lake, and was brave enough to get a picture with them (after so many pictures through the years like the next one)

My sister and I fleeing in fear from geese at Lake Cuyamaca

Still can't get enough of the fall colors around

An avenue of flags we walked down, I got excited to see the stars and stripes

This wonderful outdoor piece welcomed me to the gallery. No pictures were allowed inside, but I snuck a few anyway. It was a truly wonderful place, and I was overwhelmed by Pollock's Blue Poles, perhaps the gallery's most famous work