Day 5 - Into Perth

G'day it is Stowaway Frog here, am I am writing today's Post.

So, What can I write about today?

With no Off-Train excusions there really was nothing different to do from yesterday. 

Many just watched the scenery pass or rested while waiting for Brunch and Afternoon Tea to be served before disembarking at Perth.

But once we settled in to the Hotel, the Folks got all dressed up and we went out for Dinner - because TODAY was their 45th Wedding Anniversary.

We went to a fancy restaurant, at the top of a building and the floor kept moving - It made me feel a little greener than I normally am...

I don't think the Folks liked it very much, because they waited a long time after the Main Course,  and no one came to offer them Dessert or Coffee, so they left and went looking for Ice cream.

I hear we are not staying in Perth so I wonder what adventures we will have tomorrow?

Anniversaries and Adventures ...

Since DH retired we have been using Our Wedding Anniversary as an excuse to have a Break from the demands of the everyday.

 

A time to go "Off-Grid", reset my Mental Health and honestly say "Sorry Mum - the phone doesn't work where we are going".

When DH insisted we go on that first trip on The Ghan - I have, I admit - been hooked on not having to do anything but turn up and decide what "Entrée, Main and Dessert" I want for Breakfast.

This Year marks our 45th Anniversary so we are returning to the Indian Pacific to do the Sydney to Perth Journey.

Can I do 10 Days in 10 Photos? - Save that for Instagram.

I am also not going to Backdate my Posts this year.

Catching up on our adventures in June!

This Post is - a bookmark - to remind me when I come back for my 'Year in Review' that we did do something during May.

Anniversaries, Adventures and ...

 And .. It's Mother's Day.

No time to Celebrate - I have to Pack for a very well needed Break.

When visiting my Mother - I had the Fun of seeing my DB trying to work out why we were flying to Sydney - when he thought we were going to Perth.  

Well you do, if you are going on the Indian Pacific Train!

No time to chat - Gotta Pack.  Nothing like leaving things to the last minute but in my defence - I was going to do that yesterday.

Easter Greetings

From My Family to Yours

We hope you have a Blessed and Happy Easter 

Happy Valentine's Day

 It doesn't matter How Long We've been Together

He can still surprise me.

Aussie Christmas Fare

Christmas may come 'But Once a Year' but the Celebrations last for as long as you have Family that you have to fit in with. This year, Ours was VERY early!

I sent out a Message to everyone for Requests - 

Didn't have to be Christmassy Just whatever they were craving!

DH - Fruit Platter 

(I am ALL for Outsourcing where possible - Made by our Local Cafe and now features on their Instagram)

DS#1 - Can we have Trifle? 

This one I made a bit different to the traditional, with Tart Cranberry Juice Jelly and Blueberries and I also found Pink Savoiardi (Lady Finger) Biscuits! 

And of course the thing that makes Trifle - Trifle.  No Port this year. 

Tasmanian Cherry Chocolate Whiskey soaked the biscuits.

DD Made an Awesome Pavlova Wreath (didn't last long enough to photograph)

But wanted Greek Yoghurt instead of Cream - Gives a nice tang over all the Sugar! 

Not easy especially with Lactose Free Yoghurt - so (next day) I hung the Yoghurt in a Muslin and drained off the Whey turning a Runny mess into Spoon-able Lactose Free Labneh.

Something to remeber for next time.

Well, after all, There is still Christmas Day!

Parties and Puddles

 

Happy Birthday Little One

May you never Stop Jumping in Puddles !

Christmas came Early

Christmas when we were kids was easy -

You woke up unwrapped Presents, 

Had a very big Lunch

Went to Grandmas via Uncle's Place

and were back home in time for Dinner.

(photo typical of Aussie Christmas c 1965)

Then you got Married. 

In-laws did Boxing Day

You wanted Christmas Day

Your Family wanted....

Then your Kids got Married and ....

Its all very complicated!

So THIS year we decided to Have Christmas Early - Very Early.  

No one else wanted December 8th !

The Table was set 

and the Meal Prepared - 

Allowing for 6 different dietary requirements

and 4 Toddlers

The Christmas Biscuits were NOT deemed too Pretty to eat.

And as far as Little Miss P was concerned 

"If I eat it with my cutlery then it IS my Main Course"

After Lunch -

Gifts were exchanged

And the Children begged to be allowed to "Go to the Park".

Before all clearing off and leaving Us to the Washing Up...

And That is the Way it Should be.

Merry Christmas Everyone !

Happy Leap Day

 

Stowaway Frog would like to wish Everyone 

a Very Happy LEAP DAY

(and let you know that he is too little for his own Blog but you can follow his adventures on Instagram )

Argggh - It's December already

I do this every year - 

Every year December comes around EXACTLY when it should, 

so why does it 'sneak up' on us?

I can't get into the swing of the Festive Season until the last Birthday of the year is Past.
THAT happens on the 3rd December.
I spent all day Monday making Black Forest Birthday Cake - and when I was  finished I was too tired to cook Dinner....

Why? they ask, does She wait until the last minute to bake a Cake?

Unlike these Two who decided to watch Spring turn to Searing Summer through the back door - I had other things to do.

There was Christmas Break-up Lunch and Demonstration at Cake Decorators to attend.

I didn't feel like going but then I never do and once I am there I am glad I went.

It was a fun demonstration. Instructing us on making adorable figures for a Christmas Cake topper.

And then we had some Transport problems which started off with a Fire, which closed Sydney Road and the 19 Tram line for almost 24 hrs.

There was also an issue in the City Loop which stopped all trains going through at the same time a Sell-out Bon Jovi Concert finished.

Trams were packed and sometimes held up. (Note: If you are going to get yourself arrested - It would be greatly appreciated if you don't do it on the tram line!)

So why was it a problem for Us?

We were waiting up for that "Pick us up at the . . ." Call from DS#2 and his GF who were in the City on a Special Date.

Dinner, MSO Concert, Romantic walk along the River, Ice Cream and - a Proposal!

It was a VERY late night!

* * *

Ah Yes - It Is December already!

A long time ago

We were given this card

35 years later we are still happily paddling together

(and in the same direction!)

My Beautiful Rose

Shakespeare wrote in Romeo & Juliet

 "A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet"

It has long lost it's label so I can't tell you what it is

It grows on the fence beside the garage -

Never watered or fertilized.

Yet I wake some mornings with the heady fragrance 

of this beautiful bloom

on my pillow.

Everyday is Valentine's Day.

Easter Sunday

God sent HIS Son - They called him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove 
My Saviour Lives.

Because He lives - I can face tomorrow

Because He lives - all fear is gone

Because I Know - He holds the future

and Life is worth the living -

Just because HE LIVES!

In all the Festivities, Chocolate and Family get togethers -
Let us not forget the reason for the "HOLY-Day"

Because He Lives

by Gloria & William Gaither

Happy Anniversary

That makes 32 !

I just love being taken out for a special occasion and have the Restaurant do something nice and unexpected like this.   

Graduation -

Monash University 2nd May 2013
Bachelor of Information Technology and Systems

DS#2 with his lovely GF 

(who graduated DUX - she's pretty pleased about that).

After the ceremony 

Big Sister made sure he was perfectly presented for his photos.  

DS#2 stated "At least I graduated in a decent colour ..... Circuit Board Green!"

Happy 90th Birthday Dad.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ....

I think he liked his cake

They tell me it's Autumn...

Autumn in Melbourne is a beautiful time of year.
The weather does what it wants, often giving us warm to hot days and cool evenings.

And trees are getting the idea that their shade is no longer needed and it is time to rest.


So what I have been up to this week?

LEAVES! - remember these?  They are the sentinels that make up border no 1 of Hearts Desire.
There are 4 sides to the quilt
12 'Trees' per side
3 Leaves per tree = 144  leaves. (5.5 cm long and needle-turned)
93 down - 51 to go!


With so many leaves to do at once - a production line seemed to be the way to go.

I found the easiest method was to dampen a small sponge with water and a good spray of Starch, and just moisten my fingers with the mix whilst turning the edge over my freezer paper templates with the detail iron.

It was definitely a lot quicker than painting the liquid starch on with a brush.

Well, there is my tip for today
- now I had better get back to stitching them all on!

The Party's Over....

I have been a wee bit quiet lately and that is due partly to the fact that I needed to get the house and garden ready for our DD's Engagement Party.
There was plenty to do in the Back Garden.
DS#2 came out of his computer and up the trees - pruning saw in hand to open up the canopy and let some light onto the struggling plants underneath.

DD helped with the weeding, while DH swept and shredded and shifted 'stuff' that was way overdue for a trip to the tip -
When it was finished the garden looked a treat and ready for anything! (Considering it is still recovering from years of drought and water restrictions.)

- And, I got a LOT of maintenance done too.  ;-)

The Party was a hit and the next day I woke to 60 Helium Balloons hanging beautifully in the back room - looking somewhat like a giant Galileo's Thermometer.

And to try and work out what to do with the left over food - some of our guests didn't understand that "Bring a Plate" meant just that - to bring one plate of finger food to share.  So I ended up with enough food for THREE times the number of invited guests!

Then there was the traditional after party task of turning that beautiful fruit that had been the base of my Grandmother's Punch recipe......






....into
MARMALADE!

I really have been spoilt this week

Sunday was Mother's Day and whereas my 3 are not usually known for co-operating with each other they seem to have coordinated my Mother's day gifts rather well.

Apparently they had no idea what each other had chosen until they got home from their shopping.  To make things even more intriguing --2 of my gifts actually came from the same shop!   Well, maybe that bit may have been orchestrated.
Either way  I have a gorgeous Glass Teapot to show off the lovely Tea Balls which open up in the hot water into an awesome flower that spins inside the bowl of the Pot while it infuses.  And then a sweet Tea Cup and Saucer to set off the theme.

And.. today was our 31st Wedding Anniversary.
My wonderful DH presented me with this beautiful shawl pin from his new "Favourite" Shop.

It is based on a Spiral Shaped Bronze Age Armband c. 1500 BC and sits rather comfortably on my red Pashmina.

What's news.......

I have been a bit distracted lately with a whole heap of things happening on the "Home Front".
Easter has come and gone - with us attending 2 very different Church Services.  A modern Pantomime style remembrance on Good Friday in a renovated  'Warehouse Church' where DS#1 attends, and to the other extreme a very formal Celebration with my parents on Easter Sunday, at one of Melbourne's oldest Churches in the City .

At the same time I have been helping DS#1 get ready for a 3 week trip overseas with a Music performance group.
I will be glad when he is back and he only left Wednesday night!

And... also been busy making a quilt for my Challenge Group.  This month the challenge was to make a quilt with a WORD on it - and quilt labels didn't count ;-)
Having 'come on board' with the Aussie Hero Quilts program for the Guy's and Gal's overseas (see link to their Blog on my sidebar).  I decided to make my challenge piece the recommended size for a Hero Quilt.  It was almost finished when we got an email asking for any "Quilts with a VERY Aussie theme" for an extra special  recipient.  So, my quilt is one of the first 3 that are going to very special unknown members of our Armed Forces who have been injured and are in Hospital.


The design is based on an enlarged version of Helen Godden's  'Four in the Raw' tutorial featured in Australian Quilters Companion No 46 (Dec 2010)