15 Years Today -

And I am still here.

Photographing - Researching - Writing - Editing - Posting about the things that happen in my corner of Melbourne Australia, and Our Journeys Beyond.

So What Have I been up to in the 5 Years since my 10 Years in 10 Photos Post?

2021

10 Years ago I started a Mystery Applique Quilt,

this Time it is a Mystery Hexi Quilt and an EPP Challenge.

Covid was still alive and well with Melbourne Lockdowns

But we managed to Dive through a Window and

Celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary on The Indian Pacific

with a Little Photo-bombing Stowaway.*

2022

A Year of Building Stuff, Fixing Stuff and Demolishing Stuff

Two Grand daughters became Three

We went on a Big Train Adventure to Brisbane 

and Spent Christmas in Isolation with Covid

2022 Year in Review

2023

We started the Year by continuing our Reno, moving Rooms around 

and making the House 'Work for Us'.

I started Culling Duplicate Photographs from the Computer*

Three Grand daughters became Four

And we embarked on a Bathroom Rebuild 

that we had to walk out on, to go on 

Another Train Adventure MELB-BRI-ADL-Kangaroo Is- MELB

2023 Year in Review

2024

Birthdays, Funerals, Exhibitions 

and Putting our Bathroom Reno on hold 

to help out TWO others with Emergency Repairs

And Our Bucket List Holiday 

The GHAN - with a Side Trip around Uluru and the Mereenie Loop.

2024 Year in Review

2025

Four Grand daughters became FIVE

We crossed off the Last Aussie Capitol City from our List 

with a Tour of HOBART and Tasmania

Spent the rest of the Year Repairing and Renovating Other Peoples places

and said Goodbye to our Neighbours of 45 years.

2025 Year in Review 

* * * 

Doing 5 Years is only Half as spectacular as my 10 Year Post - But as it stands I do hope that I am still poking at Keyboards and posting Real Photos in another 5 Years.

Things have changed for Us, with DH's Retirement, he wants to Travel and once we see everything we can see in this Big Brown Land of Ours, we will head to New Zealand - I have been there once, but They tell me that 4 hours in Auckland Airport doesn't count! 

So from Me - It's Thanks for still Reading and I am heading back to continue *Culling those photographs!

*You can follow Stowaway Frog's Adventures

on Instagram at  STOWAWAY FROG

2025 - Year in Review

Here we go again

What  Happened in 2025?

January

We had Both sides of Life this Month

with a Funeral followed by a Birth

Welcome Granddaughter No. 5

February / March

Too much work to do to Blog about

These 2 Months were spent at DD's Home

Fixing a HUGE problem caused by a thirsty Rat

April

How can I sum up 12 Days of Adventure touring Tasmania?

With my Favourite Photo of the Trip

The Lighthouse at Hells Gates

May

Installing a Garage Hoist

Another "Simple Project" that took longer than planned for DS#2

June

I started building a 1940's Train Carriage Book Nook

(Christmas Gift)

Which was fun until it wasn't

July

Spike got to Meet Logan while DS#2 went on a trip to Fitzroy Island

(I wonder if they are watching for him to return?)

August

Lots of Birthdays during August

September

Back to help DS#2 

 Out with the Previous Owners Garden

 and In with His

October

We spent October turning a Disaster at my Mother's Home

into something She can enjoy

November

With lots of Tears and Hugs

We said Fare-well to our Neighbours of 45 Years

December

Australia is rocked by what will become known as BONDI 2025

16 lives lost, 45 Injured

Countless traumatised, by Two men with Legal Guns

It is NOT who we are.

December

and so that I can finish 2025 on a Happier Note

what has to be Our Quote of the Year...

"I need to learn EVERYTHING before I go to School"

Heaven help their Teachers!

🤣

2024 - Year in Review

 Here I go again - For all those who just want to "Cut to the Chase"

2024 in 12 Photos!

January

Continuing with the Bathroom Renovation  

that started back in October.

February

Gave us an extra day

We were knee deep in our own renovation 

and also helped a Friend with Hers

We made a Promise to Our Granddaughters.

and said Goodbye to a loved BIL

March

Everyday on my calendar had something in it

Birthdays and Funerals and Easter and

so much that I forgot to write up our Visit to The DaVinci Exhibit

(something I have since included.)

April

It was all White Gloved Hands on deck for the AQC

and visits to the Vet with Our Cat 

May

We weeded out the old Pond and made a pretty garden instead

(The birds are making good use of the Feeder turned Bird Bath)

June

I spent my Birthday checking out the other Dinosaurs at the Melbourne Zoo.

July

Taking a break from the continuing Renovation and Repairs

DD & I took the Girls to the Cake Bake & Sweets Show

August

How on Earth do I sum Up August in just one Photograph?

12 day Epic - Bucket List Tour of The Red Centre of Australia

This is the living beating Heart of Australia

and it is FAR from Dead.

September

looking back through my Diary - September was 

mainly appointments and waiting for Tradesmen.

AND

DD's 40th Birthday.

October

Pharaoh comes to the National Gallery of Victoria

It took us the best part of all day to 

see the 500 Pieces in this landmark Exhibition

(even then I missed some!)

November

Baking and Birthdays

and Maybe a New Hobby

('cause we all need yet another Hobby)

December

and of course with all its Trauma and Tinsel

December is Christmas.

* * *

Whoever you are

Wherever you live

Whatever you Believe

 

Thank you for coming by 

and sharing a snapshot of 

Who I am and What I do.

Season's Greetings

and

Happy New Year

 

Year in Review 2023

Here I go again with trying to Condense One Year into 12 Photos!

JANUARY

Saw Solar Panels Installed on the Roof

and Old Rooms in New Places Organised

FEBRUARY

We fixed the Leaky Porch Roof

and I started the never ending task of Sorting Photos

MARCH

DH quietly Reached His 500th Blood Donation

APRIL

I Remembered ANZAC Day by thinking of My Dad 

and the Stories He Told of "When I was Up Darwin"

MAY

I was drowning in Copies of Copies of Copies of Digital Photographs

Trying to Sort through the Mess.

(And I am STILL  not Finished!)

JUNE

Still Sorting and Getting Sidetracked by Researching the Photos

and the History of Melbourne's Airports

JULY

Another Precious Grand-Daughter Arrived

Early and in a Hurry!

AUGUST

We decided to Take a Break and Go to The Zoo

Because we Could!

SEPTEMBER

Saw me trying to get a bit Fitter and Healthier 

with Fresh Juice and Long Walks and Hydro Therapy

OCTOBER

More Work inside and Out

We Started Our Bathroom Rebuild,

 the Council Removed our Street Tree

and Finished the Month with the Gift of Some Concert Tickets

NOVEMBER

Was so Busy with The Bathroom slowly Progressing,

and Time Spent with the Grandchildren

DECEMBER

Walking out on The Bathroom Reno we Hit the Rails

Melbourne to Brisbane and Back Again Via Kangaroo Island

ALL by Train. (And a Lot of Busses)

Was it Relaxing - Well.... No

Was it an Adventure - Definitely!

And there we have 2023 in a Nutshell

There was much that didn't make it here

(You will just have to go back and Read the Posts)

And of Course a LOT more that didn't make it to the Blog in the First Place.

Thank you for Reading

Don't forget to say Hi sometime

and God Willing,  I'll see you in 2024

2022 - Year in Review

Each Year I attempt to condense the past 12 Months into a Single Post.

My Posts each month are but a snapshot of "Who I am and What I do"

Some Months, It is hard to find something - Anything to leave a marker for that Month. And others, are so full I have to work out what is relevant to write about.

This Year had been yet another Rollercoaster of a Year

With it's High and Low points.

January

Working Bees at Our 3 Children's homes kept Us busy during January.

We also had to check Our Bees for Varroa Mite 

(Something Quarantine are trying desperately to keep out of Australia.)

February

Finding a Bright Smile behind a Grubby (Well Loved) Face 

was the Highlight for February

Sadly it also came with the News of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

March

This was NOT a Good Month.  

It started with the Senseless Death of a Teen near our home, 

and ended with me Seriously loosing my Everything Mojo.

April

The Beginning of what will define Our Year. 

Replacing the Air-Conditioning.

 One small-ish Job lead to another and another...

May

We Stayed in Melbourne for Our Wedding Anniversary 

and Discovered we had to get a New Garage Door.

June

Saw me catching my Blog Readers up 

with what had been happening in the Back Garden 

as we prepared for a Special Event.

July

After years of Border Closures, 

Our DDIL's Mum arrived from the US and we could finally 

get those Much wanted Mother of the Bride Photos

August

Little Miss A (Grand-daughter #1) Turned 2

And She had to have an awesome Cake!

September

A blocked Flu and a Sewing Room full of Smoke - 

The Chimney HAD to Go and Go It did.

We also said "Goodbye" to Our Bees

And saw the Passing of Queen Elizabeth 2nd.

October

Was a Very Busy Month but at the end of it 

we were delighted to welcome Grand-daughter #3 

Penelope Esme into Our Hearts.

November

We were SO Busy with the 'Renovation that Grew' Just to keep up,  

I resorted to a Photo Dump for the Month.  

We also Celebrated Little Miss H's 2nd Birthday

December

Bags in hand, we walked out on it all. 

Jumped on a Bus and headed off on Our Great Southern Adventure.

Melbourne to Adelaide

Adelaide to Brisbane

Finishing the Year Cancelling Christmas and Isolating with Covid-19 

The only Thing I can say is

After Christmas we have to pick up from where we Left it.

* * *