Christmas Tree oh Christmas Tree...

I love having the Christmas tree up.

I usually have a couple up around the house.

There is the main one, plus a couple of small ones scattered here and there.

I'm the tinsel person and I don't like letting anyone else do it.

I thank Prince Albert for introducing the custom to us.

On My Mind...

On my mind today is Goofy.

I aim to get as many photos taken with the fellow as I can on my trip.

It's very important for me, you see.

That was my nickname from my dad as a kid.

Dad has alzheimers and is in a nursing home and doesn't remember who I am.

I'm okay with that (most of the time) though, because I know it's not really 'him' there.

It's another man.

If that makes sense at all.

Anyway, Goofy (and my dad) is on my mind today.

Joining along with Rhonda at Down to Earth.

No More Dreaming Of A White Christmas

We leave for Disneyland very soon.


The countdown has begun in earnest.

I'm so excited that I think I'm becoming unbearable to those who know me (and probably even those who don't!)

We will also go on a Disney cruise to Mexico where the weather will be not that different to what we're used to here.

And we will have a white Christmas, too.

Plus renew our vows in Vegas with Elvis.

There are lots of things that we have planned but we also have plenty of days where we have no accommodation or plans made so that we can see where the winds take us.

I'm an over-planner, I confess, so that part will be the hardest to deal with, but I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever we do and wherever we go.

I'm participating in a Fish Extender exchange on the cruise, too.  

It's like a Secret Santa in a way.

I drool over this lady's gifts...


I'm going to have a ball and can't wait to get back and show you lots of pictures of our trip.


Now, I've got to clean the house from top to bottom to prepare for cyclone season which starts very soon, pack away anything that could blow away in strong winds.


And pack suitcases and remember what things I can't do without and what I can buy over there should I forget something (and I will, I always do - remembering the disastrous camping trip of 2010 where I forgot eating utensils, plates, towels, The Groom's underwear...)


Can I squeal with excitement now?


Close your ears...


aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Another beautiful soul lost to the world...

I have seen many stories about this man.

I wish there were more in our world like him.

Just for fun...

I love the Muppets and I love Bohemian Rhapsody.

What a great way to combine both!

I watch this weekly with the kids and we never fail to get a laugh.

A lazy Sunday morning...

I love Sunday mornings.

A trip to the markets, a drive by the beach, a walk through the park.

What a wonderful life we have here in the tropics!

Looking from the museum towards the city with Castle Hill in the background.

The Strand.  

A beautiful place for a walk, to eat, to swim (as long as you're inside the swimming enclosures during jellyfish season.

Then don't forget to stop by the Sunday markets in Flinders Street for crafts, fresh produce and lots of other goodies...

Listen to the wonderful music.

 I love this man's music and could listen to him all day.

I really ought to stop one day and buy one of his cd's.

Stop to get some sourdough loaves from the Three Loaves Bakery.  

It's a must!

When you are tired, stop for a drink.

Coffee for me.  Tea for The Princess.

Walk back to the car and detour via the Perfumed Gardens.

 

I love lazy Sunday mornings.

On My Mind...

Remembrance Day.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th Month.

We will remember.

Readying for next year's harvest

There were some things that I grew this year that didn't work out as I had hoped or I just didn't like.

There are things that have done really well and I'll continue to grow - like the zucchini and eggplant.  

But I will give the celery a miss - it's too water-hungry and I can't manage to keep the water up to it outside of the wet.

Next year I'll be planting these as well.

Hopefully they will go well.

I have to plant extra snow peas this year - the ones we grew didn't bear well and what it did bear I ate before I even got back to the house!

Tropic Tomatoes

luffa

golden nugget pumpkin

sugar snap peas

Snowpea "Yakumo"

Bush Bean "Cherokee Wax"

"Tommy Toe" tomatoes

spaghetti squash

I am growing sweet potato in a cage frame in the chicken yard at the moment and next year I will add potatoes to the crop.

The potatoes I grew last year were nice but I think I harvested too early - they were rather small.

The worst part of growing in the tropics is the long wet season that turns everything to mush.

And the bugs.

But, it's all about trial and error and I'll eventually get there.

Hopefully next year I can produce at least half our our vegetable needs.

Maybe I might even consider getting a rooster so we can have some baby chickens...

Are we there yet????

I'm trying to get the dogs into the holiday spirit!

It seems to me like a certain boy does not share my enthusiasm.

Cyclone Season

Earlier this year we were graced with the presence of Cyclone Yasi.

If I said I wasn't scared, I'd be a liar!

That season is now almost upon us and lessons have hopefully been learnt.

It is time to start getting our cyclone kit ready, readying our home and property and stocking up on supplies for inevitable floods and power outages.

I do like cyclones; I think the power of Mother Nature is something to be in awe of, but to go through another Yasi?  

NO THANK YOU!!

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

My orchids have been in flower for almost a week.

Surely we are bound to get some rain soon???

It's funny, though, earlier this year we were having days of 100mm falls and I was wishing the rain away!

We humans never seem to be happy with what nature gives us, are we?