photos and music

My Citizenship tree doing nicely

Dorothy (note the red slippers) & Toto in the land of Oz

Echidna (above) stick insect below

Welcome to Australia!

El Presidente heading to Golf

Bec and Seb at their gig in Newport

Watts boys jamming--part of 61 Trees out of Sacremento Ca

Well, I think I've found a better way. You tell me! Hope you enjoy the photos, not sure if the video will work well, and the sound...from my little camera! Anyway gives you a view of what I've been up to and will try to put more photos on soon.

Must run, the pool and beach are calling as is my painting!

More photos before I hit the road again....

Thought you'd all like the Financial Abundance Fairy that is pictured here...sent by a non-believer in fairies, just in case...and I pass it on to you!

Along with this I'll put a few more California photos since I haven't gotten anything uploaded from the last few weeks in Australia...except that now I've uploaded one photo and started typing it appears I can't upload any more until the next post. Sigh. Isn't technology wonderful? I can't figure out how to put captions on the photos either as my mom requested.

Maybe by the time the next posting comes around I'll work out how to put up the sound-track and photos of 30 1/2 Trees and Rick Watts jamming in California...could be an interesting challenge and I wonder how the sound would be coming out of my camera's studio! I call it 30 1/2 Trees because it's half the Watts Boys band, 61 Trees, from Sacremento, California (check them out on Facebook--you'll find out what the name is about there), jamming with their dad. Didn't get to see the whole band although I hope to someday!

Tonight I go to see another family musician, Bec Watts, of Williamstown (Melbourne) Australia, play in a local cafe. There will be a big turnout to see her and her partner Seb play and sing. Earlier in the year I was very impressed hearing them at a local pub gig they had for a few months. I'll get some photos and put them on next week for you.

And meanwhile, it's Christmas coming in full swing here in Australia, although I must say I often forget because of the weather. Go into the shopping centres, as I have over the last 2 days, and you are quickly reminded--the bustle, the decorations, the full carparks...horror! I think I'll go to the beach today for a walk instead!

Melbourne weather is so funny--the week before I arrived they finished an unseasonably hot November, having 8 days over 30 degrees and a top of 37, but since I've been here I've had to put my fleece on most days, at some point, and it might have made 27 one day. Yesterday I broke down and bought myself a cardigan (sweater, as we'd call them up north) along with a pair of dressy sandals (nothing like consistency eh?) so that should make the weather get hotter very soon. Not, however, until late next week, according to the forecast at present.

I've also started drawing and painting again and have a session with Melbourne artist Greg Allan on Tuesday morning so that will inspire me to get off my butt and do what I say I'm going to. Stay tuned for further details and photos! I'd better get a few things done next week before I hit the road again, heading north for Sydney and past...

Those darned fairies are at it again!!

Some of you may recall the saga of the fairies that got into the works of my 2010 calendar printing & sent some to a photographer in Virginia...(if not, see backdated blogs, try, October). Well, I thought I hadn't gotten any of his in return, I looked thoroughly through my box of calendars, and they all looked like mine.

I sold most of them through, and amongst the sales were 6 to my sister-in-law in Ontario, so before I left Vancouver I very carefully packed up her order to send with her sister when she went back east to visit. And lo & behold, when Suz unpacked the magic bag 3 calendars of Virginia appeared. And I haven't even seen any of them yet!!! Guess this means more work for Santa's elf, aka my husband, who I'll call tomorrow to get to mail replacements asap to Ontario. What DID I do to get those fairies playing their mischief on me again?

Meanwhile, back in Oz...I'm having a great old time settling into the Down Under life. I keep forgetting it's nearly Christmas when I'm golfing, walking the beach, bbq-ing outside, late sunsets, seems like mid-summer. Then you see someone in a Santa hat & go "????" Oh yes, it's almost that time! What do I need to do to get ready? Not much when you're on the road, except join in on the parties!

I've spent most of the last week down at a town called Lakes Entrance where a friend has a big house close to the golf course & the beach--absolutely fantastic, relaxing, watching all the birds from his back deck. On the first day there I counted 20 different types of birds while walking the golf course--from Crimson Rosellas, rainbow lorikeets, pelicans, white herons, yellow-tailed black cockatoos, wattle birds, black swans, some kind of oyster-catchers, yellow-crested cockatoos, to Willy Wagtails, galahs, magpies, whip-birds (they make a sound like a stock whip snapping), mynahs...the variety is incredible. And that's without all the different little ones, little thrushes, wrens or whatever the tiny birds are, that flit around the bushes so quickly you can hardly catch them. They all move pretty fast so are hard to capture with paints. I have a bit more luck with sketches...but they keep moving!!! And most of them are even hard to capture with a camera, because they do keep their distance, and seem to be aware of you watching them, at which point they fly off.

It was great to just relax and recharge my batteries after so much travelling, and get lots of sleep in a more rural setting. Watching the stars of the Southern Hemisphere at night is spectacular, and there was a big full moon shining most of the nights we were there. No curtains at Surge's so it shone in my window almost all night the first few sleeps. Now it's not rising until the middle of the night so it doesn't seduce me away from my sleep so much.

Well, that's all to report for now, back to civilization & time to get more photos uploaded, pick up my art supplies tomorrow, and catch up with my uncle & aunt and more cousins that I haven't seen yet this trip.

Catch you later! Please tell the fairies to stop!

Are you following me?

That is, if you know where I am...or if I know where I am! Since November 11 when I left Canada I've never been more than 3 nights in the same place. This morning I woke up in the peaceful bedroom where I'll spend most of the next few weeks so it's very nice to unpack & settle a bit. Thanks to my wonderful cousins in Melbourne who have a fantastic home with room for me to stay, and the generosity to open their house to me as they do annually. I hope I never wear out my welcome here!

It's been great to talk to some of the Melbourne cousins, there's a new little addition to the family who I haven't met yet, an all seems to be well down here. Australia has been strangely untouched by the GFC (as they call the "global financial crisis"here--an Aussie tradition to shorten words and phrases!) Everyone is well, happy, working away in the world, and the kids are almost all grown up. Lovely to see them all.

It was also good to see the box of things I left here in April including my pallet and some paints & some paper & big brushes. I started sketching too, on the sketchpad I left here, and will get my paints out tomorrow, I think. Lots of things to be inspired by here, and wip (work in progress) too.

So, while I must go now, I have access to a bigger computer & a bit more time to play with my photos so stay tuned & I'll show you my travel stuff!!

Ciao until later

From the Sunshine Coast

My first few days in Australia have been excellent, and I'm settling into my adopted country very well so far. Yesterday I had my first go at driving on the opposite side of the road (for this time) & didn't go wrong anywhere! It was a manual/standard transmission to boot, just like my little car that's waiting for me in Melbourne on Thursday, so that was a good start to my "walkabout" for 4 months, which is actually more like a "driveabout"!
I haven't been on the internet much due to travels so the photo upload will have to wait again. My camera is getting more painting material on it each day, and I still want to tackle the photos from California!
So busy catching up that it's hard to find time to draw or paint however I did sell a few cards & another calendar yesterday, and get some kudu horns drawn for a friend who is a kudu fanatic and wants a design for his cabinet. People in this area are very creative and artistic, it's a bit of a retreat that way, and I find it a very supportive and inspiring environment. Not that I don't have inspiring and creative people around me almost everywhere--they just don't have that funky Aussie accent to try to figure out!
Tomorrow I start heading south again, first to cousin Lynda's place in a suburb of Brisbane, then on to the airport for the short (2 1/2 hour) flight to Melbourne on Thursday. After a couple of days there, getting my carand seeing some of the cousins there, I'll be headed off to another beautiful little town called Lakes Entrance which is a 4 hour drive east from Melbourne & we'll be visiting our wonderfully funny friend Surge at his mansion that he built himself (& probably isn't yet finished).
Will keep you posted as I go, right now I must get off the internet at this local cafe. Too much fun to be had to sit inside!!
Oh yes, no fairy sightings yet however have had some wonderful bird spotting including the yellow-tailed black cockatoos, lorikeets and butcher birds. Heard the kookaburras calling this morning at dawn (5 am) but haven't spotted any yet.

Back in the land of Oz!!

So now you know, I am here! (Actually I guess I am usually "here", like, where else could I be--except away in lala land!)
Had a great week in California re-connecting & meeting for the first time with some excellent cousins there--was amazed by the creative talent, both musical & artistic, watching cousin's band 61 Trees playing, with the addition of their father, & my 2nd cousin, Richard Watts, and absolutely loved the whole time! The singing & art was amazing! Threw in some quick trips to Monteray, Carmel, the Lone Pine, Sacramento legislative buildings, trying to find Clint & Arnie with no success. All the spots were superb however, and I was really impressed with the richness of California.
And then, leaving those cousins along with UK cousin Mike who threw the whole week together so beautifully (some photos will be posted when I get my electronic act together along with internet time), it was off to LA then to Brisbane to visit 2nd cousins there & get re-established in Oz. Lynda & mother Dorothy are such excellent hosts, I had a swim, 2 walks by the beach, prawns for lunch, and a wonderful welcome & bed last night. This morning I woke up to the sounds of lorikeets chattering & squawking outside my bedroom window at dawn. So great to be back in my country of choice (for the northern winter!)
I do leave a marvelously charmed life, I must look out for some fairies around to keep the magic going!
More posting later, I promise!
e

3 days & counting

The time is flying by and yet I'm pleasantly relaxed for someone who hasn't started to pack for a 4-month walkabout! That hypnotherapy session last weekend really made a huge difference this week--really it is the only explanation for my internal calmness given all that's going on.

Today I held the first art show of the weekend, the next is tomorrow, and I was delighted to sell 5 original paintings along with lots of seasonal calendars and cards. All that & a great time was had by all. Wes cooked some most delicious appies, and served those along with a preview of his Christmas baking which is unsurpassable, and many bottles of wine were drunk--and almost as many bottles of beer! I think I'm sober as I type this!

Tomorrow is an open house for previous clients & will likely prove to be a bit more sedate--although hopefully some good buyers there too. Then it's time to get on with the packing, painting once more before I go, getting my surplus stock stored safely for the winter, some more paintings into exhibition at my massage therapist's office, along with various & sundry activities that go along with preparing for a long journey. Not to mention getting Christmas presents organized for leaving behind!

Meanwhile I've had some bad news about a couple of friends who may not be here when I return. One in particular is in intensive care with a rapidly advancing form of leukemia and the prognosis doesn't look good. Her family is around and it must be a very difficult time for them all--such great people who I have known for decades. Mel is in a lot of people's prayers this week.

I guess the fabric of life as we know it has many patterns--some of them we weave ourselves and others are woven for us--by who I don't know. Right now my life is absolutely beautiful and it's hard to imagine it could get any better, or that it might not stay this way forever. Then there are those things that remind us to enjoy the day as it comes, as there are no guarantees, except that it will end (again as we know it) at some point. I guess in some ways if you have been given a prognosis (as my father was, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer spread to the brain, of 4 months remaining) you have an opportunity that others don't get.

Anyway, enough with the bad news, and enough for the evening. I'll sign off from Vancouver & probably won't blog on until I'm upside down on the other side of the world, back to summertime! Until then have fun!
e