Migratory Byrds
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
American Thanksgiving
On Thursday, November 25th - the day after we arrived back from Australia - we set off to Mt Vernon in Washington state, USA, to celebrate Thanksgiving at Donna and Terry's home. (If it seems like we celebrate Thanksgiving a lot, you're right; this is our fourth one in less than 2 years!!)
Here's the view from Donna and Terry's lovely log home on Thursday - check out last year's blog entry to see the contrast!
It had nearly all melted by the next day though.
This year Terry had something a little different to carve... not a turkey, but a turducen! In other words: a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a hen!!!
Pre-dinner activities...
Tables set (complete with Fantales, freshly flown in from Australia!)...
Absolutely scrumptious food...
And the eating of it!
Afternoon walk before dessert...
Dessert...
Justin leading a singalong...
On Thursday night, Ben drove home as he had to go back to work on Friday. After work, he crossed the border again in time for us to go late night Black Friday shopping with Justin, Kelly and Janae. Some of us had been shopping earlier in the day too. The Black Friday daytime crowds weren't as bad as I'd been picturing, and between the two trips we got a few bargains!
Here's a photo of Terry unwrapping the obsidian and carved antler knife his kids got him for an early Christmas present (he had talked a lot about it after seeing it in a shop the previous day, and it had been the source of much amusement the previous night as we came up with ideas for subtly getting him to reveal which of the shop's two display knives he liked best!)...
Just chillin'...
We stayed until Sunday afternoon - and, as always, had a wonderfully fun and relaxing time. Great food, great festivities, great friends! Thanks again, Donna and Terry!
Here's the view from Donna and Terry's lovely log home on Thursday - check out last year's blog entry to see the contrast!
It had nearly all melted by the next day though.
This year Terry had something a little different to carve... not a turkey, but a turducen! In other words: a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a hen!!!
It was quite the event, as you can see!
Pre-dinner activities...
Etta getting some attention from Kelly and Janae (her parents) and Jim
Smiles from dad and daughter
Lighting the candles
Dan, Ben and Justin playing Ticket to Ride (Ben's early Christmas present)
Tables set (complete with Fantales, freshly flown in from Australia!)...
Absolutely scrumptious food...
Ben, Troy, Braden, Lisa, Gretchen, Donna
And the eating of it!
Troy, Terry, Donna, Lisa, Jim, Suzanne, Janae, Kelly, Dan, Gretchen, Justin, me
Afternoon walk before dessert...
Dessert...
Justin leading a singalong...
On Thursday night, Ben drove home as he had to go back to work on Friday. After work, he crossed the border again in time for us to go late night Black Friday shopping with Justin, Kelly and Janae. Some of us had been shopping earlier in the day too. The Black Friday daytime crowds weren't as bad as I'd been picturing, and between the two trips we got a few bargains!
Here's a photo of Terry unwrapping the obsidian and carved antler knife his kids got him for an early Christmas present (he had talked a lot about it after seeing it in a shop the previous day, and it had been the source of much amusement the previous night as we came up with ideas for subtly getting him to reveal which of the shop's two display knives he liked best!)...
Just chillin'...
We stayed until Sunday afternoon - and, as always, had a wonderfully fun and relaxing time. Great food, great festivities, great friends! Thanks again, Donna and Terry!
A winter wonderland...
After we flew back from Brisbane - via Los Angeles - we landed at Vancouver International Airport around 5:45pm on Wednesday, November 24th, caught a taxi home, and managed to make it to our 8pm meeting!
We could see that there was snow on the ground, but as it was already dark (sunset is currently around 4:15pm), we couldn't appreciate it properly until the next day. Here are some photos of the pretty scene on Thursday morning, while we were getting ready to head for the border to spend US Thanksgiving at Donna and Terry's.
The view from our door (this is the backyard of the house we live in the basement of)...
The back of the house (you can see the doorway from where I took the previous photo)...
People walking their dogs in the lane behind the house...
Ben dusting off our car in the street out front...
The front of the house (the lower left window is our loungeroom)...
And us...
So that was a pretty good way for us to quickly realise we were no longer in Queensland!!
The snow all melted after a day or two, and since then it hasn't snowed again. The temperature so far in December has stayed above zero but is keeping in the single digits. Hopefully we'll get some more snow further into winter though... a white Christmas would be nice!
We could see that there was snow on the ground, but as it was already dark (sunset is currently around 4:15pm), we couldn't appreciate it properly until the next day. Here are some photos of the pretty scene on Thursday morning, while we were getting ready to head for the border to spend US Thanksgiving at Donna and Terry's.
The view from our door (this is the backyard of the house we live in the basement of)...
The back of the house (you can see the doorway from where I took the previous photo)...
People walking their dogs in the lane behind the house...
Ben dusting off our car in the street out front...
The front of the house (the lower left window is our loungeroom)...
And us...
So that was a pretty good way for us to quickly realise we were no longer in Queensland!!
The snow all melted after a day or two, and since then it hasn't snowed again. The temperature so far in December has stayed above zero but is keeping in the single digits. Hopefully we'll get some more snow further into winter though... a white Christmas would be nice!
Australia trip, Post 4: Brisbane days
The last 5 days of our trip were spent in/near Brisbane.
On Friday morning, we left Tim and Chany's place and drove to Ben's parents' home near Ipswich. For lunch, I enjoyed some more Red Rooster, and Ben tucked in to a long-craved Aussie meat pie. We also spent about $70 on Aussie food to take back to Canada with us!
On Friday night, I had a girls' night at Delle's with a bunch of my closest friends. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip! Here we are enjoying a delicious dinner out, before returning to Delle's and chatting until about 4:30am on Saturday morning...
At the same time, Ben was having a boys' night at Glen and Jo's place. The participants were Ben, Tim, Lachy, Glen and little Dexter. Here's Glen preparing a roast that Ben said was amazing, plus the boys playing PowerGrid...
On Saturday evening, we hosted a BBQ at Jim and Jenny's (Ben's parents') place so that we could catch up with a bunch more friends. Unfortunately we were so busy doing that that we didn't take a single photo!! So just for the record, here's a list of who was there:
Jim and Jenny, Fraser and Merity and baby Leo, Roxy, Delle, Lachy, Graham and Katrina and Alex, Tim and Chany, Donna and Mathias, Cat and Lachy and baby Tommy, Glen and Jo and little Dexter, Russ and Kate, Bill and Steph and little Laura and baby Lachlan, John and Rach and little Jack and baby Blake, Andrew and Anita and baby Oliver, Michael and Jackie and littlies Amelia and Justin, Bevan and Glenda, and Robert and Cheryl.
It was wonderful to see everyone again, and meet all the new babies (did you notice that they are all boys?!). It was a great night!
Here's a photo Glenda took of Ben and I at the BBQ...
Sunday was a nice relaxing day with Ben's family. Delle had stayed over on Saturday night, and Liam and Danni and baby Izac joined us for lunch too.
Family photo shoot after the meeting...
Sunday lunch...
This trip was the first time we had met our little nephew, Leo, who was then 6.5 months old. Spending time with Leo was another highlight of the trip for us - we are rather smitten with him!!
On Monday, Merity started back at work, so Jenny and I took Leo to his swimming lesson. I got to be in the pool with him, blowing bubbles, pouring water on his head, and singing little rhymes. It was nerve-wracking at first to have to dunk him fully underwater, but he was quite unfazed by it all. He just held his lips in a little pout the whole time to keep the water out!
That night we went to Monday night walking in downtown Brisbane. This is a long-standing Brissie tradition and was a chance to catch up with a few more friends, including cousin Susie! Afterwards, we enjoyed some yummy ice cream - or, in my case, a REAL iced coffee (first one in 2 years!)...
That night I stayed at Roxy's flat, which she shares with Dotti and Jodi. It was great to catch up with Dotti again (she is in some of our England blog entries), and meet Jodi. As this was my last night of being able to talk to Roxy in person, sleep was not much of a priority, and we didn't get around to getting any until about 4:30am!
The next morning, Tuesday - our last full day in Australia - Ben and Jim picked me up from Roxy's flat and we went to Rochdale preps. It was wonderful to catch up with my Uncle Mal there, and quite a few others too. Ben got to do some pruning way up in the trees, and I helped out in the kitchen.
That night, we and Jim and Jenny all had dinner at Fraser and Merity's house - last chance for a while to have cuddles and laughs with Leo!
The next morning, Wednesday 24th, we headed to the airport for our noon flight to LA, and I enjoyed my third and final Red Rooster meal at the gate. Then we were in the air and on our way back to our other home... where snow and Thanksgiving turkey were awaiting us.
All in all, we had a simply superb time in Australia - a big thank you to everyone who helped make it that way!
On Friday morning, we left Tim and Chany's place and drove to Ben's parents' home near Ipswich. For lunch, I enjoyed some more Red Rooster, and Ben tucked in to a long-craved Aussie meat pie. We also spent about $70 on Aussie food to take back to Canada with us!
On Friday night, I had a girls' night at Delle's with a bunch of my closest friends. This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip! Here we are enjoying a delicious dinner out, before returning to Delle's and chatting until about 4:30am on Saturday morning...
Roxy, me, Chany, Delle, Amanda, Jo
At the same time, Ben was having a boys' night at Glen and Jo's place. The participants were Ben, Tim, Lachy, Glen and little Dexter. Here's Glen preparing a roast that Ben said was amazing, plus the boys playing PowerGrid...
On Saturday evening, we hosted a BBQ at Jim and Jenny's (Ben's parents') place so that we could catch up with a bunch more friends. Unfortunately we were so busy doing that that we didn't take a single photo!! So just for the record, here's a list of who was there:
Jim and Jenny, Fraser and Merity and baby Leo, Roxy, Delle, Lachy, Graham and Katrina and Alex, Tim and Chany, Donna and Mathias, Cat and Lachy and baby Tommy, Glen and Jo and little Dexter, Russ and Kate, Bill and Steph and little Laura and baby Lachlan, John and Rach and little Jack and baby Blake, Andrew and Anita and baby Oliver, Michael and Jackie and littlies Amelia and Justin, Bevan and Glenda, and Robert and Cheryl.
It was wonderful to see everyone again, and meet all the new babies (did you notice that they are all boys?!). It was a great night!
Here's a photo Glenda took of Ben and I at the BBQ...
Sunday was a nice relaxing day with Ben's family. Delle had stayed over on Saturday night, and Liam and Danni and baby Izac joined us for lunch too.
Family photo shoot after the meeting...
Jenny and Jim (Ben's parents)
Fraser and Merity (Ben's sister) with baby Leo
The whole family
Delle
Sunday lunch...
This trip was the first time we had met our little nephew, Leo, who was then 6.5 months old. Spending time with Leo was another highlight of the trip for us - we are rather smitten with him!!
Look at those pouts!
On Monday, Merity started back at work, so Jenny and I took Leo to his swimming lesson. I got to be in the pool with him, blowing bubbles, pouring water on his head, and singing little rhymes. It was nerve-wracking at first to have to dunk him fully underwater, but he was quite unfazed by it all. He just held his lips in a little pout the whole time to keep the water out!
That night we went to Monday night walking in downtown Brisbane. This is a long-standing Brissie tradition and was a chance to catch up with a few more friends, including cousin Susie! Afterwards, we enjoyed some yummy ice cream - or, in my case, a REAL iced coffee (first one in 2 years!)...
Dexter, Jo and Glen
Clinton, Dotti and Roxy
That night I stayed at Roxy's flat, which she shares with Dotti and Jodi. It was great to catch up with Dotti again (she is in some of our England blog entries), and meet Jodi. As this was my last night of being able to talk to Roxy in person, sleep was not much of a priority, and we didn't get around to getting any until about 4:30am!
The next morning, Tuesday - our last full day in Australia - Ben and Jim picked me up from Roxy's flat and we went to Rochdale preps. It was wonderful to catch up with my Uncle Mal there, and quite a few others too. Ben got to do some pruning way up in the trees, and I helped out in the kitchen.
Us with Uncle Mal
That night, we and Jim and Jenny all had dinner at Fraser and Merity's house - last chance for a while to have cuddles and laughs with Leo!
The next morning, Wednesday 24th, we headed to the airport for our noon flight to LA, and I enjoyed my third and final Red Rooster meal at the gate. Then we were in the air and on our way back to our other home... where snow and Thanksgiving turkey were awaiting us.
All in all, we had a simply superb time in Australia - a big thank you to everyone who helped make it that way!
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