We’ve been to Coalseam Conservation Park a handful of times before, but we read that the flowers were ready to burst open up there and after about 5 rainy days straight in Perth, it was very enticing to go 4 hours north just to escape the wet and windy conditions...
John introduced me to Western Australia’s orchids over 20 years ago with the Pink Fairy Orchid. (Which still remains a favorite, and now we own one!) What he didn’t count on after we were married, that in his life partner he had created an orchid hunting monster. And why not?...
My back, hip, and knee were all out of whack, and I was in bad need of a Chiropractor, but decided to go to John Forrest carrying all my camera gear on my back and enjoy the beautiful day we had here in Perth. The things I will do to...
Out of work and there are no jobs…let’s go to King’s Park and get out of the house. Technically it’s winter here, and it’s kinda hard for a Marylander to think of going to the park on a winters day, and to see flower yet? But find flowers we did,...
We have been to Lesmurdie Falls back in the spring of 2013, but since we recently had some rains, seemed like a good idea to revisit the falls. Since this time we are in the beginning of autumn and unlike before, the end of rains season, there wasn’t as much...
John and I have been a lot of places within a 3-4 hour drive from Perth in Western Australia. We were looking for somewhere new and some place where it wasn’t raining. With a long list of promise of seeing some birds, we chose Beacon, Western Australia. So, we didn’t...
John and I had been to Bibra Lake at least two times before, once to see Pink Fairy Orchids, and another time to see Rainbow Bee Eaters. As it was a long holiday weekend and we had already made a long trip into Beacon, three hours away; we thought an...
I was supposed to be with her on this birthday. I guess the Lord had other plans. Because of Covid-19 my flight was cancelled and birthday celebrations were all changed. Thankfully, we have technology and we were able to see Mireaia open her presents and have her birthday ice cream...
Having been to one side of the Golden Valley Tree Park, and then a walk around Balingup, we returned to the Tree Park to have a look at the Australian Tree side. It was getting late, and I was tired and hungry, so we only saw a small portion of...
So after some time at the Golden Valley Tree Park, we realized it was way past lunch time and we had brought very little with us to eat. No problem, we thought, Balingup is right down the road.
At this time, we realized we planned very badly for our outing and didn’t have lunch with us. We decided to take a trip into the small neighboring town. That will be the next blog 🙂 Oh, and if you’re really curious as to which trees they had represented in...
Back in the USA where spring is blooming, here in Western Australia it’s technically what they call autumn, but it doesn’t seem like autumn to an American. Then I saw a post in a Facebook post from Americans in Perth regarding this Orchard, and that it looked very American like...
After a sweet, lovely, calm time at Herron Point, we headed back north to make our way home, but as always, looking for a spot to see a sunset. We decided to take a dirt track to Austin Bay.
Because of Covid-19 restrictions, here in Western Australia we had regional boundaries we could not cross. So we looked to see here we could go for an outing and decided on Herron Point, south of Mandurrah. It was a lovely spot to spend some time situated along the white sandy...
There is a movement in communities worldwide during this time of Coronavirus. We are all looking for ways to stay socially distant and safe. John and I learned of this Bear Hunt on facebook and from his sister, Georgie. This bear hunt, a scavenger hunt of sorts, is allowing children...
After going to the Taughannock Lookout, it was time to hike to the waterfall. I have to admit that when Laura and I came here the first time, this was the place I thought the children would enjoy most and have longed to be here with them. A perfect family...
After our long day at Letchworth State Park the day before, Taughannock State Park in the Fingers Lake Region, seemed like a fun rest day for our family. We started as we had the two summers before, looking from the lookout down to the falls. There was more water in...
After Upper and Middle Falls, and then the lookout, we made our way to Lower Falls. To be honest, at this point, I had had it with hiking and declined to take the steps down to Lower Falls. When Rubi returned from even more hiking, she wasn’t too tired to...
In between waterfalls we stopped at a look-out. The first inhabitants are known by the Native people as the “Old Ones”. The first Old Ones followed the great Mastodons (such as the Pike Mastodon found in the Park’s Museum) and other animals to the Valley when it still resembled an...
While we drove to Letchworth State Park and were admiring the upper falls, part of our family were attempting a 14 mile run, which they managed to run 7 miles straight, for a total of 15 miles hiking and running combined.
After a longish drive, we arrived at Letchworth! But everyone was excited to move on. Cross bridges and climb walls!
We were staying in Spencer, but for our first outing, it was to be the hardest (for some) day of our vacation, we had to drive a little out of the way to get to Letchworth State Park. But since it was a day with a 14 mile run planned,...
The planning stages for the whole family to go to Upper New York State began, I think, when we came back from our last trip to the Finger Lakes area. That pretty much sums up how much we love the natural beauty in that part of the state. It’s about...
When you need a place to stay for 10 people, what could be better than a farmhouse close to gorges, waterfalls, and cute towns? Enric and Laura found a charming and cozy 1860’s farmhouse in Spencer, New York, which we quickly found out on our arrival, the photos on the...
Mom always had a lot of books, everywhere. They were kept downstairs, in the living room, in her room, and even the extra guest room we had in the house. She also brought home two armloads of books from the library every three weeks. I remember as a little girl...
I’ve been coming and living part time in WA for 7 years now. Perhaps I don’t get surprised much anymore, but often there are things that happen or you see something that makes you just pause. If you think that Aussies have a sense of humor, they most certainly do....
Years ago, I used to practice with watercolor painting, and then the camera and photography took over my artistic life. Lately, I have found a way to do both and indeed, I notice that lately I take photos to use for ideas in my watercolor paintings. However, my ideas don’t...
Of all the times we had gone to Sculptures by the Sea in Cottesloe Beach, we had never gone in the morning. So even though we had been once in the afternoon to evening, we went again.
I realized on the plane over, that Sculptures by the Sea, an event we’ve been going to for the last few years had already started. I sure hoped I would lose the jet lag soon enough to be able to see it. It’s fun to go each year and there...
We go to Perth Zoo with some regularity when I am in town. Since it was John’s birthday, seemed like the perfect first outing since my arrival. Tricia is 60 years old has been a much loved since her arrival from Vietnam via Singapore in 1963 as a young six...
This blog already has an about me page, but after receiving my DNA results (a birthday present), I felt compelled to write another one, a part two if you will. I had a few surprises, and some, thanks to my research into Dad and Mom’s Ancestry, I was not so...
After seeing the Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs, we went to see the River Gorges. (To see the photo larger, click on it). Western Australia never ceases to take my breath away at its beauty.
On what seemed to be the most windiest day of the year, we were at Kalbarri Coastal Cliffs. To have an idea how bad the wind was, here is a video, using my phone camera, with the case’s wrist strap tied tightly around my wrist: As much as the...
After great rest in our hotel in Geraldton, feeling far from home, we were about to go two hours even more north, headed to Kalbarri National Park. As excited as I was to see the National Park, our trips are often as much about the journey as getting there, so...
To Geraldton! When John decided to take a few days off and take me to Geraldton, I was very excited. This was going to be a new place in Western Australia I had never been before. Not to mention, it was the most farther north I had been in Western...
Nothings says get out of bed early like the prospect of a day of waterfalls. That is how Laura and I started, but before we hit the waterfalls of Watkins Glen State Park, we decided to visit its town and search for coffee. We later learned that this town of...
So after hours of travel, we were finally at our first destination, Taughannock Falls State Park. We parked at the visitor center and to my surprise, greeted with the Maryland state flower right here in New York! Taughannock Falls State Park’s namesake waterfall is one of the outstanding natural attractions...
Well Laura did the driving and I did the taking photos. (Or as John calls it, “Drive by Shooting.”) Laura asked me if I wanted to go with her one weekend to New York to see some waterfalls. I said YES! I didn’t have to think about it much, I...
At this point of John’s vacation, we were resolved that rain was going to be part of it, particularly today. We decided we would hunt for orchids in the rain. Oh the places he takes me… His face just seems to say, “Here I am eating my breakfast very sensible...
