The Bible was written by fallible men. I believe in the science of evolution. I bet people in your church couldn’t name one native plant of Maryland. John Dolphin, 1999 These were some things John would often say when we first met and he found out I was a Christian....
Cousins are both Family and Friends. They are the best of both worlds.
{Could be subtitled, “Our Vacation and What We Came Home To“} The content of this post and its title are not going to appear to match, that is, unless you read it all of the way to the end. Most of the content will be about a quick trip to...
Line Rider is an internet game, with versions available for Microsoft Silverlight, Javascript, Windows, and Flash. It was originally created in September 2006 by Boštjan ?adež, a Slovenian student. Soon after its initial appearance on DeviantArt, Line Rider became an internet phenomenon. Wikipedia What do you do after a two...
The terms “State forest” and “timber reserve” refer to areas of Crown land set aside for uses including timber production, conservation and recreation. They include Crown land reserved as a State forest or timber reserve and used to grow non-native plantation species. State forests and timber reserves are managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation (“DEC”), and are the only areas where timber harvestingcan occur on DEC managed land. Timber reserves and State forests are managed identically.
How does one spend the end of the day on a three-day weekend, find a rock and climb it of course? First to say, the name Yilliminning is of Aboriginal origin, derived from rock, pool, and river of the same name nearby, and was first recorded in 1892. It originally had one...
With water even. You are saying, all lakes have water, right?Well, not in Western Australia. So on my newsfeed on Facebook, I see a headline about Tooliban Lake, the first time it’s been filled to its highest heights in 20 years, I took notice. And since we are often looking...
After our visit to Depot Hill, we decided to go back to Eneabba to see if the Queen of Sheba orchids were open.
Our next stop was Depot Hill, Cow Slips were the stars of the show.
Sometimes, the most pleasant activities you encounter on a road trip are the ones you didn’t even plan. I really enjoyed that.
Because of record-setting rains in Western Australia, the wildflowers have been predicted to have a promising spring. Even though we are still in winter, it was very much looking like spring our four-hour drive north…
We’ve had over a month of rain and I think we’ve come to the conclusion there are only so many errands, shopping, and gardening between the raindrops one can do before you just have to take off to the country. But where should we go? There was more wind and...
Got a good reasonFor taking the easy way out From lockdowns, restrictions, not being well, rain, and only being able to go to church if we wore a mask, John and I decided to get out of town, and head to the country. Since it wasn’t really planned, and because...
Hyde Park in Perth, that is. (formerly Third Swamp Reserve) In a continuing effort to make autumn look and feel like autumn, I suggested a visit to Hyde Park when John took me near his work to see some fall-looking trees near his work. Hyde Park, I knew was close....
Donnybrook is a town situated between Boyanup and Kirup on the South Western Highway, 210 kilometres (130 mi) south of Perth, Western Australia. The town is the centre of apple production in Western Australia. The town is also known for its picturesque abundance of English Oak trees, as well as...
Normally when we go to see a sunset at the ocean, we just head west from our house to the nearest beach but this particular day, we thought it might be more interesting from Fremantle, and it was a good choice. There weren’t a lot of clouds in the sky,...
As typical in summer here in Western Australia, there are bushfires that sprout up all around us. In fact, one was big and near. When the evening cools, we like to sit on our veranda and watch the sunset. The smoke, however, gives the sky and sunset a different look....
So back home in the USA, if it’s too hot a lot of people will head north to cool off, so here in Australia, it has to be the opposite. One goes south. It’s a little hard to wrap my head around this concept, nevertheless, after weeks of 90 degrees...
At some point in my stay here in Perth, I started to concede that I would not be going home for Laura’s birthday, Thanksgiving, nor for Christmas. I had resigned to open up the internet and shop for my family the best way I could. Gradually, I got used to...
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?...
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 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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
Staying at Siesta Park, makes it easy for the orchid hunter, like us, to access where they grow. So we started our orchid hunting day early. Soon we were off, looking for the spots our book that mentions where orchids can be found. Drakaea is a genus of 10 species...
It used to be Kings Park Wildflower Festival, but now it’s Kings Park Festival. There’s no doubt Kings Park will be where the wildflowers are this September, with the largest presentation of WA’s blooming beauties from all across the state. Kings Park will transform into a rainbow of colour and...
Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important...
Someone in the orchid group indicated he found a Pygmy orchid west of Corrigin. So I rush to our orchid map book and find a more exact location. Then, looking at a bigger map, we see that if you go as far as Corrigin, you might as well keep on...
Sculptures by the Sea, Cottesloe is staged on the beautiful Cottesloe Beach, Western Australia. Loved this sculptures event in the past and was very excited for it this year. The exhibition is featured from the sea wall all the way along the sand towards North Cottesloe and on the surrounding...
On this weekend outing, I asked John if we couldn’t go to Margaret River, the spot where it connects with the Indian Ocean. We had been there in 2010, but had never returned. It seemed a real special place when we went in spring that year, but I was curious...
