We are in Australia

Australia at last!

Our last few weeks in New Mexico were full of good friends, family and warm weather. We appreciate it all so much. 

Aaron's platypus pinata. The May-Gutierrez family and the Bixby-Zeek family hosted a marvelous farewell party (and a little bit of a birthday party). Thank you! We also had a massive party with all the fish folks, but were too busy to take any photos - if you have good photos, please share them with us!

A walk in sunny Taos. We spent the last week soaking up the sun, enjoying some family time and recovering from the previous hectic weeks.

...And then we flew off to Australia! The flight went really well: the girls are amazing travelers and adventurers.

After arrival in Australia, we threw the luggage in the car (including these two suitcases on the backseat).

It has taken us a while to adjust to the cool weather. Paloma found the best place to warm up was directly in front of the wood fire. This is our main source of heat for the house.

Imogen is getting to know The Boyz in the neighbourhood. We have four rams (who receive a special breakfast every morning).

The Girlz also get a special breakfast every morning (all 400 of them + lambs).

We went to Melbourne to buy a new car. The bow might indicate that it was a gift, but - sadly - it was not.

Every morning, we walk down to the ol' mailbox to catch the bus to school. We are now fortunate to be able to pick them up from the bus straight after school - we head home for some hot chocolate and shenanigans before dinner.

We have been scoping out long-term monitoring sites. This is a potential candidate, just upstream from the bridge.

Imogen discovered a scooter in The Annex (more details soon!). She's been scooting around and around and around in the garage because that's the only paved space for a couple of miles. 

Morning time is beautiful, if you're able to get up early enough and bear the cold on a frosty morning like this.

We adopted a lamb. Her name is Lucky Lammikins because she's luckier than her twin and her mama. Enough said.

Howard got to re-live a little of his youth by setting fire to things. Enough said.

This is looking up into the arms of an old River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). The roots have created a similar labyrinth on the river bank below. Great habitat for water rats!

The carcass of a River Red Gum in the Hopkins River. They are mighty big trees!

Freedom! Juke, Ayesha, Imogen and Paloma catch some wind beneath their wings.

The canola is blooming and the countryside is bright yellow!

Imogen.

Paloma.

Thanks for listening; stay tuned for more!

Australia #3

Wildlife viewing

While we were in Australia, we tried to find an echidna. Unfortunately, we had no luck with that (I did find a couple of porcupines in a tree last week though). But we did spot some other animals.

Of course, Howard went looking for fish. He checked minnow traps in the Hopkins River every single day.

The girls were roped in to hunting for fish.

And we found gudgeon!

Lots of gudgeon!

Lots and lots of gudgeon!

Big gudgeon...

And little gudgeon too. 

 

On the last day, he pickled one. 

In the meantime, I was distracted by smaller creatures....

We tried to find a few quintessential Aussie animals too.

We found a koala in the Framlingham forest! I think there's a joey there. When Imogen and I spotted it, we called out to Paloma and Howard to hurry hurry run run run come and see the koala! I don't know what the rush was... it's obviously not going anywhere any time soon...

On our way up to the Grampians, some emus wandered by...

And then there were a couple of lizardy visitors. 

Oh, and did we mention that we caught a freshwater eel in the Hopkins? Yep, you read that right - an EEL!!!! I don't know if I've ever seen one there before (although Grandpa reports seeing them migrating in herds). 

Paloma was rather smitten...

She even gave the eel a quick little hug. 

As you can imagine, Howard was rather pleased too. 

Paloma didn't like the idea of eating it. 

So our eel friend went back to nature...

Australia #2

THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE....

AT RIVER BEND!

After a few days enjoying the big lights of the city (Geelong), we headed home to the farm. And that's where we stayed for the rest of your vacation. 

Grandpa quickly put Howard to work. 

We found a few moments for relaxing on the beach.

The view from the back door. 

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset dinner from the Back 80 with the lovely Mr Spitty Elyjah. 

Howard spent a lot of time training the girls to search for gudgeon. 

The girls enjoyed being in the river together. 

When the river was slippery and bumpy, they helped one another out. 

In between searching for gudgeon, there was time to gather some "pond scum". 

You can never have too much algae. 

Imogen was delighted to be out in nature every day. 

Grandma and Grandpa were delighted to explore nooks of the farm with us. 

That's me and my dad. 

The view from the top! This is River Bend. 

We tried to get a family photo, but Imogen was more interested in stomping down the hill by herself. 

The uncles take the kids for a ride. 

Grandpa always shears a sheep for us. Paloma took a close look at the action with this photo. 

Imogen explored the shearing shed with Juke.

Paloma and Imogen wait for Grandpa to finish shearing the ram.