Bethany Francis was 33 years old. She was a Twilight fan (read all the books, traveled to all the film openings), and was happily married to a wonderful young man named Dan. Beth and Dan were expecting their first child in about two months. Their little one was going to be a girl, and they would name her Natalie Danielle. Isn’t that a lovely name? Beth and Dan were grade school teachers. Beth taught first grade. Senor Francis, as his students called him, taught Spanish.
December 1st, 2011 was parent-teacher conference day. Beth was talking with a parent of one of her students when she suddenly felt lightheaded, collapsed, and stopped breathing. The 911 call was made. An emergency vehicle soon arrived.
Beth had a cyst, fed by large blood vessels, that was positioned in an area that hid it from ultrasound scans. The cyst ruptured causing massive internal bleeding. All attempts at resuscitation failed. The loss of blood to her brain deprived it of oxygen, so that by the time she reached the hospital, there was no trace of brain activity.
The emergency room crew performed a C-section in an attempt to save the baby. However, the baby had been without oxygen for too long as well. Her little organs began to fail, one at a time. Within a few hours baby Natalie Danielle joined her mother in heaven.
Sad, isn’t it. We’ve gotten past the hard part now. What I’d really like you to know about Beth is how she lived…
http://rememberingbethany.com/
Testing Adobe Contribute with Blogger
I've had this version of Contribute for almost a year and, just now, have gotten around to testing it. :-)
Aloha! (We're baaaaack...)
Linda:
We are back in Hawaii for two months. David is studying at the Institute for Astronomy in Manoa, Oahu. Manoa is in a valley about three miles east from downtown Honolulu. It sits at the base of the Ko'olau mountain Range, where a gentle mist from the clouds that float down the mountains keeps the grass green all year.
The little cottage we are living in is within walking distance of the University campus, and a great neighborhood shopping center where David and I meet every day for lunch. The walk to and from the Manoa Marketplace Shopping Center is a little over a mile. I've joined the Curves Gym and work out three days a week.
The Ala Moana Mall we were so enthralled by last year is a 15-minute bus ride from the cottage. We've been spending Saturday mornings at the mall, haunting the Apple store, watching the Hawaiian statehood celebratory performances, and then enjoying a easygoing lunch before heading back home.
We had a lovely experience at the Ala Moana Bubba Gump yesterday. David ordered the Coconut Shrimp. I had the New Orleans style shrimp. Both were excellent. Even better was the view of the ocean and yacht basin from the restaurant terrace.
Today is warm, so we are vegging out in front of the TV, watching Men in Black II.
David:
We've been going for a drive around Oahu each weekend. It's quite a small place and the freeways get from A to B quite quickly. The east side of the island is much prettier than the others. It's solidly settled around the coast, very different than Maui. More later, including photos.
We are back in Hawaii for two months. David is studying at the Institute for Astronomy in Manoa, Oahu. Manoa is in a valley about three miles east from downtown Honolulu. It sits at the base of the Ko'olau mountain Range, where a gentle mist from the clouds that float down the mountains keeps the grass green all year.
The little cottage we are living in is within walking distance of the University campus, and a great neighborhood shopping center where David and I meet every day for lunch. The walk to and from the Manoa Marketplace Shopping Center is a little over a mile. I've joined the Curves Gym and work out three days a week.
The Ala Moana Mall we were so enthralled by last year is a 15-minute bus ride from the cottage. We've been spending Saturday mornings at the mall, haunting the Apple store, watching the Hawaiian statehood celebratory performances, and then enjoying a easygoing lunch before heading back home.
We had a lovely experience at the Ala Moana Bubba Gump yesterday. David ordered the Coconut Shrimp. I had the New Orleans style shrimp. Both were excellent. Even better was the view of the ocean and yacht basin from the restaurant terrace.
Today is warm, so we are vegging out in front of the TV, watching Men in Black II.
David:
We've been going for a drive around Oahu each weekend. It's quite a small place and the freeways get from A to B quite quickly. The east side of the island is much prettier than the others. It's solidly settled around the coast, very different than Maui. More later, including photos.
Weekend in Merimbula
< Alex on the beach
We (David, his brother Christopher, sister-in-law Sharon, their son Alex, and I) spent the weekend at David's house in Merimbula. Merimbula is on the 'Sapphire Coast' of New South Wales, and has a salt water lake is famous for its oyster beds. You can see them in one of the photos in the new gallery.
That's Alex in the photo on the left, drawing the first bar of Haydn's cello concerto in the sand of the beach (a first ever?), where we decided to work off our Saturday feast of fish & chips made with flathead caught by local fishermen. The beach sand is clean, creamy white in color when dry, and squeaks when you walk on it. There is a shore break good for swimming and easy body surfing, and a sandbar break good for board surfing. We watched a kite surfer taking advantage of the strong, cross-shore wind.
The boardwalk that meanders along the lake into town helped us work off another fish dinner.
The house has a balcony wrapped halfway around it offering stunning views of the garden, Merimbula Lake, and the Pacific Ocean.
Heaven.
< Alex on the beachWe (David, his brother Christopher, sister-in-law Sharon, their son Alex, and I) spent the weekend at David's house in Merimbula. Merimbula is on the 'Sapphire Coast' of New South Wales, and has a salt water lake is famous for its oyster beds. You can see them in one of the photos in the new gallery.
That's Alex in the photo on the left, drawing the first bar of Haydn's cello concerto in the sand of the beach (a first ever?), where we decided to work off our Saturday feast of fish & chips made with flathead caught by local fishermen. The beach sand is clean, creamy white in color when dry, and squeaks when you walk on it. There is a shore break good for swimming and easy body surfing, and a sandbar break good for board surfing. We watched a kite surfer taking advantage of the strong, cross-shore wind.
The boardwalk that meanders along the lake into town helped us work off another fish dinner.
The house has a balcony wrapped halfway around it offering stunning views of the garden, Merimbula Lake, and the Pacific Ocean.
Heaven.
A Room with a View
< The view from my office
D: Well, I've started on the next adventure - the doctorate at Mount Stromlo (RSAA). So far, all I've been doing is the usual bureaucratic stuff like forms, keys, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc. And an office. With quite a remarkable view. I shall have to resist the temptation to gaze out at the mountains all day!
< The view from my officeD: Well, I've started on the next adventure - the doctorate at Mount Stromlo (RSAA). So far, all I've been doing is the usual bureaucratic stuff like forms, keys, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc. And an office. With quite a remarkable view. I shall have to resist the temptation to gaze out at the mountains all day!
Royal Melbourne Scones - Makes 16
< Royal Melbourne Scones
I baked some scones to go with tea this morning. They turned out well, so I'm posting the recipe here. (See photo of some we haven't eaten yet).
Plain flour for dusting
3 cups unbleached, self rising flour
3 ounces (80g) cold butter, cut into cubes
1/8 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups whole milk
pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 390F (200C).
Lightly dust a cookie sheet with plain flour. Sift self-rising flour, salt, and sugar into a large bowl. Add butter cubes and cut in with pastry blender (or two knives) until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the milk. Stir with a flat-bladed knife until mixture forms a soft dough. Turn out onto lightly floured work surface and knead gently until smooth. (Don't knead too much or the scones will be tough.)
Pat dough into a 3/4 inch thick circle. Using a 2 inch diameter round cutter, cut dough into 12 rounds. Place rounds onto flour dusted cookie sheet. Press remaining dough together and cut out four more rounds. Place on cookie sheet with others.
Sprinkle tops with a little plain flour, or for a sweeter variety, brush tops with milk and sprinkle with a bit of sugar.
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until golden and well risen. Transfer to wire rack.
Serve warm with Jam and clotted cream (or butter).
Note: for a special treat, add a third cup of currants or chopped dates to the recipe.
Finally, for the pedants: in the US they're pronounced to rhyme with "hones", whereas in Oz the word rhymes with "Fonz".
< Royal Melbourne SconesI baked some scones to go with tea this morning. They turned out well, so I'm posting the recipe here. (See photo of some we haven't eaten yet).
Plain flour for dusting
3 cups unbleached, self rising flour
3 ounces (80g) cold butter, cut into cubes
1/8 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups whole milk
pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 390F (200C).
Lightly dust a cookie sheet with plain flour. Sift self-rising flour, salt, and sugar into a large bowl. Add butter cubes and cut in with pastry blender (or two knives) until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the milk. Stir with a flat-bladed knife until mixture forms a soft dough. Turn out onto lightly floured work surface and knead gently until smooth. (Don't knead too much or the scones will be tough.)
Pat dough into a 3/4 inch thick circle. Using a 2 inch diameter round cutter, cut dough into 12 rounds. Place rounds onto flour dusted cookie sheet. Press remaining dough together and cut out four more rounds. Place on cookie sheet with others.
Sprinkle tops with a little plain flour, or for a sweeter variety, brush tops with milk and sprinkle with a bit of sugar.
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, or until golden and well risen. Transfer to wire rack.
Serve warm with Jam and clotted cream (or butter).
Note: for a special treat, add a third cup of currants or chopped dates to the recipe.
Finally, for the pedants: in the US they're pronounced to rhyme with "hones", whereas in Oz the word rhymes with "Fonz".
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Orchids, Christmas presents, PhD's, and it's official!
A trip to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
< Pelican and Australian Ibis at Tidbinbilla
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a 40 minute drive from the center of Canberra city center. It covers an area of about 55 square km and consists of a large valley floor, the Tidbinbilla Mountain and the Gibraltar range. The scenic drive through the reserve includes a lookout with panoramic views of the Tidbinbilla Valley. A hike along a Bush trail led to a small lake where David took the picture of the Pelican and Australian Ibis on the left. We also had a close encounter with a Red-bellied Black Snake (Linda was not happy), and saw two platypuses swimming (Linda was happy).
Black Mountain Reserve and orchids
< Sun Orchid on Black Mountain
The Black Mountain Reserve is nearly impossible to get into, now that the ACT Government has built the world's stupidest road interchange around it (it almost rivals Auckland's bridge for user-unfriendliness). However, we spent a couple of hours there on 25 October, a nice sunny spring day. The first thing we noticed was a group of orchid enthusiasts crouching over some small ground orchids, photographing them. So David photographed a couple too – see illustration at left of (probably) a Spotted Sun Orchid (Thelymitra species). Over 57 species of ground Orchids grow in the reserve. It's an orchid-spotter's heaven.
Christmas Goodies
Christmas baskets full of Australian goodies like TimTams, Venetians, Violet Crumble bars, Beerenberg blackberry jam, Christmas crackers, and tiny plush koalas are winging their way toward South Carolina. Christmas crackers are a party favor rather than a nosh. They look like a cylinder of wrapping paper tied at both ends. One person grabs one end. A second person grabs the other end. At the count of three, both pull hard. The cylinder breaks emitting a loud cracking noise. The person who ends up with the longer end has to wear the silly hat contained therein to the dinner table. A physicist has come up with a formula for the perfect way to pull a Christmas cracker.
http://www.physorg.com/news9192.html
David's doing a PhD
David has been just been accepted (today) into the PhD program at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at ANU/Mt. Stromlo. Wahooo!!!!
The Cosmic Smiley
< The Cosmic Smiley
On the 1st of December David also managed to snap a photo of the "cosmic smiley" - a rare conjunction of the crescent Moon, Venus and Jupiter (left).
A bigger image is available here.
And guess what...
Yeeeehaaaawwwww!!!!!, David proposed to me at dinner on November 13, and I accepted.
A trip to the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
< Pelican and Australian Ibis at TidbinbillaTidbinbilla Nature Reserve is a 40 minute drive from the center of Canberra city center. It covers an area of about 55 square km and consists of a large valley floor, the Tidbinbilla Mountain and the Gibraltar range. The scenic drive through the reserve includes a lookout with panoramic views of the Tidbinbilla Valley. A hike along a Bush trail led to a small lake where David took the picture of the Pelican and Australian Ibis on the left. We also had a close encounter with a Red-bellied Black Snake (Linda was not happy), and saw two platypuses swimming (Linda was happy).
Black Mountain Reserve and orchids
< Sun Orchid on Black MountainThe Black Mountain Reserve is nearly impossible to get into, now that the ACT Government has built the world's stupidest road interchange around it (it almost rivals Auckland's bridge for user-unfriendliness). However, we spent a couple of hours there on 25 October, a nice sunny spring day. The first thing we noticed was a group of orchid enthusiasts crouching over some small ground orchids, photographing them. So David photographed a couple too – see illustration at left of (probably) a Spotted Sun Orchid (Thelymitra species). Over 57 species of ground Orchids grow in the reserve. It's an orchid-spotter's heaven.
Christmas Goodies
Christmas baskets full of Australian goodies like TimTams, Venetians, Violet Crumble bars, Beerenberg blackberry jam, Christmas crackers, and tiny plush koalas are winging their way toward South Carolina. Christmas crackers are a party favor rather than a nosh. They look like a cylinder of wrapping paper tied at both ends. One person grabs one end. A second person grabs the other end. At the count of three, both pull hard. The cylinder breaks emitting a loud cracking noise. The person who ends up with the longer end has to wear the silly hat contained therein to the dinner table. A physicist has come up with a formula for the perfect way to pull a Christmas cracker.
http://www.physorg.com/news9192.html
David's doing a PhD
David has been just been accepted (today) into the PhD program at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at ANU/Mt. Stromlo. Wahooo!!!!
The Cosmic Smiley
< The Cosmic SmileyOn the 1st of December David also managed to snap a photo of the "cosmic smiley" - a rare conjunction of the crescent Moon, Venus and Jupiter (left).
A bigger image is available here.
And guess what...
Yeeeehaaaawwwww!!!!!, David proposed to me at dinner on November 13, and I accepted.
Oakey Hill
We went for a mile and a half walk up Oakey Hill today. Oakey Hill Nature Reserve occupies the ridge between Lyons and Weston Creek in south Canberra. There's a trig point (survey marker) at the top at 684 metres (2244 feet).
On a whim David took a series of hand held panoramic shots while walking around the trig point (a large metal structure). Some hours later, the result is quite a nice panorama. It may take a little while to load. When you see the photo, click on it, hold and drag, to scan the full panorama, or just use the control buttons. You can zoom using your mouse wheel, too, in some browsers.
The views are excellent.
We went for a mile and a half walk up Oakey Hill today. Oakey Hill Nature Reserve occupies the ridge between Lyons and Weston Creek in south Canberra. There's a trig point (survey marker) at the top at 684 metres (2244 feet).
On a whim David took a series of hand held panoramic shots while walking around the trig point (a large metal structure). Some hours later, the result is quite a nice panorama. It may take a little while to load. When you see the photo, click on it, hold and drag, to scan the full panorama, or just use the control buttons. You can zoom using your mouse wheel, too, in some browsers.
The views are excellent.
The National Gallery of Australia and Floriade
< Heads in the water - National Gallery sculpture garden
Last Monday was a rainy day in Canberra. Rather than giving up on exercise altogether, we decided to hike the corridors of the National Gallery. The imposing building was designed in the twentieth century "Brutalist" style, and houses some wonderful collections. But! The gallery is not, to quote an elderly woman following us down the steep exit ramp, very user friendly. Favorite works were the Aboriginal Memorial, paintings by Australian artists Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, and Margaret Preston, and Jackson Pollock's "Blue Poles."
See our National Gallery and environs photo gallery and the National Gallery Home page.
Floriade is a flower and entertainment festival held annually in Commonwealth Park featuring massive displays of flowering bulbs with integrated sculptures. It takes place from September to mid October, and attracts more tourists to the Australian Capital Territory than any other event.
Tuesday's weather turned out to be better by far than Monday's - cool and sunny. We headed out to Floriade reasonably early but as usual the parking lot was jammed. Our luck held, however, and a parking spot opened up in front of us. David was a bit jaded ('oh, no, not another Floriade') but this year the flowers are very pretty and present a better than usual opportunity for some 'abstract' floral photos. We both carried cameras.
See the new photo gallery page by David. More to come.
P.S. Are you having Christmas this year, Judy? If yes, we'll be there.
< Heads in the water - National Gallery sculpture gardenLast Monday was a rainy day in Canberra. Rather than giving up on exercise altogether, we decided to hike the corridors of the National Gallery. The imposing building was designed in the twentieth century "Brutalist" style, and houses some wonderful collections. But! The gallery is not, to quote an elderly woman following us down the steep exit ramp, very user friendly. Favorite works were the Aboriginal Memorial, paintings by Australian artists Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton, and Margaret Preston, and Jackson Pollock's "Blue Poles."
See our National Gallery and environs photo gallery and the National Gallery Home page.
Floriade is a flower and entertainment festival held annually in Commonwealth Park featuring massive displays of flowering bulbs with integrated sculptures. It takes place from September to mid October, and attracts more tourists to the Australian Capital Territory than any other event.
Tuesday's weather turned out to be better by far than Monday's - cool and sunny. We headed out to Floriade reasonably early but as usual the parking lot was jammed. Our luck held, however, and a parking spot opened up in front of us. David was a bit jaded ('oh, no, not another Floriade') but this year the flowers are very pretty and present a better than usual opportunity for some 'abstract' floral photos. We both carried cameras.
See the new photo gallery page by David. More to come.
P.S. Are you having Christmas this year, Judy? If yes, we'll be there.
BBQ, stirfry, Vanilla Slice, and 'round Canberra
< Black Mountain Tower from Mt Ainslie
L: Those of you who know me well understand that if I'm writing about food, I'm dieting. It turns out that David is an excellent BBQ chef. YAY!! That makes dieting a treat. On tonight's menu, pushing summer by a couple of months, was Porterhouse steak, corn on the cob, tossed salad, and an excellent DeBortoli Windy Peak Sangiovese. I'm at my best at the saute station, so we've been having lots of stirfrys. Yesterday's was pork. Here's the quick version:
1 & 1/2 pounds of pork loin, cut into thin strips
1/2 pound of fresh snow peas, cut diagonally into 1" wide pieces
1 medium carrot cut into 1/4" strips
1/4 to 1/2 green pepper (or red, or yellow) cut into 1/4" strips
1 small bunch of green onions, cut diagonally into 1/2" bits
1 stalk of celery, sliced thin
any other veggies you have on hand, mushrooms are good, sliced or cut into bits
1 large clove of garlic, minced
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts (or cashews) crushed
3 tbsp sweet chili sauce with ginger
3 tbsp oyster sauce
a couple of splashes of dry sherry
Salt & pepper to taste
Peanut oil
Heat oil to the smoking point and add the pork. Saute until nicely browned. Add the sherry and burn off the alcohol. Add the garlic and carrot strips. Cook until the carrots are slightly softened. Add the rest of the veggies and saute until tender/crisp. Add the chili and oyster sauces. Taste. Add S&P if necessary. Serve over steamed Jasmine rice. Garnish with the crushed peanuts.
Today's photo gallery includes images from another trip to the Botanical gardens, a walk along the beautiful esplanade across the street from the National Library, views of the city from Black Mountain, Red hill, and Mt. Ainslie.
Oh yes... Vanilla slices. They are a heavenly concoction of layered puff pastry, and rich, vanilla flavored pastry cream. The best in the city are found at Deakin's Cafe d'Lish. Heavenly! Not for dieters.
Reminder to myself to get David's brother Christopher's recipe for Meat pie.
< Black Mountain Tower from Mt AinslieL: Those of you who know me well understand that if I'm writing about food, I'm dieting. It turns out that David is an excellent BBQ chef. YAY!!
That makes dieting a treat. On tonight's menu, pushing summer by a couple of months, was Porterhouse steak, corn on the cob, tossed salad, and an excellent DeBortoli Windy Peak Sangiovese. I'm at my best at the saute station, so we've been having lots of stirfrys. Yesterday's was pork. Here's the quick version:1 & 1/2 pounds of pork loin, cut into thin strips
1/2 pound of fresh snow peas, cut diagonally into 1" wide pieces
1 medium carrot cut into 1/4" strips
1/4 to 1/2 green pepper (or red, or yellow) cut into 1/4" strips
1 small bunch of green onions, cut diagonally into 1/2" bits
1 stalk of celery, sliced thin
any other veggies you have on hand, mushrooms are good, sliced or cut into bits
1 large clove of garlic, minced
1/4 cup unsalted peanuts (or cashews) crushed
3 tbsp sweet chili sauce with ginger
3 tbsp oyster sauce
a couple of splashes of dry sherry
Salt & pepper to taste
Peanut oil
Heat oil to the smoking point and add the pork. Saute until nicely browned. Add the sherry and burn off the alcohol. Add the garlic and carrot strips. Cook until the carrots are slightly softened. Add the rest of the veggies and saute until tender/crisp. Add the chili and oyster sauces. Taste. Add S&P if necessary. Serve over steamed Jasmine rice. Garnish with the crushed peanuts.
Today's photo gallery includes images from another trip to the Botanical gardens, a walk along the beautiful esplanade across the street from the National Library, views of the city from Black Mountain, Red hill, and Mt. Ainslie.
Oh yes... Vanilla slices. They are a heavenly concoction of layered puff pastry, and rich, vanilla flavored pastry cream. The best in the city are found at Deakin's Cafe d'Lish. Heavenly! Not for dieters.
Reminder to myself to get David's brother Christopher's recipe for Meat pie.
Embracing my inner tourist
< Drynaria fern 'nest leaves'
Living with a native Canberran means I can be as curious as I like about Canberra without feeling nosy or intrusive. My Web design work takes up only a few hours a day, leaving the rest for day trips to places like the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG), the Mount Stromlo Observatory, and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla.
The Botanic Gardens, a wonderful collection of unique Australian flora, is on nearby Black Mountain. About 99,000 plants representing more than 6,800 species are cultivated. Each section of the garden is based on a theme, like Rainforest Gully, the Rock Garden, the Eucalypt Lawn and the Mallee Shrublands. There is a hot house with native orchid species and rare ferns that's open to the public, and a nice patio cafe at which to sip coffee and eat pies or pastry when you need a break from the hike around the gardens.
The birds in the ANBG are oblivious to visitors, and it's a haven for bird watchers. The Choughs (pronounced "chuffs") and Red Wattlebirds are very cheeky and practically demand to be fed. The day was overcast, but David took some photos anyway. We plan to return for more photos when the weather's a bit warmer and sunnier. See the latest gallery.
< The main dish at Tidbinbilla
Mount Stromlo Observatory is part of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Australian National University (ANU). The site of the observatory offers a spectacular view of the city. On January 18, 2003 a firestorm hit Mount Stromlo destroying five telescopes, workshops, seven homes, a priceless library, and the administration building. The ruins of the 50 inch Great Melbourne telescope are visible from the visitors parking lot.
We ran into a friend of David's, radio astronomer Dr. David Jauncey, who shared some fascinating stories about the fire. Dr Jauncey mentioned that the employees at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, our next destination (twenty miles away) were trapped by the fire there and battled it themselves. Amazingly, no one was injured and no damage was done to the facility.
The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is part of the Deep Space Network run by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It is commonly referred to as the Tidbinbilla Deep Space Tracking Station. It is the only NASA tracking station in Australia still in operation, and is the largest antenna complex in the southern hemisphere. The four large antennas receive data from spacecraft, like the Mars rover, exploring our Solar System and beyond. The visitor center offers an excellent view of the largest dish, a piece of the Moon that's over 3.8 billion years old, the latest images from Mars, spacecraft models, and real, flown space hardware. The cafe and gift shop is open everyday for meals. There is a playground for children, and picnic areas from which to enjoy magnificent views of the Tidbinbilla valley.
The day we drove up Mount Stromlo (visible from David's house, in the distance) was quite cold, so we didn't take any photos there. The more sheltered Tidbinbilla valley offered better photographic opportunities (see the photo gallery).
< Drynaria fern 'nest leaves'Living with a native Canberran means I can be as curious as I like about Canberra without feeling nosy or intrusive. My Web design work takes up only a few hours a day, leaving the rest for day trips to places like the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG), the Mount Stromlo Observatory, and the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla.
The Botanic Gardens, a wonderful collection of unique Australian flora, is on nearby Black Mountain. About 99,000 plants representing more than 6,800 species are cultivated. Each section of the garden is based on a theme, like Rainforest Gully, the Rock Garden, the Eucalypt Lawn and the Mallee Shrublands. There is a hot house with native orchid species and rare ferns that's open to the public, and a nice patio cafe at which to sip coffee and eat pies or pastry when you need a break from the hike around the gardens.
The birds in the ANBG are oblivious to visitors, and it's a haven for bird watchers. The Choughs (pronounced "chuffs") and Red Wattlebirds are very cheeky and practically demand to be fed. The day was overcast, but David took some photos anyway. We plan to return for more photos when the weather's a bit warmer and sunnier. See the latest gallery.
< The main dish at TidbinbillaMount Stromlo Observatory is part of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Australian National University (ANU). The site of the observatory offers a spectacular view of the city. On January 18, 2003 a firestorm hit Mount Stromlo destroying five telescopes, workshops, seven homes, a priceless library, and the administration building. The ruins of the 50 inch Great Melbourne telescope are visible from the visitors parking lot.
We ran into a friend of David's, radio astronomer Dr. David Jauncey, who shared some fascinating stories about the fire. Dr Jauncey mentioned that the employees at the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, our next destination (twenty miles away) were trapped by the fire there and battled it themselves. Amazingly, no one was injured and no damage was done to the facility.
The Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex is part of the Deep Space Network run by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It is commonly referred to as the Tidbinbilla Deep Space Tracking Station. It is the only NASA tracking station in Australia still in operation, and is the largest antenna complex in the southern hemisphere. The four large antennas receive data from spacecraft, like the Mars rover, exploring our Solar System and beyond. The visitor center offers an excellent view of the largest dish, a piece of the Moon that's over 3.8 billion years old, the latest images from Mars, spacecraft models, and real, flown space hardware. The cafe and gift shop is open everyday for meals. There is a playground for children, and picnic areas from which to enjoy magnificent views of the Tidbinbilla valley.
The day we drove up Mount Stromlo (visible from David's house, in the distance) was quite cold, so we didn't take any photos there. The more sheltered Tidbinbilla valley offered better photographic opportunities (see the photo gallery).
Walking, massages, and Pilates
As good as his word, David has kept me focused on diet and exercise. I was in the habit of walking two miles, four days a week, in the Sumter mall. I'm learning to love hiking the hills of Canberra instead. It hasn't been easy, but we have a wonderful masseuse named Wilma to sooth any persistent aches. I've also begun training in the Pilates method. Robyn Barker, my coach, has a figure most eighteen year old's would envy. I hope Pilates will do that for me too.
As good as his word, David has kept me focused on diet and exercise. I was in the habit of walking two miles, four days a week, in the Sumter mall. I'm learning to love hiking the hills of Canberra instead. It hasn't been easy, but we have a wonderful masseuse named Wilma to sooth any persistent aches. I've also begun training in the Pilates method. Robyn Barker, my coach, has a figure most eighteen year old's would envy. I hope Pilates will do that for me too.
UGH Boots and another shopping center
< Linda's new Ugh (Ugg) Boots
As of yesterday, I'm the proud owner of a pair of genuine Australian Ugh boots. Ugh (or Ugg) boots are a type of sheepskin boot with a fleece inner lining and a tanned outer surface. The fleece allows air to circulate and keeps your feet toasty warm. They are worn without socks in order to maximize their thermal properties. Ugh boots have been made in Oz for well over a hundred years. Family members can expect to receive them as presents, along with Tim Tams and Arnotts Venetian biscuits.
Biscuits are what cookies are called here. What we Americans call biscuits, quick bread made with baking powder as a leavening agent, is unknown in Australia. The closest thing to them are scones.
[DN adds: Here we make large loaves from flour and baking powder called damper - usually cooked in a pan over an open fire out in the Bush, but not the smaller US-style 'biscuits'.]
After purchasing the boots and another package of Venetians (excellent with tea) we paid a visit to another of Canberra's large malls, called Woden Plaza. Woden Plaza is located in the Phillip suburb of Canberra and encompasses 250 stores. Tenants include Woolworths (no relation to the American company of the same name), Coles, David Jones, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith Electronics, 8 cinemas, McDonald's, The Coffee Club, and Hungry Jack's (known as Burger King in the states).
< Linda's new Ugh (Ugg) BootsAs of yesterday, I'm the proud owner of a pair of genuine Australian Ugh boots. Ugh (or Ugg) boots are a type of sheepskin boot with a fleece inner lining and a tanned outer surface. The fleece allows air to circulate and keeps your feet toasty warm. They are worn without socks in order to maximize their thermal properties. Ugh boots have been made in Oz for well over a hundred years. Family members can expect to receive them as presents, along with Tim Tams and Arnotts Venetian biscuits.
Biscuits are what cookies are called here. What we Americans call biscuits, quick bread made with baking powder as a leavening agent, is unknown in Australia. The closest thing to them are scones.
[DN adds: Here we make large loaves from flour and baking powder called damper - usually cooked in a pan over an open fire out in the Bush, but not the smaller US-style 'biscuits'.]
After purchasing the boots and another package of Venetians (excellent with tea) we paid a visit to another of Canberra's large malls, called Woden Plaza. Woden Plaza is located in the Phillip suburb of Canberra and encompasses 250 stores. Tenants include Woolworths (no relation to the American company of the same name), Coles, David Jones, Harvey Norman, Dick Smith Electronics, 8 cinemas, McDonald's, The Coffee Club, and Hungry Jack's (known as Burger King in the states).
We've re-jigged the blog HTML to customise the layout (thanks to Susan for pointing out how to add images within posts). We've embedded the images in the posts so they stay with their descriptions and archive proplerly. We've now added image titles, and have attempted to clean up the dubious code generated by blogger. David's AusAID experience came in quite handy! We have yet to validate things, but that may prove impossible 
D&L
D&L
The Canberra Centre - Shop till you drop
Mom, Judy, Beth - you'd love this place. Imagine a mall about two miles around and three levels high, featuring over 310 speciality stores, numerous food outlets and several major retailers including Myer (linked to Target), David Jones (a premium department store a la Lord & Taylor), and Borders. The centre also features a Cinema complex with 9 theatres and 2 premium lounges. There's a full size merry-go-round outside in the plaza, and a wonderful view of the mountains. Wheee!
Mom, Judy, Beth - you'd love this place. Imagine a mall about two miles around and three levels high, featuring over 310 speciality stores, numerous food outlets and several major retailers including Myer (linked to Target), David Jones (a premium department store a la Lord & Taylor), and Borders. The centre also features a Cinema complex with 9 theatres and 2 premium lounges. There's a full size merry-go-round outside in the plaza, and a wonderful view of the mountains. Wheee!
Canberra at last!
< Eastern Grey Kangaroos in Weston Park
We've been in Canberra a week now, so I suppose I ought to write something. The first thing you notice as you approach the city is that it appears encircled by blue mountains. There have been a few days of extremely cold weather, so some of the mountains are dusted with snow. Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin, with its Captain Cook memorial jet (much like the water jet in Lake Geneva) are splendid in the late afternoon sunlight. I'm surprised by how familiar things seem. The gray-green-brown colors of the vegetation is very Michigan winterish.
< Golden Wattle in bloom
Spring is at hand, however. Wattles are blooming. Their clusters of yellow pompom flowers brighten every street. Tiny jonquils are blooming in the grass in front of the house. Soft purple iris line the garden path like little lanterns. The rhododendron buds are swelling. I'm so happy to be here.
We drove to Weston Park to look for kangaroos and found a mob of eighteen of the delightful animals. I know I'm really in Australia now. See image above and the photo gallery (no people photos yet, but at least these are animals! Photos taken with the little Canon G9, which David had in the car, just in case.)
< Eastern Grey Kangaroos in Weston ParkWe've been in Canberra a week now, so I suppose I ought to write something.
The first thing you notice as you approach the city is that it appears encircled by blue mountains. There have been a few days of extremely cold weather, so some of the mountains are dusted with snow. Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin, with its Captain Cook memorial jet (much like the water jet in Lake Geneva) are splendid in the late afternoon sunlight. I'm surprised by how familiar things seem. The gray-green-brown colors of the vegetation is very Michigan winterish. < Golden Wattle in bloomSpring is at hand, however. Wattles are blooming. Their clusters of yellow pompom flowers brighten every street. Tiny jonquils are blooming in the grass in front of the house. Soft purple iris line the garden path like little lanterns. The rhododendron buds are swelling. I'm so happy to be here.
We drove to Weston Park to look for kangaroos and found a mob of eighteen of the delightful animals. I know I'm really in Australia now. See image above and the photo gallery (no people photos yet, but at least these are animals! Photos taken with the little Canon G9, which David had in the car, just in case.)
Australia's Crown Jewel
< Sydney skyline from the Eastern Suburbs
L says:
What do I say about Sydney? There's so much to say about Sydney I don't know where to start. Homes shimmer like jewels on sandstone cliffs. The soaring glass towers of the central business district compete for your attention with grand Victorian structures, like The Strand Arcade, filled with the Sydney's most fashionable boutiques. It's proud, and squeaky clean, and love at first sight. You could find new things to see and do here forever.
< War memorial, Hyde Park, from our hotel
D says:
I've managed to introduce Linda to (proper) tea, Aussie meat pies and vegemite - L likes tea and pies but is not overly keen on vegemite :) However, the secret weapon is dark chocolate Tim-tams. There is no defence against against Tim-tams. Resistance is futile
...
We're staying at the Hyde Park Inn in central Sydney. Central and comfortable and not expensive. Recommended.
One thing that came as a surprise was the huge number of fruit bats ('flying foxes') that roost in the large Morton Bay Fig trees in Hyde Park. These two-foot wingspan bats fly out in their hundreds after dusk, and back again at dawn.
< Sandstone cliffs that fridge the city's east
We spent today (Thursday) taking bus tours around Sydney. An excellent way to see the sights quickly, including all the usual suspects - the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, Bondi beach etc.
D Bought a new point-and-shoot camera as an easy carry around camera (a Canon G9). Excellent little gadget. There's a new photo gallery online taken with the G9. Nothing special, mainly intended to test out the new camera, but you get the idea. See also some of the test photos above: the city skyline from the Eastern Suburbs, the War memorial in Hyde Park (outside our hotel window) and the sandstone cliffs along Sydney's eastern edge.
< Sydney skyline from the Eastern SuburbsL says:
What do I say about Sydney? There's so much to say about Sydney I don't know where to start. Homes shimmer like jewels on sandstone cliffs. The soaring glass towers of the central business district compete for your attention with grand Victorian structures, like The Strand Arcade, filled with the Sydney's most fashionable boutiques. It's proud, and squeaky clean, and love at first sight. You could find new things to see and do here forever.
< War memorial, Hyde Park, from our hotelD says:
I've managed to introduce Linda to (proper) tea, Aussie meat pies and vegemite - L likes tea and pies but is not overly keen on vegemite :) However, the secret weapon is dark chocolate Tim-tams. There is no defence against against Tim-tams. Resistance is futile
...
We're staying at the Hyde Park Inn in central Sydney. Central and comfortable and not expensive. Recommended.
One thing that came as a surprise was the huge number of fruit bats ('flying foxes') that roost in the large Morton Bay Fig trees in Hyde Park. These two-foot wingspan bats fly out in their hundreds after dusk, and back again at dawn.
< Sandstone cliffs that fridge the city's eastWe spent today (Thursday) taking bus tours around Sydney. An excellent way to see the sights quickly, including all the usual suspects - the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, Bondi beach etc.
D Bought a new point-and-shoot camera as an easy carry around camera (a Canon G9). Excellent little gadget. There's a new photo gallery online taken with the G9. Nothing special, mainly intended to test out the new camera, but you get the idea. See also some of the test photos above: the city skyline from the Eastern Suburbs, the War memorial in Hyde Park (outside our hotel window) and the sandstone cliffs along Sydney's eastern edge.
Return to Honolulu
< Palm-fringed shores of the blue Pacific
We arrived back in Honolulu on Sunday via the Hawaii Superferry, which this time sailed around the amazing cliffs north of Molokai rather than across the channel between the islands.
Our room at the Ala Moana hotel in Honolulu was upgraded to a three room suite on the 35th floor, with a spectacular view of the Yacht club and beach at Ala Moana park (see photo left, showing the beautiful palm-fringed blue Pacific). While the room on our first stay was nothing extraordinary, this room was the sort of luxury we'd like to become accustomed to!
Dinner at Aaron's topped the evening. We had an early flight to Sydney the next morning, so dessert was a hippity hop to bed.
< Palm-fringed shores of the blue PacificWe arrived back in Honolulu on Sunday via the Hawaii Superferry, which this time sailed around the amazing cliffs north of Molokai rather than across the channel between the islands.
Our room at the Ala Moana hotel in Honolulu was upgraded to a three room suite on the 35th floor, with a spectacular view of the Yacht club and beach at Ala Moana park (see photo left, showing the beautiful palm-fringed blue Pacific). While the room on our first stay was nothing extraordinary, this room was the sort of luxury we'd like to become accustomed to!
Dinner at Aaron's topped the evening. We had an early flight to Sydney the next morning, so dessert was a hippity hop to bed.
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