Another year gone by, I was once again spoiled for my birthday.
The birthday fun is likely not over. John sent me money for shoes and clothes.
My mom also wants to help me for my next trip, a laptop luggage with wheels. I had a hard time carrying it this last trip through miles of airport. I am still looking for the perfect carry-on, I have a few bookmarked and hope to decide soon, she is anxious for me to pick ... Read More
Featured News
Spoiled for My Birthday..
Another year gone by, I was once again spoiled for my birthday. The birthday fun is likely not over. John sent me money for shoes and clothes. My mom also wants to [+]
Rubi Turns 2..
Our little Rubí turned two today! Just one day after my birthday (I so wanted her to be born on MY birthday!), comes Rubí's special day. Rubi had a very sweet second [+]
Mothers Day Came Early..
Well a good way to surprise a mama for Mother's Day is to send her flowers 2 days early! :) Roses no less! From Enric and Miranda! [+]
Silas Discovers Yowies..
From Wikipedia: Yowie was a brand of chocolate encased toy line, manufactured by Cadbury Australia and based on the mythology surrounding the Australian Yowie. Invented by Bryce Courtenay and Geoff Pike, [+]
Wedding at Castle Rock Slide Show..
I've been sick, but it's been a great time to prepare a slide show of our wedding. :) [+]
Born to Love Nana..
There is a lot of sadness around being apart from one's spouse. I know people in the military do it all the time. Often they don't even have the ability [+]
Better Together..
Perhaps it goes without saying that John and I both feel like we've been divided in half, that apart we're no longer whole. We knew separation would be hard, and that [+]
If My Cell Phone Told the Story – Coming to ..
It was time for tearful good-byes. My heart was never going to be ready for it, but I wasn't mentally prepared either. The day to leave came so fast. This is [+]
North Beach..
Ever fill out those surveys that ask mountains or beach when asking your vacation preference? I guess I always select mountains, but something about the sunsets of Western Australia that lures [+]
Perth Zoo part 3..
We went back to the wetlands... It was a nice long day at the zoo, not too hot out, and then we went Dad and Iris's for a lovely dinner of [+]
Posted By Xerraire On Monday, May 14th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: birthday, cards, flowers, gifts, jet lag book, presents, travel jewelry organizer |
Another year gone by, I was once again spoiled for my birthday.
The birthday fun is likely not over. John sent me money for shoes and clothes.
My mom also wants to help me for my next trip, a laptop luggage with wheels. I had a hard time carrying it this last trip through miles of airport. I am still looking for the perfect carry-on, I have a few bookmarked and hope to decide soon, she is anxious for me to pick ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Monday, May 14th 2012 In News Items | Tags: bald eagles, killing, obama, policy, wind turbines |
Well those rotating wind turbines need room to move.
A draft regulation first filed in April would allow businesses to apply for 30-year permits allowing them to kill bald eagles in the course of other legal activities. The length of those permits would be a six-fold increase over the five-year window allowed under current law. …
Current law allows permitting for “programmatic” killing of bald eagles, which “is recurring, is not caused solely by indirect effects, and that occurs over the long ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Monday, May 14th 2012 In Personal | Tags: animoto, growing, pictures, Rubí, video |
And I guess living with her, seems like right in front of my eyes so fast!
Make your own slideshow with music at Animoto. ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Monday, May 14th 2012 In News Items | Tags: Christina White, Division of Elections, election, florida, identify, illegals, Immigration and Naturalization Service, non-citizens, registered, vote |
From RedState
According to Deputy Supervisor of Elections Christina White, there are a “lot of non-citizens on our registration rolls.”
Florida’s Division of Elections is checking the citizenship of voters by comparing drivers license records, which show whether a licensed driver is also a U.S. citizen.
Non-citizens are able to become registered voters in Florida because if a non-citizen checks the box on the voter registration form that says they are a citizen they are registered to vote, because the form is signed ... Read More
The presidential campaign exploded Thursday into a bitter debate over women's work, a day after a Democratic adviser made a dismissive remark about stay-at-home mom Ann Romney, wife of the GOP candidate Mitt Romney.
Wednesday night on CNN, Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen said Romney, who raised five now-grown sons, had "never worked a day in her life."
Soon after Rosen's comments on CNN, Ann Romney had set up a Twitter account and in less than 140 characters put Democrats on the defensive ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Saturday, May 12th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: 2, birthday, cake, jenny, laura, miquel, Miranda. Enric, presents, Rubí, Silas, yaya |
Our little Rubí turned two today!
Just one day after my birthday (I so wanted her to be born on MY birthday!), comes Rubí's special day.
Rubi had a very sweet second birthday. We are so blessed to have her in the family. ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Saturday, May 12th 2012 In Personal | Tags: birthday, cheery, flowers, friends, leoni, petra, proverb, room, rose |
The world is a rose; smell it and pass it to your friends.
Persian Proverb
Petra and Leoni sent me flowers for my birthday...
Between mother's day and my birthday, my room has never looked so cheery! ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Friday, May 11th 2012 In Personal | Tags: avenger, blue, car, Dodge, enric, jenny, laura, miquel, miranda, new, Rubí, Silas |
It's blue.
Ok, I know more than it's color!
Ok, so we're all a little happy for Miquel and Jenny.
:)
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Thursday, May 10th 2012 In Personal | Tags: barn, enric, grass, mower, Silas, yard |
We have a big yard.
As Miranda recently found out, it's a little overwhelming to cut the grass with a push mower.
So, a new mower was purchased for the house!
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Thursday, May 10th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: enric, flowers, miranda, mothers day, Roses |
Well a good way to surprise a mama for Mother's Day is to send her flowers 2 days early! :)
Roses no less!
From Enric and Miranda!
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Wednesday, May 9th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: australia, christmas, ebay, john, miranda, packages, Silas, yowies |
From Wikipedia:
Yowie was a brand of chocolate encased toy line, manufactured by Cadbury Australia and based on the mythology surrounding the Australian Yowie. Invented by Bryce Courtenay and Geoff Pike, they were similar to Kinder Surprises in that they are basically a chocolate shell around a plastic capsule, with a toy inside. Unlike Kinder Surprises, the toy is usually an Australian or New Zealand animal. There have been several series of Yowie toys; the first were animals, with limited edition ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Tuesday, May 8th 2012 In News Items | Tags: obama, security, tours, unborn, white house |
In a bit of White House weirdness, comes a new headline:
Pro-Choice White House Requires Registration of Unborn Children for Tours
(The whole story here)
The White House Visitors Office requires that an unborn child—still residing in utero—must be counted as a full human being when its parents register for a White House tour, according to documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.
White House Visitors Office director Ellie Schafer sent an email to a Capitol Hill staffer Tuesday morning explaining the process for ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Monday, May 7th 2012 In Personal | Tags: annapolis, Elisabeth, maryland, miranda, mom, quiet waters park, Rubí, Silas, Wisconsin, yaya |
...or as Rubí says, Miss Sipsipee
This past Saturday, we were invited to Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis to say good-bye to Elisabeth, who is off to work and study in Wisconsin. She has been wonderful to have in our home. She will be missed.
People come and people go in this household...who's next?
:)
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Thursday, May 3rd 2012 In News Items | Tags: 60 watt, department of energy, green energy, led, light bulb, Philips Global |
If you go to the shopping mall, shops, or markets, one notices a lot of candle stores out there. It's kind of funny that in this day and age, with the invention of the light bulb, we even bother with candles any more.
Perhaps the new price of a certain light bulb will send us all running to the candle stores.
From the Washington Free Beacon:
Obama’s Dim Bulbs
U.S. Taxpayer paid Philips Global $10 million and all they got was a $50 light ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Tuesday, May 1st 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: Barb, beach, bruno mars, castlerock, I think I want to marry you, john, love, wedding |
I've been sick, but it's been a great time to prepare a slide show of our wedding.
:)
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Saturday, April 28th 2012 In General | Tags: air, Barb, bay, chesapeake, sick, television |
I am not much for television.
But when I am sick, it can be good to have around.
I have some sort of sinus infection, fever, and chills, and so it was nice to see this special on Public Television.
After being away from Maryland for awhile, it was nice to be reminded of this area.
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Wednesday, April 25th 2012 In News Items | Tags: chores, department of labor, farms, government, kids, obama |
I never lived on a farm, but I spent my summers on one.
The young people on neighboring farms always had chores, it was a part of life. They seemed to like it, raised their own cows to show on the local fairs and earn their own money, and basically were responsible kids who grew up to be responsible adults.
That part of our life and heritage could be over thanks to BIG government.
From the Daily Caller:
A proposal from the Obama administration ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Wednesday, April 25th 2012 In General | Tags: creation, creator, design, giraffe, larynx, magazine, neck, recurrent laryngeal nerve, richard dawkins |
Maybe it's because it's fresh in my mind, feeding the giraffe at Perth Zoo, but an article regarding the laryngeal nerve in the giraffe's neck, grabbed my attention.
Apparently, Richard Dawkins made the comment that the laryngeal nerve was so poorly made, no one could believe in a designer. He quipped, "No designer would ever make a mistake like that!"
Surely this logic could be reversed? With all the perfections out there in design, it could prove there IS a creator?
As it ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Monday, April 23rd 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: Barb, Born to love nana, enric, fort smallwood park, john, laura, miranda, mr dolphin, nana, Pop Pop, Rubí, Silas, tire swing |
There is a lot of sadness around being apart from one's spouse. I know people in the military do it all the time. Often they don't even have the ability of communications as John and I have.
Looking for a silver lining in the dark cloud of separation, and one of the perks is definitely the grandchildren. John was sweet enough to get Rubí a tee shirt that says "Born to Love Nana."
I am guessing that shirt was as much for ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Sunday, April 22nd 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: Barb, Better together, distance, divided, john, love, seaparation, whole |
Perhaps it goes without saying that John and I both feel like we've been divided in half, that apart we're no longer whole.
We knew separation would be hard, and that it's so much BETTER....TOGETHER.
Try our slideshow creator at Animoto. ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Saturday, April 21st 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: baltimore, Barb, bwi, cell phone, husband, john, perth, photos, san francisco, sydney |
It was time for tearful good-byes. My heart was never going to be ready for it, but I wasn't mentally prepared either. The day to leave came so fast.
This is going to be my life.
5 More hours and the total travel time give or take was 38 hours.
I slept nearly the whole next day!
I am thankful for a boring and uneventful trip...for loved ones around the world...and to my husband who is patient and does all he can to make ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Saturday, April 21st 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: beach, north beach, perth, sunset, western australia |
Ever fill out those surveys that ask mountains or beach when asking your vacation preference?
I guess I always select mountains, but something about the sunsets of Western Australia that lures me to the beach.
After our long day at the zoo, we went to North Beach to watch the sunset.
I even saw the sunset reflected in the houses' windows across the street.
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Tuesday, April 17th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: 0, bolivian squirrel monkey, elephants, lemur, orangatang, pelican, perth zoo, pygmy marmosets, sumatran tigers |
We went back to the wetlands...
It was a nice long day at the zoo, not too hot out, and then we went Dad and Iris's for a lovely dinner of Cornish Pasty. ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Tuesday, April 17th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: african, ghost bats, hopping mouse, hyenna, nocturnal house, painted dogs, perth zoo, rhino, sausage tree, tree kangaroo |
More on Perth Zoo Part Three next blog....
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Tuesday, April 17th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: Australia wetlands, Barb, feeding, giraffe, john, numbat, perth zoo |
It seems each time we went to Perth Zoo in the past, it was done in a rush. So we set aside Saturday to have a long leisurely day there.
Part two of Perth Zoo next blog. :) ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Sunday, April 15th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: Barb, black cockatoos, Board-walk floor sanding, crows, french, garden, john, koodoola, language, magpie, mail carrier, Mauritius, Michel, mudlark, neighbor, neighborhood, playground, postie, ravens, sound file, truck |
Most of my morning chores done and not quite ready for lunch, I decided since it wasn't a hot day, I would take a walk. I grabbed my camera of course to document the walk, and hoping to be ready for anything.
As I left the driveway, I saw our neighbor, Michel. Michel is from Seychelles, and if I didn't have any trouble with Australian as it is, his is with a thick French accent. He's a sweet man and he ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Sunday, April 15th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: banksia wood, Barb, coat rack, entrance, gumnuts, home, john |
While out at Whiteman Park some weeks ago, we happened upon this little shop that had an adorable coat rack, after some thing we bought the first thing for our house as husband and wife!
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Friday, April 13th 2012 In General, Personal | Tags: Barb, big bang theory, john, merchandise, TV |
I don't watch much television at my Pasadena home. Here at my Perth home though, John has introuced me to the show Big Bang Theory.
It centers on a group of geeks and their very different world view. Not a show for children, but it has a lot of funny moments.
I just might have to invest in some of their merchandise.
:)
Big Bang Theory Knock Plus Penny 3 Times T-Shirt
Big Bang Theory Penny T Shirt This is an officially licensed Big Bang ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Thursday, April 12th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: alan, Barb, cooking, dad, danielle, dolphins, family, food, georgie, iris, john, Keats, malaysia, meal |
Iris has become someone special to me, she is more than a mother in law. So, even though we were deep in floor mess in the kitchen, there was no saying no when she invited us to come to the house for dinner and meet her side of the family.
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Thursday, April 12th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: Barb, easter, floor, fog, glue, jarrah floor, john, kennards hire, kitchen, monday, sander, tile, wood |
As I mentioned in another post, the kitchen floor was to be our first house project as husband and wife. Not sure that was totally what John intended, but it worked out that way.
After pulling up all the ugly green icky gluey tile, we realized we were never going to be able to hand sand the whole floor. John booked a floor sander for Easter Monday, as he had the day off from work.
So at a little before 7 AM, ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Thursday, April 12th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: 0, Barb, Cathy, dad, dolphin, georgie, graham, holden, john, water, wedding, wedding cake |
This was a different Easter for me.
I suppose this was the first time since 1979, that I was away from the bosom of my family for Easter. After talking to them, I think I was missed. I did miss them too, however, I was kept very busy with my new family.
We did make it to church, at Morley Baptist, the pastor gave a sermon on the facts about the resurrection. Interestingly enough, Rodney's blog post today and radio show also ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Wednesday, April 11th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: Barb, boat harbor, camera, flash, hillary's, john, sunset, timer, tripod |
After the show and shine, a trip to Bunnings, and a look at the burned Bush, we decided it might make a nice evening to take photos of a sunset. I also wanted to practice with my flash, trying to get a photo of John and I, lit, but still keep the sunset in tact behind us. He brought his tripod and I learned how to use my timer.
... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Wednesday, April 11th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: after the fire, banksias, Barb, bush fire, charred, john, koondoola, trees |
Much to John's surprise and apparently unprecedented in Koondoola Bush, it has remained closed for a long time after the fire.
So we decided to look outside and see what damaged was done.
It's kind of hard to say damage when for example, the Banksias seem to respond well to bush fires.
Banksia plants are naturally adapted to the presence of regular bushfires in the Australian landscape. About half of Banksia species are killed by bushfire, but these regenerate quickly from seed, as ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Wednesday, April 11th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: alan, Barb, cars, club, fe fc nationals, graham, holden, john, perth, show and shine |
For those who don't know, (and I don't pretend to know a lot) Holden cars are made in Australia. They seem to be a big deal to John and his brother Graham.
From Wikipedia:
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors (GM) in 1931. After becoming a ... Read More
Posted By Xerraire On Tuesday, April 10th 2012 In Featured, Personal | Tags: Barb, hamburger, john, peters by the sea, scarborough beach, sunset |
After our day at the Birds of Prey Centre and all the parks we visited, I was starving. We didn't know which beach to go to see a sunset, so I suggested a beach with FOOD.
John eats a hearty breakfast and can last all day, and I on the other hand, can't seem to manage a breakfast, and by the time dinner arrives, I am starving. This keeps happening, so many times I grab an apple for the car or ... Read More
