Happy Halloween From Australia

Halloween done and over with here in Australia.   It was a big let down after Canadian Halloween.    But after 50 years of celebrating it we have perfected it.  Amazing that Australia has never get into it since it was a Scottish and Irish tradition.   Anyway we made the most of it.   Went to a few houses that were decorated up and then came home and I gave them a huge loot bag.  

Wacky Hat Day

Wacky Hat Day at school so kids decorated up their school hats.  

Borenore Caves Reserve NSW

When we were returning to Parkes from Orange we saw a sign for the Borenore Caves.   So we pulled in and did a little cave exploring.   I must go back and do some photography practice.   Was very interesting.  

Weekend away in Orange, NSW

We drove to Orange to see how the shopping is there and visit friends that we knew from Cobar.   It was a very nice weekend.  

Gadhang

The girls got their first awards.    Ciara's award was for speaking the Wiradjuri language.   So above means happy in the Wiradjuri language.   Hannah's award was for neat work.  

Finding the Light

Just happened to look over during the day and saw this neat sun coming through the window on the wall.    So tried a few shots.

Random Street Photo

Trying different things while getting to know the town of Parkes.  

Grocery shopping at Coles

There are three grocery stores in our new town.  An IGA,   A Woolworth's and a Cole's.    Depends on the ingredients which one we go to.     Cole's though had orange pumpkins.    I think we might get to carve a pumpkin this year.   

Making Friends over the Back Fence

We noticed that the neighbours behind us had the same school uniforms hanging on the laundry.   So after a little jumping up and down the kids noticed our kids and they have been talking over the fence for a few days now.    Maybe time to build a ladder over??

Pool Weather Starting

Though the pool is far from warm enough.   It was cold for even Canadian standards.  

Sunburnt Country

Ute's in the Paddock

We headed out this morning to go look around the area.    We drove out to Burrawang West Station near Condobolin,  NSW.    Check out:  http://www.utesinthepaddock.com.au/      You can read all about each ute's artist and why they painted the ute's like they did.   My favourite was a 1952 ute.   What's yours?

Crop Spraying

Will have to get practice taking photos of this way of spraying.  

Shelf Hiding

While shopping children always seem to want to hide somewhere.   Whether it is in the clothes racks or the bottom shelf between the toilet paper.   That's what Owen was doing to me all day today.  

Kindie Practice for Owen

Owen will be going to school once a week to get use to the system and the teacher.    He loved it.  

Black and White Kids

The True Object of all Human Life is Play

Owen and I out rating all the playground in Parkes while the girls are at school.   

Sunday Boot Sale Shopping

Actually we never did buy anything too busy just looking at all the neat old things.  

Saturday

Just out and about looking at things in town.  

My Kitchen Table

October Showers Bring November Flowers doesn't work in Australia

That quote April Showers bring May Flowers doesn't work in Australia.  Don't let this beautiful blue sky and pretty flowers fool you.   It is a cold,  windy,  and rainy,   8 degrees here in Parkes.   Spring like Canadian spring is in the air.   Maybe warm weather will come soon and we will have more gorgeousness.  

Parkes East Public School we have a Winner.

The paperwork is filled out the uniforms bought.   Parkes East Public School made our cut for new school here in Parkes.   I'll get more photos of the school later when I get on it.  

Sunset Hunting

I have missed two incredible orange sunsets due to timing of hubby being home from work and crabby children.    I will get it eventually.   Until the golden hour sunset in a grain field.  

Eleven on Thanksgiving in Canada

My first baby.   Born on Canadian Thanksgiving weekend 11 years ago.    Today again celebrated on Thanksgiving Weekend.   Though this time we didn't have turkey and all the yummy goodies.   It is suppose to turn cold this next weekend maybe I should get a turkey and cook it all up and have the house smell like Thanksgiving.  Might be a plan.   Instead Ciara wanted curry chicken and brownie sundaes for her meal.   She got spoiled with lovely cards in the mail,  presents we had snuck in suitcases from Canada and her first flowers delivered to the door.   Happy 11th!

Worn Out Sunday

Bikes and visiting with old friends have worn the kids out.   Asleep while trying to have a snack.    We are ready for school hunt on Monday.   Which school will we choose??   Keep posted.   There are four to choose from.   3 public and 1 catholic school systems. 

New Bikes

With having to wait 3 months until we get our stuff.   We sold our bikes and decided to get new ones when we arrived.   Everyone has new bikes and are out exploring the neighbourhood.   Thank goodness for flat land to bike in now.   Those hills killed us in Kamloops. 

Laundry Day

It is a warm 32 degrees out so laundry dries super fast.   It is a laundry day around here today.   Hung out on a hills hoist.  

Waiting in Australia

It has been 9 days since we landed in Australia.   Returned to things,  places and people we remembered.  We have been eating things we have missed,  visited friends we have longed to talk to in person,   saw sights we remembered.   It has been familiar and a easy move.   The kids think it is a perfect sized place  Now we go back to limbo.   Waiting to decide which schools we want to go to,  since school holidays are still on till Monday.   Waiting to see when our stuff comes around Xmas??   Waiting to see what house will be ours since this one is small and doesn't feel like a home we have envisioned.    One with an amazing back entertaining area,  one with lovely plants blooming and providing shade.    Waiting to buy bbq's and tables until we know sizes of places.   Waiting until the kids are in school so I can wander the streets and roads by myself looking at things at my pace.  Since taking them with me results in three other personalities wanting to do what they would like to do and go where they would like to see.    I don't like this stage.   I can't do anything but wait.  

Going on an Ant Hunt

Two more days of the week,   two days of the weekend and then we can start interviewing schools to see which one we'd like to go to.    So until then we have been getting out and seeing the town.   After going to town to get toilet paper.   We then hit the back roads outside of the town sight.   What did we find after going down this path.   Well ants and lots of ants.   Screaming girls as they climbed up their legs and a calm boy that said they don't like him.  

Spring Walk among the Bottle Brush

First day of just me and the kids.  We walked to town to get some things off our list.   Visited the Health Unit to get all the immunization forms done for school,  had morning tea at this great French Bakery.   I was told by a french man that they had the best croissants in NSW and he wasn't lying. 
We got library cards,  posted mail to Aunt Jody,  toured every used store and finished with a trip to Coles.   In 3 years there is so much more selection in the grocery stores.    Hubby had a good day at work and the kids were in great moods.   A successful day. 

Views of the Parkes Area

Everyone was sleeping in on this holiday Monday in Australia.   Last day before hubby goes back to work.   Starts a new job.   So I took off while the house was quiet and went down some of the roads and enjoyed the scenery.   This was one of my favourites this morning.
There is one more week here of school holidays before I can enroll the kids in school.   So I have a list to accomplish before I get them all settled.
Though I have already had a job interview of a sort.   Some of you may know I have been a member of the Canadian,  British Columbia Farm Writer's Association writing, as well as a freelancing in agriculture photographey.   So I had heard that The Land was looking for photographers.   Total dream job though one part of the job isn't exactly family friendly.  Monday to Friday all across NSW (so not home at nights)  taking photos of the agriculture industry here in Australia.   Been thinking lots about it.   Time to think some more.