Thankful for...

I have a lot to be thankful for this year (as I do most years).  Here are just a few of the highlights...

I'm thankful for...

• Frank's (Eric's dad) heart surviving the heart attack this weekend and that he is home.
• All of my loving and supportive family and friends (especially during this past week, thanks for being there for Eric and his family when I was too far away)
• And last but not least, the opportunity to be in Australia for 3 months.

(Again, these are just a few of the highlights)

Just wanted to share a little taste of my Thanksgiving thus far (it will continue properly with turkey on Saturday).  We made an apple pie and a pumpkin pie to share at work today.  The pumpkin is made entirely from scratch.  We bought pumpkins, steamed them, peeled them, and mashed them up.  Turned out pretty delicious. 

Amy slicing up the uncooked pumpkin.

What do you think of my rolling pin?

Kara arranging the apples to make them pretty.

The final product!

We decided we needed to do something a little more special this evening so we grabbed fish and chips from a local place called Clancy's and headed down to the beach.  The sunset was stunning, the food was scrumptious and the wine was smooth.  A pretty good twist on Thanksgiving if you ask me.

We saw one of the PTs from work at
the beach and got her to take our picture.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with lots of love and tasty food.

Just relaxing

Just a clarification for those of you that were wondering (there were several people that commented)…The penguins were not blue.  It was the reflection from the water that made him look blue. 

In other news, we had a great weekend.  Friday we went with Josephine to see a movie (Social Network).  Any guesses on how much a ticket costs?  I’ll give you a hint.  It starts with an eight and ends with a teen ($18 in case you missed it).  Kind of expensive but it was a good movie.  

Saturday was packed with Fremantle Festival activities.  We went to the Village Market to browse the local hand made crafts.  We at some delicious festival food (German sausage and pupusas from El Salvador).  Amy and I like to share so we can have more than one item.  In the afternoon we spent a little time at the Fremantle Arts Centre looking at some art and then took a stroll down through a local neighborhood where they were airing their qulits.  It was a nice relaxing day in the beautiful spring weather.  Saturday night we spent some time with Ben, Jay, Toby and Matt. 

Fremantle Arts Centre

Airing of the Quilts on Agnes St.

Toby, Jay, Ben and Matt

Sunday was another relaxing day. We grabbed our produce at the market, worked on our presentation for work and had some more festival food.  In the afternoon we went to the Fremantle parade.  

Sunday night was reserved for Dave Faulkner, lead singer of the HooDoo Gurus. He was accompanied by Lucky Oceans, a steel guitarist from the American country/western music group Asleep at the Wheel.  It was a fun, relaxing evening under the stars.

Check out the purple shirt. He got if for $15.

So that is about all for now.  We are planning to have a Thanksgiving meal at our place next Saturday.  The guys are very excited about their first Thanksgiving (even going out of their way to download some American football to watch).  I hope everyone has a safe, fun, family filled Thanksgiving.  I'll be thinking of you all as I'm working and enduring the 98 degree heat. 

Penguins, Sea Lions and Sharks Oh My!

No, I have not seen a shark (except the one at the museum).  There was, however, a shark attack off Garden Island last weekend.  The story is quite interesting and therefore, for your reading pleasure, I have included yet another informative link for you.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/mp/8228774/shark-attacks-woman-off-garden-island/

I did see penguins and sea lions this past weekend though.  On Saturday we went to Penguin Island.  We took a little boat tour of the nearby islands, saw the sea lions, and watched the penguins being fed.  I’ll let the pictures and video tell the rest.

Penguin Island Jetty

The tour guide steering with his feet

Little Penguin

The pelicans were there to greet us when we got off the ferry

A male sea lion soaking up the sun

Sunday morning we got up bright and early for the first inaugural Fremantle Port to Port Fun Run.  Amy and I ran the 4k while Kara ran the 12k.  It was a fun morning.  I would run all the time (or at least more often) if I could have a view of the ocean like we did this morning.

Don't we look great at 6 in the morning?

Our view of Bather's Bay during the run

In the afternoon we had a delicious lunch with Ben, his mum (Josephine) and his brother (Joshua).  Josephine has a beautiful beach front home.  We spent the afternoon eating, talking and enjoying the view of the ocean.  It was a great relaxing weekend.

This week at work has been quiet.  Most of the OTs are at a professional development conference leaving us all alone at the office.  It’s a nice break though.  It has given me extra time to work on reports and plan upcoming treatment sessions.  We’ve got a project presentation coming up on Monday so we will be finishing that up and polishing our presentation this week.  Exciting I know.

A new way to spend Halloween

Warning: This blogpost contains information that will make you wish you were not in Kansas (or other places in the US) where it is getting colder. 

On that note let me just start by saying that when I go for a run it is typically next to the Swan River where I can watch the boats, sea gulls and swans.  Recently we’ve discovered a running path along the beach.  On Tuesday night Amy and I went for a run and watched the sun set over the Indian Ocean.  It was beautiful.  Unfortunately I did not have my camera so you’ll just have to believe me. Now onto the events that have transpired since I posted last…

In Australia people really don’t celebrate Halloween.  So to get our taste of American tradition we headed to the Fremantle Prison for a “spooky” night tour.  It wasn’t all that spooky but it was interesting to see the prison.  It only recently closed in 1991 and there are still items from the last inmates hanging around (a towel in the shower room to be specific).  Our tour guide was great which made up for the screaming 12 year olds in our group that freaked out at every little noise.  All in all it was a fun and informative evening.

Our tour guide Simon

Paintings in the prison yard

Flogging Pole

Solitary confinement

On Saturday we got up early to go with Ben to his dad’s (Jim) horse stables.  Turns out his stables are about 2 minutes away from the Ascot Race Track.  There is a whole neighborhood of stables within city limits.  Jim has 11 horses, two of which raced last weekend. 

Joe and Miss Lingerie

After we saw the horses in the city we headed out to Kalamunda which is in the hills.  The scenery was beautiful, the weather was great, and it was quiet and peaceful.  We saw one of Jim’s horses that has been resting for a while.  He is about ready to go back into town to begin racing. 

Before we left Kalamunda we had a bit to eat at a cute little café. 

Delicious spinach and ricotta quiche. 

The journey did not end there.  Next stop was Wandi to see the joeys (baby kangaroos) at Dig’s place.  They are so adorable.  Dig’s housemates are caring for them.  They carry them around in bags with towels and blankets to simulate the pouch.  Too cute!

You know how every year on Halloween the weather seems to be nasty, cold and rainy?  Well this year I spent Halloween at the beach because it was 85 and sunny!!  We got up early to go to Leighton Beach (about 10 minutes away).  Amy, Kara and I stayed for about 3.5 hours.  The water was freezing at first but once your limbs are numb it feels quite nice. 

After our morning at the beach we still had time to visit the Maritime Museum.  The museum is full of sailboats, ferries, canoes, kayaks, etc. that have been used in the past.  I got to see the Australia II which won the 1983 America’s Cup.  They also have a Megamouth shark that is being preserved in a tank.  Here is a link if you want to read more about the shark.  I saw the 3^rd specimen. Pretty cool museum but no pictures.  Sorry.  You'll just have to come see for yourself.

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Megamouth-Shark-Megachasma-pelagios