tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44260084054141697412024-03-14T13:31:48.285+11:00Gone on a Lucky CountryThis is the story of Joe and Mimi who have packed up their house in the bluegrass hills of Kentucky and moved to Sydney, Australia.Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-27877169533512435892012-05-17T15:42:00.000+10:002012-05-17T15:43:52.989+10:00I'm Not in Kansas AnymoreI have been trying desperately to clean up my photos folder on my hard drive as I have been taking load of photographs of the food I have been making. For the food blog. That I am starting soon. Really. I mean it.<br />
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I have an excellent filing system (as one might imagine) that includes such folders as "Random Pics", "Random Sydney Pictures", "Random Food Photos" and "Random Nature". Are you sensing a theme here? Anyway, I've run across a whole bunch of Aussie themed photos that I had taken that I have been meaning to share here.<br />
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Please enjoy my "random" collection:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r-InvVg0EvA/T7SLUvAZFcI/AAAAAAAALJg/UQImmIY7GP8/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r-InvVg0EvA/T7SLUvAZFcI/AAAAAAAALJg/UQImmIY7GP8/s400/001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the Kookaburra couple that likes to sit on the rooftop of the building next to us. It's close enough that, were the roof flat, I wouldn't be at all nervous to jump onto it from our window. So, that means that they are very very very very loud! This has also become their favourite place for "couple time" if you know what I mean. It's quite violent and frenzied and a very good reason to close the curtains...</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D7UEKVV_cE4/T7SLeNlbosI/AAAAAAAALJo/2NQAySMX3X8/s1600/2050_1231NewYearsEve0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D7UEKVV_cE4/T7SLeNlbosI/AAAAAAAALJo/2NQAySMX3X8/s400/2050_1231NewYearsEve0034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Also a favourite spot for this adorable Lorikeet couple. These birds are just so gorgeous to watch, not only because of their plumage; but because they have really cute personalities. This couple in particular seems to have a husband that is a bit of a loudmouth and a wife who just shakes her head at him. I'm sure there are lots of us who can sympathize!!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6IpQXESzf6A/T7SLsc4vnRI/AAAAAAAALJw/dbhbwfjqyiA/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6IpQXESzf6A/T7SLsc4vnRI/AAAAAAAALJw/dbhbwfjqyiA/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is an insane flower that Joe and saw on our way to breakfast one weekend. It was just down the street from us. I know it looks a little suggestive; but climb out of the gutter for a moment just to admire the absolute coolness of it. I didn't feel that this picture adequately captured the size of the bloom, so.... </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-057ljNAZ_wc/T7SLyp-jpxI/AAAAAAAALJ4/knAuzSRuOrI/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-057ljNAZ_wc/T7SLyp-jpxI/AAAAAAAALJ4/knAuzSRuOrI/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
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I had Joe provide a sense of scale. Every time I see a familiar plant here, I always notice that the one here looks like it must be taking steroids. I'm sure it's mostly to do with the climate and I'm certainly not complaining.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D45CyhDnoU0/T7SL5g_w_bI/AAAAAAAALKA/LXpqi_I2nTk/s1600/IMG_0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D45CyhDnoU0/T7SL5g_w_bI/AAAAAAAALKA/LXpqi_I2nTk/s400/IMG_0476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is some "street art" that is out at a place called Cockatoo Island. It's in the middle of the harbour and it used to be a heavy industrial site. It's been closed down for some time and, instead of tearing everything down, they've left it all as a canvas for very interesting art. You can take a ferry out and tour around the island on your own for free. Very often they have exhibitions there; but even when there isn't, there is some permanent stuff that is very cool. They also have a bar there during the summer, complete with lawn chairs and astroturf. It's an absolutely amazing place to go with friends to spend an afternoon drinking G&T's and watching the water. I've never gone with the express purpose of wandering around the island - I'd like to do that next time to see all of the industrial art.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Qiv-PCPj9o/T7SL68F_C8I/AAAAAAAALKI/i5d6klb3UvA/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Qiv-PCPj9o/T7SL68F_C8I/AAAAAAAALKI/i5d6klb3UvA/s400/IMG_0518.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Autumn brings colder weather which really stinks; but it also brings incredible sunsets which doesn't. This is one of my favourite ones from a few weeks ago. Purple water yo!!</div>
<br />Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-73149076895813665332012-05-16T18:55:00.002+10:002012-05-16T18:56:11.767+10:00All by myself....Well, not really...<br />
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And mostly by choice....<br />
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I know I haven't written much lately - in my mind, I feel as though it has been a couple of months since I blogged regularly; but the sad truth is that it's been closer to six than two. Anyway, lots of things have changed in that six months - most notably that Joe moved to a new job in a new company. What that has meant for me has been the opportunity to stay home and be a "lady that lunches".<br />
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Most of my friends work though (how dare they right?) and so I find myself doing a lot of things "all by myself". I waver between rather enjoying all the time and feeling a bit lonely. I know that I am very lucky and I also know that this status may not be forever. I may have to go back to work at some point or someday we may have children and this enviable status of stay at home wife could go right out the window.<br />
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Because I am aware of how lucky I truly am, I am not complaining even a little bit about those spots of loneliness - I am trying to embrace the opportunity to do things that I never had time for before.<br />
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I am starting a cooking blog. No really. I am. Soon. Seriously. I promise. Stop laughing.<br />
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Well, the whole point of this post is that I was on the bus the other week coming back from some shops when we happened to stop at a red light right in front of our local cinema. I was looking at the posters and a sudden thought flashed into my head. I realised that I have never seen a movie by myself in my whole life! Ever! So, I resolved then and there to rectify that situation as soon as possible. It took me a couple of weeks to get around to it; but this afternoon I went to a movie by myself.<br />
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Just a quick word about our cinema. It's called the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace and I think it's grand! It's a fully restored art deco theatre so the technology is new but the furnishings are still swank.<br />
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This is the largest theatre where the most popular movies play. During prime time, there is an old Victrola Organ in the floor that gets raised up before the movie and you get a little concert. Majorly cool!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_avmuub98VhE/SteDzP61DRI/AAAAAAAANMw/Je1XcQfbFsU/s400/DSCN0023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_avmuub98VhE/SteDzP61DRI/AAAAAAAANMw/Je1XcQfbFsU/s320/DSCN0023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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How amazing is that?</div>
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<a href="http://media.au.timeout.com/contentFiles/image/galleries/hayden-orpheum/theatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://media.au.timeout.com/contentFiles/image/galleries/hayden-orpheum/theatre.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Even the smaller theatres are cool. This one is only about 60-70 seats and so lots of the smaller films play here. This is actually the cinema I sat in today when I saw my movie. Me and 4 other people!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIt2VDcUDGg/T4QD2ncwsVI/AAAAAAAAFAg/8MGwalTkFKw/s1600/The-Best-Exotic-Marigold-Hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIt2VDcUDGg/T4QD2ncwsVI/AAAAAAAAFAg/8MGwalTkFKw/s320/The-Best-Exotic-Marigold-Hotel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I saw a movie called </span><i style="text-align: left;">The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel</i><span style="text-align: left;"> and I am recommending it highly if you have the opportunity to see it.</span></div>
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<br />Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-41378654016055942462012-04-27T14:30:00.001+10:002012-04-27T14:31:08.791+10:00Reason #24618 I love living in AustraliaMy chemist knows my name....<br />
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It feels hard to explain why that is such a big deal - but I will try...<br />
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Instead of having giant Walmarts, Krogers, CVSs and Walgreens to choose from for our prescription needs, we have two local "chemists". I chose one when we first moved here simply because it was on one side of the street versus another. This isn't like a Walgreens where you can pop in for some groceries, a dog toy, a belated birthday card for your cousin, eyeliner and your prescription. No, this is a tiny little store - maybe the size of two largish bedrooms smooshed together and their opening hours are not conducive to modern times. They are open till 7pm weeknights and have very limited hours on weekends. If you went in with that list that I just named off, you would walk out with just the prescription. That's all they do....<br />
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It sounds limiting and there were times when we first moved here that I struggled with that. Joe and I both take maintenance prescriptions so, while I wasn't in there a lot, I was in there about once a month. When Joe had his big surgery back in October, we struggled with getting his pain managed properly. The doctor agreed that he needed an additional script of the main pain med he was taking. They asked for the name of my chemist and I gave it to him. Later that day, when I went to pick up the script, the chemist didn't know what I was talking about - apparently, the doctor sent the new script through snail mail to us - not even to the chemist!! There was no calling or faxing. The chemist tried to call the Dr to verify; but it was after 5pm so no dice. Luckily, the Dr had scanned the new script and emailed it to us. I showed the copy to the chemist and he filled it because he knew us and knew we weren't trying to scam him.<br />
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So, can you imagine going into CVS or Walgreens with a *copy* of a prescription for narcotic pain killers and having them fill it and telling you, "just bring the original in when you get it in the mail."?? Can you imagine?<br />
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Anyway, since then, he has filled another script for Joe while still waiting on the new one from his regular Dr. To be fair, this is one of the ones we get every month; but still.... how great of service is that?<br />
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Last month, I ran out of refills on my regular prescription. When I picked up the last one, the chemist gave me the used up script and told me to get a new one from my Dr and drop it off when I had time. I did it a couple of weeks later and stopped back in to drop it off. He was behind the counter in the back filling a script so the shop girl was trying to help me. I was just trying to explain what I was dropping off to the confused girl when he popped out...<br />
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"Hey *insert my real name here*, is that your new script for *insert medicine name here*?<br />
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"It is!"<br />
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"Do you need it filled now or later? You should still have 2 weeks worth from the last one but I can fill it right away if it's easier"<br />
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So, in that moment I realised.... My chemist knows my name by sight, he knows what medicine I take and approximately always knows when I will be needing a refill. A couple weeks after that when I was picking up my medicine, he asked, "Does Joe need his *insert medicine name here* filled? He should be almost out".<br />
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In that second moment I realised.... My chemist knows both of our names and all of our medicines and when they need to be refilled. How great is that?<br />
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Brings a whole new meaning to personal service!<br />
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<br />Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-68290529728943271762011-11-10T14:59:00.001+11:002011-11-10T14:59:32.411+11:00Aria Restaurant Sydney - 24 hours and counting.....There is this great couple that recently moved to Sydney from Atlanta. Their names are Mollie and Dan and their blog is <a href="http://myfavoritethings-atlgirl.blogspot.com/">here</a>. The reason why I bring them up is due to the fact that we have a date with them tomorrow night - a date I have been looking forward to for a month - A date to eat incredible food...<br />
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The idea hatched itself over some glasses of wine (could it have happened in any other setting?) - basically, the four of us love to eat really incredible meals in top restaurants and we are blessed enough in our lives to have the means by which to pay for these meals. So, we decided to make a list of the top restaurants in Sydney (after all, we are in a foodie's paradise - why not take advantage of it?) and then eat at one every month. Obviously there are going to be some hiccups in the plan as we will be in New Zealand for a good chunk of December and will need to skip that month; but the four of us are also pretty easy going so no rigid schedule is being adhered to.<br />
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This month, November, is our first month in action on this plan. We chose the restaurant <a href="http://www.ariarestaurant.com/default.asp?action=article&ID=21609">Aria</a> (when I say we, I mean Mollie and myself - the poor guys are just arm candy for this project!) which is located just before the forecourt of the Opera House and has a lovely view of both the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I think any food tastes better when consumed looking at a view like this</i></span></div>
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The restaurant is owned and run by celebrity chef <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Moran">Matt Moran</a> who is most recently famous for guest-judging on the third season of Masterchef Australia. Side note, if you don't download and watch this show, you should.... I think it's better than the American version and that's really saying something...<br />
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As you might have guessed by now, I'm more than a little excited about our dinner there tomorrow night. I think we've all agreed to go with the tasting menu (always my favourite way to eat since you get to try lots of things) and with good reason. Check this baby out:<br />
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">TUNA</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sashimi and tartare of yellow fin tuna with yabbie tails, cucumber ,honeydew melon and wasabi<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PARFAIT</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">chicken and foie gras parfait with a salad of smoked duck, rhubarb and black pepper</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SALMON</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">roasted fillet of King salmon with fennel, orange and watercress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PEKING DUCK CONSOMME</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">with dumplings, shaved abalone and mushrooms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">PORK BELLY</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kurobuta pork belly with pork croquette and caramelised apple</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">LAMB</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">roasted fillet with ricotta gnocchi, pumpkin and mustard fruit purée and a sage and balsamic sauce</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">panna cotta with pistachios, balsamic strawberries and strawberry sorbet</span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">COFFEE AND PETITS FOURS</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;">Suffice to say, my mouth is already watering!</span></div>
<br />Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-9486224444211562922011-11-09T12:00:00.000+11:002011-11-09T12:00:00.609+11:00It's Spring!! I'm Cheerful!!One of the best things about living in Sydney is the glorious weather. I know... that sounds dramatic - but I grew up in <a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/OH/Cleveland.html">Cleveland, Ohio</a>. A place where it was not uncommon to have snow 6 months out of the year. A place where summer only lasted a few weeks each year. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit; but as someone who is always cold, moving here was like a lifetime dream fulfilled! No Snow! Ever! At worst it gets down in the 40's during winter! Heaven...<br />
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Granted, now that I've been here for 2 winters, I'm starting to feel like 40 degrees is actually really really really cold! Oh acclimatisation, you are a cruel trickster!<br />
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Anyway, I can't decide if it's all the <a href="http://goneonaluckycountry.blogspot.com/2011/11/good-excuses-for-win.html">excellent sleep I've been getting</a> or the fact that Spring is truly here that is making me in such a stinking good mood - but, who cares? Life is awesome!<br />
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I do think that the warmer weather has a lot to do with my happiness though - Spring in Sydney is scattered with these really lovely signs of growth. I know I have posted about the <a href="http://goneonaluckycountry.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-was-going-to-blog-tonight-but.html">Jacaranda Trees</a> in the past and I know I have posted pictures of them; but I just can't convey how gorgeous it is to look out of our windows and see dots of brilliant purple all over the cityscape.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eIv_-KNZj68/Tri4WE6higI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/WlEJxZqxxAI/s1600/jacaranda+tree+lovely+symmetrical.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eIv_-KNZj68/Tri4WE6higI/AAAAAAAAJpQ/WlEJxZqxxAI/s640/jacaranda+tree+lovely+symmetrical.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This is not my picture - I found it on-line and stole it...</i></span></div>
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The sky is crazy blue every day - a blue that you will. not. believe. until you actually come here and see it for yourself. It's warm enough to sit outside on the ferry in the mornings on the way to work. The past few mornings it's actually been a bit too hot to sit in the sun on the ferry and we have had to seek seats with some shade (well, Joe thinks it's too hot - I think it's glorious!).<br />
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It's still light out now when we leave for work. The windows are open in our bedroom now and so we are being woken up by water, sail boat and bird noise. Not a bad alarm clock if you ask me! Basically, everything is sunny, warm and beautiful! (see what all this extra sleep does to me? I am so annoyingly cheerful!)<br />
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Summer in Sydney is festival time. Every week there are new tents, signs, and exhibits being set up in Hyde Park. We just finished up with the Crave Food Festival and it's attendant Night Noodle Markets. Joe and I went last year; but had to give it a miss this year as it was taking place right during the week of surgery stuff (see previous post). The events for the Annual Sydney Festival have just been announced and already my calendar for January and February is <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=chockers">chockers</a> with events. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh0wJY00-a0/Tri3h2uyHmI/AAAAAAAAJpI/6g-jz4eIxwg/s1600/IMG_0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh0wJY00-a0/Tri3h2uyHmI/AAAAAAAAJpI/6g-jz4eIxwg/s640/IMG_0086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Heaps of flowers have been set-up in the forecourt of St Mary's Cathedral as they are every spring and summer.</i></span></div>
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There is just something so awesome about looking forward and realising that from the beginning of November to about May it is just going to be lovely outside. Realising that you have a full six months in which to spend your weekends on beaches or sprawled out on blankets some where watching an outdoor cinema or listening to a free concert. <br />
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Jealous yet? Want to visit yet? Seriously, <a href="http://www.tourism.australia.com/en-au/">Tourism Australia</a> should hire me to market to cold mid-westerners!<br />
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Basically this taunting is fully intended for my family.... Come visit! Soon!Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-57108007463208790972011-11-08T15:28:00.000+11:002011-11-08T15:28:14.811+11:00Good Excuses for the Win!!I know I haven't been here in forever and usually I don't have a very good excuse for my prolonged absences; but this time I have a few decent excuses. Our life has been busy busy over the last couple of months... We took a beautiful holiday to Fremantle and the Margaret River region. We drank (and bought) lots of gorgeous wine while we we there and returned in just enough time for a busy week of catch-up before Joe went in for surgery. Ha ha!! See? I do have good reasons? I win....<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQInSdW3-C0/TowV9CIhFvI/AAAAAAAAJkQ/nmfIaM_TQxM/s1600/2011-10-02+15.54.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQInSdW3-C0/TowV9CIhFvI/AAAAAAAAJkQ/nmfIaM_TQxM/s640/2011-10-02+15.54.22.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Gorgeous Picture of Watershed Winery in Margaret River - stay tuned for more posts on this later</i></span></div>
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My poor husband had been having horrible problems with breathing that were growing steadily worse over the last six months. Sleep was eluding him (and by proxy, me) and slowly, breathing during the day also became a real hardship. He started up with a horrible hacking cough, his asthma returned and every cold virus and allergy irritation seemed to be attracted to him. It all happened so gradually over a period of months that neither of us really saw the true impact that it was having on us. We were both exhausted, we were getting sick constantly and poor Joe could hardly breathe! He finally got a referral to see an ENT specialist who took one look and told him that he need surgery and soon...<br />
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Basically, everything in Joe's breathing area (Please don't be intimidated by my fancy medical terms - I'm really just like you) was swelling up and slowly cutting off his airway. Nice right? Additionally, he has some genetic malfunction where his esophagus is weak and will continue to swell and get irritated if not taken care of... The long and short of all this gross medical talk is that Joe had to have surgery. In this surgery, he had his adenoids and tonsils removed - he also had part of his soft palate shaved back and he had his entire esophagus cauterised, widened and scored with little cuts to ensure a strong esophagus for life.<br />
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It was a <u><b>rough</b></u> procedure and there was a whole lot of pain involved. A whole lot. Joe could tell you a lot more about the specifics of the pain; but let me tell you, it was hard just to watch him go through it. It was made much worse by the fact that the dose of pain meds that they gave him wasn't even half strength. He wasn't eating or drinking and I started getting concerned. Thank goodness for my lovely sister Julie who is a nurse. She gave me all the proper info on what safe dosages were, I called Joe's Dr., he agreed and we went forward with better pain management. That's when things started turning around and the healing process began. Yesterday was just 3 weeks out from the surgery and Joe is feeling like a whole new person. He still gets a bit tired and sore when he talks too much and he still has to concentrate a little bit when he's drinking so as not to allow the liquids to come out his nose!!<br />
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The best part of this whole procedure has been the sleep. Oh! The Sleep!! Neither of us realised (again, as it al happened so gradually) how little sleep we were actually getting through the night. It has been absolute heaven to go to bed every night and wake up feeling truly rested. As the sleep has improved, everything has improved. We are in good moods all the time, we want to go out and do things, we are happy and life is beautiful. I know that anyone reading this who is a parent will understand what I am talking about when I say that 6 solid months of interrupted and crappy sleep can make life seem like a very dark place.<br />
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Anyway, if you add together the general misery leading up to the surgery, the surgery, the recovery and some other largely life-changing decisions that have gone on in the last week and a half (and no, I'm not preggers) than I would say that I have some darn good excuses for neglecting you for the last month or so.<br />
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I promise I'll be better from here on out - and really, with this much sleep in my life, I am feeling like there is not much that I can't do right now.<br />
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More news to follow in the coming weeks - we are welcoming summer, our first overseas visitors and some big changes here so there should be plenty of writing material!Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-9685058338725251342011-09-30T11:32:00.000+10:002011-09-30T11:32:51.755+10:00It's Fridayyyyy... Fridayyyy....Well, Joe and I leave for Perth tonight and I can't wait. I've been really struggling with anxiety this week - not sleeping well and generally feeling quite on-edge.... Luckily, I had plans to meet up with Cristin for a Mani/Pedi last night so that helped to get me in a holiday mood. I also made the executive decision that I needed a massage so after my nails, I ran next door and got a 90 minute Thai massage. So worth it (even though I'm a bit sore today) and exactly what I needed to finally let go of all my stress and tension and mentally prepare for our holiday.<br />
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Of course, because I spent hours after work getting pampered, I didn't get home till late. That meant that we ate dinner late, I finished the laundry very late, started packing extremely late and went to bed ridiculously late. So, I'm pretty tired today; but still feeling really mellow - maybe I'll try to sleep on the plane...<br />
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<br />Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-74354602656119817882011-09-27T14:25:00.000+10:002011-09-27T14:26:38.719+10:00Pierogi Party - Part 2 - Everything Else<br />
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After the filling is chilled, it's time to make the dough and assemble the pierogis. I strongly advise recruiting as many people as possible to help with the process.... turn it into a family tradition, invite people over and call it a party.... whatever you decide to go with, just know that this is not a one person job.</div>
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I would like to thank the 9 other people who tramped over to my house to offer support (the men) and help me (the women)!! It was a day long process with pauses for a pizza lunch and a reward dinner of kielbasa and pierogis. Much beer and wine was consumed of course as you can't have a party in Australia without that! We all walked away from the day richer by several dozen pierogis each, deeper friendships with each other and lurking hangovers... </div>
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I'd also like to thank <a href="http://opalheartedcountry.blogspot.com/">Cristin</a> for coming over and being my own personal photog for the day so that you could all see the step by step process. Didn't she do a lovely job? Also thanks to Ellen for a picture of hers that I used and to Jon for a few photos of his that I used here as well - one of which perfectly captures the joy you should have while making these little beauties... Enjoy! </div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mimi's Pierogi Dough</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-Adapted from pretty much every pasta dough recipe out there</span></div>
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1 cup flour</div>
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1 egg</div>
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1 T canola oil</div>
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1 T cold water</div>
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Pinch salt</div>
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl until a flaky ball of dough forms - I use my hands because <strike>I'm not fancy</strike> it's easier to help the ingredients come together. It doesn't matter if the dough seems quite messy and uncombined. It will come together while it is resting. If the dough is very very dry and you cannot get all the little floury bits to come together than you can add a 2nd tablespoon of cold water.</div>
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Cover the dough and let it rest for at least a half hour so the gluten can relax.<span> </span>Cut the dough ball into 4 pieces.<span> </span></div>
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Roll out each piece by pushing it through a pasta machine on the highest (thickest) setting. Fold it in half and run through the machine again several times, folding each time. This is called "laminating" the dough. As you proceed though this process you will notice the dough goes from feeling sticky to feeling very smooth and glossy. Once the dough has become smooth and glossy and you have it in a nice square shape than you can begin running it through progressively smaller settings on your pasta machine. Do not fold the dough once you start this process. I use an Atlas pata maker, I laminate on setting 1 and then run the dough through to setting 5.</div>
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Cut circles out of the dough. Now, you can do this with whatever utensil you would like; but here is my 2 cents. I have made hundreds and hundreds of pierogis throughout my life and I can't recommend this little silver tool that you see in the above photo highly enough... it's by Pampered Chef and it's called a <a href="http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=33&categoryCode=CE">Cut-N-Seal</a>. If you follow this link than you will see that it's under $10.00 - totally worth it! If you don't have one than you can use a circular cookie cutter or something else like it.</div>
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Place a small spoonful of filling in the middle of each dough circle.</div>
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Hopefully, look this happy and excited about doing all this work cause you know it will be worth it at the end of the day!</div>
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Fold the dough over the filling while pressing the edges lightly together. Place flat on cutting surface, ensure all air bubbles are pushed out and then press down in the centre of your Cut-N-Seal to trim the excess dough from the edges and achieve a uniformed seal. If you don't have this beautiful tool than you can seal your pierogis with a swipe of water, edge of a fork, and quite a bit of pressure. Again, I can't recommend this tool from Pampered Chef enough. In this batch of about 15 dozen, there were only about 3 pierogis that opened up while boiling - with more traditional methods of sealing, your rate of pierogi death will be significantly higher. Plus they just won't look as pretty!</div>
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Once the pierogis are sealed and ready to go, drop them in salted, lightly boiling water for about 3 minutes per batch. You don't want to crowd them in the pot so only do about 6-8 at once. Drain and cool the pierogis on a cooling rack placed over something to catch excess water. Be prepared to change your water at least once and possibly twice when you are doing a large amount. Once the water starts looking thick and cloudy it's time to start a clean pot to boil. After the pierogis have cooled, I pack them in Ziplock Quart Freezer bags by the half dozen. They freeze quite nicely and will keep for up to 3 months.</div>
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Pierogis are best served fried up in a pan with butter and onions; but the above method is nice with kielbasa and good for a crowd. Throw a bunch of the pierogis and kielbasa in a baking dish, top with melted butter and carmelised onions and then into a 350 degree oven until everything looks all toasty and delicious. When using fresh (uncooked) kielbasa (as in the bottom photo) just cut into one of the pieces so you can make sure not to serve your guests undercooked pork.</div>
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So, that's basically it. Lots of hard work; but, I promise, worth it in the end....</div>
Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-50138277644443364132011-09-27T13:17:00.000+10:002011-09-27T14:26:11.939+10:00Pierogi Party Part1 - The Filling<br />
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Welcome to my step by step primer on making the most delicious pierogis that you have ever tasted!</div>
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One of the places that pierogi's can go wrong is in the filling. The number one rule is that the filling has to made in advance and left to chill in the fridge <u>at least</u> over night... I procrastinated horribly and didn't start my filling until 10pm on the night before the pierogi party... Why? I don't even remember... </div>
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Anyway, here is the "ish" recipe for the pierogi filling. I say "ish" because you may decide to add more or less of something - you will need to taste as you go and adjust accordingly. I've never actually written my recipe down so this time when I made the filling I wrote down the amounts as I went. I started with 2 cups of onions, made it all the way to the end and realised it was not enough... I had to fry off 2 more cups to make the filling taste right... So, go with your gut here (literally and figuratively) - you are looking for really thick, salty, cheesy oniony mashed potatoes....</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mimi's Pierogi Filling</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">- Adapted from my mother's recipe who adapted it from my Grandmother's recipe</span></div>
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5 lbs potatoes</div>
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4 cups diced onion</div>
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150 grams butter</div>
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2 T salt </div>
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(I use flaked sea salt-use less if you are using table salt)</div>
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325 gram sharp cheddar cheese cubed </div>
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(preferably white)</div>
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Peel, dice and boil the potatoes as though you are making mashed potatoes. </div>
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Saute the butter and onions over medium high heat until carmelised and almost burnt. Add 1 teaspoon of the sea salt as you are cooking down the onions.</div>
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When potatoes are soft, drain the water off of them and put them in your mixer bowl. Use the wisk attachment so that the potatoes get to mashed consistency. Add the cooked onion (making sure you scrape all of the butter and browned bits out of the pan) and add the cheese several cubes at a time, followed by the salt. </div>
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Mix until the consistency is smooth and the cheese is melted. The mixture should be fairly thick and glossy from the cheese. Taste at this point and add more salt, onions or cheese as needed until the mixture is very flavourful.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p>Chill filling for at least 4 hours – preferably overnight…</div>
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The consistency should be quite similar to cookie dough.</div>
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Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-21019577000669252312011-08-31T14:37:00.000+10:002011-08-31T14:37:44.768+10:00Revisiting my ListI was checking out some new blog followers when I came across someone who wants to move to Australia. She posted a list on her blog of things that she wanted to do once she got here and she stated that she got the idea from another blogger (and kept some of the original items). As I read my way down the list, I realised that the list came from me! It was only my fourth entry in this blog and it has been so long since I wrote it that I had almost forgotten about it. I went back and read through it and I thought it might be fun to re-visit it now that we have been living here for a year. Anyway, thanks Jay Jay (hope you are reading this) for reminding me about this and I hope your immigration process goes smoothly! You will love it here!<br />
<br />
<u>Here is the original list:</u><br />
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<li>Visit Fiji at least once</li><br />
<li>Take a vacation to Thailand/Singapore/Malaysia/Philippines</li><br />
<li><strike>Visit Melbourne</strike> - <b><i>This was a fun trip; but I didn't really connect to Melbourne as a city. It just made me miss Sydney.</i></b></li><br />
<li><strike>Drive the Great Ocean Road</strike> - <b><i>This was incredible! I fully plan on going back again soon and doing this again. I saw more beautiful things on a weekend during this trip than I have ever seen in my life.</i></b></li><br />
<li>Snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef</li><br />
<li>Visit Tasmania</li><br />
<li>Visit both New Zealand Islands - <b><i>Not done yet; but we are going for 2 weeks with Joe's parents right before Christmas</i></b></li><br />
<li>Take a tour through wine country - <b><i>Not sure why I was so vague with this one when I wrote it? Which region? I didn't know there were so many! Anyway, we are going to the Margaret River Valley in a few weeks and I can cross this one off!</i></b></li><br />
<li>Go to Japan</li><br />
<li>Stay at one really upscale resort in one of the places listed above</li><br />
<li><strike>Go to the <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Taronga</span></span> Zoo</strike> - <b><i>This was really cool - I went with a friend who got me on her family pass. I can't get over how expensive the entry fee is; but it would be worth it at least once just to see it - it's a great zoo.</i></b></li><br />
<li><strike>Walk through the Botanical Gardens</strike> - <b><i>Happy to report that I've done this a fair number of times! So many times, in fact, that I can't even tally them all up...</i></b></li><br />
<li>Go to a show at the Sydney Opera House at least once - <b><i>Still haven't done this! What is wrong with me? </i></b><b><i> I see that Opera House EVERY DAY and I still have not been inside...</i></b><b><i> I am asking Joe for tickets to something for my birthday and we are getting this done. </i></b></li><br />
<li>Visit every famous Sydney Beach - <b><i>Again, I'm not even sure what I was thinking when I wrote this... I'm not even sure if I know what all the famous beaches are in Sydney. I've been to Manly, Balmoral, Bondi. Coogee, Tamarama, Clovelley and Bronte. What am I missing? Maybe Curl Curl and Dee Why?</i></b></li><br />
<li>Take a vacation to Hawaii</li><br />
<li>Have a picnic in all of the famous Sydney Parks - <b><i>Again... What parks are the famous ones? Well, I eat my lunch in Cook and Phillip park all the time; but that isn't really famous. Obviously, we have supped in many of the aspects of the Botanical Gardens. Surprisingly enough, we have never had a picnic in Hyde Park. I walk through it every day to and from work; but I've never eaten there. Oh Wait! I take it back! We went to the Night Noodle Markets there, sat on some newspapers, ate pork buns and split a bottle of wine. Sounds like a picnic to me! Am I missing some famous parks?</i></b></li><br />
<li>Take a cruise through Sydney Harbour - <b><i>Does taking the ferry back and forth every day count? I think we will do one of those touristy sight-seeing cruises when Joe's parents come at Christmas</i></b></li><br />
<li><strike>See Mrs. <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="background-color: white;">Macquaries</span></span> Chair</strike> - <b><i>Indeed, and have the pictures to prove it! Not sure why I thought this was that important? It was cool and all; but I'm not sure it belongs on a list with a trip to Fiji.... Just sayin...</i></b></li><br />
<li><strike>Attend the open-air cinema</strike> - <b><i>I'm crossing this one off even though we never got to go to the St. George cinema in the Botanical Gardens (which is the specific one that I was writing about). We did purchase season tickets for the Starlight cinemas at the North Sydney Oval and spent many an evening under the stars watching movies...</i></b></li><br />
<li>Hold a koala - <b><i>Now that I've seen koalas in the wild on our Great Ocean Road trip, I have less desire to hold one. Seeing one seemed to fill whatever koala shaped hole was in my life at the time I wrote this..</i></b></li><br />
<li>See a kangaroo - <b><i>I'm not going to cross this off since I've only seen one in the zoo - I don't think it counts till you see one in the wild...</i></b></li><br />
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</i></b><br />
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</i></b></div><div>I think I've done pretty good so far with crossing things off this list - next year is definitely the year for Fiji! Now that we've been here for a while, I think I need to sit down and draw up a new list. Perhaps this time I'll keep it out in the open instead of burying it in a blog post and not looking at it for a year!</div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-41271538052226939032011-08-26T14:57:00.000+10:002011-08-26T14:57:44.952+10:00Spring equals Fall?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwtUFVI37HM/Tlb7icjVZKI/AAAAAAAAI1Q/mX8Mg9uls4s/s1600/2011-08-26+11.47.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwtUFVI37HM/Tlb7icjVZKI/AAAAAAAAI1Q/mX8Mg9uls4s/s400/2011-08-26+11.47.31.jpg" width="300" /></a>Today is Daffodil Day here in Australia.<span> </span>This is a huge fundraiser by the Cancer Council (much like the American Cancer Society for those back home) that is held every year to raise funds for research etc…<span> </span>The event, in a nutshell, is people all over the city selling merchandise to raise the funds.<span> </span>Most of the volunteers are school children in their uniforms and they are quite adorable and earnest about selling as much as they can.<span> </span>I always buy from the boys that stand on Wharf 4 of Circular Quay as I am getting off the ferry.<span> </span>My reasoning is simple:<span> </span>people will approach you over and over during your morning commute asking you to support the Cancer Council; but if they can see that you have already bought something than they leave you alone.<span> </span>So, I try to buy something the instant I step into the city.<span> </span>In hindsight, I wish I had waited and bought from the two 10 year old boys at the exit of the St. James Station.<span> </span>They were having a very serious discussion with each other about where exactly to stand to maximise their sales thereby raising more money.<span> </span>What cuties!<span> </span>This year I bought a sunny little bunch of actual Daffodils.<span> </span>It’s a very small bunch for $5.00; but for such a good cause that I would have paid double that.<span> </span>They are quite fragrant and, as I sit here at my desk, basking in Spring flowers and dreaming about the 67 degree day outside the windows right now, it’s hard to reconcile that it’s actually almost September. <span> </span>Anywho – here are some facts about Daffodil Day:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>This year Daffodil Day celebrates its 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary in Australia</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">The largest national fundraising event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, Daffodil Day raises essential finds for cancer research, prevention and support services.</span></li>
<li>The daffodil is the international symbol of hope for all touched by cancer</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">This year Daffodil Day aims to raise over $9.5 million to fund the cancer control initiatives, patient support and research services of Cancer Council's eight state and territory member organisations</span></li>
<li>More than 10,000 volunteers are expected to staff over 1,200 Daffodil Day sites across Australia</li>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Last night a friend with a car was nice enough to drive me out to a little Polish deli in Roseville.<span> </span>As you know (if you read my last post), I am having a pierogi party tomorrow and I was hoping to get some authentic and delicious kielbasa to cook up with the pierogis when we are done working for a much deserved reward dinner.<span> </span>Well! It was incredible! If you live in Sydney you should go there and buy as much deliciousness as you can carry home. I cannot recommend it highly enough!<span> </span>This place is called European Taste Smallgoods and Delicatessen – they don’t have a website; but if you Google them you will find lots of articles about them.<span> </span>They are at 19 Hill St. in Roseville….<span> </span>It’s a very tiny place – just enough space for a couple of deli cases and some dry goods on the other side.<span> </span>Pretty much everything was in Polish which made me feel proud and sad and sorry all at once.<span> </span>Proud of being Polish, sad for Dad being gone and sorry that we never learned Polish growing up.<span> </span>I checked out the deli cases while the customer before me was being helped and found what I was looking for!!<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The woman behind the counter (who I also think was one half of the couple that own it) made me think of Grandma Ziebro – in those pictures before her hair went all grey.<span> </span>Anyway, she helped me find the kielbasa I wanted – there was only smoked in the case so I asked her for fresh.<span> </span>She gave me a suspicious look and said “Only in freezer, only in package of six – you still want?”<span> </span>Indeed I did.<span> </span>She handed it to me a little reluctantly and I asked her if it was the same flavor as the smoked garlic one I was getting.<span> </span>She said no.<span> </span>I asked what the difference was and she said “This one raw – you must cook!”<span> </span>Poor woman, I kept trying to tell her that I knew that it was raw meat and that I needed to cook it ; but I think she was nervous to sell it to me cause she thought I would take it home, eat it raw and get sick.<span> </span>She packaged them up though and as she was ringing them up she asked me why I was buying so much.<span> </span>I told her about the party and that I was teaching people how to make pierogis.<span> </span>She immediately paused and took the handle of the shopping bag and pulled it to her side of the counter.<span> </span>I was still waiting for the total when this conversation happened:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Her – “<u>You</u> are going to <u>teach</u> people how to make pierogis?”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Me – “Yes….”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her – “How do you know how to make them?”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Me – “My Dad was Polish and I had a big family and we used to make them all the time.<span> </span>I decided one year that I wanted to really perfect the family recipe so I worked on it for a long time and now I have a really great recipe and an easy way of making them”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her – “What kind you make?”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Me – “Mushroom and sauerkraut and potato.”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her (nodding) – “Ok…. What do you put in your dough?”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Me – “Flour, eggs, water, oil and salt”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her – “Yes, many people do not put the oil”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Me – “Oh, you definitely need the oil or the dough is not good”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Her – “Ok! <span> </span>Very Good!”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then she got all smiley, gave me the total and wished me well for the party.<span> </span>Whew!<span> </span>I was quite nervous that I was going to fail the test and not be allowed to buy my kielbasa.<span> </span>She was so cute that I want to take her back in some of my pierogis when they are done, ask her to adopt me as her granddaughter and teach me Polish.<span> </span>They are right by a train station so I see many trips for kielbasa in my future.<span> </span>I am just sorry for the people who will be riding that train home with me, smelling that garlicky goodness and not getting to have any.<span> </span>I hadn’t gotten to taste any of the stuff I bought so it was with great trepidation (who am I kidding – I ripped that package open and cut a piece off before I even said hello to my husband) that I tried a piece when I got home.<span> </span>It is some of the best kielbasa I have ever tasted.<span> </span>Like Easter Kielbasa on delicious steroids.<span> </span>Amazing…<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This morning as I was leaving for work, I quickly reached in the fridge to grab an orange and a yogurt to throw in my bag for breakfast.<span> </span>I shut the fridge door and a split second later that garlic and spice smell reached out and slapped me across the face a couple of times.<span> </span>In that instant I was a little girl – at the top of the basement stairs – back when there was orange striped carpet (I think?) – smelling that same smell sneaking its way out of that old green fridge with the silver handle that was in the basement – Easter was just a few days away – Mom was making poppy seed roll just up those 3 stairs in the kitchen – I was getting called to knead some Babka – Daffodils were blooming in the woods and Lily’s of the Valley were sending their scent in through the open kitchen window.<span> </span>I wanted to live in that memory for the rest of my life and, when I blinked and it faded, I just wanted to sit on the kitchen floor and weep for every Easter that I will ever have in my life that isn’t like that one.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is yet another thing that confuses my seasons/holidays.<span> </span>Daffodils, kielbasa smells and slowly warming weather spells Easter to me….<span> </span>Instead, I should start thinking about our Labour Day trip, whether or not we will have a Halloween party and how big of a turkey I will need for Thanksgiving this year.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Quite strange…<span> </span><o:p></o:p></div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-89636206049479268952011-08-24T09:59:00.000+10:002011-08-24T09:59:59.561+10:00Bad Mood DayI had to get up an hour earlier than usual this morning and it really threw me off - I kept asking Joe on the commute in to the city why he was so cranky. Suddenly I realised that I was the cranky one... Oops...<br />
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I've been trying to take lots of deep breaths this morning - I had a coffee etc... Just trying to tame this wave of irritation that keeps spiking up. Well, it's not really working so well.<br />
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Any tips? I could really use them right now....<br />
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Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-5347297094151548242011-08-12T14:23:00.000+10:002011-08-12T14:23:58.262+10:00This was all I could come up with...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">This is about my eighteenth attempt at writing a blog post in so many days. One of the posts during last week’s spate of beautiful weather in the 70’s was titled “Spring has Sprung!”<span> </span>I deleted that one because really, how many times can you write “It’s so warm!!<span> </span>I love sunshine!” before you realise it’s a crap post? (It’s about 6 times by the way – at least that’s how many I wrote before I deleted the entry).<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anyway, <span> </span>I stole an idea from another blogger for this entry and it’s so easy that I know I will actually write it.<span> </span>Basically, I am just going to list some non-sequiturs from my recent life in bullet points below and then you will all be filled in on how exciting my life is.<span> </span>No really… </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Ok, here goes:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>In Australia, you are supposed to drive (AND WALK) on the left. This bullet point is for the crazy woman in Cook and Phillips park this morning who walked straight towards us on the right (direction not degree of correctness) of the side walk and then made us stop completely and shuffle around so that she wouldn't have to walk on the correct side of the side walk. I hope that you are reading this!</li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>I had cinnamon toast for brekkie this morning and it was magical. Not cinnamon bread that was toasted - oh no! This was white bread toasted with cinnamon sugar on top. Joe was sick this week and one night for dinner he made himself cinnamon toast - I wasn't even paying attention till he sat down with it and the smell hit me. It was one of those visceral scents that transport you to a time in your childhood. I think the last time I had cinnamon toast like that was when I was living at home and my Mom made it for me. I can't believe I forgot about it - it's so comforting and delicious especially with a hot cup of tea.</li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Joe and I are going on a date night tonight - we have both been sick with horrible flu/cold/coughs and since we are now all recovered we will be celebrating with dinner and a movie in the city.</li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>It really irritates me when I get a work email that someone has signed only with their initial. I know they don't mean anything by it; but to me it says, "I'm so busy and important that I can't be stuffed to write my full name for you..."</li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>I am hosting a pierogi party at our place sometime in the next month where lots of people will come over, I will teach them how to make yummy pierogis, we will make them all day and then we will all have dozens to keep in the freezer like little bags of gold! This party necessitated me buying a pasta maker and I treated myself to a gorgeous black Atlas beauty.</li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><ul><li>Best for Last.... My husband has the greatest sense of humour... We have a slow leak in the S pipe under our sink. I have a little bowl under it catching the drips; but it seems to be getting worse. I asked Joe to email our real estate agent about it and, let me tell you, if I had wrote the email it would have been matter of fact, boring and no frills. This is the email that Joe sent:</li>
</ul><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><i>"Hi __________,</i></b></span></div><div><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div><b><i>I'm sad to report that the recent spat of cold weather has given our kitchen sink S-pipe a bit of the sniffles. It has a pretty persistent drip that no amount of tissues and love seems to cure. It's making a bit of a mess of the cupboard under the sink. Would you mind sending the plumbing doctor over for a house call?"</i></b></div><div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Isn't he just the cutest?</div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-4726950661547243302011-07-26T17:32:00.000+10:002011-07-26T17:32:37.410+10:00Bacon Bacon Bacon!!!<div class="MsoNormal">This is a tale of our epic weekend….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brought to you on a Tuesday; but who’s counting? That's a joke - I know who's counting...<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It all started with this incredible recipe I found for chicken enchiladas….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided that I was going to make them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The recipe calls for a can of green chiles which I just so happen to have in my pantry (thanks to my fabulous M-I-L).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided that I should always have green chiles in the pantry for a “just in case” scenario and so I began a hunt to find some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is like hunting for a needle in a haystack here in Sydney…. I heard tell of a couple of places in Newtown that might have them so I laid plans for an excursion for Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you don’t live here, than you might not realise that it’s been raining incessantly for the last 3 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just drizzle; but full-on downpours for days on end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our ferry stairs were turned into a beautiful waterfall that quickly turned ugly as soon as you tried to climb it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything has just been cold, wet and grey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I checked the forecast for the shopping trip and was pleased to see that we were supposed to have relatively clear skies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was raining a bit on Saturday morning; but it cleared up by about 11 so off we went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our first stop was <a href="http://heneedsfood.com/2010/02/fiji-market-newtown/">Fiji Market</a> in Newtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a small Mexican selection here (smaller than in the photos if you follow the link); but better than anywhere else I have seen so I’m not complaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a bag of Masa, canned jalepenos, tomatillo salsa, canned black beans and canned adobo chiles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wished they had green chiles; but they didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also didn’t have corn husks for making tamales with; but I figure I can do those myself this summer during fresh corn season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pretty much danced out of that store on a complete high. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5anH5RRZPO4/Ti5q7CyhcZI/AAAAAAAAIrU/ojQOQWoyX0w/s1600/New+In+Town+fatbellyclub+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5anH5RRZPO4/Ti5q7CyhcZI/AAAAAAAAIrU/ojQOQWoyX0w/s400/New+In+Town+fatbellyclub+1.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">We were walking up King street (popping in and out of all the cool little “junktique” stores that are there) when I saw a restaurant called “<a href="http://fatbellyclub.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-in-town-newtown-polish-restaurant.html">New in Town</a>” which is cute since it’s in Newtown (Please follow this link and look at the pictures of the food!!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a Polish restaurant and I was so excited to read their menu!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ended up having lunch there because we were hungry<strike> because I wanted to and gave Joe puppy dog eyes</strike>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got the potato pierogis and the grilled Polish sausage and then split each entree so that we could each taste both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sausage was great – nothing like our Easter kielbasa from “Little Warsaw” in Cleveland – but perfectly respectable with dollops of mustard and horseradish (which was incredible and could be eaten by the spoonful) on the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pierogis were honestly pretty disappointing…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t say for certain; but it seemed that the filling was encased in wonton skins? Those work in a pinch for raviolis; but the effect when used for pierogis was very very odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The filling was quite bland and a little mealy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not horrible; but certainly not pillows of deliciousness like my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d love to go back and try some of the items listed on their dinner menu and see what they were like - if you followed the link and saw the pictures I'm sure you would agree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m also kicking myself for not asking them where I could get kielbasa in Sydney – I’ll try to remember the next time we go there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finding this restaurant was another little kick in the pants for me to buy a pasta maker and make some pierogis of my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I swear I am buying one today and then it’s going to be pierogi party time at my place!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9lMPoA26m-g/Ti5rYXkL-zI/AAAAAAAAIrY/fQQ_rPUpOAs/s1600/Jones+Root+Beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9lMPoA26m-g/Ti5rYXkL-zI/AAAAAAAAIrY/fQQ_rPUpOAs/s320/Jones+Root+Beer.jpg" width="86" /></a>On to the Newtown Foodworks still in search of green chiles…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, they did not have them (or if they did, I couldn’t find them).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did, however, find some mustard that I had been looking for and I found some Jone’s Root Beer!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got two bottles (which didn’t last long) and, in hindsight, I should have gotten several more….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well, yet another reason to spend weekends wandering up and down King St.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Sunday we went into town (aka Military Rd) to pick up a prescription and have dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had time to kill so we wandered over to our little discount store to pick up some odds and ends – yaknow… superglue, bobby pins and striped socks (don’t judge my shopping list!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wandered by Neutral Bay Fresh which is a lovely little produce shop and I decided to pick up some fruit and veg for the week while we were there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never actually walked carefully through that little shop – every time I have ever gone in it has been a rush job for something in particular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, this time I was in no rush and I gave my full attention to the whole place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did I find some incredible raviolis (roasted lamb, mushroom and rosemary), I also found Hellmanns Mayonaise and I found (excuse me while I scream a little) AMERICAN BACON!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real, honest to goodness bacon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joe and I quickly scrapped our dinner plans and rushed home to make BLT’s for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot even tell you how darn good that bacon smelled while I was cooking it – and that BLT was just about the best thing I had tasted in a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not ashamed to tell you that I saved every bit of bacon grease that was in that pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s sitting pretty in a tiny container in my fridge waiting to be used in my risotto tonight and some scrambled eggs this weekend!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8JoyVY2AVeU/Ti5rl9pfqoI/AAAAAAAAIrc/t2X5H0Fu7HU/s1600/Tumblr_ljxvyrsNcO1qhfp7no1_500-1-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8JoyVY2AVeU/Ti5rl9pfqoI/AAAAAAAAIrc/t2X5H0Fu7HU/s320/Tumblr_ljxvyrsNcO1qhfp7no1_500-1-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Granted, none of these incredible finds were cheap – the bacon alone was $12.00 for eight slices!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mayo was $7.00 for a very very small jar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> But, f</span>or something that is as much of a treat as these little touches of America are, I would gladly pay double those prices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nice to know that I can get these things every once in a while – knowing that I have access to them is sometimes just as good as actually having them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I have to say, drinking my root beer while I cooked that bacon was almost a religious moment for me…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-11333663493096482522011-07-15T15:04:00.000+10:002011-07-15T15:04:12.348+10:00Excuse Me?This lovely gem was taken directly from "Publication 54" - Otherwise known as <i>Tax Guide for U. S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad</i>.<br />
<br />
"If you work one year, but are not paid for that work until the next year, the amount you can exclude in the year you are paid is the amount you could have excluded in the year you did the work if you had been paid in that year."<br />
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I welcome your comments on this insanity.... Seriously...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HiztKtQMyoE/Th_KL885tVI/AAAAAAAAIb8/pmFwRE7dmpA/s1600/confused-baby.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HiztKtQMyoE/Th_KL885tVI/AAAAAAAAIb8/pmFwRE7dmpA/s400/confused-baby.bmp" width="330" /></a></div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-42820659196804838422011-07-06T11:15:00.000+10:002011-07-06T11:15:07.739+10:00Would Anyone Else Like Some Money From Me? Anyone?I got a lovely letter from the IRS last night - Happy Fourth of July to Me!!<div><br />
</div><div>Just Kidding! The letter says that we owe them $2,300.00 from our 2009 return that was done incorrectly. In a way, I had been expecting the letter; but I hadn't been expecting it quite so soon and I certainly wasn't expecting it to be so much. Last year when I filed our taxes, I wasn't thinking about the liquidation of my parent's assets after my Mom died... So, when I got some additional tax forms about a month after I filed, I realised that they were really supposed to be included in the original filing. We were deep in the middle of our move to Australia though so I was distracted enough to just throw them in a folder and deal with it later. </div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BPVFD-KgSns/ThOxQXHHySI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/A9FY2MkODh4/s1600/irs_welfare_money_381255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BPVFD-KgSns/ThOxQXHHySI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/A9FY2MkODh4/s320/irs_welfare_money_381255.jpg" width="320" /></a>At Christmas, I was talking to friends about it and I started getting really freaked out that I was going to get in huge trouble if I didn't fix it right then and there. So, I slowly started the process of getting the right year of Turbo Tax re-installed on my computer, finding my original tax return and going through the amendment process. When I got to the end of the amendment, It said that we owed a thousand dollars. I was so mad that I had to pay a penalty for having dead parents that I actually declared our charitable donations for the year. I've never declared them in the past because it feels slightly wrong getting a tax break for doing what you should be doing in the first place. I know, that's stupid and idealistic. Anywho, entering all that stuff brought our total owed down to $675.00. That was a number that I could live with and I had a brilliant idea: I would save the amended return, file my 2010 taxes and then use part of my 2010 return to pay what I owed in 2009. Personally, I thought that was bloody brilliant.</div><br />
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</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05glFtWwJU0/ThOxRCnT3hI/AAAAAAAAIOU/nP17H8H7BbI/s1600/irs11-mym.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-05glFtWwJU0/ThOxRCnT3hI/AAAAAAAAIOU/nP17H8H7BbI/s320/irs11-mym.jpg" width="211" /></a>I still haven't filed my 2010 taxes though because I was waiting for the Aussie tax year to end (June 30th) so I could file them together. Don't worry, I filed the extension paperwork for the IRS so I don't think I will get in trouble there. I was going to start the US taxes last week and when I went though all my paperwork, I realised that we had never gotten Joe's W-2 from his employer in the States. We've requested a re-print; but we still haven't gotten it.</div><div><br />
</div><div>But - back to the outrageous amount that the IRS feels they deserve from me - beyond the thousand dollars that I already knew about, they are also saying that I claimed excess SS tax or some such rubbish... I did the taxes through Turbo Tax and I even had H&R Block check them when I was done so how could that have happened? Who knows...</div><div><br />
</div><div>Anyway, I got all ready to call them last night - I ate <strike>some</strike> a lot of chocolate, I had <strike>some</strike> a lot of Jack Daniels, waited till after 9pm (7am in the States) and logged on to Skype. I was ready - well, maybe not ready, but at least resigned. The line rang and rang and then told me they were closed! What? I double checked the times and the time zones only to realise that it was the Fourth of July.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So, I have to call tonight and figure this all out....</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDkjjxoO7Cs/ThOxR7UAT3I/AAAAAAAAIOY/DD0kyqky6O4/s1600/snoopy-irs-cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDkjjxoO7Cs/ThOxR7UAT3I/AAAAAAAAIOY/DD0kyqky6O4/s400/snoopy-irs-cartoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
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</div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-72174976543384023482011-06-27T14:53:00.000+10:002011-06-27T14:53:12.634+10:00Going "Home"?Now that we've been back in Sydney for a couple of weeks, it almost feels like our holiday to the States never even happened. The build-up to the trip was intense - creating packing lists, buying souvenirs and generally worrying too much about what it would be like being back. I've heard a lot of ex-pats talk about their first trip back and there seems to be an almost unanimous agreement that it is a very big deal. There are a lot of emotional issues inside of that first visit - do you still fit in, are you homesick for your original home, are you homesick for your ex-pat home etc....<br />
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I can't lie - I was so nervous... I was excited to see my family again; but I was mostly afraid of going back, realising that I missed it too much and then coming back to Australia completely miserable and homesick. I have been lucky up to this point on the homesickness front - not that it hasn't happened; but that it seems to happen infrequently and be very low-grade when it does.<br />
<br />
Anyway, the visit was great... There was lots that felt weird and lots that we seemed to just fall right back in to. Being back in the States did make me realise how much I had been missing; but hadn't admitted to myself. I really miss driving... I love that we use public transport here; but I miss the ease of getting places easily, quickly and on my own timetable. I also miss the ease of driving - I've driven here; but it has not been a fun experience... Being on the wrong side of the car throws off what little spatial understanding I have and both of my driving experiences here have left me shaken and teary as I narrowly avoid being side swiped the whole time. So, while we were back on our holiday, I was finding any excuse possible to drive - it just was so effortless and enjoyable.<br />
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I also missed the prices and the ease of shopping - it's easier to drive to stores, they are bigger, it's cheaper and the customer service is unparalleled. So yeah, I miss those things a lot...<br />
<br />
I was really looking forward to eating certain types of food that I missed and that part was very disappointing to me. Nothing tasted quite like I remembered and nothing tasted as good as the food here in Sydney. Except burgers.... They were amazing and promptly reminded me why I don't order burgers here in Australia - they just can't quite seem to get them right.<br />
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Anyway, the last two nights before we left to come back to Australia, I got really really homesick. Crying myself to sleep homesick - which is exactly what happened to me when we originally moved here. It passed, and by the time we left for the airport on our last day, I was only looking forward to coming back here to Sydney. Isn't that interesting? Crying for one home and yet looking forward to returning to your other home...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HcXGNru5TuQ/TggJpY7eaTI/AAAAAAAAIEc/XnjPT-bW5Xw/s1600/PicForNewsletterAustralia2005WelcomeSYDSign.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HcXGNru5TuQ/TggJpY7eaTI/AAAAAAAAIEc/XnjPT-bW5Xw/s400/PicForNewsletterAustralia2005WelcomeSYDSign.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>I guess if I learned anything from this trip, it's that you can have two homes and you can love them both so much that you can miss each one when you are gone from it. I learned that Sydney has become my home over this past year and that, regardless of my "ishews", I don't want to leave it. <br />
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Coming out of customs and into the Sydney airport proper are these banners. One says, "Welcome to Sydney" and that's the one I was excited to see when we moved here. Look more closely though, and you will see that they next one says "Gday, Welcome <b><u>Home</u></b>". That's the one that I was most excited to see on this trip because I felt like it had finally come true for me.<br />
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If you look more closely, you will see a Christmas tree as well, which is a dead give-away to the fact that this is actually not my picture. I stole it from the interwebs because I never have enough hands free to actually snap a picture at any time during a trip - let along a 26 hour, 4 layover trip.<br />
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The upshot of all this is: I love my family, I love the US and I miss all of them all the time. I also love Sydney, I love my husband and I love our life here - so parting from one to go back to the other isn't as hard as I thought it would be.Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-9038706468106409772011-06-24T11:09:00.000+10:002011-06-24T11:09:49.562+10:00Great Ocean Road - or - Warning! Longest Post Ever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Now that I’ve spouted off about nothing much of value over the last couple of posts, I suppose I should treat you all with some beautiful pictures from the Great Ocean Road to thank you for your patience!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-At6s07G6SD8/TdEtwjNXEGI/AAAAAAAAH6c/fA9cNW6E35U/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-At6s07G6SD8/TdEtwjNXEGI/AAAAAAAAH6c/fA9cNW6E35U/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0052.JPG" width="400" /></a>We left Melbourne in the afternoon and I had hoped to arrive at our lodging in Apollo Bay before nightfall; but, considering the amount of times I had Joe pull over so I could take pictures of the incredible coastline stretching away into the distance, I am shocked that we got there before midnight. I am always so nervous about booking accommodations here in Australia – there doesn’t seem to be the same “truth in advertising” as there is in the States. Also, instead of chain hotel/motels where you can expect a predictable experience, mostly you find independently run places where you’re not quite sure what to expect. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wI5u1bw9srY/TdEuR07CtQI/AAAAAAAAH-E/ZmUYvhIjS0k/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wI5u1bw9srY/TdEuR07CtQI/AAAAAAAAH-E/ZmUYvhIjS0k/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0194.JPG" width="400" /></a>Our accommodations in Apollo Bay were really quite beautiful and I recommend them without any reservation – we stayed at “<a href="http://www.captains.net.au/">Captains at the Bay</a>” and our room had, not only a lovely dual-headed shower, but a gigantic soaking tub (and let me tell you, there was nothing better than a glass of wine and a good book while soaking in said tub). After we got settled, we headed down to the main drag in town for some dinner – very expensive food (a la most tourist traps) and not very good quality; but we were tired and hungry and thankful for what we got.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyD6cO7jmAI/TdEt0_D6CSI/AAAAAAAAH68/jkLaXzvdB_I/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyD6cO7jmAI/TdEt0_D6CSI/AAAAAAAAH68/jkLaXzvdB_I/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">The next day we continued on the drive with the intent of doing some sightseeing and getting more fabulous pictures. One of my goals was to visit the Otway light station as I had seen some beautiful pictures of it online when I was researching our trip and I was not about to miss any of the sights on this drive… It was slow going again, as I had Joe pulling off every few turn-offs for incredible photo opportunities. We turned down the long long drive that led to the light station and started noticing cars that had been hastily pulled over on the side of the narrow road with their occupants standing by them pointing cameras up into the trees. It was looking like something very interesting was going on... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-keDb4Tkg-ic/TdEt0EJe5PI/AAAAAAAAH64/BjhWIb-6tuw/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-keDb4Tkg-ic/TdEt0EJe5PI/AAAAAAAAH64/BjhWIb-6tuw/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0063.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">This time it was Joe who wanted to stop as he wisely said “there is obviously something cool going on and I would like to see it”. I couldn't argue with that point so over we pulled and were treated to trees full of koalas. I've seen them at Taronga Zoo; but that was nothing compared to seeing them in the wild - just hanging out in the trees. Before we left for the trip, I got a recommendation from a co-worker about a place on the GOR where you could go to see koalas. We had bypassed it the night before on our drive in as it was getting late; and so I had intentions of stopping to see them on our way back to Melbourne on Tuesday - it was really cool that we no longer needed to cause we were getting our own little koala experience right here without an extra trip for it! Most of them, predictably, were sleeping so they just looked like large bumps on the branches. There was one very active one that was eating (see above) and I attempted to take a video of it with my camera. I was holding the camera over my head though so it came out shaky and not very good quality... Oh well. They were completely adorable and it was hard to rip ourselves away. I could have spent the whole afternoon just sitting on the car and watching them. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The light station was also worth it – it was so beautiful that it almost hurt. Up against that crazy deep blue sky, the white of the lighthouse was blinding; but still set off by the red railing at the top. I could have sat and taken pictures of it all day. There was a little snack hut attached to a visitor's centre; and, outside of it, shielded from the wind by a lean-to made of tarps and sticks, was a grizzled old man singing old sea shanties. Yep. As if the experience was not cool enough by itself, the soundtrack of sea songs being sung in the background took this to a whole new level. Joe and I walked down to the lighthouse itself and climbed up to the top. I don’t feel like I can even describe the experience well enough to do it justice. The view was crazy – water forever, cliffs below and waves smashing into foam far far below us. The wind was so strong that it felt like you actually needed to hold on the railing for fear of being blown away. We stayed up there far longer than was prudent and came down chilled and hungry. Luckily, the car had been parked in the sun so we settled into the warmth with a snack and away we went again….</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SW0RqNQgX2c/TdEt6HAKAiI/AAAAAAAAH7c/HBKGOOO85aE/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SW0RqNQgX2c/TdEt6HAKAiI/AAAAAAAAH7c/HBKGOOO85aE/s640/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0087.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9J1ASwDB6Os/TdEt9ujgCmI/AAAAAAAAH70/2jV8_BffRHE/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9J1ASwDB6Os/TdEt9ujgCmI/AAAAAAAAH70/2jV8_BffRHE/s640/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0097.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W3HHLIMW75Y/TdEt_kWQeoI/AAAAAAAAH8A/cfSDNMt_53A/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W3HHLIMW75Y/TdEt_kWQeoI/AAAAAAAAH8A/cfSDNMt_53A/s640/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0103.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">We knew that we wanted to see the 12 Apostles and considering that we were about half-way there, we decided to press on and see them that same day (Really, in this sentence, the 4 times I say "we" - I mean "I"). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6qMKz3pZEM/TdEuFtAUrCI/AAAAAAAAH80/j-fa0-oD7vA/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6qMKz3pZEM/TdEuFtAUrCI/AAAAAAAAH80/j-fa0-oD7vA/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">We had gone to the store before embarking on our journey that morning and had gotten the provisions for a picnic lunch so we had supplies to last us through the rest of the afternoon. We drove and drove, again through a landscape that was incredible in its beauty and reached the vicinity of the 12 Apostles hungry and worried about the increasing lateness of the hour. We couldn’t find a place with picnic tables etc… for us to have our late lunch so we pressed on – finally stopping at a look-out for something called The Gorge… We walked out to it, hoping to find picnic tables; but instead found some beautiful angry ocean, rain and a squall blowing in. We ran back to the car, popped open the food and had an excellent picnic dinner in the car while the storm passed quickly overhead. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TRxK7UEiDz0/TdEuO7cffMI/AAAAAAAAH9w/KOhx8RIl2A4/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TRxK7UEiDz0/TdEuO7cffMI/AAAAAAAAH9w/KOhx8RIl2A4/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0158.JPG" width="400" /></a>After that we drove around a bit, trying in vain to see the 12 Apostles – little did I know that we needed to go to the visitor centre, park and then take a stroll out to the lookout point. We finally figured it out after much turning around and frustration – mostly on the part of Joe who was the poor driver for the entire trip. We got there, got settled, got some coffees and started down the path to the lookout. We purposefully tried not to look at the rock formations till we got to the very end of the lookout point and then turned around together to take them in. I can’t decide which was better – seeing them for myself or watching Joe see them. I had been talking about them for days and he really didn't understand what the draw was. When I started researching the trip, I saw picture after picture of them and so knew what we were in for. He hadn't actually seen them yet even in picture form so getting to see his face while he took in the view was pretty amazing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBDucQt7Bas/TdEuKxXGScI/AAAAAAAAH9U/AwgxathRr8I/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hBDucQt7Bas/TdEuKxXGScI/AAAAAAAAH9U/AwgxathRr8I/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0134.JPG" width="400" /></a>While we were on the furthest lookout point, I happened to glance down and see that there was an echidna right on the other side of the fence from me. Of course at the time, I thought it was a porcupine or hedgehog – I had to Google it later that night to find out what I had actually taken a picture of! We slowly moved along the paths leading from lookout area to lookout area, taking pictures of these rock beauties from every angle imaginable. We realised as we neared the end of the viewing area that if we waited for 15 minutes or so we would get to see the sun set on them. There wasn’t even a decision to be made – we found a good viewing spot and settled in with about a thousand other people. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z1aZ7qjphuI/TdEuHIQjf5I/AAAAAAAAH9A/rcIEq5Y_YFs/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z1aZ7qjphuI/TdEuHIQjf5I/AAAAAAAAH9A/rcIEq5Y_YFs/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0124.JPG" width="300" /></a>Not to drag this otherwise upbeat post down - But I have to say, holidays are hard for me… They became really difficult after my dad died, got even harder after my mom died and, now that we are on the other side of the world from our families, they start to feel like looming black clouds when they begin approaching. I especially struggle with holidays that my parents really loved – Easter, Memorial Day and Christmas. I was struggling a little on this trip because I was missing Easter back in the States - it's such a huge holiday in my family that it is hard to even explain without doing it an injustice. So here we were - we happened to be standing on the edge of this huge country, in another hemisphere, all by ourselves watching the sun set on the most beautiful thing I had ever seen – <u>On Easter Sunday</u>…. It was perfect, it was sad, it was inspiring and incredible. I only wish that I were able to share these experiences with my Mom and Dad. My Dad especially would have loved that sight... I know it was beautiful enough to make me cry and I think it would have done the same for him.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BUwkg-jbuls/TdEuLVERM3I/AAAAAAAAH9c/txSgE9WKLGM/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BUwkg-jbuls/TdEuLVERM3I/AAAAAAAAH9c/txSgE9WKLGM/s640/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0139.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5TuohuBh3i4/TdEuQkokx4I/AAAAAAAAH98/fPK0NVlDzBg/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5TuohuBh3i4/TdEuQkokx4I/AAAAAAAAH98/fPK0NVlDzBg/s640/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0177.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
We shook off the deep emotion that that sunset had laid on us (much as recounting the story has laid some deep emotion on this post) and headed back to the car.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FW-dobGx3zE/TdEtyyVySpI/AAAAAAAAH6w/NpUazGF-bfQ/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FW-dobGx3zE/TdEtyyVySpI/AAAAAAAAH6w/NpUazGF-bfQ/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0057.JPG" width="400" /></a>I was nervous about the long drive back to Apollo Bay in the dark; but Joe handled the night driving with ease. There were hardly any other cars on the road so the journey was quick and painless. Back to our room to change and then out again for dinner. Again, lots of money for so-so food; but who the heck cares when you spent your day looking at the things we saw. We went back to our room for coffee, tea, Jack Daniels and some cookies to round out the day on an upswing. Joe turned on the TV and we stumbled across a program on ANZAC Day. It was sad and sobering so it maybe wasn't the best end for an emotional day; but it was incredible interesting and I'm glad we saw it.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">ANZAC day was the next day and we decided to spend the whole of it in Apollo Bay. We read, sat on the beach for hours, ate fish and chips, napped and generally had the first “non-running around day” of the whole vacation. It was perfect and I’m glad we decided to rest up a bit. Tuesday morning it was up and out the door so that we could get back to Melbourne in time to return the car and head to the airport for our flight home.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was a great holiday and my feeling is that, if you are living in Australia, you should go do this drive. Absolutely.</div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-30040087734344667192011-06-23T12:39:00.001+10:002011-06-23T12:41:30.905+10:00What Not to Blog....<div class="MsoNormal">I was going to start this post out with a comment about “<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 10pt;">Unbloggable Ishews</span></span>”; but then I realised that none of you would have any idea what I meant. The reason for that is that you probably don’t read this incredible blog (unless you are my sister Julie who recommended it to me) by Suse over at “<a href="http://peasoupoftheday.blogspot.com/">Pea Soup</a>”. You should read her – she’s funny and inspiring and reading her posts is a highlight to my blogroll. Anyway, she occasionally will mention “unbloggable ishews” in reference to problems that cannot be aired like the usual post content. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YALkv4pt9vs/TgKmRg2zEAI/AAAAAAAAIEY/0MHNe-c0HFc/s1600/julie-and-julia5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YALkv4pt9vs/TgKmRg2zEAI/AAAAAAAAIEY/0MHNe-c0HFc/s320/julie-and-julia5.jpg" width="320" /></a>I feel that way a lot – it’s rewarding having readers; but I wonder sometimes how much nicer it would be to have a “diary” instead of a “blog”. Not only do I have lots of these ishews… I have them across different facets of my life. Sometimes when Joe and I fight (which to be fair, is very infrequent and usually small) I am so tempted to log on here and pour my heart out with my indignity and righteousness…. (yikes! That would be a miserable entry, no?) In those moments, I am reminded of the movie “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135503/">Julie and Julia</a>” where Julie and her husband get into a fight, he storms off and leaves her with a yelled “And don’t blog about this fight!”. Too true, too true…. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Another huge “ishew” that I had never even considered when I started this blog was not really being able to talk about the differences between countries and the hardships of settling into a new culture. Don’t get me wrong, no one minds a cutesy little post where I compare the currency of both countries or posts about the different types of food here etc…. But those entries that I write about the negative aspects of being in this country (or moving to a new country in general) seem to spark an insane negative knee-jerk reaction from Australian natives and ex-pats alike. In a way, this could be a positive I suppose. No one wants to read a complaining rant about Australian customer service (or lack thereof) or a teary entry about how homesickness can hit you in the gut sometimes so hard that you are left bent double and gasping – trying to regain your equilibrium. I’m sad for them though – those entries that will never see the light of day on this blog – the really honest (and maybe slightly scary) ones.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have to consider my audience so carefully. I don’t know if anyone at work reads my blog; but I’m sure some do - so I can never post about my “ishews” at work. Really, when you pare down my list of things that are unacceptable subject topics there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot left to air my voice on. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why I have started posting so little? Well, along with the fact that my life is <i>super</i> boring!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Enough introspection! Onwards and Upwards as they say....</div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-80065264214859454802011-06-22T09:59:00.001+10:002011-06-22T18:16:08.964+10:00Our First Visitors!!<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Sunday was Father’s Day in America but not in Australia – a fact that I had forgotten until I went to the newsagent to buy a card for my Father in Law and realised that they didn’t have any…. Oops! Needless to say, I felt a bit stupid considering we had just returned home from the States where I easily could have purchased a card and even left it at my in-laws house to be opened on the appropriate day. Obviously, I spent far too much time in the States shopping and not enough time strategising for Father’s Day. Sunday was a quiet day for us since we had just had a group of people over the night before and stayed up really late. It’s full on winter here now so we snuggled up on the couch and watched some movies. I’m working on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross-stitch">counted cross stitch</a> and I’ve just realised that I’m actually getting very close to being finished with it… Sunday I took the opportunity to knock a huge bit of it out. I’m hoping to finish it in the next couple of months and so have it ready to give to my Mother in Law for Christmas. Then it is on to the next project! I used to know how to knit and crochet quite well so I am thinking about starting that back up? Or perhaps I will finish the other unfinished cross stitch projects I have on the go at the moment…<u></u><u></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Speaking of Christmas and my in-laws – I just booked plan tickets for Joe’s parents to com visit us for 5 weeks over Christmas!!! I am so excited!! They will be our first visitors here and we have decided to do a New Zealand cruise with them while they are here. I found a great deal on a 12 day cruise that departs from Aukland and gets us back into Sydney on Christmas Eve. There are so many things that I want to show them – the NYE fireworks from our windows, picnics on the reserve, the Botanical gardens etc…. December should be a very full month! In early January they are going to go up to the Great Barrier Reef for a few days and then they will be headed back for the States on the 11<sup>th</sup>. Have I mentioned that I can’t wait??</div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-62890297770646359302011-05-17T09:42:00.000+10:002011-05-17T09:43:24.853+10:00Melbourne Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lQtvvVjQoAg/TdEtl4mDlBI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/D784qD58_Fo/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lQtvvVjQoAg/TdEtl4mDlBI/AAAAAAAAH5Q/D784qD58_Fo/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I had heard a lot about Melbourne before we went for our visit - in retrospect, I probably heard too much because my expectations were sky-high. I was impressed driving in from the airport on Thursday night - the streets were wide (if you live in Sydney you will get why that is a big deal) and the city looked large and very planned. We finally arrived and checked in to <a href="http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/locations/melbourne">The Rialto</a> around 10pm - I knew it was going to be a good stay when they took our bags from us and took them up to the room while we were getting checked in. The room was sumptuous - not huge; but well appointed. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qp3G0euCaKM/TdEtebIbt4I/AAAAAAAAH4g/VB7_VfYzt0c/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qp3G0euCaKM/TdEtebIbt4I/AAAAAAAAH4g/VB7_VfYzt0c/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0002.JPG" width="400" /></a>Every single detail was perfect and the shower alone was worth the price tag. Joe immediately collapsed into the luxurious bed; but, me being me, I needed to take a couple of hours to wind down. I decided to unpack and settle the room - and check out the mini-bar. Then I decided that I wanted a bourbon and ginger; but there was no little ice/freezer compartment in the fridge. I pressed the "instant service" button on the phone, asked for ice and was promised that it would be delivered promptly. It was... in a silver bucket big enough to bathe a baby in, on an additional silver platter, with a doily. I could have made hundreds of drinks with all that ice! Anyway, drink in hand, I finished unpacking and then decided to give the shower an inaugural run still with drink in hand. It was perfect.... enough said....<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cykg_9gYAfc/TdEtjbxxsJI/AAAAAAAAH5A/p1TEfPqzwaY/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cykg_9gYAfc/TdEtjbxxsJI/AAAAAAAAH5A/p1TEfPqzwaY/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0017.JPG" width="400" /></a>We ventured out the following day for a self-guided walking tour of the city... It was very quiet since it was Good Friday and not much was open; but we still had a great little wander. There was a lot that I liked about Melbourne; but there was a lot that I didn't. The little lane ways were gorgeous.... This one in particular, full of <strike>graffiti</strike> art was one of my favourites. We walked around the CBD, went to Southbank, walked around Federation Square and rounded out the day with dinner in Fitzroy. Back to the hotel for a nightcap and called it a day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcOFQOBx2Gk/TdEtld2bjZI/AAAAAAAAH5M/sZLEfu1_5yU/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcOFQOBx2Gk/TdEtld2bjZI/AAAAAAAAH5M/sZLEfu1_5yU/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DeEu8pz4Ly0/TdEtkYjfNYI/AAAAAAAAH5I/yu9mZ6jURGY/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DeEu8pz4Ly0/TdEtkYjfNYI/AAAAAAAAH5I/yu9mZ6jURGY/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0019.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THpTBLOEfvk/TdEuWuN-WMI/AAAAAAAAH-Y/DmJ5T9wv8lw/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0005-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THpTBLOEfvk/TdEuWuN-WMI/AAAAAAAAH-Y/DmJ5T9wv8lw/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0005-1.JPG" width="300" /></a>Saturday the city was much more vibrant - everything was open and there were tourists everywhere! We had to pick up our rental car around 3 so we had an early breakfast at the hotel and headed out again. We went to the Observation deck at the top of the Eureka tower. It was cool seeing the city laid out like that and I got to see where the Australian Open is held (fairly easy to spot due to the massive quantity of blue courts). It made me realise that we still have not been to the top of the tower in Sydney - We will have to rectify that this Spring (Fall if you are reading this in America) when Joe's parents come to visit. We wandered some more and ended up at a Yum Cha restaurant looking out over the river for lunch and then went to pick up our rental car.<br />
<br />
Side note - I was nervous using Europcar as I had never used them and they seemed very "Budget-esque"; but they were the only ones with cars left when I was planning the trip so I had no choice. I have to say though, very very good service - nicer even than Hertz!<br />
<br />
Anyway, that was the end of the Melbourne portion of our trip - here are some more photos for your viewing pleasure.....<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VHl3zGbKPE4/TdEtgRcYmyI/AAAAAAAAH4w/8PUOt224iD8/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VHl3zGbKPE4/TdEtgRcYmyI/AAAAAAAAH4w/8PUOt224iD8/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0008.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gujNFcibbZs/TdEthKD3mCI/AAAAAAAAH40/qZDoZwRZhSQ/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gujNFcibbZs/TdEthKD3mCI/AAAAAAAAH40/qZDoZwRZhSQ/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0009.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAVAsuLHqT4/TdEth-cumDI/AAAAAAAAH44/xBpUrHTBeyA/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAVAsuLHqT4/TdEth-cumDI/AAAAAAAAH44/xBpUrHTBeyA/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6c5_YBkf9c/TdEtnRImrHI/AAAAAAAAH5Y/LHC4iY_eiVI/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6c5_YBkf9c/TdEtnRImrHI/AAAAAAAAH5Y/LHC4iY_eiVI/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MypqGm89pl8/TdEtoU3RhlI/AAAAAAAAH5g/bl9nALHs0JE/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MypqGm89pl8/TdEtoU3RhlI/AAAAAAAAH5g/bl9nALHs0JE/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0030.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This guy was crazy-talented!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wHeERL8e4Ck/TdEtp0ZnYOI/AAAAAAAAH5o/JGJYBVqvJuk/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wHeERL8e4Ck/TdEtp0ZnYOI/AAAAAAAAH5o/JGJYBVqvJuk/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0035.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exLO0OtJ-RY/TdEtrmqYnOI/AAAAAAAAH50/Djt3z9aUEv4/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-exLO0OtJ-RY/TdEtrmqYnOI/AAAAAAAAH50/Djt3z9aUEv4/s640/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0039.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_haOzrgqu10/TdEtsFPgjBI/AAAAAAAAH6A/Wfnhgsj-JrY/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_haOzrgqu10/TdEtsFPgjBI/AAAAAAAAH6A/Wfnhgsj-JrY/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0042.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I've just realised that I now have a picture of Australia's highest restaurant and now Australia's highest postbox - apparently, instead of getting into the giant things that are so prevalent here, I am now into the highest things!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t7GB--9DFw4/TdEtuVSj10I/AAAAAAAAH6I/14OzKzjBdDo/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t7GB--9DFw4/TdEtuVSj10I/AAAAAAAAH6I/14OzKzjBdDo/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0045.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This picture is for Matt</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yWJAJLajFX8/TdEtu_Ob4GI/AAAAAAAAH6M/s5fmhpYajSI/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yWJAJLajFX8/TdEtu_Ob4GI/AAAAAAAAH6M/s5fmhpYajSI/s640/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlCeXwQGz4o/TdEtvid7NtI/AAAAAAAAH6Q/M2XEM_dfOY4/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KlCeXwQGz4o/TdEtvid7NtI/AAAAAAAAH6Q/M2XEM_dfOY4/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0048.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z39u8RtBDcA/TdEtmpamvDI/AAAAAAAAH5U/3KsOFmVeMfo/s1600/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z39u8RtBDcA/TdEtmpamvDI/AAAAAAAAH5U/3KsOFmVeMfo/s400/2050_1231GreatOceanRoad0024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-68621794905392221152011-05-16T10:51:00.000+10:002011-05-16T10:54:13.426+10:00A lead up to the Melbourne Trip...As some of you <strike>may be marking off the days on a special calendar and trembling in anticipation</strike> may know, Joe and I are leaving on Sunday the 22nd for an almost 3 week holiday in the States. Excitement abounds and I am even more busy than usual - what with the packing and preparing...<br />
<br />
You would think that being busy would be bad for blog writing; but, in this case, it is forced me to get some stuff done. I've been wanting to blog about our Easter holiday; but the photos have been sitting - leering at me from my sadly neglected pictures folder. How do you choose 4 or 5 good photos of the 12 Apostles when you have about 40 photos of them in different shades of sunset? See... you understand now...<br />
<br />
Well, Joe's mom (i.e. the greatest MIL ever) has planned an open house for us during our visit so that we can see the whole family without having to cram a bunch of individual visits into our time there. We decided to put together a folder of pictures so that people could see where we have been and how beautiful this country is... Well, actually, I was just going to throw everything into a folder and let it play at random; but Joe has been nice enough to put together something with some heft and depth. The photos will actually be in order and there will be some labels and explanations as needed. That will save us from standing next to the tv all day saying - "Yes, this was our trip to Thredbo" - "Oh, that's an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echidna">Echidna</a>".<br />
<br />
Anyway, this whole process necessitated an afternoon on the couch with Joe going through my pictures folder. I have come to realise that I am not nearly as organised as I like to think I am... The pinnacle of embarrassment came when I had to show him a folder entitled "Random Australia" in which I had pitched an alarming number of completely random photos. Add to that the existence of additional random folders in my on-line Picasa account that I had uploaded from my phone; and I am truly feeling sorry for him. We had many conversations like this one yesterday:<br />
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"Oh honey, I don't really like that photo - you should really put up the one of the Botanical Garden"<br />
<br />
"Where are those ones?"<br />
<br />
"Oh, they are in the folder called Nature - Sydney - Garden"<br />
<br />
"That one is empty"<br />
<br />
"Oh..... Did you try Random Australia?"<br />
<br />
"Yeah"<br />
<br />
"Oh.... Here, let me have the mouse"<br />
<br />
click.... click.... click... click...<br />
<br />
"Here they are! On-line in my Uploaded Blog Pictures folder"<br />
<br />
"Thanks (almost invisible eyeroll)"<br />
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Anyway, the upshot of all of this is that we went through all the photos from our Easter holiday and they are now sorted and done. I was going to have this blog post actually be about Melbourne with some pictures; but now it's sort of long and I don't want to blow everything at once!<br />
<br />
Tomorrow my pretties - tomorrow....<br />
<br />
But here's an arty picture of the Opera House to tide you over (I know that it doesn't have anything to do with our trip to Melbourne; but I'm feeling guilty for not having any other photos in this post!)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L0QkrUWuLIQ/TRv8WEmFJPI/AAAAAAAABlc/XH2foM6YWuA/s1600/2050_1231Chrissy0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L0QkrUWuLIQ/TRv8WEmFJPI/AAAAAAAABlc/XH2foM6YWuA/s640/2050_1231Chrissy0001.JPG" width="640" /></a>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-52490614863172603392011-05-14T16:36:00.000+10:002011-05-14T16:36:02.048+10:00Wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs himHey All,<br />
<br />
I know this is supposed to be a post about our trip to Melbourne and our drive on the GOR; but that will have to wait.<br />
<br />
There is a blog that I have been following for a while - My best friend Meaghan introduced me to it and I was hooked from the first entry I read.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.jennepper.com/">http://www.jennepper.com/</a> - Please make your way over and check it out. It's a very funny account of infertility... until she has a baby - then it becomes a very funny account of pregnancy and motherhood in general. The story turns sad though and Jen and her family need help - here is a link to her friend Andrea's blog with all the donation links and information - <a href="http://dixonsmakeitwork.blogspot.com/p/just-relax.html">http://dixonsmakeitwork.blogspot.com/p/just-relax.html</a> - Please go there and <b>donate</b>... And if you are living in Cleveland, please consider attending the fundraiser.<br />
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I would try to write my own synopsis of the sad story here; but I would do a horrible job. So, I am going to unabashedly copy straight from her friend Andrea's blog:<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">I am lucky enough to have known Jen (you might know her as</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.jennepper.com/" style="color: #077174; text-decoration: none;">Jennepper</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">!) for a few years and to be able to call her an "in real life" friend. Gianna even considers Oliva one of her BFF's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMNtbeVrrfc/Tc1nvhDzuII/AAAAAAAACxY/5k6Vg4wKaTA/s1600/4.10++%2528470%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #077174; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="247" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMNtbeVrrfc/Tc1nvhDzuII/AAAAAAAACxY/5k6Vg4wKaTA/s320/4.10++%2528470%2529.JPG" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Jen is amazing. As is her husband Mark. And their girls.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">It took 3 years for Jen & Mark to successfully conceive Olivia. Miss O was born on valentine’s day 2009 and has been adorable, dramatic and awesome ever since.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-biQ1Tf24Wng/Tc1oWJRqmdI/AAAAAAAACxs/QjHKGMuzIV0/s1600/olivia+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #077174; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-biQ1Tf24Wng/Tc1oWJRqmdI/AAAAAAAACxs/QjHKGMuzIV0/s320/olivia+2.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Last summer, Jen & Mark decided to add to their family and after a successful FET they found out they would be having identical twins. Unfortunately, her pregnancy wasn’t all roses & sunshine – there were lots of concerns and doctors and drama. In the end, Jen ended up in the hospital around 32 weeks with hopes of seeing her girls very soon. A c-section was scheduled and the wait began.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Things went wrong. Very wrong. The girls were born via emergency C-section on December 29, 2010. Itty Bitty Baby, Ainsley, was small but mighty and taken straight to the NICU. Hog Baby, Evelyn, was just as beautiful but born perfectly still.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Ainsley is a fighter. A beautiful little girl who is surrounded by so much love, hope and prayers. She has been through a lot in her short little life – including spine surgery, G-tube surgery and most recently a tracheotomy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-byNfANK_PKE/Tc1oURduAHI/AAAAAAAACxo/J1cO5rV-Y6c/s1600/ainsley+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #077174; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-byNfANK_PKE/Tc1oURduAHI/AAAAAAAACxo/J1cO5rV-Y6c/s320/ainsley+3.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">The road ahead is long and her family has been adjusting to their “new normal” that includes 2 full time working parents, spending time with Olivia and spending whatever time they can with Ainsley along with countless hours in the car coming to and from all of these places.</div><br />
Who knows what the future holds, all we can do is focus on the now.<br />
<br />
When someone is hurting, or in need, as friends we want to do SOMETHING. If we could take away their pain and their hurt we would, but since we can't we typically try to fill their bellies and put a smile on their face in any way possible.<br />
<br />
A group of friends, and mom’s, have come together to do just that – support, fill bellies and make smiles. At first our small group of amazing women were able to provide them, amongst other things, a basket full of goodies including gas cards, parking passes, groceries and dinners.<br />
With the long road ahead for the Knepper's, we want to do something more and we want to reach out to all of YOU – all of the wonderful people who follow Jen’s blog, know her in real life and just want to extend their prayers/thoughts/hope into action.<br />
<br />
Please share this page, Jen’s story, and ALL of this information in whatever way you can.<br />
<br />
Blog about it and link back here. Share the button we have created on your blog. Tweet it. Facebook it. Email it. Donate. Pray. Love. Hope.</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><div class="post-body entry-content" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;">We are accepting donations, of all shapes and sizes – there is no such thing as an amount too small.<br />
<br />
<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br />
<input alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" border="0" name="submit" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/WEBSCR-640-20110429-1/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" type="image" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/WEBSCR-640-20110429-1/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="1" /></form><br />
There is also an event.<br />
<br />
Myself along with several other "in real life" friends have put together a fundraiser dinner & Reverse Raffle where 100% of the profit will benefit the Knepper family.<br />
There will be food, booze, reverse raffles, live entertainment, lots of goodies to be raffled off with a side of relaxation.<br />
<br />
The event is planned for Saturday July 23rd in Northeast Ohio.<br />
<br />
If you are interested in attending the event or if you would like to donate an item to be given away (we’ll take whatever you want to give us!) <a href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dE54QXN5U1Y0Z19ySmFBaEphSWN0N3c6MQ" style="color: #077174; text-decoration: none;">please contact us</a> for further information.<br />
<br />
If you have any questions at all – <a href="mailto:knepperfamilydonations@gmail.com" style="color: #077174; text-decoration: none;">email</a> us.<br />
We can’t wait to hear from you!<br />
<br />
No family should have to go through something like this. No baby should be in the hospital for this long instead of at home. No parent should have to experience loss and joy on the same day, and no one should have to travel this long road without support. As a mother, I can't imagine her loss. As a friend, I can't imagine her strength.<br />
<br />
Please share this page, Jen’s story, and ALL of this information in whatever way you can.<br />
<br />
Blog about it and link back here. Share the button we have created on your blog. Tweet it. Facebook it. Email it. Donate. Pray. Love. Hope.<br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://dixonsmakeitwork.blogspot.com/p/just-relax.html" style="color: #077174; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="Are You Listening" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_s9ks4P0PVeg/TcszW-qe3fI/AAAAAAAACxQ/ozHfDCTp1NU/s800/relax.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" /></a></div><div align="center"><form><textarea rows="6"></textarea></form></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EMvhm2CyljU/Tc1oTRmmNpI/AAAAAAAACxk/s_K2BtyNCpE/s320/ainsley+2.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="320" /></div></span></div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium; color: #0d0600; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
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</div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-13492735469096344342011-04-27T10:37:00.000+10:002011-04-27T10:38:52.778+10:00Home Again Home AgainWell, we arrived back to Sydney last night to find rain and a 25 minute wait in the taxi queue. It didn't do much for my feelings of homecoming; but walking into our apartment did. I forgot all about our view - about the water and the lights from the city. I had to run around to all the windows exclaiming over every familiar sailboat.<br />
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The cleaners had been during our absence so the place was clean and looked so darn welcoming. Sleeping in our bad last night was a perfect end to the long holiday weekend.<br />
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I have oodles of pictures and much to tell you about; but I also have 2 suitcases of dirty laundry to deal with. So, give me a few days to get myself in order and then this weekend I will go post-crazy with our gorgeous photos.<br />
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Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4426008405414169741.post-55814280228864265832011-04-18T14:31:00.000+10:002011-04-18T14:31:18.913+10:00I’ve been putting off this entry for months…. I’m sure you’ve noticed<div class="MsoNormal">It’s a bit embarrassing how long I’ve gone without updating this space and it reminds me of my own frustrations when I was reading Aussie ex-pat blogs before I moved here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blogs would be full of information, pictures, details… They were engaging and I was completely hooked on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would start off strong and then, as people got jobs and settled into normal routines, the updates would either come less frequently or stop altogether.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when the updates would continue, the tone would change in a huge way – it would go from Adventure! Excitement! Discovery! to Boring! Tired! Routine!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">That’s about how I’m feeling right now…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joe and I are both working full time so there is no time for me to go on little day trip adventures or to go explore a new market on a Tuesday morning…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weekends seem sacred now – A time for us to recover from the week and to do things that are enjoyable to us (mostly that involves sleeping in and having quiet dinners with friends). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea of going on some huge trek across the city via public transport on a Sunday, quite frankly, makes me want to crawl back under the covers and sleep for the rest of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also don’t have the free time to spend an afternoon writing three or four blog posts complete with pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any of you readers who works all day and then comes home to make dinner and do laundry knows exactly what I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “me” time is the first to go away.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Not that I’m complaining – not by a long shot….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joe loves his job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love my job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are perfectly happy with our weekends of indulged laziness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess this is just my explanation (or my half-hearted apology of sorts) to you for not having more of an exciting life to post about. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m not making any promises to be better about posting; but I do have some exciting things planned in the next few months that might make posting more of a joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joe and I are going on holiday to Melbourne over the Easter break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s only five days and we have a lot that we want to see and do; but I think it will be incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are spending the first two days in Melbourne proper and then spending three days at a B & B on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Ocean_Road">Great Ocean Road</a> where we will get to relax and look at beautiful scenery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure I will have pages and pages of photos to post after we get back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a tentative weekend trip to the <a href="http://www.winecountry.com.au/">Hunter Valley</a> planned for early May with our two favourite couples.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The most exciting travel coming up is a 16 day trip back to the States!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going back in late May (Yay!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be there for Memorial Day) and returning home in early June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve know for a while that this trip was in the works; but we hadn’t finalised anything until last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that we have our leave scheduled at work and our plane tickets bought, I am getting practically dizzy with excitement!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am starting to form mental shopping lists of all of the things I want to stock up on while we are there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a bit mad to me to think that we have been gone for almost a year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We landed in Sydney on the 23<sup>rd</sup> of June.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll be landing in LA on the 22<sup>nd</sup> of May – 11 months already gone on this adventure and it seems like it’s just been about half of that.<o:p></o:p></div>Mimi and Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01245254921910502057noreply@blogger.com6