Bali Slideshow

Here are some photos I took in Bali with Matt. I will post some of the pictures of us over the next few days.

Wombat Foundation

I am going to be doing some volunteer work for the Wombat Foundation. There are less than 150 Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombats left on the Planet. If you would like to see how you can help out these guys please visit www.wombatfoundation.com.

Duval Ditty

Gotta Love a Jacksonville girl singing about her home town!! Especially since Macaroni and Cheese is featured in the video.

Animal Pictures

I just got a new camera so of course the first thing I want to go take pictures of is animals. I don't think it is any big secret that I LOVE animals!!

Little cheeky kangaroo. He was hopping around trying to box any other kangaroo that would pay attention to him.
It was pretty cold today so the wombats (who are usually in their burrows) were out sleeping in the sun.

Lizard hanging out under the heat lamp

Young Tassie devil hugging his friend to stay warm.

Fresh water crocodile

The Emu was making all kinds of funny noises. I think he was over me taking his photo.

And, of course the most beautiful animal of all!!!

Midsummer's Dance

I just got a copy of the cover for Midsummer's Dance from the publisher. I am not sure when the book will be available (assuming late 2010/early 2011) but it is so exciting to see the cover. YAY!!!

Back from Hiatus

I am back from my blog hiataus!!! Two big things have happened.....
my friend Chris came for a visit which was absolutely fantasitc!!!



And Matt had his 40th birthday. We had a Star Wars themed karaoke party...bad idea??
Matt didn't let go of the microphone for HOURS!!



GOOD TIMES!!!!

Tassie Devils at feeding time in Ballarat

These young guys loved to climb their keeper at the Ballarat Wildlife Park.

Illustrations

I have been fortunate enough to have two illustrations published in the past few months.

"Scary Go Round" is in an anthology of goose bump raising stories for kids called Short and Scary. Edited by Karen Tayleur and published by Black Dog Books.

www.bdb.com.au/books/short_scary

"Train Ride" is an illustration for a short story of the same name by Tina M. Cho
published by Guardian Angel Kids, a free online children's magazine.
http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/

Update

I have been a seriously bad blogger recently!! So here is a quick recap.....


My wonderful Aunt Jenell came to visit and we just had the BEST time with her!! She got to meet Elliott the koala which was great and we all went up to Port Douglas and out on the reef together. It was a very special visit!!


My friend George was nice enough to invite us to her birthday at her parents house. Her Mom went all out and made fabulous chicken pies with each person's initials baked on the pie.

Over Easter weekend we headed up to Omeo again for camping and the rodeo. The camping was awesome but a horse was hurt at the rodeo and that was awful. Camping, check! Rodeo, not any more for me thank you. So....there's a quickie update but I promise to do better keeping up!!

Ella Kazoo USA

My friend Lee Fox has just had her fabulous children's book "Ella Kazoo Will Not Brush Her Hair" released in the USA. It's a fun read and I can seriously relate... I HATED brushing my hair as a kid. If you have kids go out and get a copy.

Kangaroos in the Grampians

Holiday Recap

Before Matt and I left Melbourne we went to check out some of the decorated houses around town especially on the Boulevard in Ivanhoe. The block off the street and everyone walks up and down looking at the Christmas lights.
Christmas lights and Giant mice!!

The Christmas Mouse theme was reoccurring quite a bit. I loved the book "Santa Mouse" when I was a kid but I have never seen so many mice of the lawn ornament variety.

The Giant Christmas Kangaroo paid a special visit to Luke and Natarsha.

So off we went the the USA expecting to be in Florida by Christmas Eve. The snow had other plans. Here is Matt enjoying his Christmas breakfast in the Dallas Airport Grand Hyatt. Luckily, we were able to fly out that morning and made it home in time for my Mom's beautiful Christmas dinner.

We got to catch up with lots of friends from my high school including Cliff, my 4th grade square dancing partner. GOOD TIMES!

I hadn't been to the Jacksonville Zoo since I was a kid and let me tell you it's a completely different place. It's an exceptional zoo. Amy, Sam and Matt are feeding the stingrays.

And Colt is holding onto Julie for her carousel ride.

My wonderful friend Debbie organized for us to have lunch with a bunch of friends but I was having so much fun catching up with everyone I forgot to take any pictures. After lunch, Judy, Matt and I went to one of my favorite places in Jacksonville.

To me the Cummer Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. I have such happy memories running around this place as a child.

New Years in New York City with Chris and Elizabeth.

We had a great time hanging out, bumbling around the city and drinking "Pork Slap" Ale.

Yep...that's right "Pork Slap". How great is that name?!?

However, I don't think anybody had as much fun as this guy.

Party on the Train!!

We headed to Coney Island for the famous Nathan's Hotdog stand.

Some crazy people were becoming members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club. Did I mention there was snow on the ground??

CR-AAA-ZEEEE!!!!!

I haven't seen my friends Clare and Karen for YEARS so it was great to catch up with them.

Good Bye New York City...

Off to Chicago!!!

Jack and I built a gingerbread house with a kit from DaDa Dawson with surprisingly little mess.

Colin's Aunt Lenore was sweet enough to get Matt and I a gift certificate to Portillos. YUM!!!

More delicious hot dogs! It is almost impossible to find a good hot dog in Australia so I was trying to meet my yearly hotdog quota while in the States. Did you know the average American eats 60 hotdogs a year?? Very useful information.

Visiting some of my old stomping grounds with Mardi and Angela.

We hit Zebra and Jilly's and Moodys...

Can you tell this trip was very "junkfoodcentric"?

Last year Matt was absolutely devastated when we got back from Chicago and he realized we forgot to go to Moodys. He got his burger fix this time around.

We stayed in the gorgeous Palmer House Hilton. I love this hotel not only because it's stunning but because of all the Chicago history that is tied up in this place.

The best thing about Chicago is of course catching up with all of my wonderful friends.

It's always good to get a snow fix too. Chicago is always good for that!

We had a fantastic time on our vacation and it was so great to see so many loved ones and great friends!! Happy 2010!!!

NO TREE NO ME