Tasting Outback Queensland

Last weekend was a very tasty weekend. :) We spent it with some friends, a ute, a whole bunch of massive granite boulders, and a few delightful little wineries.
Stanthorpe is a little town about as far south as you can go and still be Queensland. It's just on the border with New South Wales. It's quite a drive from Brissy, but we enjoyed the travelling too. Sometimes, at the end of a long week, the further you get from the city, the more the country air seems to seep in and let you breathe easier and smile bigger, you know? :)

Wherever I go I look at the trees. It sounds a bit boring I guess, and I'm only rarely nerdy or informed enough to know actually know the names of the trees, but I just love being surrounded by them. I especially love to note how many different kinds of gum trees there are here. And in this far southern part of the state, surprisingly scattered with the eucalyptus, there are some maples and other deciduous trees and vines. they reminded me that March really is Auttumn here. So anyway.... I just hope that explains why I have so many photos of trees. Lots of wildlife frolicking about as well :)

We visited three different wineries along the road over the weekend. Queensland is not normally noted for its wines, but apparently the industry is just beginning to really take off in recent years. And we certainly didn't mind sampling what this region has to offer. I was happily surprised. Inside and out, the wineries had all kinds of character and charm. I felt so sophisticated and relaxed! it may have been all the tasting :)

Saturday night there was a big opening dinner put on by one of the wineries, to celebrate their re-opening. that's where the photo you see at the top fits in. They had a local Italian restaurant cater the feast. I was so impressed, they had excellent Tiramisu -- one of the most perfect desserts ever invented if you ask me -- and they even designed a special gluten free meal and beautiful dessert just for Danny. So if you're ever in Queensland, this is my unashamed plug for the Summit Estate Winery in Stanthorpe -- it's fantastic.

There's a beautiful National park nearby with a satisfyingly strange-sounding Aboriginal name: Giraween National Park. It's all Granite boulders and gum tree forests, which we got to navigate with some stomach-churning but very exciting off-road driving. And then we also did some more lesiurely strolls and climbs. I thought of my family and outdoorsy friends in MN, you guys would love it out there!

In this photo you will see a ute: it's short for "utility vehicle," and it's basically just an Aussie word for pick-up truck.

It was so nice to be out in the country with friends, just enjoying ourselves. I'll have to hang on those memories for a long time now, as it seems it'll be awhile before we can take a weekend away anywhere again. but that's news for the next post...stay tuned!

29 So Fine

This title is brought to you by a happy young girl who's now officially not-quite-30-yet. And also by mom, one of many well wishers who wrote or left messages for my birthday which I so rudely ignored while I was out of town. I figured I'd better put up a quick post about my birthday weekend, before the week is over and it's a bunch of other people's special weekend.



Danny found us a holiday apartment for the weekend in Caloundra-- a nice little town on the Sunshine coast, just north of Brisbane. But the Sunshine coast was not so sunny. It was the windiest, rainiest, cloudiest set of 3 days we'd had here since the last time I forgot we lived in the tropics (whenever that was.) So we didn't go swimming. no worries! It was perfect for us -- we walked the windy boardwalk, we strolled around the air museum for hours, we had a lovely seafood dinner, and we spent most of the time relaxing in our hotel room. It was a very thoughtful birthday gift from my very thoughtful and sweet husband. (cue the "awwwes." :) ok, you can stop now.)



Now that I can post photos again, I've got to show off one of the beautiful babies in our lives...

Sebastian and family
He's about 4 and 1/2 months now I think?


Enjoy. I think that's all the words I've got at the moment. I just got back from my body balance class...which is a bit of Thai chi, pilates, and yoga - all put together for a sort of stretching boot camp. (i love it!) the instructor makes us really work. so much so that when i'm done even my brain works a whole lot slower than usual for about 8 hours. so forgive my lack of cleverness, and go enjoy your weekend :)

lots of love,
licia

Finally photos

So I finally found a way to put photos up on my blog once again! apparently it's our home computer that doesn't like to post pictures, but I can do it on my laptop.
So here are a couple of photos from the end of our last trip to the states in December. I don't think my parents got to see the one of all of us together; it was taken during one of our long Minnesota goodbyes, before we went to the airport. The 2nd photos is at TGIFridays. good fun. I quite miss that place.

You may recall the story I told about my sister Audra getting engaged on Christmas morning? And I'm lucky enough to get to go back to Minnesota for a short visit for her wedding. In July. Happy days :)



So that's about it for now. There will be more current Aussie photos to come again on this site.
Have a good and peaceful weekend....it's coming up soon enough!

A Letter for Grandma

This is not a happy travel story. Nor is it a cute childrens' book (as the title may suggest). This is pensive, moody and sentimental babbling. I've got to have somewhere to put it. And maybe if you're one of the people I haven't written back the last couple of days, you'll know why. I'm drifting in weirdness, and in and out of sadness a bit today.

On Sunday, My Grandma Ginny died. Which means it was crazy 0-clock in my parents' early Monday morning when they called me as I was making dinner. Beside the point. What is the point? I'm not sure there is one. I only ever knew one grandma, and now she's gone. And one thing that I've just learned really sucks about living so very far over so very many seas, is how impossible it just might be to go to the funerals of loved ones.
No, I'm not going to start whining and let her passing be an excuse for me to have a pity party.

It's just so weird. You think grandparents' dying is something that happens. It's not uncommon, it's not unexpected. Except when it's your own. Then it doesn't even matter that they're past 80 -- she was still going bowling and having lively conversation. It took me completely by surprise.

So anyway, I can't go to the funeral, so I wrote this letter. It's things I wish I could have said to her, some things I want to keep in words. I'm just putting it here cause it's my little way of making sure she's remembered.

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Grandma Ginny,

I didn’t get to say goodbye this time. The last time I hugged you with farewell tears, you had come all the way out to Minnesota to celebrate my wedding. You introduced me to your husband Walt; watching the two of you together, you seemed so youthful and confident and happy, you were a beautiful example of married life for me.

You were always a woman I admired for your strength and boldness. You were never afraid to speak your mind. During my college days, you kept me well aware that I should let my hair grow out long again - I was never going to catch a man with such short hair! And you were so happy to see that I had indeed finally acquired both a ponytail and a good man!

I wish I could have told you how much you mean to me. I wonder if you already know? You were my consistent grandparent. You were the one I always depended on to be my grandma. We were often far apart in miles, but you were always there.

In my family, you laughingly called the month of March “Thurberch,” for all the birthdays and anniversaries we celebrate at this time. Every March, Grandma Ginny, your cards came. One by one they came, and decorated our home with paper flowers and faithful love – they were our signs of spring. We will miss them now.

You crocheted for us the most beautiful, warm Afghans. You sent them wherever we were living at the time. No matter how far away we were, you helped keep us warm and loved.

I pray that you know how much you are loved, how much your life has meant to your family, how thankful we are for who you are.

Love you Grandma. You are remembered, always,
Alicia
(Your "Sunshine Girl")