THAT TIME OF YEAR

AUTUMN HAS COME TO QUEENSLAND...

Here, we call it winter. We are always talking about either winter or summer. As soon as it turns chilly (cold enough that less than half the population wears shorts) you start hearing that its going to be a cold winter, or a long winter... living here in sub-tropical Queensland, I miss the snow, and air so cold you can not comfortably draw breath, the sting of the icy morning burning your lungs... I miss them because if those were coming, then people would be enjoying the sweet chill of autumn before the real winter cold. Instead, this is pretty much as cold as it will get until it is hot again.

There is majesty in where we live. I regularly watch rainbow lorikeets in my front yard, yellow crested cockatoos perch on top of the street lights, vibrant green tree frogs latch on to the side of my house...

But I do miss the joys of four actual seasons. Here we just pretend. It is either summer or it's not...

Which is why I love this one tree on our street so much. This is our bright spot of autumn in a sub-tropical town. That is why we visit it every year...

Time to make pumpkin soup and maybe even turn the heater on...

The Bronzed Aussies

THE CHALLENGERS...


Team Australia came in third at the Asian regionals of the Louis Lesaffre Cup. This makes them the challenger team for our leg of the competition. One challenger team will be selected to go on to the finals in France next year.

Some of the teams had been training for years for the event, and the pictures I saw were pretty impressive. I am so impressed with how they went, and so glad that Will is home! He still has to recover from the smog, but he is back! The challenger team will be selected live on June 21st.

WHILE THE CAT'S AWAY

Actually, it is Will who has been away, coaching Team Australia.

In the meantime, Justice and I have been slogging away at paperwork and deliveries, completely ignoring housework, and having lots of interesting chats.

Wednesday night we saw a pre-screening of Soul Surfer and we loved it!!!

It led to some amazing conversation, and I felt so aware of the way that Justice is growing quickly into his own skin, and how he has always been someone with a set and definitive view of the world and his role in it. I feel like time is flying by with this little man-child, and I am trying desperately to enjoy every minute we can!

TEAM COACH

Will is coaching the first Australian Team to ever enter The Coupe Loius Lesaffre. THE baking competition, which is the deciding step for the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie. While he treks off to the regional finals in China (held in this awesome building), I will be holding down the fort alone. But rest assured, if they make it through, I WILL be accompanying the team to Paris next year. Louvre, here I come!

Happy Mother's Day Weekend

Friday we went into the city as a family to collect Will's visa for his trip to China. The office was closed, and we'll have to go back, but we did enjoy dinner at a Southbank restaurant right on the river. A family dinner out! That never happens!

On Saturday late afternoon Justice and I went into Brisbane to the Brisbane Arts Theatre and saw a performance of The BFG. It is my favourite Dahl book. If I had to pick a favourite...

We had a marvelous time, the performance was excellent, the cast was warm and available afterwards in the charming little courtyard. The "autographs" were all of the characters names. The Royal Air Force guy was Justice's favourite by far. He was hilarious...

And the building was absolutely charming. There was an article about its 75 year history, which included the tidbit that Geoffrey Rush performed there while at uni in Brisbane.

Mother's Day I slept as late as my body would allow, went out for take away for lunch, and then napped until Will had to work.

I think I was awake about three hours all day. PERFECT!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend as well!

BOOK WEEK

Its BOOK WEEK again... another costume to put together...

This year Fiona is going to feel like I was channeling her creativity
(but I swear Justice came up with it and he never had a chance to see the 2010 pics of Larissa)
(Well, I did show him this morning)

We went more ORIGINAL book than Tim Burton, but I did assemble a spool sash as an homage to Depp's awesome costume... Unfortunately, Will is away and there is too much on my plate, so we did not have time to make our own amazing hat, but we will save that project for another day.

Luckily there's a costume shop right near the school and they had a decent hat...

We're more excited about the teapot though...