School is 'out' and Summer is 'in'

Our backyard as seen from the house. 
Gone is the snow, the grass is green and the trees are leafy. 
Our yard backs onto a public walkway, a very pretty path.

Yay!! School is 'done' (it seems that no-one here uses the word 'finished'), and finally we have a decent break!  It seemed like we went from one school year straight into the next and so it's been really nice the past few days to just relax, and unwind.  Hmm.. what am I talking about? That's what I have been doing since I got here!! My daily routine is so very different!  However, my days have been starting very early, 5.00am the alarm has been going off, so it's very nice not to have to get up until a couple of hours later..

The last week of school was relatively quiet compared to what I usually experience trying to meet deadlines and get as much done at school before we can all relax, however that also was a rather loose term, because then usually the Christmas hat goes on!  It sure feels different with school winding up, summer coming on and along with that, the holidays, but it's not Christmas!!  That's something to look forward to, and it also makes this time very relaxing.

The past week included tumbling for Sarah, a cub-scout pack meeting for me (cubs is 'done' now until after summer), and graduation parties for Tom.  Graduation is a very serious milestone here.  The actual Graduation for Columbine HS took place last Saturday morning, but the weekend was crammed with parties.  Tom  went to so many.  In the shops, there are displays for cakes, banners, cards and invites.  So it's a big part of the calendar.

We have also been spending quite large amounts of time on the internet exploring venues to go to.  We have a plan mapped out for the holiday period, but alot of this depends on accomodation which is expensive.  However, it is very exciting that we have this opportunity to see this vast country and are really looking forward to our road trip to California and a week in the big apple, New York City.  There are times when I still cannot believe we are having this experience.

Last Monday was a public holiday for Memorial Day, which is very similar to ANZAC Day.  The people here are very patriotic with most homes displaying the American flag. However, supermarkets and some other shops were still open, so we found that a bit odd.  Rick and I were invited to dinner at one of his colleagues and enjoyed home made smoked meat and 'grill' (aka BBQ).  It's nice meeting other people, it seems everyone loves to hear about Australia.  However, I am amused at some questions we get asked such as: 'what grows there?' Answer: "Pretty much the same things that grow here!!'  I am often surprised at the amount of people that seem to have very little knowledge about the other side of the world..

This week the local community pool opened.  So, as local residents we went and got ourselves a season pass!  We live in Governor's Ranch.  In times gone by, it was actually a Ranch along with several others around us, so most people in Littleton live on some Ranch or other.  They are all locally governed and have a Ranch House or community hall.  For us, this is located just around the bend in our street, about 5 houses away. At Governer's Hall, which is a club house that can be rented for functions, there is a community pool and tennis courts.  It's been a wet, overcast and mild spring, but true to form, summer arrived along with the 1st of June! The weather is so lovely and warm this week.  For us, it is especially good to feel the warmth in the air especially after back to back winters.  Yesterday, it actually hit 90F (about 30C)!!  There is a rhythmn in the seasons, and it's so right experiencing them in order.  I guess we'll have another oddity again when we return and have back to back summers! 

The Aspen tree..  (an upcoming painting I think!)

I have been going to the gym about three mornings a week with Cheryl, my neighbour two doors down, and this has been really good.  I can actually run 2K's fairly easily now, then I walk for another 2 to cool down. (I think it's helping to offset some of the rubbish I have been eating!!)

This morning after the gym, I spent some time in the back yard pulling weeds that have popped up between the stones in the garden.  Our back yard is open as mentioned, according to the 'covenants' of Governor's Ranch.  So there are no fences as we know them in back yards, just  wooden posts and railings, with a walk way which has quite alot of pedestrian traffic.  This means, there is not a lot of privacy in the back yards, and also means I should make sure the gardens are kept tidy!!
And so this morning I was enjoying the warm air, and actually the weeding too.  I do miss my own garden in Magill. I could hear the sound of a lawn mower, birds singing and some children playing on a swing. Then a bagpipe started playing.  It sounded so nice, and immediately reminded me of my brother John who plays the pipes, but then that reminded me of the last time I heard him play, which was at my younger brother Andrew's funeral.  But that was ok too, I remember good things about Andrew, with my most favourite memories of him being on our trip to New Zealand in 2004.  I cherish that time we had together with Deb & Ross & Charlotte.

In the bottom corner of the garden is a sectioned off area.  I watched as what looked like 'weeds' popped up.  So a few days ago, decided I should tackle them, as it was really looking untidy. I had barely begun when an older lady walked passed, stopped and said 'Oh, you like gardening, you are from Australia, right?'  which started a conversation about who I was and about my garden.  It seems like alot of people know about us!  And it also appeared that there were only a few weeds, and it was a flower garden with catnip, columbines, roses (I recognised those!) and poppies.  (The poppies truely did look like thistle bushes).  There are others too, that I don't remember the name of, and haven't seen before.  In the garden every morning I see at least one 'bunny' and often two.  The squirrels still chase each other around and there are robins hopping about too.  I am truely in a different part of the world, but am enjoying seeing these new and different things that usually I only hear about in story books. And as winter has fallen on Australia, I will enjoy being here in the warmth seeing these new scenes.

What do you know?  I am growing Columbine's!!

...and Poppies!

This is a climber, but don't know what it's called?  Does anyone know?

.. or the name of this?  It looks like some variety of Loopin.

..
This evening, my friend Connie is going to the Temple for the first time, and has asked me to go with her so that will be a lovely experience.

On Monday, Lucy Kuhn (from Adelaide) arrives for a week's visit.  Tom and Sarah are looking forward to her coming and showing her some of the local attractions.  They have already signed up for a season pass at Waterworld (equivalent to that on the Gold Coast), so they can take Lucy, and Deegan and Chani when they come.  They have a list of things to do, so next week will not be quiet like this one.  Our summer has begun!