When it Rains it Pours...

There's nothing quite land a good ol' Queensland thunderstorm! We sure have had our share of these in 2009, which has been good because it's pushed our dams from a pitful 27% to a whopping 75%. We can only thank God for the rain. Here are some photos from the storm on the 19th of February 2009:

It tends to rain quite heavily out by us =)

It's raining, it's pouring...

The sky clears...

We're 'sitting' in the rain...

These little fellows (Noisy Miners) or Leroy birds (as we call them...long story) got caught in a typical Queensland rain storm on the 13th of February this year. The poor little things attempted to take cover in a palm tree outside my sister's bedroom window.

Sleepy-Puss!

Here's a photo of Sebastian in his favourite spot - stretched out on my bedroom floor.






Whatcha doin' Ma?















Okay, I'm going back to sleep now...

A Short Break - Part 2

Our hike along the Tanglewood Track was rather scenic, if I do say so myself!

Even though it was cloudy the scenery was still spectacular!

Another view of the beach...

Monique behind the sign that signals the start of our hike.

A Short Break - Part 1

In early January one of my good friends from Melbourne, Monique, came up from Melbourne for a weekend getaway to the Sunshine Coast. Monique arrived on the Thursday night and we then drove up to Noosa on the Friday morning and stayed at the Noosa Entrance Waterfront Resort in Noosaville. Mon and I got to catch up and spent some time walking in the State forest, taking in the sights of Hastings Street and the beach. We also had brekky at one of my favourite places in Noosa - Hard Coffee. We made our way to breakfast in the rain and proceeded to wait 20 minutes for a table. Once seated we didn't move from our spot for almost 2 hours. It was the perfect way to start a morning!

Above: A view of the beach from the walkway heading towards the National Park.

Above: The winding walkway to the National Park

Above: Noosa's main beach

Above: The rainy conditions were not what Monique had planned on. We had to dash from the car to Hard Coffee in this...suffice to say we got quite wet!

Simply Stunning Sunset...

Five days into the New Year (2009) we were wowed by this stunning display of God's handiwork. I sometimes get the feeling that He LOVES showing off...because He can!

Christmas 2008 - Part 2

Here are some photos taken on the Kondalilla Falls circuit:

These steps lull you into a false sense of security about the track...it's tough!

The family marches forth...

Isn't it pretty?

...and prettier still.

...walking through a [leafy] wonderland...

The beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Christmas Day 2008 - Part I

Christmas Day 2008 dawned lovely and warm. We slept in a little that morning because we had attended the 11pm Christmas Eve service at church the night before. Well, technically we came out of church on Christmas morning...just after midnight. It was pretty awesome to spend time singing in Christmas morning with family and church friends. We got home a bit bleary-eyed, but then got stuck into opening presents and THEN allowed ourselves the comfort of our beds. Did I mention that 2008 was all about new things, rather than the traditional? Now you know.

So where was I? Oh yes, so then Sunday morning we awoke and took our time getting ready. Mom and Kay had spent Christmas Eve preparing a feast for our planned picnic to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland - Montville to be exact. So we packed up the car and headed out to the Kondalilla National Park where we ate and drank (Grapetizer). After lunch, my sister got it into her head to go on a hike around the falls. What the? It was over 30 degrees, we had all just eaten, we're wearing JEANS and now she wanted us to exercise? Oy vey! At any rate, we all fell in for the hike, but it was not enjoyable and it was NOT easy. There were several times when I thought I was seriously going to need an ambulance, my heart was pounding that fast! Suffice to say, I felt fried by the time we got back to the car. All my carefully applied makeup was no longer on my face, but somewhere on the forest floor along with who knows how much perspiration! I had never been so happy to see the end of the trail as I was then.

We all climbed back in the car and headed back to Brisbane for a calm and cooler rest of the day inside, relaxing together.

So, I guess as far as being un-traditional, we succeeded...but please, please, PLEASE can we go back to traditional for Christmas '09?






Clowning around
















29.5 Degrees and rising!
















We have arrived!









Mom and Dad enjoying Christmas lunch, though Dad seems somewhat distracted.

A Very Special Ornament

My best friend sent me a few lovely gifts for Christmas last year, one of which was this lovely initial 'K' ornament that had a very special place on the tree and in my heart (see below).















Guess that makes this ornament "Special K" yes, no?

Christmas Fun

Preparations for Christmas 2008 were the same as any other year. There was the selecting and buying of presents and the wrapping of gifts. Then there's the Christmas Tree and the setting up and decorating of said tree. Below are some pre-Christmas 2008 photos.

My little gift-wrapping assistant :-)

Bassie helping with the tinsel

I liked the look of these colours together.














Our magnificent tree!

Hazza Bazza

No wonder my Mom decided on the name 'Harry' for this magnificent animal. He is quite regal-looking if I do say so myself. He's got such expressive eyes.

Wild Weather in the West - Part 3

This is where the Creek flows...normally the creek banks up against our concrete footbridge...not this time though!



One of our property's fences is under there somewhere (see above and below)!

Wild Weather in the West - Part 2

Fence...? What fence? Oh...that fence!















All the gunk that washed into our waterway.

Yep, seeing is believing!

Wild Weather in the West - Part 1

In mid-November 2008, SE QLD experienced some of the worst storms in history! There were hurricane force winds, rain & hail that turned ordinary neighbourhoods into what could only resemble a war zone! The worst hit area was The Gap, which is litterally right over the hill from Pullenvale. We had some property damage (downed fences, broken tree limbs, etc, etc) but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. After the Sunday storms a second lot of storms hit on the 19th of November (a Wednesday night) and I remember it clearly because Mum was in hospital with tick bite fever and Dad was on a business trip to Holland.

Below are some photos of our property from the Sunday and in the days following the storms.





Tree limbs taken out by the storm










These poor Gallahs were rained out of the trees and couldn't fly. So, to protect them we put them in our chook pen to dry out till the morning and then let them go.


















More downed trees in the bottom paddock.



















Looking out to one set of neighbours.

Puss-a-Posing

My cat Sebastian is quite possibly the most handsome cat I have ever known. He is the cutest thing on four legs and follows me around the house when I am home, talking all the while. Below is a photo of of Bassie doing his best Sphinx impression.

A Visit to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

In late October 2008 / early November one of our family friends came to visit after spending some time in Perth. He'd never been to Brisbane before so we took him to see some of Brisbane's best attractions. One such attraction was Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary located in Fig Tree Pocket.


































What's that you say?














Is there such a thing as Roo-lates?

How do you measure up?