Hawaii Reunion

Kuoloa Ranch where many movies and TV series Lost have been filmed.

No arm twisting was required when my aunt and uncle (Pagan Dancer-see post from Sept. 15, 2008)
 stated New Jersey was too great a distance for them and Australia would be too far to ask us to travel, and suggested we meet them in Hawaii. Let's see--sub-freezing, snowy Jersey, or 85 degree and sunny Oahu. Not a difficult choice at all.

"Ramona" Cheryl & "Duke"

It was a great reunion as we hadn't been together since 2005 when John and I finally visited with them and the rest of our OZ family in Victoria. My aunt and uncle share our love of plants and gardening, so besides swimming, snorkeling and some great dining out, we explored a number of botanical gardens together.

Mindanao Gum Tree at the Dole Plantation

We wondered at the beautiful variety of flowers, trees and shrubs, some that we recognized from either Jersey or Australia and others none of us had ever seen before.

We were struck by the beauty of the rainbow of colors of the hibiscus and orchids and quite cautious of the fruit of the cannonball tree which would be frightfully dangerous on a windy day.


Cannonball tree at Foster Botanic Gardens

 A visit to an orchid nursery enabled my aunt to show me those she grows at home that unfortunately were not in bloom during our visit.


Admiring orchids

Our walks together throughout resplendent gardens gave us the opportunity to relax and reconnect after being so many miles and so many years apart. Of course our ten days together flew by much too swiftly as is often the case when enjoying yourself with those you love, but we said our farewells at the airport with the promise to plan another reunion with more gardens to explore.



North Shore Sunset

 



Aloha for now!

Cheryl

Christmas Wreaths

When John and I had the garden center, we hand made and decorated dozens of mixed greens wreaths for the holidays. Now we just make some for ourselves and our family. I love keeping one up through the winter to perk things up when things start looking a little too dreary.

A few months ago, my Australian Uncle Graham, AKA "The Pagan Dancer", sent me a photo of a natural wreath that beats any John and I could ever make. A friend of my uncle had his camera ready at just the right moment to capture the lovely assembly below. "The Pagan Dancer" suggested the photo for one of my blogs and I told him I would save it for the appropriate time. Now the time is right to use it to wish all of you the happiest of holidays, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Rahmadan. Remember---the greatest beauty is often found in the simplicity of nature. May 2010 hold only the best for all of you.

Happy Birthday, Pagan Dancer!!!

Cheryl and "The Pagan Dancer"


I'm dedicating today's post to my Uncle Graham/ AKA The Pagan Dancer who was first mentioned here on September 15, 2008. He is celebrating his birthday today---well actually tomorrow here in Jersey, but it will already be May 1 in Victoria, Australia when this posts (I think??? Not sure how the whole internet works with specific dates and time zones!) It gets very confusing at times when we speak on the phone and it is night here and the morning of the next day in Brighton!

The magpie is a daily visitor

Anyway, I am wishing my uncle the rainiest birthday ever!!! Some of you must be shocked. "Doesn't she like him? What an awful greeting---why not sunshine and cloudless skies?" Aha, because Uncle Graham would be thrilled with a good soaking rain to help relieve the ongoing drought that he and his fellow Victorians have suffered through for years. Yes, I said years with no exaggeration. The lack of rain added to the horrific fires I reported in the "Heartache in Oz" post. We complain in the summer if a drought of a few weeks comes along and God forbid we have to water our lawns on alternate days, or can't pull out the hose to wash the car in the driveway. The folks in Victoria are way ahead of us when it comes to water conservation and have been for a very long time. Crested pigeons in Uncle Graham's backyard

When John and I visited with my uncle and aunt a few years ago, we were amazed at the beauty of the plants that are able to bloom in such arid conditions, especially the Banksia also called bottle brush. And somehow the grass they have for their lawn manages to green up with just the least bit of moisture. Banksia-Bottle Brush

So, my Pagan Dancer, may the skies open up and drench you with giant raindrops and may you continue dancing for many years to come.

Love & hugs to all in OZ!!! Cheryl

Heartache in OZ

Earlier this month I was filled with a mixture of emotions---excitement over having our Washington family visit for a week along with fearful concern for our Australian family. Wild fires were raging in Victoria, the state where the "Pagan Dancer" and most of my family reside. As I watched US news reports and combed the Internet for more up to date reports, I prayed the winds would not shift and the brave firefighters would be able to put out the fires before they got anywhere near my uncles, aunts, and cousins. The fires were so furious and numerous, that my concern grew with each passing day. I searched maps looking to see how close the fires were to the various towns where they lived,wanting everyone to remain out of harm's way.

Fires in background

I received a photo from "Pagan Dancer" of fires burning in near Doncaster a mile from my Uncle Laurie's house in Nunawading and thankfully that was as far as they got. In 2005 Uncle Laurie had taken John & me to Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary where his daughter and her husband worked and the flames threatened nearby but thankfully spared them. The sanctuary is presently treating the animals who escaped, but are in need of care.

Kangaroos at Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary

While taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count with my grandson and granddaughter, I was also praying for the citizens of Marysville whose town was totally destroyed by fire. The town was located in the Dandenong's that John and I visited and where wild rosellas, cockatoos and gallahs literally ate from our hands in Sherbrooke Forest. Who would want to destroy such beauty? It's inconceivable, but some of the fires had been deliberately set and now the death toll is over 200 and expected to rise as additional bodies are discovered.

Sherbrooke Forest

Feeding cockatoos and rosellas

Another cousin sent word that a magical spot of whimsical beauty Bruno's Art and Sculpture Garden was totally wiped out. Take time to be awed by what had amazed generations of visitors by clicking on the following link. While looking at these stunning photos, please say a short prayer for the brave citizens of Victoria who have suffered so much.