Didgeridoo

Today we visited someone very special. Two Wiradjuri men, a father and a son who live in Narrandera and who create beautiful, handmade Aboriginal artwork that is sold all over Australia. We were lucky to be able to visit Mick and Michael where they work and we got to spend some time learning about how they create didgeridoos and other pieces such as boomarangs, coolamons, emu eggs and other neat items.

The Wiradjuri are the largest Aboriginal group in New South Wales. They occupy a large area in central New South Wales. The Wiradjuri tribal area has been described as "the land of the three riversincluding the Macquarie, the Lachlan and the Murrumbidgee (Murrumbidjeri) which runs through Narrandera. The Wiradjuri people's artwork is distinct from other native peoples of Australia.

Michael and Mick Lyons work at their home in Narrandera. They have a shop next their house and it was amazing to see all of their creations first hand. They had hand blown and painted emu eggs, boomarangs, rainsticks, lummy sticks and coolamons. Coolamons are curved wood pieces that traditionally hold an aboriginal infant or smaller ones hold berries and grains when women go out picking. The detail in their work is incredible and it is easy to see why their art is sold all over.

Michael treated us to some music on his didgeridoo. He could make kangaroo sounds as well as a sound like an airplane flying. He gave some tips to the boys in learning to play. He said to practice by blowing through a straw into a cup. Like the First Nation's Drum, women are not allowed to play the didgeridoo. It is said that a woman will not be able to bear a child if she plays. Traditionally women dance and play sticks while the men play the didgeridoo.

Mick showed us some interesting wildlife that they have in the freezer. First he pulled out a goanna that was accidentally killed and is on it's way to the taxidermist. A goanna is a lizard and they can grow to be over 2 metres long. They are predatory and have sharp teeth and claws.

Next, he showed us a murray cod head that his dad caught in the river. It was huge as you can see below. After that, he politely offered us a grub. Grubs are "bush tucker" or traditional outback food. They are relatively easy to find and taste like peanut butter. We will take his word for it as none of us were brave enough to try it. No Bear Grills among our family! Michael popped one in the microwave to take the chill off and then bit into it like you'd bite into a styrofoam "worm" - same sound!

The boys took their time picking out their didgeridoo. The one they chose was not the largest, but it still won't fit in a suitcase. We'll have to take it as "carry on" I guess!

It was very special to us to be able to meet a local citizen who can create and play such an iconic musical instrument and then to have a photo taken with him was extra special! Thank you Mick and Michael! Please see below for the pictures of our visit!

Another free slideshow by Smilebox

Snails Snails Snails

Whenever it rains, the snails come out in droves. You see them gliding across the patio, the lawn, the sidewalk, the pool, the fence, everywhere! It's like they want to soak up every drop of wet goodness they can before the sun dries up the ground.

The kids like to go out and count them. They are so easy to see because they are quite large ... 3-5cm's. Today, Jack and Sam's friend Jarrod collected about 30 in a matter of minutes and tried to have them race. It was a good way to spend some time on a rainy, drizzly sort of day.

Feeling Like Christmas?

37 days and counting ... wow it is hard to believe. Time is flying by and now that report card writing and Sam's exams are finished, it feels like we need to start preparing for our return home. Little by little, I am starting to clean and organise. We are also starting to think about how we can possibly begin to say thank you and good bye to the many wonderful friends we've met.

The weather has been getting hotter and hotter. We experienced +38 yesterday and the days are getting longer and longer. That is why, I stood with shock in the hardware store last weekend when the realization that Christmas is only 5 weeks away smacked me on the head. It just doesn't FEEL like it! As I was standing in line, I happened to glance outside at the shop window across the street and noticed Christmas peel and stick decorations. That was when it hit . You may say it is because we are busy and we are looking forward to returning home and I guess that is part of it. But, it is also the fact that the weather does not make it feel like Christmas to me.

I think of the cooler temperatures, the darker days, the first dusting of snow - those are the elements that start to get you in the festive mood. You start to whip up hot chocolate and snuggle under the blankets. You put on that sleigh bell music and get out the Santa hats. You are spending more time inside, decorating and playing games. Christmas is about being cozy and celebrating with family and all the rich foods (YUM) that go along with this time of year.

In Australia, you spend more time outdoors, specifically in the creek or in the pool. You are eating salads and other light cool foods and eating freezies or popsicles - not warm rich foods.

Yesterday, Jack and I were in a mall and Santa was there greeting children. Jack was of course THRILLED to see Santa (not that he went to see him, of course but he did wave from a distance). While we were standing there watching, Jack asked why Santa was there. I explained that it is nearly Christmas and that Santa is starting to visit the children to see what they would like. He couldn't understand that it was nearly Christmas because there was no snow and all the rest. I don't even see the elaborate displays in the stores that we are accustomed to at home.

I've asked the students in my class as well as parents I see about Christmas customs here. Some families do a traditional "baked dinner" at Christmas, complete with all the trimmings. It's hard to imagine in 40 degree heat cooking turkey or lamb and all the side dishes. Many families seem to be moving toward a barbeque or a cold seafood buffet - Yum! I asked kids about gifts that Santa brings and a lot of outdoor toys like blow up water toys or bikes etc... seem to be popular. It also seems that a lot of families go camping over the holidays along the river and spend time with family and friends outdoors, waterskiing and taking part in other water activities.

As for us, we may take part in the festivities in Sydney this year. I've heard that a lot of travellers and "ex-pats" head down to Bondi Beach to celebrate on Christmas Day. That may be where we will be as we prepare to fly out on Boxing Day. The boys have been assured that Santa will stop by our home in Kenora as our luggage is going to be pretty full as we leave Australia. All in all, it is interesting to see how other countries prepare to celebrate this world wide holiday - how boring if we all did it the same! No matter what, we will still have our traditional Christmas climate when we return.

Below are some photos of a lovely evening we spent at the home of Jacinta. They have a beautiful spot on the river, complete with a nice sandy beach. They treated us to a sausage sizzle and yummy pavlova for dessert. It was a fun night and the company was even better! Thanks!

L-R Jacinta, Me and Angela (Ang) Priscilla and Dominic's sister-in-law

Jack and I getting ready to taste the beautiful pavlova! Mmmmmmmmm.

Relaxing on the beach by the river.

The Home Stretch... 51 Days and Counting!

It's that time of year, the end of school.

As always, the end of the school year is a very busy time. Teachers are busy trying to squeeze in those last golden nuggets of curriculum while also assessing and evaluating how much their students learned this year. There are also all of those end of year special events that require planning and executing. When you pile onto that, your home duties and responsibilities, things can seem overwhelming at times and the stress metre for this time of year can be at the maximum in a normal situation.

For me, it is doubly so this year. For the first time, I am dealing with the end of year events without my own "home security system". Usually, at this time of year, I can call on family to take the kids for a sleepover or just for a few hours so I can work on reports or stay at school for other events that I need to attend. Here, as you can imagine, things are a little different.

I am deeply grateful to the friends we have made here and their support, but really it all still comes down to me. When things go wrong, when the unexpected happens, when there is drama, I am IT. I have to problem solve and deal with things as they happen to the best of my ability. Sometimes, when I am feeling strong, I call it character building and think that I am better for it. Other times, I just want to click my heels 3 times and say, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home ..."

So, here I sit on Sunday morning pondering the tidal wave of items to check off of my "To Do List"...

Yesterday was the Spring Fair at our school and I can "tick" that one off of my list. It was a terrific event that raises A LOT of money for the school. In fact, it is the key fundraiser for St. Joseph's. I worked the "Flea Market Stall" which is basically, a Yard Sale. While I did that, Jacob and Jack visited the different games, event and food stalls and had a great time. The Fair runs from 10am until 3pm and is very well attended and supported - even in 33 degree weather. It's a great social and community building event. Ask me about it when I get home as I think it has potential.

Today, I hope to plow through the mountain of marking and recording I have so that I can begin my 30 reports - at least for a while. The first report draft is due on November 14. It is going to be a HOT one today (34) so we may have to go to the Narrandera Pool for a while. Sam must also start preparing for his final exams which start on November 14.

This week, our staff is doing the second of 3 Professional Development evenings. In New South Wales, the teachers have the option of "working off" their last 2 school days, which are PD Days. You do this by participating in approved Professional Development on a weekend or evenings after school. By "working these days off" , school will finish for us on Friday, December 16 rather than Tuesday, December 20. This means keeping my boys occupied during these evenings. The first one we did was a Spirituality Evening that focussed on Prayer. It was kind of like a mini retreat but was very beneficial on a personal as well as professional level. This week's is about I.T. It should be interesting.

We also have the "End of Year Concert" (notice it is not called Christmas Concert) on December 8 (4 short weeks away!). I have decided to make it "easy" on myself, so my class will be performing "Christmas Star" - a song my class performed at my last PJPII concert. I love it, the kids love it (we have started practicing each day) and it has all the elements of a good performance - catholicity, actions, singing, costume AND a surprise at the end: MRS. MCKAY where are you when I need you??? The concert will be in the NOT air conditioned hall in 30+ degree temperatures so that will be something different. Hmmm... we may have to make costume adjustments.

We continue to have our twice weekly staff meetings at 8:20 Tuesday mornings and 3:30 until 5pm on Wednesday afternoons. The morning meeting is a "Nuts and Bolts" type meeting while the afternoon meetings are PD Related. The focus for us right now is Comprehension Strategies.

Then there are all the normal life happenings: basketball, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, yard/pool maintenance, settling arguments, negotiating with a teenager (did I say "Negotiating?").

For me, these are the "known entities" but each week there are the unknowns that pop up and I have to swerve and bob and make adjustments all around. Those are the times where I feel my head is going to pop off and probably enter the Earth's orbit.

The unknowns for me at this point are things like, is Dan going to make it back before we have to pack up and move? Then, the actual packing, cleaning and getting to Sydney and then to Canada. Lastly, it is saying goodbye to the many wonderful friends and students that we have come to love. That makes me well up with emotion when I think about it. As READY and excited as I am to return home to all of you - it will be a difficult goodbye to this community that has welcomed us and supported us, particularly since Dan returned home to work.

So, while working on reports, I may be remiss in posting here but I know that you, dear reader, will understand. Well, I'm off to begin ... see you very soon - I hope!

P.S. Congratulations to all of you! We have had nearly 8000 visits to our blog this year so far and from many places all over the world! How crazy would that be to hit 10,000? WOW! To see how many hits we have had, scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see a total there and you can track it as it counts to 10,000.

Carp-a-thon

The creek at the farm where we fished for carp.

Sam's survival hut.

Last weekend, we participated in an annual event: THE CARP-A-THON!

The Carp-a-thon is a fishing tournament like no other I've ever been to. There are NO LIVE WELLS, no daily weigh ins, no relays of runners or super prizes.

The Carp-a-thon takes place in Morundah, about 25 minutes out of Narrandera and it's purpose is the help rid the surrounding streams and rivers of an invasive species: European carp. The carp are considered a "garbage fish" and when they are caught, they are killed. They are ruining the delicate balance that exists in the river and stream ecosystems and must be extinguished.

The Site

We went out with Rod, Marie, Jarrod and Lauren as well as Brigitte and James to Helen and Alan's farm in Morundah. They live on the creek and so we had prime creek footage to fish out our weekend. Many families camp on the creek for the weekend and we SORT OF did. Rod set up a shade tent and barbecue kitchen complete with flags. He also set up fishing rods all along the shore in holders and complete with bells to let us know if a fish was on.

We arrived mid-morning on Saturday and I took a spot in one of the comfy camp chairs and the boys dispersed among the trees, the bank, the snacks. We always feel like we are among family when we are with the Smiths and O'Briens. We are welcome and we are comfortable and when you are so away from home, it is a feeling that you treasure.

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Cooking up brekkie with Marie.

We set about the serious business of fishing - as well as eating and chatting and by nightfall, we had about 7 carp. Once caught, they were put in a "feedbag" that was hanging off a nearby tree to go in the next day. As night began to fall, a fire was lit from all the firewood the boys collected and we shared a yummy spagetti bolognaise. Thanks Brigitte! We sat by the fire and enjoyed the peace of the creek and the company of one another until we were all a bit drowsy... time for bed! Instead of crawling into swags or tents, we headed back to the farmhouse and retired to our nice comfy beds - well, some of us did. Sam, Jake, Lauren and James camped in tents in the yard. We were a bit leary of snakes in the area and decided to play it safe - I NEVER would have camped outside anyway! I did however, stink like a campfire, eat lots of hearty camping food and abstained from a shower the next morning. I'd say that's a pretty big step - not to be repeated anytime soon :)

Rod's fab base camp

The Carp Throw

One of the main events of the Carp-a-thon os the Carp Throw. Competitors are divided into age groups and by gender. The throwing area has a measuring tape that runs along it's length and a spray painted throw line. Contestants hold a dead carp and attempt to throw it as far as they can. There is a marshall and the leading throw is marked with a squashed beer can (very technical) until it is either beaten, whereby the can is moved or is declared the winner. All the boys attempted this event but without being victorious. My Canadian boys were new at this and they all came within the top 3 - not bad for their first time! In Sam's age group, I was sprayed by the guts of a carp that went out of bounds. Can you say Y-U-C-K and EWWWW and GROSS??? Did this happen because I was trying all weekend to avoid the vile, stinky fish?

The trailer of carp ... hurray for ridding the water of these foul fish!

We enjoyed another truly unique Australian experience and we have to thank the O'Briens and the Smiths for once again hosting us and making it a fun and memorable weekend! Thank you!

Trick or Treat

Our family experienced a Halloween like no other. We didn't trick or treat ... well, not REALLY but we did encourage kids to come for candy!

Mom sent back a parcel from Canada, soon after her return of Halloween decorations and treats. I brought them to school and shared the decorations among colleagues and made up super treat bags for the kids in my and Jake's classes. They included skeletons, vampire teeth, witchy fingers and of course, some great Canadian treats!

So, on October 31, I carved a jack-o-lantern at school with my class (a first for all but 1 of my students)! They all got to put their hands in grab some "guts" and many got to carve with the tool mom included. After that, we roasted the seeds (another first) and most enjoyed them - I had to hand out the recipe :). Lastly, we lit it up and the kids marvelled at how it glowed. It was really special to be able to share this custom. I raffled off the jack-o-lantern at the end of the day so that one of the kids could take it home to share with her family. I also invited the kids to stop by that night for some treats if they were out.

When I arrived home from school, Jack, Jake and I got straight to work preparing our house for some visitors - we hoped! We carved another 2 pumpkins, decorated the house and put on some spooky sounds. We didn't have to wait long ... one of my students and her family and friends showed up when we were barely finished! Excitedly, Jack handed out the first treats - and lots of them!

Jacob decided to be a trickster tonight and dressed as a lawn decoration so that he could scare unsuspecting trick or treaters. Jack WAS going to dress up to hand out treats but then changed his mind and went as himself.

We didn't go out trick-or-treating because there weren't many places to go and we didn't know where they would be. We had discussed this for many days before Halloween and Jake and Jack accepted that they would let this Halloween be about giving rather than receiving. Sam, on the other hand, got together a group of friends and some costumes and went in search of lollies. In 2 and a half hours, they did find a few houses that were participating and came home with a small amount of loot.

Jack, Jake and I had a blast meeting the ghosts and ghoulies that did come out that night. We told them about Halloween at home and encouraged them to continue the fun next year. We had about 30 kids come by and it was really fun for us to see their excitement and joy over dressing up, visiting homes and getting treats. Hopefully, it will be a tradition that can continue...