Christmas with the Wolfla's

So its Christmas time again. Being away from my family at this time of year is always a little sad. But some time spent remembering the good family memories always helps!

So I thought I would share a few Christmas memories with you.

The picture above is of me and my Dad. The year my Dad gave me "Julie" the doll that could read books to you. It was the coolest Christmas gift ever!! This is Dad teaching me how she reads right after I opened her! I loved a doll that could read to me as I struggled to read myself. I was pretty impressed. And I still am! This was 1986 or so and this was a high tech doll for its time! I was so lucky to have parents who spoiled me rotten!

Another favorite Christmas memory is of our family ritual on Christmas eve. I was an only child so Christmas was pretty quite at our house. But that did not mean we didn't know how to have a good time. My Dad use to take me on a drive to see the Christmas lights around our area. It was always just me and Dad. Mom would stay home to wait for Santa, "just in case!" We would always end the trip with an ice cream sundae from McDonalds. God Bless America. I love that you can get an ice cream sundae on Christmas eve! We would sit inside the restaurant and enjoy our sundaes! That was a real treat! Then like magic when we would get home Mom would come rushing out the front door of our little log cabin calling "Mary, Mary guess who came while you where away!!" None other then the man himself. He even ate a few of the cookies I left out! How exciting. We always opened our gifts on Christmas eve, it was a family event. Even the cats got involved and would play in the pile of Christmas wrapping and bows!

Another one of my favorite Christmas memories involved my childhood cat Tomas "yes I know its not spelt that way, and it should be spelt Thomas, but thats not how Tomas the cat spelt his name." Tomas was a real trouble maker, a black cat, and like most black cats he knew how to find trouble. Over a 10 year period Tomas fell 2 Christmas trees. The first occasion happened in Boise, Idaho. It must have been the Christmas I was in 7th grade. Tomas decided it would be great fun to climb the Christmas tree (real tree) well as he made his way up the branches the tree could no longer hold his weight, as he got closer to the top the tree simply snapped in two. "Bang" down came Tomas and we had two trees instead of one.

The second occasion happened in Greenfield Indiana when I was about 21. Mom, Dad and I had been out visiting family on Christmas eve. We got home late and I took a seat in the living room to admire the lights and ornaments on our beautiful large Christmas tree. Little did I know Tomas was orchestrating one of his famous stunts. As I sat there half asleep I heard a strange snap of tree branches coming from our tree and as I opened my eyes I saw Tomas leap off the Christmas tree from somewhere in the midsection of the tree. He just leaped from the tree like his little kitty but furs had caught alight. As he was leaping I noticed that he had Christmas lights wrapped around his body. He hit the living room floor running pulling a 5 foot Christmas tree  behind him. He dragged that huge tree a couple of feet before he struggled free from the lights. I jumped out of my seat, so shocked at when I just seen. Don't worry Tomas was okay. But I think the following year we bought our first fake tree. And that put an end to the tree climbing. Please note Tomas was also the reason why my parents have cat safe ornaments on the lower branches on the their tree. Sadly my little Tomas cat passed away a few years ago now. He was my best buddy. But don't be concerned, he did not die in some horror Christmas tree accident. He was just old.

I have to say although I am an only child my parents made Christmas such a special time of year. It must be because I have such amazing parents.

This year 2010 will be the 5th Christmas I have not been home with my wonderful parents. As the years are passing I want to get home again and have a few more Wolfla family Christmases. I love my in laws, but nothing will ever be the same as Christmas with my family.

So weather you are near or far this Christmas be sure to let the ones you love know how much they mean to you!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

A Flag In The Rain

Like many American families my parents have an American Flag hanging off the front of their home. Boldly stating "A Proud American Lives Here" , or "God Bless Our Troops". My parents flag bares both these messages. (Side note: except when its Butler Basketball Season, then Mom displays her Butler Flag, Butler was the University I attended). 


When I was home in August an unexpected storm blew in one evening. Mom and I sat on the front steps under the flag and watched as the wind picked up and swiftly blew the leaves on the  big cottonwood tree across the street. We listened to the clap of thunder, and felt as the first big drops of rain came down, on us and our flag. 
Mom and I sat and watched the rain for sometime. All the while our proud flag was getting soaked in this summer rain. At one point the wind blew so fiercely that the flag flapped wildly, spraying us with water. I could not help thinking to myself that I had just been baptized, in a way, by that flag. Suddenly each droplet the flag spayed onto me tingled my skin. 
I have always loved our flag. But living away from home in a foreign country has made me respect that flag in a way I have never experienced prior. 


In Sydney Graham and I went to an Australia vs. America Rodeo. (Graham's first rodeo experience) 
The Australian and American Flag where hanging side by side. I watched as nearly 4,000 Australians rose and sang their national anthem. When it was the Americans turn to sing the anthem and pay homage only a handful of people in this huge stadium rose, crossed their hearts and sang our American anthem. It was a strange moment. A moment that made me miss home badly, and a moment that made me proud to be an American. Don't worry I sang loudly!


Another experience happened to me while working on World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. Its a huge Catholic event, Over a million Catholics gather from around the world to share their faith. I worked on this event as a Stage Manager. Part of my job was to get the Convention Centre ready for mass in the mornings (among many many other things). One morning I went to mass out on Darling Harbour with at least 1,000 other people. I stood next to another American(I did not know that at the time), a young man I didn't know, he was just in Sydney for World Youth Day. As is it came time for the Lords Prayer to be said we looked at each other at the same moment and clasped hands, we where the only two people holding hands in this huge crowd, we held hands through the prayer and let go when it was finished. This hand holding is a normal occurrence in many Catholic churches in America, but not a practice that is common in Australia. When I attend a mass in Australia and have no hand to hold I always feel a little bit alone, alone in a country that is not my home country. Standing next to my fellow American in the crowd, holding hands for the lords prayer, I thought to myself, I am sure glad I came to mass this morning, or this man next to me would know what it feels like to have no hand to hold, when it feels so natural. This was one of the best moments of World Youth Day for me. Among a few other really cool ones too.. But that man is still the last strangers hand I have held during mass. No need to worry though, I make Graham hold my hand for the lords prayer. 


I want to let you all know that yes I do have the American colors hanging on my front door. Its something I will always do no matter where I live. Its important to remember where you come from. And I come from America.

Dogs on Grills

Yes, that is a dog sitting on a park grill. I just thought I would add this photo as it is one of my all time favorites. This photo was taken in 2005. Graham and I took Jack my parents dog to the park for a walk. We tied him up to the grill and walked a short distance away, when I turned back to have a look at what Jack was up to, this is what I saw. Still makes me smile. I have no idea how he got up there. But he seemed to enjoy the view.

Not much is happening around Perth at the moment. Graham is busy with studies and I am working hard at Buzz Dance Theatre. Things are moving along. Its spring now in Perth and the warm days are wonderful, I can not wear summer dresses and sandals all I want! I have put away the winter sweaters and have the shorts out for another hot summer. This year we will have airconditioning in our living room! One of my cousin's friends gave the airconditioner unit to us and I was so grateful. Now we can keep at least one room cool on the hot days. Although I don't plan on using it all the time, just on the hottest days of the summer!

We have made some new friends in the neighborhood. Liz and Franck. They are a married couple from Houston and have recently moved to Perth. Its nice to have some fellow Americans near by and we have had a lot of fun getting to know them! It helps with the home sickness to have someone else to talk to who knows what your going through!

Kit cat is visiting the vet this Saturday and I think he may need to get his teeth clean. We have had him for almost 3 years now and he has just turned 10 years old. He has turned into a good cat who likes to sit on your lap and sleeps between me and Graham at night. He is my cat for sure, I guess the two weeks I was in the USA he was sad and just roamed around the house, sleeping on my side of the bed and just looking like a lost little cat. I love my kitty! Well I better go. Kit is giving me the signal that its time for his dinner. Mine too!
Smell Ya Later!

Bowls

This Sunday Graham signed me up to play in a lawn bowls tournament at our local Bowls Club.  Before I begin, a basic guide to Bowls.

Now being an American I did not grow up with this popular Australian past time. To describe it, its kind of like Bocce Ball, but different.


Basically you have a long flat grassy playing field, similar to a golf green. You place a rug on the ground where you will be tossing your balls (bowls) from. You then take a small ball about the size of a white ball on a pool table, about as heavy too, and you toss it in a strait line from where you stand. This is the "Kitty" ball. Its the ball you want all of your Bowls balls to get closest too. Then you start bowling.

In the picture above is the small Kitty and two Bowls balls. These balls are weighted to curve to one direction so its important before you throw it you know which way the ball is going to curve. If you get it wrong your ball will end up in someone else's bowls game, or way out on the other side of the lawn. 


The objective is to get your bowls as close to the Kitty as possible, you have 4 bowls balls to toss, as does your opponent. Your opponent can hit the Kitty out of the way of your balls, or knock your balls further away from the Kitty. Its a tricky game. You should be getting a rough idea of the game. If not go and check out this link.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowls

Now back to my story. As I said before Graham signed me up to play in a Lawn Bowls Tournament this weekend. Now it was nothing really serious, but  when we arrived at the club I quickly realized I was going to be on the losing end of this tournament.

Bowls is mostly an old persons activity in Australia but just recently it has enjoyed a spark of interest from young college aged people. At this tournament however Graham and I where the youngest in attendance. After a few practice tosses and a chance to buy a pint of beer the tournament was ready to begin.

For the first round I was paired up with two older gentlemen who at first seemed annoyed to be playing with a young American woman who knows only the basics of Lawn Bowls. After a few frames the group atmosphere warmed and I laughed listening to these two men use phrases such as "thats good green", and "come on get that kitty". This is a really competitive sport, with lots of courtesy rules similar to golf. Like no talking when someone is bowling, not acting in a distracting way when someone is bowling, picking up your next bowl only after someone has just bowled and not while they are in the act of bowling. But on the other hand this is also a sport that allows you to play barefoot and smoke cigarettes while playing.

I won a few frames and was happy to give the old guys a run for their money a few times. But at the end of the game my score was 16 and well... thats really really low.. like scoring a 13 out of 200 at the Bowling Alley. So I lost. Graham did well though and got to play on in another game. It was an interesting afternoon.

Now I am not sure if I am going to take up this sport more seriously, I think I had better get a little more practice before I try to compete against anyone again. But you never know if you never try.

The fair foods of my life!

Recently I went home to Indiana to visit my parents and friends. I like to plan my trips around the Indiana State Fair mainly due to my love of fair foods. So I thought I would write a blog honoring the fair foods of my life. 


Growing up I got to attend two different state fairs. First the Indiana State Fair,

 and then later the Western Idaho State Fair. 

Mainly these two fairs had the same foods. But Idaho had one food delight that the Indiana State Fair did not. That was the Ice Cream Potato.

I first had the Ice Cream Potato when I was 10 years old. It is vanilla ice cream rolled into a potato shape and then frozen as hard as a real potato. Then it is rolled in coco for that dirt color, topped with whipped cream, crushed cookies, nuts, and chocolate sauce.  I remember standing in line with my Mom and girlfriends for this fair treat and then fighting to get that first bite on to my plastic spoon as the ice cream was frozen solid. This is one fair food you can not miss, and the great thing about it, its an Idaho original. 


Most of my best fair food memories come from the Indiana State Fair where the line of food vendors stretches over 1 kilometer. There is everything on offer at the Indiana State Fair. These are just some of my long time favorites.


The Lemon Shake Up

You will find this sugary drink at most fairs in the US. Its a mixture of lemon juice and sugar syrup mixed together vigorously. Its tangy and sweet and leaves a little tingle on your tongue, not sure what they put in it for that effect but its unique. This is not a carbonated drink but still give you that refreshing feeling that a carbonated drink offers. This year at the fair I slammed down two of these babies. I like to get one right when I arrive at the fair, and then another one as I leave. Knowing it will be another long year before I see the Lemon Shake-Up stand again. 


The Pulled Pork Sandwich

Most of you know that I was born in Indiana. In Indiana people take the hog farming business seriously. Hogs, Corn, and Soy Beans are a big industry in Indiana. So when you go to the Indiana State Fair and walk down the "fair food alley" you are hit in the face with a big sign that reads "PORK TENT". In the pork tent you will find all sorts of of treats featuring Indiana Hogs. My favorite is the Pulled Pork Sandwich. Now this sandwich did not originate in Indiana, it being a southern food, but Indiana Hogs go into making many of these sandwiches. The pork is slowly cooked and smothered in BBQ sauce. Its the centre of my fair food experiences. I loved this sandwich as a kid and I still love it just as much as an adult. 


The Smoked Turkey Leg

This is my husband Graham's favorite fair food. I first tried the large Smoked Turkey Leg at a renaissance fair in Boise Idaho. Then upon moving back to Indiana in 2000 I was pleased to see my old friend the Smoked Turkey Leg at the Indiana State Fair. My husband Graham, being an Australian was always a little overwhelmed at all the gut bursting choices in food at the Indiana State Fair; but before long I had him in line with the thongs of people who also shared a love of the Smoked Turkey Leg. It is huge in size sometimes larger then a child's head, its smokey, you can barely eat it all and after you have to take a short nap in the horse barn on a pile of wood chips but its worth every bit. And for the health conscious like my husband, its one of the more healthy choices at the fair. 


The Elephant Ear

Also known as a kind of deep fired dough this was my Grandpa Wolfla's favorite fair food, thus I remember many a fair sharing a huge Elephant Ear with him. This deep fried dough comes out as big as an elephant's ear and then is covered in cinnamon and sugar. It is delicate and moist and the sugar on top just adds to the already sweet flavor of the dough. This is also my Mom's favorite fair food, and one I hope to share with my kids someday. 


Corn On The Cob

Remember above I told you Hogs, Corn, and Soy Beans are big business in Indiana, well it would not be an Indiana State Fair without a few corn on the cob stands. This treat goes back to the start of fairs in the United States. Corn on the Cob has traveled far and wide, I even see Corn on the Cob stands at fairs in Australia. Although nothing shakes a stick at the quality of Indiana sweet corn. This fair food will remain a classic forever. Just remember to pack a tooth pick if you plan on enjoying this classic treat! 

Now if this blog does not make you hungry I don't know what does. 

What are waiting for! Its August call you friends and family or just get in the car and GO! Point yourself in the direction of the State Fair and eat something for me!!! 

Back to Boise 2010

I went to Boise for 4 days this August to see my best girlfriends!

Some of you may or may not know that when I was 9 years old my family moved to Idaho. Growing up in Idaho I met 4 girls who changed my life. These girls are still my best friends. All of them still live in Boise. I am the only one who has moved away, and although there is a world between us and we may not to get to see each other as often as we would like, nothing has changed. We are still the same group of girlfriends we have aways been!

My Girls are:

Ann - (in the tree with me) I meet Ann in 5th grade, my Mom made me go to a new school for the last week of 5th grade, and good thing cause Ann sat next to me in class. She lived just behind my home too, there was a lot of fence climbing over the years from her house to mine. Ann is the glue of our girl group. Also Ann's Mom makes the best cookies in Idaho, uncontested!

April -(on far left in second photo) I meet April in 7th grade at West Jr. High School. This girl can warm any heart with her smile. I remember loving April's sense of style growing up and was always trying out her ideas (although she may not have known this). When April fell pregnant her baby Taylor (kido in the photos) I remember having this intuition about it. I knew before she called to tell me. Taylor is the sweetest girl and so smart! Just like her Mom!

Kristy - (photo holding a bird) Ann, Kristy, and I all lived in the same neighborhood. Kristy lived on top of the tallest hill in our neighborhood. Kristy and I became close when both of our families went to a car auction in Sun Valley Idaho, from then on we where the best of buddies. Kristy was the girl who introduced me to make up and the art of looking like a lady. Kristy's words at our sleepovers still ring in my ears "Hey lets give Mary a makeover." I met Kristy in 6th grade. Thanks to Kristy I made it to High School on most days.. thanks for the rides.

Lindy - (center of second photo) I met Lindy in 7th grade too. The first thing you learn about Lindy is that she loves to laugh and her laughter is contagious. Lindy is so generous and always helpful. Over the years Lindy has given me great advice and gotten me out of a few jams. She is a Mom to little Kyra, the cutest baby girl ever!

Going back to Boise was a blast. The last time I had been back was in 2006. I moved away from Boise when I was 17, but always made my way back every year till 2006 (lots of spring breaks). I even spent a wild summer with them in 2003, and had way to much fun!

I was surprised to see Boise had not changed too much, its the same town I love. The afternoon I flew in from Australia I was picked up at the airport by Ann and quickly whisked to her house for a shower and then we were off to Kristy's parents birthday parties; being held at Kristy's house. It was a great party and good to see lots of Kristy's family and catch up with her parents. There was BBQ southern style, cake, an open bar, and poker tables. It was a good party, and I quickly felt like I had never been gone.

The following days we had BBQ's and spent time catching up with some old faces. As well as meeting some new ones. It was just great to see my girlfriends and spend time seeing there homes and laughing like old times. One of the highlights was meeting Ann's neighbors. She lives between a house full of 23 year old boys and on the other side an 80 year old lady. This lady and the boys love Ann and they often have parties and spend time hanging out together. I can understand why, Ann is one special girl, if she was my neighbor I would be at her house every day!

The Bird Picture Explained

Another highlight was my day spent hanging out and shopping with Kristy. We meet an old friend from school out for lunch, we where eating outside on the restaurant patio when a yellow cockatiel lands on the handrail beside me. Shocked to see this kind of bird just landing next to us I put out my hand and the bird climbed onto my fingers. Soon the bird was enjoying our french fries and had the whole restaurant looking out at us! For some strange reason Kristy and I seem to find lost animals when together. Realizing we could not just leave the bird there we finished our lunch and with the bird on my shoulder we got in the car. Kristy started calling our friends asking them if they wanted to free pet cockatiel. Let me tell you this was one cool bird. It was gentle, didn't bite hard just nibbled you, it also danced to oldies music, and liked to be handled and petted. This was someone's beloved bird. Knowing finding the owner was going be tuff, we frantically looked for someone to care for it. Kristy drove me to a pet shop and was shocked when I came out with a cage for the bird compete with food, and toys. As a last resort Kristy called her Mom, and luck would have it her Mom said she would take the bird and look after it. Now the bird (named Sydney for Australia) is happily living at Kristy's parents house with no other pets. What a relief! But also a strange adventure in our day!

My trip went by too fast and soon it was time for me to head off to Indiana to see my parents. I am so grateful for my girlfriends. They have shaped the person I am today and have enriched my life more then they will ever know. I miss them everyday and often wish I could just walk over to their houses for a visit.

One thing is for sure, there is nothing like the friendships you make while you are young, they help us remember who we are, and who we want to be.

Two Places I Love in Australia

South West Rocks, NSW Snowy Mountains NSW

1. Grahams grandparents retired to a small coastal town called South West Rocks in the early 90's (near Port Macquarie on our map). Lots of Graham's fondest memories are in this town. Its a little place with only a handful of streets, it has a couple of pubs, a bakery, a golf course, some restaurants, a shell shop, and a super market. In the holiday season the beach side camp grounds are full of tourists. Graham took me there not long after we moved to Australia and it is one of my most favorite places. We have been back many times now.

The beaches are amazing in South West Rocks, the water so clear. It was here Graham taught me how to swim out past the break zone in the waves, out past the break zone on a long beach you can just float and let the waves you roll up and down. I remember looking down through the water and being able to see the bottom so clearly even though it was way. and I mean way down there. I would never do that alone so don't worry.

Also the town has great events on all the time like crab racing. One of the best places in South West Rocks is a short walk from the town shops. There is a little bay off the ocean, the water is clear and you can snorkel and see all kinds of fish and wildlife in this little bay. Graham and I often fish in the bay and have lots of fun. At low tide the narrow back end of the bay turns into sand flats and there are millions of little crabs that rule the area. You can walk out among the little crabs and chase swarms of them. The little crabs run away and then dig down into the sand to hid from you. To see a thousand little crabs all do that at the same time is pretty impressive! Then there are the sea turtles and dolphins that swim the rivers and beaches. Can I say more about why I love South West Rocks?? It is truly one of the best beach towns in Australia. It also has some of the best salt water fishing to be had any where in the world.

2.The Snowy Mountains in NSW. This is another one of my most favorite places in Australia. Graham and I love the Snowys partly because of the great fly fishing in the area but also because it is so beautiful. This area is home to the tallest peak in Australia Mount Kosciuszko.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kosciuszko)

It also is home to amazing wildlife, including wild brumbys (horses). Seeing the brumbys in the wild is pretty cool, along with the kangaroos, wombats, and emus there is never a lack of wildlife. One of my most favorite Snowy Mountain memories happened last year. Graham and I got up really early to fly fish a section of the Snowy River, we had to cross a large grass field to get to the river and with every step we took about a hundred crickets leaped forward with us. Crickets jumping everywhere (including down your waders) might freak out some girls, but not me. It was really something to see and even more beautiful with the sun coming up through the trees. That morning I was also charged by a herd of sheep. I guess they thought I looked like a tasty treat, I had to jump into the river to escape their pounding hooves! It was pretty funny!

The Snowy Mountains are some of the most ancient mountains in the world, making them round and long.. As you move up the mountains the plants and wildlife changes immensely, at the top of the mountains the plants become waxy and delicate. I have never seen anything like it, this area of Australia is truly unique. The whole landscape is amazing. Some areas are strewn with the biggest boulders with nothing around them to suggest how they got there. Kind of like aliens came down and brought the rocks with them. It is so interesting!

Okay, those are my two most favorite places in Australia. When you come out to visit, be sure to make sure we see at least one of these places. I will have to update you with some really interesting Western Australian places!

Cheers!