Winter Time

Its winter in Perth again.
The rains have come back this year stronger then they have in years past. This is a great thing for Western Australia because it means we will have full damns this summer.
However all this rain makes things a little dreary and makes drying your laundry a struggle. I know I talk about that alot... but until you live with out a dryer in the winter you have no idea.

Heres what I've been up to!

My pots are coming along. Im picking these up this week!

Graham and Kit picked me up one night from work in June. I was surprised. Also surprised that I "had" to sit in the back because Kit was comfortable in the front seat. Love my two red cats!

Sadly my boss Pippa left Buzz in June. I was very sad to see her go. Im only just getting along without her in the office. I miss seeing her everyday and having our daily chats. We are good friends and I look forward to seeing her soon.

I took Sarah dancing. I even dressed her up. We had a fun night!

We have a new dance workshop at Buzz for kids aged 2-5 years old. Its based off a popular children's book called Giraffes Can't Dance. This is Nicole reading it to a bunch of very cute kids. I am so glad this workshop and book are going out on tour this year. WIN WIN!

This is me and my Kentucky Sister. April and I met in Perth but we could be related! April and her lovely (Aussie) hubby Wayne just welcomed their first child into the world in June. She was a little early (10 weeks) but she is doing great. April got tickets to see Keith Urban for Christmas from Wayne. All she wanted to do was go to this concert, and yes 1 week after having her baby girl April and I made it to the concert. It was a great night and I was delighted to be her guest. But the best part is just being this beautiful girls friend. She is the only other girl my age I know who is from the midwest and is married to an Australian. Im so glad the Lord brought our life journeys together. 

Great seats at Keith Urban. What a great night. Truly a talented and kind Artist. 

Thanks Santa Wayne and April for spoiling me!!!

Strait after the Keith Urban concert April and Wayne dropped me off at the airport for the redeye to Brisbane (other side of the country a 5 hour flight).

I spent a week in Brisbane at two confrences. The Major Performing Arts Forum for Education Officers and the International Teaching Artist Conference.  I had a wonderful time. I learnt so much and made new connections. 

A LARGE foldable book I made with some of my ITAC2 conference mates. A great way to extend literacy skills in the Pilbara and Kimberly. I look forward to showing Nicole this next week!

The Out of The Box children's festival was on while I was in Brisbane. This is a photo of the monster hotel. 

I wish I could bring my cat here as well.. This was a wish hanging off the wishing tree. 

Me at the wishing tree.

I ran into a amazing young artist while in Brisbane. LA based dancer Sadie was in town for the conference and it was wonderful to see her again. Sadie did secondment at Buzz in 2012. Watch out world Sadie's got you by the horns!! 

Graham has had a busy couple weeks. I have hardly seen him! He has been working shift hours in the ER in Midland. So glad this rotation is almost over. I miss seeing him in the evenings and having some time together on the weekend.
Although busy he has been well and enjoying the work he is doing.
I love you Razza!

Thats all from me!

Winds of Change

Recently it seems everyone I know has a big change or challenge to overcome in their lives. It seems the winds of change are blowing for most everyone I know.

These changes have made the month of April and May a difficult time for me and Graham. We have been going through some of our own ups and downs as well continue to try to build a family together. 

But through all the negatives that have been crushing lately we have felt very supported by the people in our lives, family & friends in both the US and Australia.

A few people in particular have spent a lot of their time and love lifting us up. I wanted to talk a little bit about those people.

My Mom and Dad, and In-Laws Karen and Stuart- they are a never ending well of love and support, patient ears and source of sound advice. I could not be luckier to have such amazing role modles in my family.

My friend Sarah here in Perth has been by my side lately, raising me up and being there for me in some very awkward moments. Im so grateful to have a friend close to home that comes with no strings attached. Im so grateful. 

My friend Mel in Sydney is my North American sister I had to travel around the world to meet. We hardly ever get to see each other in person, but we talk either via email, text or phone nearly every day. We are both going through the struggles of fertility and her strength and love see's me through some of the hardest days. Im so grateful I get to share my fertility journey with Mel. She is a shining light. 

My boss Pippa, it could be said we have a very unusual boss employee relationship, we have worked together for 4 years. Over the years Pippa has been my back up at work and in life. Pippa has been going through her own troubles as of late with the passing of her Mum. We have also been working in limbo with the creation of a new company coming in 2015 for some time. This week Pippa got offered a new job and while I am sad I won't get to see her everyday I'm so excited for her new adventure. Now we can finally be Facebook friends. Pippa is my cat baby's emergency contact and more then once she has been mine. Im looking forward to just being Pippa's friend soon.

My rag tag collection of friends down at the Como Bowls Club, we are an odd bunch ranging from 32-90 from places all over the globe. I see these people every week and in a way the Bowls Club in my second home, a place to hang out, air worries and have a laugh. Sometimes when I'm out on a Saturday and Im having a naughty fast food lunch I park at the bowls club and just sit in the car. Of all the places to go sit and eat.. this is the place I pick.

Here's some of the gang on a Friday night. 

These are just a few of the people who have been there for me and Graham as of late. I feel so blessed to live in such a sunny and supportive community of people. 

A few photos as of late: 

Me and my best buddies!! Love these kids.. Thanks Sarah for sharing your beautiful girls with me!

Graham has his cap and grown graduation and his Dad Craig came out for the occasion. It was his first visit to Western Australia. 

Graham a distinguished new Doctor. I made him pose like that.

Oh the joys I get to have at work. I get to make lesson plans and art projects for school kids. This was my star crown I made!

My two red cats on Graham's 33rd Birthday!

We have been busy this year at work. Two productions in under 3 months. Holy cow! Don't try that at home folks it equals way to much work. This was our Primary school show Plain Jane made by Lucas Jervies our Artistic Director. It was a show for Primary/Elementary Audiences and we travelled to schools, the children's hospital, old folks homes, and many places in between. It was a great show and I look forward to it possibly being out on tour again later in the year.

Plain Jane at a Perth Primary School.

Me and my Boss Pippa. We both some how got the same haircut over the weekend, we got to work on Monday and had a good laugh. Clearly we spend a lot of time together. 

I have been taking a pottery class this May, my work is coming along and I am looking forward to pursuing this more in the coming year. I would love to get good at making functional pieces, bowls, cups, plates and vases.

Graham and I booked a last minute trip down to our favourite place in WA last weekend. We went to Pemberton. I have posted a few blogs about this place. We stayed at a new place. We had our own small cottage with an open fireplace (thats a luxury in a temperate climate) and a BIG bathtub, another luxury I have not had in 8 years. This is me having a selfie with the property owners dog, you can see Graham and the lovely Bev from Beedlup House Cotages ins the background. Beedeleup House Cottages. If you want to learn more about this great accommodation in Pemberton check out this LINK

Graham cooking breakfast at the cottage.

Graham off in the distance under the HUGE Karri trees. 

Oh on our trip we went to our all time favourite cafe. Well mine at least. It specialises in Truffles.. I love truffles and smoked fish.. This makes Pemberton and southwest WA a perfect holiday location for me. 

Road side stalls. This was the cutest one we saw. Apples anyone??

The coming winter months life should slow down a little more. My biggest challenge at the moment is getting my clothes to dry.. I have had the same towels and pants on the line for 2 weeks now.. But it keeps raining.. Im off to the laundramat soon to use the dryer.. Its getting desperate, I'm only down to dresses, and Graham can't wear those at work.

(please my American friends go give your dryer a hug and remind it how much you love it)

Thats all for now. All my love to you and yours.

So much to do!

Gee wizz its March already!! And almost over!
Life has been going at a quick pace recently.
Graham has started working and he has been doing some crazy hours. It was a rough start to the year for him, but I think things have improved a lot as of recently.  He is now busy planning rearranging our living room and putting in a entertainment centre and updating our 15 year old TV into something from this decade. I told him I don't mind what he does as long as it happens quickly. We will see what happens! I don't think I will recognise our apartment when he is done with it.

A few photos of whats been going on.

Work has been busy for me, our new Artistic Director has been busy creating a new show for our March season. It takes place in the Perth Town Hall. Where these two photos of the dancers and actors are taken. The show is called Ecobots and opens March 21.

We have been spending time with our friends Sarah, Paul and the kids. This was a very silly night at our house when Sarah and the girls challenged Graham on some advanced yoga skills... He didn't do very well as you can see. 

 Been watching the snow on Facetime with my parents. Its a record snowy winter in Indiana this year. So glad Mom and Dad can Facetime with me and I get to see all the snow from sunny Perth. 

Paul shared this huge cray fish with us! It was a monster!!! 

Got to spend a beautiful sunny day with these two beautiful ladies at a friends wedding here in Perth. All three doctors wives hanging out. But these two chicks a lot more then that. Not only kind and beautiful they both have BIG brains! One a hospital pharmacist and the other a vet! Im so honoured to call them my friends. 

 Been spending a lot of time with these two adorable kids. Thanks to my friend Sarah for sharing her girls with me. 

 Graham and I went to a few Fringe World shows this year. It was a good time and I really like this photo of Graham under the big sign. We saw some magic acts and circus. 

 A big party at the Bowls Club for some friends birthdays. Here's Graham with some of his best mates at the club. It was a dress up party. Thats why John Lennon features in the photo!

 Graham has been out sailing with Peter this summer. I got to take this photo from the dock. Not a view I normally get to see, instead I am hanging over the front bow like Graham is. 

 Camouflage cat in our back area.. Kit enjoys hanging out the washing with me. 

 A beautiful surprise dinner with Graham at the casino, we went to the BIG Buffet and ate more seafood in one go then I have had in 10 years.. oysters, trout, salmon, prawns, more oysters.... finished off with honey strait off the comb. 

One of my favourite work photos this year. You never know what might happen at a dance company. 

We have a big event coming up. Thats Graham's cap and gown graduation in April. His Father Craig will be coming out for it and we look forward to catching up with him and celebrating all over again. We will finally get to see Dr. Graham Weaire-Buchanan on his diploma and he will also be awarded his prizes for the 3 awards he won. It will be a great time! 

All the best to you and yours.

Catch up on Christmas 2013

A few pictures from our Christmas!

This year Graham and I stayed in Perth for Christmas and traveled down and visited with our good friends Erin and Will in Albany Western Australia for New Years. It was nice to just be home!

 Christmas Cat!

Graham got some crab nets! We went crabbing on Christmas Eve Day.... But we had no luck! 

 Throwing in the nets.

 Christmas Day at our house. First time in 3 years!

Boxing day with our good friends at the Bowls Club. 

 Boxing Day silliness with Stevie.

 We headed down to Albany after Boxing Day. We went to this amazing beach. Little Beach. It was perfect! They don't get much better then this! 

 Little Beach near Albany. I was so proud of myself for jumping off a rock into the ocean, I was helped along by some of our friends yelling JUMP! It was a great way to end 2013, I took the plunge! 

 Graham made a new friend in Albany. Naps with Jake dog.

 We went with the boys golfing... They played and walked while the girls drove the cart. Pretty sweet.

 Me and Erin, partner in golf buggy (cart) crime.

 Graham and Will went fishing and brought home some quid for callamari. Graham passed on his Nan Ray's recipe. It was delicious!  

 Who's that chick in the hammock??

 Graham and I surprised Erin and Will with a hammock as a thanks for letting us stay.

It was a big hit. Even the tree frogs like it.

 Lots of fishing.

 BOWLING! Old School style. This place was like going back in time. 

We swung by our friend Christine's house on the way back to Perth, and I met this little cutie!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas holiday. It was so nice to be together and relax.

Now on to 2014!