Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Virtual Australia: Bunya Mountains



Today's virtual adventure takes us into the subtropical rain-forests of the Bunya Mountains National Park.


9,112 hectare of mountains, Bunya pines, rain-forests, waterfalls and wildlife.



Scattered throughout are bare areas of meadows known as "grassy balds" usually resulting from much earlier fires or rock slides.

Along with 200 types of frogs and reptiles, there are 120 species of birds, rock wallabies, swamp wallabies- and these mountains are the exclusive home of a Ringtailed Opossum that exists no where else in the world.

Kind of a misnomer as the opossum's tail is tipped in white...not actually ringed like a lemur.





A Tour of Bunya Mountains

https://youtu.be/bkkcKa22Q4k

and from the Air by Drone

https://youtu.be/P7sN7jH8T2s

Bunya Mountains Hiking Tracks

https://youtu.be/8VqsgC8pIOg

and the best video...from Dawn to Dusk

https://youtu.be/45m1TvHmVmg


And some of the sights from Bunya National Park


















Next 
we will discover
Dreamworld Themepark
in 
Queenland


More soon... 




Sunday, November 25, 2018

Thanksgiving 2018


Feeling very grateful and blessed this morning...

And here is why.





 










































Okay...and maybe the leftover pie and baked goods!

It has been a wonderful food and family filled week.

Was invited to Tina's Grandmother's Family Feast with she and Chris on Thanksgiving proper...she has a ginormous family...and it is wonderful.

Also pies.

(...honestly...never seen so many pies outside of a bakery...)

Then we celebrated our 3rd Annual Saturday After Thanksgiving Feast at Cracker Barrel yesterday!

Hoping next year to have Nancy (Nicole's Mom) and Dustin (Kimber's SO) with us, as well!

I look forward to this ALL year!

There is NOTHING in life more important than Family & Friends and LOVE.

(...okay...and maybe pie with morning coffee...)

Today we rest, digest, and watch the game later.

Colts ~vs~ The Dolphins

Dearest mother — The merriment over our most recent victory must be cut short. Word has reached me that a unit of Dolphin men seek battle. Confounding. While they march to our dry land home camp, we shall drill in water so as not to be outmaneuvered. Great vigilance. — Andrew


Dearest mother — I have received your care package of of spiced turkey neck and chipmunk giblet dressing. I fully intend to share with the unit as we give Thanks before the Dolphin men arrive. We continue to prepare by holding our breath under water, along with drills. — Andrew

 GO COLTS!!!


No movie or book this week...although I am in queue for several...including the latest Stephen King.

Have lit the remains of the Fall Scented Candles and the house smells like every shop you have ever visited in Brown County in your life.
Today is completely about relaxation...

because Monday-Friday next week is all about cleaning and stowing the Fall Decor...

And suddenly

BAM

Christmas Everywhere!

Bears and Burlap, Balls and Bows...OH MY!






But for today I am thankful for amazing children, and spouses/spouses to be, and grands and honorary great grands...I am thankful for our growing extended family...and thankful for friends and watching their families grow as well...and John and Love in the Age of Arthritis...for my closest and best friends "Idgy", Diane, Loretta and Judy and their love...and all of my Texas RMMGA Friends and DS Friends who have been with me now for years...and for ENOUGH...and knowing what enough really is...

It will ALWAYS be Okay...and There is Always ENOUGH!

The herbs now dried, stripped and jarred

Rubbed Sage.

Thyme

Oregano

Rosemary


Ready to spice up winter stews, sauces and herb breads.

To EVERYONE...thank you for all your love...not only through the holidays but everyday...I am truly blessed.

Only 30 Days until Christmas!!!

And the BEST idea I've seen for Advent yet:


Have a Wonderful Weekend!





Love,

Carla



Update on the Game:


We won...we won...we won!!!!!



Dearest mother — I write you so full of joy, I might burst. Our unit secured yet another victory. That makes five straight, or an entire hand. The Dolphin men put up a great fight, but our aquatic drilling paid dividends. Our trusted sniper capped the win. I am beaming. — Andrew












Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Virtual Australia: Cobbold Gorge



Cobbold Gorge is located deep in Gulf Savannah region of North Queensland Australia.

A hidden oasis.

Eco-tourism is huge here with tours of the Savannah, the Gorge, the River, wildlife viewing and birdwatching.

Boat Cobbold Gorge

https://youtu.be/rySjUdfR3Ec



You won't want to swim in these waters though...or you might meet this guy...or one of his relatives.


Crocodiles live here. And they like tourists, too...

National Geographic Cobbold Tour

https://youtu.be/EORwb4RN2Uw





The Gorge from the Top.

Six kilometers in length...but narrowing to only 2 metres in the tightest areas.

Formed about 1700 Million years ago...the area is protected and can only be visited by guided tour.




(or virtually)



Scenic helicopter flights over the Gorge are also available.


Flight Tour

https://youtu.be/uPYdWNb8hrA

 
Lodging is available at Cobbold Village.


Complete with an Outback Bar Experience
'






Hope you have enjoyed the virtual adventure.

Next time we will get away to Bunya Mountains!

Till Then...












Bunya Mountain Escape

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Poly-ticks

When a Congressman is first elected.

After he has been in office as long as Grasserly, Graham or McConnell.

Robin Williams was right.

Poly-ticks...many blood sucking parasites.

And if this year's political dumpster fire hasn't left you EXHAUSTED...you haven't been paying attention and are doubtless part of the problem.


Where to start...

The Saudis have now admitted to the Khashoggi Murder. The CIA states the order was given by The Crown Prince (...there's a surprise, eh?) and Trump refutes the CIA investigation, and says we may

"Never know what happened."

(direct quote)

Shrugs and says we need to move on and finish our 450 million dollar deal with them. 

"It is what it is."

Are you Fucking Kidding Me???

Seriously.

WTF?

The new House and Speaker in January couldn't be seated fast enough...and I hope Nancy crawls up his enormous orange ass with a microscope...okay.

And immediately after the election...the border troops (who were sent to stop the big scary caravan that was on its way...even though that is unconstitutional and illegal as hell) are being brought home...now...before the caravan even arrives...

Because they were just being used as a mid-term political prop...you MAGA twits...

And that mid-term BIG tax break he promised ya'll...

That is gone too...

The tariffs have cost thousands of jobs and in some instances closed manufacturing sites...

Soybean farmers lost 94% of the China sales market...and China is buying beans from Russia now,

 But #MAGA...right?

And we have a 5x draft dodger...five deferments from Vietnam...who

Did not join the other World Leaders for the Armistice 100th Year Ceremony

Did not bother to lay the Wreath on Veterans Day at Arlington

Has REPEATEDLY refused and cut funding and benefits for our troops.

Has been in office nearly two years and visited our combat troops ZERO times.

Uses our Military for Political stunts/votes or Photo Ops.

REPEATEDLY attacked military personnel who have served McCain, Mattis, Kelly, and most recently the Seal who took out Osama Bin Laden.

But you keep telling yourself how he RESPECTS our Military....#MAGA...okay?

Most recently he visited the California fires and devastated Paradise 

Which looks like this now...and 79 bodies found with hundreds still missing as they sift through and literally are making identification through DNA as the fire burned so hot and fast they were cremated. 12,900 homes have been reduced to ash.

But he flew there.

A few days after tweeting how the fires were California's fault.

He heaped insult upon injury by claiming the President of Finland said that if we RAKED our forests...this wouldn't have happened.

Let me repeat that...he thought we needed to RAKE 20 million square miles of forest floor...

(...later the Finnish President would issue an "I NEVER said that" statement...)

Trump saw firefighters raking a firebreak (line) and made it up.

The faces of the officials from Cali around him...told you all you needed to know...

(...no...it couldn't possibly be the drought...5% humidity...pine forest stands...or climate change...we just needed to RAKE...)

Never say the Finnish have no sense of humor.

They have been mocking him mercilessly since the statement...which he did NOT retract BTW...

Videos showing one Finnish man exclaiming how

"You might think it is all the rain we get...or that it is cold as fuck...but no...everyone rakes 2 hours a day- mandatory. And we even have RAKING Universities..."

and this







Also this



And the Canadians who could not resist with their Foomba (The F is for forest) which they touted as much more efficient and less manpower required!





So maybe to paraphrase Red Green

"If the ladies don't find you handy or handsome...maybe they can STILL find you humorous."

How I feel about the whole thing


But maybe that is just me...and 70% of America.

Yeah...30% still think he is doing a great job. #MAGA.

Bless Your Hearts.

Since California is about 54% forested...covering about 20 million square acres there IS good news though!

Last Census showed a population of 40 million people in Cali.

That figures out to 1/2 acre per person.

The Newly Formed California Forest Raking Committee will soon be issuing State Approved Rakes and scheduling days and times for your raking.

All debris will be tossed over the neighboring NEVADA'S fence.

Remember...you might not be able to prevent forest fires...but only YOUR VOTE can prevent POTUS like Trump.


"Dave...it is YOUR day to RAKE!!!"


I did find something amazing out of this mess...

OLD FART RANTS

5000 Rake Rant

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxVGar73A6w

This guy is California Gold. Has an entire channel of political rants. I love him!

Check it out.


With this administration he will never run out of material.

More anon...







And if you are playing Trump Bingo we are getting very very close






In fact if Sarah and General Kelly both leave us by year's end we will have a 2 way BINGO.

With the American People being the real WINNERS.