Canada Rocks!!!!

Gifts for the teacher!

Hi Gang!

So How you going? I will start at the bottom with the pics and then tell you what I have been up to. That lovely eggplant, black beans, cherry tomatoes and chili capsicums-yes they call them capsicums and 1 snake bean(the yellow one) came to me from a sweet little Sheila in my class in a pink gift bag. For my first time ever cooking eggplant, I saute it in olive oil and garlic-yummy!Yes Mandy it IS all about the food. So much for teachers getting apples.

The next pic is me and my new quilt/biker buddy Val. I talked Val into bike riding-her first time in several decades-she did great-only fell once and the bruises are almost healed! What a trouper. The best part is that she is willing to go again. She and I did a fabric run this afternoon. Don't worry I am not adding to my stash-I am going to make something. I guess on those long, cold, dark, winter nights in Adelaide you know where I will be-yes at the beach!!!!

I think the albino roo is cute don't you?

At school this Friday I wore my Canadian Shirt and compliments of Les I had my reading buddies help my students put on Canadian hockey tattoos. I had a raffle for the Olympic mitts and we went outside for a Kodak moment. I had yard duty on Friday in the noon day sun and several year 7 boys came over and introduced themselves and asked me questions about ice hockey in Canada. I told them to keep their sticks down their heads up. I think I made some new friends.

So tonight I am going to the fringe with one of my Canadian friends and her neighbors. That should be interesting. Some of the shows are just downright weird-which is why they are in the fringe festival. Tomorrow is the Dolphin Cruise from Port Adelaide. I hope I see flipper!

I had the chance to talk to not one but two of my favourite people today. Don't you just love technology? I am having a grand time here girls and I do hope you will come to visit.

Miss and love you all!
G'Day eh!
Bern

Mild Winter-you are welcome : )

Hi Gang!


Dec 27th my backyard. Feb. compliments of Sonya. Ibis birds and of coarse doesn't everyone write notes to their mom at the beach? So I hear you guys are having a mild winter. Haven't you figured it out yet? It is because I am sending you some of my sunshine! You're welcome! I on the other hand have managed to catch a cold. Yes mom it doesn't have to BE cold to catch a cold. I think it has something to do with the germ pit I hang out in. Possums carry germs as well as little bunnies do. Imagine that. My class is having swimming lessons this week. I am guessing that my other class is going skating at the school rink. Talk about your opposite views eh? So my new friends are bringing me oranges, lemons and figs off their trees in their yards! Apparently they don't use Jewish penicillin here to cure the common cold. I even tried a kumquat(???) the other day-whoa talk about pucker power. When ever I feel a slight bit homesick I go to the grocery store in the frozen food section where I stare wistfully at the frozen McCain Pizza-they remind me of Amelia........

So what have you all been up to? Too busy watching the Olympics to write to me? Shish you'd think they only came every 4 years or something. My dear friend Les sent me a box of Olympic special things. I will take a pic to post to show you later. Anyone know when we play hockey next???

OK this sick gal needs to get to bed. Hope you are all well. Please continue to enjoy my sunshine. I am sending lots your way!(at least enough to get it below 30 degrees here)
Hugs and love to you all.
G'Day eh!
Bern

Vegemite is...

NOT my favourite flavour of Australia. I had some on toast this am. Very salty and not all that pleasant. I don't think I would cross the road to get some. I think I will stick to the wine and Tim Tams. I was at the fringe Friday night. It was interesting. I felt old looking at all the 15 year olds. Then I went to a lovely dinner party Sat night where we sat out in a beautiful garden under the stars eating wonderful food with great company. So today I am playing cath up with the house work. UGH, yes folks my glamorous life in the land down under does include housework. Oh well.......Hope you are all doing well. Take care.
G'Day eh!
Bern

More pics-have you ever seen an albino roo?

Look closely and you will see the white roo-I wonder if it is one of the 6 white boomers? The wine cabinet is in the staff room of an elementary school. They all have drinks on Friday after school! Really! The first Friday I was at school the VP bought me a glass of white wine. They have beer and coolers as well. How civilised eh???? It has been another busy week. TGIF. Ha even though I am a day ahead of most of you I am still tired. Must be the bike ride to school in the heat. Sorry guys but someone has to do it. I am going to explore the CBD(Central Business District) of Adelaide on Sat and search out some hikers so the inch ants and other creatures won't get my bare tootsies. Whatever you do this weekend have a good one!
G'day eh!
hugs,
Bern

So here we have some Canuck beauties-Acadia grads to be exact. Me patting a Roo. The feeding frenzy. A red Roo. Oh yes belated Happy Valentine's. I had my students make Valentine's for their reading buddies. I explained that Valentine's can also be about friendship. I had the kids sing a little friendship song at the assembly and then present the Valentine's to their buddies-it was a big hit.
G'Day eh!
Bern

Catching up

Hi Gang,
Life is getting busy-again. I spent the weekend with a beautiful boxer named Millie so her owner could go to a wedding. We went for several long walks and I saw another part of this beautiful city. I had brunch on Halifax Street. I have also met the folks from the exchange group-of course there are 2 Spec Ed grads from Acadia and the gal from NB also was at the Mount when I was there. That 6 degrees of separation does not apply to maritimers. Or maybe just me.

Let's see, I have been off exploring the Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary where I went on the Guided Nocturnal Walk, I saw my first up close Roo's-including an albino Roo. I saw 2 platypus(a rare thing according to the guide) and bettongs, potaroo's, bandicoots, wallaby's and possums. Warrawong is up in the Adelaide hills and so I wore my canoe pants with the Velcro tight at the bottom(so no snakes could slide up my legs) and a long sleeved shirt but stupid me went barefoot. The guide was really good because she stopped me from walking on an ant hill- the walk takes place after 9 in the dark. The ants were inch long, black, biting ants called inch ants(go figure). That would not have been pleasant. I am going off this weekend to buy a pair of hikers.

I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the Quilter's Guild of South Australia. The guild is set up just like the Common Thread Guild and I met many wonderful ladies. I called the membership secretary looking for someone to drive with as the meeting is across town. She set me up with a lovely gal who is a retired nurse who lives right around the corner from me. She has had me over for dinner and is showing me the local fabric stores and other places of interest. We have even gone walking together and I think we will do the Run to the Bay in Sept together. Move it or lose it right?

I have also continued exploring with my new friend Julia. We were at the SA Museum on Sat. We parked at the University of Adelaide and walked through the campus-stopping to explore the very old and beautiful reading room of the library. The SA Museum has many interesting displays-including some on the aboriginal peoples. They have a new bio diversity exhibit and I got to talk to some experts and see the red backed spider and the white tipped spider up close. I had a spider in my classroom last week and was not sure how dangerous it was. I feel a little better now that I have seen some specimens-I may recognise the deadly sort. I also saw a blue ringed octopus-I was surprised. The critter is smaller than my hand and has enough venom to kill 26 men. These octopus hide in shells, coke cans, rock pools etc. So much for my beach combing. Several staff members have told me they have seen them at the beaches I frequent-YIKES, DRAT, DARN. I guess ignorance may not be bliss.

The fringe festival starts this weekend and I hope to get to the opening night at the Garden of Unearthly Delights-sounds interesting eh? So what have you all been up to? I would like to thank Sue who has decided that in support of my adventure she will be drinking Aussie wine for the rest of the year. So will I Sue, and we can compare notes. I miss and love you all.
G'day eh!
Bern
PS I had so many compliments on the opening of the Olympics that you would swear I organised it. It does make me proud to be Canadian!

PS

Ann from the wet coast-I tried the quince with some lovely brie on crackers.....now that WAS yummy. I am glad I helped to fill your head Jane. Learn something new everyday............
Anyone have any good recipes for chicken feet??? LOL. Sue what kind of Aussie wine do you think would go with chicken feet? I guess I will have to take that wine appreciation course so I can learn how to food match.
G'day eh!
Bern

I found a new place...

.....to shop at the Adelaide central market. I called these pictures yummy, yummier and yummiest. You can decide which is which. Don't you think the squid is a steal of a deal compared to the octopus? I have meet the creature night tomorrow and I had best get my beauty rest. More to come. This working for a living just keeps interfering with the rest of my life. Hope you are all staying warm. I am. I will send you all some of my sunshine.
G'day eh! hugs to all,
Bern

BTW

By the way Ann on the Wet coast-I bought some quince jelly to try-from what I understand it is like a citrus fruit???? I will let you know when I try it. Am I supposed to eat it with a runcible spoon?
Bern

More pics from the weekend

hey guys,
How you going? Try saying that without moving your lips(so the flies won't get in). I rode my bike to school today and don't have the energy to go ot the beach tonight. Sigh. Some days are just longer than others I guess. Tomorrow is my first staff meeting so I had best not speak too soon. The bottom picutre is of the Cleggett Winery in Langhorne SA. It is one beautiful spot and they make mighty fine wine. The next pic is Art on the Rundle Street Mall. then we have Art by the railway station. Those things I am standing by are solar flowers-I am not sure what they powered but they were certainly asthetically pleasing. As for the Wild OZ sign I have eaten 14 of the meats mentioned. So how many have you tried? Come on folks...comment. I am getting lonely in cyberspace by myself......
G'Day eh!
love,
Bern