WELCOME TO OZ !

We live just south of the poisonous snakes ! We used to live near the convicts and plan to explore the deranged gunmen area....maybe next year.
I suspect someone dreamed up the above in the hopes that our population level will not rise too quickly....especially where we are. Queensland is the fastest growing state in Australia. The population hugs the coast as there really is red desert.....more red desert and even MORE red desert. Hardly any water, but very spectacular scenery, best viewed from above from what I have heard. At some point in time we want to fly in a helicopter over parts of Central Australia, as many of the rock formations look pretty specky.

We both went to our local doctor today...me to get results of the usual tests. Everything fine....just the usual.....maybe think about losing a bit of weight.... HA HA.....I do more than think....but what happens ?????? NOT MUCH.
Oh well....that's just the way it is !!! Perry to have a couple of skin lesions looked at ....one is a not very aggressive cancer and the other is probably another one of those things that will be burned off at a later date. These are the things one gets from not protecting young skin !

Barbara and Ray are enjoying a short break up at Noosa....about 100k's (60 miles) north of us. Might get to see them later in the week ! Hope so.

It's O.K. mom....he's cool....

No news.....just finished dinner....and I'm no longer hungry....just have a craving for something sweet. Drat.
I found a truffle recipe from Kraft Foods.com a few days ago....very Christmassy...but NOW would be REALLY good.

Here it is !

Oreo Truffles

1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) Oreo Cookies, finely crushed, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
2 pkg. (8 squares each) Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

MIX 3 cups of the cookie crumbs and the cream cheese until well blended. Shape into 42 (1-inch) balls.

DIP balls in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm. Store any leftover truffles in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

I'm not going to make them....I'm NOT.....

Yes...I think we make a great looking couple...

Just checking my mail....this pic is another one to share....

Checking around for travel insurance. Slim pickings once you get to 70. I slide in .....just !

Spoke with Glen today.....a guest room has already been arranged for us. Catherine's folks are replacing their bedroom set and have offered the old one to her and Glen. Perfect for our visit. Seven weeks today.
He is looking forward to just hanging out with us....sounds good to me ! I haven't had a long chat with Catherine yet...can't wait to meet her. Glen sounds so relaxed and happy. For a big start....Catherine....COOKS...and they both like the same food. That in itself is a huge plus in my books. We don't eat out very much and I am looking forward to just sitting at a dining room table at their home. I'm pretty sure I will have to do at least one dinner. That is very definitely O.K. with me.

Tonight we played night bowls for the first time. What a great evening ! Two greens....about 80 people playing triples. Perry and I played with a guy we hadn't met before and he was a really good bowler....very quiet and serious ....also deadly accurate. We won by one point which makes for an enjoyable game. Next Wednesday night is the last night till October. We will be up for all the night games when the new season begins. The evening seems to include early dinner at the club (Bribie Island) for a lot of people, then a couple of drinks after the game. Very social and lots of fun. Perry has emailed the club in Balboa Park to see if we can play a few games while we are at Glen's house. Perry played there a few times almost six years ago. He had a really nice time. Bowlers are nice people !!!!

No wonder I am tired....it's almost midnight. Yawn......

What ?.... I can handle it...no problem !

Isn't this a CUTE picture !!!


However the rain is NOT!!!!!

I'm OVER it !!!!!!!! Do you hear ??????

Yesterday was lovely.....the Easter BBQ with friends and neighbors....lots of yummy food....mm.

Pam and Phil called....had a lovely chat with Pam....Phil's was a message as we missed his call.

Perry bought the phone out to me to listen to the message and as usual...Phil sounds like a radio announcer. He has the loveliest voice.....my mother badly wanted him to go for voice over stuff. Not Phil's scene at all. Anyway....I passed the phone around to the ladies to let them hear for themselves....at the same point in his message they all smiled and looked skyward....even Mia's 83 year old mother. When he called again today I teased him, telling him that there are six ladies here that definitely want to meet him..... Didn't hear from Glen....I suspect he has gone away for a mini Easter vacation.

Anyway....the day was great.....but today....RAIN RAIN RAIN and more to come. We have already gone past the usual for April and it's only the 13th.

Thankfully I have several books on standby!

Crowds panic as flooding threatens Ireland.

A bit like this at our club today.....we got rained out again.
Tomorrow is supposed to be wetter and our joint venture Easter BBQ could be in jeopardy. I have made the applesauce and have a crab and chili dip ready to put together tomorrow. Have also made the good old standby ... Lime and Cottage Cheese Jello. Looking forward to a feast.
Perry called his brother Jack yesterday, to tell him to expect us sometime between June 10 and June 17....or thereabouts...to visit with them for maybe two or three days. Jack sounded very good as did Maggie. She and I had a good newsy catchup. Suzy no longer works at the casino after being there for 26 years ! Sherrie still works there 4 days a week after 25 years. Can't wait to see them again !
We will get to visit with Nancy and her family.......hopefully Gayle and Mike also. Way too many years have gone by since we last visited with them !

O.K....all clear....lets go

The weather is cooling down...feels GREAT. This summer has been extremely hot and we notice it more these days because we play lawn bowls probably three times a week. I have too deep of a tan and because I wear the shoes that are worn for the game, my feet are two toned ! Today we were rained out and we were bored bored bored.
Perry's game has gone to pot and mine is going great. He wants to play to improve....I want to play to show off. No game tomorrow of course, but we are playing Saturday then a fun game on Monday....again Tuesday and a night game Wednesday. Obsessed....noooo.....maybe addicted ? Yes.
Sunday we are having an afternoon meal with a bunch of neighbors .... we are doing the apple sauce for BBQ pork chops.
I wonder when we will have an Easter break with family again. We miss everyone, but the other positives are right for us. Can't live your life thru your kids...doesn't mean it is easy tho. When we get together with them, a week makes everything right again. Just wish we could fly back and forth whenever the urge strikes. It has been far too long since I have seen Glen and Chris. I get quite down at times, but am good at jumping back up again.
Oh......I have done half the ironing !

Chess anyone ?

Nothing to prattle on about....(a pile of ironing that I am avoiding)....loved this picture so decided to blog it.

Guess who's coming with me......no not this little guy.

Great.....Perry is coming with me to the U.S. after all ! I am really, really, really, pleased .

Somehow we will get to visit both his brothers....Jack will be 80 next February...who knows when we will get the chance to visit again. Perry is not thrilled about the long flight (neither am I) however we will get over it.

I have almost completed the online booking process....Brisbane to Los Angeles with VAirline (Virgin)...direct flight...13 hours...pheww. The add on from LA to SD is harder to sort thru as we are dealing in AU$ and the prices are in US$. I found the site where fares are quoted in AU$, but there is an area that puzzles me. I called AA as I am already booked with them, but the length of time I had to hold left me frazzled, so I have it booked, but on hold. Tomorrow I will get back to it.

Me, Ray, Val and Barbara

I don't know if I have posted this picture or not. It was taken about 18 months ago here at our place. Val is my school friend and I think this is a really nice picture of Barb and Ray. My niece Lucy is Barb and Ray's only daughter....baby # 1 is due July 1. I hear she is doing very well. Lucy has always been very very slim and with pregnancy she has put on weight all over.....the pregnancy 'glow' applies to her so I've heard. Less than three months to go ! Lovely....another dear little person waiting to join us. We will simply have to make a trip down south to help welcome him/her.