30 Days of Thankful - Day 2 I am thankful for good friends. Friends who call and chat for hours. Friends who call from thousands of miles away. Friends who send me real cards in the real mail! Friends who I know are thinking of me (because I'm thinking of them) even when we don't …
Author: Trudy
I started this blog to share my 2011 trip to India. Since then there have been so many great adventures; trips in the US and abroad, time spent with family and friends and even a move from Washington to Hawaii. As I look back I can't believe all we have done in the past three years and it makes me look forward to the next three and beyond. While there have been plenty of changes in the last three years, one things remains the same, my glass is definitely half full – and often over flowing!
#30DaysofThankful – Day 1
Who is joining me for 30 Days of Thankful in November? I've been doing this for several years now and it is always fun to see these memories pop up later. There are no rules. I like to post a photo and something I'm thankful for. Sometimes the photo is related, sometimes it is not. …
Meet the Dough Babies
Apparently, you’re supposed to name your starter. Who knew baking came with this kind of responsibility? My first attempt at a starter was homegrown—and gave me all kinds of trouble. As I muttered “Sour-Doh!” (channeling my inner Homer Simpson), the name Homer stuck. It just felt right for that stubborn little jar of goo. Thankfully, …
A Perth-Fect Walkabout
A Hop to Perth Puts the Size of This Country into Perspective! After a fantastic week in Melbourne, we packed a bag and said our temporary goodbyes to the Lawrence fam. We were off on a walkabout—or rather, a jet-about—to see more of Australia. Next stop: 4.5 hours west to Perth! I have to admit, …
A Very Tiny Big Adventure!
Before we left Melbourne, we had one last adventure planned—one that turned out to be one of the most unforgettable. Our generous hosts and wonderful friends, Jan and Jim, took us on a day trip to Phillip Island, about a two-hour drive. Along the way, we stopped for what might’ve been the best fish and …
From Sourdough! To sour whoa!
How I went from “D’oh!” to dough. Here’s my sourdough story—and like a good starter, it continues to grow. Late to the (Bread) Party In the spring of 2021, I decided to try my hand at sourdough. As usual, I was a bit late to the trend that had already risen (ha!) during quarantine. But …
Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi!
We’re suckers for live sports, so when the chance came to catch an Aussie Rules Footy match, we didn’t hesitate! We headed into Melbourne with Trent and met up with his mates at Etihad Stadium (now known as Marvel Stadium) for a night of fast-paced, high-flying action. I love their mascot! Aussie Rules is like …
Making Family Connections
Before arriving in Australia, Dave discovered that his cousin Tepa lived just outside of Melbourne with his wife Leiana and their sweet son, Hunter. We were so happy to be able to meet up with Tepa and his family and catch up over lunch at a local shopping mall. Even though this was our first …
I Almost Held a Koala!
Remember how this all started? Back in 5th grade, I became obsessed with koalas (not bears—never bears!). My friend Tanya and I would dream about going to Australia someday and holding one of those adorable eucalyptus-munching fluffballs. It was a top-tier bucket list item. As it turns out, a few things have changed since my …
Hoppin’ Around Melbourne!
On Monday morning, while the Lawrences headed off to work, Dave and I were left to our own devices. We caught the train into Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) and spent the day exploring. The train into the city. One of our favorite ways to get a feel for a new city is to jump …
Pebbled 