Blue Monday Tennis and more

Tennis resumed today, after the Christmas and January break.  It was a bit warm 27C  so we only stayed from 8am to 10am.  The players are mostly aged from about 60 to 85 so it isn't too strenuous.

Don't know why, but it reminded me of the old "Pushbike Song"... gotta laugh... some nice blue splashes of colour on the clip.



Do visit Smiling Sally for this week's Blue Monday.

Have a great week.
Love,
Jan

West of town

 A picnic spot west of our town in Northern NSW, Australia.

 For fabulour Skywatch Posts click here

Happy Australia Day

A historical place to visit is the First Fleet garden at Wallabadah in NSW.  The name of every person who was on the ships is inscribed on the memorial stones.

Australia's National Anthem.

Linking with Outdoor Wednesday, do visit Susan for lots of outdoor shots and stories


Have a great day!
Jan

I've just noticed that Java has Meet Me on Monday.... so here I am answering the questions. Thanks Java!!!  Just click the pic to see what everyone else has to say.

Questions:

1.  What is your favorite kind of fudge? We aren't big on fudge here, and we are cutting back on processed food.... how about a nice mango?

2.  Is there snow outside your window? No there has never been snow outside my window and it is 34C or about 93F in the shade just now.

3.  What is your favorite meal of the day? We try to have our main meal at lunchtime, so that is my favourite meal.

4.  Do you text on your cell phone? I might have once or twice.... it is not a habit like with the young members of the family.

5.  Waffles or pancakes?   Waffles aren't big here either, but I might occasionally whip up some great pancakes, served with greek youghurt and pure maple syrup.  Pic is my pikelets, just make a thinner recipe with more milk for pancakes. 
If you would like the illustrated recipe with simple instructions, please ask.

Have a great week everyone.

Hugs,

Jan

Holidays

Many Australians enjoy camping and motorhoming all year round as we have a suitable climate, and there are many venues from National Parks, State Forests to beachside caravan parks and resorts.

But what I am most familiar with is free camping. This was the view out the window of our RV on the Mary River in QLD, and we chatted on into the night with two other couples also enjoying the venue.

 Another spot in QLD, that's us on the left.  This was the starting point for forest walks.

We find these places in a popular book Camps Australia, and I'm sure you would find a copy in many a motorhome and caravan.  It has snaps of most of the spots, and a lot of information, the most important to us is whether it is dog friendly.

 

Pic from internet, we have an older copy. 

So how do you enjoy your holidays?  Our most popular is taking a trip to see family.

Linking up with Smiling Sally at Blue Monday where you'll find many interesting posts.

Have a great week,

Hugs,

Jan

Gardening anyone?

This is a picture that I thought everyone could enjoy.  It was taken outside Nanaimo City Hall and I think it displays an awful lot of talent on the gardener's part, what do you think?

Have a wonderful day everyone!  I am off to work now.

Sharon

Last Fur GrandChild -- Mercedes

Mercedes is our first Mastiff and she is now over 7 years old and has been nothing but a joy to us her entire life.

Her trademark, amongst many things, is her incredibly long tongue (this picture has not been altered).

Sharon

My Fur GrandChildren continued.

Here is Damien as a puppy!

It is one of my favourite pictures and that is why I posted it but he is now well over 200 lbs. and if you like I will post a more recent picture.

Sharon

My "Fur Grandchildren"

Here on the west coast of Canada on what I fondly refer to as my Island in the Pacific, my daughter and I share our home with three dogs, Mercedes, Damien and Madysen.

Mercedes and Damien are English Mastiffs and Madysen in an English Bulldog.

I hopefully will publish some pictures of them with this post and I hope you enjoy seeing them.  I might only be able to do one at a time so to start off here is Madysen!

Sharon

Benji

Well here is my Boys Boys, Benji, he is a little devil and he is the master of this house, but I would be lost with out him, he loves tearing things up, I have to keep paper well away from him because he would have a ripping time.  Benji is 9 years old, overweight Golden Retriever. My Very Best Friend!

Skywatch Friday - Byron Bay

No new photos lately, so checked my file, and this is one caught my eye.  The headland with the lighthouse is the most Easterly Cape of Australia.  When I was a child goats living there were a drawcard, and it has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since then, and just recently the area has gained publicity as one of the venues on Oprah.

To see some fantastic Skywatch Friday photos click here
Have a great week,
Jan

Sunrise

 

A favourite sunrise photo from an island in the mighty Clarence River, Australia.

Linking up with Outdoor Wednesday and Watery Wednesday today, call in there to see more great photos.


Hugs and blessings,
Jan

Our 'other' children - love to hear about yours

In our Western society many of us have a dog as a precious member of our family, and we treat them as we would our children.

We have had Tilda, an Australian Terrier, for 10 years, and while there are a few constraints, such as not being able to go to National Parks and some other places, it has really not mattered, she has given us such loyal companionship.

I suppose we think most people feel the same way, but we are part of a global village now, and not everyone has the same outlook on life..... one common thing we had to learn was that Australians consider a firm handshake to be a sign of a person to be respected, but Asian people think that is very rude and a very soft handshake is correct to them.

News in the papers this week is that Muslim people are outraged at this pic.... .  Did you see it? Here is the full report.

(Above pics with thanks from www)

Getting back to Tilda, she has a weak knee now, she leapt aside when a big black dog gave her a fright, she didn't notice it was the other side of a fence, so we got an old pram to take her around when we are away and it is too far for her to walk.

Would love to hear about your companions.
Hugs,
Jan

Monday in song

A favourite group - Celtic Woman - in blue.

Do join Smiling Sally for Blue Monday  
              and

after the comment from 'Cafe au Lait' at It's Time to Laugh I saw  MUSIC MONDAY there, so I  posted there also.  Hope everyone happy with that.

Hugs,
Jan

My Fruitcake

 I know friends here post wonderful cakes and sweets, but some of us have to be a little more careful with our diet.

Here is a delicious fruitcake with no sugar and no butter.

Can be varied by adding your choice of walnuts, ginger, mixed peel, and your favourite spices, cinnamon, mixed spice etc.
For special occasions, subsitute sherry, port etc for some of the water.  Other canned fruit OK also.


MANGO FRUITCAKE

Ingredients:
425 gram can mango slices in natural juice
500 grams mixed fruit
Half cup water....... simmer these one minute
Add 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Let cool then add one and a half cups self raising flour
and 2 beaten eggs.

Directions:
Bake in pan lined with baking paper
for one hour in moderate oven.
Cool in tin.

Hit Parade!

Chrissie sent me a link to hits of the 40s, 50s, 60s and other favourites. I've never put a coin in a jukebox in my life, but there are a few favourites here, Neil Diamond, The Carpenters, right through to  Contemporary Christian.

 Just click here to choose from the extensive Index.

Have a great week.
Love,
Jan