The arty part of the trip

Thought I'd cover my wonderful trip to the Pacific Northwest in a few genres - this one is admiring some artistic features.  So it is very visual...

This is the exterior of the EMP (Experience Music Project) building in the Seattle Center precinct, with the 50 year old monorail running through it.  Didn't actually get there - have to leave something for a future trip!

The start of the huge amount of glass art, but I liked the style of this.

The glass is starting to get a little more complex - shells represented here.

This series was symbolic of baskets woven by the native Indians.

Rosie and I found this guy outside Union Station in Tacoma.  The station is no longer used, but is preserved with artwork and was lovely.

The bridge to the glass museum in Tacoma - the Venetian Glass Wall.  They were all gorgeous, and quite unitque to me as outdoor art.

My new facebook profile pic - Rosie captured me well with floating glass behind me.


Just loved this duck.

I loved this art at Pike Place Market, but as it turns out, it was just a painted canvas wrapped around a pillar.  Just captured the winter season so well.

Loved this pictorial as to the restrooms, below Pike Place Markets.  All hexagons!

Who'd have thought street lighting could also be artistic!

The chewing gum wall was amazing, and I think, artistic.  A bit hidden, but I'm sure they take all the tourists down there. 

This fountain was a favourite.  This first time I saw it, the child was obscured.  The water jets apparently vary at different times.

This was at the La Conner quilt museum.  A Lone Star quilt design, but I thought the bottle of wine and wine glasses quilting was pretty unusual.

This was my pic of the ones I was able to photograph.  Fresh applique, random and some good colour.

Some great building art in Vancouver - a large building.  Actually, there was a lot of street art in the 3 major cities (Vancouver, Seattle and Portland), but I wasn't aways comfortable in pulling out a lovely camera, or the Iphone.  Trying to blend in without being a tourist target.

These totems were in Stanley Park in Vancouver.  They were really impressive, and in a stunning location.  On the downside, I'd have to say the Vancouver Art Gallery was the least impressive I can remember being in.  Maybe I just went at a bad time, but I'd rather the street art!



More to come.  Promise.  Maybe.

10 Aussie books

Yep, it has been ages, but I'm ready to get back into the blog world.  Plenty of excuses with real life getting in the way, but it is nice to think I can return to what is really a web diary.  No pictures with this one, as it is all literary.  Tonight, the ABC had their final book club, revealing the votes of the all time favourite Aussie books.  Top 10 made it to the show. I was hoping to find some wonderful titles I could read, but I've already done 9 out of the 10.

So from 10 down, they were:

Picnic at Hanging Rock.  Well, I probably read it many years ago, and the movie had many girls from my school in it.  Great unresolved mystery.  I saw the rock a couple of years ago, and understand its mysterious aura.

The Secret River by Kate Grenville.  I have read all or most of hers, but this was terrific, and being on a houseboat on the Hawkesbury really put you in the picture.

The Slap - didn't read it but saw the TV series.  I thought the concentration of a charachter per episode/chapter was a good way of presenting the story from different points of view.  I think not everyone would like it, but that is because some of the personalities were not likeable! I really enjoyed the show.

Magic Pudding - wow - I have always loved it.  The concept of "cut and come again" to me is the epitomy of hospitality offered by those of limited means.  In earlier times, people would always be welcomed in for a cup of tea and a slice, even when there was precious little to share.

Jasper Jones - the only one I have not read, but it has been recommended to me.  On my list now!

The Power of One - by the very recently departed Bryce Courtenay.  Didn't like it.  Or anyting by him.

Harp in the South - read it a long time ago, and enjoyed it, but surprised to see it at number 4.  What about books by Peter Carey or Geraldine Brooks???  Ex-pats to be sure but Aussies too.

A Fortnate Life - A B Facey - great book, and time to re-read.

The Book Thief - YES YES YES

And, number 1 - Cloudstreet - Tim Winton.  I have the pleasure of "reading" this at the moment on book tape, and I am loving it.

So I am across the top 10, will have to look at the top 50 to see what I have missed. 

Clare Valley

Given that I write this blog, I can indulge in a little time travel.  Back to late December 2011.  And a few days in the Clare Valley.  Clare Valley is lovely in its own right, but the Riesling produced there?  The best.  And I discovered there are basically 2 varieties - one where the vines get their flavour from the soil, the other where the roots have to go down to the limestone ridge to find moisture - the flavours here are intense.

Skillogalee was in a lovely position, and the small cellar door was also a bustling restaurant.  So bustling, it was pretty hard to get a chance to taste their wines.    And no need, they are lovely.  I just wanted to be having lunch there..

Next down Hughes Park Road was Kilkanoon.    I recall it was lovely, but given the months in between, not a lot else.  However, the next photo was in a very special place:

O'Leary Walker Wines have built on a gorgeous spot on top of a hill overlooking the southern end of the Valley.  Their riesling?  Great also.   The lawns going down from the hill here were fun for the kids tumbling down.  And for a relaxing place to have a plate of cheese.

Have a look at the backdrop.  I've not been to Tuscany, but Clare Valley?  Seems pretty good to me, and underated when compared to neighbouring Barossa.

Knappstein Winery is right in the town of Clare.  Love the gum tree too.  Their wine is never bad.  To be very honest, there was not a lot of point in going to Clare Valley vineyards to taste the Rieslings.  They are all wonderful.  The one I have fallen out of love with is Pikes, and their winery is very clinical, but the following photo is for Hugo.  This was one of only 2 auto wine tasting dispensers in the country.  Perfet portion.  Perfect temperature. 

Some other vineyards - Petaluma, would have loved to visit, but couldn't find it even with the map.  Tim Adams?  Good, but not great.  Tim Gramp?  Not open.  Jim Barry - a little outdated, but the recent prices have been very nice.  But the standout for the lovely view (above), friendliness, and delightful wine was Pauletts.

I was so excited to see that the Tour Down Under was going through the Clare Valley, but the TV images were only overhead.  Still good.



The Riesling Trail is a fabulous walking/cycleway through the Valley. At 35km, it is a fair walk.   In December 2011, it was a little warm to do, but there is always next time.  And I hope there will be a next time.

Surprise!

Ah, joy, Blogger has changed again.  Let's see if I can make it work...

Saturday 14th July was Kim's 60th birthday.  He knew something was going to happen, but he didn't expect this!  I aged 30 years overnight, while Kate had a quick sex change (and possibly a political awakening).  Rosie was in the role of  recent bride, and I'm guessing Jann does not have a huge amount in common with Camilla.

Kim saw the face of royals, and the legs of loved ones.

Kiss me Kate.

Great pic.  I have to say the orange stockings don't look so bad in the photos.  In real life, they looked like a self tanning project gone wrong.  But they did match the scarf.  And I'll lay some of the blame on Kass!

Happy snap!

The lovely McBride ladies.

This is such a great photo.  For all the surprises Kim had that night, he was gracious, calm and composed.  And very happy to have his family with him.

I have to say, Di did a brilliant job of organising the surprise.  Well planned, plotted and executed.  But things did start to unravel towards the end.  Fearing a large party would mean Buddy (the labrador) may be hard to look after, she told Kim they would be going away for a night, hence Buddy would be looked after by her parents.  Kim was asked to pack an overnight bag for a surprise night away.  He obligingly complied.  But he thought it odd when he saw the bag that Di had packed for the occasion.  It didn't ring true.

Busted, Di.

It was an amazing celebration for Kim's 60th, to have Kate back from a year in Kenya, Matt and Rosie visiting from Seattle, and Jann joining in from London, with the Queen's 60th jubilee fresh in her mind.  Kim's speech (obviously unrehearsed) was a fitting tribute to those present and demonstrated his love and appreciation of family, friends, and loved ones.  And the night ended in a decent jam session.  Talented musicians all, and the mandolin was a hit.    Happy 60th Kim!

The Bay

The huge weekend in Adelaide was made all the more special by being able to stay at Kass and Konrad's unit at the Bay. Great unit, terrific location, and a personal welcome from Kass. For those of you not familiar with Adelaide, its history started here - Holdfast Bay, now known as Glenelg. A great palindrome it may be, but a pretty strange "bay", in that it seems to me a straight coastline.

The rotunda stands grand, amidst all the new unit development.

The jetty was all mine for the early morning walk. It was gorgeous, although I prefer Brighton jetty!

Here is the lovely Kass. Not only did we get to enjoy a lovely long chat on Friday night, but also the Central Markets on Saturday morning. Those familiar with Adelaide know all about them. Those that don't? Well, you wish you lived there. And the history is terrific. I've read the Wakefield Press book "the Market"!

Loved these preserved fruits, but I bought cheese instead. For Kim's 60th. But any excuse is good enough to shop here. Now it is a mix of veges, cheese, specialities. When I was a kid, I just loved the lolly stalls, and we used to buy spitballs.

Kass and I bought what we needed, had yum cha, loaded the goods into the trolley and caught the tram back to Glenelg. Perfect urban living, if you ask me. Perfect friend too :-)

Weekend in Narooma

Finally, a return to the blog, how easy it is to let it go. I thought this might be a good return. I bought a cheap internet deal last year - "2 nights' " and "golf" enough to get me in. And although it is a significant (5 hour) drive from Sydney, it is truly worth it. Mind you, gorgeous weather doesn't hurt.

It is rated in one of the top 100 in Australia, and it is really fun to play. The third is known as Hogans hole (as in Paul Hogan - Crocodile Dundee). I think he did a cigarette commercial there way back when.

The hole is on the other side of this monster cliff. I sacrificed 2 balls on the first round. The next day, I played safe, and got par (3). Yes, I was happy...

3 longtime golfers have a sublime resting place. Simple, serene. I'm sure they are at peace.

Looking south, the views just get better.

The course then goes away from the coast. This combination of bridge, lagoon, sand sea and sky was just gorgeous.

Yes, there was a gong in the gully. What a great expression!

The back 9 played around a lovely lake. There was a single pair of black swans. Shy, but cute.

Easy to be distracted from the game.

Cloud cover came in, but it was spectacular.

A lone beach fisher - a gorgeous place to be.

The beach had beautiful white clean squeaky sand, clean water and some great waves. Wish I had a wet suit, I would have got into the water!

Narooma was only a destination because of a cheap internet voucher, but it was a surprisingly great destination. Dinners at the pub and the golf club were really really good. Lovely quilting shop, and a great haul at the Op Shop. The lifestyle in Narooma (compared to Sydney) is relaxed, sun filled and blessed with fresh air. Good on them, and I'd go back in a flash.

M