Dorothy is off to a bush camp

We were up early yesterday on a freezing cold morning because it was Dorothy's departure for a 3 days bush camp in the North Coast of NSW. It is a camp organized by the school teachers for year 5 and 6 students.She is so excited for this bush camp and last weekend she started packing up all the things needed for the trip. I let her do the packing herself so it would be easier for her to locate the things when needed. I am just a bit worried about her because we are almost in the middle of our winter and the nights are very cold. She might get sick there, which I hope and pray it would not happen. The teacher gave us also numbers where to contact when needed as the students are not allowed to take mobile phones, even cameras and pocket money for safety reasons.We dropped her off at the school car park at around 6:45 am for their departure time was approximately at 7:00 am.
Last year, my daughter was able to go for the first time and had a great time even though weather wasn't on their side all throughout of their stay and not all her friends were able to go with them.
The picture was taken before they got in the bus with two of her Yr 5 friends.

Watery Wednesday

At Nurragingy Reserve, west of Sydney.
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This morning..

It was around 7:15 am when I got up from the bed and went outside to the backyard to take a glimpse of the sunrise. I didn't realize that it was freezing cold until I was outside and noticed that the ground was white covered with frost. Wheow! I should be inside, stay warm and have a cuppa but can't help it. While outside I looked around and saw few birds perching on the neighbor's naked tree soaking up the early morning sunrise light. I can't resist but to take picture of them as well as the frosty ground.
We hit 0 degrees C this morning, the coldest of June in 27 years. We don't have snow on winter because we are in the low land area but it snows in some parts of the mountains.

Today's flowers

This is my healthy yellow poinsettia at this time of the year. I just bought it last summer from a fund raising close to where we live one weekend and planted it in a big pot, growing and thriving well. They are such a lovely sight brightening the winter days.
And to see more Today's flowers entries please visit here.

Camera Critters

It's Camera Critters time once again and here is my entry. This was taken at the Japanese Garden during our visit. They are called Cape Barren Geese.
Have a great weekend.

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David is in Taekwando

He has finally decided to join a Taekwando lesson this school term which is held every Friday. On his first day, he was enjoying it right away and showing great interest to learn more. Even though he missed 3 sessions before he made up his mind to join in, he's catching up and doing well.
When he informed me of his interest, I immediately rang the Taekwando instructor and expressed David's interest, he assured me that there's no problem and let David in right away into the class the following Friday. I then bought him a new set of uniform to be used which is also one of the primary requirements. David is into sports and joins also the After School Sport.

Sky Watch Friday

These were taken on 27 May 2010 at around 8:30 -8:40 am after a heavy rain and the sun suddenly appeared in the sky. We were at the driveway about to go to school, when we saw this spectacular rainbow looking west. My son, David was in awe and called it, a giant Rainbow. He was watching it with intent admiration and murmured, "there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow". That's a line of the song that he remembered. Then after a while it rained again, a gloomy and dreary day that was. His big sister missed to see this because she went early to school for the Year 5 and 6 big day excursion in the City. Interested to join or want to see more sky photos all around the world please click, Sky Watch Friday .

Earlier today

I went to the Pathology this morning to have my blood test done and with this I did the necessary requirement to fast from 12:00 midnight until I will be finished with my appointment. I felt a little bit hungry when I arrived. It was cold and foggy and the thought of having a coffee was so inviting.
I visited my GP last Tuesday after I finished my appointment in Blacktown. It's been a long time since my last visit with my GP and I recall that was last year. I can't imagine I made that long without check up, except for a couple of check up with my specialist this year. There's nothing wrong with me that urge me for an immediate appointment anyway, because I am perfectly fit and healthy. Except last year, I was having iron problem but I was prescribed with pills and took it for about 2 months and since then my iron was back to normal. My GP did some check ups on me again last Tuesday and recommended to have my iron and cholesterol level check up again for it was last year since my last check up. I was just glad that I was the first patient there when I arrived and finished it on time before the kids went to school. The result will be available in two days time and hopefully everything will be normal.

Watery Wednesday

South Durras Beach, about 280 km South of Sydney.

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Sinigang na hipon (prawn or shrimp)

I finally grabbed the chance to cook prawn sinigang. It has been quite a while since the last time I have this on our table. Last week I bought a kilo of prawn from the Supermarket and the thought of cooking sinigang on this cold winter weather was so appealing. A warm delicious soup for a winter warmer was what I was craving for. I had a bowl over dinner and I gave some to my Filipina friend who lives just one block away from us. Click here for the recipe. Please note, I used Chinese bok choy instead of the kangkong, as kangkong is not available here at this time of the year.

Red ride on mower

It is Tuesday once again and time for another Ruby Tuesday. Here's my entry taken sometime on April of this year. I saw this man on the RED ride on mower at the Royal Botanic Gardens during our visit.


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At the pond

We went out yesterday to one of our favourite spots on weekend to feed our feathery friends who live in the ponds of the Reserve close to where we live. There were not so many people when we arrived as it was still a bit early but as we started feeding them people started to flock in the Reserve. There was quite a number of ducks came by to enjoy the feed. The kids always have a great time feeding them. When we noticed that they started to ignore the pieces of bread we threw to them, we decided to refrain from giving them more pieces of bread and saved the rest for the occupants in the other pond. After we done feeding our friends, we took a stroll around the park to enjoy the beautiful day.

Sky Watch Friday

Sunrise on 16 June 2010 between 6:50 to 6:55 am from our backyard.

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Visiting my sister

Happy and excited were all I can see on the kids faces the moment I announced to them our visit to my sister's place. They live in the lower part of the Blue Mountains, about 45 minutes drive from where we live. We don't get a chance to visit them very often and since we were free the other weekend, I grabbed the opportunity. It has been quite long since our last visit to their place although they pay us a visit from time to time and we see each others on some occasions. Suited ourselves up with the appropriate clothes we headed off on a Sunday morning. Their place is much colder than where we live and sometimes they have snow on winter times. It was bone-chilly cold on that day of our visit as predicted.Meet my cute niece, Maddie. She just turned 3 yrs old and a little chatter box. She never run out of topics to talk about. She is a playful little girl who adores so much her cousin, Dorothy that even she named one of her dolls, Dorothy. When we visit she always make sure her cousins are busy with something such as let them read books to her, play hide and seek and playing with her toys. And before we headed home, they watched a movie of Mr Bean and they all loved it. Dorothy and David reckon their Uncle Greg looks like Mr Bean.. ..hehehe..and for our next visit, Dorothy will surprise her Uncle Greg with a magic trick she learned from one of the local TV shows, Breaking the Magician's Code..

Watery Wednesday

This was taken at Hannam Vale, Taree up in the mid North Coast of NSW.


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While at the mall

This was last Thursday when me and David where still at the mall, I spotted the sun making a final exit for the night. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me, which I always forget to carry every time we go out (grrrrr), but I tried my best to capture the scene through my mobile phone. I was on the 3rd floor of the mall taking these pictures.

Today's flowers

We went out to the park close to where we live later today. It was a glorious sun-filled day and crisp. While we were walking around the park, I spotted these camellia flowers along the foot path.And to see more Today's flowers entries please visit here.

Camera Critters

Pictures were taken sometime last March 2010 when I was watering my plants. I saw this caterpillar on one of the citrus twigs.Interested to join or want to see more Critters from all around the world please click, here.

My lemonsito or calamansi

I am growing lemonsito or calamansi and I have it for over 10 years. The tree is not that tall like those that I used to see in the Philippines. It is rather a small tree but it never failed us to give adequate fruits for our use, in sauces and marinate. I even make juice out of the fruits and the kids love it. Just excuse the appearance of our backyard, it was still messy with fallen autumn leaves. We didn't get the chance to clean it yet.

Sky Watch Friday

Sunset on 5 June 2010. Pictures were taken from our backyard minutes apart.
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