Tag Archives: America

what isn’t here & why they were there…

Posted on by under America, Australia, Blogging, Friends, Memories, Thoughts

I was doing it again. I only had one or two items to pick up at Ingles, and since I was in a not-so-familiar grocery store, I began to wander. Sure enough, I ended up in the ethnic food section, searching for familiarity. You may find that odd, since my year overseas was spent in Australia. But consider, I found jars of buttered chicken in the Indian section and sweet chili sauce in the Thai section. How many times did I buy coconut milk, pappadums, and other ingredients for dinner?

Admittedly, there’s a tiny confused section of my brain which expects that if I stare at the shelves long enough, a shelf will appear that’s labeled “Esther, Imogen, Amy, and Claire all cooked these.”. Of course, it’ll come with a list of recipes. I’ll finally figure out why I liked Aussie barbecue sauce when I was there, but hate the American kind. Maybe it’s just because I like it on pizza. Of course, when I had it on homemade pizza, I would combine it with tomato sauce (NOT ketchup), and then add all my own meaty toppings. But NOT capsicums (peppers), either fresh or the ones preserved in olive oil. I did try them, once or twice, and just can’t handle them.

As I think over this grocery store issue of mine, I am reminded that as of April 23, I will have been back in the US for one year, and May 3 will be the two year anniversary for when I arrived in Australia. Lots of anniversaries are packed into April and May, for both Australia and my blog. It has really been that long since I returned to American soil, just as it’s really been THAT long since I went to AUS. Did it go by fast? I’m no longer sure.

Because I’ve had this post on my mind, I drove by McDonald’s, today, and I was thinking that it will never be Maccas to me. The Maccas of Australia was one place I would go in order to read a book, drink a mocha, and veg out while reading a book. Usually while munching on a scone or some other form of dessert. I love coffee shops over here, too, but they’re just not the same. I’m pretty sure ours have a lot more sugar, but since I never worked in a coffee shop overseas, I really don’t know what makes the difference.

Hearing from an Aussie friend of mine reminded me of how much I miss our outings to Bogey’s, and left me with a craving for potato wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. And a mocha, with an Aussie marshmallow on the side. A craving that can’t be satisfied, because even in Australia, I never had potato wedges that were as good as those served at Bogey’s in Emerald. Sure, maybe I’ll be able to find some over here, eventually, and buy myself sweet chili sauce from the Thai food section… but it still isn’t the same.

I haven’t only been thinking about food. Honest. But if you’ve been reading my blog lately, I’ve been thinking about the idea of friendship and how we go about making friends, especially when we’re outside of our comfort zone. It makes you think about the friendships that you had to work for and fight for, as well as the ones you fell into by accident, which seemed to be tailored just for you.

Some might say that it was a coincidence that I met the group of friends that I did, while in Australia. But was it really? You could say that I had two small groups of friends, from two different churches, that occasionally combined into a big group. We mixed and moved around, if you will. From the very start, I was drawn into their circles and welcomed, having common ground to stand on. As I recall, only one of them moved away, while I was still living there, because he wanted to go to Bible school.

And then, during this last year, they began to scatter. A large family of my friends moved to Tasmania. Another friend moved to Brisbane (capital of Queensland). One got married and moved to Sydney. I’m not sure when it happened, but another somehow got herself to Victoria (another Aussie state). And yet another is getting ready to move back to the “big smoke”… which after some digging, I found also referred to Brisbane.

I believe that it was part of the Lord’s plan that I go to Australia and meet these amazing people, and that He had the right ones waiting for me in Emerald. I do not think it was just a coincidence that they were all in Emerald, for that time. Their friendships have enriched my life and changed me, and I will always be thankful for them. And now that some of them have moved on (geographically), I will have a lot more places to travel, when I get back Down Under, eventually!

Maybe I should be talking more about my last year in the U.S., now that I’m remembering the one year anniversary since I returned. But I’ll be here for a long while yet, and you’ve been listening to me yak about America for a year now, so I don’t think I need to go over it. Maybe sometime this summer, I’ll have more to say about this past year in America, and its effect on me. But until I figure it out for myself, I don’t have anything to tell you.

To all my friends and readers, thank you again for sticking with me, no matter what country I happen to be in. I plan to keep writing for a long time, so I’ll keep searching for the little stories that make up the great big story which is my sometimes-interesting life. Have a wonderful week!

two whole years…

Posted on by under America, Australia, Blogging, Clemson, Family, Friends, Kids, Memories, Photos, Thoughts, Writing

Yes, you heard that right. It’s been two entire years.

In the two years since I started this blog, I’ve been to Australia and back again. I went there all by myself, the first time I’ve ever flown halfway around the world on my own (I’ve flown halfway around the world with my dad and cousins, before). I’ve driven to Minnesota and back, and some of you know how that went. And now I’m back in my hometown of Clemson, for the time being.

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April ’11, before I left for AUS

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April ’11, before I left for AUS

My first few blog posts were about the joys and trials of packing for moving to the other side of the planet. I had just bought a new laptop computer, in order to keep in contact with my family more easily, to update my blog, and to Skype anyone who wanted to talk with me. It is still my go-to “vehicle” for all my blogging and communication needs. Even the headphones, which used to be for Skype, are used to block out the background noise of the household, and allow me to write.

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One of my first pics in Australia

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Yeppoon, QLD, Australia

I had just bought a new camera, a Nikon D3100, which allowed me to take beautiful photos of Australia, as well as the occasional video. With it, I was able to visually show everyone what I was seeing, while I did my best to describe it in words. In those two years, using my camera has become much more natural than it ever had before, and I’ve been using cameras since I became a teenager. I have always said that I like to take pictures, but only now do I consider myself a photographer. My DSLR taught me how to do more than just point-and-shoot… though I still love my Canon PowerShot for certain things.

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June ’11, one month after arriving in AUS

Also new to me was my Kindle, one of the older black-and-white versions, which allowed me to take a large number of books with me. It was an excellent supplement to my local library visits, and as much as I love real books, I like having the e-books handy, as well. I was NOT thrilled that it go broken, on the return trip to the U.S., but at least that allowed me to upgrade to a Kindle Fire.

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My bub, 11 mths old, June ’11

When I returned from Australia, I left behind all the friends and loved ones that I had made in the previous year. How had the year gone by so quickly? How had these friendships become so strong? The Lord truly blessed me with the friendships I made, and now, when I eventually return to visit all of them, I’ll be putting in some serious travel. Because instead of staying in Emerald, many of them have moved away! My friends are scattered from Queensland to Tasmania, and I have to see them all again, someday. I look forward to that trip.

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April ’12, right before leaving AUS

During my time back in the United States, I had to learn how to blog again. I didn’t really need to reinvent my blog, so much as reinvent how I looked at the everyday things, in my home country and my hometown. You can become blind to the things that surround you, the things that you take for granted. Now, I wanted to share the adventure of home with my friends in Australia, as well as remembering that life is interesting, you just have to know where to look.

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April ’12, right before leaving AUS. My bub’s almost 2 years old.

I have become fascinated by taking photos of everything from buildings to flowers. I have explored the town of Clemson and the Clemson University campus, and I’m still not finished yet. I look closely at the budding flowers and look straight up at the tops of the trees, looking for the interesting shapes of the branches. I want to see what will look good in black and white, and what only needs a touch of color to come to life in a photo.

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Botanical Gardens, Clemson, SC May ’12

Just thinking about my writing, photography, and life experiences, I’ve come a long way in two years. But if you’d told me back in the summer of 2012 that I would end up working on Clemson’s campus and actually enjoy being around the students, I would have thought you were on something. College students have always intimidated me, but I’ve come to enjoy them (ok, some of them), and actually like the campus. And when you take the time to get to know a place, looking through a camera lens, you’ll find you like it even better.

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Riggs Hall, Clemson University March ’13

Some of you have stood by as I tried to straighten out how to write about my work on campus and my life here in Clemson. Thanks for putting up with me, because I think I’m back on track. Again, the search for the interesting, the fascinating, and the adventures will continue. And when you’re looking for something, you often find it.

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GWH, March ’13

Yes, this blog and I have come a long way. Here’s to many more years of writing and photography, with a few road (and plane and cruise) trips scattered in between!

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Mom and I
Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013

P.S. I just realized that this is my 444th blog post! So, I’ve averaged 222 posts a year, though I know I blogged more when I was in Australia.

look out, it’s a valentine!

Posted on by under America, Australia, Books, Christianity, Family, Friends, Thoughts

In honor of Valentine’s Day, I’ve been thinking about a book store. I know, I know, such a romantic thing to think about, but at least I’m an honest bookworm. Unlike some people, who plan to get their party on by watching The Princess Bride, while drinking sparkling grape juice, I have no such exciting plans. In fact, as of this moment, I have no plans, so what can I talk about, Princess5_Lwhile the rest of the world is out receiving roses, going to fancy dinners, or perhaps bursting into tears because they didn’t get the aforementioned roses/dinners?

I was thinking about Christmastime in Australia, when I was spending my vacation with a friend in Brisbane. Of course, I was sick during that time, but still striving to achieve some aspects of normalcy, while mentally cursing all side effects of antibiotics. My friend and I went to visit a Christian book store, and I was thrilled. I’d been to our local book store in Emerald, many many times, but I hadn’t been into anything bigger for some time. And a Christian book store? My goodness, what fiction might they have come out with in the last year?

Oh, I knew, deep down, that I shouldn’t be buying much, because any book I bought, I would have to ship home. My Kindle was my mainstay for any book that I just HAD to have, and couldn’t get at the library. But in the meantime, real books were at my fingertips, and I was going to drool for all I was worth. And to make things even better, the book store had a coffee shop. Don’t ask me which one, it surely wasn’t Starbucks or Gloria Jean’s, but I could get a latte and carry it around with me. My body was probably going to object to it, later, because it was objecting to everything I put in it… but I didn’t care.

Oh, did I wander through that store and check out all the sections! But at first, I was very good, and only picked up one Christian fantasy book by Donita K. Paul, because I couldn’t find it on Kindle. It wasn’t as good as the originals in that series, but I still enjoyed reading it. And I found a biography of sorts, about G. K. Chesterton. Defiant Joy: The Remarkable Life & Impact of G.K. Chesterton is a biography, but it goes through the life of Chesterton by way of all of his writings. The whys and wherefores behind everything he wrote, how he was changed and how he changed others by what he wrote.

If you’ve never heard of him, it was his book, The Everlasting Man, that C. S. Lewis credits with bringing him to Christianity. And yes, if you’re only aware of Lewis because of The Chronicles of Narnia, please remember that he was a very well-known Christian apologist, as well. But Chesterton was a colossus in the field of writing and knew something about everything. He was the king of quotes, and I became of a fan of his, several years ago, when my summer staff kids and I were reading up on him.

So, I bought my two books, and thought I was finished. But opportunity mustn’t be wasted… I was in a book store, and found myself unable to sit still. I kept wandering around, and found a stand with all sorts of Christian magnets. Among them, I found some that were shaped like Australia, with Bible verses on them. Just The Five Love Languagesperfect for a few small gifts to bring home to my church friends! I went back up to the register, and bought those, too. I felt a bit silly, coming back again.

Finally, I was starting to get tired, so I went look for a place to sit down. And found a chair in a section I hadn’t noticed. Yes, I was in the relationship section. Oh, dear. And I say that, not because that section is upsetting (remember, I am single), but because I find it so fascinating. As a result, my wallet can be in danger. I told myself that I was done shopping, I didn’t need to go look at any of the books… but no, I couldn’t resist. I hopped back to my feet, and picked up The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, by Gary Chapman.

The reason I picked up The Five Love Languages is because I’d already read quite a few that were on the shelves there, and I’d never gotten around to that one yet. Think I’m joking? I’ve read two books by Emerson Eggerichs (Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs  and Cracking the Communication Code), two by Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye and Boy Meets Girl), and two by Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn (For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men and For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women). There are probably several others, but I can’t remember them, at the moment.

These are all great books, by the way, and if the title interests you, check it out, whether you’re a Christian or not. These were written for everyone, because everyone is confused by the opposite sex, all the time, right? A girl pal and I have hilarious memories of booking our way through the Feldhahn books, while we were in Hawaii, and discussing them. Yes, both the For Women Only AND For Men Only. Because we all want to know what they’re telling the opposite sex about us, right?

I have many good examples of dating relationships and marriages that I’ve observed over the years, but I’ve always figured that as long as I’m single (and even after I get married, someday), why not learn everything you can, so you can try and avoid a few mistakes. Nothing wrong with being prepared. I think that a lot of marital and dating problems, nowadays, come from not preparing yourself for the work involved in a relationship.for-women-only Because honestly, do guys really understand girls, and do girls understand guys? Of course we don’t. So, read up, learn a few things, and prepared yourself for the fight to finish the most wonderful, exciting race you’ll ever run.

Oh, have you been raised to believe that marriage is the ball-and-chain situation, where all the romance drains away, and you eventually grow bored with each other? Well, if you put no effort into your marriage, then perhaps that is true. Love is an action and marriage is not all daisies and Valentines. You have days when you adore each other and days when you can’t stand each other. That’s because you’re human. But that doesn’t mean you can’t work your way through the good and the bad together and come out the stronger in the end.

There I go again, giving advice on something I haven’t yet experienced.  : )   No firsthand experience of marriage yet, sorry. But I have seen lots of long-lasting marriages during my whole life, from a family that I’ve been blessed to be a part of and a large group of friends, some my age and some older. I think if you can’t learn by observation… what are they there for, if not to observe? I know some of my friends and family members well enough to KNOW that their marriages are not easy, all the time, but that just makes the joys all the greater. I hope to follow in their footsteps, someday.

When I picked up The Five Love Languages, I was curious to know what my friends were always babbling about, talking about “their love language” and how their hubby tried so hard to speak it, even when his was another. Usually, they’re talking about what specific one that is their favorite to use, but they’ll have a secondary one. After opening the book, I was hooked on the first few pages… and went up to the cash register for the third time, figuring I had to take this one home with me. By then, I was exhausted by our expedition, so I didn’t move from my chair again, until it was time to go.

If you’ve never read this book, then let me explain a bit. The idea is that all of us uses a particular “language” to expressimage.axd their love or affection for those around them. You might not know what your own is, but you probably know what one belongs to some of your family. Because when you use it on them, they are SO appreciative. Or maybe they use theirs on  your all the time.

The choices are Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Affection, Quality Time, and Gifts. Now, if you’re like me, you probably think that ALL of those sound great. But which one or two sounds better than the rest? There’s even a quiz in the book, to help you figure it out. Immediately, I know that one of my cousins uses the Gifts language, because the dear girl sends thoughtful and funny presents to people in the mail, all the time. She LOVES to do this, and all of her friends love that about her. So, imagine if someone gave her something delightfully thoughtful, wouldn’t she feel loved?

My suspicion is that a certain member of my family has the love language of Acts of Service… not just because she is always doing things for others, but because of how she reacts when one of us empties the dishwasher, does the laundry, clears the counters, and vacuums the living room. If you can make someone light up, just by giving them a hand around the house, do you think this might be one on their “language list”?

Short explanation (these may sound obvious, but give it some thought): “Words of Affirmation” is to express in words how much you appreciate someone and the things they do/are to you. “Acts of Service” is to show someone you love them by mowing the lawn, washing the car, and cleaning the bathroom. “Affection” is to show your love with hugs and kisses, the people that hug you as soon as they see you, or pat your back while conversing with you. “Quality Time” is spending time with that person, whether talking or just being with them, just so that you’re there and listening, not pretending to listen. And, of course, “Gifts” are what you receive from that person who thinks flowers, cards, and little gifts are just the way to show their love… all year long, not just on Valentine’s Day.

When I took the quiz, I came up with a three-way tie, which might be unusual. But then, I’m a little uncertain about the third one, because I only show affection to those that I’m absolutely closest to, other than that, don’t get into my personal space. If I am not 8749748_origclose to you, as a friend, you will be on my “hugging list”. If I ever get to date someone, then I’ll figure out how this one goes.

I was a bit shocked to realize that though I knew Quality Time would be on my list, Words of Affirmation was probably even higher on my list. Have I ever asked you if I’m bothering you, when calling you on the phone, or talking to you on chat? Yes, I have a tendency to think I’m in the way, so if I ever find someone who speaks that love language, naturally, I’ll be flying high.

Ok, I wasn’t really intending to do a complete soul-searching session there, but I thought you might be curious what I found for myself in that book, not just my family members. I definitely found that everyone should be loved and respected in a way that makes them feel loved. You might be showing them that you love them, but they might not realize it, because they don’t “speak” it that way, themselves. So, for Valentine’s Day, don’t just think about what color of roses your wife/girlfriend will like, but maybe think about whether you’re showing them love in the way that they can see it.

Don’t forget, love is an action. Love is a verb. If love was all mush and goopy feelings, we’d run the first time our loved ones got a virus that had them puking their guts out. You don’t feel the fluffy, butterflies-in-your-stomach when someone’s throwing up. Remember to act on your love, and show them how much you care. Forget about being selfish, for once, and put them first. They’ll love you all the more for it.

P.S. If you want something fun to WATCH, then check out Mark Gungor on YouTube, in his talk called A Tale of Two Brains. My Brisbane friend sent it to me, and I’ve been shrieking with laughter over it, the last few nights. Good advice and good fun, especially if the above subject interests you.

blessings of the New Year…

Posted on by under America, Australia, Family, Friends, Memories, Photos, Thoughts, Travel

One year ago, I was in Australia, and I was sick. I had made it through Christmas without my family, been welcomed by my friends in Brisbane for a few weeks, and traveled extensively beforehand. My brain never could comprehend that it really was Christmas, because for one thing, it was HOT outside. Christmas is not supposed to take place during the summer, if you’re an American, and it never did completely click.DSC_0738

It started with an earache. If you read my blog post about Magnetic Island, I walked to the chemist’s (pharmacy) to get some hydrogen peroxide and ended up running back to the bus station in the noonday sun. The results of that were not only near prostration for this non-runner, but that I lost my library book, which has never ceased to irk me. The symptoms went away, and then returned with a vengeance on Christmas Eve Day. Who wants to be at the after-hours clinic on Christmas Eve? Not me. But my friend’s mom cheerfully called every doctor in town and then took me to the hospital.DSC_0740

At that point, I was willing to take anything to get rid of the pain, because it hurt so badly, I couldn’t move my jaw. Despite the delicious Christmas dinner my friends cooked, I wasn’t able to enjoy it properly. I slept the afternoon away and then talked to my family on Skype, during their Christmas morning.DSC_0745

Over the next two weeks, I regretted that medication like I’ve never regretted anything before. I wanted my earache back, because the side effects… caused everything to go through my system quickly, leaving nothing to sustain me. I had to eat and drink every few hours and I didn’t want to eat or drink. Over the next two weeks, I visited another doctor on New Year’s Eve, and he wasn’t able to help, and I ended up flying back to Emerald early, because Aussie roads don’t have regular rest stops, like in the U.S. That’s the only plane ride where I ever got motion sick, and I finally understood what my friends regularly go through.DSC_0748

I arrived back in Emerald and went to my local doctor, immediately. I trusted him to fix this problem, because I knew him from my last several illnesses AND since I didn’t think I could take much more. I lost ten pounds in two weeks and was starting to think that going on a drip sounded good.

When I arrived back at my Aussie family’s house, they were all delighted to see me, and there is something to be said about going on a trip, in order to make those you love excited to see you when you return. My Bub’s face, when she saw me, made it worth it to come back. The adults helped me haul my luggage upstairs, because I didn’t have the strength to do it. And once inside my room, I found two boxes from the United States waiting for me.DSC_0749

On Christmas morning, when I spoke to my mom, I joked with her that she should fill my stocking and hang onto it until I arrived home in May. She gave some sort of noncommittal answer, but I never really picked up on it. So, when I opened my Christmas box, I was unprepared to find my stocking in that box. There were other gifts, but for some time, I saw nothing else. That stocking had been mine since I was a baby, and while my brain could not be convinced by the calendar that it was Christmas, that stocking certainly could.DSC_0750

I picked that stocking up and hugged it like it was my only hope of survival, while I bawled like a baby. I had nothing left, no energy, no defenses against those tears. Being sick had taken it out of me, and if I couldn’t have my mom or my entire family, that stocking was the next best thing. Thankfully, there wasn’t anything breakable in it, because it was a while before I could let it go. But, of course, between opening all my gifts in that box, and the other box my friends had sent me, I did a lot of crying.DSC_0751

This story ends happily. The medicine finally kicked in, and my bosses stopped worrying that I wasn’t going to make it. My mom stopped trying to figure out whether she could get overnight plane tickets to Australia. I started to like the idea of eating and drinking again, and hope I never take it for granted again.

Maybe this seems like an odd story to share on New Year’s Eve, but I’ve been thinking about it for some time. Not only because I was too embarrassed to tell it LAST year, but because of the memories that surfaced this year, when I saw my Christmas stocking. Such a little thing to break through the walls to being homesick or being overly emotional. But then again, it’s not really a little thing. This year, my mom’s gift of two children’s books that I remember from Australia almost made me crack again, but I held it together. I hugged those two books hard, instead of crying on them.DSC_0753

I hope you all have memories of both recent Christmases and far distant New Years, memories that touch you to the core. Memories of family and friends, loved ones present and presently-in-heaven. And if you don’t have any of these memories that you treasure close to your heart, I hope that you’ll make some to share with those you love, in the future. Everyone should have those moments that they cherish and remember.DSC_0755

Now, I can see the humor in my episodes of illness. I can treasure the memory of my Aussie friends that took care of me while I was sick (and I was sick several times, while I was over there). I can even stand the inevitable teasing over getting mono, while in Australia. And I can cherish the reminder of how dear my family is to me, no matter where we are, at home or overseas.

As you celebrate this New Year, make some good new memories to share with your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, or share some happy remembrances with your friends of many years. Don’t forget to tell them all how much you love them. Be thankful for them all, and may your New Year truly be blessed.DSC_0756

of heroes & home games…

Posted on by under America, Family, History, Nature, Photos, Sports, Thoughts

Football and I have a strange relationship. At the drop of a hat, I would probably tell you that I hate football. But that wouldn’t be entirely true. In actuality, I don’t understand the sport, and have never seen the attraction of watching several lines of guys in strange uniforms run into each other repeatedly. I prefer to play sports than to watch them, but since I can’t get my hand to grip a football, I can’t throw one properly. Much rather throw a frisbee. DSC_0244

DSC_0248I’ve never had anyone motivated enough to explain the game to me, make me see why it’s so interesting and exciting to them. I figure there never will be someone that motivated, unless I marry someone who’s crazy about football. Meanwhile, I fell in love with rugby league football, while watching the State of Origin games with my Aussie friends. Now, there’s a sport that keeps moving constantly, with the players being a cross between the swift soccer players and the beefy gridiron football players. How do they do that, and survive?DSC_0251

DSC_0252But my curiosity has begun to grow. Despite living in Clemson, where people bleed orange and breathe football fanaticism, I’ve been relatively untouched by exposure to the sport. In fact, it’s been almost 20 years since I’ve been inside Death Valley Stadium. And over the years, I’ve begun to think that football is more of “America’s pasttime” than baseball, but I can’t take that to the bank. DSC_0253

Along with that, when watching The Dark Knight Rises trailer, and I realized the bad guy bombed a football game (no, I haven’t actually seen the movie yet), I felt the slam against America that it represented. It’s a sport that is supported by families, and I have friends that have been attending those games since their mom’s were pregnant with them. Children wave excited hands, wearing their “spirit fingers” (gloves with pom-poms on them), caught up in the excitement of their parents and siblings.DSC_0255

So, I took a walk on Saturday, and went into Death Valley. The last time I was in there, I was about 13 and had been dragged unwillingly to a game. I was bored out of my mind, too hot, and unable to understand why these people wanted to watch this sport.DSC_0257

When I entered the stadium, it was empty. I was amazed by how small it seemed in there, but maybe that’s just because the stadium was empty. It created an optical illusion, from where I stood, that I was closer to the field than I thought. I couldn’t escape the feeling that I’d be able to see the players clearly, even if I was in the “nose bleed section”. DSC_0258

So, I walked down the steps to the ground level, and tried to take in the whole place. Tried to picture all the crazy fans that I see on television. Picture the huge guys barreling down the field. Visualize the whole scenario. And I’m afraid my curiosity continues to grow, wondering what it would be like to see a football game live. When I think about it, I realize I’ve never been to a baseball game (or any other live sports game, for that matter), either. It’s strange to realize, but my younger brothers are less interested in sports than I am, last I checked. We’ve always preferred to play than to watch.DSC_0259

But despite my growing interest, I won’t be buying a ticket for myself any time soon. I know full well that you don’t experience it properly, if you go see a game by yourself, one that you don’t understand. And I will not play third (or fifth wheel) to anyone that doesn’t genuinely want me along. So, that first game day may have to wait a long time.DSC_0261

DSC_0267As I left the stadium, with my legs screaming after all the stairs, I made a beeline for the front gate that faced the new Memorial Park. I was unaware of the new dedications on the wall, under the sign for Memorial Stadium and Frank Howard Field, for those Clemson Alumni that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Plaques from all branches of the military are displayed on this wall, though I don’t have room to show them all.DSC_0273

DSC_0279DSC_0278My other purpose of this walk was to see the new Scroll of Honor Memorial and Memorial Park. Crossing the street, and guarded by the tiger statues, is a Memorial to all those alumni that gave their lives for their country. The reflection stones are arranged like the points on a compass, with stones to mark north, east, south, and west, as well. DSC_0295

DSC_0290DSC_0284DSC_0299I watched the flag for a while, hoping to get a gust of wind to blow it out, but there was very little wind that day. I love the reminders that freedom is never free. As I circled around, reading some of the unfamiliar names on the stones, I wondered how many generations of these families still send their children to Clemson University, and they can now point out their heroic relatives, remembered in the stones.   DSC_0296

DSC_0303DSC_0300Exiting the Scroll of Honor Memorial, I walked up the street, and then entered into the Memorial Park (I think they’re separate, though they share the same block of property). You could walk through the grass from one to the other, but that would’ve felt wrong. Besides, when you go in at the proper entrance, you can read the words that are written into the path. How many of us think about the sacrifices of our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines? DSC_0304

DSC_0305DSC_0306 DSC_0307 DSC_0308I was stopped in my tracks by these questions, “What will you give to? What will you commit to? Who will you protect? Who will you respect?”. “What will you give a life for?” Would you even do such a thing? These brave men did. When I reached the center of the park, my eyes were drawn towards the Scroll of Honor Memorial, which the Memorial Park was built to highlight, it seems. And then I spotted the words on the rocks. Can you see them?DSC_0310 DSC_0312

I’ve highlighted them further.12-1 Clemson & Memorial Park

As I left the park, I saw that the pathway of questions on respect, bravery, commitment, and sacrifice was repeated on that side. No matter which way you enter the park, you can’t escape these thought provoking words. And shouldn’t we be confronted with them? As the 71st anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack has just gone by, shouldn’t we remember what the great men of our country have sacrificed, that their children and grandchildren should continue to walk free?DSC_0317 DSC_0320

And so, though I may never understand Clemson University’s favorite past-time, I support their quest to remember the sacrifices of our predecessors, and to build up men and women that understand the principles of freedom and love of country. I salute our military and those who have given their all for this country. And I salute those that support our armed forces, and Clemson is certainly on that list.DSC_0322

once upon a pie crust…

Posted on by under America, Australia, Food, Friends, Memories, Photos, Thoughts

Once upon a time, I was in Australia. And I had friends that weren’t familiar with certain kinds of food, so I introduced them to pumpkin pie, buttermilk biscuits, white chili soup, Christmas cut-outs, and no-bake cookies. In return, they introduced me to eating lamb, potato wedges (with sweet chilli sauce and sour cream), pumpkin soup, lamingtons, pavlova, and vegemite. It was an excellent trade-off, but now that I’m not over there, I would give anything to have an Aussie meat pie or sausage roll.

The week before I left Australia, my friends threw me a going-away party. The joke was that they were celebrating my departure, but really, it was wonderful to know that they would miss me. During my final week there, I was so busy packing and doing last minute tasks, that I didn’t really have time to visit everyone, nor did I want to have to break down over numerous goodbyes. So, a massive sendoff from all my closest friends was just perfect.

On the day of my party, I had decided to bring some American desserts for the party, but I was on my very last can of pumpkin. That meant there wouldn’t be enough to make a pumpkin pie for both my friends AND my Aussie family. So, I decided to make pumpkin bars and funny cake.

Now, when I originally planned this post, I couldn’t find some of my recipes, because they had been packed, and I didn’t want to put both recipes in the same post. Reviewing my blog dashboard, I don’t believe I ever wrote that pumpkin bar post, either. So, I’m going to stick with the original plan and write about the funny cake, and give you the recipe for pumpkin bars later. Bear with me, I’ll get it together. This one is three months behind, as it is.

Funny cake is a Pennsylvania Dutch recipe. Back in the days when Germans were settling Pennsylvania (you know, in the 1600′s), they were referred to as “Deutsch”, but the word was eventually Americanized into “Dutch”. In that part of the country, you’ll find many foods that are of German origin, which you won’t find any other places in the country. For example, you don’t get “shoo-fly pie” almost anywhere else, and that’s a sad loss, because I love shoo-fly pie. It’s a pie made with molasses, in case you’re wondering.

My dad’s family is from Allentown, PA, and they grew up eating funny cake and other PA Dutch dishes, and so did we. We even have it instead of birthday cake, sometimes. When I heard my older brother got it for his birthday, when I was in Australia, I was very jealous, which is probably why I decided to make some in Australia.

It isn’t a small recipe, as the mixture makes three pies worth. I knew it would be plenty to share with both friends and family, before I left. It never lasts long, at home, because we’ll eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, if we can get away with it. Originally, I thought it was called a funny cake because it’s put into a pie crust, but it’s really a cake. But my parents told me that it’s really a funny cake because if you put the cake batter in first, and then pour in the chocolate sauce, the chocolate sauce still ends up on the bottom of the cake. So, you can try the recipe, and decide for yourself why it’s a funny cake.

While overseas, my determination to introduce my friends to pumpkin pie gave me a lot of opportunity to improve my pie crust making skills. Even when the dough was being completely uncooperative, I could “press” it into the pie plate, eventually covering the whole thing, and it would still come out beautifully. This was a good thing, because I would have to make three pie crusts for the recipe, which required me to go buy another pie pan, because my Aussie family didn’t have enough of them. I also found a pasty blender (finally!) at the housewares store, so I could use that instead of a fork! Hooray!

Just for a reminder, here’s the pie crust recipe, first, and then the recipe for funny cake:

Flaky Pastry for 1-crust pie

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp butter (or Crisco)

2 to 2.5 tbsp cold water

Combine flour and salt in mixing bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture is the consistency of coarse cornmeal.

Sprinkle on cold water, 1 tbsp at a time, tossing mix lightly and stirring with a fork. Dough should be moist enough to hold together when pressed gently with a fork. It should not be sticky. Shape dough into smooth ball with hands and then roll. Put crust in 9-inch pie pan and crimp edges.

~

Funny Cake

Cocoa Mix:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 cup water

1/2 tsp vanilla

Cake Mix:

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup margarine

2 eggs

2.5 cups flour

1 cup milk

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla

Mix up cocoa mix, separately, and set aside. Cream butter & sugar (make sure butter is soft), then add the other ingredients. Pour cake mix evenly into THREE pie crusts. Then pour even amounts of cocoa mix into cake batter. Chocolate will sink to the bottom, while in the oven. Bake for 35 minutes, at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

~

My pie crust making went beautifully. If you’re reading my recipe, one way of making this a “funny” cake is that you can pour the chocolate in after the cake batter, and it will still sink. But you can do it the other way, too, which is how I did it. I poured the cocoa mix in first, so that I had an even amount in each pie crust. Then, I poured the cake batter, evenly, into the crusts. The cake batter will just pile in the middle, for the time being, and the cocoa mixture will sit on the sides, but that’s normal. It will settle down when it’s in the oven.

When your cakes are finished, let them cool for a while, but you can refrigerate them if you need them to cool faster. Unless you have a house that’s prone to ants, though, you don’t need to keep them refrigerated. They’ll probably get eaten too fast to go bad, anyway. I’m sorry, I never took pictures, but when you first cut into the funny cake, you’ll find a flaky crust with a thin layer of chocolate right above it, and then a delicious yellow cake on top of that. But it holds together so well, you can eat it with your hands.

Oh, and by the way, when you look at these pictures, I found out later that I had pulled them out just a LITTLE too early. So, they were a little underdone in spots, though they still tasted wonderful. So, you want the tops to be a little more of a golden brown, not quite so yellow.

At my going-away party, I’m sorry to say (ok, not really), we all ate too much food and dessert, so that we weren’t able to distinguish the deliciousness of some of the new desserts. In other words, my friends were too sugared up to figure out how well they liked the funny cake and the pumpkin bars. Instead, I left them with plenty of leftovers, and brought the last funny cake to Bible study, on Sunday. There, we all chowed down, and watching the guys take several pieces made me feel a lot better (and yes, we mostly ate it with our hands).

When I remind myself that this was over three months ago, I’m amazed that time has flown by so easily. That Sunday was the day I had to pull it together, while I hugged everyone goodbye, one last time. Now, I have my “I-miss-Australia” days, regularly. Whether I’m working on a writing project, involving my Australia blog posts, drinking Russian Caravan tea, or talking to an Aussie friend on Skype (I did that this morning), there are times when I just battle the homesickness. I also think of extravagant (and sometimes silly) plans of how to get back there, as soon as possible. But in the end, it always comes down to this… I need to save up the money.

Yes, I can’t go back and visit my friends, every year, until I have a savings account that will allow me to travel that far, and take 2-3 months off of work. This isn’t just a visit to my friends, but the chance to see Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef, and other places that I didn’t see when I was there. So, it’s a long-term goal that I have to strive for. Accept the tears of homesickness that slaps me, now and then, and just continue to resolve to go back and visit.

And so, I’ll keep my long-term goal in my mind, and meanwhile, I’ll plan to share that pumpkin bar recipe with you, shortly. I know where my recipes are, now, it’s just a matter of pulling the box off my shelf. All you foodies, stay with me until then.

the ‘shock’ of the neighborhood…

Posted on by under America, Australia, Family, Friends, Kids, Memories, Nature, Photos, Shopping, Thoughts

I tell you, there’s nothing like checking your WP account, and your views have shot up to an average of 323 an hour… so you think, I’ve been Freshly Pressed! But wait a minute, last time that happened, they told me, and I knew about it first thing in the morning. So, I went looking for a notice about it, and didn’t find anything. Started searching the Stats and found that my “lullaby the baby to old broadway” post had received 1,500 views. Or so I thought. Further looking finally told me that I had received that many “views” because of… Burl Ives.

Yes, you heard that right. The singer who is probably best known (among my generation) for playing the Snowman in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. You know, the one that sang “Silver and Gold”, “A Holly Jolly Christmas”, and he was also the narrator for the stop-motion animated TV special. I put a picture of Sam the Snowman in that blog post, and that one got picked up on Yahoo, and eventually, 2,500 people had to look at it. But did one of them even go further than the picture? Not as far as I can tell, as I had no extra comments, “likes”, or follows, as a result. And that wasn’t even the main mention in the whole blog post? Can you just spell out chagrin and disappointment? I still haven’t figured out why the sudden interest, as it isn’t his birthday, nor the anniversary of his death. Also, he died about seventeen years ago, I think… so I have no idea what set that off.

Sorry, I had to let off some steam. That was not the original point of my post, but I hope you’ll forgive me. I just finished my second official day as a Minnesota nanny, I’m feeling a little more in control of things, and I’m not too tired at the moment. But if I want to blog, I have to do it NOW, because bedtime comes early when you have to get up at 5:45am.

You’ve heard plenty about the difference in words and pronunciation between Americans and Australians. Well, I’ve already dived headfirst into this subject, here in the state of Minnesota. For the last month or more, I was in talks with a family in Shakopee. During that entire time, our phone conversations never mentioned the name of the town, because we both knew it. When I talked to a friend of mine from MN, we spoke on Facebook or by text. So, yesterday, for the very first time, I discovered that I was pronouncing Shakopee incorrectly.

Actually, I thought my lady boss was teasing me, when she stopped me, mid-conversation. She needed to tell me that Shakopee is not pronounced “Shuh-KOH-pee”. The correct way to say it is “SHOCK-uh-pee”. For all my knowledge of American Indian names and places, because you’ll find them all over the place in the U.S., that one had never even occurred to me. Of course, I didn’t know it was an American Indian name, either. I think it’s an even more surprising pronunciation than “moe-kuh” and “mock-uh” ever were. By the way, I’m still having trouble pronouncing mocha and scone like the rest of America does, since I’ve been home. Australia had an effect on me.

Another adjustment to living in the Minneapolis area is that there’s shopping everywhere! Don’t laugh, I’m not suggesting that it’s torture or anything. But even when I was living in SC, there weren’t numerous Kohl’s, Pier 1′s, and Targets within an hour’s drive. I went for a drive today, to locate the Walmart and see what else is there. If I hadn’t missed my turn, I’d have been buying my chicken and broccoli within a few minutes. Instead, I got to get onto several highways, before I could manage to turn around.

That’s a disadvantage to a newbie in this area, not being able to turn around and come back, immediately, when you miss your turn. Thankfully, I have a fairly good sense of direction and a decent memory, so I can usually remember how to backtrack. Before anyone asks, I have not been to the Mall of America yet. If you really think I’m going to drive there for an hour and then come back, you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’ll save it for a Saturday when I’ve actually got some energy to spare. Just for walking! I know the place is huge!

I’ve already heard that we’re within an exit or two of Valleyfair, an amusement park that’s sister (or maybe brother) to Cedar Point, in Ohio. Maybe that will be an inducement to getting my brothers or cousins to come visit me, because when we used to visit our cousins in Michigan, we almost always went there. Roller-coasters and water rides, anyone? Come to see me!

While I was wandering around the Pier 1, before heading to Walmart, as always, I sighed over some of the awesome odds and ends. I don’t want a house completely decorated in items from there, but I sure wouldn’t mind having some accent marks, here and there, including their furniture. No, I’m not a huge fan of their fancy metal wall decorations or candle stands (mostly). But those soft throw blankets and pillows that Dani confiscates whenever she visits me, those come from there. And I’m not a pillow person. They have to be comfortable enough to lean on, not decorated so that they’re painful to the touch.

I also noticed several sets of fireplace irons (or whatever you call them), and for a moment, I was surprised that Pier 1 had them. And then I thought, oh yeah, we don’t need them in South Carolina. Of course they’d have some decorative ones up here. You know, I’ve been told it isn’t called “Minne-snow-ta” for nothing.

Walmart was slightly bewildering, as the food section is all out of order, compared to both PA and SC, and I was debating whether it was bigger, or if the aisles are just larger. If so, why? It’s not like they need to plow the aisles of the grocery store, right? And after Pennsylvania, where you have to get beer or malt coolers from a liquor store, I expected MN to be the same. But no, that changes from state to state, not just because you’re in the north. There were definitely alcoholic beverages in this store. And in case you’re wondering, no, I don’t like beer, but I do like some malt coolers.

Yesterday, we went to the local park, which has quite a plethora of slides and lots of fun attachments to the whole setup. You know, steering wheels on corners, down on the ground, so the kids never run out of options to play with. My buddy, Egan, and I had it to ourselves, so we went over the whole thing. The upper levels of slides even have small slides to connect each section. So, E goes up them, no problem. Me, they’re big enough for an adult, but not big enough to crawl up on your knees. I ended up going up on my back, using my arms to pull and my legs to brace myself. But it was mostly my arms. That’s a workout that I wasn’t expecting. I’ll have to tell you more about it, later, when I get some pictures, too.

I know, I know, you’re really wishing I had some more interesting pictures to show you, but I haven’t taken any pics of the area yet. The flowers will have to hold you over for now. My camera has barely left my room (first time, five minutes ago), though I’m sure I’ll start remembering it more often, eventually. When people are involved, it takes a little while for me to warm up to taking pictures. If you doubt me, think about the fact that I take the most pictures of people at conferences that I go to, year in and year out. And obviously, I had a year to take pictures of my girls in AUS. Speaking of which, I read my girls so many Mr. Men books that I associate them with my time there, so here’s a pic of my Aussie wombat and some new Mr. Men buckets that I found at Target. I also got some Mr. Men stickers, but I haven’t decided what to do with them yet.

I feel like this whole post has been a bit of a jumble, but I’m sure I’ll get the wrinkles out soon. Don’t forget, I’ve only been here for… almost three whole days. For some reason, it feels like longer, but I think that’s just because I’m adding the days of travel. But it’s barely been even a week since I left home!

And just so you know I’m settling in, here’s how my dresser looks right now. I picked up some frames when I was at Kohl’s, finally, in order to be able to see the pictures of my darling Bubby. Now, don’t get up in arms for my other girls. I have pictures of them, I just haven’t had them printed since I got back. My last batch of prints got cut up for the collage. Next up, getting copies made of an assortment of my Australia pictures, for my other bulletin board. I need to display some pictures of all my girls, their family, and my Aussie friends. It’ll make them all seem a little closer… especially when I miss them so much.

rain, i defy you! here are some flowers & sunshine, take that!

Posted on by under America, Friends, Memories, Nature, Photos, Thoughts, Travel

I was supposed to be able to wander up the street, in the sunshine, and visit old friends. Knock at their doors, have a cuppa, and catch up since the last year. But no, rain, you had to come a-visiting, and now it’s cold and wet out there (14 degrees lower than yesterday).

Everyone that wanted to work in their gardens, today, had to choose some indoor projects. All the flowers that I saw and wanted to photograph, well, they’ll be a bit bedraggled by tomorrow. Spring isn’t as far advanced, here in Pennsylvania, so I’m glad to see the beginnings of spring, somewhere. South Carolina’s much nearer to summer, by now.

So, just for that, rain, I’m going to post some more plants and sunshine from the other day, to remind myself of what it’s supposed to look like out there! Even if I have to do less interesting things for the afternoon, like going to my storage unit and going shopping at Kohl’s. Ok, I like shopping at Kohl’s, but you know it can’t be more fun than popping by your friends’ houses.

I will still visit friends, but rather than wander around, lonely in the rain, it’s better to call ahead. And like everyone else, instead of enjoying any sunshine, they’re working on projects or they’ve gone shopping, too! I should be good and get my important stuff done, too. But, rain, you really did put a stick in the works. Because who wants to clean out the fridge, when we can spend time in the nice, warm sunshine that we’ve missed so much?

So, rain, please go away, I have beach plans for the weekend, and you’re not invited.

In the meantime, who’s up for a cuppa?

a passport to freedom…

Posted on by under America, History, Politics, Thoughts, Travel

When was the last time you looked inside your passport (if you have one), and not just to see how terrible you look in your picture? Or perhaps you like to count how many stamps you have in it, proving that you’ve visited a certain number of countries? I have my “baby passport” still, from a trip that my parents never took, and I sure looked cute in that picture. I can’t say that for any other photo I have in a license or passport, since then.

Right before getting on the plane in Brisbane, I was expecting to need my passport, so while holding it ready, I began to look through it. And a few minutes later, when an official came by and told me I didn’t need it right then, I ignored him and kept reading. Because I had discovered that the back of this all-important booklet isn’t just blank pages. In fact, every page has a unique and beautiful design in the background, created to go along with a famous quote.

With the quotes starting back during the times of our Founding Fathers, I was pleased to find they had chosen so well (mostly), really giving you an idea of what our country is about. I don’t think I had heard the one by Daniel Webster before.

Of course, near the end, I thought the Native American quote was quite odd (why are we thanking the animals, again?), and the quote from Lyndon B. Johnson, while pretty, I’m still a bit iffy to its meaning. Was it just poetic, or is he speaking about using his Great Society to transform us?

And before anyone calls me on the spelling of the first quote, it was printed in the old-fashioned handwriting and spelling, as if to suggest that Francis Scott Key himself wrote it into the cover of my passport.

But overall, I found it to be a great representation of what this country was founded for, and what we believe in. We believe in freedom, and nobody’s going to take that away from us.

Since I don’t know the rules surrounding taking pictures of a passport (it’s probably not allowed), I won’t be including any. I thought that I’d just let the quotes speak for themselves. Starting on the front page…

“O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.” –Francis Scott Key, writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner”, the United States National Anthem

“…And the government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” –Abraham Lincoln

“The principle of free governments adheres to the American soil. It is bedded in it, immovable as its mountains.” –Daniel Webster

“Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair.”
–George Washington

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” –excerpt from the Declaration of Independence

“We have a great dream. It started way back in 1776, and God grant that America will be true to her dream.”
–Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” –John F. Kennedy

“This is a new nation, based on a mighty continent, of boundless possibilities.” –Theodore Roosevelt

“Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world, it must first come to pass in the heart of America.” –Dwight D. Eisenhower

“For this is what America is about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the start that is not reached and the harvest sleeping in the unplowed ground. Is our world gone? We say “Farewell”. Is a new world coming? We welcome it — and we will bend it to the hopes of man.” –Lyndon B. Johnson

“May God continue the unity of our country as the railroad unites the two great oceans of the world.” –inscribed in the Golden Spike, Promontory Point, 1869

“We give thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach to us people. We are glad they are still here and we hope it will always be so.” excerpt from the Thanksgiving address, Mohawk version.

“The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class — it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity.” –Anna Julia Cooper

“Every generation has the obligation to free men’s minds for a look at new worlds… to look out from a higher plateau than the last generation.” –Ellison S. Onizuka
I would put that last quote into the quirky category, too, except the facing picture in the book was of a satellite and outer space, so maybe they just mean we should fund NASA some more, instead of taking care of the national debt. On the third and fourth reading, I’m still uncertain of Johnson’s quote, because the man was anything BUT poetic, and he did grow our government enormously. Perhaps that’s the new world he refers to?

I’m not sure which Thanksgiving address is coming from the Mohawks, because I didn’t think they were there with the Pilgrims. I sure hope that the animals will always be here, too, because otherwise we’ll go hungry. But rather than skip over the odd quotes, I wanted to show you the full range of quotes. I’d say “good job!” to whoever designed them, this time around.

they gave me the boot(s)…

Posted on by under America, Australia, Photos, Shopping, Thoughts, Travel

My going-away present from my Aussie family arrived in the mail, today. They’d heard me express an interest in Ugg boots, before leaving, and decided to buy me a pair. So, I got to look at a website for genuine Aussie Uggs, with real wool in them, and have them mailed to me (because I didn’t need any more weight in my suitcases). Taking into account that I don’t really like the look of the tan colored ones, and that the Cardy socks make them look pretty cool, I opted for the chocolate brown color, and I think I chose well.

Some of you may have decided opinions on Ugg boots, and you wouldn’t be the first. When I left for Australia, I hated Uggs, and was determined to never buy a pair. But that was before I learned a bit more about them, and how they’re a part of Aussie culture. My experience with them was that they were an American fad, one that I wished would die out. I’m not even talking about how they don’t really give your feet any support, but seeing pictures of movie stars and regular people wandering around in Uggs of all colors. Well, you can imagine that I was somewhat revolted. I’m not a fad follower, and wasn’t going to become one.

Before you think I’ve changed my mind about fads, please let me reassure you. I still don’t like fads, but my Ugg boots aren’t part of an American fad, they’re a part of the Aussie way of life. Until I arrived in Australia, I had no idea that they were originally Australian, that almost every Aussie had a pair, and that they don’t belong to any particular brand, nor are they trademarked in Australia. The trouble began when an American company bought the original Ugg company, trademarked the name, and then tried to accuse anyone else of using the name to have violated their trademark.

Ugg boots were named that because they’re considered, even by Aussies, to be ugly. They wear them indoors, like anyone else would wear their favorite bedroom or house slippers, and rarely do they wear them outside. Well, I’ve only seen them outside, once, and that person was already in someone else’s house, with their sweatpants tucked into their Uggs. And it was a guy, which was my first clue that Uggs weren’t a fashion statement. I don’t know a single American guy that would be caught dead in them, because of their “fashionable” nature. But Aussie guys (and girls) wear them for comfort, not to look stylin’. I’ve even told some of my friends here in the U.S. that if you see someone outside, in Australia, wearing Uggs… they’re probably American or European.

So, after a year spent Down Under, autumn was about to begin, and those sheepskin boots were making their way back onto shelves. And when I went to Sydney, I saw them in every gift shop in town, and had a good laugh over some of the designs (sequins, anyone?) that you could get them in. I liked the look of some of the ones with laces up the back, though. My thoughts were leaning towards the idea of getting some, eventually, because they were uniquely Australian, and because I would never have to wear them outside the house. Just save them for a winter day, when my feet were extra cold on these tile floors.

After checking out the website, I didn’t like the Uggs with laces as much, but I really liked the ones with the Cardy socks, which are just socks to put on the outside of your boot, and the rest of the sock goes inside the boot. Kind of like a legging for your boot, with no sock toe. The large, cream-colored buttons stand out really nicely against the chocolate color, and look pretty cool, too. But I can still wear my Uggs without them, and you can even fold down the boot to show off the sheep’s wool inside the boot.

Today, they arrived in the mail, and as awesome as they appeared, I started to sweat just from looking at them. Remember, it did get up to almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit, around lunchtime, so I was waiting for it to cool down a little bit before trying them on. So, I experimented with the Cardy socks, folded down the sides of the boots, and felt the soft sheep’s wool inside. And I also liked to see that really obvious label that said “Made in Australia” on the outside. Because as long as I’m getting them because I love things that are Aussie, and for the same reasons that an Aussie would, then I’m okay. There are still no fads for me. If you ever see me outside with these on, it’ll because I was too lazy to take them off (in the winter), when I went to check the mailbox.

And now, I’ve tried them on, and I didn’t get as sweaty as I thought I would. They are so soft and comfortable, it would be delightful to wear them in the winter, or when your town is suffering from a cold snap in spring. The Cardy socks look awesome, and the folded down boot looks a lot like a bedroom slipper. They’re also a good quality make, and will last me for years, seeing as I’m not always freezing cold in the winter, like some of my friends. So, for any of you that think they look comfy, but don’t want to give in to the latest fad, I’ve given you your way out. Enjoy!