Redwood Forest

We have visited the Redwood forest multiple times now. It has quickly become one of our favourite places to go. It has such a calming effect. Aunty Oilee explained that the Japanese call it 'forest-bathing'. A very apt description, undoubtedly an experience that can lower one's blood pressure or melt the stress of life away. This time around, we brought along a mat and I actually got to lie down and stare up into the trees. It was amazing. The cosy feeling was lulling me to sleep.

There are winding roads leading to the forest which makes C queasy, but it is still one of his favourite places. When we ask him where he wants go, he always says Redwood or Philip Island. He likes the streams a lot but we like the trees a lot so this place is a nice compromise between the two. There are man-made nests from fallen branches adding to the whimsy of the place. The forest is always cool inside whether or not outside is hot.

This time we all went for a dip in the stream. It was so much fun. Some steps over smaller stones felt like reflexology. Callum enjoyed the stream very much as well as sitting on a suspended log.

Aunty Oi Lee's impressive rock stack.

Someone made a teepee out of fallen branches.

The Nobbies and Forest Caves

When I visited Australia for the first time back when I was 15 (I want to say?), my aunt brought us to the Nobbies and it became my favourite place in the world. I instantly fell in love with the cliffs, wind and the sea. I wax nostalgic about the Nobbies all the time and remember not wanting to leave the boardwalk even though it was freezing cold the first time. I would live there forever if I could. No other place has left quite the impression on me up till I knew of Santorini in my later teens which has a different but also very special place in my heart. This is why I was so thrilled to have the luxury of frequenting the Nobbies now more often, being in Melbourne. The wonders of nature never fails to point me heavenward.

Definitely bring a jacket as the strong winds are one of the best features of the Nobbies experience.

The jaw-dropping colours of the cliff. How is this real???

I cannot look away. I cannot look away.

My happy place.

There's nothing better than watching giant waves crash against the rocks and the white bubbly foam that comes after. The water is a brilliant aqua. 

On our way home this round, we decided to make a stop at Forest Caves not knowing what to expect at all. We climbed up some flights of stairs and down to the shore. 

Trudging through the sand carrying a toddler is quite the challenge. Our calves ached for days afterwards.

We proceeded to walk quite a bit until we reached a rocky formation.

 

It wasn't hard to spot the caves. The waves would rush in and flood the caverns. You could tell that once the tide rose, a good part of the caves would be submerged. We could walk above the caves and look below to see how the waters rushed in and out.

It was fascinating how you could actually stand inside this area when the waves drew back.

Would go back most definitely. 

March Update

Spring is here! 

The insomnia streak has been broken! Praise the Lord! Such relief despite my days still being peppered with sleepless nights here and there.

We celebrated our second Mother's Day together. The little darling was so coy when he passed me 'his gift'. He is starting to enjoy being cuddled and held more too which is so lovely. Thanks to Papa for such a thoughtful gesture and the gift of wonderful gadgets for photography.

Callum really loves kicking the ball around with us in the park (although lately he has started hugging the ball around rather than kicking it!). He particularly enjoys being held while we shoot balls into the basketball hoops. We're really thankful for the abundance of beautiful parks in our neighbourhood. Life-saving for us with this super active toddler. Callum has been having a ball running after dogs and watching geese, pigeons and swans.

I've been playing the piano more again lately. Without fail, Callum always requests to come 'up' so we play Chopsticks and Twinkle Twinkle together.

 This boy is quite fearless in his quest for adventures. He loves trying to do big boy things.

We did a little rearrangement of our furniture in preparation for the big move. Got some wonderful organisers for the little guy's books and toys.

Callum has begun to string 3 words together like 'Papa, Mama, a Ball!' and 'Airplane Down!' We try to add as much as we can remember to his Tree of Talking. What fun! He also refers to cream as 'mee' and now requests for it. He puts some on himself and us, it's really adorable. He started to climb up the stool in the kitchen in the past month and can request to come 'down'. 

He has also learned his numbers 1-10 and can spot them on a clock. However, he can only say '1,2,3,4' and '8'.

In our bids to prepare him for the imminent long haul flights, we have been playing with Little Jumbo, a tiny plane which zips around on a book. He has learned to point out London, Malaysia and Australia on the book's map.
He thoroughly enjoys spotting the little tiny ducks in the phonics series of books and we also discovered his fascinating knack for identifying his wooden puzzles upside down. No idea how he does that!

The other day, the road outside our apartment was being re-tarred. I got really excited and so did Callum watching people tar the road. The bright yellow vests worn by the workmen and the old road being chipped off and spewed high up the air into the truck was truly a fascinating sight.

He enjoys the routine of brushing his teeth before sleep and when he wakes. He also learned how to feed himself unassisted. There is still the occasional dump of a spoonful on the floor but it's such a joy to watch him smile proudly when he is able to feed himself. He is currently obsessed with clementines and enjoys other fruits too. He calls 'strawberries'-'beh-bins'.

The biggest unexpected joy yet in this month was how fast he took to the potty like Pirate Pete! (the book we've been reading to him about learning to go potty). We started reading to him a for a few times then we tried him on the potty and within 2 days he started asking for potty when he wanted to do a number 2. We couldn't believe our ears! Yeay!!!! No soiled diapers for 2 weeks now!

Walking and Waiting

October is finally here!

 In a bid to save my sanity and speed up the baby's arrival, I have been taking walks in the park. This last lap is really the hardest part of the entire pregnancy for me as I have to deal with full blown drive-me-crazy belly-itching as my stomach begs baby to stop stretching, untimely cramps and quite painful kicks to say the least. Time really seems to be crawling by.

But on the bright side, I have come to really like the park near our place. It's very tranquil and refreshing. I could waddle for a good mile and not feel it much. I also get to spend some quality time talking with my husband whilst enjoying the sunshine with the cold breeze.

Me, mid-waddle. Black hides alot. I am really big now.

Another lovely sight- squirrels scampering all over the place gathering their supplies for the impending winter I presume.

I really love Autumn colours. Coincidentally, last year I welcomed Autumn on this blog on the same day! Lovely poem in that entry to be reread and treasured. 

Autumn

Fall is here!

The crisp cold wind greets us with patches of wind and rain through the day. Burgundy leaves strewn on the pavements. The route we take to work always shows the changes of the seasons remarkably as it is down a hill. 

This morning, I looked up and admired the spire for the umpteenth time surrounded by the changing leaves.

 I want to share a wonderful poem with you that puts everything that I feel about Autumn perfectly into words:

The changing leaves of autumn colored brightly red and gold,
Also bring a warning of the coming winter cold.
As the wind is changing from the milder summer breeze,
You can feel the difference as it echoes through the trees.


As I shuffle down the path leading through the park,
As the days grow shorter now and soon it will be dark.
I realize that life is like the seasons we live through,
Life is like the changing seasons always changing too.


Basking in the warmth of life in the summer sun,
Never giving thought to when these summer days are done.
But before we realize the cold wind starts to blow,
And our basking summer sun turns colder with the snow.


Only then we realize that life has changed so fast,
Only then we realize that nothing ever lasts.
Life goes through the seasons as the years accumulate,
Many times we long for summer when it is too late.


Life is meant for living and enjoying each new day,
Life is meant for loving those you meet along the way.
Never spend your summer years just basking in the sun,
Unless each minute that you spend is with a special one.


People need each other to enjoy the trip through life,
A very special partner or a husband or a wife.
Alone you can enjoy the beauty that is everywhere,
But there is a special meaning when with someone you can share.


Life is like a changing tree with brightly colored leaves,
Your family and your friends and you can be compared to these.
In autumn when the leaves start changing colors, they will fall,
One by one until the branches have released them all.


If I be like a changing leaf among one of life's trees,
And all my friends and family were also such as these.
And autumn was not just for me as counted from my birth,
But autumn season spoken here was for the entire earth.


Then are we in the autumn season foretold from the past?
Could the colored leaves now falling be the very last?
Are the signs and wonders now upon us really true?
Or will there be another spring when all things will be new?


I as a single leaf will someday have my time to leave,
As those who went before me leaving me to sometime grieve.
But someday in that final autumn at the final call,
Should I still be clinging there when all the leaves will fall.


I only want to realize that in this autumn season,
I had a purpose in this would and my life had a reason.
To live and love and enjoy life for all that it is worth,
But only if the lives I've touched had meaning and a purpose.


No one knows whose life they touch or who they will embrace,
Just by actions that they do or being face to face.
But your life will be noticed as the brightly colored trees,
As either brilliant beauty or a pile of dried up leaves.

Changing Leaves

~ James A. Kisner ~

Mayfield Lavender Farm

Warning: Purple Haze uh.... I mean Daze.... below.

Summer was upon us and we visited the Mayfield Lavender Farm to experience the glory of the short-lived lavender bloom.

Upon approaching 100 metres from the farm, we could already see the explosion of colour.

The smell was intoxicatingly calming and despite the abundance of lavender, the scent was not overpowering at all.

There were endless rows of lavender bushes that met the eye.

Behold, the furry agent that helps engineer the bloom. 

Many people were picnicking under this lonely tree.

Further down, there was a separate plot for French lavender which looked wilder and longer than the English Lavender. Very few people walked this way as the plants were much higher.

After walking for a bit, we decided to cool down with some lavender ice-cream and lavender lemonade.

The ice cream had chunks of lavender in it. First time I ever tasted anything flavoured with lavender. Prior to this visit, I did not even know lavender was edible! Needless to say, they were both novel tastes for us and exceedingly tasty.

A worthwhile trip most definitely given the entrance is free and you only pay for parking which I think was £2.00.