26 candles

I find it appropriate to blog on me Australian birthday :P

Before leaving in the AM for a windy jog, I believe saw this eating in a bush outside my window...

I was unable to see the beak clearly, but the coloration was the same.  A crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)?  I came across this photo on a neat facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TowerHillAndWarrnamboolFauna

Although many of the birds sound like they are in pain around here, some have intriguing plumage.  Here is another that frequents my "backyard"...

These guys are all over the place (below), along with another black and white species.  Walking back from the store, a couple days ago, I am almost positive one swooped a couple of times at my head... I heard the wings a couple inches behind and let out a "woa!" to turn around and see him fly up to lit upon a lamp pole.  Usually they are waddling around in the grass, minding their own business. 

Magpie (Cracticus tibicen) 

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them..

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I now know what it's like to have an Australian birthday... and an "autumn" birthday.  Despite the sporadic rain, there are moments when I expect leaves to rustle in little whirlwinds in the grass while the smokey scent of bonfire drifts by from a mile down the road.  I want to say, "let's go apple picking!" and toss the football on a Sunday afternoon.  The weather says "fall", but the leaves hang on and flowers bloom despite the 15 degree C temperatures.

I fortunately beat the rain yesterday, which didn't arrive til after noon, during a windy, morning jog.  I knew I had to make it to town between 10 and 1 o'clock.  Pastor Rob from home sent me the web address to the Lutheran church in town.  From there, I found their blog and noticed they would be having a bake sale yesterday.  I caught the 10:39 bus to the Koroit Street stop, and from there, made my way conveniently down a couple blocks.  I passed a few guys selling what looked like heavy bags of soil, but dismissed the sign as I made my way to a couple other tents.  I glanced around, but decided to head for the opened church door... Just inside a couple ladies were talking next to a shelf of stationary and gift-like items.  I began to make my curious way up a flight of three or four stairs, but was stopped.  I apologized with a goofy smile on my face and made the perfect excuse... An international student of course.  I was wearing a backpack after all; planning to stop at the grocery store afterwards.  Passing those bags again, I saw a hand-painted wooden sign, "____ poop".  I can't remember the animal... It may have been sheep?  

Barbara and Joan offered to pick me up from campus on the days I would not be able to catch the bus, since it starts running at 10 am on the weekends.  The majority of services start at 9 am, in Warrnambool; once a month at 11 am.  We didn't chat for too long, but Barbara informed me she has a friend or relative whose husband preaches at a Lutheran church in Pewaukee.  I felt as if I had just pulled a needle from a haystack.  After exchanging phone numbers and emails, I bought a small container of "sherry balls" for children in Africa, to give to my housemates, and made my way back into town.  With a couple hours on hand, I stopped in a few shops before the grocery store.  

I sat in Gloria Jeans with a Madagascar Chai tea and wrote down the times of a farmer's market I saw an ad for on the coffee shop's bulletin board.  It just started pouring on the way home... phew!

That night (yesterday) we had another delicious cookout followed by gluten-free, white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake... home-made by Venessa, with a '26' and candle on top.  She cut me a big 'ol piece and I savored the whole thing...  There seemed to be a renewed energy in the room and charades was in order.  So with the couches stacked up on the tables, stadium style, we entertained ourselves acting out Batman, antelope, and Rugrats...

I managed to throw together a fruit salad (beforehand) of pear, strawberries, and grapes.  Red grapes are cheaper than green grapes here, but they are both expensive.  I also purchased a couple passion fruits.  A few of us tried it and I was impressed.  The gooey, yellow glob of seeds inside a kiwi sized shell, exploded with a tangy sweet flavor.  Nature's little treats :)

I was completely surprised with the sweetest card, a purple footy (Australian footbal), (another) fishing pole, and an Australian flag from my house-mates.  My American friends gave me two bottles of Sauvinogn Blanc.  I'm having a difficult time expressing the feeling of recognizing how others think about you, er, me.  To become aware of that... I am so blessed.