One of our favorite readers, Lisa from Tasmania is checking in with a full recap of what’s happening in her neck of the woods {Australia!} now that it’s spring over there {I’m so jealous}. I love when she sends over stories and pictures from her life in Australia. It’s certainly on my bucket list of places to visit. She keeps me longing to hop on a plane every time she sends amazing pictures of her garden {sometimes we get really lucky and she shares a yummy recipe}. Thanks for keeping us posted on your gorgeous life down under!
Hi Mavis! How are you? Your season is winding down a little I see! We have been enjoying the colours of spring – I think all the beautiful flowers blooming really takes your mind off the fact that the vegetable garden isn’t in full swing yet! {apart from broccoli – swimming in broccoli!!}
We have been so busy with guests lately! {As well as the gardens.} One Japanese girl was here a month. Great time of year to have someone help dig in the garden!!
My Aunt and Uncle also came in for a few days and then with extreme short notice, three more Japanese travelers came for a couple of days for sightseeing. The last bunch I did as a paid thing which is great! $$ to tour people around this area and cook them dinner?? Awesome!
Done a couple of trips to Cradle Mountain in the last week.
Saw some great animals {haha – even a cranky tiger snake – can’t say I don’t provide excitement for tourists!!}.
Oh – and we are scarily down on water! No rain or very little in Sept and Oct when we are normally drowned! Consequently the main tank is almost empty and we haven’t even STARTED summer! Eeep! Looking at getting a bore dug hopefully soon. It’s stupid expensive but will add value to the house -then I can REALLY go mad in the garden!
Here’s a cute Pip photo {well pet owners are always biased about the cuteness of their animals!}.
Hope you are well – enjoying all your updates and honestly, all the super cute Lucy photos!
Cheers,
Lisa
Tammy says
I don’t recall ever seeing (a picture of) that last creature. I had to google that. So cute and funny looking! 🙂
Thanks for the pictures!
Lisa Millar says
Yes – Echidna!
I love them – such a unique little animal.
They are out all over the place at the moment waddling around digging up bugs!
Elizabeth says
So, I recognise the cat, but what are the other 2 animals? One looks like a kangaroo/t-rex, the other looks like a porcupine with male pattern baldness. I need to come visit!
Teckla says
Echidna. We learned about them in geography, and maybe in biology. I believe Australia also has the platypus. Both animals very different from what we’re used to.
I’ll skip the visit to Australia, though. Too many poisonous spiders and snakes for me! LOL
I’ll head for New Zealand instead. A FASCINATING country. As much as I love America, if I was 50 years younger I’d think about emigrating!
Lisa Millar says
😀 The cat, Pip is Siamese, The spikey fellow is an echidna – they are out all over the place at the moment and I love seeing them!
The other animal is a Pademelon – kinda like a really small kangaroo/wallaby with a fat basketball belly!! Only about one to two foot high.
I think our reputation for poisonous animals has people unnecessarily scared!
I’ve lived in country areas all my life and the worst I have had is either splinters or an ant bite!!
Despite the fearsome reputation of our snakes (which I think are beautiful) the yearly fatality rate is very low – 2-3 people.
Its totally worth the ‘risks’ to visit 🙂
Glad you enjoyed the photos!
PS I agree NZ is a super gorgeous country that would be worth seeing too!!
Elizabeth says
Thanks so much for the info! So interesting! Those animals are so different from what we have in our backyard, although, our fat cat does have some resemblance to your pademelon… 😉
Lisa Millar says
🙂 You are welcome!!
Funny! Nothing like a fat happy cat!!
Deborah from FL says
Your kitty is adorable and appears so snuggly. You have absolutely beautiful scenery there. And such interesting critters. I LOVE learning new stuff! Thanks so much for sharing your corner of the world with us Lisa! 🙂
Lisa Millar says
awwww – Pip is a snuggle bunny! lol
Glad you enjoyed the photos! 🙂
Deborah from FL says
Forgot to say… That is such a cool idea, hosting people from another country in that way. It would be great to get the “real” experience rather than just the touristy stuff. And I bet you get so much out of it too. Is that through an organization, or just something you do on your own? Just curious. Awesome idea.
Lisa Millar says
Deborah – we love having overseas guests! So far most have happened by chance or accident, then word of mouth, so we haven’t had to join any organisation like WWOOF or Airbnb or anything.
Its a lot of fun – esp when some people come to stay that have never been out of their own country, its fantastic seeing their faces when we take them to some of the gorgeous local areas or seeing the wildlife!
Our guests have ranged from staying a single night to up to two months!! 😀
I agree – when I travel overseas, meeting locals means you are likely to see amazing things that is well away from the hordes of tourists and get some really unique experiences. I like to think we provide that there!
PS January great time to drop in – I will be drowning in raspberries! 😀
Deborah from FL says
It sounds wonderful! I really wish I could drop in for a visit, but alas, it’s cost-prohibitive. I’ll settle for living vicariously through others like you. 😉
Lisa Millar says
lol – well, you never know what lies around the corner!
So if you win lotto or find a ridiculously cheap fare, stick your nose in and say hello!
Tracy L. says
Thank you Lisa! Love seeing your native animals and plants!! Very interesting to see things so different from what is typical in the U.S. Missed seeing Aunt Ruby!!
Lisa Millar says
Glad you enjoyed Tracy!
Its the same reason I enjoy Mavis’s blog – I get to see so many interesting gardens and places too!
Ahhh yes – Great Aunt Ruby! We went and had a cuppa with her this afternoon. I will have to send Mavis another update on her garden very soon!
I am a bit jealous of her garden at the moment – her tomatoes are WAY ahead of mine!! 😀
Tracy L. says
Can’t wait to see your update AND Aunt Ruby! Maybe we could get a few pointers from Aunt Ruby for our tomatoes!!! (Hint, hint)
Lisa Millar says
lol – hint taken!
I will have a very serious chat with her about the tomatoes and share what I learn!
Mavis says
Agreed. Aunt Ruby is a wealth of knowledge it seems {and she’s adorable!}.