This month has been so full of adventures that I find it difficult to capture all the memories in a single blog. Our hosts Joseph and Ingrid Mania along with their seven children and twelve grandchildren have warmly embraced Stephen and me and treated us like part of the family. A few of the memorable events include Friday night wine and tapas with Chris and Jen, a visit to Dryandra village with Stephanie and bush walks with Karena.
Dryandra Village
Bush walking with Stephanie and Jennifer
Chevron Tour with Chris
Footie with Karena and Eliza
Karina and Patrick on a rails to trails walk
Perhaps our sweetest family encounter was with Benji the four year old grandson.
We were invited to spend three days camping south of Perth with some of the Mania children and their families. Earlier in the week I learned that molasses is not common in Australia so I decided to make my molasses gingerbread cookies to share with the group. On our first evening I placed a container of the home-made cookies (aka biscuits) on the picnic table. Benji, who loves sweets, was the first to have a taste and it was love at first sight. He dipped his hand into the cookie jar for seconds and thirds when his mom wasn’t looking. Early the next morning Benji walked over to our cabin and softly knocked on the door. With his sweet Ozzie accent he looked up at me and said “Hey mate, do ya reckon I can have another one of those American biscuits?” The container emptied quickly and I promised Benji another batch before we depart Perth. It’s on my “to do” list this week!
Along with camping we had a look at Wave Rock and the infamous Corrigin Dog Cemetary.
And…we attended an Opera in Nambung National Park among the pinnacles.
Last night we gathered for a farewell party, but I’m certain this is not a forever goodbye…. We will return for another visit.
Stephen and I also walked the Cape to Cape trail which deserves a blog on its own. Stay tuned for more on this adventure.
Queen Bed and a Kitchen 
What an exciting way to travel.
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So glad to see that surgery was successful. I have no doubt that you will will be out and about very soon.
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One of your most interesting emails and I liked that little boy liking your biscuits. I would too on this my 88th birthday. Love, Marvin
On Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 6:13 AM Queen Bed and a Kitchen wrote:
> queenbedandakitchen posted: “This month has been so full of adventures > that I find it difficult to capture all the memories in a single blog. Our > hosts Joseph and Ingrid Mania along with their seven children and twelve > grandchildren have warmly embraced Stephen and me and treated us” >
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OK – You’re signed up to bring those cookies for Book Club as soon as you are home! The Wave is really something… and the dog cemetery … Pets are an important part of our lives and leave a big empty spot when they leave us.
P.S. Twins are winning!!!
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We will be home soon. Stephen is following the Twins from afar and is excited about this season.
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The molasses biscuits must have a recipe. May I have it so I can make my “big” boy happy? When are you planning on a Santa Cruz trip? We are eager to see you and perhaps the two of you can be persuaded to make us another pot roast dinner. It’s still a delicious memory. We love your blogs and if we were a “few” years younger, we would meet you at one of your destinations.
auntie
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Julie, I love your posts! What a sweet story about the ginger biscuits! And so many great adventures. I’m leaving tomorrow for Jen’s, then on to Iceland for a week, then England’s Lake district for a week and London for a week. Then she and I part ways and I travel to Ireland with a friend for a 10-day tour. And I’m traveling with only a carry-on bag! May your safe and wonderful adventures continue! We’ll have to exchange stories when we meet again.
love, Liz
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