Greetings from Kojonup!

Greetings from Kojonup District High School. Yes, this is sometimes what happens on your vocational days - you manage to sneak in a few minutes on the old computer. I am staying with a lovely couple, Trevor and Jan Norrish, and spending every morning admiring the view of Jan's gardens outside my bedroom window as I awake. They do not have internet at their place so that is why I have not blogged until today. We are heading to a BBQ tonight and then off to Kataning stock yards for the day tomorrow with our presentation to several Rotary clubs on Wednesday night.

On Sunday we went to Narrogin and then up to Dryandra National Forest for an evening on "critter watch" which was fascinating. I will leave it to Lori to go into further detail about all that, but we did see Bilby and Boodie and a few possum, plus something I know I am forgetting. When we get back to the US, you'll have to ask us about the Easter Bilby as I don't have time to go into detail now, but we are definitely on the hunt for some chocolate ones!

A few things of interesting while we've been here so far:

Daylight Savings Time - this is a bone of contention it seems as it has been inacted this year for the next three years and a lot of people are not happy about that. It's odd to us because it's just something that happens in the US, but feelings run strong on it in WA it seems.

Big Dipper and the Milky Way - I look up at the sky every night in awe of seeing the Milky Way. The sky here is so amazingly beautiful that I truly cannot describe it to you. I wish you all could see it. I just want to throw a blanket on the ground and lay out there gazing towards the heavens. I am truly enthralled.

Snoop Dog - Ummmm...he was on our plane from LA to Sydney for those who might care. And even for those who won't. haha I wasn't that impressed either, though I seem to keep telling people about him!

Dugite - this is a venomous snake that Lori and I came across on our 2nd day here. Leave it to me to find something dangerous! haha But it slithered off very quickloy after realizing we had spotted it. It took a few days for Lori to find someone who could tell us what it was, but rest assured that I know now!

That's all for now and that is just the short version! When I have more time, I will try to expound on a few more things. I had a very good visit up at Narrogin Agricultural College yesterday that I'd like to talk more about, but there is just no time!

Oh! Wait! I do need to mention the Swan River in Perth. It is named for the black swans that were seen swimming on it and people have been fascinated to hear about Swan Lake Iris Gardens back home. It's been a very nice connection to have here in Western Australia!

I'm off until I have another place with some access.

Shannon