Anybody want some passionfruit?

Now if I can just get half of these suckers to ripen

Today was the time of the annual pruning of the passionfruit vine, the above picture is just a sample of what I took off. The main reason for pruning (while there was still fruit on it) is that it's not ripening anymore, given the cooler conditions at this time of year. Hopefully it will be ready to flower once again when the warmer weather hits (around November or so), it's all about next season now. Of course, given how warm my apartment is, I suspect many of them will ripen inside. I was also visited by a particularly tame duck today. There must be a lot of people on these canals feeding them, this one eats the food right out of your hands.

Of course, there was a ride today, just a quick 78km around Currumbin Valley/Piggabeen this morning.



It's really nothing more than a warm-up for tomorrow. I'm still not 169% certain where I'll go tomorrow, there are some options available. It could be O'Reilly's, or alternatively I'm feeling as though I want to spend some time around the Burringbar Range, on dirt roads. I'll be looking for imperial century #17 either way.

A Secret Place...

Despite the fact that I blatantly display pictures of me swimming around here, I have been unable to find a DOCK from which to practice something I learned to chatter my jaw about last summer: Splashdoggin', Dock Diving... you name it... I absolutely "hearted" jumping off a "cliff" to dive in deep waters to chase my kong!

I'm very excited to be entered into a Splash Dogs event about an hour north of us in a week, but I needed a place to practice. Mom scoped out a place a couple of months ago and finally... me and Shanti (who's also entered) went to check it out!!!

Okayokayokayokay.... when do I get to go?????? NOW, Sammie! Here's a little show of Shanti and me (mostly Shanti, cause Mom was trying to hold Avalon, while tossing me my kong and take pictures at the same time heheh!) Enjoy!

We can't wait for da real thing! Shanti and I think Avalon should enter... whaddya think of our little idea?

The Early Morning

I agree with Thomas Merton about early morning time. He says, "It is necessary for me to see the first point of light that begins to be dawn. It is necessary to be present alone at the resurrection of the Day in solemn silence at which the sun appears, for at this moment all the affairs of cities, of governments, of war departments, are seen to be the bickering of mice. I receive from the Eastern woods, the tall oaks, the one word DAY. It is never the same. It is always in a totally new language."
Can you tell I'm a morning person? I try to get up somewhere between 5:15 and 5:45. It's a lot easier now that we're back on EST. I heard Darcie's light click on this morning about 6:15; forty-five delicious minutes of lying in bed to read before she has to get up at 7:00. I guess she's a morning person too.

Turbulent Sunrise

I woke early this morning to shoot my first sunset on Lake Superior in over a month. There had been a good wind blowing all night long, which meant there would be some nice waves to shoot. I actually wasn't sure if the sun would even show or not. It was pretty cloudy when I left the house, but not long after arriving at this location the sun came out from behind the clouds and gave me some nice color and some great light.

What To Do, What To Do?

I tasted my first kumquat last month at the B&B in St. Mary's, GA.  It's going to be an acquired taste for me, although it wasn't an unpleasant experience. 
The hostess/owner had picked them off a tree in her backyard.  I asked her how you eat them not knowing whether to peel or not.  The skin looks like an orange peel.
She said you just pop them in your mouth and start chewing.  I tentatively did so and found them not unpleasant.  It's just strange to eat a citrus rind.
Yesterday at Laurel's house, she had a bowl full of them.  She had gotten them at a local grocery store, so I went and bought three packs.
Now, the question is...what am I going to make with them?  I was thinking maybe marmalade?  I love orange marmalade and don't see why you can't make marmalade from kumquats.  
Laurel and I are meeting in about an hour to pick strawberries.  I wonder if you can mix kumquats and strawberries?  Any ideas out there?
P.S.  The bottle behind the bowl is one I got when we were staying in England for a week.  It's called 'Washing Up Liquid' and is used for washing dishes.  I keep it on my laundry room sink and use it for any clothes that need handwashing.  I love how the British call things by different names!