The one where we go to a footy match

**First off I apologize that the pictures aren't that great, I just had my phone so I didn't have to bring in a purse**

Obviously being on the other side of the world... football like we Americans know it.... is not the popular sport.  In fact they don't know that kind of football at all.  But we have been exposed to other sports such as footy and cricket!
Cricket we knew could last DAYS for a single match, so that probably wasn't happening...but footy looked super fun!
Footy is Australian rules rugby.  It's very muscular guys with no pads, in short shorts and tank tops using a ball that looks a little like the football we know.
We knew that the season was coming to an end and we really wanted to go to a game so we found tickets to a West Coast Eagles game for Saturday.  Perth has two teams and our part of Perth supports the Eagles...so....when in Rome.....

This is the team warming up...

 

We knew a (very) little bit about how the game was played but after a quick Wikipedia session just before the game started we found out some more of the basics.

And basically that meant we really just learned how the game was scored :)

Here is what the players are going for...these 4 poles.

 

If they get the ball between the 2 middle poles that is a goal worth 6 points.  If they get the ball between the 2 outside poles that is a behind worth 1 point.

This is how it looks on the score board...the first number is how many goals are scored, the second number is how many behinds are scored and the last number is the total points. (make sense?)

 



Obviously, there is a lot more happening in the middle that I don't quite understand but it's a rough sport and I am way amazed that these guys are out there without any padding.

 

 

Despite a little rain, we really enjoyed it!  It is a really fun sport to watch!  Sadly our team lost by a LOT (final score 43-129....FAIL!) but I'm really glad we got to go, as sports fans it's neat to see sports that we don't normally get to see in the U.S.

And the other team in Perth made the finals for the Championship, so we may have to watch to see how they do...of course now that "American College football' (as ESPN here calls it) has started, we have our priorities (and that means watching games in the middle of the night!)  :)







The one where we saddle up & ride!

Way back in like February, I had seen a deal on Living Social about a 2 for 1 horseback ride in the Perth hills with Avonlea Farms.  I talked to Jaret & he was game so I went ahead and bought the deal.  The deal was good until the 1st week of September...plenty of time! (right???)
Fast forward to August and the voucher was still hanging on the refrigerator.  So we called the place and asked for the first available ride and we booked it for August 10th.  I think the lady had mercy on me because she originally told me they were booked through September (no bueno!)  But she booked us for a 4:30 ride.  The more I thought about it, I thought that was neat since it would finish our ride at sunset.
Sadly the weather in Perth has been very wet lately and sure enough Saturday morning it was pouring!  So we waited it out and thankfully about 3:00 the weather cleared up! (and stayed clear until the last 5 minutes of our ride, so we just got a little damp, but we didn't melt).
Our ride was with another young couple (who were actually heading to Vegas in 2 weeks and asked us for advice, they were also shocked to hear that alcohol is free when you gamble in America....are you listening Australia????)  Anyways......
neither Jaret or I had ridden horses for many years, but the people seemed pretty confident in our abilities and assigned us horses.  My horse was named Meg....she was very stubborn.  She had been on the ride right before ours so I think Meg was just ready for dinner and a cocktail!  But here she is!

 

Once we were all on, we were off!  I didn't get too many pictures since I was trying to keep Meg on task and not stop to eat grass every 5 seconds.  (Like I said, Meg was over it).  But we were in a beautiful area in the hills and it was an awesome ride.

 

A little ways in, our guide stopped so our horses could have a snack.  It made me giggle because our guide was on a smaller horse and wasn't using a saddle.  So her feet were hanging and just hovering over the ground and she just looked funny. The guy from the couple with us had never ridden a horse before and was behind me...I told Jaret, the guy looked VERY nervous most of the time...poor guy.

 

It was a super fun outing, especially with all the rain lately it was nice to get out for some fresh air.  And I will have everyone know, that Jaret and I were good Texans and wore our cowboy boots...the people working on the farm didn't even have the correct boots on!  But we forgave them :)



 

The one where we went to the races

A couple of weeks ago, we had to say 'see ya' to some more of our Perth family.  The Letona's time in Australia had come to an end.  So on their last night I had suggested the harness races at Gloucester Park.  None of us had ever been, yet Jaret and I enjoyed it's monthly fireworks during the summer since the track is directly across the river from our apartment.
Everyone was on board for the idea, so we headed on over.
It was very reasonable prices and all the kids got in free and you could bring in your own food.  Plus there was a big grassy area that the kids could run around in.  And we were right up close to the track.

 

And my big win of the night...$37!

 

I think everyone had a good time as it was something new that none of us had done yet.  And at the very least we got to spend the evening with friends before we had to say so long to the Letona's the next day.  We miss them terribly already, but luckily we know that they will be in Houston waiting with Mexican food when we move back :)



The one where we have visitors

Way back like in February...my college friend Lindsay said she wanted to come visit later in the year...and I said 'Come on over!!'.  So she booked a trip for the end of June.
Then we went home to Texas for 4 weeks from mid-may to mid-June.  While we were home my friend Kayce was trying to plan a trip and asked if she could just fly back with us.  I said 'Toats!'
So I was going to have 2 friends come visit in 2 weeks...I was so excited!!

The first day Kayce was here, we went to Caversham Wildlife Park.  We had already been to one, but we heard this one was a little nicer and closer to Perth.  The kangaroo area was worth the price of admission itself!

 

The next day...Kayce and I went to explore Kings Park.  I had been to one area of the park before, but there were other sections I had been wanting to check out as well. It's a beautiful park!

 

 

After walking around for a while, we climbed up what's called the DNA tower.  As you can see, it looks like a strand of DNA.  It's 101 steps and at the top you get a 360 view of the city.  I honestly didn't think the view was that great, but it was something fun to do!

 

After a fun-filled week...Kayce headed back to Houston.  Then after a quick reset, Lindsay came in a day later.

We didn't let Linds rest too long as we had plans to do an adults only wine country tour in Swan Valley as a farewell to the Letona's.

Now forgive me, as the day became a bit of a blur and I didn't get very many pictures, but here is the group at our last stop of the day.

 

I also took Linds to the wildlife park so she could have her turn at playing with the kangaroos.  But this time, while we were at the koalas, the keepers got one of the koalas off its branch so we could snuggle.

 

We also went to the beach, so Linds could see the Indian Ocean.  Obviously it was a bit cold so we didn't go in, but we had a beautiful day to enjoy the beach for a while.

 

One day, Linds and I went to the Perth Mint.  I didn't even know Perth had a mint, but we had a coupon and some time, so we went to check it out. 

It actually used to be part of the Royal mint that made money to use...now it makes collectors coins.  There was a huge collection of gold and we even got to see some Sydney Olympic medals.  They were made at the Perth mint!  We even got to see a gold pour which made a block of gold....however....we couldn't take pictures of any of that.  So the only picture we got was when we got a history of the mint and they showed us replicas of famous pieces of gold (didn't know there was such a thing!). I was trying to look like I was 'borrowing' a piece of 'gold'.

 

And on Linds' last day, we went down to the Fremantle Markets.  We had heard a lot about them, but had just never made it there.  It was really neat, basically a big flea market type thing with a bunch of Australian made items.  And we know next time that they have a lot of good looking food down there too!

 

I loved having friends come visit!! I have another coming next month and my parents in October, so I am becoming quite the tour guide!! :)



 

 

 









The one with my obsession

So as most of you have seen from pictures....we have an absolutely amazing view from our apartment of the city.  Seriously like everyday it's new & different....I'm obsessed.  For the past couple of months we have had some amazing sunsets and early morning shots....here are some of my favorites.



 

Just a couple of nights ago we had some yucky weather.  Then just before going to bed I looked outside and noticed it was a bit foggy.  And then I realized half the city was missing!  We couldn't get a great picture but there was literally a cloud of fog hovering and covering half of the skyline...crazy!!

 

 

And back in April, I went to another Cabernet & Canvas class that was another painting of the Perth skyline.  Courtney went with me and my friend Lauren from bible study was there too!  Yet another fun keepsake of this beautiful city we live in!