Saving Salamanders

While I was doing laundry in our garage the other day I was a bit surprised when I happened to look into the wash basin next to our washing machine and see a green salamander chilling out in the sink. I was a bit relieved, as at first glance he looked to be the world's largest spider, but thankfully he's on the slightly more evolved side of Earth's organisms. Knowing that wildlife in Australia is better off left alone, I just let him be and thought he'd be on his merry way shortly thereafter.

Well, I did a bit more laundry the next day and that sneaky guy was back in there! Or had he ever left? Hard to say, since I don't exactly have salamander security systems to track their comings and goings, but still I erred on the side of caution and let him be. He's from Queensland, after all. He probably knows what he's doing.

So I kind of forgot my little Salmander buddy over the weekend, but I happened to go into the garage again today and he was in there again! Now it's obvious to me that despite his sticky feet, he must have got caught in the basin and was unable to right his current situation. So I found a little stick in our garage and put it in the basin, hoping he would get the hint, crawl up the stick, and get back to eating bugs and running in the bushes. Apparently this guy was as cautious of me as I was of him, and he decided better to just stick it out in the basin and ignore this olive branch from the crafty human. My next bright idea was to give him a bit of water. That might make him a bit more trusting and then he might shimmy up the stick to freedom. Well his little tongue was just flicking at the sight of that water and he drank up all I could pour and even had a little bath, the poor guy. But he still wasn't having any of that stick.

Bright idea number three: I went into Errik's sailboat, which is currently moored in our garage, and found a little bucket, coerced the little devil into the bucket, and set him free in the wet grass outside the garage. Well he must have been pleased as punch to be out amongst his friends again in the grass, and I hope that we can still be buddies, me and the Salamander.

So, today is the day I saved the salamander. Is that part of the 12 days of Christmas? Maybe it is down under. Who can understand these Aussies when they talk, let alone sing! :)

Thunderstorms

Just a friendly reminder to everyone out there. If you know there are going to be thunderstorms and you will be out and about, remember to close your windows. Both Chris and I forgot to close our windows. Our carpet is now very wet. Good thing we have fans.

Kangaroo

I like kangaroos. They are super cute (as long as you don't get too close and they box you) and are a very interesting animal. They are also quite tasty. Chris has been the chef at our house lately, and he is very adventurous with cooking, which I really enjoy. The other day he picked up some kangaroo roast from the grocery store. It was marinated in herbs and spices, so all you had to do was stick it in the oven to cook. It was the first time for me eating kangaroo (Chris had a kangaroo burger in the first days we were here), and I was quite impressed. It was super lean, very mild tasting, and full of vitamins and iron. It is also a very cheap meat to buy, so you feel like you're having a gourmet meal without the cost of a gourmet meal.

The heat is on

It's starting to really heat up. Summer is here! It's still a bit of an adjustment for us getting used to the humidity and intense sun, but we're doing okay. We're very lucky that we have an apartment with lots of windows that allow for a lovely breeze to blow through, which helps to keep us cool.

I saw a picture in the Edmonton Journal online edition of a snow covered Whyte Ave. It wasn't just that it was a snowy picture, but it seemed to be taken on one of those days where the ground and the sky are the same colour. I'm not a big fan of those winter days as they seem a bit depressing. So in an effort to bring a little sunshine and colour into the lives of those reading this post, here are some pictures of the lovely Poinciana trees that have started blooming, and some pics of some of our favourite flowers. Enjoy!

Poinciana Tree

Poinciana Tree