Antipodean

I don't know if people from Australia or New Zealand call themselves Antipodeans since the original use of the word meant people who lived in the place opposite of Britain. Or maybe the Antipodeans spend their time at the beach and let others worry about vocabulary.

I came across the word in a recipe for Anzac biscuits (which are NOT allowed to be called cookies). Anzac was originally an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps but now means a soldier from Australia or New Zealand. So much vocabulary. 

These biscuits were made using what people had at home during the World War I and did not have eggs, since those were rationed. They are not overly sweet or soft, but would have been much better than the hardtack that the troops were eating.

Anzac Day is a day to honor those who served in wars and conflicts, although it is controversial. Originally only those of European descent were allowed to serve, but Indigenous and Chinese Australians enlisted anyway.

Today is Australia Day, which has its controversy, too. The date marks the founding of a British colony in Sydney (hardly a day that represents the whole country). There is some move to change the date to May 9, when Australia’s first parliament was opened.

I love that baking leads me to the digital dictionary and history books!

The recipe insisted that one must use Lyle's Golden Syrup. I found it at a store with curbside pickup, but only the dessert syrup, which was said to be the same thing. Despite that, I was relieved to pick up the bottle and find that instead of the one I ordered (left) that I received the more traditional-looking one (on the right).

Weather!

Tuesday morning

This one is probably not accurate, but it is good for bragging rights.

Ice on the slide

Monday morning

 

Out and About

The toddler and I have been exploring on foot the last few weeks but the other day she was ready for a bike ride. I didn't want to go too far in case she fell asleep in the trailer so we headed

to Uncommon Good to buy some local produce and walk around.

Before the inauguration I was listening to the hosts of the coverage talk about the US Capitol and I learned the word pediment, defined as, "a triangular space that forms the gable of a low-pitched roof and that is usually filled with relief sculpture in classical architecture." They described Thomas Crawford's scene, Progress of Civilization, which you can learn about here. I had never walked south of Uncommon Good's Whole Earth Building, but that is where I found their version of a pediment.

We wandered around, checking out the plants and art.

 

It was not a big adventure, but I was happy to see something new.

Bad News, Good News

 Fortunately, our family likes to experiment (although we did not try avoiding the letter L on December 25. No L Day, get it?). Today we went twelve hours without using screens.

After landing a trick on the skateboard, giving me a haircut, and feeding the neighbors' cat, there was not a lot to do so we went for a drive. The fortunate part was thinking to look to see when A.'s driving permit expires. Unfortunately, it expires next week.

One of the first things I did when I got on my computer was to read about how to renew a driving permit. What a pain! Fortunately, the DMV extended the expiration day for all permits expiring before December 31, 2020. Unfortunately, it expires in January 2021.

Fortunately, the DMV extended permits expiring after December  2020, too.

So lucky! I thought it would be a good idea to make an appointment right now, even though A. has not finished all the behind-the-wheel training. 

Unfortunately, the DMV is not doing car driving tests
(and I am not planning to help A. get a motorcycle driving license).

Stay tuned for the next round of Fortunately, Unfortunately.

Mysterious Fountain

It looks like this fountain in Memorial Park has been here for a while even though I can't remember noticing it before. It may have been around a while since it is dedicated to Allan John Carter, who passed away in 1949. I have not learned anything else yet.

There is also this fountain. It is the same color I don't think it is the same era.

Neither fountain is functional.

Tree Removal

At the end of July one of the city tree's was marked with the white dot of death.

 

It was not surprising since it had signs of disease.

I put in a request to have the tree removed from the list until after summer so we could enjoy the shade it provided. The request was granted. 

Today was the day it would be removed.
Picture taken before 7:00 a.m.

View from the house

Looking north

It looks ok, but I will happy when we can plant another tree for the next generation to enjoy.

Watering

 We have two citrus trees and each has a bubbler, similar to a sprinkler. There are no working sprinklers for other parts of the yard. I water by hand sometimes, but mostly the plants wait for the rain. Most places have sprinklers on a timer, including roadside plantings. Only a few of these seem to have sensors to prevent them from going off during the rain and immediately afterward.

The most common types are plastic, pop up when they go off and retract when they stop.

Recently I noticed some old metal sprinklers. I wonder how old they are.

Edited to add more. As soon as I posted this I started seeing more old sprinklers.

Last time I was in Ohio I saw some home with automatic sprinklers. Next they'll be selling ice to the Alaskans.