Answers, winner, whinge!

Thanks for your patience as I try to get my footing here at Granite Glen after our huge trip to the other side of the globe…

It’s been crazy – we spent this weekend working – two full days walking cattle from one end of our place to some yards on a neighbours in an effort to get them safely to a road accessible by a Big Truck, to get them out to sale before it gets too wet. (Again!)  It will be our first major sale this year – when we would normally be getting close to the end of our selling season – all delayed big time with our Big Wet damaging our roads.  Only to have the buyer ring tonight to postpone the trip for at least 24 hours – during which much more rain is predicted. *sigh*  Cattle in neighbours yards, in rain, waiting for a truck that might not make it in…

A lot oh “Ommmmm” chanting going on to try and curb the frustration in this household.  An-ee-way…

It seems like months ago we were in the USA – and yet, this time last week we were in Anaheim.  Getting ready to catch a shuttle so we could board a big jet plane home after four weeks of adventure.

SPEAKING of our Magical Mystery Tour, I share the answers and announce my winner of the “Guess the Location of the Holiday Snaps” challenge last post.

Zee ANSWERS

1.

Most of you got this one – this is taken at Ree’s Ranch in Oklahoma. As we packed our hire car (somewhat reluctantly I must admit) after spending two glorious days at the Lodge. The sunrise was spectacular that morning… it was hard to drag ourselves away.

2.

Tricked myself for a moment with this one – actually taken before we lifted off from Brisbane airport (Queensland, Australia) to wing our way to Cal-ee-forn-ay-uh.

3.

Early morning LA time – as we began to descend somewhere west of the west coast over the Pacific Ocean.  We were weary after about 13 hours of flying but also excited about landing in a new country.  Dash was ready for LA with his new sunnies on before the sun had even peeped over the horizon. (Debby was NEARLY right here, observing Violet’s jacket which looks like the ones we bought in NYC.  However she has a light hooded jacket we brought from Oz too.)

4.

Arriving in Houston, Texas on the main drag from the north (Dallas) which I believe is known as the I-45 highway (or if you are a local, simply “I-45”). (Well done Maryanne!) Still blows me away, the road system of the USA.  Five lanes of traffic each direction.  Not including all the on-ramps and off-ramps and over-passes… Thank goodness for the GPS is all I can say!

5.

Venus * Venice Beach, baby!Famous bit of coast near Los Angeles, California.  ‘Twas strangely quiet on a cool and windy weekday.  I adored walking along here – so many photo opps. But more on that later! (Note Violet’s coat here.  Same as on the plane shot above!)

6.

A random Oklahoma barn (I have a number of random barn photos – it became a little hobby of mine while in the passenger seat to shoot one as they wizzed by… or was it us wizzing?).  Taken en route between Tulsa and Ree’s Ranch (if Marlboro Man or Pesky Tim are by some miracle reading this, I do realise that technically, it’s the Drummond Ranch.  But we are talking bloggers here, as we all know Ree Rules! Sorry fellas…)
7.

Ah, an easy one! Disneyland’s centre sculpture at the end of Main Street.  Sure most visitors to Disneyland, California, get a version of this shot – LOVE the innocent yet cheeky stance of Mickey Mouse with Walt, and Tinkerbell’s Castle in the background.  (Can you tell my kids are used to posing for the camera? Heh).

8.

A little trickier… this one was shot at the Houston Livestock Show (where we spent five days!) at a stall which specialised in ‘scorching’ designs into hats on-site (I have since researched and found the shop is Heads or Tails).  Violet was fascinated with the process, and I had to prise here away from interrogating the woman sticking diamontes  into place on the hats.  My daughter has a radar for the irresistible call of BLING – she was in Bling Heaven at that show).

9.

A little somethin’ I noticed in the pantry of the Lodge (Ree’s place again).  How could I not notice the sticky notes of in the style of the Pioneer Woman – or is the Pioneer Woman modelled after the sticky notes? A point I shall ponder at length.

10.

I cannot believe you all pretty much guessed WHERE this breakfast was… does it LOOK like an Oklahoma bacon arrangement?   Wild.  Actually taken in Tulsa, Oklahoma the morning we set out for the Lodge.  I like my eggs poached, and the chopped and shallow-fried pototo was one of the better versions of this very American morning offering.  The place was very friendly and welcoming – I must look out the name before I properly blog that section of the journey!

11.

Well HELLO!  One of the most famous cityscapes in the world (and if I had a dollar for every time I heard those last three words while I was in this city, I could’ve paid for our entire trip!)… New York City as seen from Central Park… and moi. It was bracingly cold and invigoratingly fabulous.  We took a carriage ride soon after.  The snow seemed to have cleaned the city air and crisped up everything.  I am wearing my ‘Top of the Rock’ beanie and was still very pleased with myself after surprising the Fabulous Debby.

Thanks all for playing as I muster and feed people and pay bills and find my feet again as a Non Travelling Person…

And the WINNER is…

MARION!!!!

(Twas awful close though – you guys are pretty observant!!)

A Gossiping Bulls print (below) will be in the mail Marion, as soon as you  send me your details for delivery…

I have a flying trip to Paradise tomorrow, to see Jeanie and Salina and Paris (very briefly) as well as a dentist. Fun.

See you on the flipside, with a better look at BB’s America.

Hugs

BB

*Apparently blogging at 11pm after a huge working weekend does not assist one’s spelling abilities!