Happy Fourth of July!

[pegkerr]

Our trip to Yellowstone was a long day, but lots of fun. We saw an impressive number of wildlife: moose, elk, deer, bison, foxes, etc. No bears, though. I'm not sure I'm quite disappointed about that. We saw Old Faithful blow and walked around thermal pools/mud pots. The weather was gorgeous. Sitting in the back seat, Delia sang hundreds of times, "I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, everybody's nerves, I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves and this is how it goes: I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves . . . " but we were all in such a good mood that we just laughed at her.

The families have been taking turns serving dinners. Last night it was the turn of my brother-in-law Phil (the geology prof) and his wife Tricia. Tricia had stayed back at the condo cooking up a feast while everyone was at Yellowstone. Since this trip was originally supposed to be the family's Australian trip, she made an Australian feast: sausage rolls, meat pot pies, curry rice salad, and no less than four desserts. Then every family had to offer an Australian thing: a skit, a game, a charade. I had much more wine than usual, which was perhaps not very helpful when it came time to do the boomerang toss. For our family, I taught the girls a song I'd learn at camp: "Australian girls, they have no combs (they comb their hair with codfish bones)." The girls were tentative, but the song absolutely cracked everybody up.

Today, our family is cooking, so Rob and I are about to leave for the grocery store. Dinner tonight will be a fourth of July picnic menu: brauts and pasta salad, with watermelon for dessert. Delia is off horse back riding right now, but this afternoon, we'll probably poke around the stores at Jackson Hole for a bit.

Have a great 4th, everybody.

Comments

[aome.livejournal.com]

a) When you have a moment you HAVE to catch up with 'For Better or For Worse'. :D

b) That song sounds worse than "I'm Henry the Eighth, I am..." :P

c) Wow, it all sounds beautiful. I'm glad you're having a good time. Although bummer about not getting a trip to Australia as promised.

Happy Fourth!

[diatryma.livejournal.com]

Naah, Ennery the Eighth is worse. It's *catchy* rather than repetitive, so you get double earworming. My mother taught a school full of kindergartners Ennery, complete with bad accent and shouting, and I'm surprised she's still welcome in that town.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

She should change pace and learn The Song That Never Ends.

[dhole.livejournal.com]

I'm more familiar with that song being about Cape Cod Girls.

Sounds like a fun trip!

[littlecatfeet.livejournal.com]

That's funny - I know it as Capetown wives....

[vass]

Huh. I'd never heard that song.

FWIW, I comb my hair with a plastic comb.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Apparently, the traditional version is sung about "Cape Cod girls," but the chorus, indeed, mentions Australia. Here are a couple different versions.

[schnoogle.livejournal.com]

I know I'm a little behind, but what were the desserts? I'm always interested in how my country is percieved by people outside of it. :D

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

From Tricia's menu:

Kiwi Tart
(An Aussie twist on a classic fruit tart)

Banana Macadamia Nut Bread
(Macadamia nuts are very popular in Australian cuisine and a central part of aboriginal culture)

Lamingtons
(A very popular children's snack. Depending on the source, it is named after either the Baron or Baroness (his wife) Lamington. Baron Lamington was a governor of Queensland from 1896-1901. It has been common Aussie fare ever since.)

Pavlova
(A classic Australian dessert for special occasions. Named after the famous Russian ballerina known for her ethereal quality.)