shine on

Actually still working on passport application. First photos rejected because "forehead too shiny". New photos taken this morning unfortunately include red bump on forehead due to small fall off bed.....

Aussie Aussie Aussie

Just applied for an Australian passport for the little guy. It's a bit of a strange feeling actually. Australia and the US have very similar cultures of course, but my son will have a different nationality than me, a different accent. He'll watch "footy" and cricket and eat vegemite sandwiches and think that mum and dad talk a little funny. As long as he enjoys celebrating Thanksgiving and and listening to TAL....

comin' down on a sunny day

Some much needed rain falling on my Meyer lemon tree. It wasn't doing too well until I read somewhere that urine is an excellent fertilizer for lemon trees. I got the husband onto that - much easier for him than me- and things have been looking up! When those three little guys ripen I may have to try making some of this with them (thanks for the inspiration A.C.)

Here I am

Starting a blog is something I've wanted to do for a while. As an American who has recently moved from Japan to Australia, had a baby and become a full-time mom (or mum as I've started saying) my life has gone through some BIG changes. I find myself inspired to try new things and I hope to use this blog to document them, to introduce this beautiful part of the world I live in and to remind myself of the many blessings in my life everyday. By documenting them here, I hope to notice and appreciate them more. A blogger/mama I admire very much expressed that urge very eloquently here.

The name of my blog: "inaka" means "countryside" in Japanese and Japan was my home for 8 years before coming to Australia where this girl from suburban southern California is living for the first time in the "inaka" of the Sunshine Coast hinterland in Australia. The "mama" because, well I am one now and wow, it's a whole new wonderful, amazing world.