I've come out of my hole....for now :)

It's been awhile since my last blog so this one's going to be a long one peeps.
I'll start with my van renos as requested. These are only a few. More will come once I get the van cleaned out and looking good again. The boys that had the van before me wrote in permanent marker all over the roof and walls. It felt dirty and ugly so I cleaned it up with new material which I bought cheaply from an OP shop. It needs an ironing still but it feels sooo much cleaner. 

Ganesh is travelling along with me. I can lie back and look at this hand-painted picture when I wake up in the mornings. It's very calming.

 On July 25th, Jez and I took the van to Protestors Falls where we stayed for a couple of nights. It was so fun to cuddle up and camp out in the van. 

The scenery was beautiful and the walk was much easier than Minyon falls hike.

 Luckily I was able to see this Goanna scampering around the parking lot and climbing up the tree. He/she was quite large.

In the evening Jez and I went to see a band called Oka 
 "The music of OKA brings musical traditions and cultures together – ancient and modern – black and white. The traditional rhythms of the Yadaki (didgeridoo) weave throughout pumping electronic beats, vocals, exotic woodwinds, world percussion, slide guitar and vocals – a fusion of organic world sounds and modern electronica."-One World Music

The community hall was full of people who radiated beautiful energy. We had so much fun dancing but time flew by and soon it was over. Here's a picture of us still glowing after the gig.

Saturday afternoon we had lunch at the top of a hill which had this beautiful view.

  Sunday was Jez's birthday, he's a Leo too :) It started off with delicious food shared with friends.

On the way up to the house I saw this amazing spider web. Even the spiders in Australia are creative! We think maybe he's been getting too much second hand smoke from the Damiana herb which we've been smoking on the front porch.

The month of August has a 31 day Geocaching challenge in which you must find a cache every day. We took Jez's son Yogi out to find one at night. He wore his wolf mask and kept us safe on our walk downtown. So adorable!

Jeza found this cache in the roots of this gorgeous tree. Go team Cobras 333!!!

Saturday, August 3rd was my 29th birthday and I was fortunate enough to spend it with Jez, Yogi, Bronwyn and a few friends. We went camping at this peaceful creek.

 During the morning while I was meditating on a log, a Platypus popped up in the water approximately 5 feet beside me. It was such an amazing sight to see! Unfortunately I got too excited and rushed to get my camera but didn't see him again once I got back to the log. Sorry Serenity, I was trying to get a picture for you! Hopefully we'll get back there again and see him a second time. He was much smaller than I had imagined a Platypus to be. He wasn't much longer than my forearm. The Aussie's here have told me that it is rare to see one and most of them never have been fortunate enough. I looked up what the totem meaning of Platypus is and here is what I found from this website http://totemtalk.ning.com/group/p/forum/topics/platypus-1

Platypus' Wisdom Includes:
* Connection the ancient animals
* Ability to remain unique
* Value of remaining as you are
* Ability to rear young differently
The Platypus
The duck billed platypus is a small semi aquatic mammal that lives in the lakes and streams of eastern Australia and Tasmania. It is notable for having a broad flat rubbery snout that contains electro receptors enabling it to detect electrical fields produced by moving muscles of its prey. When submerged in water the eyes and ears are closed by a fold of skin. The sensitive muzzle of the platypus guides it while it swims blind. Those with this totem have the ability to balance and ground energy currents as they move through the body. For people who channel or work in any form of energetic healing this can be advantageous. Platypus medicine people use their inner sight to guide them through life and are natural clairvoyants.
The platypus swims gracefully and expertly using the front feet. The hind feet in conjunction with its flattened tail are used mainly for stabilization. The tail also assists it in diving. Water has long been associated with the subconscious and the secrets it holds. Those with this totem are investigative, always searching for the deeper meaning of each situation they encounter.
The platypus finds its food chiefly in underwater mud and has an enormous appetite. They emerge for feeding in early morning or late afternoon. Foods grown below ground are often beneficial for those with this medicine.
Mating occurs in the water. Poisonous spurs on the hind legs of the male are used to hold the female. An unusual courtship precedes mating in which the male grabs the females tail and the pair swim in circles. In ancient myth and lore a circle signifies wholeness. Those with this totem usually have strong karmic lessons associated with completion. If this medicine is underdeveloped they find themselves unable to finish projects.
The platypus digs winding burrows with side branches in the banks of streams and lakes that it inhabits. These burrows indicate its flexibility to move in different directions effortlessly. It teaches us how to access the hidden chambers of our subconscious and move according to our personal rhythms. The platypus is a powerful totem to have. It is a unique animal in both its appearance and its abilities and can show us how to awaken our own uniqueness.
PLATYPUS
The platypus represents female energy. Its elements, water and Earth, are also those of woman. Its balancing power enables the platypus to play and have fun with its offspring all day. The platypus would never start a fight, because it does not know aggression and imbalance. Therefore, it approaches everybody with curiosity and friendliness. It will only defend itself if attacked first. Its physical shape also corresponds to the Native American image of femininity. It is slender and full of grace. The Platypus teaches that being a woman is about joy and openness not envy or jealousy. It is the power of sharing kindness. People with the energy of the platypus practice free love without control and power games. They are the true practitioners of unconditional love. They flow with the stream of life without the need of material goods. This is the powerful, receiving-energy of women.
Platypus:
The platypus represents feminine energy, it is a sign of balance, the earth and the water. It teaches that to be a woman is to move with grace and with unconditional love...not to play power games or be jealous of others...Flowing with the waters of your life you are freed from the need for material things so you can play in the stream of life.

Until I get a picture of my own, here is one that I found on the internet that looks the same as what I saw

I wanted to jump in the water and cuddle him he was sooo cute!
On my way to grab the camera, I brushed against Stinging Nettle plant which I wasn't happy about. I could see white veins forming under my skin and my hands endured an annoying and painful tingling feeling which remained for hours. Here is what the enemy looks like and now I know to watch out for it.

 As much as this plant hurts to touch, it does have it's benefits. 

Medicinal and Culinary Uses:

Stinging nettles have long been used for medicinal purposes, including as a treatment for hay fever. Aficionados of edible weeds harvest the young leaves and boil them, which renders the leaves edible. I emphasize "young" because the barbs haven't had time yet to develop on young leaves. Not only will they not sting your mouth once cooked sufficiently, but young leaves are also quite nutritious.

Why Stinging Nettles Burn -- And a Home Remedy:

Of stinging nettles' capacity to cause skin irritation, the Ohio Perennial and Biennial Weed Guide remarks, "Toxins thought to be involved include formic acid (also found in ants), histamine, acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine." A weed that often grows near stinging nettles, yellow dock, can be used as a home remedy to counteract their toxicity. I would describe the symptoms resulting from an encounter with stinging nettles as mainly a burning sensation just after contact, followed by an itchy rash. It is because of all this unpleasantness that the word "nettlesome" has come into the English language; it means "vexatious."- from the website:
http://landscaping.about.com/od/weedsdiseases/p/stinging_nettle.htm

My new favourite plant which I can't get enough of is called Lemon Myrtle. 
I now have it in my spices, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and massage oil. 
It's sooo good and it has great health benefits.

 Lemon myrtle is a flowering plant native to the subtropical rainforests of southeast Queensland, Australia. Lemon myrtle's botanical name is Backhousia citriodora and its common names include lemon scented ironwood, sweet verbena tree, lemon scented myrtle, sweet verbena myrtle, lemon scented backhousia and lemon scented verbena. Lemon myrtle, which is used as a herb in a variety of dishes, also has antimicrobial properties.

Lemon Myrtle Essential Oils

Lemon myrtle contains the compounds citral and citronellal. In fact, lemon myrtle contains a higher content of citral than lemongrass, lemon peel and some other plant sources. Lemon myrtle also contains essential oils that have antiseptic, expectorant, analgesic, astringent, antirheumatic, anticonvulsant, antineuralgic and hair tonifying properties. A study published in the May 2004 "Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapy" showed that a topical application with a 10 percent solution of lemon myrtle essential oils reduced by 90 percent the number of lesions of molluscum contagiosium in 9 of 16 children studied.

Lemon Myrtle Uses

Due to the high concentration of citral found in lemon myrtle oil, lemon myrtle has a wide variety of applications in medicine. According to the "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine," lemon myrtle can help treat sinus infections, bronchitis, fatigue, depression, common cold, influenza, raw throat, indigestion and irritable gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, dental infections, itching, athletes foot, acne and headaches. Clinical research, however, does not support the use of lemon myrtle to treat these medical conditions. You should, therefore, speak with a medical professional before using lemon myrtle as a health supplement to treat a specific medical condition.

Lemon Myrtle as an Antimicrobial

The Rideal-Walker test estimates the antimicrobial activity of plants. The test functions by evaluating the essential oil components of the plant such as citral. Further, the test uses microorganisms such as Salmonella typhii as test organisms. The higher the Rideal-Walker test score, the greater the antimicrobial activity of the plant. Lemon myrtle scores a 16 on the Rideal-Walker scale, putting it above the tea tree plant with a score of 11 and the eucalyptus citriodora plant with score of 8. Therefore, the distilled essential oil from the lemon myrtle plant has significant antifungal and antimicrobial characteristics.

Other Health Benefits

According to "Therapeutic Herb Manual," the oil and leaf paste of this plant can also help fight many types of bacteria including Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, lemon myrtle can help relieve cramps, headaches, spasms, fevers, rheumatism and it also may have anti-cancer properties. Lemon myrtle can also inhibit Helicobacter pylori, the bacteria responsible of many gastrointestinal disorders. Further, lemon myrtle purportedly also helps reduce cellulite, support muscle and connective tissue growth, and strengthen the immune system.

This information is from Livestrong.com by Jessica Jacobs, website http://www.livestrong.com/article/479743-lemon-myrtle-health-benefits/

How can you not love Lemon Myrtle after reading how amazing it is???

On the way back from camping we found some more Geocaches. The first find was in Kyogle at the lookout. The view was beautiful and we saw more animals!!

 Geocaching crew: Jez, Blake, Yogi

 Finally I got to see a Koala thanks to Jez's eagle eye vision and the super lense on my camera. At first he had his back to us then he realised he was being watched and started posing for the camera :D

 Next we saw this little roo on the side of the road

It's been so exciting seeing all of the Australian animals in nature rather than the zoo.

Lastly, Bronwyn gave me a custard apple fruit to try. It does taste like custard and it's sooo sweet and delicious! Another explosion for the taste buds. Yum!