Nannup -- Our last stop in WA

For our last stop in Western Australia, we returned to the country vacation home of our friend Sally Rossen's parents, Tony and Sue Fields.

They have a lovely home -- called "the Barracks" because the main building is a restored army barrack featuring lovely native jarrah wood and a most inviting long verandah. Their property is on the Blackwood River about 15 minutes outside the town of Nannup. We had visited Tony and Sue at the Barracks during our last trip to Australia 5 years ago, so it was fun to return. It is as beautiful and peaceful as we remembered. The Rossen family and Tony and Sue joined us at the Barracks.

The kids scampered down to the river to swim -- despite the 2-3 inch leaches and continued their game of Scorpion Island (ask Daley and Sode). Clint T got to drive the tractor with Tony assisting. The mums got in a quick kayak tour.

Following local tradition for summer evenings, the kids slept out on the verandah, protected by mosquito nets. The final morning the kids performed "rock and roll logs," a bush inspired musical ensemble. They each created an instrument with found items on the property and performed under the direction of Lucy, the eldest Rossen child. They performed in a "cubby" made of fallen branches, much like an aboriginal hut.



Tony and Sue were such gracious hosts -- they treated us like family, showered our kids with attention, and even raised the American flag above the Barracks in our honor.

Saying good-bye to Sally, Paul, Peter, Lucy and Mollie was sad. But we are working hard to convince them to visit us for a ski vacation next summer/winter.