July update

Good July news!

Simon the local stone specialist designed and constructed this low rock wall to create a new entry to our house. Power - Phillip assisted by moving all the rocks into position and did part of the foundation work. All we need now is gravel and it will look very nice. This finishes the stone work session for this year, and I think it looks stunning. Meanwhile we have had rather chilly weather but now it is rather pleasant and beautiful. The gardens we put in last year are coming along nicely and I just 'discovered; the colour of the last hibiscus, which took all this time to flower. Well, until next time. Take care of yourselves. Bye from Marion

June News

Good Day! The news for June 2008 is, that we now have build steps into our fresh water creek. This makes a new look for the drive way and hopefully an easy access for the less adventurous to enjoy the beauty of our fresh water creek. You may even go for a swim! I always love swimming there, maybe not so much right now; you can picture me sitting here rugged up in all my best woollen jumpers and cardigans, including socks. Yes, winter is here, only for some hours in the morning and at night time, during the day is is gloriously sunny and warm. Good weather to work outside, walk at the beach, do that hike to Mt. Sorrow. The new gardens are coming along very nicely and I still ' discover' the new colours in the different hibiscus bushes. We had a surprising number of lovely guests during the wet season; travellers are more daring now than ever to explore the Wet Tropics during our summer months. Great! Even though the Daintree becomes a well known destination, it is still the place to get away from it all, and a place where nature and people come together.

Spring is in the air

Hello, well it has been a little while and I have been busy. The last couple of days have been only beautiful and spring is in the air, with cool nights, still, and fantastic days, clear blue sky and short times spent at the beach here.There are lots of birds around now, busy building nests and chirping about it all day long but particular in the mornings. We finished all the renovations and I have started on new gardens, looking forward to the wet season when everything will thrive and grow.Time to to do some weeding now. Until next time. Marion

The month of May

Hello,
well, this month we had lots to do and also had excellent helpers through the WWOOF organisation, anyone interested in this, please contact Marion. The helpers commented on being in a zoo while weeding the garden or potting up the tomato plantation to be. We had dragons, goannas, cassowaries, pademelons, birds galore and amazing butterflies as well as hardly any mosquitos. And the star attraction is a golden orb spide perfectly positioned along the front path. Well, come and see for yourself. From the 'wild life zoo' Cow Bay Homestay, Marion

And it is May

Hello,
well, April just flew past with wild weather even here, and then it turned beautiful 2 weeks ago. Bliss. We even mangaged to have a great BBQ on the beach with friends and some sausages and a full moon rising over the ocean. My main job is painting, Brian is still busy with the carpentry and does a great job. After some delays it seems to go really fast now. More work to do though, and I have to keep this short but hopefully have more time to write about the new garden design next month.
Have a great May. Marion

Im Mai

Hallo,
und im Mai sind die Renovierung fast fertig. April hatte sehr unterschiedliches Wetter selbst in den Tropen aber seit 2 Wochen ist es traummaessig, und wir haben sogar einen netten Grill Abend am Strand gehabt, mit Vollmond, Lagerfeuer und netten Freunden. Anstreichen ist meine Hauptarbeit im Moment, aber Brian ist auch immer noch sehr mit den Holzarbeiten beschaeftigt, und es sieht sehr gut aus was er macht.
Der naechste Plan ist fuer unseren Garten, und da freuen wir uns beide schon sehr drauf.
So, und weil ich soviel zu tun habe wird dies ich kurz, und hoffentlich ausfuehrlicher naechsten Monat.
Einen schoenen Mai wuenscht, Marion

Mitte Maerz

Guten Tag,
so, nach Tagen und Naechten des Dauer Regens haben wir nun schon die tollsten Tage, mit klarem blauen Himmel am Morgen, kuehleren Naechten und die Aussicht, das die Schwuele des Sommers hinter uns ist.
Alles blueht und waechst, gute Zeit zum pflanzen, der Boden ist weich und man kann viele Ableger in den Boden stecken und sie wachsen gleich weiter, ideal fur diese Gaertnerin!!!!!
Cow Bay Homestay wird bald den neuen Anstrich haben, nachdem Brian alles renoviert hat, und ich hoffe es wird unseren Gaesten dieses Jahr noch besser gefallen hier.
Ja, ich muss los, die Farbe wartet, und .........Tuess von Marion

Mad March

Hi there,
madness in March or troppo or cabin fever; well it does happen ,when one experiences days of rain, heavy or heavier, and nights of torrential down pours; when most furniture becomes sticky with the high humidity and the ground is squeechy when one walks to the generator shed in one's 'Crocs' sandals. And then when you think there is no end to it, you wake up to a crystal clear morning sky, crisp air and birds chorus and take the cup of coffee to the beach to see the perfect sunrise. Then all is well with the world and you know why you are here.
Looks as we are a bit cooler already, the worst of the wet season is over and Cow Bay Homestay is ready for a new coat of paint after the renovations by Brian.
Got to run, paint is waiting!!!!!! Call in to check it out, but call first in case we are at the beach.....Marion

Februar-Regenzeit

Guten Tag vom Cow Bay Homestay!
Ja, Februar ist Regenzeit und wir hatten auch eine Woche Dauer-Rgen aber keine Ueberflutungen wie in Townsville. Dann hat sich der graue Himmel ueber Nacht in dunkelblau verwandelt und es ist sonnig, schwuel und schwitzig! Meine 'Rettung' ist unser Suesswasser Fluss, frisch aus den Bergen hinter uns und kalt und rauschend. Da kann ich auf der Stelle schwimmen, in der Stroemung, und es ist einfach wunderbar. Brian renoviert gerade die Schlafzimmer und ich freue mich schon wenn es alles fertig ist und schoen und neu aussieht.
Dieses Jahr fahren wir zu den Chinesischen Neujahrs Feierlicheiten nach Cairns, mit Drachentanzen und Yum Cha, hmm. So, ich muss jetzt los. Schreibt doch mal einen Kommentar wenn Ihr dies lest.
Alles Gute ... und Tuess von Marion

February-The Wet

Good Day from Cow Bay Homestay!
we are in the middle of the Wet- season, and so far up here in Cow Bay we have had good rain but no flooding as experienced by the population of Townsville. After a week of rainy days the skies cleared practically overnight and we have had sunny clear days. This brings the humidity right up, but in February that is to be expected.Brian is busy renovating the bedrooms and I am looking forward to having it all new and fresh. In the garden all the flowers are out and the animals are busy as well. The creek is my place to cool off and swim on the spot, meaning in the current. Just the best after a day in the garden.
Check out the german blog as well and make some comments.
Got to run, Marion

The first rain

Hello,
after some days of sunny, calm, humid weather we have some rain for the season with 60 mm since yesterday. Great, so much cooler and all the insects and birds are very busy chirping around in the rainforest.
I have written the first german blog and hope that people will like it. So let me know what you think.
The website is in review but should be up shortly and the news tab will bring you to the blogs
Have a good day. Marion

Zum Neuen Jahr

Hallo,
ja nun wird es ja richtig aufregend, und ich kann sogar diesen'blog' in deutsch schreiben.
Freundin Annette, die Kontakt email fuer Deutschland, hat dies vorgeschlagen und ich bin sehr begeistert, dass 'blog' Spachoptionen hat.
Januar ist ja generell Nebensaison hier, dafuer haben die Gaeste Straende, Fluesse, Wasserfaelle fast fuer sich alleine, und die Gastronomen kuemmern sich besonders, dass es allen gut geht. Wir haben seit 2 Tagen Regen mit 60 mm seit gestern, nicht sehr viel, aber ein Anfang, und es ist sofort kuehler, herrlich.
Die Grillen zirpern, die Cicadas zerstoeren einem fast das Tromelfell und die Voegel sind voll beschaeftigt mit ihren Geraeuschen. Man kann die Energie des Regenwaldes wirklich spueren.
Bis bald, Marion

Merry Christmas and a great, healthy and prosperous NEW Year!
well, in all the rushing around before Christmas, this entry is now after the big day/days.
Brian and I have the German Christmas on Christmas Eve, with a duck, nice wine and friends, and then go straight into the Australian Christmas Day with yummy seafood, this year, and more champagne and friends. Generally all is very unstructured and very laid back. On Boxing Day Brian has to watch the test cricket of course and especially this year with Shayne Warne retiring, and a great day it was too.
Meanwhile summer heat has caught up with us, a good excuse to spend more time on the beach where we have a cool breeze all the time and great swimming. No worries about stingers on our beach, not the right shape for currents etc.On the way home a quick dip in our freshwater creek and one is truely refreshed.
The garden looks fabulous right now, and all my white and red flowering plants are so bright and in full bloom, with hibisus dripping flowers off the branches. The Cairns Birdwing Butterflies are breeding on the pagoda plants and the frogs are singing arias in the night. Then you want o hear the buzzing of all the insects during the day! The poinciana tree is very lit up with its fantastic red flower heads. Has to be seen to be appreciated.
Now, for all the guests reading this, for a special discount on overnight stays at Cow Bay Homestay in January post a comment here and email me your dates.
Have a great day!
Marion

November News

Hello,
November is here and would you know it, summer arrived nearly on the first day of this month. What does this mean some of you may think. It turned warm practically overnight. That is the tropics for you. So, the blankets are stored away, the sarongs are out, the fans cleaned and the wet+ sweaty season is here. Also, all the animals are more active, the insects are really busy making big noises day and night and the air is warm. We even had a good rain on Saturday morning, but the rains are still far off.Going to the beach the other day was just wonderful, the water is crystal clear, the fringng reefs are standing our clearly and it is post card weather. On Cow Bay Beach you can still swim and the trees there give great shade all day. Perfect.Walking south from 2. beach, it is very obvious how the rainforest meets the reef, Alexandra Range practically falls onto the fringing reefs off Cow Bay Beach. Some of the rainforest trees are flowering now, the air is filled with sweet scents, intoxicating. So, come for a visit and check out the tropics in summer. Marion

First posting

Hello,
I am very excited about this blog, Alison has set up for me. I hope it will be a good way to keep family, friends and guests up to date with the happenings at Cow Bay Homestay. This year October has been cool and rainy, mainly at night and early in the morning, which is perfect for the garden and saves with watering. It also has been very windy and the russling of the leaves and the wooshing sounds of the palm fronds are great. The birds are very busy feeding and doing their best with calls, whistles and singing and the butterflies, well, their colours are just wonderful. This morning I heard a cassowary and hope to see, who it is sneaking around in the bush.What about the cats, you say? flat out.......sleeping.....well, that's it for today.
Have a good day, Marion