Happy Christmas!

I grew a Christmas Tree - yes, one of those magical crystal ones.
Very scientific, it grew in half a day as the humidity was high. It's the nearest to a Norwegian Pine we'll get around here.
I also made a Christmas cake, threw in extra spices as it was Christmas time, then realised one was ground cumin and not cinnamon - whoops. So added even more of mixed spice to drown the flavour. Guess it will taste really good.
Hope you all have a magical Christmas and the the Spirit of Light and Hope will be with you through out the next year.

The New Library, Pittsworth.

I have been meaning to add these photos for a while now.

The library moved to its new abode over 2 months ago and had it's "Grand Opening" at the beginning of November. The Toowoomba District Mayor came and library 'Big-Wigs' from around Queensland gathered to reveal the engraved plaque. All good things were said and lots of new books were made available and mountains of delicious food lunch put on. Quite a DO!!

There is masses of space and display areas and since opening many new readers have joined. It is a pleasure to work in.

One of the best books I have read recently and enjoyed immensely, is the newest by Kate Morton - "The Forgotten Garden." It is like a hall of mirrors, a fairy story, in a fairy story which is reflected in another. Ranging from Brisbane to a Cornish port and back; stretching through three generations; it follows the story of little "princesses' who loose something that is precious to themselves. Seeking unconsciously and consciously to resolve their life's dilemmas.

Koala Sighting!

Driving into town yesterday I noticed an animal crossing the road in front of me, slowed down to see and was delighted to find that it was a koala! He stopped in the grass and viewed me with unblinking, black beady eyes, I said 'Hello' and wished that I had me camera with me. He them scrambled up the tree, not climbing it 1,2,3,4, but pulling himself with front paws then back legs, stopped again and stared once more as I gently pulled way to continue my journey. Between us, John and I have had about 4 sitings of koalas along our road in the last 5 years, but not for the last 2, so it was a treat to see one again.

Blooming blooms everywhere!

Well things are really bursting into flower. See the glorious bougainvilleas at our gate. On our veranda the star Jasmin is opening and soon we can breakfast in its fragrance! The pink Peruvian Trumpet Vine is flowering too and so are some other things and I noticed some lilies in bud yesterday. A lot of the new seeds we put in last week are popping through as we have had some rain.

In the last few days we have put in more bougainvilleas, back behind the trees to make a glorious backdrop for next year hopefully. By the mill there is a Silky Oak which is like a golden statue at the moment covered in fantastic flowers and full of happy birds feasting on it.

Well - do YOU know what this is?

There were about 6 small cream balls lying in the soil. John poked one with the fork, splitting the casing - and the interior expanded into a polyhedron of gooey filaments inside of which was a nasty-smelling brown substance. Yukk!! It was amazing to see, straight out of a Dr Who sub-plot. I was 96% sure it was a rotten golf ball until I saw the tiny fungal roots in the ground. In the library I found a fungi book and inside was this 'THING!' It is "Basiomyceta Gasteroneycetes" or "Ileoictyon gracilis Phallales." Do click on the photo to see it enlarged and so see the "Thing" in all its glory.

Flying.

Yesterday we had a wonderful time, flying over our house and land! In 2003 we hired a plane and flew over the house when we were buying it. This time a friend flew down from Rockhampton in his Cessna 182 Turbo RG and on Saturday took us up and away. It was interesting to see how much the trees had grown. You can see our cottage, garage and land just about in the centre of the photo. John flew an aeroplane again for the first time in four years!

The sky was clear and there was little wind so I could take some photos fairly well, though the wing seemed to get in the way at times. I was impressed how attractively laid out the landscape seemed. The farm properties had lovely patterned paddocks from ploughing or cropping on the contour - and with some recent rain it was quite green and gentle.

Almost 5 years! Wow

Yes, just about 5 years since I came to live over here. Quite an adventure as you can imagine. Life has had it's ups and downs, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world. I never really had much of a spirit of adventure, I think I was too worried about life to bring it on board. It must have been hiding somewhere! I have crossed the world many times now and once was worried about flying. A nip of confidence goes a long way!

At the beginning of 2002 I was challenged by a quote from Goethe that my mother had stuck on her wall, and carried that with me for that year of change; "What ever you do or dream, you can do it. Begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."

Here is a recent photo of myself with John.

Full moon and mushrooms.

Last week there was a full moon. It rose over the hills in the east and looked so big and serene. It was a lovely evening and the sunset had been very beautiful. As there weren't any clouds in the sky the colours at sunset had been very ethereal; mauve, turquoise, lemon and apricot. All very iridescent and clear.

We see the most lovely sky colours here as there isn't any pollution. Unless there is a storm in the west, then the squall line blows up the dust and we have a very heavy sky, laden with the red dust. I heard on the radio one time that thousands of truck loads of soil are displaced when there is a storm like that out in the desert.
There has been a little rain recently and in the paddock near us where I often walk the dogs, I have found bucket loads of beautiful mushrooms. One can almost see them pushing their little white bald pates up through the soil. They are so fresh and pink underneath!

We have had mushroom soup and mushroom omelettes! Yummy.

Roos, pumpkins and such!!

It is always amusing to see a number of the largest grey kangaroos bouncing along in a rather regal manner. Their front paws are held in a prayer-like way, their ears high as though they have crowns on their heads and the long tails sweeping behind them like trains. Watching some today whilst walking the dogs, I realised what it is that they remind me of; the three kings as often depicted on Christmas cards! Gently bouncing their way across the desert to Bethlehem.

We had a bumper crop of pumpkins this years -ha-ha, all of 3!!
Last year we didn't have any, the previous 2 years we had 1. May be we have a cornucopia of pumpkins! ( Don't tell Sarah, my niece) she and Adam would certainly beat me in a village veggie show.

June

Lots seem to have been happening this month. Not all very good, but endings are, so that;s what matters. John has been quite ill, I had to dial for an ambulance early on Sunday; 000 being the emergency number in Australia. It seemed as though he was having a heart attack. Thankfully it wasn't. After checking if it was a gall stone stuck in the bile duct, then liver problems, it was found to be some liver damage due to the combination of his medications. So after he lived through a traumatic 2 days, he is now home , well and pretty cheerful. The hospital doctors have turned his medication around and he seems to be pretty ok.

I have had a number of hours working at the local library. I really enjoy that and there should be quite a few times over the next 3 months.

The blossom is out on the wild peach tree near to our mill. (Yes; we have a windmill!) It is really beautiful against the blue sky.

Winter creeps up!

Winter is creeping up. We have lit the fire a few evenings now as there have been some VERY chilly winds roaring about.
Unfortunately these winds dry the ground out even more, and we have had no rain for about 7 weeks in this area. So the last few days we have been watering our new trees and putting a pile of mulch round them to keep them snug around their roots, or even their boots!!
We are considering putting in a new wood burner. The one here is a very ancient, Chinese stove, possibly 80 years old. The doors don't shut properly and the vents don't work either. So the logs quickly burn up and leave a pile of very fine white ash. Even if you stoke it up late at night, it still doesn't last through,, though the warmth is just there. As the house is wooden and not any insulation in the walls or floor, it does get pretty nippy.
I remember when I first came to Australia I was very surprised to see flannelette sheets, warm pyjamas and slippers in the shops. I couldn't imagine it being cold enough to need that sort of thing; but unfortunately it is. The day times can still be warm and sunny with breakfast on the veranda ( a late brekki!), but once the sun goes down, on come the warm clothes and the soup goes on to the stove. I then start to think, ' Oh , it must be Christmas soon.' No chance, there aren't even any more public holidays now until the real Christmas time - just one long slog!
There are plants flowering still, like the bourgainvillia in the picture behind Rannoch and Jasper. Though they look like a 2-headed hound!

Hello, hello! Long time no see!!

Such a long time since I wrote on this Blog! Sorry to all my loyal fans!!!!!! Anyway I have had an unexpected month in England due to my mother's death. It was a moving experience, as I was mostly staying in her home to sort things. I felt very close to her as I read things from past years she had written and also finding letters which I had written home from my college days in the 60s!
I was a wonderful chance to catch up with the family and especially to see the 2 grandchildren, finding how much they have grown and to renew our friendships.
Now from the slightly chilly days of tentative spring to the same of autumn back at home in Australia. It is very dry, but ideal weather in which to start clearing up the garden. Also to cut the logs for winter fires, we have had 2 already. The skies are very luminous and clear as the evening draws in at about 5.45pm. The roos are about searching for some tucker; stars are beginning to peep out ready for their nightly show, and it can be very still and beautiful.

Easter time.

Happy Easter to any one reading this over this week end. I still find it difficult with the festivals in different seasons to what I am used to in the U.K. Easter in early autumn doesn't ring of "new life or beginnings" as Springtime offers! But the weather is warm and it's beautifully calm and peaceful today, which is Good Friday; and not hot enough to melt Easter eggs. I am making Hot Cross buns, so there is a delightful cinnamon smell in the air! We will eat them for 'Morning Tea, ' or ' Smoko' as it is called in the country! There are still lots of flowers out, including the plumbago and lots of red gladioli. Also the roses are reviving which is lovelyWe have a delightful tree called a Lilli Pilli. This has pretty fluffy cream flowers (without petals) and then pretty pink-red berries. I will add some pictures

Autumn

Summer is over as yesterday was the first day of autumn, well, officially. It hasn't been much of a summer by Aussie standards.
Yesterday evening I went with some friends to see ' Romeo and Juliet' acted in Queen's Park, Toowoomba. Every year they have a Shakespeare in the Park. We took our supper and bottles of wine. It was most enjoyable, especially as it was such a beautiful evening. The sky changed from blue to pearly grey as the sun set behind the trees; then to purple as the last birds fly over, Honey eaters, Gullahs and a few budgerigars. And the silhouettes of the magnificently sculptural Camphor Laurels stood out in the spotlights. There didn't seem to be any mossies about either, so it was very good.
This mornign I thought there was a different smell outside of the house. It wasn't unpleasant,butfamiliar and I couldn't place it. Going out-side to look about I realised it was from 2 big wattle trees that were in flower. A mass of pale lemon blossoms frothing over the trees. As they are the same as the mimosa family, you can understand what the distinctive scent was like.

Yet More Sunshine!

Thankfully it has been a wetter summer than usual. Also, thankfully, we are not in an area that floods as we are on the side of Mount Wyangapini, nowhere near a river. But when it really really rains the waters roar down the hill sides and through the rocky storm tracks in the paddocks. The area around here is very rocky ( hence the name of the next road - Stoneleigh) and there are long stretches which have been cut away by water in the past. Usually the temperature is around 35 degrees at this time of the year, occasionaly up 40+. So that is why I am glad it has been wetter that usual. There have been a number of years of drought, so people are hoping that is over. Needless to say the farmers are never satisfied - it is the never the weather they want at the time they want!

Orchard Butterflies

The Orchard Butterflies are amazing. They are about 5 inches across and there are masses off them at the moment. They are really beautiful on the bottle brush bushes as they are mostly black and white, the males having a row of orange dots along the bottom of the wings. As they are bigger than the tiny Yellow Rumped Thornbill birds that fly through the garden in teams, it is strange to think that they are butterflies. Another name is the Citrus Butterflies, so I guess that's what their caterpillars eat! And that is why my citrus trees look so nibbled!

Two Blue Tiger Butterflies on the pink bottlebrush

Butterflies

A Confetti of Butterflies!

The butterflies are dancing everywhere around the garden. The shrub are festooned with them and they are all colours and sizes. I am trying to learn their names. I know one is a
' Common Crow ' which is sad. I know it's black and white but it's very pretty and about 4 inches across, or maybe more. You can stand by the bushes and hear their wings flittering (if that's not a word it is now!!) I love standing there with them all dancing around me. My favourite is the Blue Tiger. They look like stain glass and some times there seem to be hundreds of them about the garden.