Frosty Mornings.

It has been bitterly cold in the recent weeks. Especially when it is windy as today. Though there are often early frosts in a Queensland winter, this year some have still been about at 7.30 a.m. Thankfully with the new wood burner stove John put in, the house remains fairly warm and it's great to 'rug-up' by the fire in the evenings.

Everyone is goign about in scarves, boots and hats. I never imagined using flannelette sheets in Australia!

I hurt my leg whilst walking the dogs a few weeks ago and had to have 12 stitches. These have now been taken out now, but it still aches a bit and is much too sore to kneel on. Another reason to put my feet up by the fire.

Back from the U.K.

It's an age since I wrote anything here.
I have been to the UK and back, seen all my lovely family and lots of great friends.
Thank you all for your hospitality and kindness. It was so good to catch up with everyone.
From wet Wales with a damp walk up to White's Castle, down to sunny walks by the river and canal in Exeter, it was all wonderful.(Photo is of river in Exeter.) Another uplifting walk was by the blossom wreathed Priory Marina in Bedford. As it was early May the birds were "singin' their 'eads orf!!" Also masses of spring flowers were out along by the paths and in the meadows. I was delighted as I know the names of these flowers; dandelion, bluebell, campion, stitchwort and more!!

Tree Canopy

A wonderful visit to the Bunya Mountains gave a cool contrast to Lightning Ridge. There were wallabies and Rosella parrots to see in the big grassy arena in the centre of the forest. But the cool walk beneath the trees was lovely with the fern trees, growing in the damp areas giving a wonderful contrast to the deep green foliage of the ancient Bunya Pines. The Bunya cones from the pine tree are about 18 inches long and each 'seed' or nut about the size of an adults thumb. The Aboriginal people collected then and they made good'tucker'. Some of the trees have Aboriginal cuttings on the bark as old identity marks. It's now a National Park area with amazing flora and fauna living in it.

On the way we had stopped at one of the local wineries and enjoyed samples of their fragrant tipples and lunched on their own goat pies! Very tasty, a good way to have a day out!

Little Splash at Lightning Ridge

We have been to visit Lightning Ridge in N.S.W. It was 600 Ks and we went down in 1 day and came back in 2. the roads are long, straight and monotonous. Unfortunately a kamikasi roo leaped out and slightly damaged the wing of our car. The roo was more than slightly damaged. Lightning Ridge is an opal mining town and has been for over 100 years. As it is so dry it has a quirky atmosphere as so many old vehicles and bits of machinery are lying around. Also remains of really old cottages that the miners lived in. It is a most unusual place and very hot and dry. One can see emus running across the land by the road side with their big floppy feather coats and long legs. There is a walk-in mine to visit, opals shops to gaze in, art galleries plus a few touristy things to see. The opals are superb and the colours that flicker through some make them dazzling jewels. I was lucky to have an early birthday present!!

Another good place to see there is the pool where the hot artesian waters come up. It is free and open 24 hours for the pubic to go in. The temperature of the water is around 45degrees so you can imagine how you feel as thought you are gently cooking! The waters are therapeutic which John found very relaxing for his back, especially after the long drive there. The second time we went for a swim was after dark, so you could see the brilliant stars sparking overhead. It was quite an experience.

The Midnight Hour!

There was an 'almost full' moon the night before last and our 2 dogs where barking to go out.
I then realised there was more than just the barking noise! Not too far away I could hear the howling of dingos. No wonder Jasper and Rannoch where desperate to get out. Maybe to join the pack. It is certainly an eerie sound to hear the singing of the dingos on a moonlit night.

At 5.3oa.m. I was up to go to the bathroom and noticed the 'Moon Set' through the window. It looked so beautiful through the branches of the beautiful white gum tree.
My picture doesn't give full credit I am afraid.

Sunshine electricity!

As you can see, the panels are on the roof and the system ticking away. We have had hours of sunshine over the last 2 months so are certainly getting good results from the new system.
The media reckons that having 'green credentials' doesn't really help the country's carbon credits, but we feel it makes our footsteps more 'gentle' on the earth. Also it helps to offset our trips to family overseas.

January Sky.

Recently we have had some magnificent sunsets.
Here are some pictures taken one evening.


There aren't many trees close to us so we see so much sky! To the north we see 50 miles or do to the Bunyas which is due north. So because we have lots of sunshine from that direction (being the the southern hemisphere!) we are having solar power installed and it will be done next week. I feel really excited about it as it has been a dream of mine for years. With having our own water from the mill and rain tanks and now the solar powered electricity, I feel we are making fewer demands of the works resources - well some of them anyway.

Happy New Year; 2009

It only seems a minute since everyone was welcoming in 2000. Millennium celebrations and a ring of beacon fires around the world. Here I am in a hot and humid Australia, wouldn't have believed it 9 years ago. Our new year gets under way well before those in Europe.

It is hot and humid and the air is full of the noisy cicadas which rise and fall as an endless chorus all day and well into the evening. After a while you don't notice them until, suddenly you may realise that there is an endless silence and they have all stopped!
There has been lots of rain in this area, a wonderful relief from the 5 years of drought. The land is verdant and green, the trees growing higher and higher and the shrubs in our garden (mostly bottlebrush, callistamin types) are endlessly flowering. The trouble is that you can almost see the grass growing and it could do with cutting everyother day. The weeds are knee high to an elephant too, and there is one called "Cobbler's Pegs." The leaves are similar to a smooth stinging nettle, the flowers tiny yellow ones. These each mature into a head of small needles, each about 1/2 inch long and they stick into EVERYTHING! Socks, trousers, dogs, etc and spread everywhere. With the rain, they seem to be growing thicker and higher than ever. I wish someone could discover a use for them and we could harvest it generously. They can't even be put in the compost if they are seeding. Horrid stuff.
Any way - a VERY happy, healthy and fulfilling 2009 to all reading this.