A Very Soggy Christmas.

I have changed the background of this Blog to bring some colour into our lives!

There is so much rain, even wetter than 10 days ago.
In the last 24 hours we have had 5 inches of rain and it is still pouring down. So far this month we have had 13 inches.

The lane next to us is a deep ford and now flowing down the slope under our trees. There is a leak dripping into our sitting room too, so far only a gentle one. John reckons it's due to the wind blowing the rain under the roof. Looking at the weather chart it should slacken off this evening. It is a good thing we don't have to go anywhere, as I am sure we couldn't get far along the road. Also we have plenty of food due to having just celebrated Christmas. So - no worries- hopefully!

We did have a very gently Christmas, just the 2 of us. Had a small branch as a tree, which, thanks to the cool weather hasn't dropped any needles. We are leaving turkey dinner until New Year's Eve to share with some friends. That is IF they can get here. They may need an ark.
Happy New Year to you all, may you be safe, healthy and happy.

P.S. Who dares to watch the Ashes?

A Day of Storms.

So far we have not had floods where we live. After to day I wonder if they could be imminent!The grass is ankle deep with water and there is a pretty little stream running, rather quickly - along the edge of out garden. This morning I drove into Toowoomba and back with the roof down on our Eos. I was back for barely 5 minutes when the first storm started. Thunder and lightning came too along with a navy blue sky.In the afternoon we had a repeat performance but with louder thunder and the gutters where overflowing. Then this evening looking out we saw hailstones across the grass and the rain was so heavy it was as though we were sitting under a waterfall. Looking out from the veranda I noticed the water pouring from the junction in the lane, down through our garden at a very brisk speed. We had this 7 years ago I remember, though the thunder and storms are part of the Queensland summer. Most of the rivers are flooding on the eastern side of Australia. Unfortunately the huge expected harvest has been washed away, so though the drought is over it brings other problems instead.

Getting Hotter!

I can't believe I haven't written up for so long. It has been a busy few weeks too. To day it's very tropical and the cicadas have been chirping since early morning. I think we are in for another storm. It's 25 degrees which is becoming more like an Aussie summer temperature.
We had an un-necessary trip to Brisbane last week. Well, not really but poor J went through an op just to be told the next morning that they hadn't completed it as it was too dangerous. There was an artery too near his spine. So he may go back early next year to have it done another way.
I did see a fantastic Christmas Tree in St George's Square in Brisbane. It was solar powered and when I first went past it was quite interesting, but when I came back after dark it was fantastic. All alight in shining colours.

Books and Blossoms.

I am just reading "Eat, Pray and Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. A few weeks ago I went with a friend to see the film and enjoyed it very much. It was fun, happy and delightful to watch. Now she has lent me the book and it is SO much better than the film. More depth and and so many quotable phrases. I love the way she sees Loneliness and Depression as 2 characters who are following her; also it makes me wonder if everyone should have 4 months in Italy to taste the food! What and experience.

There have been 4 shrubs in the garden , the same sort, which have never flowered before. They are from the bottle brush family, but I don't know the name. The blossom has been outstandingly superb. It is snow white, and the spiky flowers are almost like snow crystals. Now the flowers are over and it looks brown and sad. Pity.

Diesel and Petrol

Oh Dear- I did a stupid thing on Sunday. We were early going to the Quaker Meeting for Worship in Toowoomba so decided to put some fuel in our diesel car. The nozzle on the pump wouldn't work even though I fiddled with it. So I put it down and talked to the people at the next pump. Picked up the nozzle and it worked- hurray! After starting to fill the car I found glanced at the dial and thought the price was very cheap!! Then I realised it was Unleaded petrol! I had picked up the wrong pump nozzle!! Panic-panic. I have filled a whole tank in a diesel car with petrol in the past, so I knew what I had done.
As it was a Sunday the RACQ couldn't take the car straight to the garage, so it had to be towed to a 'holding'. John was given a taxi to collect a hire car (thankfully we have Ultra so could have this assistance.)
Monday morning the car was towed to the garage where the engine was flushed through, fuel filter changed and the correct fuel put in. Quite an expensive weekend. We could have had a few days away for that cost. At least it wasn't a crash and accident.
All well now except for a slightly out of balance bank account!

Reading and Relaxing.

We had some friends visit us yesterday in the evening for a meal and after sauntering around the garden we had a delightful time sitting on the veranda and drinking Aussie wine. Though there were clouds around we were warm enough and could see the Bunya Mountains in the distance. Often when we are forecast rain we don't get it but can see the heavy clouds in the north. John says it's a great place for gliding as the thermals develop over the mountains.
It is cool today but the farmers who are harvesting the winter crops will be pleased that there is no rain. A great deal of local crops have been spoiled by wind and rain. There will be plenty of mulching bales around!

I have finished reading Barbara Erskine's supernatural novel set around Glastonbury, Somerset: 'Time's Destiny.' I didn't think it was as good as some of her previous novels, the haunting was not as 'spooky', but maybe that's a good thing. With the first book of hers which I read many years ago,I couldn't sleep until I had finished it

My reading is rather harrowing, as it is a biography of Joice Nankivell Loch. An Australian woman, who, with her husband Sydney, a Scot, where writers. They spent their lives helping the traumatized people of Poland in the 1920s and then in Greece. They also helped many women and children to escape from the Nazis. I had not realised in what desperate circumstances these people had lived. This couple worked with the Quakers' Mission in these countries as often the Quakers where the only people who were allowed to give aid there. The Lochs had huge respect for the Quakers and their work, but where not Friends themselves. They were an amazing couple

Scents, perfumes and fragrances in our garden.

It is almost overwhelming, the vivid colours and perfumes in our garden at the moment. Almost every angle is a photo shot! The China Star jasmine is in full flower and the perfume just hits you as you go round the corner of the house or go out on the the veranda. The bottle brush flowers hang like lanterns and are full of bees, insects and birds all clamouring for a share of the flowers' booty.

Also the evenings are lengthening and it is so pleasant to sit out side and enjoy the peaceful, fragrant atmosphere.

Still Counting!

Yes, I seem to have been picking fruit for ages! At last I have made some jam which has set, so that's just the beginning! Though there are the Fruit Birds in the mulberry tree all the time, the tree is still bursting with fruit. I have just picked another bowl full.
I have just begun reading Ken Follett's new history tome "Fall Of Giants." It begins in 1911 and follows a Welsh family and a Russian, American and English one,through the great changes of the next 10 years. Threading and weaving it's way with the families as the great changes at that time unfold. It's the first of 3, but I think it'll be a year before the next one is published.

Orchid Tree in Full Bloom

This tree was dieing 2 years ago. We tried watering it for 24 hours (having saved a White Cedar that way) then cut out the dead branches and just hoped it would revive. It was a touch and go hope. Thanks to the significant rain we have had so far this season, it has been a real "Phoenix' and come into magnificent bloom and the scent is fantastic too!
Bauhinia Variegata is it's name, but commonly called the Purple Orchid Tree due to the flowers which of course look like orchids.Brisbane is full of them at the moment and there are also white Orchid Trees. Another tree coming in bloom is the splendid Jacaranda which I will show photos of soon.

A Busy Monday

Started the day with The Book Club which began a year ago. We were discussing "The Consolations of Philosophy" by Alain de Botton. This led to talking about philosophy,art,life and much more. It was a very interesting and lively group. In the afternoon John's daughter Sam came with the children to pick mulberries. AS we have had 2 beautiful days of sunny weather the fruit has ripened well. We picked 2 buckets full and there is plenty more to come. The dogs, Rannoch and Jasper joined in the fun.
After they had gone we collapsed on the veranda with a glass of wine and cup of coffee to enjoy the wonderful clear evening sky.
There must be something stinging around as I have some nasty bites on my neck.
Earlier I had made a lemon sponge cake and scattered mulberries in the mixture before baking it - yum!
I have put in some veggie seeds too, so they will soon catch up with the beetroot and courgette plants already growing. I must go to water them.

Wet and Muddy Spring.

Well it still rains and the wind blows. Not very "'Stralian" I must say. So even though it's 19 degrees it's most unpleasant. The Wivenhoe Dam, which was almost dry 3 years ago, is over flowing and I think we'll have mouldy feet before long!

The mulberries need some sunshine to sweeten them. There have been enough to pick for a couple of deserts though.

I have just finished reading "The Red Queen" by Phillipa Gregory. It connects with her last book, "The White Queen" so continuing the story behind the Wars of the Roses. What a dreadful woman! One review suggests that she was the 'Mother-in-La law from Hell!! " I quite agree. It is written in the first person and she is the most jealous and manipulative woman possible. It's a good read and helps to put the murder of the 2 princes in the Tower of London into historical perspective.

Brisbane in the Wet!

It's official: yesterday was the wettest day EVER in Brisbane - and we were there! I expected to see an ark being constructed in the river!
The rain just came down for the 48 hours we were in the city and the highway drive was dreadful. Thankfully we saw no accidents, but the roads were awash and we saw destroyed crops, flooded fields and roaring streams by the road side. Also at one point we noticed a dam that the water had breached and cut through to flood across the paddocks.
It was still raining when we reached Toowoomba, but once we were over the range, the road was dry and at home there was only one mm of rain in our rain gauge!
All the flowers and blossoms are fantastic though and buds on plants that haven't bloomed for years. It makes it a very colourful and attractive world.

Springing Spring

I wish you could smell this picture. The Star Jasmine on the veranda is about to burst with flowers. It will be heavy with perfume. Also there is a great deal of blossom on our citrus trees. We have 5 in pots as our soil isn't really the right type. As you come on to the veranda the scent almost knocks you over. The bottle brush shrubs are laden with flowers too and the birds are chasing in and out of them doing what ever birds do in the spring - tra la!! We filled the little bird bath that hangs in the tree, and watched as the Fairy Wrens hopped and splashed in the water having a wonderfully refreshing time. The weather is just right (for me) at the moment. Its about 23 degrees C and not too hot and not too cold. So if you are thinking of coming to Australia, I think that October is the time to come. See you soon! (Though not all at once.)

Week-End

We had a very good weekend as the local cafe, "Chatters" had another evening of music and food on Friday. There weren't so many musicians as last time but the atmosphere was good and there where 3 couples in our party which was fun.
On Sunday as it was fine we went to the local town (well,40 kms away)to the 'Camp Oven and Country Festival.' There was plenty of country music and whip cracking, old vehicles, blacksmiths, and bric-a-brac stalls as well as craft and food. The trouble was I forgot to take my camera and not having a modern mobile phone I couldn't take any pictures. Pity about that.
Today I have bought some new compost to fill the tubs with the citrus trees in. we had 16 mandarins on that tree and quite a few lemons too. There are still about 6 grapefruits ripening. But the poor mulberry tree is like a weeping mulberry as it is so full of fruit. Now it is warmer they should soon ripen so I think I will have a fruit picking party. I hope it all happens soon before the branches break.

On the BOOK FRONT I am reading "The Consolations of Philosophy" by Alain De Botton, and "Black Mamba Boy" by Nadifa Mohamed.

Awaking the Dinosaur.

I feel it is about time I started to Blog again. I can't believe it is so long since I put anything here. Life runs a race I think.
It Has been a very chilly winter through which I have been fighting chest infections and coughs. Now it is warmer, and wetter, I am feeling much improved.
Each week I am working for 11 hours at the local library which is great. I even had to take the story and craft time a few weeks ago, which went pretty well. Since we moved to the bigger (and better) library the readership numbers have zoomed as have the numbers of books in the library. So it's pretty busy. Since the assistant left in July it has been really hectic as she hasn't been replaced with regular help and some days you are not sure if you are coming or going.
I had a trip to the UK from mid June until mid July.Unfortunately John didn't come with me. Visiting Matthew and Ania in Exeter, Chris in London, Martin and Cathy in Bedford, friends near Abergavenny, and Judy and James (sister-in-law) near St Davids was really good. And of course I had a wonderful time "Grannying" with Nicholas and Bethany. Ben and Louisa even had a night away which was a privilege to help with, as Grandma and I minded the children.
Now Spring is springing in rapidly here and I will put up some photos. We have a magnificent mulberry tree which is so full of fruit it is bent right over. Soon the Fruit Birds will come and feast on the ripe mulberries. By the look of it there will be plenty to go round
Labels: garden, Spring