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.