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.