31 January 2020

Fry-day


They said it was going to be 41℃ today
So I got out early and gave my new Garden beds a good watering to help them through the day.

The water mist looked beautiful in the rising sunshine.

It didn't get to 41℃



No, currently it is sitting on 42.8℃

Good to see that someone at the Weather Bureau thinks it  "FEELS  like 38.2"

[FYI: as I am doing a Temperature Quilt, this day last year, we had a Min of 17℃ and a Max temp of 22℃]



And for all my readers in the Northern Hemisphere that may be snugly tucked up with a cosy fire and some hand Quilting
I have done the conversion for you....

There is another dust storm on the way
followed by Rain
and a Bushfire outside of Ballarat


I managed to made a weeks worth of my Temperature Quilt Blocks before the air-con decided it was too hot to work so "downed tools and packed up for the day"

It is too sticky to sew anyway.....


Just as well we have some good old fashioned fans as backup, only problem ... 
the cat is frightened of them!




27 January 2020

What Goes Up ...

Jan 19th, 2020
"An Intense Dust Storm has swept through a huge area of South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, reducing visibility and prompting a warning to drivers on outback roads"

It looked like a scene from "The Mummy" -only this is not CG Sand and this is not a Movie. This is the Heart and Soul of Australia. This is Red Outback Dust!


Jan 20th, 2020

Then we had a bit of Hail - NSW and Canberra had what was being reported "Golf Ball Size" hail.

Melbourne also copped a battering - these ones were not Golf Ball Size... and they made quite a mess of anything caught out in it.


Jan 23rd, 2020
And then it Rained.  We need Rain...

But, as they say - "What goes Up Must come Down...."
We slept to the sound of rain on the roof and woke to what can only be described as "A Generous layer of Topsoil evenly distributed ... EVERYWHERE!

That night it rained MUD.



...and Our Famous Upside Down Yarra was turned into something that looked more like -
Willie Wonka's Chocolate River!




Jan 26, 2020
The Weather I am relieved to report has been delightful since. Perfect for being 'Out and About'
And Friday it is going to be....

41℃  (that's 105.8℉)








26 January 2020

Australia Day 2020

On Australia Day, we reflect on our History, 
It's highs and it's lows.
We respect the stories of Others.
And we celebrate Our Nation, it's achievements and most of all
It's People.

If you are Visiting Australia - you may notice different flags flying together.

Our Three Australian Flags are Flown at Equal Height on individual Flagpoles.
The National Flag - is always flown to the far Left 
with the Aboriginal, and Torres Straight Island Flags beside.  


Should a State Flag be flown, it is usually positioned between the National Flag and the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island Flags.





(Researching these Flags and Studying Flag Protocol has proved to be a very interesting topic, and one that has taken up most of my afternoon!
 - Happy Australia Day everyone!!!)






*Consider Visiting  www.australiaday.org.au and read The Australian Stories!

19 January 2020

Bushfire Update

The Fires are still Burning.  The Good news is, there is some very promising Rain on the radar and we pray that it gets where it is needed, and that Lightning does not spark any more fires.

But that is not the point of this post. There has been an Overwhelming worldwide response to this disaster and Millions of Dollars have flooded in to our weary relief agencies giving them a much needed Boost for which we are VERY Grateful.

However - It is actually "Boots on the Ground" that Australia needs.

There is a misconception that the entire Continent of Australia is burning - this is not the case and our Tourism Industry is suffering.

Many Tourist areas, some of which are hundreds of Kilometres away from the fires have reported cancellations - not just now but Future Bookings have also been cancelled.
These tourist areas will not receive any of the fundraising help.


TOURISM AUSTRALIA has a fantastic map on their website showing that we are very much still OPEN FOR BUSINESS.


Please - when you are planning your next holiday, be it a Day Trip, Weekend getaway or a Major Adventure. 

Come, Stay a While, Buy a Coffee, or Support our Local Farmers at a Farmers Market.


There is still Plenty of Things to See and Do in this Beautiful Country 
That we call HOME.


How to Support Bushfire Recovery
Visit https://www.australia.com/en/travel-alerts.html for Up to Date (and correct) Travel Information.



13 January 2020

IF I Plant it - Will They Come?

That was the Question when I started planning and planting my Pollinator Garden.



And Yesterday, while I was sitting watching a Honey Bee get a drink from the Bird bath



I heard HER -
I got SO excited I think the neighbours would have wondered what the kerfuffle was all about. 

You can't see her in this photo - So I will zoom in!


My very first sighting of a BLUE BANDED BEE in MY Garden!

The Photo does not do her justice - Those Blue stripes were Iridescent in the Sunshine.



Female Blue Banded Bees have 4 Blue stripes - Boys have 5.
They are Native to Australia - to find out more about them Visit 







11 January 2020

House Hunting

DS#2 is currently House-hunting, which is quite the adventure.
They have researched some beautiful places.
This Pretty little Cottage in Brunswick would suit them just fine - but at $1.7 million it is a BIT (Lot) out of their Budget!

Yesterday we viewed a much more affordable property.
And we discovered very quickly just WHY it was $1.2 m cheaper!

This is the Kitchen/Lounge area as viewed from the bathroom door.
We are wondering just where the furniture is supposed to go!
We now come to the Pantry -
at a guess it is a "very spacious" 1000 mm x 400 mm (DS was not able to squeeze between the shelf and the wall)...

It may JUST hold their Coffee paraphernalia and Gourmet Tea Collection.

And maybe a tin of biscuits?

But not much else.

My DH thought the Cupboard beside the Fridge recess was the Pantry, after all it was about the same size as the Fridge recess but that turned out to be
the Laundry room!

It bewilders me as to just HOW someone is supposed to wrangle a Washing machine into that space.

And this brings our tour of this "Spacious Unit", "Suitable for a Retired Couple, or even a Young Family" to the Main Bedroom.

With double Wardrobe and Built in Hot water Storage Unit - Hey WHAT?

The photograph says it all - One Third of the Built in Robe (that you are supposed to keep Clothes in) houses a Tank Full of Boiling Hot Water......

I managed to get to the Car before erupting in a fit of Giggles that lasted until someone handed me a VERY strong Coffee!


--- The Hunt continues......







4 January 2020

They need your Prayers ...

We need RAIN

I remember Ash Wednesday
I remember Black Saturday
Each one was devastating, Each one was worse than the other.

This Fire Season, Starting in September 2019 with Months of Summer still to come is unprecedented. There is already more than 12 Million Acres burnt.
They are beginning to Call this Maelstrom: Black Summer

Our wonderful CFA Volunteers, International Firies, The MFB, and ADF are battling multiple infernos across the Country.   My own State of Victoria is on Fire.

Everyone needs a Fire Plan.
Our Fire plan is:- 
Evacuate and Let the Professionals do their job!



3 January 2020

Ooops

The Good News is - DD's New Queen Bee has been accepted by the Hive and everything is Humming along beautifully.

The Not so Good news is - Someone didn't get to checking on them earlier....
Well, at least with their new Pitched roof - they had the room to get creative!

I have been informed that the Flow super is now on and it looks like we might get a harvest this year after all.




1 January 2020

A New Day Just Begun - 2020



New Day
New Year
New Decade

New Adventures


Faith is not Knowing what the Future Holds
But Knowing WHO Holds the Future

To all I wish a Blessed and Safe 2020









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