Afternoon Skies

.... I originally loaded 7 photos but they eventually 'dropped out', and now I'm so cranky that I've only put 4 back. Any bets on how long they'll last?

The Last Day of Summer ......

...... but hopefully not "The Last Rose of Summer" (Robbie Burns).

I'm sure most Australian gardeners are relieved to have reached this day,

and hoping for less heat and more rain in the next few weeks.

Admittedly, here in Canberra the weather throughout February

has been quite bearable with temperatures mostly in the low 30ºs.

Some suburbs have had good rains, but alas, it's often fallen as hail and storms,

resulting in substantial damage to buildings and gardens.

So, on the eve of Autumn, here's hoping for more substantial

but gentle rains soon.

Snail Creeper

JoinThis Vigna caracalla (Snail Creeper) during the winter months is one long, skinny, leafless stem climbing the loungeroom wall. One would never think that during the summer it will be a profusion of leaves and pretty, perfumed purple and white flowers. There is also a Star Jasmine planted at its base and I fear that it may smother this creeper. Could become survival of the fitttest.

Two rare phenomena ....

... yesterday it rained, and we recorded 24.5mm (just under an inch), then tonight I actually left the house and went for a walk - and these are the photos to prove it.

It's a long time since I've photographed a sunset, or even a reflected one like this.

Just in case it never happens again ....

.... I took these photos to show that it actually rained for a few minutes this afternoon!

I thought they may become a valuable historical resource ....lol.

Hopefully, there will be a bit more yet .... 4mm (16 points) doesn't go very far.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ....

.... my big girl and her little girl.

Have a very happy birthday today, Shelle.

I hope it's the beginning of a wonderful year for you.

Thank you, Shay, for being the delightful little grandaughter

that you are.

Six years old yesterday.

I hope you have a wonderful time with your friends on Wednesday.

Today would also have been my mother's 95th birthday.

This photo was taken on Shelle's first birthday,

as they celebrated together.

(Photo L to R - my Father holding Shelle, me, Richard's mother and Mum)

More Sunday Clouds

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We spent Sunday evening enjoying Opera By The Lake (Lake Burley Griffin) as part of Canberra's Multicultural Festival. Dark clouds and thunder claps before leaving home ensured that we went well prepared with coats, umbrellas, etc. Sure enough, the clouds rolled in and so did the rain, although not too heavily, and as though choreographed from on high, the rain ceased 10 minutes before the program commenced and the sun broke through again.

Here are a few of the 28 photos I took, mostly of the sky.

... and Eerie Skies tonight!

These shots were taken at 8 o'clock tonight. The sky was such an unusual colour, lending an eerie light to the entire landscape.

These photos have not been tinted or changed in any way - they are exactly as they were taken - and the colour spot on.

Dark skies yesterday, Blue skies today ...

.... and not a drop of rain in between.

If only .....

.... these clouds would deliver their promised bounty. Alas, three hours later we're still waiting.

Remember when....

.... we lived without electricity and refrigeration?

No, I'm sure many of you can't, thankfully. As a child, growing up on a dairy farm in Victoria's Gippsland area, we had no electricity for many years and no refrigeration or ice chest to keep food cool. We eventually bought a gas fridge which lasted many years until the power was connected and an electric fridge took its place.

In the early days, two important items for keeping food cool in the summer were the Meat Safe and the Coolgardie Safe.

The meat safe was about 50cm square with perforated metal sides. The safe was hung under a shady tree, or perhaps on a veranda, and the breezes blowing through the tiny holes would help to keep the meat cool and the flies away. We had fresh meat delivered three times a week so raw meat wouldn't have been kept in the safe for any length of time.

The Coolgardie Safe, which is thought to have originated in the goldfields of Coolgardie in Western Australia, was only about 35cm square but standing about 60cm tall. The sides were usually made of wire mesh, covered in a gauze fabric. The recessed top of the safe was filled with water and strips of flannel, or other absorbent fabric, were hung down the sides of the safe with one end in the water recess. Moisture would soak down these strips and dampen the sides of the safe. Breezes blowing through the wet cloth had a very cooling effect on the food inside the safe when it was hung in the shade, either under a tree or on a verandah.

One particularly hot summer we had two wide-necked stone jars buried in sand under some cypress trees. Butter stayed firm and milk sweet all through the hottest of days.

As effective as these methods were, I wouldn't swap them for either of my electric fridges today.

Storm Clouds over Black Mountain

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Happy Birthday, Sara.

HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY, darling Sara.

We wish you a wonderful day,

a fantastic year,

and a magnificent life.

Mum and Dad

XXXXXX

New problem (ha,ha)

Thursday:
I've just deleted all the 'blank' photos, and now everything seems to have relocated back to its original place, thankfully.

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Can anyone tell me why my blog template has decided to 'drop its bundle' so to speak? I notice that in the January '07 postings there is a narrow white line to the right of the postings. This has now widened in the February postings to such an extent that all my Links, etc. now appear under the posts, at the bottom of the page.

Does anyone know how I can get rid of this line, will it get worse ... lol, or should I just wait (and wait) and hope it goes away?

I'm sure there must be someone out there with an answer, or maybe even a good guess would help!

*****************

Now I notice that the extra white 'line' has disappeared but things are still out of place. "Curiouser, and curiouser" as a well-known rabbit would say.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I feel truly humbled, yet uplifted by the number of blog friends who have encouraged me to 'stay the distance'.

It was even more humbling as I've been such a slacker these past few months. Although I've often read blogs, I've not been commenting, but you've given me a new lease of 'blogging life' and I look forward to interacting with you all much more frequently.

Thank you again. You are all so inspiring and 'the salt of the earth'.

'Alice'

Happy (well, happier) 2nd Blog Anniversary

A couple of days ago I didn't think I would reach this milestone, however things seem to be running much more smoothly (not perfectly yet, but much improved), so I'm still here.

To celebrate I gave myself some roses. Actually, I left them in the garden as they'll last much longer out there than in a vase in my house, and I'm content with a photo.

Green Thumb Sunday - at the coast.

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These shots were taken on a cloudy day, during a late afternoon

walk around Broulee Island on the south coast of

New South Wales.

These rocks were like black honeycomb.

Anyone need shellgrit for their chickens?

There's plenty here.

Whale-like driftwood.

Just a bit too big to take home for the mantlepiece!

Enough water-worn stones to make an Englishman feel at home.

In case I'm on a roll ....

... I thought I'd try a couple more photos, taken from the top of Mt Rodgers, just behind our house. Perhaps my 'hiccups' of the past few days have settled down (and I'm not nearly as cranky as I was).

Anyway, I hope I haven't spoken too soon as tomorrow is my

2nd Blogging Birthday.

I'll have to take the camera out and see what I can find to celebrate.

KERRI - so far, so good! .....

.... and as a token of my gratitude, may I present you with one dead seahorse.


Yes, folks, after a personal phone call from The White House, USA - (it's true - Kerri DOES live in a white house) - I was badgered, cajoled, encouraged, and in no uncertain terms told to pick myself up off the floor, get back to the computer, and stop being an idiot (or words and thoughts to that effect .... lol).

So, following Kerri's detailed instructions (they need to be for me) I have uploaded a photo of this brilliant, though dead, specimen - and I hope it stays there. Yes, Kerri, it was very easy, even for me.

Thank you also to other bloggers for your nice comments and words of advice and encouragment. It means a lot.

'Alice'

SORRY FOLKS ....

... BUT THIS NEW BLOGGER PROGRAM IS THE BIGGEST LOAD OF RUBBISH EVER DEVISED.

I'M TOTALLY FED UP WITH IT AND CONSEQUENTLY WILL BE TAKING A VERY LONG BREAK FROM BLOGGING - POSSIBLY A PERMANENT ONE.

'ALICE'

SEE Photos, SEAweed - hopefully!

I have for the moment given up on the photos for the previous posting. Maybe these shots of different sorts of seaweed and one dead seahorse, all on the same beach, will be successful.

Guerilla Bay

Guerilla Bay is a tiny beachside town on the south coast of New South Wales. My grandchildren love to explore the rock pools, and now that they've learned to snorkel, the area has even more delights for them. It was a very overcast day when we were there last week, but the cliffs were quite interesting for someone who just happened to have a camera with them.