A Touch of Frost ......

....... to cool down our sweltering friends in the Northern Hemisphere.

Only a light frost this morning, but our maximum temps are barely reaching double figures (C), and we may even have snow in Canberra by mid-week.

It's been our first real winter for several years, and I for one, am enjoying it.

Of course, being warm does help!

Winter Weather

Ah, winter ....... leafless trees,

fogs and frosts,

clouds and cold,

but .....

.... the jonquils are flowering !!!

Winter Walk

A sunny afternoon and the great outdoors beckoned. A stroll around the hill and a little winter scenery.

There was a cold south-easterly wind blowing, but for goodness sake -

IT WASN'T THIS COLD!!!

All DONE!

Twenty-nine jars of stewed apples (apple sauce), from the buckets pictured below, which should just about keep us going until the next harvest. I kept aside about another 15 large apples for eating. I'll be sorry when they're all gone as they have been so delicious.

...... and, touch wood, ALL of the jars appear to have sealed!

No More Doctors ......

The old saying goes "An Apple a Day, Keeps the Doctor Away", so at this rate we shouldn't have to see a doctor for many days. Richard picked the last of the Granny Smith apples off our one tree this week as the birds were finding their way under the nets and pecking at the fruit.

I haven't weighed the apples but by the time I've finished peeling and slicing what is here I'll be wishing the birds had eaten a lot more!

Granny Smiths are usually regarded as a cooking apple but these are so crisp, juicy and sweet that we've been eating them raw for weeks now. They don't need any added sugar when cooked either. Looks like I'll have to go to a charity shop tomorrow and buy some more jars. So, guess what I'll be doing this week - or forever.

Goodbye to the Shortest Day!

Old Habits Die Hard

During 30 odd Canberra winters, the oft heard cry in this house was "Shut the door", ie. passage door, loungeroom door, family room door, or nearly any other door, in order to try and keep the heat in the rooms in which we happened to be at that moment. No need to worry too much about the bedroom doors because there was no heating in them anyway.

Having had ducted heating installed last week, we now have to reverse the habits of the last 3 decades. The doors have to be left open so that the warm air can circulate and find its way back to the return air vent in the front hallway. I'm now opening doors almost at the same rate that I used to close them, especially as I don't think Richard quite believes that the rooms will stay warmer with the doors open. Seems illogical, doesn't it?

The heating was been very welcome during this very cold week, and it really got a good workout during Tuesday morning's -5º frost. I happily report that it was more than adequate to the task.

The Joy of a Warm House

After almost 32 years in this house - it's finally WARM!

Having only had a gas heater on the loungeroom wall at one end of the house, and no heating at all in the bedrooms throughout Canberra winters, the ageing bones finally told us that it was time to spoil ourselves a little and install ducted heating.

Yesterday it was switched on for the first time and the difference is amazing. It's not just that I'm comfortably warm whichever room I walk into, but also the absence of 'shock' when going into unheated rooms or cold patches.

No, we didn't freeze for 32 years, although my children may try and tell you otherwise.

No longer will my grandchildren be able to say, "No, we're not going to Grandma's, it's too cold over there."....lol

Fauna and Flora - a couple of Aussie Natives

These two Magpies sat in a Eucalypt tree and warbled melodiously for shoppers at Hall markets on Sunday.

(I can't believe they've gone again! ...STUFF IT!)

Despite the cold of a Canberra winter and continuing lack of rain there are still a few spots of colour in the garden, such as this Native Hibiscus. It flowers almost continuously throughout the year with brilliant purple flowers. The leaves are very similar to the lemon-scented pelargonium. I also have a white variety of the hibiscus, but it is yet to flower.

"What a Difference a Day Makes" or "Five Months and a Little Rain"!

Last Wednesday we drove from Canberra to Wangaratta and home again on Thursday. This is the same trip that we did at New Year, but what a change of scenery then and now. Below are eight photos taken from the Mt Parnassas Lookout above Gundagai - four taken at New Year and four taken on Thursday. I'm sure you'll agree that the difference is remarkable and very pleasing.

However, don't for one moment think that the drought is over. There has been enough rain to green the grass, put a little water in the dams and wash off the dust. Winter has arrived and it's now too cold for there to be any growth to the grass, and I fear that much of the real pasture has died out only to be replaced by weeds.

Nevertheless, it was such a pleasant change to see this hope of better times to come.