Category: All things weather

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🧶 Autumn Activities…..

So what do you do when you think the longed for rain is on it way but when some actually arrives it fizzles out two seconds later leaving everything slightly damp but not wet…….and not as warm as you’d like it to be?

Looking for something to do sounds good (wash clean cook iron…..no definitely not those sorts of things 🤭 ) something like rustling up a book plus something to keep your hands busy while you wait a while in a comfy armchair until the front has passed and some warmer air plus sunshine arrives

I gave up on A Lesson in Dying very early on. Couldn’t relate to it at all, picked it up – put it down- after a while decided I wasn’t in the least bit interested in who did the headmaster in. So……chose Lying beside You from ‘the pile’…..see this post

Here it is propped up by contents of my knitting bag (a very handy book rest – if the balls of wool wouldn’t move each time I turned a page).

Starting to renew my acquaintance with Cyrus and Evie (this is book 3 in the series) it’s been a while since I read the first two so some revision in the form of glancing at online reviews had to take place. The back of Mia’s jumper also got an airing and some rows added. The pattern says knit 102 rows then shape shoulder……by golly it seems to be taking forever to knit them. But then my mind has been elsewhere ……concentrating on the charity knits from a couple of weeks ago

Ta Da……Two boy’s shirts are finished – there are plans for more
when I get round to it

Slightly off topic…..

Not me…

Our cooler Autumn nights now mean changes to nightwear…..sleeveless cotton nighties have been retired, arms (and legs) need covered so my silky pyjamas have made their seasonal appearance once more. Why the emphasis on silky ones?

So I can roll over in bed is the answer 😊

For some reason other pyjamas cling to the sheets which means I’m waking up feeling a bit ‘strangled’ in places, floundering about straightening tops and bottoms and having to sit up to roll over. Any attempt to do it lying down often results in some strong language coming out of my mouth as twisting can cause discs and nerves to come in contact with each other – I’m certainly not happy when that happens

It’s a different story when I wear my slippery silky pyjamas – they just slide and glide over the bottom sheet so there’s no friction at all.
And they have a smooth sleek s*xy feel to to them as well…..nothing wrong with that is there🤭😉

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Unraveled Wednesday … ..hosted by Kat encourages bloggers to chat about their craft, reading and life in general – pop over, see who’s come to visit- stay and say hello.

(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)

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🧶 It’s that time again…..

(Forecast Wednesday 26 February 36c/96f — 12c/53f)
Northerly winds = hot. No rain – again!

Sunrise and sunset times are changing
Very slowly the days are becoming shorter – nightfall is arriving slightly earlier.

I have to accept the season changes – there’s not much I or we can do about that….it’s the letting go of the light that bothers me, that gradual loss of daylight.
I don’t mind the cooler temperatures (to a point, says she who can’t get away fast enough when the cold arrives) but that loss of light drags me down.

It seems like only recently there was light in the sky at 5.30am. Now ‘all of sudden’ daylight isn’t arriving until 7am…..how did that happen
The evenings are starting to draw in with indoor lights being turned on about 8pm
This lovely season is slowly coming to an end…. and whether we like it or not Autumn will be here in a few days.

To those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, enjoy it……but don’t forget to send it back when your turn is done😊

*****

This cold virus plus everything else that went on beforehand certainly had me living the quiet life during January/February  I read quite a lot but did very little on the craft side – or even social media.  I’m reading a few blogs but my comments are few and far between…thank you to those who’ve left comments here…..I’m sure (well I hope) my ‘mojo’ will return sometime soon

The front of little Mia’s woolly hasn’t grown at all – I’m at the start of the bow, began the first row, checked the chart several times but couldn’t keep the count correct so pulled back to where I was – and then cast on a sleeve instead.  Nice and easy, no armholes so straight up and down, not quite mindless because of increases but not far off.

There was also some more finishing off of newborn cardigans for the social worker friend of a friend.  She’s obtained some  life sized baby dolls to familiarise young girls (some who have never been near an actual babe) with ‘handling’ and dressing.  The suggestion for those who were knitting was…..keep the garments simple, no ‘frilly lacey’ ones or outrageous modern styles – soft colours are pretty – bright is good but not dark.  These girls have enough ‘dark’ in their lives.  I was happy with that!

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Have any of you read this novel by Joanne Harris?

I found it in a ‘free library’ – appears ‘alright ’ I thought – it also appears (as far as Goodreads is concerned) that I read it back in 2017.
Maybe a reread will refresh my memory😊

Don’t laugh (and please do tell me this happens to others as well) …..but the same thing happened last week – I ‘fancied’ an Elly Griffith’s book recommended on a blog. Well according to my library history I have ‘previously read it’…….in 2021…..you’d think I’d remember that one 😟
.
So just to be on the safe side, this week I’m getting comfortable with a couple of Claire Keegan’s I know I definitely haven’t read before – Foster (short story 2010) plus So Late in the Day (a collection of short stories 2022). I’ve heard good things about both of them.

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Kat hosts  Unraveled Wednesday . which features Reading Crafting Chatting – you’ll find it all there – pop over, see what’s going on – stay and say hello.

(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)

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Well, hello there…

Looks like May has arrived- she’s eager isn’t she😊

April has only just left and here is May creeping in the front door.
I wonder what she has in store for us this year?
******

Yesterday morning (last day of April) – felt a bit chilly coming back from the pool. Not really ‘cold’ but very cloudy and autumnal looking

9am April 30

The little tree I pass has dropped most of its leaves – it seems to be well ahead of others down the road. Of course the big gums in the background will stay green giving a sort of half & half look to the street in the middle of winter when all the deciduous trees are completely bare.

April 30
April 15

And with a nod to my Anglo Irish heritage where a big topic of conversation would be — what else but The Weather.
Here’s a look at what I can expect for the next few days
Cool/cold nights and pleasant days
which is good because I’ll be out and about – some busy days coming up
(oh and tomorrow is today😊)

Late Autumn or Early Winter?

Fluffy sheets on the bed – slippers by the fire – old fashioned ways to keep The Golfer happy….and not complaining about his cold feet 😊

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On my mind….

After what seemed like months and months of rain when we thought La Niña and her rain clouds would never go away it’s been nice not to have to cart a brolly around all the time

But it’s becoming obvious that we really do need it – the rain that is

Most of my plants can cope without it – now they’re starting to miss it. Everything is becoming dry and brittle.
Agapanthus (possibly one of the hardiest plants ever) are even starting to die off round the edges

And as for the grass….
Yes I know it’s not a necessity- some would say it’s definitely not necessary in today’s suburban house blocks
This patch in our back ‘garden’ has never received special treatment over the past 50yrs.
It gets watered when it rains – cut when it grows- never fed.
Normally it looks green and ‘healthy’

November 2022

Doesn’t look like that at the moment 🙁

We’re nowhere near the pray for rain situation, Melbournes water storage levels are fine but last time I checked the one closest to us – Maroondah Dam at Healesville (30kms/30mins away) – it was only 64% full.

So a little bit of wet would be good.

https://www.melbournewater.com.au/water-and-environment/water-management/water-storage-levels#

Monday Musings – a time to ponder and think

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🧶 Things that made me smile. . .

Friday I packed Christmas away – taking it all down slowly brought the same Memory Lane smiles as putting it up
There was the looking at, touching, reminding myself of where things came from smiles as well as who was with me happy (and sad) thoughts.

Deciding on using two trees this year just meant it took a little bit longer. 

The ‘small tree’ is always set up on the hall table but the ‘big tree’ hasn’t made an appearance for several years now and wasn’t going to this year either except I had a ‘fit of the sentiments’ (as my mother would say for any unusual behaviour in us girls) and brought it indoors to enjoy for possibly the last time.

But having said that, I actually felt it quite comforting seeing it dressed and ‘twinkling’ away in the corner – especially in the evening just as the light outside was slowly fading.

Plus listening to grown, now very much adult in their 20s grandchildren oohing and aahing over baubles and other decorations (oh grandma I remember this one) makes me think this might not have been its swansong after all 😊

So as I said I went slowly, taking my time, making sure nothing was left behind – not tempting fate or encouraging bad luck – because the next day
Saturday was Twelfth Night!

*******.
Then there was this past weekend when hot humid days ( the ones referred to in the constant severe weather warnings) turned into humid wet days culminating in a torrential stormy yesterday (Monday). There was flooding and associated storm damage locally as well as many places statewide- some still reeling from their last bout of flooding. Locally we ended up with 50mm of rain but various country towns received over 100mm – nothing to smile about there! Poor Rochester still trying to rebuild after last year’s floods is being evacuated again !.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-weather-severe-storms-flash-flooding-regional-areas/a1808316-1d41-4841-970c-c10c85e0da3c


You do begin to wonder why the BOM declared El Niño had returned (meaning a long hot dry summer) since starting from the beginning of December with Cyclone Jasper in Qld, the whole east coast NSW Victoria as well as SA have been inundated with wet stormy weather.
https://the-riotact.com/what-happened-to-el-nino-does-the-bom-need-to-update-its-forecast-models/734309
*****

Anyway, putting all that aside (not that you can really) no cricket on tv and we’re ‘tennised out’ for the time being – (the United Cup, Brisbane & Canberra International have all finished, Adelaide and Hobart are on the go plus qualifying for the AO has just begun) . .
. . so spent yesterday safe and dry outside on the back deck. I had another idea for using up soft coloured leftovers and The Golfer had just started The Seven – Chris Hammer’s latest book.
We were both enjoying the carolling concert put on by a magpie who’d taken refuge from the pouring rain (not unusual- they often pop in and fly off) when there’s a whoosh and squark – one bedraggled cocky has arrived! .
This is going to be interesting I thought.
Each is a wild bird and I wasn’t sure whether they would tolerate each other being so close

They both sat there for a while- almost trying to outdo each other in the noise they were making. The Cockatoo kept looking at the Magpie – who just kept on carolling. The cocky looked at us as if for some sort of support

Then it went quiet – Maggie had flown off and cocky was sitting there with a ‘butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth ’ look

Of course he didn’t stay that way for long and sauntered over to entertain us as though he owned the place. Smiles all round as we sat there watching his ‘routine’ – then he tootled off over to join his mates in the big gum tree at the back. 


There was so much noise coming out of that tree I’m sure he was bragging about being ‘comfy and warm’ while they all flew around looking for a dry spot to rest up 😊

Sharing with Min’s Wednesday Words and Whimsy linkup found HERE


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Spring 2023 Week 8

Our week has been like this
Cool Cloudy Cold even
Warmish at times Wet to very wet at other times.
If the sun shone it was a welcome change to the dull days

Tuesday was forecast to be dry and sunny so an executive decision made it sheet change day – yes, that’s the day I wrote about on Wednesday, the day when we went out and about and then I was faced with making bed late in the evening.

Anyway as we’re over half way through spring, each time a warmish day/night has turned up I’ve contemplated changing back to summer cotton sheets, then looked at the upcoming overnight forecasts and decided ‘No, we’ll stick with the warm and cosy ones I told you all about a couple of years ago.

Here in my outer east foothills suburb Tuesday’s o/night was 3c/37f – Wednesday was the same – Thursday 5c/41f…..whatever way you look at it it was cool chilly or if you think like me ‘down right cold’.
Good thinking Catherine!
Tonight’s forecast is for similar so Warm and Cosy is the way to go for a little while longer I think😊

Highlight of the week was lunch at Healesville – a belated birthday lunch for us both – not on sunny Tuesday but a cloudy wet Monday
No food photos but one from the upstairs lounge

View from lounge at The Golfer’s 2nd home in Healesville
Mt Riddell in the centre

Mount Riddell (829m/2 720ft a.s.l.) is a mountain in the Great Dividing Range in Australia. The prominence is 162m/531ft.
source


Last September the BOM declared that our three wet years of La Niña were over and we were now in El Niño phase – very dry hot days ahead. Even though we whinge a bit because we’re a little chilly at the moment and it would be nice if it was warmer, there were some very hot days (almost heatwave conditions) last month, and four states have experienced bush fires already so it’s definitely not looking too good for our summer

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/.

https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/news/2023/september/expert-commentary-el-nino

https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-forecast-australia-2023-la-nina-el-nino-explainer/40c4efbd-42cc-4426-8d75-bb6757aa455c

He’s back: What the return of El Niño means

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🧶 Seeing Red..

Even though we’ve experienced life in these cabins over countless winters since 2008 I am still finding it a struggle to keep our ‘tiny house’ tidy. I’m continually picking up and putting away. It’s not that we brought our whole life with us – I think we’ve just got out of the habit of containing all our stuff like we’ve done in the past.. I had some thoughts (HERE) on this size of living space in a blog post a few years ago and still can’t make up my mind on it

A tidy day 2016

Consequently (as I’ve often mentioned) we ‘live’ outside – (which is how it should be considering we’re up here in The Dry Tropics to enjoy the warmer winter days) – we’re just not living quite as outside as those around us though. The camping in all guises lifestyle would be great in sunny weather although I’m not so sure about it when the skies are dark and grey and heavy.

And even though, more often than not when the skies darken here at this time of the year nothing ‘comes of it’, I definitely feel better retiring under the solid roof of my ‘tiny house’

This year there’s been an awful lot of afternoons spent in the little sitting area outside the cabin. True to form books and craft are always at the ready with plastic tubs and esky coming in handy as makeshift ‘tables’ – or footstools. Blanket squares are the go at the moment- there was a huge amount of red left from the large bag my friend provided for the notorious stranded jumper so I’m using it to help out another acquaintance with something I know won’t be returned. No nonsense simple easy 40sts 20cm 8ply garter st squares
means I can read or watch tv at the same time – or even just close my eyes

Sunday we took a drive up the hill to look down on the harbour. Mainly to see how much traffic there was in the marina but also to watch the sky. It definitely looked like Storm clouds were a comin’ ….yet we were foiled again! They moved on inland.

Not so on Monday – am & pm – wasn’t exactly tropical, was it😕

13c/55f…..16c/60f. Plus ‘feels like’ much lower!

And like most everyone else in the park who ‘stayed home’ waiting for the weather to break and the temps to rise, this is how I (and The Golfer I might add) ended up spending most of the day. Lounging around on the bed with a previously unread children’s classic (and those easy knit squares) to keep me company.

No complaints from me though
dry sunny is forecast here for the rest of the week
cold and showery with possible frost back home!!.
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Sharing with Denyse’s weekly link up Wednesday’s Words & Pics.
Why don’t you pop over and see who’s visiting her today

Also joining in with Kat and others at Unraveled Wednesday .
Where there’s lots of knitting and reading and general chit chat going on

And Don’t Forget – if you want to see it best……Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge

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🧶 Gosh, what am I going to do with that…

My initial reaction to a gift I was given late last year

…..”Mum ordered this online – it’s described as Pale Marigold but isn’t exactly what she thought it would be, she thinks it’s too bright . She knows you knit for charity and you’ll welcome it..

(‘Mum’ is a longtime friend who moved to another suburb
daughter lives locally)
~ ~ ~ ~

By the time I took this photo back in early March (for a post I had in mind but never got round to) I’d had a rethink – yes, it’s a bit bright – not quite orange..not quite yellow…youngsters like bright, I’d rephrased my thoughts to something like – Never look a gift horse In the mouth – because I knew it would be welcome wherever it went and by whoever wore it.

So another tried and true pattern had come out of the pile. Styled for a little girl, with a lace panel on the front and sleeves but easily adapted for a boy by leaving them off.
Then I got sidetracked and this was put to one side – it’s only just recently I’ve been able to say that from the 300gms I’d been gifted I managed to produce both a jumper/sweater and cardigan (similar sizing) adding the same lacy design to both of them

With a mind going round in circles recently, I’ve begun to take slow walks again.
The piles of recently fallen leaves at the local park reminded me that nothing (or very little) lasts forever and to enjoy life in whatever way you can.
Those thoughts plus the addition of some beautiful sunny days helped chase the blues away

So what if I had to drive to a place that was within walking distance – those extra 500m downhill one way (then uphill coming back – with no conveniently placed roadside benches,) would have had me exhausted.
It’s what happens there that makes the difference 😊

Feeding the inner child

And the book I began – In a Strange Room – well unlike the knitting, I didn’t return and finish it…..it’s sitting on the shelf waiting for me to pick it up – sometime.

It’s Wednesday again
the first Wednesday in a (another) new month
This time it’s the first Wednesday in May 2023.

So I’m sharing today’s post at Denyse’s weekly link up called Wednesday’s Words & Pics . Why don’t you pop over and see who’s there this week

( Does anyone know where April went?)

#staypositive

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Thursday Thoughts….

You’ll have to bear with me this morning
this is going to be one of my rambling posts

It’s been raining since we got home end of September (it was raining before we left and according to family sources it rained the whole 12 weeks time we were away as well) – there have been wet days and decidedly wetter cold days, much much colder than we’ve been used to at this time of the year – think Winter temps (4/5c) put the heating on days –

Not the sort of weather we usually have two weeks before Summer officially begins

Tuesday evening

but to be fair, interspersed amongst these…..see above days….there have been some traditional warm sunny Spring like ones.
Days when there have been windows and doors open, T-shirts worn, winter woollen blankets drying in the sunshine, the sound of lawn mowers around the neighbourhood. And smiles on people’s faces.

Anyway, not long after getting home, watching the national weather forecast on one of those cold wet miserable days I jokingly remarked ‘we should have stayed in Qld a bit longer’ – it would have been warmer….and dryer’ – The Golfer then reminded me – ‘remember the last week were there, how hot (and humid) it was’. The high temperatures came out of nowhere, one week pleasant middle 20s…the next it shot up to 30c with warm nights

Our last week in Bowen


Temps up there are still high…..they haven’t changed, the daytime forecasts have consistently been 30° or higher – with higher night temps than we complained about.
Courtesy of our third visit from La Niña, like all the eastern states they’ve also had more than their usual amount of rain

This coming week in Bowen









So I’ve changed my mind and all those thoughts I’d been harbouring about a free and easy (warmer) life up there have fizzled out.

This is what the weather boffins have been telling us about the delightful La Niña
It’s going to be hanging around until next year!

La Niña typically increases the chance of above average rainfall for northern and eastern Australia during spring and summer and the chance of warmer days and nights in northern Australia during spring. source

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/26/la-nina-weather-pattern-australia-to-end-in-early-2023-bom-bureau-predicts

If anyone asks me what I want for Christmas – my answer is:-
For someone to turn the tap off please 😊

~ ~ ~ ~

And look SparklingM at what I wrote about back in October 2009.
https://cranethie.com/2009/10/08/thursday-thoughts/

Those paddocks were flooded as far as the eye could see last time we drove past

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Do you fancy lunch….

‘Come on we’ll go out for a drive and maybe stop for lunch somewhere’.
Days come and go in our house, even special ones and there was nothing really planned for last Wednesday (12th)
I did think….lovely – it’ll save me having to cook on my birthday😌

Not a lot to see as we drove along under grey cloudy skies and from the direction The Golfer took I thought we’d end up in Healesville but surprise, surprise, the car turned right at a ‘favourite’ winery. Zonzo Estate – on the Healesville – Yarra Glen Road.

We chose a spot inside…..too cold and windy outside….lots of other people there so the tables by the fire were already taken
But hey, the whole of the restaurant was cosy and warm and I knew the food was going to be good.

Slow cooked lamb in red wine accompanied with roasted potatoes
Folded Italian pastry filled with strawberry and hazelnut chocolate
Nougat gelato encased in meringue, domed on top of a sponge

A trip to the loo (just outside the main building but top class just like inside) means wandering along beside the little herb garden surrounded by a rustic fence made from realistic ‘metal’ pickets.
Wisteria hanging from the pergola, a very large garden urn on a pedestal , a dividing wall of logs plus views of the vineyard all help to soften this service area.

Unfortunately just as we were leaving the rains did arrive so I didn’t stop to take more photos.
I’m not grumbling because that was the start of this ‘weather event’ we’ve been experiencing in Victoria. Thursday turned out to be a doozy of a day…..resulting in one many Victorians will remember for a long time.
It would appear all the eastern states are now struggling to contend with the aftermath of floods.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-breaking-news-today-latest-headlines-live-october-14-2022-weather-updates/0a05d80d-cc0f-420f-9a4d-24da9e7c2d7b

https://www.9news.com.au/videos/weather/clean-up-begins-in-victorian-town-devastated-by-floods/cl9aefm3i001q0jlwy19etn1o

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Wednesday’s Words & Pics is hosted by Denyse – pop over and see what interesting blogs have linked this week. Perhaps you’d like to join in as well.

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Four days on the road…..

(Sometimes through a dirty windscreen – sometimes at about 100km an hour 😎)

We left Bowen driving south and said goodbye to cane fields at Proserpine with the little ‘cane train’ railway that runs across the road and where the mill (like others in the area) was working non stop processing the harvest.

Smiled again at the fun signs on the road to Rockhampton (aka locally as Rocky 😊)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockhampton

Had what (at first glance) looked like a very ordinary curry for dinner
Never doubt the talent of pub staff of Indian origin – local beef plus spices
Delicious!

Drove off early the next morning, waving to the ‘bull’ on the roundabout.
See ya next year!

We crossed rivers and creeks – some with water because of recent heavy rains…..some still dry….but waiting until the wet arrives further north later in the year and the water runs south when they and the nearby floodplains will fill.

And it’s that annual flooding rain (plus the flooding caused by recent La Niña events) as well as the constant heavy road transport vehicles (Road Trains) that has cause ‘pothole hazards’. Reasonably easy to see and hopefully manoeuvre safely around in daylight (not good for your car if you don’t) almost invisible at night or worse still downright dangerous when covered in water.

We found the overtaking lane round the corner where we ‘dutifully’ didn’t speed up but let others pass……

Including this big brute further down the road – not that we’d have much option where he was concerned 😟

Lots of other ‘big things’ moving along the road…..as well as…..
well, we’re not sure where this one was trying to go – the shredded tyre tells the tale!
(Nobody hurt and luckily no stock on board)


My last fish ‘n chip pub meal for a while I think – you can only have so much of a good thing. My water was served in a very ‘posh’ crystal looking glass 😊

Another early morning start, a goodbye wave at the Gunsynd statue in the border town of Goondiwindi – then across into NSW.

Where for most of the day it was All Change 🙁☔️

Nothing to see but rain until late in the day when we found a rainbow!

And guess what greeted us the next morning ……yes, more of the same😊

A dreary drive made better by ☕️ & 🍰 at the Tocumwal Pavilion across from the river

Source

Then it was over the Murray and into Victoria.
(I was driving so no photos – the river was the highest I’ve ever seen it)
Things changed, became brighter so by lunchtime we had blue skies and fields of gold

No matter where we’ve been or how long we’ve been away I always have a little smile when this view at a roundabout near Yarra Glen appears. It means we’re nearly home!
Just another 20km to go!
The tv masts on the hills are those very same ones I can see from another angle – much closer to home – from my little library 2km from home 😊

For the next few days we thought Spring had arrived – the sun shone, it was pleasantly warm and a lot of the garden plants thought so too.
The clocks changed – happy summer days are on their way!

Unfortunately the weather had other ideas……it’s back to wind cheaters and tracky dacks round the house plus brollies at the ready if I venture out! This was the forecast yesterday when I was putting this together. Warm clothing still needed.
Come on Spring…it’s nearly November- come out come out wherever you are!

(Please don’t think my whinging about the weather here in Victoria doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about those in other states who are once again ‘living with heavy rain storms and possible flooding’. It must feel like living in a war zone with the prospect of more destruction coming their way….and – rightly or wrongly- we have been led to believe – not much help coming from governments.)

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Linked to Wednesday’s Words & Pics hosted by Denyse – you’ll find many interesting blogs there. Perhaps you’d like to join in as well.

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🧶 Winter Day90

How strange that the first day of our Winter (June 1) was a Wednesday and here we are at the last day (August 31) and it’s also a Wednesday!

Day1 at home in Victoria was the day we went for a drive in the rain (https://cranethie.com/2022/06/02/winter-day-1/) – I’m not sure how today will pan out but yesterday (Day90) here outside my little cabin in Queensland it was also wet!


Unlike Day1 when he didn’t play – on Day90 The Golfer decided maybe it wouldn’t be that bad…..it was the Veterans afternoon and ‘we can’t let the side down’ so just after lunch, waterproofs and brolly at the ready he headed out.

By early afternoon it was coming down in bucket loads

And had turned cool – well much cooler than it had been😌

But certainly nothing like it was at home!


Me – well I gathered up my blanket (to keep my toes warm) new library books
latest knitting project, parked myself on the bed and settled down
to enjoy an afternoon doing as I like on my own

He was home just after 4pm……a little wet and a bit subdued. Still doesn’t enjoy playing in the rain so didn’t stop for a drink in the club house…..something he usually enjoys
(reliving the game with all and sundry😊)

Me – well I was comfy so suggested he might like pop down and get pizza for dinner!.
Thanks for your suggestions
I’ll think about doing something with those egg plants another day !
~ ~ ~ ~

On the needles
The makings of another shirt similar to last week. I’ll do the ‘grandad neck’ on this one

Library books.
Violeta by Isabel Allende. ~ Her new release but my first read of any of hers
Cooktown by Andreas Heger. ~ A debut novel by a new to me Australian author

~ ~ ~ ~

As it is Wednesday why not visit…..  Unraveled Wednesday  hosted by Kat…….As Kat Knits.  where there’s lots more knitting (and reading) to admire and think about

Linking to Wednesdays Words & Pictures …….Hosted by Denyse

#enjoyeverymoment

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🧶 Cold weather comfort knitting

On winter days like we’ve been having recently when the leaves have dropped – the roses have been pruned – and fires like this one are lit I’m sure little jumpers like these below will be welcome

These three multi coloured 2yr woolies are my latest contribution to my charity donation box They’re what I call ’me do its’ – meaning that by having the back & front worked the same it doesn’t matter which way they’re put on by independent young ones.

Made from a simple pattern gifted to me a while ago. It’s sized for a 20” chest/18 mths but with the body being straight up and down (no shaping) it’s easy to make larger …more stitches/wider….more rows/longer…plus add extra stitches/length for a larger sleeve. The pattern actually has a decorative stitch but often, like with these three I make something that looks entirely different.

So what are all you other crafters up to – I’m interested to know what’s on your needles or hooks – under your sewing machine needles or even on your hoops

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Winter Day1

No golf for The Golfer (nobody wanted to play in the rain) – no choir for me (conductor still feeling crook after her bout of covid last week) so we decided to go for a drive.
Yes in the rain on the first day of Winter!

Up the road behind the bus, past the school, to the bottom of the hills and then up twisty turny Mt Dandenong Road to the top. The only thing that was warm was the restaurant card burning a hole in our pocket

We were going for lunch at a favourite little cafe – Ranges at Olinda

The (still partly loaded) card had been in the cupboard since before Covid appeared so by rights had expired and the remaining balance lost – a phone call to the company changed that so soup for two with sourbread, followed by a small quiche salad and (chips) halved used the last of a 2019 Christmas gift.

(From website)

The food was good as usual – sorry no pictures because I was so busy talking to my man plus the very congenial staff I forgot. Feeling nice and warm and full we came on back down the mountain a little more cautiously.
Low misty cloud made it look like a Chicken Little sky…..it really had fallen!

And the gift card turned out to be a gift that just kept on giving.
As we were leaving this flyer was pointed out to us. Hospitality lost so much during lockdowns so to encourage people back to ‘dining out’ the state government came up with a rebate scheme…..

So 25% of the price we paid – in kind via the card – didn’t matter how you paid – will be returned to us…..which will be enough for another two coffees and cake up at Ranges 😊😊

#enjoyeverymoment

Linking to Denyse’s ~ Life’s Stories. Pop over to read her reflections and thoughts about life past and present and possibly to come

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Allo..Allo..Allo

What do we have here – the first day of June – you know what that means
It’s the day that is deemed to be the first day of Winter here in Australia.

Our seasons change the first of the month not the 21st like in the Northern Hemisphere

Officially our Summer starts on January 1st – Autumn on March 1st

Winter on June1st and Spring on September 1st

I grizzle and groan at this time of the year – often the weather is cold, wet and miserable. We all know ‘cold’ is relative to where you live  – compared to other places our cold here in Melbourne is not really cold (average winter lows of about 4c which is about 39f)  – I can’t remember the last time we had a real frost – so when I complain, its not really about the weather, its more about the fact that I have to put more clothes on☹️

What do you mean – these are not winter shoes??

There is one thing I do know about this time of the year – as sure as fate – a particular brand of chocolate comes on sale..it’s winter, it’s cold, there’s no way it’s going to melt😊😊

So all I have to say (remind myself more like) is……..

I’ll have accepted it by tomorrow morning – which hopefully is warmer than yesterday

Yesterday afternoon – about 4.30pm Tuesday 31 May

ps – and if you are under the impression that ’it doesn’t get cold in Sydney’ pop over to Kylie’s blog eclectica where she will let you in on the secret that – it just ain’t so……it does get cold cold in Sydney

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Last days or early ones

Are these the last days of Autumn or are they early Winter ones?

Monday 16 May

Whichever – it’s definitely getting cooler
Soup for lunch is becoming the norm – grainy bread, cheesy crackers, tea and a book

Yesterday was a bit of sunshine – then dodge the showers as I pottered around outside

And sadly a new neighbour has cut down Berts’s beautiful Liquid Amber whose orange red leaves always made a glorious display at this time of the year – sadly they kept the scraggy one whose leaves I noticed yesterday never colour up in the same way

Seasons come & Seasons go – ours is definitely changing. How’s yours?

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And so it goes….

The world is turning……the autumn equinox is upon us – about 3.30am tomorrow – March 21st

Equal day & night – well almost 😊

The sun rose at 7.22am this morning and will set 7.33pm this evening

And if I hadn’t turned around in the supermarket I would’ve missed this 👇

It must be a recent addition because I’ve never seen it before

Similar – not quite the same as last week’s

Pull up a seat can be found HERE ~ https://xingfumama.blog/2022/03/18/pull-up-a-seat-photo-challenge-2022-week-11/

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S’now secret…..

You must have heard me mention that warm weather is my friend
I don’t do Winter

When the weather cools down I want to run away and hibernate

So this is my preferred way to pass the time

At the beach doing nothing 😊

Hook Island Qld

For a few years when I was a very little girl we lived on the south coast of England and almost daily visited the stony pebble beach at Southsea
Mum said I loved it, never wanted to leave and would be a handful on the way home 

Seemingly I knew what I liked even at that age lol

With the winter Olympics finishing up soon
I think its a good time to reveal something to you

There was one week in early February 1961 – (I know -thats a very long time ago)

When I had the time of my life and even enjoyed the cold weather

Doing what you say

Skiing – says I 

– yes – 

Snow Skiing ⛷⛷

Dad was serving with the RAF in Cyprus at the time – so as a family we were living in the beautiful island in the Mediterranean.

The youth club went to the Troodos Mountains for a few days

And here for your amusement is Catherine practising for the down hill event 

Bet you never thought you’d see me frolicing in that cold white stuff lol

#enjoyeverymoment

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Did you know

Just a few things that might interest you today

  • If you replace W with T in What, Where and When….…..you get the answer to each of them.
  • If you look at the word ’swims’ upside-down, it’s still …swims
  • 100 years ago just about everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars……today just about everyone has a car and only the rich own horses.

Now here’s a little thought for you…..

  • It doesn’t matter how long that packet of jelly crystals you discovered lurking amongst some other boxes in the pantry has been there – the one you sort of knew was there but had never got round to using – the one with a very out of date ‘best before’ date
  • because ….seemingly a sealed bag of powdered gelatin and sugar has an indefinite shelf life. On the hot day I was looking for a cool dessert and decided to make it thinking ’in for a penny in for a pound’ it actually set!
    Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo to show you☹️

Generally, powdered gelatin, both unflavored and its derivates, comes with a best-by date. The date is there usually for legal reasons, not because the product will spoil or lose potency. So you can easily use dry gelatin for months or even years past that date. And if you scoured the Internet looking for the actual shelf life of dry gelatin, you would find quite a few places claiming it pretty much lasts forever:- source

Monday has arrived again…… we had a week of very hot, then very hot and humid days accompanied by thunderstorms and flash flooding over parts of the city and the state – but not in my suburb ☹️
Dry thirsty ground – dark stormy clouds – the rain fell….for 5 minutes…then went on its merry way elsewhere.

Wednesday

The BOM is telling us it looks like we’ll have another warm/hot week with possible rain – hopefully we’ll get a drop to drink this time.

I did manage to sort out one problem during those sticky ‘stay indoors with the cooling on’ days.
The blogger/blogspot commenting on my iPad (Safari) issue has been driving me bonkers – I fixed it early last year (or so I thought) only for it to reappear so had resorted to my phone. What a PITA situation!

Back to the all seeing all knowing Mr G (again) he who has the answers to all the things I don’t know or thought it would be interesting for me to know even if I hadn’t shown interest before😊
It seems ’cross site tracking’ was the culprit, the box has been unticked, and so far I haven’t been inundated with all sorts of nasties, have been able to leave comments here there and everywhere (when I’ve had time) and also appear to have fixed the clickable link problem as well.

~ ~ ~ ~

Gosh I’m ready for another cup of tea, all that talk has made me…to quote a very old friend (as in age and friendship) ‘dry as a pommies bath mat’. not doing too well at the cricket are they😎.

How was your week – Wet Dry Sunny Cloudy Warm Cold ?

Did you fix any long standing problems?

Linking to Life this Week. Why don’t you pop over and see who’s visiting Denyse today

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Temptation…

It was a bit chilly yesterday morning when I had to nip down to the library at Montrose – the one that sits at the bottom of the Dandenongs.  Chilly wasn’t the word for it – the wind blowing along Mt Dandenong Road was freezing.
Two weeks into Summer – two weeks before Christmas – and I’m wearing jeans and a windcheater. Which is why we don’t ’put away and store’ our clothes by the season here in Melbourne😊

I’d finished doing the other bits and pieces on my list (a list is definitely needed in the cold, the wind gives me brain freeze – well that’s my excuse) and making my way back to the car I had to walk past the bakery and what do I see but one of the girls filling the pie warmer.

Now meat pies are not normally found on our diet – they are what we call footy food.  Small not family sized, fits in the palm of your hand, eaten while still in a paper bag, – comfort food best eaten when the weather is cold and you’re at the footy oval.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_pie_(Australia_and_New_Zealand)

The ones I could see were not commercial factory made pies – oh no, these were freshly baked there on the premises, just out of the oven and looking so good.  So, as it was nearly 12 noon in I went and bought one.

‘Home is just a couple of kilometers away, if I don’t get caught at the lights it’ll still be nice and hot when I get back so I can have it for lunch’.

That’s what was being said in my head as I paid for it.

Reality set in when I got to the car, I was cold, I was hungry, I just couldn’t help myself – this hot pie didn’t stand a chance.  I sat there watching the traffic go by as I took a couple of snaps of the dark clouds over the hills……then ate it, savouring every morsel.  Delicious!!

Temptation is a desire to engage in short-term urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals – source

Linking to Life this Week hosted by Denyse at Denyse Whelan Blogs. 
Do pop over and see what others have been up to this week

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