baby it's cold outside

Well, I am most happy to say that we did got our snow. Our (likely) one downfall for the year. Though not as heavy as previous years. It started off as a sunny, crystal clear day, and then a huge blackish wall of cloud came over in the early afternoon. The hail started, then the rain and finally the snow. While we didn't get a lot at home, a ten minute drive into the mountains didn't disappoint. I must say that local snow never fails to bring a little excitement to life here. The silent, delicate fall of snow never ceases to amaze me. I think I get as excited as the kids do!

I love that we get to experience all the different seasons here. From scorching Summers to the occasional snowy Winters. The warm fire, hot chocolate and tea were appreciated just that little bit more than usual on our return home.

But the snow is a pretty fleeting thing here. This morning it was for the main part gone, apart from the odd patch near the river with mountains appearing as if they had a sprinkling of icing sugar.

The cold chill in the air remains.  True windy Alpine weather today. The perfect excuse for a little time on the sewing machine and at the knitting needles, don't you think?


Wishing you all a very good weekend.

morning light

The morning light revealed a few little things to me this morning. The fog is coming back. As is the morning dew. I suspect that the first frost is not too far away.

Daniel said the tinge of pink in the sky meant more rain. Not that we really need it.

I need to dust.

Do you like my little chipped cup? It was picked up in a teeny tiny little old wares shop in Warburton. We don't go to exotic locations, but it's nice to have a few little reminders of our trips.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

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Ours was a weekend full of baking and food. While it stormed outside I did a little knitting and reading. I tried to dry the washing.

The last picture was not retouched in any way. The end of a storm combined with the sun setting, cast a surreal glow over our valley. It was beautiful.

How was your weekend?

a garden tour

It has been a rather strange summer her weather-wise. Rain, even a light frost and temperatures soaring into the forties. Unfortunately this erratic weather has played havoc in the garden this year. The year before last I successfully grew many vegies from seed. But it wasn't to be this year. Almost every seed I planted failed to come up, and those that did mysteriously disappeared. I think it may be to a big increase in snails in the garden.

 

Lettuce, though so successful the year before, shot straight to seed as soon as the temperature soared.

 

There might have been one or two tantrums involved.  

 

Though it has been incredibly frustrating this year, it is not all doom and gloom. Let me show you around.

This picture was taken last week, and the perpetual spinach, silverbeet and parsley have now tripled in size after the latest rains. Purchased as seedlings.

The corn seedlings have grown huge and you can see many husks developing. I'm quite excited as I've never grown corn before. Some locals plant them all around their vegie gardens as a protection against our harsh Summer weather.

Tiny tomato seedlings have been growing like crazy. About four have survived. I had one full sized tomato plant survive despite planting about 6.

Here is the back of the garden. Needing weeding. Everything there is from last year and has completely gone to seed.

Let's move onto the rest of the garden.

Two of the apple trees we planted the year before last fruited this year. Above is a Lord Lambourne. You can see some hail damage there, but they were all still edible. Actually, they were delicious.  That combination of a crisp, juicy but dry crunch that you just don't get in supermarket apples. Sweetness with a tang.

Our Leighton Green Leylandii has grown to head height. We have a few lines of them running around the boundary, mixed with privet, photinia, butterfly bush and vibernum.
On the subject of Leylandii and neighbours I read a very interesting article here.

I couldn't tell you what this is - a day lily?  Note the dead grass in the background.

Perhaps the Autumn plantings will be a little more successful that the Summer.

As each season passes, we are learning more about the micro climate on our block, which will change as plants grow. The general climate here is rather harsh and with some altitude. With drying winds and scorching sun. There are ways around it, and many seasoned local gardeners are willing to share their experiences.

It is all a learning curve.

How has your garden been growing?  Have you had a successful /unsuccessful season? Or are you in the planning stage of your garden?

out and about

Perhaps the best thing about hubby and son attending a four wheel drive show on the weekend, was the the close proximity to several large op shops and that big craft shop. It had been several years since I'd visited the area. Somehow, I think in comparison to where we live now, it felt so noisy. But a little exciting to this now-country-girl. It seems a change of scenery can be a good thing every now and then. Strip shopping, to me, is far more pleasant that those over-sized shopping centres. The op shops were open all Saturday, and they were full of people. I even met a lovely blog reader in one shop (Hi Lauren!).

That big craft shop was positively bustling with people, and though I was forced to hide in an aisle (a wool aisle unfortunately..) to feed Violet, I still managed to come home with a few pieces of Japanese lawn fabric and a little too much wool. It seems I could not resist all those lovely balls of wool at such a (comparitively) small price.

And on the way home I was told that I missed out on a really good day at the show. Maybe next time.

the snake

We had a little drama here over the weekend. I thought Julia's picture story would give you a rough idea (though please excuse Luca's added comment bubble) Daniel saw our younger dog Sootie with a snake. A brown snake. And right in out driveway next to the house where I unload the car. I know. How freaky. She had attacked the snake and then ran off to hide. After the snake was taken care of, we examined Sootie, and though she was running around like normal we could tell that something wasn't quite right.

Luckily the vet was available for such an emergency and he met Daniel and the kids at his surgery. After warning us of the high veterinary bill at the end of it all.  A blood test confirmed that she had indeed been bitten. Her blood was no longer clotting.

So she had her various sedation, anti-reaction and anti-venom shots. Thankfully she pulled through. We picked her up the next day. With a lighter bank balance, but knowing that we did the right thing. Grateful that it happened when Daniel was home.

There is always a danger of snakes in the bush. Our village is right in the bush, near a river. We live in their environment, so sightings are inevitable. But it is concerning and frightening to see a deadly snake right next to your house. Right where the kids often play. Where you unload the shopping.
The lesson we are learning in all this is to always be careful where you tread. To always wear shoes. And never leave doors open.

Have you had a snake experience?

a tree of sticks

This year we hit upon a tree dilemma. While our plastic white tree has served us well, and no doubt will again, we wondered just how safe it was to have around a crawling little one with curious fingers and a tendency to pull herself up on certain things.

Keen to avoid a tree and ornament catastrophe, and ever the practical problem solver, the hubby promised that he would find an alternative.

So we found ourselves on the weekend gathering sticks, pinecones and branches at The Shed. Though the land is filled predominantly with eucalypts, there is old schoolhouse foundations on the site and they are surrounded by a very old group of pine trees. It has been my christmas go-to site for years. It is a pinecone and mossy branch treasure trove.

When we got home we propped the sticks in my yarn basket (still with the yarn in it) , which Daniel tied with a little more wool to hold in place. A piece of scrap fabric popped over the top and it was ready to go.

 

This stick tree kind of lent itself well to the handmade touches this year. Most of my usual glass baubles were just a bit too big (though Luca did sneak his in there).

Some made by me, some by the kids, with a little op shop Santa thrown in and a few vintage glass ornaments from Etsy last year.

In fact I put most of our decorations back in their wrapping this year. For some reason,  we were inclined to have a simpler, pared down version of christmas. Just some special little decorations that felt like they meant something to us. With a little nature thrown in. A few jugfulls of pine branches for that christmas tree scent. A bowl of pinecones. Just simple stuff.


Wishing you all a wonderful and calm Friday in the midst of this busy season.

this week

 1. Birthday cake batter.
2. Drawer rearranging.
3. This weeks rose - a David Austin.
4. One of his favourite series - Tashi.
5. Another trike fan.
6. Library haul.
7 & 8. Op shopping.
9. Julia's current reading pile - though some are just a little too advanced.
10. School christmas craft.

Hoping you are all having a pleasant Friday.