Anzac Morning

 

 

Today is Anzac Day, so we were up early to watch the sunrise. Then we decided to drive out to the Mount Brown Conservation Park to enjoy the early morning quiet before the tourists found their way out there.

 

We walked over two kilometres before returning home to complete the household chores in time to watch the Anzac Day service broadcast from Villers-Bretonneux in France (something that has become a tradition in our house).

 

The early morning walk, and then later watching the sun rise over French fields on the television, made me think that Mother Nature is truly at her most beautiful first thing in the morning.

 

Autumnly.

 

Right up until Wednesday it still felt like summer. This time last weekend we were complaining about the seemingly never-ending heat.

 

Not so this weekend!

 

The weather is wonderful and so very autumnly: Plenty of sunshine and clear blue skies, but with a hint of coldness in the air, a promise that winter is just around the corner.

 

Autumn is my favourite time of year in the Ranges. The colours contrast and work well together: The evergreen foliage, the red tinge to the dirt and stone, the pale blue sky and the purple hue of the mountains.

 

Yesterday it was far too nice to be indoors, so we took a mini-adventure to a local gorge, and then out past the Willochra and into what I (sarcastically) refer to as "Death Valley"- an endless expanse of saltbush plains and stark mountain outcrops, completely void of trees.

 

Then we returned home for a cuppa and an afternoon snack, sat outside under the veranda, listening to the birds and the buzz of the town.

 

How are you enjoying the season?

 

The Week in Pictures...

 

A bit of a mish-mash of photos this week:

 

** I work in a small law firm where there is only the one solicitor. My level of busy depends on how much work they're filtering my way on any given day. If the flow is slow and sporadic, I tend to lose motivation and become bored pretty quickly. That was pretty much my entire week: Zero motivation, 100% boredom. That was until 4pm on Wednesday afternoon when the solicitor decided they wanted a week's worth of work completed in one hour. Boredom may drive me batty but the last-minute rush is not a preferred alternative.

 

** All day Thursday was First Aid training. It was nowhere near as boring as I thought it was going to be and I learnt a lot. One of the things I discovered is that I am not so good with open wounds, even the fake kind. However, if someone's not breathing and needs CPR, then I'm their girl - as long as they're not cut up and covered in blood or anything. Turns out I'm a bit squeamish. Who knew?

 

** Friday the rain came and stayed for two days. We ended up with more than 60mm, which is a phenomenal amount for this part of the world. Our water tanks are full, which means this week we can switch off the mains supply and return to running the house on rainwater. As long as we get regular, follow-up rain over winter and spring, we should have enough to get us through the summer. The garden has also received a good soaking. The weeds are loving it.

 

How was your week?

 

The Week in Pictures...

 

 

 

** At the start of the week we ventured out to a friend's property in search of firewood, and to get us out of the house for a few hours. It was sunny but the breeze was a little on the cool side. The land was barren - not a blade of grass. Normally at this time of year we would expect to see a gentle carpet of new green across the landscape, but this year the rains have been few and far between. However, we've our fingers crossed that with a negative Indian Ocean Dipole developing we'll be seeing an increase in the rainfall over the coming months.

 

** We did, however, get two full days of rain this week. In the end we received about 25mm in total, enough to sprout weeds rights through the garden and to rejuvenate the lawn. In the past two weeks the average daily temperature has also dropped by about 10 degrees Celsius, and the nights are slipping down to around 5 degrees with dew. But the fire is alight and inside the cottage it is toasty warm. It is my favourite time of year, perfect for snuggling under blankets with a hot cup of tea and a good book.

 

** The mail art project continues, which I dabble with in the evenings. I've developed an annoying habit of leaving things only half finished, which is why I tend not to have pictures to share every week. I'm focusing on catching up with my letter-writing at the moment, as in the past few weeks I have fallen terribly behind. The mountain of mail on my desk would be daunting even to the most seasoned correspondent, but I'll get there. Eventually.

 

The Week in Pictures...

 

** The seasons finally made a shift this week: Grey skies, a sprinkling of rain, cool cold southerly breezes, and damp, crisp mornings. It is my favourite weather. Such a shame there seems to be less of it every year.

** Bailey-dog had a haircut. I'm hoping he won't require another until the end of July. I find it's kind of mean to take away his insulation mid-winter.

** It was cold enough that we actually had to light the fire (combustion heating) to warm the house (and ourselves) back up. Nothing heats an old stone building like a raging fire. It's blissfully cosy. But of course there's no gradual changing of the seasons here, it just kind of happens. Like, overnight. It catches me by surprise each and every time.

** I've no pictures, but I spent the weekend sat by said fire, absorbed in the glittery wonderland of Eurovision (and nothing else). May would be incomplete without such cheesy pop classics. Did anyone else watch? Vote? Did your favourite song come out on top? I rooted for Ireland this year.




The Week in Pictures...

 

 

 ** Summer: It's like a houseguest that has outstayed its welcome.

Autumn: Missed the memo about turning up this year.

And I am so ready for it to be winter already, and yet the warm days continue. This past week drained every last ounce of energy I had left. It was simply too hot for May. And I had hay fever - in May. Then I was left disappointed by the promise of rain that never came to fruition. It's enough to send a girl batty.

 

** When you spend a lot of time, energy and money in trying to create a garden retreat for yourself in your own backyard, only to have it shrivel up and die, you kind of lose all motivation to do anything about it. Or, at least, that's how I've been feeling about our garden for the past four months, but this week I finally found the courage to pull out some books on growing Australian natives, because that's the only option we have left in order to avoid the dustbowl.

 

** We are still getting the odd eggplant in the veggie patch, which is now mostly overgrown with plants I've let go to seed. As soon as the eggplant stop producing, everything is getting ripped out so that I can start again. I suspect it shall be very therapeutic.

 

** I've spent a lot of my spare time lately escaping into the wonderful world of fiction. Books. Movies. TV. Make-believe is awesome.

 

** And for the first time in three weeks I sat down and made mail art that didn't end up in the bin. I'm putting it down to my brand new alphabet stampers, which I made Shane hunt for in BigW when he was there earlier in the week. I love them. The boy did good.

 

 

The Week in Pictures...

 

 

** The week started out rather grey, cold and wet. Not that I mind those days at all: The sound of rain falling on the roof, the scent of it through open windows, and being snugged up with hot cups of tea, some letters and a Spoodle all equates to a pretty fine day in my book. However, the rain was short-lived and by the end of the week the clear blue skies, northerly winds and warm sunny days had returned.

 

** Knowing that these are probably the last of the warmer days for the next three months or so, we decided to take a family history day-trip to the charming little towns of Yacka and Jamestown, about two hours south of where we live. We left early in the morning and stopped at the town of Gulnare before heading onto Yacka, its War Memorial and the local cemetery. Then we made our way to Jamestown, admiring the splendid Bundaleer views on the way, had lunch and then took a stroll through another cemetery. The rolling pastures of the region are a stark contrast to our rugged mountains and saltbush plains, even though we're not so far apart. It's a wonder how the scenery changes so dramatically with just a few kilometres. 

 

** Thursday was ANZAC Day. As our council area incorporates a number of small communities, the Dawn Service was not held in our town this year, although we were still up at dawn to watch the sunrise. The absence of a local service meant we were able to watch live the Gallipoli (Turkey) and Villers-Bretonneaux (France) services on the television. The turnout to these services never ceases to amaze and inspire.

 

How did you spend your week?

A Meeting with the Dead.

 

 

Yacka and Jamestown, South Australia :: 27 April 2013

 

1. War Memorial (WWI), Yacka, where we paid our respects to Samuel & Henry Gale.

2. Henry & Elizabeth Gale, my great-great-great grandparents.

3. In the Shadows, Yacka Cemetery.

4. Sleeping Peacefully, Yacka Cemetery.

5. A bright and sunny autumn day in Jamestown.

6. Isaac & Catherine Black, my great-great-great-great grandparents.

7. A Meeting with the Dead, Jamestown Cemetery.