It’s July so you know what that means. July is when the dedicated, hard-working hosts of the incredibly popular Lens-Artists Photo Challenge take a well earned break from their hosting duties and co-opt five guest hosts to take on this important responsibility. This week, Andre from My Blog – solaner is hosting the challenge and he has invited us to feel the summer vibe. It’s winter here in the Southern Hemisphere but I will try.
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Mid-summer, Canberra (Australia) – Incidents and grass aplenty, as well as much catatonic lounging.
I suppose if you want a quiet life you wouldn’t have pets, children or partners. You certainly wouldn’t have Covid and all the stress and interruption to life that involves. Thankfully there has been an absence of Covid in Canberra over January, otherwise how would we have dealt with all the medical appointments and emergencies. Carefully, I guess.
I don’t suppose my True Love (TL) and I would have gotten out of bed before noon during January if it weren’t for the week of doggy diarrhoea from the red dogs, followed by days of hospital visits to take our other dog (Makea) from the emergency vet (for nighttime care) to our regular vet (for daytime care) and back again, then repeat. Meanwhile, the vegetable garden continued to need tending despite the veggies refusal to grow. Rainy, grey days put a dampener on the veggie patch. Our pumpkin vines have not produced a single pumpkin and many tomatoes have split as a result of the last downpour. The most delicious looking tomatoes have been consumed by hungry rodents. However, the grass is green and nearby dams are full so that is something. As the month ends, all is well.
January was all about small pleasures and golden waves, and making photos when the sun finally shone.
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January — the season of abundance. It can’t help it if it so hot. Temperature records were broken again during January, including in my little part of the world. Our town had four consecutive days above 40ºc, a new record. Due to the bushfire hazard, many of our nature reserves were closed to the public. So I’ve been housebound and cabin fever has set in. Hence, this month’s post focuses on the small haven that is my garden. Read more
This is my response to the Ragtag Daily Prompt — Forecast. To join in, click on the link.
It seems that this month, there is a new temperature record broken every other day. Another scorcher is forecast tomorrow. When the temperature dropped below 35c yesterday, I quickly hightailed it out to the surrounding bush. Due to my mosaic project and hot weather, I’ve been terribly inactive and was afraid my legs would no longer work, but I can report that they are still in walking order.
This is what happens when water becomes a commodity. I predict that the former federal water minister will lose his seat at the next election over this debacle.
My thoughts are with Vanda from Our Other Blog: Two Sisters and Two Points of View, whose town has been evacuated due to the bushfire emergency in Tasmania.
Stay safe and look out for your neighbours.
Regards
Tracy
A little poetry to mark my Monday. Because not everything has to be serious.
Marbled Mélange
sunshine and water
secrets of the universe
gourdjalicious Read more
The Queensland Resources Council has just announced that Queensland (Australia) coal exports have reached a record high. The Australian government must be jumping for joy, with the resources sector once again contributing substantial growth in federal revenues (and the election war-chest). Apparently two thirds of our coal is destined for steel making, while the remainder will be used for power generation.
Maybe it is just sour grapes, but the news does not lighten my current mood or temperature, which can best be described as volcanic. Why? Because short-term gains are being put before long-term national interests, and because I am sweltering in my lounge room through yet another extended extreme heatwave. My phone tells me it is 41º celcius (105º F) outside. Read more
It is a bit late for my December Changing Seasons post, but better late than never.
I think I am glad to see the back of December. It was such a hot, steamy month. Nevertheless, a month of storms meant it was very productive in the garden. Hence, we had many visitors of the feathered kind. Read more
I forgot to include this photo of a beautiful fly in my November Changing Seasons post. You know the weather is warming up when the blow flies come a-visiting. Maybe these exquisitely beautiful creatures are not such a pain after all. Unlikely praise for the king of the flies. Read more
Reflections of An Untidy Mind 