Record Flooding out West

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The people of Roma, Mitchell, Charleville and St George are struggling to come to terms with yet more flooding and at higher levels than ever before!

Perhaps we all should reflect on the fact that not only the people of these towns but also the many farmers whose properties nearby are isolated by these waters.  Our primary producers do it tough in this land of too much or too little rain.  All too often these stalwarts of the land are left to pick up the pieces by themselves so I urge those living on our coastal plan to give support in whatever way they can.

Personally I feel very fortunate that our western town has survived a few close calls while one of our nearest townships, St George has suffered 3 floods in 2 years.  My thoughts are with the brave folk of the western plains.

Family Milestones

In our house, it is all smiles and joy because our son has announced his engagement to the woman of his heart.

With a romantic weekend in Melbourne, a helicopter flight over the Mornington Peninsula, a 5 course lunch with champagne in a private dining room by the sea, roses, chocolates and a gorgeous ring, he wooed his lady love.  Perhaps he will pen a poem about the day as well!

My other half and I are truly delighted that he has chosen to mark this milestone in his life in this way.  During the last 3 years whenever we have all been together we felt the love they share and we had secretly hoped it would be acknowledged in this way. We have a daughter in our family at last!

In the many highs and lows in a lifetime partnership, we hope they will be loving, kind and understanding to and with each other.  Here is wishing them the steadfast love that we his parents have shared now for over 30 years!

Musical Treats

Musical Treats.

Cheap or Frugal?

Did you know there was something called the “Frugality Movement”?  I’ve just finished reading an article about it by Rhonda Hetzel who sought to simplify her life and get out of the “consumerism” rat race!  Here is a woman after my own heart!  It explains that being frugal is not the same as being cheap!  Hear, hear, I say!!

Immediately I knew it was someone from my own generation, brought up in the 50′s when few people owned cars and the back yard was the place where your parents grew vegetables.  Everyone could cook even my Mum who worked full-time as a teacher which going against the trend of being only Mother and Homemaker.  Mum worked hard both in her job and in doing all that was expected in the home.  We children were expected to do our bit with helping with chores around the house for Mum and in the yard for Dad.  Life was simpler, hard-working and fun!  It provided me with the skills for a full and satisfying life.

Have you guessed that I like cook rather than have take-outs; spend time in my garden tending the herbs and vegetables; love to sit under the tree to read a book; take my easel out to the verandah to do some drawing; go on a picnic in the bush; spend time with family and friends; entertain at home; make imaginative dishes from leftovers in the fridge and “retail therapy” is not on my list of “must do’s”!

For those of you who are like minded, Rhonda’s book “Down to Earth” is coming out soon so everyone can benefit from her wisdom.

Garden Joy!

The birdsong lures me into the garden each morning.  Wandering through the myriad colours and shapes of the native blossoms , I pause to watch the blue fairy wrens flitting from shrub to shrub.  An inquisitive small brown honey eater comes to sit on a branch nearby occasionally letting out a short trill to his partner in the next tree.  Fresh air, sunshine, trees, birds, flowers soothe the soul!

 

Musical Treats

Since my Nanna took me to see “Die Fledermaus” when I was 12 (circa 1961), I have been enraptured with musical theatre.  The atmosphere produced by the combination of staging, costumes, orchestra playing lyrical pieces and the amazing talent of the performers leaves me breathless!  I didn’t understand a word of Strauss’ operetta but I followed the nuances of the tale and felt that mysterious bond that forms between the audience and the performers.

From that moment,  I have enjoyed everything from Gilbert & Sullivan, Rogers & Hart, Puccini, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Shonberg, Bizet etc – they all have a place in my heart. For the last few years, “Les Miserables” was at the top of my most loved Musical Theatre experiences along with “Madame Butterfly” and “Carmen” but now I have a new one to add to my list “Dr Zhivago”!

Now I also love popular music, rock & roll, jazz, rhythm & blues but today I was scrolling through a “list your favourite songs” put up on twitter and yes, you guessed it ,I didn’t know a single song that was mentioned.  Not only did this make me feel old but I was left wondering if our younger generation’s musical tastes have narrowed alarmingly.  Hip hop and rap have their place in modern culture but they are one part of our deliciously varied musical repertoire.

Hopefully programs like “Glee” (which I saw recently when visiting our son and his partner in Brisbane) will encourage a diversity of musical interest in the teens and twenty groups.

If anyone out there would like to share their musical experiences, please do!

So this is blogging…….

Drawing an Echidna

I have recently returned from the Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature where I gave some workshops on illustration. The venue, Woodlands of Marburg in the rolling hills outside of Ipswich is a magical setting. Children’s book authors and illustrators had come from all over Australia and New Zealand to this inspirational event that gives workshops to Adults over the weekend and busloads of students during the week. It was a privilege to be part of this event where I was able to learn so much about writing, Illustrating and the new technologies like blogging……