Another day

I think that it is actually winter now.  The temperature ranges from about 6 to 22 degrees C but the sun shines and the days are beautiful. Even the weeds look good.

I walk the dog along the beach or along the forest paths and just can't believe how blessed I am to live in such a beautiful place.

  But many  people only see the beauty and don't realise just how dangerous these beautiful waters around our islands are.  Just on the other side of Stradbroke Island  (seen in the distance) the Pacific Ocean pounds in causing currents and dangerous waters in our bay.

Even when the jet skiers travel in groups they can come to grief.

There are dangerous currents, sharks, and other dangers that people underestimate.  In the last few weeks two young men have lost their lives, although as yet their bodies have not been recovered.  One was a jet skier the other a paddler.  Both have disappeared without a trace.

It pays to respect Mother Nature and not take liberties.

Where I live

We have had quite a lot of rain over the last 24 hours and it has turned quite cool.  Cold enough to put on a cardigan and button it up.  The rain has flushed lot of insects out of the ground and the Kookaburras and Magpies are feasting on them and getting very wet.  I have been watching the caterpillars which are on the move at the moment.  The seem to join up head to tail to make one giant animal.

We have been having some wonderful sunsets lately.  They bring joy to my soul.

One thing about the wet weather is that I don't feel guilty just sitting and sewing.

Fungi

The recent rains has seen an explosion of fungi on the island.  Some I have never seen before and some are familiar.  These ones were all over the place.

I think these were related.

and these were so unusual.

Some plants must have been dumped here at the side of the road and have now taken over.

There  has been so much rain that even a block of grass can look good.

Home gardens are flourishing.

Even the statues in the gardens seem to like the rain.

I suppose it fits the cycles of "droughts and flooding rains."

 

 

 

A Wet Easter

My family are holding off coming over to the island until later in the week, when it is hoped, the rain will stop.  Not too good for all those who have come over for the Easter break.  There seems to be lots of kids stomping around in the wet, but no-one is swimming.

The trees love the rain.

The water tank is overflowing and the tree fern has put on a growth spurt.

Even my pot plants are growing like mad.  This one has made the wooden birds I bought in Guatamala look like they are lost in a forest.

I am using this unexpected down time to work on my next portrait which incorporates applique.  Just some each day and it is slowly growing.  One thing that has surprised me is that my stash of stranded cottons has shrunk from 6 boxes to only 3.

That has taken 5 years so this lot should last another 5, hopefully.  And in the current work I have sparkler candles to embroider.  That has seen me dig into my stash and find some lurex threads I knew would come in handy one day.

The gold mesh they are laying on is even older, I must have had that stashed away for at least 20 years if not longer.  I knew it would be useful.  The lurex thread is a perle 8 from Wonderfil.  I had planned to use it for machine embroidery in the bobin thread but I think I will couch it in place on this piece.  Oh, the pain of having to open the packet!  It will never look so pristine again.

Result of the wet weather

There is little dry material for the birds to make their nests but nest building continues.

This little next fell out of a tree this morning and is very new as can be seen by the green leaves.

I didn't have any flowers to show the scale but I have plenty of weeds!

I'm not sure if this nest/trap has been made by ants or spiders but it is at just the right height to walk into!

The weather report says there is still more rain to come.

The weather

It is raining.  Not just raining, pouring cats and dogs.  It is non stop and has been like this for 5 days.  Even the frogs have sort refuge on the upper floors of the house.

I am glad it is only frogs.  Down south they are having the same rain and there it is spiders heading to the higher floors of buildings.

Photo source: Matt Lovenfosse

I haven't seen any snakes as yet but I have shut all the doors just in case.

Sunsets

The weather here has been hot and steamy with huge storms that roll down in the after noon.  This makes for some spectacular sun sets.  We had been to the mainland for dinner and the skys were amazing coming home.   I say skys because one can see in 360 degrees and the vista changes as one spins around.  The island looked wonderful against the clouds that were gathering and seemed to glow.

In other places there were double rainbows but over the islands they looked like portals to other worlds.

As the sun began to set the sky was on fire and as the ferry arrived at the jetty everyone had their camera out to catch a memory.

As we pulled out into the bay a slither of bright sky broke through.

We arrived home to just catch the end of natures wonderful display.

I am so lucky to live in such a beautiful place.

Rocks

Strange subject but there are some people here on the island who paint rocks and them hide them for others to find.  Children can keep the rock if they want to but adults are asked to re-hide them for some one else to find.  And guess what?  We found a rock.

We wanted to keep it but decided to re-hide it for someone else to have the pleasure of finding as was asked in the message on the back.

So looking up the group I find there are over 35,000 members.  All spreading sunshine around the place.

As school has just re-started I bought Monique a new school bag to carry her books here.  Something other than the traditional back-pack.

And as I didn't want to leave out Jasmine I got her a rock painting kit.

Maybe she could hide some on the island?

Lots of action

The current situation with Covid 19 virus has seen lots of people moving out to the islands.  What with the home buyers grants and the cheap land on some of islands to the south of us this area has seen more activity than anywhere else in the state.  Land and houses on our island are not cheap.  You could buy something cheaper on the mainland and the logistics of building out here add to the costs.  Still, everyday the barges bring tradesmen and people over to the island.

I have seen old houses relocated here.  Not that many but some and today a brand new house came over.  I was going to catch the barge but decided on the ferry when I saw them loading this on.

Not long after it arrived on the island.

Two halves of the new house were delivered.  The truck turned around and was gone.  I will be interested to see where it is located and what it looks like when they join the two halves together.

Something else to keep me on my toes.

BEFORE I took on the role of home teacher I had taken on the role of the Secretary of the Coochiemudlo Artisan's Collective.  By the time all the home schooling stuff had started it was too late to back out of the position.  So, this is another hat I have to juggle for a while.  (I promised them 2 years.)  I always knew there were lots of creative people on the island I just didn't realise HOW creative or HOW many people there were.

Their show case opened in the space beside the Kerlew Cafe and was named Artisan Alley.  It opens on weekends and does a brisk trade.  Then the cafe owner offered the area upstairs as a gallery which is now fully functional. 

This place has some really talented artists and Bryan Kearns is one of them.  Brian's area of practise is as an Abstract painter.  Originally from England where he studied at Leeds College of Art and then at the University of East Anglia.  After migrating to Australia he worked at the Queensland College of Art.  His work kind of draws you into the painting.

If I didn't have the bottom of the cupboard full of paintings I have nowhere to hang I would be tempted to add this to my collection.  The other piece I would like to buy is this chicken.  So much personality!  ( by Artist Yvonne O'Shea)

Life is certainly going to be interesting.  I hope I can cope.