Autumn to winter 2017

Canadian Creek May 2017

I've been pottering around Canadian Creek, just near Poverty Point trying to match up the mining settlements on the nineteenth century survey maps with what is here now. This spot was full of people and their mining gear and huts 150 years ago.

The land has been mined and lived on and covered with rubbish and cleaned up and now replanted with local trees and shrubs. They are growing well, as you can see when I stand Mr Pip against the last one on the right of this photo.

Custard tarts

This is the best custard tart in Ballarat, possibly in Victoria. Better than the Portuguese style in Journal cafe, better than Chinese Dan tarts. Rich, soft & flaky pastry. Sweet cool custard inside.
Plating Works makes these. They sell at the Lakeside Markets and in Wilsons - occasionally.

Custard tart, white nectarine, Queensland green tea. Perfect Autumn snack.

Red Poppies and Crimson Rosellas

One hundred years since the Gallipoli landing, and I loved the kindness and care in the hand-made poppies. Remembering with love. 

Then this afternoon, looking out the window after rain, I saw the Crimson Rosellas.

The second rosella can just be seen at the far right.

The instagram effect is not deliberate - just an inept photographer.

Autumn 3 Lake Wendouree

Suzanna asked about this bird, so I thought I had better name them all. They are quite common water birds in Victoria, and generally found on the lake here all year round. 

Walking around the lake after a few days of welcome rain. This is a purple swamp hen.

Pacific black ducks.

Australian black swan.

Autumn 2 Ararat

I had a trip to the Ararat library to talk about our archives this Wednesday.

I love this town, perched up on its rocky spine, surrounded by hills.

It's been a baking dry autumn. Ararat was hot.

Autumn 1 April 2015

Autumn at last!

I'm having a break from the obsessive research and writing. Pottering with the camera, a bit of quilting, visiting friends.

Setting up the table on Easter Sunday morning.

Clunes Bookweek happiness

 Cold, bright and dry, a perfect autumn day for the annual Clunes Booktown weekend. The town was so packed with booksellers and books for the weekend, that I spent five hours blissed out looking at books, and only got halfway round the town. I also forgot to get a ride behind these beautiful horses - maybe next year.

 I took these pictures at the end of my day, sitting on one of the straw bales scattered through the town, waiting for the free (thank you booktown committee!) bus back to Ballarat.

 I was sitting right by my favourite bloke in Clunes, and saw across the road that we're still in a fire danger period. It's been so dry, with no real rain for a months.

 See that little group with a banner just at the right? (Just click on the image and you'll see them)

Yes, the Clunes footy club (and netballers) were raising funds with bags of spuds and sheep poo - both local products.
For those not familiar with the Australian idiom, 'Yoohoo!' is what my Mum and my grandmas would shout over the back fence when they wanted to have a chat with the neighbours.

I was sorry that I didn't have room in my backpack for either spuds or poo, although I did get a jar of quince jelly - but not from these lads.

Autumn colours

Mr Pip admires the Autumn colours

the lake at autumn's end

Lake Wendouree was a pearly shell of bright water and reflected clouds, when we walked around it this evening.

Click on the photos for a full view

Then, just as the sun went down, everything glowed orange and gold.

The dog almost caught a rabbit and he almost caught a duck (he was on a leash), and swaggered home content.

Carousel

I worked  over Heritage Weekend, talking to people about finding things in archives and  having quite a good time. I heard lots of stories.
Going out for a beath of chilly air, I saw this magical carousel, too small for me, sadly.

I found groceries I haven't seen since I was a kid on the shelves of the Sebastopol Historical Society's stall.

I got some free fantails (middle jar, front row) from the kindly stall holders.
I have to say, as a snowball fan, those snowballs front right are the coarser, hard-shelled kind. I like these best.

The Ballarat library collected lolly stories and childhood memories from everyone. 

Catch them on the library's website, and other cyber places.

(With thanks and apologies to Joni Mitchell) 

...and the seasons, they go round and round, 

and the painted ponies go up and down,

we're captives on the carousel of time....