Nature study in winter

on a rainy morning on the way to violin lessons what better way to fill in the time than a spot of nature snaps! we thought these skeletal-like trees were a good place to start.





























of course because we live in Australia even in winter evergreens predominate.















and finally a hint of the season to come in the blossom

Mathilda Magic

A hint of spring

The blossom that blooms while its still winter shows us the promise of the spring to come!

Over the fence

We spied two cockatoos yesterday in our neighbour's blossom laden tree. Years ago our original neighbor, in her nasturtium covered garden, would each evening be surrounded by a whole flock of these birds which she fed on her hills-hoist clothes-line.





We were privileged just to spot these two.

Winter shadows and a warming recipie

PUMPKIN RISOTTO:
Ingredients (serves 6)

• 1300g pumpkin, peeled, cut into 1cm cubes
• 1/2 cup (60ml) olive oil
• 1 tbs honey, plus extra to drizzle
• 1300ml vegetable stock
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 celery stalks, finely chopped
• 2 cup (220g) arborio rice
• 1 1/3 cup (160ml) white wine
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley, plus extra to garnish
• 3 tbscream cheese, plus extra to serve

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C.
2. Lay pumpkin in an even layer on a large baking tray and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes, then remove and drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon of honey, tossing well to coat each piece. Roast for a further 15 minutes until cooked and golden.
3. Place stock in a saucepan and keep at a simmer over low heat.
4. Heat remaining tablespoon of oil in a large heavy-based pan over low heat. Add onion and stir for 2-3 minutes until soft. Add celery and cook for 1 minute, then add rice and cook for a further minute, stirring to coat grains. Increase heat to medium-low, add wine and cook until absorbed. Add stock a ladleful at a time, allowing each to be absorbed before adding the next. Continue for 15 minutes or until rice is cooked but still firm to the bite. Add lemon juice, pumpkin and parsley. Season, then stir in cream cheese.
5. Serve with a dollop of cream cheese a drizzle of honey and extra parsley.

Winter gardening

Making the most of a good amount of chicken manure from our silky bantams, a break between the showers and an afternoon at home I decided to launch an attack on the front garden!

I re-located plants from the back garden and planted things closer than the recommended spacing in anticipation of only some surviving our hot summer.
I figure we still have several months(wishful thinking?) for them to become established.


I am thankful for the few plants that have survived from last summer...and of course the nasturtiums that will come up anywhere regardless.
I find gardening a very meditative experience
a time of recollection and in this I know I am not alone:
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
- John Muir

I also enjoy the hidden secrets that a garden discloses; the little things which would be overlooked unless one paid careful attention.







































Gardening is a long road, with many detours and way stations, and here we all are at one point or another. It's not a question of superior or inferior taste, merely a question of which detour we are on at the moment. Getting there (as they say) is not important; the wandering about in the wilderness or in the olive groves or in the bayous is the whole point.
- Henry Mitchell, Gardening Is a Long Road, 1998

The Eucharist

The Vast Ocean Begins Just Outside Our Church: The Eucharist

Something has happened
to the bread
and the wine.

They have been blessed.
What now?
The body leans forward

to receive the gift
from the priest’s hand,
then the chalice.

They are something else now
from what they were
before this began.

I want
to see Jesus,
maybe in the clouds

or on the shore,
just walking,
beautiful man

and clearly
someone else
besides.

On the hard days
I ask myself
if I ever will.

Also there are times
my body whispers to me
that I have.

by Mary Oliver

"Praying" by Mary Oliver

It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

A morning walk

Cold early morning
winter
damp air grey sky






the wet lands beside the new subdivision






























ibis
perching
on a fence





















mushroom delights






















There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country. A fine landscape is like a piece of music; it must be taken at the right tempo. Even a bicycle goes too fast.
- Paul Scott Mowre

Immaculate Heart of Mary

The month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Winter Festival

At the end of last week the boys and I spent three happy days at our State Suzuki music festival! Both boys participated in orchestras, junior and senior. Now neither of my boys is likely to ever play music professionally but it was encouraging to see how much they got out of this short concentrated music time.




In case you are interested in Suzuki for your children I will narrate the approximate sequence of events. Both my boy are violin players so Thursday began after lunch with a “play in”. This was for all students regardless of ability. It was a fun and inspiring occasion as the Suzuki repertoire was played from simple to more senior pieces.




Next the senior orchestra had their first rehearsal. Master 13 found the sight-reading involved challenging, but this is where the Suzuki atmosphere of sharing and mentoring was really visible for us as the mother of the violinist he was paired with encouraged both students with an impromptu tutorial later in the day. Before this we watched part of the introductory concert. These afternoon concerts, apart from the concluding one, were a chance for students who had auditioned of all ages and abilities to play a solo piece.




Friday began for us with group classes. These classes wet through Suzuki repertoire at the book level each boy was at. Master 13 enjoyed his class with Kylie and said he learnt some valuable skills in technique. Master 9’s class was taken by Vickie and included children from Book 2 to beginning of book 4.



Next L and I went off to his first junior orchestra rehearsal and T had a group class with Kasuki Nakamura. Both boys were happy to have some morning tea to refuel before they were off again to concert rehearsal and repertoire class.

During lunch the boys helped out in the small canteen. Immediately following lunch three solo concerts were held simultaneously for an hour at different venues. We enjoyed watching friends, including T’s orchestra partner in Concert 2.L’s day was then completed but T had another senior orchestra rehearsal for 90 minutes.





Saturday followed a similar pattern to Friday culminating in the closing concert in which all players participated. In the final concert the junior orchestra played “Chicken in the Kitchen” by Keith Sharp and the senior orchestra played “Palladio” by Karl Jenkins and “Deerpath” Triptych by William Hoefeldt. See if you can work out which pieces the video extracts come from (my camera was playing up on the day so focus was rather blurred)

You can't have this, its mine!

This is my beautiful daughter with the oldest of the two little girls she looks after. Apparently the little one was thrilled to be allowed to hold a grown-ups glass as she is not usually allowed to. I love the glint of challenge in her eyes!

Birds,blossom,bees, brooks and branches!

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive at where we started
And know the place for the first time.
- T. S. Eliot