Margaret River Region Open Studios 2022 and Farewell to the Queen

Share this post

open studios

Margaret River just before it enters the Indian Ocean. Later in the day the wind was so strong there were little waves on the river.

Margaret River, south of Perth, is well known for it’s vineyards, restaurants and amazing surf but it is also home for many talented creatives. The Margaret River Region Open Studios is a wonderful fortnight when 168 artisans in the region open their studios. Visitors can watch them working, admire their work, chat about the process and also buy their products. The region is divided into four areas. Just as well as the project actually covers a large area.

Lookout overlooking where Margaret River joins the Indian Ocean.

The four regions are Busselton and surrounds, Dunsborough and surrounds, Cowaramup and surrounds and Margaret River and surrounds. If you can spare the time, visiting one region each day and visiting about six studios seems to works best. Obviously, not everyone can commit five days including travel time if you’re outside the region, so it might be easier to focus on your particular interest.

Amongst the art works on display are paintings, sculpture, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, glass making, woodwork, photography, hat making, printmaking and even tattoos. Some studios have more than one artist displaying their work.

All the information is online, but we prefer a paper copy. To begin refining our plans for the week my husband and I mark the studios we’d like to visit, then select our joint bchoices by negotiation! This year I wanted to revisit one studio we went to last year; I’ve often thought about the artist’s work and wished I bought one of his prints last year and intended to this year.

Adam Ashdown, the printmaker we revisited is an Gyotaki printmaker. This is an obscure form of 19th century Japanese printmaking begun about 100 years ago as a way for Japanese fishermen to record their catch. Using sumi ink they would coat one side of a freshly caught fish then carefully apply a sheet of rice paper before before rubbing it all over to print an exact copy of the fish.

I originally saw gyotaki fish prints in Dunsborough at Adam Ashdown’s open studio last year. Ashdown, the owner of Saltybones, has perfected gyotaki printing to record the fish caught locally around Dunsborough. Like the original Japanese printers, he also prints trophy fish for fishers pleased with the fish they’ve caught.

Leon Pericles is a well nationally and internationally. Visiting his studio and garden was a delight. He is a master printmaker, painter and sculptor with a wicked sense of humour. His displays and garden were so popular it was impossible to get photos but I photographed the entrance to his house and studio as I couldn’t capture the artwork, the whimsical landscaping nor the waterfall in the bush.

Another artist I first discovered years ago is Rebecca Cool. I have one of her paintings carefully stored somewhere but mislaid as we moved several times locally, then overseas and then returned to Western Australia and built a new house. By then we had the goods and chattels from four houses in storage and a container coming from overseas so many, many things are somewhere safe, but just where is a bit of a mystery.

Apart from her artworks, Cool has illustrated several children’s books and has two more being published soon. Cheerful, happy pictures.

Milliner Kimberley Box makes a dashing range of ladies fur felt hats. Gorgeous designs and interesting to talk to her about becoming a hat maker. I’m pretty sure I’ll be back to see her next year!

A collection of lasts and feathers and other decorations.

.There’s an enormous number of accommodation options in the south west. Putting up a tent is probably not one of them! This is the coldest I have ever been down here. There’s motels, hostels, many bed and breakfast places, resorts and lots of holiday houses to rent but you might need to book well ahead. Unfortunately, due to post Covid extreme staff shortages, finding venues open at lunchtime is tricky but most of the well known cafes and restaurants in towns and vineyards are open in the evening. There’s several supermarkets, lots of bakeries and light meals available in coffee shops.

HM Queen Elizabeth 11.

Image depositphotos.com

The Queen is dead, Long Live the King! A cry not heard since the death of Queen Victoria nearly 120 years ago. So much has changed profoundly in that time. For most Australians the Queen is the only Head of State we have known. Stability and certainty are reassuring during troubled times and our Queen will be sadly missed.

The best tribute was expressed by Paddington Bear, “Thank You Ma’am, for Everything.”

Share this post

French Holidays and Roasting Fennel

Share this post

the french ON holidays

Menton Pixabay

I am thinking about the French. Mostly I’m thinking about the way they go on holidays. The French have five weeks of paid holidays a year and these grand vacances are usually in July and August. Visit Paris in August and you’ll find even the boulangerie shuttered and deserted. It’s summer holidays and many Parisians flee the city for the country. Mostly the French stay within France for their holidays, unlike many Australians, most of whom came from somewhere else, even if it was five or six generations ago. Australians go seeking the uniqueness of other cultures, the French prefer their own!

Pixabay

Many French have access to beach houses where several generations of their family will gather for extended periods. They swim, eat, sleep, read, shop. They enjoy traditional, restful holidays. They eat the local specialties intermingled with their usual cuisine. When Australians go on holidays they rush from one site to the next, jamming in as many galleries and museums as they can. They hire cars to visit the cultural attractions, they take photos of all the statues and buildings and generally rush around, completing a detailed and exhausting itinerary.

The Brandenburg Gate, Pexels

I’m thinking about this as our next planned holiday fits all the criteria of achieving as much as possible every day. The Margaret River Region Open Studios, an annual event where artists in the region open their studios daily for two weeks is wonderful but requires meticulous planning to do everything we want to do in a week. Although the program is online, we prefer a paper copy. Using different coloured highlighter pens we both mark the studios we’d like to visit, or in my case, one I’d also like to re-visit. The studios are in four areas, making it easy to decide on one zone a day, so then the real decisions are made. Finally, we have a map with the places we’re visiting marked and try to stick to the plan. Next comes the booking of lunch time cafes and restaurants. It’s a lot of planning for a week away.

Pexels

Rigorous but stimulating, this will be a very busy break. Then I think we should plan a “French” style sea break. A swim in the morning, a pile of books and magazines, lunch somewhere close by, perhaps a little sleep, then a walk or another swim before a dinner of cheese, crackers and a punnet of strawberries. Unlike French style holidays, my beach break will involve no sun tanning and lots of sun screen! And a hat, always.

Pexels

Reading a French blog this morning I was pleased to see that espadrilles are de rigeur again this season. Not that I really care about fashion but I do really like the ones I bought last year and look forward to wearing them again. The beach outfits featured on the same blog are in a different category all together. Offering little coverage at all I think the dresses, playsuits and bikinis are intended for a particular age group which doesn’t include me!

fennel

Fennel is an eyecatching vegetable. So eyecatching, in fact, I bought one at the green grocer, although I have never prepared or cooked fennel before. We have enjoyed fennel seeds in Indian cooking and fennel salads in Alsace but I have never actually made anything from a fresh fennel.

Fennel Seeds Pixabay

Looked at lots of online recipes. Did you know fennel belongs to the same group as carrots? They don’t look alike! Fennel is eaten thinly sliced and raw in salads or roasted. It smelt slightly of aniseed when I was cutting it up but this wasn’t really noticeable when it was cooked. Most recipes I read advised keeping the cut off celery like stalks and any hard outer layers for soup. So I gathered up beans, carrot, cauliflower and the fennel stalks and outer layers and made a pot of soup, too. I kept some of the wispy fronds as a finishing touch when I served dinner.

The recipe suggested roasting fennel with carrot and onions. Did as I was told. The marinade was a mix of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Italian herbs, garlic , lemon juice and salt and pepper. (I didn’t have any white balsamic vinegar, as recommended, so used red. Tasted very good) In another pan I roasted chat potatoes in duck fat. It was cold and stormy outside so a starchy, roasted dinner was very attractive!

Roasted fennel is slightly sweet and soft and really luscious. The three vegetables were slightly sweet and were well caramelised.

Salmon with Mediterranean herbs, the roasted fennel, carrot, onion and potatoes and a squeeze of lemon. Lovely dinner and leftover roasted vegetables for a salad and also there’s a pot of soup.

Spring

At the end of the month the Southern Hemisphere welcomes Spring. We are currently experiencing the cold and wet sort of weather I remember from my childhood. I have enjoyed the rain but also look forward to spring flowers and planting tomatoes. After disappointing harvests, for us, not the rats, I will grow them in a cage. So unattractive. Are you beginning to plan a Spring garden?

Share this post

Sorting, Plastics and the Coastline

Share this post

sorting

This very lovely armoire hides a dreadful mess! Tucked neatly into a vestibule I’m glad it has doors to hide the chaos within. This is where I keep my art, craft and ‘it might be useful’ things. Once tidy with labeled storage boxes it now resembles a danger zone. I didn’t know where to start and wouldn’t have even tried to sort it out except the other day I opened the door and a box of pastels fell out. They made a mess and some broke. Not good.

Thought I’d deal with the paints first as most of them were in boxes or bags or palettes. Some were immediately binned as the tubes were solid, some I tried to use and some I’ve put aside to investigate later. One small palette (origin unknown) reminded me of the compact traveling boxes people I know take with them to capture views during their travels. I’d like to do that, too. Tried them. Despite the lovely colours, actually the paint was thin and disappointing. Bin.

Other paints also found their way into the bin. The tubes with cracked and crumbled paint went but some others are sitting, waiting to be tested. Interestingly, I found oil colours from my student days which are still usable and acrylics of unknown origin which are in good shape. The tin of aquarelles will compliment a huge box I have and use frequently. I sharpened them with a sharpener found amongst the jumble and I remember writing my son’s initials on it 27 years ago. It still sharpens well.

I’d like to say I persisted and sorted and organised the contents of the armoire, but I didn’t; I was distracted by the treasures within for hours. And there is the problem, what do I need to keep, what might be useful and what if I want that sheet of textured red card in the future? A work in progress but I’m glad I can shut the doors. I think next time I’ll focus on the drawers at the bottom. They are full of my husband’s photos.

plastic free july

We must reduce our reliance on plastics. I like to think progress is being made, especially in first world countries. Well, maybe. I’ve just seen announcement in the paper informing us that the President of the United States, Joe Biden, has Covid. In the photograph heading this item is a photo of Biden with a plastic water bottle on his desk.

China is the World’s biggest polluter (10 065 million tons of CO²), followed by the United States of America (5 416 tons of CO²) and then India (2 645 tons of CO²). The next three are Russia, Japan and Iran. Plastic Free July encourages people to be part of the solution by reducing the reliance on single use plastics. I know many, many Americans are working towards reducing their use of plastic but apparently not their President.

australia’s coastline.

Australia is the sixth largest country in the World. In fact, Australia is almost the size of mainland USA! The middle of Australia is arid. The greatest population concentration is around the coast. It is estimated that it would take almost 29 years to visit one new Australian beach everyday. There are at least 10 685.

This morning was warm and sunny after days of (much needed) rain, so we set off along the coast. We started at South Cottesloe Beach, famous for being the best place to view stunning sunsets. We then progressed one beach at a time until we reached Mindarie. We sat in the sun eating lunch and drinking coffee before being lured into the gelato shop. A slight wind but beautiful views of the water.

The coastline of Australia is about 34 000 kilometres (21 000 miles) although different sources vary slightly in length. The coastline includes more than 1 000 estuaries. The Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans surround different parts of Australia’s coastline.

European exploration and discovery highlighted how treacherous parts of the coast can be, with many hidden reefs. Early explorers included Dutch, English and later, the French. Sealers and whalers, mostly American and English, had temporary bases on the southern coastal areas of Australia.

There are over 8 000 known shipwrecks off the coast of Australia although not all of these have been located. The oldest shipwreck discovered is the British East Indian, about 500 tons, wrecked on the Tryal Rocks off the north west coast off Western Australia in 1622.

FOOTNOTE

I’ve started tidying the cupboard. I’ve actually done three shelves but not thrown out much stuff. I found so many things I’d forgotten about and feel inspired to begin a few new projects. I sorted envelopes, paper, coloured and plain, plus cardboard into separate piles but then they seemed to take up more room than before I began! I think I need a workroom but the unused rooms are all upstairs and I can’t see that working. Currently the dining room table has potted orchids, a bonsai, some ‘slips’ I’m propagating, a scented candle and a vase of eucalyptus leaves. Also on the table; paints, palettes, brushes, pencils, paper, art blocks, feltpens, blotting cloths and so many other things to do with my artworks. Now you know why I think I might need a workroom.

Share this post

Going Down South

Share this post

Going down south is a popular break for people living in the Perth metropolitan area. Down south refers to the area south of Bunbury along the south west coast of Western Australia. This very beautiful region offers thick bush land, amazing coastal views from clean, yellow sandy beaches and striking granite cliffs, coves and reefs. There’s a huge wine and brewing industry, fabulous fresh artisanal food, so many talented artists and crafts people, authors and photographers and surfing breaks famous around the world. It’s a lovely area to visit for an active break, a relaxing time or anything in between.

Map Department of Regional Development

We booked into a resort, Bunker Bay, which we visit at least once a year. It nestles in secluded bush land on the Indian Ocean past Dunsborough heading towards Cape Naturaliste. There is a scenic drive to Busselton and Dunsborough one way and Yallingup, Cowaramup and Margaret River another way. We like to come down here and visit old favourites and always find something new to enjoy.

Set off from Perth Monday morning and headed down the coast. Stopped in Busselton for lunch. Once a sleepy retirement settlement plus beach shacks and camping areas Busselton has become a thriving arts centre and there’s the amazing jetty, too, the longest wooden jetty in the world; nearly 1.8 kilometers /1.1 miles long with so many activities to enjoy. These include a train trip along the jetty, a sea bed underwater walk and viewing windows under the water. Busselton has grown and now stretches almost to Dunsborough. Also many beautiful old buildings in the centre of town.

Ben Ing, previously Head Chef, Noma, Copenhagen,now at his own cafe, Alberta’s in Busselton.

Really good coffee, really good treats.

Home to about 86 restaurants and cafes, Busselton is also the home of Alberta’s, run by two former employees at Noma Copenhagen, considered the best restaurant in the world with 3 Michelin stars. Kirsty Marchant (head gardener Noma) and Ben Ing (head chef Noma) opened their cafe Alberta’s, the name a nod to Ing’s Canadian heritage, at the beginning of June. For now they are open in the morning, Thursday to Sunday, serving ‘morning’ foods, listed on a black board. Broths, baked goods, small bites and coffee. Nearly everything is sourced from local suppliers.

Our bed picnics don’t usually take place on the bed but you get the idea.

Once we were unpacked and settled I headed for the beach. It was a short walk along the boardwalk over the lake and through lush greenery.

We’re fans of long lunches at wineries, local cafes and restaurants and then settling to “bed” picnics for dinner, which aren’t eaten in bed! We collect punnets of seasonal berries, cherry tomatoes, some local apples, goats cheese, some crackers, sometimes cold meats and soups. Spread out on the coffee table this is our usual dinner when we are traveling.

We’re on either side of the bush in the middle of the photo.

We can hear the waves crashing. Peaceful and picturesque.

The next morning was relaxing and slow, reading, making some phone calls, watching the birds. Then we set off for lunch with some friends. We hadn’t seen them for ages. So much to talk about!

Lunch became afternoon tea and suddenly it was getting dark. Tuesday was the shortest day of the year and darkness fell early. Such a lovely, relaxing day.

We had visitors every day. They just wandered in and waited for snacks. My husband was happy to oblige! Sometimes we had five water hens lined up waiting for a treat. They attract our attention by tapping on the wooden slats on the deck.

On Wednesday we set off to have lunch at one of the very few local cafes/restaurants opening for lunch. More venues advertise they will be open from Thursday to Sunday, but we will be gone by then. The staff shortages in Western Australia mean no-one should be unemployed! Currently there are 1.4 full time jobs available for every unemployed person in W.A.

Left, scallops and right, fennel. Delicious.

This bistro only offered small share plates on their menu. We began with Scallops, duck xo, smoked avocado and allium ($36) and another plate of Confit fennel, yolk emulsion, edamame, goats cheese ($16). These were well balanced, interesting dishes accompanied by sparkling water and pinot noir. Things went down hill from there! The second two dishes were Beef short rib, maple mop, parker house roll, pickles ($40) and a bowl of shoestring fries, duck fat, herb salt ($16.)

The beef short rib was covered in a lump of fat, the sweet, soft bread roll a gluggy mystery ( I noticed other tables left theirs, too) and the gherkin was just sad and floppy. I added vinegar and salt to the shoestring fries and they were still pretty plain. The duck had truly flown: we couldn’t taste any duck fat at all!

I enjoyed the post lunch coffee and the wander around the adjoining art gallery. The bistro was an attractive area with views to a lovely green outlook, the food was disappointing.

Had intended to have the icecream for dessert but felt it was wiser to go elsewhere. The local well known, wonderful icecream shop, Simmos was our next stop. They were very, very busy and we both thought our icecreams were just right!

On Thursday we set off quite early to spend some time with my Mother on the way home.

As usual, we had a great break down south and we’re already planning the next one!

Share this post

An Interesting Day in Pinjarra

Share this post

Pinjarra, a country town on the banks of the Murray River, is 82km (51 miles) from Perth. It is one of the earliest settlements in Western Australia. The name Pinjarra is thought to be a corruption of the Aboriginal word beenjarrup, meaning place of the swamp.

Early settlers met with resistance from the local Aboriginal people. In 1834 this resulted in the Battle of Pinjarra, one of Australia’s worst recorded massacres.

In 1974 Alcoa established a major alumina refinery in the area greatly increasing the population of Pinjarra and nearby Mandurah on the coast.

We’d often pass through the town heading south but hadn’t stopped to explore for many years. It was an easy drive from Perth to Pinjarra on the Forrest Highway.

the evandale complex

Arrived at the well sign posted Evandale Complex, a group of buildings once belonging to the McLarty family. We parked and headed off to the first building. The garden above faces the main road into the town and is in front of the old school master’s house and the school. The school master’s house is now the home of the Murray Districts Historical Society.

The garden at the front of the School Master’s house is mainly planted with roses, including this stunner. Unfortunately, there’s no labels or site maps identifying the names of the roses. A site map for the entire complex would have been so useful! The lady in the shop thought they had one, but couldn’t find it.

Beautiful, well established roses and no signs of chili thrip!

Classic country school, designed by George Temple Poole (1856 -1934). He was responsible for designing many public buildings in Western Australia including Post Offices, Courthouses, Police Stations, Hospitals, the original Art Gallery in Perth, the original Museum, the Swan Brewery (now offices, apartments and a restaurant.) There are schools just like this one all over the state.

There’s more information about Temple Poole’s public buildings on this blog about Beverley, another old settlement in Western Australia. https://www.makecookgrow.com/2019/08/visiting-beverley-western-australia/

This spacious and fully restored four room school building is now the home of a group of patchworkers. Many of their beautiful works are for sale. There’s also interesting photos on the wall showing groups of former school children.

Autumn began eight weeks ago in the southern hemisphere, but this was the first real sign for me! Bulbs germinating in a garden bed near the carpark. Lovely.

The Art Gallery featuring works by local artists. This building, Liveringa, was built in the 1860s and is one of two homesteads on the property.

I did as directed: I drank coffee! Did I do stupid things? Not saying.

The museum is absolutely full of fascinating relics from another era when so many things were made at home. This is an Aladdin’s cave of treasures. Much of the machinery on display is still in working order. Most of the collection originated in the local district. We were accompanied throughout the workshop by a guide. She was so well informed and interesting.

Onto the shop featuring arts and crafts made by locals. Lots of treasures.

The shop and on the right, the end of the meeting room adjoining a big pottery area. So many areas for craft men and women to work, store their materials and display their products. So many interesting crafts people working at this site.

The original homestead built in 1888 and featuring wide verandas to protect the rooms from the harsh sunlight. It is now set up as tearooms. The rest of the building seemed to be storage and more meeting rooms. There are more tables at the back of the house, too.

This is the tearooms. It is where we had lunch, sitting outdoors overlooking a beautifully maintained garden leading up to the main road. There was a light breeze and it was pretty and peaceful.

I enjoyed a very good traditional quiche with not traditional chili dipping sauce.

My husband settled for a pot of tea and a scone with jam and cream which he really enjoyed. There is a limited menu with salad rolls and sandwiches, pies, cakes, hot chips and the wonderful quiche.

Then we set off to look around the town. I enjoyed visiting the new shopping centre. My husband sat in the car and read the paper.

Other buildings of interest include the old post office, on the main street, another Poole designed building. There’s several cafes offering lunch and snacks, some of the usual fast food places and some interesting shops along the main street.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Australian Alps get more snow than the Swiss Alps.

Eighty percent of Australians live on the coast of Australia.

Share this post

Recycling Plastic Bottles, My Reusable Drink Bottle and Dingoes

Share this post

is clothing made from recycled bottles good for the environment?

Brands manufacturing clothing partially from recycled bottles cite their environmentally sound credentials. Is using recycled plastic a good use of this product? The process of using recycled plastic involves creating small flakes of plastic which are melted into minute pellets. These are heated, spun into threads and then crimped to make soft, fluffy fibre. It is usually blended with something else to make fabric.

Image Pexels

Is this the best way to recycle plastic? The first problem is that every time the clothing is washed it releases microbeads into the water system. These are known to last at least 100 years in the environment. (Modelling suggest much longer) The other issue is there are better uses for recycled plastic. Using plastic bottles to make more plastic bottles is more efficient than taking the plastic out of the loop. Fashionable clothing can be discarded after being worn a few times. Used clothing eventually becomes landfill.

Image Pexels

The Australian Federal Government is one of the first in the world to announce plans compelling washing machine manufacturers to install microplastic filters in washing machines. (here) This only takes the microbeads out of the water systems, but not landfill, as the filters are emptied into rubbish bins.

If you are interested in more information, look at www.moralfibres@gmail.com

my plastic drink bottle

(My apologies if you have already read this section. I had a bit of a technological blip!)

Like so many people, I carry a bottle of water with me when we go out to avoid buying bottled water in a plastic bottle. I have an aluminum bottle which holds 500ml but it is heavy. The real problem is I can’t easily see into the bottom of the bottle to be sure it is clean. So when I saw a white poly carbonate* 500ml bottle at a great price I bought it.

I can easily see right down to the bottom of the bottle, it is light to carry, sturdy and extremely long lasting. I assumed the dominating brand name label was on the shrink wrap wrapper, not printed on the bottle. I was wrong! The cellophane wrapper was clear, the bottle was not. I hesitated to use it as the branding annoyed me. Bit by bit I began using it for all the reasons I mentioned earlier. But I still didn’t like it.

Clear sight to the bottom of the bottle.

Every journal I’ve ever had has been covered in my own choice of paper by me, I always create my own phone backs and so I set about looking for a solution for the drink bottle. To have my own design printed as a waterproof sticker was expensive and to buy a phone sized sticker from a company making them for the back of mobile phones was much the same price, so I went looking for waterproof stickers. Narrowed the search to Australian companies because of delays in shipping from overseas and wanting to support Australian businesses.

Two stickers would have covered the branding but I enjoyed using three!

These stickers came in a pack of 50, took only a few days to arrive and I’m really pleased with them. It took two stickers to cover the branding. I used three. It was fun deciding which ones to use and thinking up uses for some of the 47 left over stickers. Best of all, I really like my Japanese themed drink bottle.

There’s a theme here; I really, really like traditional Japanese art.

Poly carbonate is about 250 times stronger than glass. One of its characteristics is high impact resistance and weight. It is a natural UV filter and can be reused without significant degradation.
Update. The stickers have been on the bottle for over three weeks now. It has been in almost daily use and they still look new. Good.
DINGOES
Image credit Pixabay
Dingoes are wild, medium sized canines living in Australia. There is a small population of dogs with similar genome markers in Asia, suggesting the dingoes came via boat to Australia at least 3 500 years ago. They live in every area of the continent, except in Tasmania. They can live in harsh deserts through to lush rain forests but access to water determines where they live.
Image Adobe Stock

Dingoes are carnivores although they do eat some fruit and vegetables, nuts and grain. Their preference for meat causes conflict with farmers. When livestock is lost to dingoes farmers respond with poison, namely 1080. Since 2016 Queensland’s Cluster Fencing scheme has been effectively preventing dingo attacks on sheep and calves. Using guardian dogs is also becoming an effective and economical way to prevent dingo attacks.

Dingoes traditionally ate kangaroos, specifically red kangaroos. National parks are being overgrazed by kangaroos and feral goats. The environment is out of sync. By living harmoniously with the dingoes the kangaroo population can be controlled, there would be more grazing land for livestock and a more sustainable environment would result. This is one example of the forward thinking approaches being implemented by farmers in Australia.

SOME FACTS ABOUT DINGOES

They don’t bark, they howl. Their teeth are larger than those of domestic dogs. They have large, pricked ears. They live 8 – 10 years.

The oldest remains found are 3500 years old.

They live in packs of about 10, although young males can exist on their own until they create their own pack.

They are primitive canines related to wolves. They grow to about 60cm tall, weight up to 25 kg. with red, ginger or typically sandy yellow coats.

HAPPY EASTER !

Share this post

Growing and Propagating Lucky Bamboo

Share this post

cityscape photography during daytime

When my husband was working at his office in Hong Kong we would stay at the Excelsior Hotel which was just a block away. Sadly it has now been demolished. Closed in 2019 the site is being developed as an office block. It was quite easy for me to entertain our small son as our rooms always overlooked the Hong Kong Yacht Club where they still fired the noonday gun. This former naval military artillery piece on an enclosed piece of land near the waters edge is fired at noon and on New Year at midnight. Our small boy was also entertained for hours watching the planes landing and taking off Kowloon side across the water at Kai Tak airport.

green cactus plant during daytime

Growers turn the lucky bamboo stems to make them move towards sunlight, creating the twisted stems.

The other element I remember from the Excelsior, apart from the amazing range of cuisine available at several restaurants, was every room had stems of lucky bamboo in oriental patterned vases. These were popular in restaurants, hotels and office blocks but not common elsewhere. Some were ornate and twisted and some were just straight but they were usually decorated with red string knotted around the stems to encourage good luck.

Lucky bamboo is not actually a bamboo, but belongs to the Dracaenia family and is Dracaenia sanderiana. It is native to Africa and Southeast Asia. Lucky bamboo is thought to bring positive energy and strength. According to feng shui, the number of stalks encourage different strengths and good fortune. Twenty one stalks is a very powerful blessing for great wealth and prosperity.

This small lucky bamboo missed the constant attention of small hands at school but after a year or so when I had retired, it thrived.

Since we returned to Western Australia I’ve had lucky bamboo in two places. One was about 18 years old and very big and lush. The leaves were slowly turning yellow. I suspect I’d over fertilised it. I know now lucky bamboo only needs fertiliser every three or four months. The other lucky bamboo used to be in my classroom and began as two small stems. When I first brought it home it didn’t thrive. Maybe it missed small people breathing on it and poking the soil to see if it needed watering. Since I’ve stopped fertilising it so often it is thriving.

green-leafed plant

I decided the old, very big lucky bamboo, slowly turning yellow and already touching the ceiling, could be the source of new plants.

Birdcages on corner unit

The lucky bamboo a few years ago before it hit the ceiling and stated heading sideways. It has seven stems.

Propagating dracaenias/lucky bamboo

I gathered the materials, got down the old plant and set about making new plants.

You need:

stems of lucky bamboo

a clear jar/vase with some water*

garden scissors/secataurs

rooting/growth powder (optional)

* some people use filtered water, I used cooled boiled water

Cut stems with leaves just below a nodule. Remove any yellowed leaves, dip the stalk into rooting powder if you’re using it and put the stem in the jar of water.

Leave the jar of stems in dappled sunlight until little roots develop on the cut end. This took two weeks in the heat of summer. I left them another two weeks. One stalk grew roots despite the leaf yellowing and dying and one quite healthy looking cutting didn’t develop roots at all.

Although the single leaf on this stem died the developing root system is quite strong so I’ve left it in with the others.

I have left the stems in water for now. Lucky bamboo lives for longer in soil but it also thrives in water. In either case, use specific lucky bamboo fertiliser. Pour a capful into a jug of water to dilute it then add to the water or the soil about once a month. No more!

Why have I left the stems in water? Normally I plant my lucky bamboo in soil as they last a few years longer than in water. It is very, very hot here at the moment, has been for a few weeks and continuing hot weather is forecast. I don’t want these young and still quite small roots to dry out in soil so I’ve left them in water, which is easy to top up when necessary. When it is cooler I will plant them in loose, good quality potting mix and put the pot in one of the various holders I use ( a faux Greek antiquity vase, a stainless steel ice bucket, a chinoiserie teapot missing it’s lid) At the moment the jar of rooted stems is in an old teapot.

I trimmed the dead leaf off the flourishing stem and it is healthy so I will keep it in the pot.

If you’re growing lucky bamboo in water the roots will be easy to check. As they grow and become a tangled mass in the container they take on a red tinge. This means they are healthy!

opening the border between western australia and the rest of australia

On the 2nd of April, 2020, Western Australia closed its border to the rest of Australia in an attempt to stop the spread of the corona virus. It was very successful but also meant families, friends and people working or holidaying in the Eastern States were prevented from entering WA. Unfortunately, the hard border is still in place but the Premier says it will open on 3rd of March. The plan to open the border on 8th of February was postponed. This has been a difficult time for so many people and many businesses have suffered. We wait to see what happens!

Share this post

Aiming for Balance, Cleaning Granite and What I’m Reading

Share this post

planning for change

This week I’ve scrolled through another blogger’s list of her favourite 100 blogs. It took a long time. Some I read, a few I’ll subscribe to and some I quickly closed. They were the ones about food, accompanied by many luscious and tempting photos. Post Christmas I need less temptation and more lettuce.

One of the frequent things in all the blogs I read was the blogger’s “word” for the year. The chosen word reflects their goals for the next twelve months and serves as an aid memoir. Some of the chosen words were resilient, indomitable, prepared, organised, calm, forgiving and adventurous. It was really interesting to read why these were the chosen words and the intention that resulted in the words being chosen. Some of the bloggers also talked about how well they utilised their “word” the previous year.

I was outside, walking, thinking about these stories and how each word could act as a reminder and wondering if if there was a word which would resonate with me when it came to me, my word should be “balance”. My once organised life was pretty balanced and taken mostly for granted and re-establishing that balance should be my goal for this year. My life definitely lacked balance towards the end of last year.

Pixabay

When I left work four years ago there as a period of adjustment but in time I had a number activities which were stimulating and mostly fun. Some of that fell apart due to Covid, but there was time to paint, read and potter in the garden, meet friends for lunch or coffee and entertain at home. During Covid, when painting, Pilates, bookclub and yoga ceased, I found online alternatives. When our border with the rest of Australia opens at the beginning of February we might have another period of seldom leaving the house but there are alternatives.

Creating balance will take some planning. The concept is new and I am still considering what a balanced life will look like! Instead of doing some cleaning, sorting and organising today, for instance, I have read. I started the day reading the Sunday paper but haven’t touched the crossword yet! Walking 13 000+ steps a day requires considerable planning, too, but I am inspired by bloggers who say they feel they’ve made positive changes by applying their “word for the year” to their lives.

maintaining granite benchtops

We have granite benchtops in the kitchen. They are nearly 15 years old and in very good condition but after constant use for food preparation over the holidays, they needed attention to look their best. The surfaces are wiped after use and again during the post dinner evening cleanup but now the granite needed a good clean and polish.

That magic cleaner for stovetops, tiles, floors and granite, warm soapy water.

Granite contains trace elements of acid sensitive minerals. It is made up of quartz, feldspar and mica. It is strong and durable but many commercial cleaners, bleach and other favourites such as lemon juice and vinegar will damage the surface.

To begin the process fill a sink with warm water and squirt in some mild washing up detergent. Using a soft cloth dipped into the water and wrung out, give the granite a really good clean. Follow with a clean water rinse. When the surface is dry, polish with another soft cloth (I used an old, clean t-shirt) There are commercial granite cleaners available, too.

Then I resealed our benchtops using a commercial sealant which is sprayed on, rubbed in, left to dry and then polished. The entire process took about 15 minutes. I am so pleased with how shiny the granite is now. ( I have had the sealant for about ten years. I know it is still available but may have a different label now)

reading

Just finished Kate Langbroek’s book,’ Ciao Bella! Six Take Italy.’ Langbroek is apparently a well know radio and television personality in the Eastern States but I’d never heard of her before I picked up the book. It is an account of her family of six moving to Italy, initially for a year, then they extended it to two years and then they were stuck, due to Covid! She, her husband and four children are now back in Australia.

After an idyllic holiday in Italy, they decide to move there for twelve months. Eventually they decide on Bologna. They want a town with an international school to lessen the changes for the four school aged children. The book is a marvelous tour of Italy and its people. She writes eloquently about where they go and what they eat. She recounts with good humour some of the challenges of living in a country where she doesn’t speak the language and doesn’t do well at the language school.

glass of wine and vegetaler

Upsplash

This is great escapism, especially in a time when we haven’t been anywhere outside Western Australia for two years. Langbroek’s enthusiasm for adventures and fond anecdotes about her family make for fun reading. Her descriptions of food in Italy just make me hungry! This book is Langbroek’s love letter to Italy and I really enjoyed it!

Share this post

Visiting Kalgoorlie

Share this post

We’ve just spent a week in Kalgoorlie staying with our son who lives there. Kalgoorlie is a large,vibrant and diverse town. Settled in early 1893 after gold was discovered, the town has grand old buildings, very humble small corrugated iron houses and modern brick and tile homes. In fact, Kalgoorlie is a boom town again and there are new suburbs with very attractive new houses.

We like to go exploring! Our first big day out involved driving the Burra Woodline, a 28 kilometre unsealed road following the remnants of a bush railway network. Early European settlers established a railway camp and industrial repair hub at Barra Rock at the end of the track. The camp and industrial hub moved when the line moved. The railway transported timber for mining and domestic use in Kalgoorlie. The tracks radiated out from the central hub, clearing the timber as they moved each time.

Still some wildflowers in bloom.

These very pretty flowers growing on a bush at least a metre high look like tulips.

Barra Rock is also a natural water catchment area. The early pioneers built a rock dam wall to capture and store water which was essential for powering the steam engines. The natural spring is still evident.

Reminders of when this area was an industrial hub and pioneering farming area.

The support for the winch going down this shaft was made from three old drill rods.

The next day we set off out Yarri Road passing the old Yarri Pub, now derelict. Edjudina is the nearest station (large farm) and well. Evidence of so many mines. This area is very stark and beautiful with many signs of mining ventures but most are now abandoned.

Old meets new: a windmill next to a solar panel.

Returned to Kalgoorlie via Pinjin Road and then Bulong Road. Saw lakes and distant hills, a small graveyard, falling down houses and abandoned accommodation camp sites. This is a harsh but very beautiful landscape.

st barbara parade

Truck with four trailers.

Some of the haul trucks stand 6m high, 8m wide and 13m long.

Sunday was the last day of the St Barbara Festival culminating in a parade down the main street of Kalgoorlie. The festival begins on Thursday evening with a memorial service honouring the men and women who have lost their lives in the mining community over the past 125 years. A miner’s lamp is lit at the memorial service to signify the beginning of the festival. The festival has been held every year since 1999, except last year due to CV-19.

Saint Barbara is the patron saint of mining and also military engineers, armourers and artillery men. She was known for her bravery and courage and has been the patron saint of mining since 304AD.

The parade featured decorated mining equipment and personnel, floats, a pipe band and other groups from mining and the community. There were several school groups, Aboriginal service groups, two St John Ambulances, mine rescue teams and other community organisations. People on the floats threw sweets into the audience, which lined both sides of the street. Very exciting for the children. And for us, too!

We enjoy visiting Kalgoorlie. We drive up from Perth. The trip takes about seven hours as we stop twice so the dog can stretch his legs and have a drink. Kalgoorlie is a vibrant town with museums, ghost towns, interesting drives in all directions and so much history. There’s shopping centres and strip shops along the main streets and many cultural attractions. Of course, the main attraction for us is spending time with our son!

Share this post

A Day Sightseeing In Bunbury and Scam Awareness Week

Share this post

A DAY IN BUNBURY

Bunbury is a city in the south west of Western Australia with a population of over 170 000 people. It is the third largest city in WA. Founded in 1873, Bunbury was established as a port for imports and exports and continues to support a thriving economy. Although I grew up near Bunbury and my school life began there, it is a long time since I have lived there so when I had the opportunity recently to explore the town, I gathered some information and set off!

The timber industry has played an important role in the region since settlement.

There’s so much to see in Bunbury. If you’ve only got a day to wander, start with street art. There’s really interesting street art both in the main streets and in surrounding streets and laneways,too. In two and a half hours I saw many works on buildings and also had a lovely look around the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery. There is an enormous amount of street art in Bunbury. I only covered three blocks in the town centre but intend to return and look at more works in the near future.

To plan your day drop into the Bunbury Information Centre for this brochure:’ OUTSIDE THE BOX, Rediscover A Walking Urban Art Trail’ or click below for more suggestions.

15 Must Dos in Bunbury

Now the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, this building was formally the Sisters of Mercy Convent School. Built in 1897, the Chapel was added in 1923. The City of Bunbury bought the convent in 1981.

A reminder of the original purpose of the building, a nun’s cell. Very small and simple but the cells opened onto a wide verandah and had beautiful views across the town to Koombana Bay.

One of the exhibitions was a large table set with works by local potters. I really liked this one!

So many coffee opportunities in Victoria Street but the most impressive feature was the many, many cafes offering lunch menus. There’s Korean, Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Italian and more. There’s also several hotels/pubs advertising lunch and dinner. I had the ‘lunch special’ with a pot of tea at a Chinese restaurant for $13! Good food, good service.

The Rose Hotel, built in 1865.

Wandering around I also took a couple of photographs of interesting buildings. The other noticeable thing was the number of new, big office buildings beginning to dominate the skyline. For more information on older buildings go to the Bunbury Information Centre and collect the brochure Bunbury Heritage Building Trail full of notable buildings and lots of interesting history.

I knew this building well as my Uncle Eddie had his law firm here.

There’s masses of free two hour parking all around Bunbury on the streets and in car parks. You display a ticket on the dashboard. You can pay at the same machines if you’re planning on staying for longer than two hours.

The other ‘don’t miss’ thing if you have limited time is the Dolphin Discovery Centre on Koombana Bay, a beautiful stretch of beach close to the town. Here you will find everything you ever wanted to know about Bottlenose Dolphins! The centre offers eco cruises, swimming experiences, 24/7 livecam of the beach and offshore reef tank, plus a cafe and bar.

The research done here informs universities, government departments and other partnerships as they monitor the marine environment.

Pexels

scam awareness week

Unfortunately, the stigma attached to being scammed prevents many people from talking about their experiences. In some cases, those conned are even reluctant to seek help in recovering their stolen money. Data released by Bankwest shows more than $18 million dollars was stolen by scammers in the past year. Three quarters of the reported cases involved people over 45, while a third involved people over 65. Just 15% of cases involved 18-34 year olds.

Pexels

So what can you about it?

*To avoid the most common scams, never allow remote access to your computer, such as tech support, unless you made the contact and requested help.

*Also, be very, very cautious around cryptocurrencies. Many show you are increasing your wealth until you want to withdraw money and then they disappear! If you’re interested in investing in cryptocurrencies deal through a local bank.

*Keep your software up to date and use strong passwords.

*Keep your personal information private. Don’t share this information with anyone.

*Make sure any online shopping sites you use offer secure technology. Take the time to read the small print so that you know how your shared information will be used.

*Don’t engage with cold call marketing.

*If you get a phone call or text saying you owe money and you’re told to log on to an address to check or pay your account, don’t do it! Check your own records if you are at all worried you may owe money or else ignore it.

This is SCAM AWARENESS WEEK, so seek more detailed information online from government sources about avoiding scams.

Share this post

open studios

HM Queen Elizabeth 11.

the french ON holidays

fennel

Spring

sorting

plastic free july

australia’s coastline.

the evandale complex

is clothing made from recycled bottles good for the environment?

my plastic drink bottle

DINGOES

<img decoding=async class=aligncenter src=https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/03/26/08/26/hare-3261923__340.jpg alt="Rabbit, Easter Bunny, Plush Bunny"> HAPPY EASTER !

Propagating dracaenias/lucky bamboo

opening the border between western australia and the rest of australia

planning for change

maintaining granite benchtops

reading

st barbara parade

scam awareness week

HAPPY EASTER !