winter white

Brrr, another cold morning. Braved up with a beanie, scarf and gloves and took out the camera...

first day of winter

And right on cue, sub zero temperatures this morning. I put the heater on and went right back to bed til the place warmed up a bit. When I finally worked up the courage to begin the day with the ritual opening of the blinds and checking out the morning view, it was white - a thick frost covering most things in sight. Sorry, no photos, I wasn't brave enough to go outside. I almost chickened out of my morning walk but compromised by going later, think the temperature had risen above zero by then. Actually it wasn't as bad as I had imagined, a few layers and an old hoodie of Colin's which kept my head and my hands warm and I was set. There were lots of other people out and about, walking themselves or their dogs or jogging away. Tasmanians are a hardy lot. I avoided the shady and frost laden parts of the path and marvelled at frozen leaves crunched underfoot, sparkly, twinkling blades of grass, steam rising as the sun's warmth touched the earth and still reflections in a morning sun. Next time I'll take my camera! I guess invigorating is one way to describe mornings like this, some other words spring to mind as well, but I'd take very cold and clear over cold and windy or showery any day.

It is 24 degrees and mostly sunny in Caloundra today, just saying, grumble, grumble. Johanna is going there on Thursday to spend a long, long weekend with her friends for her birthday, grumble, grumble. Colin and I are consoling ourselves with a weekend in Hobart, further south and colder still!!

lilydale falls

A cold and showery day, but being the intrepid explorers we are, that didn't stop us...

the start of the track

an attack of the 'sillies'

carefree for now

first waterfall

second waterfall

a very tall tree

just looking

collecting leaves

throwing leaves

at each other

go grandma

in the back!

time to go

cooking

I've spent a bit of time in the kitchen over the last couple of days. The weather has been ordinary, actually today it is appalling, so pottering and cooking and baking is a great use of time. It is especially enjoyable when you get to share what you make with the people you love. Having lived away for 20 odd years, the opportunity to cook for extended family is such a novelty. I wonder how long before it is not fun anymore, they better make the most of it while it lasts...

hummus for my lunch, Johanna and Hayden promptly
finished it off for afternoon tea

wednesday, chicken curry for dinner, sister number 1

Thursday, roasted pumpkin and sweet potato soup,
sister number 2 and a serve or two for grandma
to put in her freezer

afternoon tea, raspberry and white chocolate muffins
for niece and nephews (and the mums of course)

fog

I opened the blinds to a blanket of fog this morning; thick, white and obscuring. I grabbed the camera and with the promise of some interesting photos braved the not many degree temperature outside. I stalked Johanna as she walked through the park on her way to school and tried not to be too obvious as I stalked walkers and riders passing by. It is always more interesting to have people in the shot. I needn't have worried about getting out and about early in case the fog dissipated, it is lunch time now and the sun is finally making its way through, the last tendrils of wispy white fading away...

And as usual I'm a sucker for beautiful trees...

brilliant blue

A cold Canberra day but brilliant blue. We walked to the top of Mount Ainslie and along Lake Burley Griffin at Kingston. Just as well because we have been eating out at a lot at great cafes, could almost be in funky or hipster Melbourne...

on the way up

at the top

on the way down

one of many beautiful gum trees

lake Burley Griffin

a moment of appreciation

canberra

My birthday present this year - a long weekend in Canberra to see Zac and Jan. It has been years since I've been up here and today we did the obligatory tour of Parliament House and later walked through the National Portrait Gallery.
It's cold, there's a heap of roundabouts, lots of green spaces, important looking buildings but best of all it now has two people living here that it is so wonderful to see...

Not many people about, too cold to stay outside

A quiet moment in the Entrance Hall

The Great Hall where some small children were learning
about the magnificent tapestry

A very cold roof top view

Everyone is inside where it's warm

The view from the other side

One of 16 courtyards

The last of the autumn leaves in this courtyard

winter bare courtyard