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I would like to sincerely thank all those that are praying for Australians battling fires. Personally, we are safe at this stage. It is still hot but has clouded over and is now very humid. Some rain would be a welcome relief but we'll just have to wait and see what the Lord has in store.
Our Evaporative Air Cooler died yesterday morning. Phew! Now it's really hot! Fortunately, I bought 2 electric fans this Summer and we've at least been able to sit quietly in front of those during the hottest part of the day. I haven't needed to use a fan in over 10 years. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I used an electric fan in my adult life even though I've never had any cooling system in the bedrooms all that time. We've just managed to cope without them and I guess, the evening has always brought us some cool relief. This Summer, it's very different and we've had all cooling systems running 24 hours. I can't remember a Summer this hot since I was very young. Then again, we didn't have air conditioners or ducted evaporative coolers back then. Not as tough as we used to be or maybe we're just a bit spoiled now and possibly need a reminder of how blessed we really are today. |
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Yesterday, we spent 'Australia Day' hiding indoors from the heat. A lot of Australia had temperatures that was pleasant enough to venture out and join in some Australia Day celebrations however here in NE Victoria, the conditions where very hot and very windy. Perfect weather to fan the already out of control fires that are raging all over the State. This is probably the worst Summer for bushfires that I can remember. There where similar conditions back in the early 80s but I was much younger and living in the city so I didn't feel as affected as I do now. I guess we just wheren't as close to the situation as we are now. Over the past 2 weeks there have been many days that I've stepped outside to be greeted by the smell of smoke. 3 of those days, the smoke was quite thick, yet the fires where many kilometres away. Definitely not threatening to this town although we have had a couple of close calls. One morning we where woken early by the sound of helicopters overhead. We stepped outside to find thick, choking smoking. The paddock over the back, just 50 metres away was on fire. Fortunately, the helicopters where out 'spotting' and noticed this blaze. They where able to put it out quickly. Mum had her car packed and was ready to go.
As I'm typing this, I can hear the fire siren going again. Dale (dh) has just stepped outside and said, "Yeah, I can smell it." That siren has barely stopped since Christmas and the hot sun and wind are just not abating. Prayers for all those here in Australia that are fighting fires would be surely appreciated.
Yesterday the temperature was 41C (106F) and very windy. The rest of the week is supposed to be cooler (in the 30s) but stormy all week. Hopefully there will be rain with the thunder and lightning as some of these fires have started as a result of dry electrical storms.
In todays newspaper the toll for Victoria stands at: Lives lost: 3 Hectares burnt: 150,000 (that's 370,658 acres) Houses lost: 27 Livestock killed: 60,300 No. of firefighters: 11,500 |
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I have apples in my fridge that need to be cooked up. Here's what I'll make with them. This recipes comes from my MIL and is one of my husband's favourites. She made this a lot when her 6 children where all little.
2 lbs apples stewed with a bit of sugar and very little water 1/4 lb butter 1 egg 4 oz sugar 2 tblesp cold water 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 lb plain flour 1/2 tsp bicarb soda 1 tsp cream of tartar
Beat butter and sugar to cream, add egg, cold water, beat well. Lastly add flour and dry ingredients sifted together. Knead lightly, then roll out on lightly floured paper twice the required length. Spread half pastry with warm apples then lift the other half (with the paper, as the mixture is very soft) and fold over apples. Remove top paper carefully, and tear off. Pinch edges together to seal the pastry at edges. Slip hot slide (baking tray) under cake and bake in a a fairly quick oven, about the middle, for 20-30 mins. Serve hot for pudding, or cold sliced for afternoon tea.
I copied this recipe out of one of her very old cook books and was amused at the way things where described. I've put a few things in brackets in case you don't understand the language but please let me know if you'd like to try this and don't understand part of it.
My hubby made this a few times when we where first married and did it as described in the recipe. I tend to find it too fiddly and usually just press half the mixture into a 'slice' tin, top with apples and then roll out the remaining pastry to place on top of the apples. It's yumm either way you do it.
Oh, I also wanted to mention that my MIL always saved the waxed paper that you got in your cereal boxes to use for rolling out her pastry and manouvering it around. I thought that was very cool. Here in Australia, most of the cereal is now packed in either plastic or foil bags within the boxes. I thought the world was working on getting more environmentally friendly. Apparently not. |
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A friend had us come over and pick as many peaches as we wanted from her very heavily laden tree. They are not quite ripe but the birds have discovered her trees and are viciously attacking the fruit and so we really needed to get what we could off the tree. They demolished all the fruit on her plum trees a week earlier and had moved onto her peach tree. I have a nice big bag of very firm peaches. Probably a good week off being ripe. She told me she's been stewing them with just a little sugar and eating them on her breakfast cereal. I could do that with a few of them but would like to bottle (can) the rest in some sort of way. I may even just stew the whole lot and preserve them in bottles that way. I haven't ever done peaches before so I'm not really sure which way I'll go with them. I've mostly only made jams in the past. Hmmm, lots of food for thought. I might have to surf the 'net a bit and see what I can come up with. |
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My oldest daughter (22 yo) gifted the family with a new popcorn machine.
Look what's blooming around here at the moment. They also come in orange.
Corymbia ficifolia; West Australian red flowering gum |
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She's such a doll. She's been on holidays for 3 weeks and here the whole time. It's been a wonderful vacation. Her holidays are now over and I miss her terribly when she's at work. She lives away from home during the week when working (most of the time). How will I cope when she gets married and no longer comes home on the weekends. 
