Dry, dry winter

It has been a dry winter this year, coming on from a dry autumn. We are not as hard-hit by the drought as some parts of the state are, but it was still somehow a surprise when RM looked up the data and informed me we have had half as much rain this year as the same time last year, and that one day in January accounted for 20% of all rain this year! It has been very, very brown, for what seems like a very long time.

Just recently we were looking at old photos and it’s really hard to imagine spring green paddocks... nearly impossible, actually. But fingers crossed, the rains will come and things will green up again in a few months.

Since it's been a while since I've had any sheep on this blog..

October 2016 ... green like this seems so long ago.

Frosty winter mornings

It has been a couple cold days here, with lows around -7 C (19F) which is pretty cold for this area! Cold enough and consistently enough that our exterior pipes froze (and burst..) on the back south side of the house where they weren’t insulated.

As far as our plants, so far I’m not sure if we’ve lost anything in the outside garden but we have had casualties in our sunroom: all the coleus died (which was not a surprise), in a planter of basil one plant was fine whilst the rest froze (good indicator to save those seeds), and even about half my jade plants (because I have a tendency to grow new cuttings while pruning..) didn’t make it. I am not sure about the lemon verbena and lemongrass, but they seem to be doing ok. The irisene we bought on a trip to Coffs Harbour last summer is surprisingly hardy and the cuttings don’t seem to be affected by the cold at all.

So, overall: it’s been a bit chilly. But I’m surprised to say I don’t feel as affected by it this year as in previous years. It definitely helps that we warm our house up when we get home at the end of the day with a big fire, and a very important addition to our lifestyle is making a hot water bottle to take to bed! We also now have our down coats, returned with us from America last August. These few little things make a huge difference. At least at home—work is still pretty cold!

Driving out Walcha Way

Last weekend we went for a drive on Thunderbolts Way out toward and past Walcha. It was a frosty morning, clouds in the low valleys, and as the sun rose higher only patches of frost in the shadows of trees. It is a picturesque drive and I always enjoy this route, I don't have the opportunity to travel it very often.

Carson's Lookout, looking westward

Carson's Lookout, looking south

Autumn colours

Autumn colors outside the old Armidale Town Hall

It has been such a busy couple months, I feel a little bit like I haven't had much of a chance to really enjoy the changing of the seasons this year, or at least not to take as many photos as I would like. I have recently gotten a new computer which has taken some time to get set up, but now that everything is up and running hopefully I will be able to catch up on some overdue blogging and photo sharing. It is always hard to make time, with everything going on, but I'm trying to remain optimistic .

Liquidamber sweet gum

The extremely common Chinese pistachio tree

Outside the dry Uralla playing fields (we have
had very little rain this autumn)

Red Japanese maple

These pretty leaves blow into our yard every once in a while ..
but I have no idea what type of tree it is!

Autumn poplars II

Autumn poplars I

It's been "autumn" for the entirety of two months around these parts but only recently has the weather started to feel particularly autumnish. Some of the deciduous trees have already lost their leaves, but the poplars which are so prevalent and popular are at their stunning autumn gold peak.

I have been trying to savor the changing colors of the trees, knowing this time will pass by all too quickly. These photos are from an afternoon walk on Saturday, 29 April to the nearby playing fields. It was a beautiful afternoon: clear blue skies and warm weather that began to cool as the sun sank in the sky.