Update on heat

Tonight's sunset is well and truly indicating another hot day tomorrow.

Today's temperature reached 46C ( 114.1F).

It was the hottest November day ever recorded.

Very hot weather is not unusual for here but never like this in November.

January, February and March are the months for heat.

Tomorrow is expected to be 47C (116.6F).

Another dangerous day tomorrow, here's hoping everyone gets through the day safely, as there is supposed to be lightening strikes later in the day.

And we had our first visit from a Brown Snake today, like everyone else he was probably looking for a cool spot.

Catastrophic conditions

I thought I had better let you all know that we are still battling along. As you can see we are experiencing more hot conditions, the photo above I have took at 11am, and it is sitting on 43 C (1o9.4F) and the one below was at 9.30 this morning when it was already over 40. Monday and Tuesday were a bit cooler in the high 30's so we did have a bit of relief. We needed it after having 45C (113F) on Sunday.

The north west of South Australia are on a (code red day) catastrophic fire danger warning alert for today and tomorrow. This has been brought about by the tragic bushfires in Victoria earlier this year. They are warning people to evacuate their homes unless they are satisfied that they have done enough to be safe from a bushfire. Some schools and the like have been closed and school buses are not running. We have the ABC radio on so we can keep updated with what is happening.

We are experiencing very hot gusty winds...

My poor strawberries ripened just in time for me to pick this morning.

I would like to thank everyone who left a comment on my last post. I really appreciated all of you for taking the time to offer food ideas and well wishes. We survived on easy meals like tuna patties, lasagna, quiche, all served with salad. Tonight we are having chicken and you guessed it salad. Ohhh, I am so over salad...


We can't go in our pool today as there is too much dirt in the air, hopefully we can later if the wind dies down.


A cool change is expected on Friday and they say we may get some rain, so I hope they are right. We will need to get through tomorrow yet which is forecast to be worse than today. The radio just announced that the wind in Port Augusta is gusting at over 50km an hour and a bushfire has started up at Bowmans, South Australia.


Take care,

xTania

Extreme Weather Conditions- Breaking Records

Not much happening in our neck of the woods. Just trying to stay cool the best way we can.

Lucky we have a pool to cool down in. Life at the moment consists of doing a little bit, dip in the pool, doing a bit more, dip in the pool...........

I bought these vegies a couple of days before the heatwave hit and haven't got to plant them yet. Their home for now is in the laundry as I nearly lost them on the first day.


I have decided not to plant too much this year as my daughter is growing a lovely vegie garden and she will have plenty for all.

I bought some cherry tomatoes, apple cucumbers and one Grosse Lisse Tomato plant. I don't have much luck growing tomatoes for some reason.

Not sure when the weather is going to be nice to us so I can plant these......by the long range forecast it is hot until at least next Wednesday.

Some strawberry plants with strawberries, seem to be doing okay so long as I keep them damp.

These came into bloom for one day and then shriveled up, I didn't even get time to enjoy them, just as well I took a photo when I did.

Eremophila in bloom.

Another dust storm hitting us a week ago.

Weather forecast for the next week from the Elders weather site is:

41C today (105.8F)
42C tomorrow (107.6F)
42C Saturday
43C Sunday (109.4F)
35C Monday
37C Tuesday
43C Wednesday

The official all time record for November has been broken. Six straight days over 40 degrees and it's not Summer yet.

The worse thing about having hot weather is thinking and finding easy things to make for dinner.

What do others do for meals in hot weather?
I would be interested to know if you feel like sharing.

Stay cool and safe,

xTania

Our Happenings and a recipe

Isn't this a sad sight?

Hubby had a double hernia operation 3 weeks ago. He is well on the road to recovery but the first couple of weeks he was hardly able to move. He has a scar to match my Caesarian ones and now knows what pain is all about. Mind you he is enjoying being waited on hand and foot. Another three weeks of rest and then it will be light duties back at work.

His appetite is still okay.

Another visitor, I swear the spiders around here are getting bigger. This one had a leg missing.

Underneath our carport we have a new little family, three baby sparrows.
Here they are when I could first see them.

As they were a few days ago...

Now they are flying around and coming home to roost at night.

You must try this Sticky Date Pudding, I made it the other night for dessert, and there was plenty to spare and freeze.

The recipe can be found over at Our Red House.
Thanks Kate, our family thought this pudding was delicious and there was enough to feed an army!

Take care,

xTania

Remembering....

This time last year I received a sad phone call from my friend informing me that their beloved daughter had passed away during the night leaving behind a young son and a devastated family.


Everywhere across the land you see God's face and touch his hand.


Each time you look up in the sky,
Or watch the fluffy clouds drift by,
Or feel the sunshine warm and bright,
Or watch the dark night turn to light,
Or hear a bluebird gayly sing,
Or see the winter turn to spring,
Or stop to pick a daffodil,
Or gather violets on some hill...
Or touch a leaf or see a tree,
It's all God whispering "This Is Me...
And I am Faith and I am Light
And in Me there shall be no night."

by Helen Steiner Rice

Weekend at Yangie

A long overdue post...

The long weekend in October we went camping with friends to a little place called Yangie, near Coffins Bay South Australia. Yangie is located in the Coffins Bay National Park.

A friendly Emu brought his family along to visit our camp.

Unusual tree formation at the top of the hill near our campsite.

Another visitor was this friendly Kangaroo. Our son went to the toilets, rounded the corner and there was the kangaroo, he couldn't believe his eyes. He had never come face to face with a Kangaroo before. A pleasant surprise...

And of course we got bogged on our first trip out and had to be pulled out the sand!! This spot has been renamed Phil's corner by our friends...

Lots and lots of beautiful, juicy Quandongs (wild Peach)

Sensation Bay...

Named after a tuna boat that run aground. Read more about it here

Friends...

Sheryl, Lyn and I.

There were huge sandhills along Seven Mile beach.

Great for trying out the sand board...

Old plough near the Rangers hut...

Cliff edge breaking away...

My man Phil...

The group....

Fishing off the beach...

Running across rocks

Gorgeous scenery...

A little honey eater...

Lovely clean surf and fishing beaches....

Crisp white sand....

Sleepy lizard (shingleback), made from tin...

Tunnel of love...

Some bush cricket...

Little blue wren hopping around near the camper trailer.

See why we want to move to this lovely area.

Good company, great scenery, lots of fun and laughter, what more could we ask for?

I do hope you all have a great weekend,

xTania

Re The Lost Art of Letter Writing

Please have a look at this great post my daughter Sarah has written about writing letters.

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My two eldest daughters are very good letter writers and correspond regularly with people from all over. I myself have let letter writing pass by the wayside, but I think I might get back into it again. It is a nice feeling when you receive a hand written letter from a dear friend or relative instead of just bills and junk mail.

Have a great day,

xTania