Sleepy Hollow . . .

Well, Banksia Hollow has been a bit of a “sleepy hollow” lately as we have been busy doing other things.  We have had to stop and work on our fire breaks more than once over the past month and there is currently a fire about 8km from our southern boundary.  We met with the fire brigade last night at the Town Hall where they had called a town meeting and that reassured us that things are OK, there are 15 Tas Fire Service units, 9 Parks and Wildlife and 11 Forestry units fighting it, with 7 large bulldozers, they have contingencies prepared for every possibility.  It’s nice and cool tonight and may even rain, so no immediate threat at this stage.

Here is the latest pic of the house, the purlins are up and we are ready to put the roof on and then finish framing the walls.  We started using blueboard cladding but have abandoned that as it is not very sturdy and we have been warned that it may crack, especially through the render.  We are thinking of using the new Scyon Axon cladding, which is much thicker and stronger, and also fire resitant.  That will just need painting so will save us a weeks work rendering.

We’ve been busy with the garden and the hot weather has meant lots of watering.  Still no rain so we have had to buy water.  Quite often the annual rainfall here is 2000mm per annum, but last year only 753mm.  And bugger all this summer!!!  Still the flowers have survived and the growth in the vege patch and greenhouse has been phenomenal.  Here are the tomatoes, which look a bit leggy.  This usually means too much nitrogen but they are covered with flowers so that can’t be the case.  We are going to be buried in tomatoes before too long.  The raspberries have given us heaps of fruit but on the tail end of their run now.  Lots of beans and zucchini and cucumber still coming.  The carrots are delicious and some of the beetroot are huge.

The flower beds have given us a lot of pleasure, not just looking good, but also smelling divine, especially the lilliums and stocks.  We had some beaut gladis which would have done Dame Edna proud, here are a few shots . . .

We have had lots of visitors lately and spent many hours chatting over a cuppa, not as much working, but that is a good thing.  We can’t wait til we have the house finished and will start entertaining again.  Plus we will be able to have folks to stay once more which we really miss.  St Mary’s is such a friendly town and we have met so many great people.  Our favourite hang out is the Mt Elephant Fudge Cafe, great “skinny soy latte” and Liz, the proprietor even has vegan cake and chocolate.  We have everything we need here in St Marys and rarely have to go to town.

Our studies are going well, I am doing a unit on Family Therapy, which is like wading through treacle.  I come from a dysfunctional family so I don’t need to study one, jeez!!  I’m expecting to graduate in August then return to my Batchelor studies before my MA.

Bryon’s Batchelor of Fine Art is going well, he has been getting great results, and is particularly proud of his latest masterpiece which can be viewed here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF-C1aCNAxI.  I too am enjoying his studies, as his research is exposing me to lots of artists I didn’t know of, and also reminds me of the rubbish that is put out and called art.  I am also enjoying how he interprets all sorts of media that he doesn’t usually work in, viz the You Tube above, and he has done some lovely pen drawings.  Like this one for example . . .

We are going on a little holiday to the big island soon, for Levi’s 1st birthday (Bryon’s grandson) and up to Leura and beyond the Blue Mountains, then back to Tassie to get stuck into the house.  Life is full, but there’s still plenty of time to sit back and have a nanna nap in the easy chair under a gum tree . . . what can I say, life’s good.