The Last Days Of Summer

 The tragedy of a sore finger, requiring acknowledgement and sympathy (its all we really want). Zef (the elkhound)  is raiding the summer garden harvest, the little Bowerbird has rescued at tomato from his chew pile and is not impressed, she is quite the disciplinarian.

 

It has been a long thirsty summer in the Macedon Ranges, a summer so dry I've not been able to fully relax and enjoy, for fear of fire. A summer of constantly listening to the ABC radio, checking the Bureau of Meteorology website, and scanning through CFA alerts. Knowledge is a powerful thing, but ignorance can be bliss. I remember the days before Black Saturday, when I was not so hyper-aware of how dangerous it can be to live amongst the gum trees. A time before phone apps that highlight every single time a fire truck is called out, I assure you the sirens were blaring this summer.

I am overjoyed to see the tell tale signs of Autumn approaching.  We had a day we could don a jumper, and finally we have rain. Long heavy falls of rain to soak the earth and bring it back to life, rain that looks red on the radar.   Rain to lull me into a peaceful slumber, rain that makes me want to lie in bed all day drinking tea and reading books. Rain that smells sweet and alive. Little seedlings are emerging with the combination of heat and moisture, cornflower cotyledons are popping up amongst the straw mulch, peas are rejoicing and sending tendrils in all directions. Naked ladies (the bulbs not floozies) push their way through thick layers of newspaper and straw, determined to dance in the downpour.

The first Autumn leaves are blushing on our Sycamore tree, I have seen many deciduous trees changing colour early this year, I think they had had enough of summer, and decided to shut down until better conditions arrive.  Never have so many of our trees looked burnt and stressed, but after a few days of moisture they seem to lift a little, the parch dry lawn almost instantly turned green. My children were soaked to the bone on their journey home today and didn't mind a bit, it was such a novelty to be wet. Nothing a towel and a hot chocolate couldn't fix.

There will be more warm dry days to come, in fact the next week's forecast is full of them, but the relief in our town is palpable, there are smiles as we sigh, and be grateful that it wasn't our town in the news this summer. There are so many towns across Australia undergoing hardship, it has been a year of extremes, thankyou to all the good people that helped keep us safe, and big thankyou to lady luck. I fear with climate change, that this is how summers will always be in our neck of the woods, still beautiful but somewhat stained with worry.

 I bought two new umbrellas today, a garden of poppies for me, and a clear dome for the little Bowerbird, in excitement and preparation for the days to come.

 These old umbrellas didn't do much to keep the poor school aged Bowerbirds dry today, but it was an almighty torrent they got caught in.

Scienceworks Hot day out

When the temperatures soar, and the North winds blow, we leave home. Our little town is situated in one of the most bushfire prone areas of the planet. Rather than be grim and worried about it, I try to turn these scorching days into an adventure.  Over summer we went to the movies, the Melbourne Museum, visited friends and cousins, went shopping, and had a lovely Vietnamese lunch with Mr Bowerbird. It can be exhausting, and not always cheap or practical, but at least we are safe. I am very ready for some rain and a little less of the feeling of living on a box of matches. There is a limit to how many things you can do with three children on a hot day.

On this particular day it was a searing 42 degrees in Melbourne, we wilted getting from the car to the foyer of Scienceworks, but it was worth the walk.  The air was so delightfully cool we were immediately content and required nothing more to enjoy our day. 

Instead we were greeted with the Carnival of Science exhibition, and quite the carnival it was.

A hall of mirrors

Puzzles

Laying on a bed of nails - the machine weighs you and then the nails emerge, not for the faint hearted.

Balls that leap back at you if not thrown on the right angle

A chance to try some circus tricks

I put my head in here and then backed out at the last minute, I could not face my fear, unlike the brave Big Bowerbird!

Well worth a visit, but I'm a sucker for a bit of science.

EVENT DETAILS

Event Type: Temporary Exhibition

Daily, Until 13 Oct 2013
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

SCIENCEWORKS

Shhhh - Write on Wednesday

Write On Wednesdays Exercise 24 - This week is  a Choose Your Own Adventure week. Look to your left...In my sidebar you will find a list of the WoW writing exercises. Pick a prompt that takes your fancy and  make it work for you. Maybe you will work on yourNaNo story or another writing project or perhaps just a bit of creative exploration. You might even like to share your favorite book genre with us and then use the prompt to work on a similar theme.

We’re making fire,

SHHHHH,

Someone might hear us.

Paper, sticks,

Matches,

Whoosh,

Gasp,

RUN!

Hearts pounding,

Heat on our backs,

Eyes wide,

Sparks dancing,

Flames kissing,

Golden grass,

Ablaze,

The vacant block,

Is filled.

Stop,

Watch,

From afar,

Smoke billowing,

Crackling,

Burning black,

Wild,

Sirens,

People looking,

SHHHHH,

Someone might see us.

photo credit link

I didn't write for last weeks prompt so chose it as my adventure. "We're are learning to make fire", hope you're not bored with it. Just for the record, I've never lit a wild fire, and through summer I live in fear of children playing like this, as we live in a bushfire prone area.

For more

Ink Paper Pen

http://inkpaperpen.blogspot.com/2011/11/whats-my-sceneits-write-on-wednesday.html