Wildflower 2

If any one can tell me what the wild flowers are please do.  I will have to have Luke or Fiona

Wildflowers

At White Wells

More Kitchen Fare

Sunday night I did a very good spaghetti bolognese  and we had a broccoli, zucchini and mushroom salad.  And the anzac biscuits disappeared quickly in the evening.  I am feeling a bit more relaxed about everying and I think the burnt bottom dahl has been forgotten.

I have been reading when I have a break in the day.  I found some of Fiona's old Frankie magazines which I devoured.    lso a book written by William McInnes and Sarah Watt - "Worse things happen at sea".  Beautifully written and some lovely photos.  Just memories of family life.  Memories everyone could identify with from their past.  I cried and then laughed in the next second.  I was crying when he described his mother's dying moments.  When the doctor asked if there was anything she needed, was there anything that was making her uncomfortable and in a small voice she said "Tony Abbott". 

Yesterday morning I cooked some muffins - chocolate, strawberry and banana and some pear, apple and almond meal muffins.    I has lost a bit of weight since leaving home and I now think it is because I haven't been baking.   Well now maybe..

In the evening I did Thai Green Curry Chicken which turned out well but a bit difficult to stir fry chicken and vegs on a large scale and it all ended up in a big pot.   Luke lent me the rice cooker which made everything so easy and I will buy one when I get home.   They have so many cucumbers I have been googling recipes to use them - I did a Thai cucumber and spring onion and chili salad with fish sauce.    A couple of wines to finish up with (which wasn't a good idea as sometimes wine and me mean headache!)  I was going to go out with the crew this morning to check traps but ended up going back to bed. 

This morning I pottered around and made stewed apple as there was a box of grannies and have done the crumble ready for tonight.   

Fiona, Tanami and Banjo came back early today.  Banjo and Tanami have grown so much and it is only 3 months since I have seen them.  It  will be great to have a catch up.

In the kitchen

My beautiful dahl went down hill.   It tasted great and look great but the people arrived an hour late then there was orientation so the dahl got burnt on the bottom of the thin saucepan when I was heating it up and it was definitely affected in a well burnt taste.  Also the rice is a lot harder to cook in large quantities.  Anyway my anzac biscuits won them over.    For lunches they will make their own sandwiches and take out in the field but today they came back for lunch so this morning I cut up cheese, tomato, grated carrot and cucumber and also did a greek salad.  I got on a roll then did tuna, herbs and mayo and then boiled some eggs as well.  They had sliced meats too.   Then remembered after lunch I washed a lettuce that I forgot to get out.   
The group are 10  teachers from Victoria (mixed ages).  They go out and do traps (a lot of digging) and track what kind of reptiles are in the area (and then let them go of course).   It is a research project of how many are back with the reduction of introduced species in the area (goats, foxes, ferral cats).  The leaders are from Earth Watch and Bush Heritage.  
It is a lot cooler today with cloud cover and the wind has come up again this afternoon.

here and there

Cycling on Rottnest Island

One of the beautiful beaches on Rottnest

The biggest lamington i have seen - Rottnest Island Bakery

Myrtle at Lyndon Station

Vines, Wheat and Wildflowers

Yesterday it took about 5 hours to drive from Perth up to Charles Darwin Reserve at White Well Station.  I drove through the Swan Valley Wine Region with vineyards on either side of the highway then through the wheatbelt with wheat as far as you can see and huge wheat storage facilities at the towns on the way.  The the wheat changed to shrubby country and gorgeous colours of purple, yellow and cream spotted here and there.  It was just about dark when I got here (thinking I was never going to get there) and it was great to see a headlight and Luke parked at his front gate as he was thinking I must be getting there soon!   White Wells is Luke, Fiona, Tanami and Banjo's new home.  (they were my neighbours in Stanley)   Luke is managing the property for Bush Heritage as a nature reserve (years ago it was a sheep station).
Tonight a group arrive from Earthwatch for 9 nights to do research etc of animals on the property.  A group of 14 people (scientists and volunteers).  I have just cooked anzac biscuits and will get started on dahl for dinner tonight.  I said I would buy the ingredients  and do the dahl this afternoon as all the food arrives with the participants and I wanted to get a head start.  Earthwatch decide the set menu and order the food and pick up in Perth   so it makes it easier on me as I have not cooked for that many and also would not know how much to get!
F, T and B are away up north and back on Tuesday. So it is quiet at the moment.  It is fairly remote but a small town about 30 minutes away.  It is very hot and windy today.  I will get out and take some photos at sunset.  Gotta go and get the biscuits from the oven...

What day is it?

Sometimes I forget how long ago I did what??  Last Saturday night I camped at Cape Burney south of Geraldton.  A little seaside place.  Since I left home, going up the centre, it has always been a lot of travellers from over the world and Australia.    It was the long weekend and school holidays so most of the people staying at the seaside places are Perth holiday makers.  I am feeling a bit like the odd one out.  It was a cute little park near the beach.  Some tiny little old holiday cottages.  The beach had heaps of seaweed on it.  I drove down to Seabird (a nother park near the beach and also lots of seaweed - not normally like this) and met up with Sandra and Bob who I met in Darwin caravan park.  I spent a nice evening there with them and their friends and then headed into Perth the next afternoon and then stayed at their place in Perth.  Then yesterday Sandra and I headed out to Rottnest Island and had a fun day bike riding around the island.  It is a beautiful place and the beaches are gorgeous.  The water was icey but I had a dip anyway because it was so beautiful.  The weather turned a bit cooler and overcaste just before we were due to get the ferry back to Freemantle so we timed the trip well.  Last night I caught up with Joel (Tom's friend) from Stanley who is studying in Perth and we went to Little Creatures to eat.  I hadn't been there before and it was great to catch up for a chat with Joel.  I slept in the van in Joel's drive way and this morning will head off for a look around Freo.  I was going to walk into Perth from South Perth but it is raining heavily now so that will have to wait.   I haven't seen rain like this in about 3 months!  At least it will give Myrtle a wash.  On Friday I will head up to near Perejori to Charles Darwin Reserve.  Luke from Stanley is working there and I am going to cook for some volunteers and scientists that will be visiting there for a few weeks - then head home - well that is the plan.