Susan Dayley's Happy Saint Paddy's Day

Everybody has a bit of Irish in them so the Irish are always claiming. With a name like mine, Colleen Margaid O'Grady, one can see there is Irish in me! But I am only half Irish, the other half is British! Daddy was of Irish stock, Mummy was a Wakefieldian opf Yorkshire. That's why they split for the orange and the green don't mix see! It has taken my good Irish friend Aileen many years to get me to lay claim to being Irish, remember Saint Patrick's Day and love all things Irish! There's a warniong in my ears to remember to wear something green to Church tomorrow! Yes, Aileen. But I love all things British also, and American and Canadian and New Zealand and...well, I guess you get my drift. I'm doing my best Aileen but really, when it all boils down, I'm a true blue Aussie. Thanks Susan for posting this on your blog so that I could share it and think of my Irish ancestry


I’m a bit of a European mutt. But some parts of my family history are worth laying claim to. For example, I like the Irish in me. It balances the fierce and proud Scottish parts with a good-natured approach to life.
And I guess I look the part. One lady looked at me and asked if I were Irish. I didn’t understand at the time, because I have dark hair, and every Celtic dancer I’ve ever seen has red. However, did you know that among the Irish 43% have dark hair, 35% have medium brown hair, 10% have red and reddish-brown hair? I do have the skin of a red-head—freckles all up my arms—just not the glory of red tresses.
Sigh
I also don’t drink Guinness.
But I like the blessings.
“May all who love the Lord, love you, and those who don’t love you, may the Lord give them a limp so you can see them coming.”
St. Patrick’s day dinner is a bit of dilemma. I’ve had corn beef and cabbage. The owners of a mom and pop store where we worked during the college years invited us to dinner one day. They loved my hubby and I was part of the package. They served us corn beef and boiled cabbage. So yes, I’ve had it. Once.
I asked my DH if he’d like a special dinner this Sunday: Irish stew, soda bread, root-beer. He said a green menu was fine with him. He suggested kale and spinache. (serious!)(Do the Irish even eat vegetables other than potatoes?) The thing is, DH is more Irish than I am. Our surname is Irish. His brother and sister who had red hair had bright red hair (she still does); whereas mine had auburn (he’s now bald).
St. Patrick’s day is a good day to celebrate now that spring is finally here and the coming of all things green is certain. Besides, I like the story of the saint driving the snakes from Ireland (symbolically of course, when he brought Christianity to them). I’ve never been a fan of snakes. To me, the best snakes are the ones that live far, far away.
Anyway, as per DH’s request, we’ll have green drinks for breakfast (like most days) and raw pea soup for lunch (and maybe some soda bread with pistachios). I might even do something with potatoes (red ones—just don’t tell my Idaho kin). I’ll spread the green tablecloth and find other ways to overload the green. However, there will be no funny hats or t-shirts that say, “Kiss me, I’m Irish.” (Besides, my DH won’t need the prompt.)
And no green food coloring (as in green eggs and ham). I just don’t want to have a green tongue (or worse)–my Scottish side may object.
This Sunday, when the whole world is Irish, may your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door. And remember what they say, “When Irish eyes are shining—they’re usually up to something.”
Also, don’t tell my DH, but if he goes first, I just may just replace him with a red-head..
“May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent,” and the familiar, but good one, “May you be an hour in heaven before the Devil knows you’re dead.”

The Last Days

Cyclone Rusty before it crossed the Pilbara coast near Port Hedland

Helicopter drops a load of water on the fire in Ellenbrook, Perth

Its the truth. We have been told time and time again and the Scriptures are replete with warnings of the events of the last days before the Saviour comes and The Millenium is ushered in! So I write these happenings on my blog, and where I can, post pictures. Earthquakes of one kind or another everywhere in the USA including Alabama which is outside the earthquake zone. Do they have to re-zone Alabama? Britain suffers severe blackouts with many millions under threat of more because of the freezing weather and devastating power cuts. Oh My! We've had fires in Perth, the Pilbara got drowned with Cyclone Rusty, most beneficial though, and once again the eastern states is being washed out to New Zealand with floods and heavy rain. Perth gets a three-day heatwave, the temperature drops for a couple of days, then up it goes again. Newspapers diligently report all events and blame it all on Mother Nature, God not mentioned anywhere! And those beasterly easterlies almost drive me to distraction with that blasted iron gate that is difficult to open, suddenly swings back and socks me one, or hurtles forward and whangs me in the back and out onto the roadway! Danger zone. I searched my Blog for a poem I had written about these monstrous winds, but hadn't included it here, so will do so now among all the other stuff! Well, the Prophets have said prepare. Storehouse is looking healthy, water supply unhealthy, 72 hour a goer, spare finances slowly growing...and along with prayers, repenting and trying to overcome my sins and service am doing my best! Are you? But bless Susan Dayley in her Blog Looking out my Backdoor who found a way to combat the freezing, prolonged, icy conditions of where she lives in the USA to make things more cheerful - planting bulbs indoors! I am  going to try that one for my sunny windowsills.

EASTERLIES

Blast and blast! The east winds are devilish,

Dancing the dance of a demented dervish

The old iron gate, released of its bolt,

Swung back viciously, giving me a jolt.

The washing on the line swung like things frantic,

The pegs went flying at such an antic.
The wind was so cold, it felt like ice
And the sun glimmering down was not nice.
Dust was whipped up in dizzy swirls,
Sand blasts along in vicious curls.
My coat flopped around like a mad disgrace
And a flying cord slapped my face.
Furious and temper and damming and beasterlies
I sallied forth fighting the blasted easterlies.

3/1/2013 — Western US earthquakes at multiple volcanic sites by sincedutch

Over the past 3 days (up to March 1, 2013) we have seen multiple earthquakes occur in the western United States.

As it turns out, if you look up the earthquake epicenters on Google Earth -- you can clearly see each noticeable quake is very close to a known Volcanoes.

It appears we're seeing an uptick in earthquake activity near dormant and active volcanoes in the western US, cause as yet unconfirmed/unknown --- I'm personally leaning towards crustal displacement (global) happening due to the events along the Indo-Australian plate .

The plate breakup is causing unrest globally.

------------------

3/1/2013 — Alabama 2.7M Earthquake — Fracking / Pumping induced — flank of a HUGE operation by sincedutch Today, March 1, 2013 , a 2.7M earthquake struck Alabama, not normally an earthquake prone area. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc000fey3.php Earthquake Details This event has been reviewed by a seismologist. Magnitude 2.7 Date-Time Friday, March 01, 2013 at 16:53:27 UTC Friday, March 01, 2013 at 10:53:27 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake

Location	33.717°N, 87.296°W
Depth	4.9 km (3.0 miles)
Region	ALABAMA
Distances	11 km (6 miles) WSW of Cordova, Alabama 12 km (7 miles) S of Jasper, Alabama 39 km (24 miles) NW of Pleasant Grove, Alabama 40 km (24 miles) WNW of Forestdale, Alabama

 

Notice the depth. 3.0 miles deep. If you're a viewer of mine or have been following earthquakes in the USA for a while, you know what this means!

If you go to google earth, and look up the epicenter coordinates listed by the USGS , you'll see one of the largest drilling / pumping / fracking / injecting operations in one single area... Add in the dozens of large quarries, and multiple steam plants directly in the area as well...
Or: Defying Reality with Paper-Whites
It has been an unusually cold winter for my town (and to the towns and cities that stretch along the length of mountains that partially define our lives). Clouds rush against those mountains, and the snows dump on the settlements below. The spring storms found themselves falling upon the accumulated snow that fell first in December. It’s the first of March and my north-facing deck is still beneath a three foot drift that defeats the heart of my Sherlock.
Temperatures rose once or twice last month to nip at the heels of the normal range for this time of year, but mostly stayed in the bone chilling zone. But I rarely accept situations that are less than ideal. I’m a doer. A naïve, reckless, enthusiastic one—who sometimes forgets to count the cost– but a doer nonetheless. With the aid of my daughter-in-law, I have taken circumstances that deceptively seem beyond my control, and changed them.
At the family nursery that she manages they had a close-out on paper-white bulbs. When I expressed an interest, she grabbed a bag and filled it. Then she gifted it to me with instructions. When I asked about potting soil, rather than repeat her instructions, that I had clearly not comprehended, she took me to a greenhouse to show me first-hand a large clear vase with paper whites blooming boldly above it. Then I understood.
So between her gift and about an hour of “planting” I brought spring into my home, despite the evidence to the contrary beyond my backdoor.
Each bulb was set inside a container that had a couple inches of pea gravel in the bottom. I had some decorative pebbles that served the first four containers. Then I slipped on my DH’s heavy boots and tramped out to my garden to scoop up pea gravel from around the boxes where the snow had receded. After the bulbs were set, I filled each with water to about ¼ up the bulb. You can also add the rocks up around the bulbs–but I liked the layered look. Within a week there were roots and green shoots. Within two weeks I had flowers.
Be sure to rotate them as (admirably so) they like to grow toward the sun.
I placed this one beside a mirror–because the other name for this flower is Narcissus–from the handsome Greek God that fell in love with his own reflection. Wisely, this flower prefered the light.
With these happy, tender flowers around me, spring arrived. (So there, bitter-cold winds.)
Because of the abundance my daughter gave me, I ended up filling several containers including tea cups and miscellaneous bowls. 7 bulbs were placed into a large glass bowl. Then I set them into a room with a southern window, rotating them from the top of a chest to a place in the sun to be distributed when their full bloom arrived.

They have tied me over through the single digit temps. This week there is to be a warming spike (finally) and the 40’s are predicted! The snow may actually melt from my patio and maybe Sherlock will find a sunny spot.

Earthquakes!

Oh, eek! Alarm. Nearby bushfires here in Western Australia and two earthquakes within the space of a few days that affect our nation and near our north eastern Australian coast. That is far too close to my nation. Is it getting ready for a big one which will affect Queensland and possibly New South Wales? The first was Vanatau at about the 603 range on the scale. This one today, reported by Dutchsinses, was much more:

Earthquake Details

• This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude

8.0

and one can see by the rings just how much of Australia was influenced! Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 01:12:23 UTC Wednesday, February 06, 2013 at 12:12:23 PM at epicenter As for the bushfires, we h ave been warned time and again every summer, every spring after winter, to prepare our homes, our lands and ourselves for bushfires. Our city and shire councils work hard to educate the public ready fr these nasties and that includes earthquakes!  The Northam skyline last night! ...and a helicopter fills up with water to help douse it today! BUSHFIRES have broken out along the Great Eastern Highway in Western Australia, including one across the highway from the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre at Northam, north-east of Perth. A spokeswoman for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said firefighters were working on several scrub fires along the highway. Fires had also broken out on the corner of Northam's main street, Mitchell Avenue, and Mt Ommanney Rd.

Wild weather?

We have Cyclone Narelle to give us a fright, but only category 4 so far and bushfires in the eastern states. Bad, bad news. The fires have been vicious these past few days. Three teenage lads were charged with deliberately lighting fires east of Sydney and a farmer's ute blamed for starting a fire in one farming area. What do I think of all this? Fear! I have family over there and its frightening. We have been warned time and again in the Scriptures and by our Prophets of what will happen in the last days before the Saviour comes. Many would wish not to know these things but we cannot stick our heads in the sand like an ostrich and pretend evrything is all right. We have been urged to prepare for such emergencies and that frightens me, for am little prepared for any emergency with a small storehouse and some water. I do have my 72 hour so am grateful for that!  I've been working so hard on the grandkids stuff and my biography I am neglecting weightier matters! But all readers of my blog I urge to prepare for these disasters. And to repent and believe and have hope in Jesus, our Saviour and Redeemer. He tells us if we listen, obey and prepare, we have no need to fear. In China there have been massive landslides. What else is happening around the world? Dutchsince, a group that I regularly get emails from, reports daily of fracking and earthquake movements in Oklahoma and Illinois, and I think Colorado. So the United States is not exempted either. These are warnings. And for some unknown reason, I cannot download any photos from my files on the computer. A slip up with my blog! Arrgh! Below is th enews reports on the Australian national disasters. The Salvation Army has stepped in and requesting donations for those who have lost everything. What is my Church doing over there? I will need to find out

Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (category 4)
At 5pm WST on Friday 11th January, Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle (Category 4) was centred approximately 475km NNW of Exmouth and 790 km N of Carnarvon, moving SW at 7 knots.

The cyclone is expected to move in a SSW direction but still pass to the west of Northwest Cape over the weekend.

Gales with gusts to 100km/h could develop in coastal areas between Mardie and Exmouth this evening, then extend south to Coral Bay later on Saturday. Winds are likely to increase in the Exmouth area on Saturday with damaging wind gusts to 125km/h possible overnight Saturday if the cyclone takes a track closer to the coast.

On Sunday gales may extend south to Carnarvon and winds along the west Pilbara coast should ease from the east later in the day.

Thunderstorms in western Pilbara could be squally with heavy falls. This activity will extend into far northwestern Gascoyne on the weekend.
Issued Friday 21:28 EDT

HOMES have been destroyed in Victoria and NSW, others are under threat and there are now fears that the relief of a cool change will bring a wind change that could make the bushfire situation even worse.
Two homes have been destroyed and two people injured in a bushfire in central Victoria as the state also battles fires in its north and southwest.
In NSW, at least one home has been destroyed at Jugiong and another 20 are under immediate threat in that area.
In Victoria, residents of the town of Snake Valley, about 30km from Ballarat, say two homes have burnt down.
"We have lost a couple of homes," a man, who did not want to be named, said from the Snake Valley Hotel.

Deans Gap fire south of Nowra. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

 

BUSHFIRE survivors should not be embarrassed about feeling a range of strong emotions as they grapple with the enormity of the disaster.

Sweltering state braces for record heatwave

SUMMER'S heatwave is heading for the coast, with Sydney set to sizzle in some of its hottest weather since records began.

Dartmoor hoteliers stand their ground

THE owners of the Dartmoor hotel are among the few people who are staying in the small Victorian town as a bushfire rages nearby.

"I can see it from the hotel, with the smoke four to five kilometres away."

The grassfire has grown to about 500 hectares in size and is bearing down on the farming community of Carngham where most of the 400 residents have been evacuated.
A father and son, aged in their 50s and 20s, were treated for radiation burns at the staging centre at the Snake Valley Golf Club after they had driven from their home to safety.
Rural Ambulance spokesman John Mullen said the pair suffered superficial burns to their faces and hands and were taken to Ballarat Base Hospital for observation.

A CFA crew tackle the fire in Sunbury. Picture: Kris Reichl

He believes another four people have presented themselves at the hospital for treatment for minor burns.
A Country Fire Authority spokeswoman confirmed two homes had been hit by fire in the Chepstowe area, as the grassfire casts spot fires about one kilometre ahead.
An emergency warning was issued on Tuesday afternoon for the Chepstowe district, as the fire burnt through the area around the Beaufort-Carngham and Station Lane intersection.
A blaze at Kentbruck, which flared up last Friday, has burnt though 9000 hectares, but a westerly wind has forced the fire back on itself.

A fire burns near Ean Higgins property at Kydra River in Southern NSW.

Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the fire was not expected to directly hit Dartmoor near the South Australian border, but the town was on the highest alert.
"We don't believe this fire will be controlled today. This will reach into tomorrow due to the conditions in southwestern Victoria," Mr Lapsley said.
Northeastern Victoria was also on high alert with wind speeds getting up to 60km/h and temperatures reaching the low 40s.
"It is serious fire weather in northern Victoria, it is very serious fire weather in southern NSW," Mr Lapsley said.

Eaglehawk Neck

"Fires that do start will run hard, fast and be very difficult to control."
Victorian fire crews would be positioned at Wodonga and Wangaratta to help respond to fires in southern NSW if required as well as blazes in northeastern Victoria, including Corryong. The Elvis water bomber had also been moved from Essendon to Wangaratta, he said.
Victorian fire crews were also expected to help fight the growing blaze between Cooma and Bega in NSW.
The 64 Victorian firefighters who went to Tasmania on Sunday will return on Thursday and be replaced with a fresh contingent on Friday.

Jess posted this image of the Yarrabin fire on Twitter: View of the #Yarrabin fire from Cooma #NSWfires. Picture: Jess@Aristophania/Twitter

Mr Lapsley said a separate small fire at Sunbury on the Calder Highway had been controlled by 30 fire crews.
An emergency alert was sent to 1400 people in the area, in Melbourne's northwest, via mobile phones and landlines.
In NSW, homes are under threat as firefighters battle more than 130 blazes in 40C-plus temperatures and conditions officially rated as "catastrophic".

Bega

The worst fires were in the south of the state, near Cooma, Nowra, Bega and Wagga.
A southerly change is now blowing through, but firefighters are concerned that the associated wind change could tunr fire flanks into new fire fronts and send them towards other communities.
Sydney recorded a peak temperature of 42.5C.
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said that "we have been very fortunate" in the face of "dirty, hot difficult conditions".

The NSWRFS posted this image on Facebook from a Line Scan aircraft, showing the Yarrabin fire in the Cooma area. The red and yellow sections show the most intense part of the fire, burning quickly through grassland.

More than 1600 firefighters were in the field or on standby on Tuesday night, after temperatures climbed and blazes fanned by winds over 70 km/h burned more than 60,000 hectares of grass, scrub and bushland.
Thirty homes were threatened by a fire 12km east of Cooma - 20 in the Kybeyan Valley and 10 around Mount Forest Road in the Cooma-Monaro area.
RFS Riverina spokesman Matt Apps said firefighters aimed to shore up containment lines on Tuesday night particularly at Tarcutta and the Wokolena grass fire and were watching a southerly change.
"The wind change makes it unpredictable," he said.

Adam Marsters posted this image of the NSWRFS state opeartions centre in Sydney on Twitter. Picture: Potter Media

At the township of Tarcutta, in southwest NSW, a bushfire burnt through 500 hectares and surrounded the town.
But by the early evening the Hume Highway was reopened in both directions with the immediate threat to the village passing.
However, RFS spokesman Brendan Doyle urged people to remain vigilant.
"If the southerly wind changes, that may push the fire back on to the town," he said.

Carlaminda

Meanwhile, just before 7.30pm (AEDT) the RFS issued an emergency warning for people east of Bungendore near the Kings Highway after a fire was spotted near Mulloon Road, possibly threatening homes.
At Wandanian, south of Nowra, the Princess Highway was closed in both directions on Tuesday night as a southerly wind change saw a large bushfire burn out of control.
"It is too late for people to leave the area," the RFS said.
"These people should prepare their homes and themselves for possible fire impact."

The NSWRFS also posted this Facebook image of a grass fire 30km north east of Conargo that has so far burnt 1000ha and is moving towards the township of Jerilderie.

Up to 90 per cent of NSW was in severe danger, with conditions officially described as catastrophic in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, the Southern Ranges, the northern and eastern Riverina and southern parts of the lower Central West Plains.
Three youths were taken into police custody on Tuesday afternon after a suspicious fire in Shalvey in Sydney's west.
Firefighters contained the blaze, which affected about 10 hectares of bushland.
A total fire ban will remain in place across NSW on Wednesday.

An aerial photograph of the Yarrabin fire burning in the Cooma Monaro area. Picture: NSW RFS

The Salvation Army has launched the Australian Disaster Relief Appeal in response to the bushfires in communities in NSW and other communities across Australia.
Latest from NSW
In Tasmania, residents and tourists stranded on the Tasman Peninsula for five days have finally been led out of the devastating bushfire zone as fire crews continue to battle blazes across the state.
For locals led out of the Forcett-Dunalley region, it was the first time they had seen the devastating impact the fire has had on their community.

January bush fires 2013

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Tasmanian fires claim 128 properties

Tas authorities have recounted the number of properties destroyed by bushfires to 128.

9 January 2013 1:40 NDM CP - Sky News

Fires cause $1m in NSW stock losses

Bushfires caused $1 million in stock losses in NSW before the heatwave threat spread north.

9 January 2013 1:38 NDM CP - Sky News

Fire destroys Vic historic homestead

An historic homestead, Carngham Station, was destroyed when a struck the Carngham area near Ballarat.

9 January 2013 4:02 NDM CP - Sky News

Fire crisis not over in NSW

In NSW 135 bushfires continue to burn with more than 345,000 hectares of bush, land and property affected.

9 January 2013 2:19 NDM CP - Sky News

Residents angry over Vic fire info

Residents forced to flee their homes during a Vic bushfire say authorities failed to keep them informed.

9 January 2013 4:02 NDM CP - Sky News

Fire path

Victoria's most destructive bushfire since Black Saturday has claimed 8 houses

9 January 2013 3:02 NDM CP - TEN

A state of fear

The mercury may have dropped in Sydney but for many people living in bushfire zones across the country the fear and anxiety remain

9 January 2013 5:50 NDM CP - TEN

Fire danger far from over in NSW

Hot and windy conditions in NSW's north are opening up new areas of severe fire danger.

9 January 2013 2:30 NDM CP - Sky News

Call for new approach on arson penalties

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has backed calls for young arsonists to be brought face to face with the consequences of their actions

9 January 2013 1:32 news.com.au

Historic homestead destroyed

An historic homestead is one of the buildings destroyed in a grassfire that has swept through west Victoria.

9 January 2013 3:17 NDM CP - Sky News

Tasmania cools, but fire threat remains

Authorities say the bushfire threat in south eastern Tasmania remains high, despite cooler conditions.

9 January 2013 2:19 NDM CP - Sky News

Watch video

Fire threat not over despite cool change

NSW fire services have warned the threat of fires is far from over, despite a cooler weather forecast.

9 January 2013 1:07 NDM CP - Sky News

Watch video

Teenagers charged with lighting fire

Three teenage boys have been charged with deliberately lighting a fire in bushland in Sydney's west.

9 January 2013 0:29 NDM CP - Sky News

New fires, cool change, threat continues

Fresh blazes have ignited in NSW as authorities track a dangerous band of hot air moving north.

9 January 2013 0:43 NDM CP - Sky News

Farmer's ute may have caused Vic blaze

A farmer's ute is believed to have been responsible for accidentally starting a blaze in western Victoria.

9 January 2013 3:04 NDM CP - Sky News

Respite for bushfire-weary Tasmanians

Some much-needed respite is on the way for bushfire-weary Tasmanians who have endured six days of fires.

 January 2013 2:33 NDM CP - Sky News

Paper Delivery

The news hungry Tasman peninsula received a welcomed delivery when Tasmanian Air Adventures and The Mercury teamed up to bring papers to th...

9 January 2013 1:00 news.com.au

But they have been warned the continuing danger of fires, asbestos and contaminated water could keep them from their homes for weeks.
Firefighters continue to battle 40 bushfires around the state, with five blazes still considered a major threat.
A fire at Montumana in the North-West is causing most concern, an emergency warning sparking the evacuation of residents from the holiday hamlet of Rocky Cape and the closure of the Bass Highway.
Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Mike Brown and emergency services minister David O'Byrne said it may be weeks before residents can return to their homes as regions, particularly Dunalley, were riddled with asbestos and contaminated water.

The first convoy of vehicles that were stranded for four days on the Tasman Peninsula finally make their way back to Hobart after leaving Port Arthur. A fire truck goes against the out-coming traffic after spot fires flared up near Forcett. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr O'Byrne said 300 homes in the Forcett had their power restored yesterday and work was continuing to restore power to other parts of the fire ravaged region.
Mr O'Byrne said Workplace Standards had already started working on a clean up plan for areas that were riddled with asbestos.
Premier Lara Giddings said the Department of Health and Human Services was working on getting protective clothing so that residents could visit their homes for the first time.
The calls came as a team from Victoria arrived in Hobart to help search burnt out properties in the Dunalley region for the bodies of people police fear may have perished in the fires.

Billie Hasett, 9, visits what is left of her school in Dunally, Tasmania. Picture: Newton Matthew

Tasmania Police assistant commissioner Donna Adams said there were still no confirmed deaths but police were concerned about what the future may hold.
Ms Adams said there were about 100 people still unaccounted for.
Police will not release the names of the people they are most concerned about.
Rumours circulating on social media that bodies were being removed from properties during the afternoon were denied by police.
The Insurance Council of Australia said claims from fire victims in southern Tasmanian had reached more then $40 million.
But the damage bill is expected to reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Tasmanian Fire Service continued to warn Tasmanians about the threat of bushfires with the status of a number of blazes around the state consistently changing.
About noon, the Forcett-Tasman Peninsula fire flared up near the township of Eaglehawk Neck.
Residents were warned it was too late to flee the fire and urged to seek the refuge at the local jetty and beach.
A convoy of trucks that had been sent to the region with emergency supplies was then left stranded.
Shortly after a new fire front emerged near Beaconsfield in the state's north before quick action contained the danger.
Serious fires continue to burn uncontrolled in Mathinna, in the north east, near Bicheno on the East Coast and near Giblin River in the remote south west.
Authorities hope a cool change today will help efforts to contain the fires.
Mr Brown said bushwalkers near the Giblin River been relocated by helicopter to a safer region and Parks and Wildlife personnel continued to monitor the area.
Ms Giddings announced the establishment of the Interim Bushfire Recovery Committee yesterday to oversee recovery efforts.

 

This New Year resolution business

I've decided to do more with my blog, just one small part of my resolution. I need to get to know how to manage it better, like dividing what I have written so far into categories and ideas, news and poetry and such. And I need to learn how to connect to other blogs and how they can connect to me. More readers so to speak. Well, I'm just saying...
I also want to break down the contention between my family members. Its there,  its real and its very sad when one is blamed for something one wrote but was taken the wrong way. Satan at his worst no doubt!

New Year was quiet and blissfully cool after several days of a dreadful heatwave with temperatures 40 plus. Ugh! My son finally was able to get the air cooler going, which almost sent us all to sleep as the cool air wafted into each room! I spent some of the time in that coolness writing in my journal the story of a young man on a station in the outback that I had met years ago. One whom I saw as being honest, hardworking, had integrity. He moved with his family to this station from the interstate, taking the role of manager to get a certain station back into production. It was badly degraded, cattle and horses were in an appalling condition, vehicles rattling and stalling from lack of mechanical welfare, fences in great disreapir and broken, watering points sadly neglected as were the buildings of the homestead complex. He really had a job on his hands. I visited the placed for a week a few weeks after they had arrived and witnessed the mess, to my horror, of what had once been a grand and very productive station. This young fellow rolled up his sleeves and called in the troops - extra helping hands. His lovely wife rolled up her sleeves and along with the care of her two youngsters on School of the Air, found a governess for them and got stuck into it. One could see where changes had taken place.  Watering points received first attention, then the fences. In one short week while I was there, cattle were mustered and sprayed for cattle tick, drafted and culled, getting rid of the too old, separating the bulls from the heifers, organising steers for fattening and so on. Horses had already been rounded up and given extra feed to cope with the job. Vehicles were lined up in the old shearing shed and under an overhaul plan. Two new Toyotas were purchased by the boss so the young man could get on with the job. In the homestead and numerous other buildings, rooms were scrubbed, curtains hauled down and either dispensed with and replaced with new ones, or washed, years of grime and gunk scrubbed from the windows. The lawns, which had grown at sputnik speed, the young lass mowed herself, returning them to a smooth green, pot plants appeared to be displayed under the cool verandah. In places things were looking homey. Many items, old food products and such, were carted off to the station tip from the huge storehouse and new items were being replaced on the scrubbed shelving.
I felt that this family would go far. The leaseholder was pleased with his manager, who later went on to win cups, to add to his already large collection, at the local rodeo. The manager was a rodeo rider of some skill. I left and returned to the city. Photos I had taken were sent to the family after development. A few weeks later, to my distress, I received the message from his wife that this young man had been killed in an automobile accident. His boss had purchased him a new Landrover this time and he was driving it back to the station from the town when it rolled and flipped, killing him, leaving a young widow and two young children! Sometimes life seems to dole out some very hard knocks but Heavenly Father was ever watchful. I often wonder what happened to the young man's wife, a lovely person, for she had moved back interstate with the two youngsters, leaving no forwarding address.

Another small resolution is to try and find her.

A Little Diary

Yesterday I posted the words of the poem/hymn Christmas Bells by Henry Wardworth Longfellow. I do not have his book, but have often borrowed it from the library. Christmas Bells was written into this little book some years ago. I have had the diary since my birthday in 1991, given to me by a little lad as a birthday gift. it is filled with poems, prose written by authors, short and powerful paragraphs, words from famous and influential people including our own Prophets and much more. All is handwritten. Who can ever forget the few words written by Tolstoy in War and Peace about life or words that the Gnostics wrote milleniums ago? Like a hoarder I gather them up. As I flick through its pages Elton John's Candle in the Wind greets my eye a goodbye song to England's rose in 1997, William Wordsworth's famous little poem Daffodils. There is stuff crammed in there about wars and William Churchill's mighty words 'we will fight them...' Words on and from our warriors, allied and our own, there is the The Ode - we shall not forget. This charmer is a treasure trove of memories. I love this one from the Allies during World War II 'If it moves, salute it, if it doens't move, pick it up, and if you can't pick it up, paint it!'  Where would we be without our memories? A grandchild will inherit this little diary

Christmas Day 2012

Arlington Cemetery December 2012

Praque South Checkoslovakia

The tallest tree in Europe of 230 feet
in Lisbon, Portugal

Puetro Del Sol December 2012

Munaro island, Venice



Moscow December 2012

Today is that special time of the year when all families gather together wherever they can to celebrate Christmas together. Some for breakfasts, some for the main Christmas dinners, others for a barbecue tea. It is a wonderful time of the year for all true believers in the Saviour Jesus Christ, for all Christians in our western society. Mine has been a very quiet Christmas day. One son lives in Queensland but visited his wife's family in Sydney for this ocassion. An other son had to work on this day, out in the outback in the mining game. He rang with his Christmas message, a true delight. Another son has familial problems at the moment but messages were left. The fourth son but third born, is house sitting but came home for lunch. We shared a steak dinner together.  Best wishes were left on my mobile which was wonderful, a granddaughter sent her love through her father. Small things in a world of turmoil, chaos, that even at times seems devoid of love. But there is love! One of the brethren and his family from my church were going to have me for Christmas dinner. A disaster occurred when a mean neighbour belted up the family pets. His children are devastated at this vicious attack. I called it off, look after your little ones was my plea. My heart was stressed about the recent killing of a number of small children in a Connecticut school. what sort of a Christmas are the parents and friends of the deceased having? Prayers for them. Christmas trees in cities around the world, showed what many thought of Christmas. Wreaths left on cemeteries at Arlington in the USA showed another thoughtful people caring and with the true meaning of Christmas. A neice's home burnt down a couple of days ago, donations poured in to almost overwhelm her. She is married with a number of young children. Family and friends filled with the Christmas spirit had reached out when the message was broadcasted around online, by phone. For the past few days a hymn, which some years ago I always thought was a poem, has been going through my head. Henry Wardsworth Longfellow's (1807-1882) Christmas Bells. In our hymn book it is 214 minus three verses dealing with war. Here for the benefit of readers of this blog is the complete poem/hymn. I can easily liken the missing verses to our day with its wars, rumours of wars, peacekeeping forces in troubled countries, societies gone awry with troubling changes, families torn apart by jealousies, gossips, troubles, perplexities and a host of other problems. These too with cannons booming from their accursed mouths, are wars as satan does his best to destroy us all. But the last two verses of this beautiful written work spell peace, if we can only listen and hear. In our hymn book it is titled I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day. The three verses in italics are the ones not in our hymn book. A beautiful hymn and poem with John  Baptiste Calkin credited for the music.

CHRISTMAS BELLS (Henry Wardsworth Longfellow)
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And I thought how, as the day had come,
The bells of all Christendom
Had rooled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth good will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannons thundered in the South
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearthstones of a continent,
and made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head;
'There is no peace on earth,' I said,
'For hate is strong
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!'

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!
The wrong shall fail,
The right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men!'