Country Life

2024 in focus

/ kiangablog / 7 Comments

Last year was full of the usual highs and lows that most of us experience during certain times of our lives. When I started to scroll through my photos, I was reminded it was mostly positive, and we got through the more difficult parts.

We are approaching our eighth year of the permanent tree change this month and often wonder if our life in the city was real or just our imagination! I miss good Greek food but not the traffic.

We saw in 2024 at friends’ pool side New Year Eve’s party at their home and the following day I was kept busy covering the local races for the newspaper.

The Mansfield district is well known for being a hub of all types of events. The annual Tolmie Sports in February continues a much-loved tradition and the wood chop, and the dog jump always draws a crowd.

During the same month we end up at a fundraiser for a local palliative care facility with the theme “sock hop”. The church hall was converted into a 1950s diner, and everyone was encouraged to dress up.

There is always an art show, live music, openings, markets, lantern festivals, author talks, classic cars show and shine, plays, and much more to enjoy.

My love of campdrafting continues with three different events held in the district throughout the year. It is a great family equestrian sport and a legacy from our early stockmen.

At home there is always plenty to do and enjoy in our rare downtime. We have planted an abundance of native trees to screen out the neighbours as well as provide shade and habitat for our visiting birds. While the pair of us are not great gardeners we have had some success growing fresh vegetables.

We hosted dinner parties to celebrate our birthdays and to catch up with friends. While not so many as the previous years we had the odd house guest.

Fine wine and food are a wonderful way to connect with others.

Sunsets never fail to please with the colours so delightful to enjoy at the end of the day.

Our neighbours run their black angus cattle in one of our paddocks when feed is plentiful.

We celebrated our 25th silver wedding anniversary in style earlier in the year at the beautiful historic house and winery cellar door with a catered lunch. The caramel mud cake was made by a local lady and was just as good to eat as to look at.

Easter was interrupted with an emergency dash to hospital for my husband who was suffering extreme stomach pains. From our local hospital I ended up driving him to a larger regional hospital over an hour away. Emergency at both sites was overflowing due to the holiday period and the start of the footy season.

He was finally transferred to a major hospital in Melbourne to have a blockage operated on. But scans had discovered a black mass on his kidney which meant that he had to return to the same hospital in June for an operation to remove his kidney. Six weeks recovery from operation and several months later we continue to see the specialists for checkups, but it appears they got all the cancer thank goodness. But it never pays to take things for granted. He is doing well although without the same stamina.

We have sadly farewelled some really special people in 2024, and the world is a better place from them being here but also the poorer for their loss.

I managed to catch COVID for the first time ever and it knocked me for six – forcing me to be away from work for more than two weeks.

Talking about hospitals, there was a community outcry when the news broke about plans by the state government to amalgamate our hospital with another two hours’ drive away. Thanks to a concerted effort by doctors and medical staff with the community right behind them we won the battle for now.

We still have my beautiful old cat Rambo who hangs in there, no doubt helped by the three pills he has each day. This makes it difficult for us to get away. Giving cats pills is not the forte of many house sitters! He is now 18 but still enjoys life although at a slower pace.

In March we acquired Clover a beautiful 12.2 hands pony with loads of attitude and a sense of fun. My husband who is not the horsey one in the family has bonded with him and the two together are such a wonderful combination.

In April I reverted back to casual hours at the local newspaper. I have enjoyed the privilege of sharing people’s stories and making sure they are heard.

The local show in November once again consumed all my spare time and energy. But the locals love their ag show.

Christmas lunch was at our place with other friends who were on their own. Everyone brought something making it a lovely day together.

Between Christmas and New Year, we got to celebrate a 50th wedding anniversary with some very special people who hosted a wonderful dinner party at their beautiful farm home.

New Year’s Eve, we had friends over but opted for an earlier night. However, at 10.15pm the state emergency ap was busily beeping on our phones about a fire near Lake Eildon. Being our summer holidays there are a lot of campers in the bush surrounding our lake and rivers. A hot northerly wind is always a worry. Thankfully it was a still night but forced the evacuation of some campers and although several days later it was under control it is not yet out.

The first day of 2025 I was back at the Merton Picnic Races with camera and pen at the ready.

This morning after a very hot weekend, most welcome refreshing rain is falling.

Maybe that is my wish for the year ahead, that I am washed anew and ready for whatever 2025 wants to throw at me. May your year be full of more highs than lows too!

Autumn colour among the stillness

/ kiangablog / 4 Comments

By Lynn Elder

Of all the seasons, I have one that is dear
Not one that brings lots of fear
Due to storms and massive rain
That do bring damage and pain.

A season that is mild and still
Where mists can swirl until
A warm sun breaks through the cloud
While a farmer has his crops sowed.

The icy fingers of winter are yet to arrive
But a touch of dew does give
A sense of coolness yet to come
That will make your body numb.

No other season can give such golden hues
And call for blessings from the pews
While nature chooses from the richest spectrum
Of colours to woo us all so we all left dumb.

PHOTOS: Lynn Elder

The river – a metaphor for my life

/ kiangablog / 9 Comments 

By Lynn Elder

Slow and sluggish during times of scarcity
Fast and furious when abundance reigns
And just a steady stream of activity in between.
Crescendos as water pours over rocky cascades,
Tranquil and still during times of less rain.

Sparkling as a jewel on a sunny day
Gloomy as the darkest winter's day.
The river travels far, not always aware of its destination.
But end the river must, if it is to become part of something bigger.
The river, a metaphor for my life.

2022 IN FOCUS

/ kiangablog / 14 Comments

Some random photographs taken during 2022, most close to my home. Although there was much more freedom to roam than in the previous two years, life seemed to be focused on the scenes, animals and community activities of our local area. There is much to be grateful for and as we all head into 2023 may that continue. Happy New Year.

Wet, wet, wet, spring

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By Lynn Elder

An instant stream overflows from our farm dam after heavy rain.
Splashes of yellow bright sunshine comes between,
Splashes of water bouncing upon the already drenched earth.
Splashes of red and blue announce the arrival of the rosellas,
Splashes of water in the bowls as they frolic and beg for seed.
Splashes and quacking as ducks land on overflowing dams.

Splashes of running water cascading over temporary waterways.
Splashes of mud and water as gumboots wade through.
Splashes and squelching as cattle sink into the quagmire.
Splashes of furious currents as spillways release the excess water. 
Splashes as the four-wheel drive negotiates the potholes and puddles.

Splashes on the ground as the rainwater tank overflows.
Splashes of colour emerge in the form of flowers when grey clouds roll away.
Splashes of flowery fashions appear on the sunny spring days.
Splashes continue with each rainy day that insists on not stopping too soon. 

			

	


			
				


	

							
The moods of spring
						

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By Lynn Elder






Spring has sprung in all its glory!






Oh, what personality does spring display
When it thinks it is time to play.
Spring can be so fickle,
Also, so changeable.

Spring can be a myriad of colours
As bursting buds bring forth the flowers,
Then disappear in a breeze,
With the sudden arrival of a wintry freeze.

There is a promise of radiant sunshine,
For which we did all through winter pine,
For a return of some warmth to bask in,
And feel the sensation on our skin.

Spring does have a gentle side to its personality,
Amidst all the activity and vitality.
Blossom petals fall softly like light bird feathers,
And newborn lambs and calves snuggle against mothers,
To herald in the hope and joy of spring.





			

	


			
				


	

							
First month of winter
						

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By Lynn Elder





The icy embrace of snowy climes soon brings autumn to its knees.
No good praying for it not to be when winter arrives on time.
Artic blasts keep temperatures in check while us mere mortals shiver,
And slosh about in rubber boots to keep the water out. 

			

	


			
				


	

							
Black & white & in-between
						

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By Lynn Elder

Grey clouds form a leaden sky
Above the black cattle grazing below.
Tree trunks are blackened
By the dampness they absorb 
From heavy downpours
Released from above.

Dimming daylight alternates
Between the various shades 
Of white, grey and black.
Birds and pets alike match
The colour scheme of the day. 

			

	


			
				


	

							
Twixt autumn and winter
						

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Yellowed grasses in our paddock





Autumn morning mists rising
 from the dam. 





Mist-filtered sunlight







Autumn is usually that settled period before winter arrives in earnest but this year it seems different. Spring is notorious for its fickle nature and the way that winter really doesn’t want to be gone too soon. A fellow blogger got me thinking about the time between seasons with his series on micro-seasons. This seems to be rooted in the Japanese culture unlike our western ideal of four seasons. We cannot mold the seasons to suit our requirements so maybe accepting these subtle or not so subtle periods twixt the seasons makes good sense.





Looking through my photos I was reminded of those occasions and activities that fall into autumn. Here in Victoria we start with a public holiday known as Labour Day in March. Then comes April holidays and the marking of Easter on the Christian calendar. On April 25 we also remember sacrificial love and duty to God and country when World War One broke out and so many took up arms to protect us. Sadly World War Two followed and other conflicts continue. ANZAC Day is not about glorifying war but honouring those who served. Younger generations of Australians and New Zealanders are learning about this part of their history. This year with no COVID restrictions more than 300 people turned out for the dawn service in our small town followed by the traditional gun fire breakfast usually a bacon and egg sandwich. Later in the morning there is a procession where veterans and other community groups and individuals are proudly involved.





The view from my bedroom window is changing with the arrival of foggy mornings and hot air balloons on crisp clear mornings. We see a red fox slinking through the grass in search of food and other times a family group of kangaroos waiting for the sun to arrive.





May is also when we celebrate Mother’s Day in Australia with all its commercial focus on pampering Mums everywhere. I managed a trip interstate to visit my own Mum. Last year, the borders between the states were being closed due to COVID and I just got home only hours before they were. I enjoy the larger open farming spaces of where I grew up. While visiting there was lots of burning off of stubble to make way for the next lot of crops. There is very little cropping near where I live now.  





A new array of autumn colours has emerged while other trees shed their leaves freely. The sound of chainsaws echo in the valley as firewood is gathered for the coming cold months. The latest load of Black Angus steers has departed. Our birdlife changes with the seasons and weather. The colourful and cheeky King Parrots come searching for some wild bird seed. The weather has been a mixture of sun and rain with snow forecast this week on the nearby mountain. No doubt winter will arrive soon enough and with it comes the thought that we are almost halfway through another year! 










Nature is not only what is visible to the eye – it shows the inner images of the soul – the images on the back side of the eyes.
-Edvard Munch (1863-1944) Norwegian painter and printmaker






			

	


			
				


	

							
Come fly with me
						

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A hot air balloon landing in the mist on ANZAC Day morning near where I live. 
PHOTO: Lynn Elder





Inflation needed to float above the world away from all cares, until we hit the earth again with a thud.
Lynn Elder










We borrowed a song about balloon flight for our Aussie airline!

			

	


			
				


	

							
Easter a time of hope
						

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Eggs, chocolate, or straight from the chicken represent new life on Easter Day





















We enjoyed an Easter without lockdowns here in Victoria and many are making the most of this beautiful autumnal weather here in my hometown. Our church was packed today with adults and children to celebrate Easter Day. We have a tradition at our Anglican church where we enjoy wine made by one of our parishioners and home-made chicken sandwiches after the the service.  It was so lovely to see families out and about enjoying quality time together.  










There is a sense of hope and looking forward to the future after a difficult two years. Here’s to us being kinder and more loving towards one another and speaking out against evil and injustice. Happy Easter to all.