Who's visiting our garden over X-Mas?

This huge spider (which was actually in the motor home hovering over my head while I was cleaning. You hear me! Too close for comfort.  My surviving instinct took over… Off came one of my flip-flop and went flapping. (Sorry animal lovers!)

A lizard that was living (with his whole family) in the boat we took out of the lake… (Relocated!)

Snakes, snakes and more snakes.

This harmful tree snake was coming close to the front door. No need to say that we now keep the flyscreen shut! (Relocated himself!)

This juvenile brown snake? got going after Freja went after him. He'd just had a meal so was a bit slow.

(Relocated!)

This child python decided to have a kip on the table next to the fridge and Freja's food container. Imagine my surprise when I decided to do a  pre-Christmas cleaning, lifted up a sheet of paper and here he was.  (Relocated!)

This grey frog  with her piercing chirping sound at night was under the office window. (Relocated!)

These two geckos enjoying their mating on the veranda ceiling. No shame! (Impossible to relocate!)

This pheasant-like bird likes to visit our garden. He has a very distinctive and loud call, very similar to an owl.  (Relocated himself!)

Fruit bats fly over our house every evening … millions of them. (Impossible to relocate!)

And of course the ever present caterpillars. (Squashed!)

The elusive bandicoots still abound in the garden, digging out my plants… One night, when enjoying a drink from the platform, we saw a large one hoping around down in the garden. Unfortunately I didn't have the camera. But one day I'll be prepared. (Relocated himself but only for one day!)

For those of you who don't know what a bandicoot looks like, here is a picture I snapped a few years ago when camping on the other side of the lake. Very cute!

We must have a welcoming garden!

What's flowering in our garden over X-Mas?

Unfortunately, not much is flowering at this time of the year.

The lack of rain, and high temperature (32/33 degrees) are seriously  affecting our garden.

The grass is now all brown. I know it will be revived after the wet season starts, but the question is when will it start?

The lake water has come down dramatically  and we finally had to take the boat up to our house again to avoid having it bogged in the mud.

These 2 pictures were only taken 8 days apart!

I am amazed at the resiliency of the blood lilies, still flowering even though I never water them.

And the flame trees  are flowering (no leaves) all around Yungaburra, making a splash of red across the brown and dry landscape.

This tree was covered with masses of creamy flowers, inviting the lorikeets early morning and evening.

Another tree/weed? Which seems to thrive in these harsh conditions! (I'm definitely going to try making cuttings to grow elsewhere).

The following plants needed the help of the watering hose in order to stay alive.

The hibiscus I pruned severely when Svenne erected the veranda on the side of the house, ( and I thought I had killed, is flourishing again.

My desert roses, which I re-potted a couple of weeks ago have thanked me with beautiful blooms...

and have now started to seed.  Can't wait to make more babies...

The geranium cutting I pinched only a couple of months ago has also flowered .

I always enjoy looking at these succulent's flowers. They look so delicate and dainty!

This ivy has flowered for the first time. I didn't even know they would have flowers. Surprising.

My tree fern (which I thought was dead about 3 months ago) have also come back to life.

The brunfelsia commonly known as "yesterday, today and tomorrow" or  "kiss me quick" has now flowered for the second time this year and had masses of sweet perfumed flowers that are violet one day, light lilac  the next and white at last. I think I will prune it when it finishes flowering (hope I don't kill it!)

The tree next to our veranda are also producing seeds after flowering.

My veggie garden, unfortunately hasn't been so lucky and is all about dead, even though I watered it. So  I've finally come to term that it's not worth it during summer time and will wait until autumn to start again. I however, managed to dig out a couple of cassava roots, with  5 plants still to  be harvested.

All in all there are  more flowers in our garden than I thought!

I've realised in the last two years that gardening is a constant struggle but Oh! so rewarding most of the time.

We can't believe the drastic change in the landscape in only a 5 month's span... :(
We definitely need rain.

Christmas 2012

Well Christmas is over and we're awaiting the New Year 2013

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas as we did.

We shared it with Marika, Byron and Jack.

My mum Simone was here as well.

Reindeers came to visit… This is the silly season after all!

Pre- Christmas dinner was smörgåstårta which was delicious (even if I say so myself…)

On the Christmas menu was, gallantine of duck, pineapple and mustard glazed ham with mango salsa,

 potato salad,

 carrot salad,

 and of course  Christmas log!

Presents were aplenty.

 and even Freja appreciated hers, even though she went into destruction mode as soon as she opened them…

This was Christmas 2012 in Yungaburra.

Good company, good food, lots of happiness and love shared by everyone.

Late Christmas Cheers to everybody :)

Kids, grand-kids and dogs...

Then it was my second son, David and grand-son Tyler's turn to come and visit all the way from Perth.

We hadn't seen them for 2 years and it was so good to have them here for 8 days. It wasn't long enough but better than nothing. While waiting for them I witnessed this amazing sun rise. So worthwhile! 

 Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best (very windy and overcast) and didn't get to do all the things we had planned. But we still managed to go for a ride in the boat.

On the way to the boat we were surprised, and lucky to see this turtle on the bank, making its way towards the high grass.

Tyler and Freja had a very good time, playing together. And he enjoyed the "recycled slippery dip".

He was also fascinated with firing  "old Benny", as night time was still a bit chilly.

On the Saturday, I had the pleasure of having all my kids and grand-kids around me together all at once. First time in the last 12 years and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Mark (my first son) came with his bike (mean machine…)

And Ursula came with Nate and Alyssa in the car.

Steve (my third son) and Colin came up from Townsville with Liana for a couple of days.

The dogs were happy to see each other again as well and played together... like dogs do. But we had to lock them inside at times, while the kids were playing outside.

Liana tried to comfort Svenne and his sore back.

And Colin... or is it the "Dog Whisperer", tried his best to train Freja!

As for Liana, I think she really enjoyed her stay...

Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end, and it was time to say good bye.

I hate goodbyes…

But the good memories stay forever!

The house, now feels so empty and quiet and we're back to our routine ...