News & Updates from Vicki Avcin ~ AusCrafts · Page 29
Well once again the hibiscus that was here at the new place has blossomed with predominately white flowers but also has pink flowers on the same bush.
Usually only has one or two although the other day (and I forgot to get a photo) it had four all out at once.
We thought maybe there was two bushes planted together but one branch we looked at had both colours on the same branch.
Cannot see any signs at the base of two plants either.
Have tried to research why or how but not a lot of information but it can happen the reason is because of a compound known as an Anthocyanin.
So we dont sit and ponder the wonder of it, we just sit and enjoy the pretty display.
Last Tuesday we got to see the last Lunar Eclipse for 3 years in Australia. Also called a Blood Moon because the moon goes red due to the only sunlight reaching the Moon passing through Earths atmosphere.
The more dust or clouds in Earths atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the Moon will appear. Its as if all the worlds sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the Moon. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that the Moon passes into Earths shadow.
After a cloudy day we werent sure if wed see it but about half an hour after the start the clouds passed and we were treated to a spectacular view.
It lasted for a few hours as the whole event took place. So pleased we got to view it.
We seem to have a lot of snails and slugs at this place. Yes Ive had them at other places but dont think Ive ever seen as many as here.
So its not uncommon to go out on the verandah and see the tell tale silvery trails on the concrete but the other morning after a downpour of rain we had this fascinating dotted trail at the end of the verandah where the rain had blown in.
At first it looked like bubbles but on closer investigation the water had not stuck where the snails had been.
It was really quite pretty. The trail is from a mucous that the snails (or slugs) put out helps them in a couple of ways.
As they travel on the slime they produce, the slime helps them to stick to whatever surface theyre on while their muscles are at rest.
As their muscles contract and push down to propel them forward, however, the slime becomes more liquid and makes movement easier.
Slime is particularly handy when snails climb vertical surfaces and even travel upside-down. In these instances, the slimes sticky properties help snails cling to surfaces, seeming to defy gravity!
In addition to helping them move, their slime helps to protect snails skin from environmental hazards, such as sharp objects, bacteria, and the Suns ultraviolet rays.
In dry weather, snails can curl up in their shells and seal themselves inside using their slime. This helps them to stay moist and comfortable even when the weather threatens to dry them out. Pretty cool hey?
11th October was our 19th Wedding Anniversary. It seems so long ago but yet it only seems a couple of years as I can remember our wedding and the prep leading up to it so clearly.
We were married at our place in Jimboomba and our reception was at Cedar Creek Lodge. There was a pond in the front of the house when we purchased it so hubby built a pergola with a bridge over the pond which is where I walked over on the arm of my son Paul to the pergola for the ceremony.
We had all the family and a whole fire brigade to witness our ceremony. Then after photos we went to Cedar Creek Lodge for the reception and what a night that was!
Everything was perfect and I wish we could do it all again, but as we no longer live at that house (although the pergola is still standing, maybe the people there now might let us use it again lol) it will never happen.
On our anniversary each year hubby always surprises me with something, although we dont make a real big deal about it, but his gift this year was perfect…….. sushi and flowers.
Two things I really love.
Ive said to hubby maybe for our 20th Id like to have a couple of nights in a high rise at the Gold Coast seeing it will be special.
Will have to wait and see what happens.
Last Sunday we spent the day down by the water, where the marina had millions of dollars of boats moored up.
What a site and one could only dream of owning even one of the smaller vessels.
Meanwhile on land at Harrigans Pub, there was around 700 cars, utes, bikes, kit cars and one vehicle that could loosely be called a truck called Frankenjuice which had a twin V8 dragster on its back deck.
There were cars of every shape and size and if one tried to put a blanket value on all of them there would have been a couple of million dollars of machines there.
Our son had his Shelby Mustang entered and it drew a lot of attention.
People were coming all day and wanting to know about it, a few thousand photos taken of it. It was very popular. The weather was supposed to be for rain but apart from a couple of fleeting spits it turned out to be a lovely day, so much so that we all got sunburnt!
It really was a fabulous day.