We were very lucky a week ago.  A couple of hail storms passed through our property at Dalveen.  It makes a change from our normal weather pattern of misty rain, light rain, heavy rain and torrential downpours intermingled with lots and lots of very dry days.  The storms crossed our path on Sunday 9th December.  The first storm was accompanied by lots of thunder and lightning with pea sized hail stones falling for about 10 minutes.  About 40 minutes later the second hail storm came through - this time there was no thunder or lightning.  Just a little bit of rain for about 3 minutes and then the hail came pelting down for about 10 minutes.  This time the hail was the size of marbles.  The noise as these stones bounced off the old corrugated iron roof was deafening.  We were most impressed and at one stage it looked like we might get a complete covering of hail on the ground, but sadly it wasn't to be.  Tilly went a little crazy during and after the storm.  She's a great fan of ice as it is and always wants an ice cube if I'm getting any from the refrigerator.  She saw these hail stones as manna from heaven.  During the pea sized hail storm she ventured out onto the grass to collect a few.  She was shocked when they kept pelting down onto her and jumped back onto the verandah and the partial shelter offered there.  The look she gave Catherine and I was one of complete disbelief.  I'm sure she thought we were pelting her with the hail stones whenever she ventured out onto the grass.  When the second storm passed through we brought her inside as I'm sure the larger hail stones would have done considerable damage to her if she'd gone out onto the grass.
 

Marble sized hail pelting down

The storm is over and this is the result - not quite complete coverage

Tilly's excited

These ones were still there about 3 days later

Why are my feet so cold?

Tilly eating all the hail stones that landed on the verandah

When the sun came out the mist started rising as the hail melted

Metamorphosis - butterflies have emerged from the Chrysalis ship

Last time we were at Dalveen I took a photograph of a very interesting web.  In among the downhanging branches of some mistletoe, a butterfly - or possibly a moth - had laid her eggs.  By the time we saw it, the caterpillars had entered their chrysalises (probably that should be chrysalides) so we had no idea what would come out when they finally metamorphosed into winged creatures.  This is what the original chrysalises looked like.

And this is what happened while we were up there this week. 

Not sure if they are butterflies or moths.  The underside of the wings have the bright colours and the top of the wings is a whitish grey.  Whatever they are, they're very beautiful and what's interesting is they seem to be hanging around until they all emerge.  We had to come back today and there were still about half a dozen that hadn't emerged yet and about 15 were clinging to the web waiting.  There were a a couple of magpies sitting in the tree but they didn't seem interested in them.  Maybe the colour is designed to look like something that would taste terrible??  Mother nature - you've got to love her.

Postscript - Aha, I've got a name at last. This butterfly is an Imperial Jezebel or Delias Harpalyce - mostly found in Victoria and Eastern NSW

Ah, Spring and new life at Dalveen

I love Spring - especially at Dalveen.  It has been very dry in Brisbane and Dalveen this winter but we still seem to have a bit of green grass around the house at Dalveen.  This brings in the wallabies during the night and when you wake up in the morning there's usually still a few strays hanging around having a bit of a munch on the grass before Tilly gets out there and scares them off.  I captured these shots through the kitchen window which has fly screen on it - that's why they're a bit fuzzy.  The little joey in the pouch is allowed out every now and then by a very cautious mother.  She knows there's a crazy puppy which could romp around the corner at any time, so usually when she's this close to the house, she keeps her joey securely cocooned in her pouch.

We've also been blessed with the arrival of a pair of spotted pardalotes this year.  In our ten years at the property at Dalveen I've only ever seen Striated Pardalotes, but this year this little pair have turned up and have dug out a small tunnel under the dinghy where they've obviously placed their nest.  Unfortunately there's no way of seeing what's going on in there, but I feel sure it's all about procreation.  These few pics give you some idea of how cute these little birds are and unlike the Striated Pardalote, they seem particularly curious to find out more about Tilly and me when we go on our daily walks.

 

  

Unfortunately there will be no new life where Tilly is concerned.  She reached the six month mark and as we aren't going to be breeding from her, it was off to the Vet to be desexed.  She wasn't too happy about the headwear, but everything has progressed nicely and she is fully recovered from the op.

Brass Monkey weather at Dalveen

We're just back from a couple of weeks at Dalveen.  Very cold mornings up there last week.  Tilly likes to get up around 6 am, and try as I might, I just can't seem to get her to sleep in.  I usually take her outside to go to the toilet then lock her back in the bedroom while I get a fire started in the lounge, the kettle boiling and prepare her food.  By the time I've done those few tasks, it's about 6.30 and time for a pre breakfast walk for the pup.  The sun is just starting to peek over the horizon at this hour, so it's especially cold.  Thankfully we're just walking the 20 acres of our property, so no-one can see me with woollen cap pulled low, scarf draped around my neck and bound tightly across my nose and mouth, wool lined boots and two jackets.  Combine this all with a pair of gloves and I can barely move.  Even with much protection, I'm still aware that it's cold.  I know it gets a lot colder around the world, but Minus 5 degrees centigrade one day and Minus 4 degrees the next tested out my shiver threshold. 

There was a wonderful frost all across the property so on the second day I took my camera with me to catch a few photographs.  I'm especially happy with the photograph of the ice coating on the old gate.

Retirement is proving to be far too hectic

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to update my blog in a little while.  I might be retired but it doesn't seem like it.  It's so hectic around here at the moment.  Tilly is growing up at a very fast rate and requires lots of walks to dampen her excess energy.  The baby teeth are still there, but she's been mouthing a lot so I am expecting her adult teeth to start coming through any day.  She is so different in personality to our previous German Shepherd Rosie who was a dog's dog.  Rosie's happiest times were when she was running around with other dogs, or hunting down a rabbit, a lizard or even a wallaby or two.  Tilly on the other hand just loves to be around people.  When we take her to puppy school, she's in seventh heaven - and she appears to be just as happy saying hello to all the people there as she is saying hello to the other pups.  However, we do hope she will become a little more discerning.  It would be nice to feel assured that she will protect our house from intruders when we're not home, rather than welcome them with a wag of the tail and a friendly lick.

Catching a few warming rays with Mummy

About to get up to no good in the garden bed

24 hours later - Surprise, surprise.  Last night Tilly decided for the first time she didn't like the man talking to me from the other side of the fence and started barking at him to send him on his way.  And what a bark it was.  Previous barks have been high pitched puppy barks, this one was like a teenage boy on the brink of a voice change.  A little high pitched to start with, and then a much deeper voice.  Well done Tilly - you might end up a good guard dog for us after all!!

Uniting Church at Dalveen built by volunteers in 1956.  It looks like it has been decommissioned as it is currently for sale -

St Barnabas Anglican Church, built in 1903.  There's a service here the 4th Sunday of every month

View across to the old Dalveen Saw Mill

This is where it all happens, the Post Office, Dalveen Village Crafts and then to the right of picture and not photographed, Action Graphics.

I think this is the old Butcher Shop, built in 1912.  This shop and land is currently up for sale for $160,000 or nearest offer.  Bruce Judge of Ariadne fame bought this land 2 (or maybe 3 years ago - it all goes by so quickly) and the plan was to set up a complex which would include a wine outlet, (with a big wine bottle) and a restaurant.  We were so looking forward to sauntering down the road for a gourmet meal but alas it wasn't to be.  Maybe someone else will buy it and develop the site.

Jim Mitchell Park.  You wouldn't believe the number of campervans, caravans etc that overnight at this park.  On one very busy night I counted 15 separate parties of people overnighting in this park.

The new home of the Rural Fire Brigade

Jean Coomber Playground

The Dalveen Hall - built in 1939.  QCWA meets here.  The extension to the left is the supper room.  The Sports Club has meals here on a Friday night.

The Dalveen School was built in 1892 and moved to this particular site in 1913

Meeting of 3 streets in Dalveen Village

Tilly sitting on the frosty ground

Tilly eating some frosty grass - yummm

Chinese Pistachio looking a treat in its autumn colours

Tilly soaking up some rays

Jamesy all rugged up with her pup Tilly

How beautiful is Dalveen at this time of the year.  Perfect sunny days, not too cold, just right.  Crisp mornings with frost on the ground.  Autumn colours on the trees.  Perfect weather for casseroles.  Our friend Ruth came up for a couple of nights and so we had a slow cooked chicken casserole on night one, and then a beef casserole on night two.  Once the sun went down we sat in front of the log fire drinking hearty reds and reminiscing about times of old.  Oh and of course, discussing our various ailments.  I wonder if other 60 year olds get into long and meaningful conversations about their health issues.  I'm sure they do.  Tilly is loving her introduction to life in the country.  We have been highly amused by her antics at Dalveen.  She has grown immensely - she will be 13 weeks on Sunday.  I took advantage of the beautiful weather and got out and about and took some photographs of Dalveen village which I'll post tonight.  Of course there's also the mandatory shots of Tilly.  We have had 3 sub zero nights so far, so maybe this year it will snow.  Something we have wished for every year for 10 years we've owned the house at Dalveen.  No luck so far, but maybe this year - fingers crossed.