When I recently decided I needed to take a short retreat I looked around for something suitably relaxing and isolated, while still close to home. I was surprised to find an absolute gem just 30 minutes from town. Toowoomba is a large inland city and it is surrounded by the rich productive black soils of … Continue reading Cattle Camp Cabin Piralilla farm Nobby.
Retreat, rejuvenate and reconnecting with my wild and pagan soul.
image: Cheesetoastie64 an Australian Jewel spider Do you ever want to just stop the world and take a time out? Retreat into solitude and isolation. Take time to just re-align with what is real in a world of unreal demands and expectations. Escape, just for a moment the horrors of the news cycle and the … Continue reading Retreat, rejuvenate and reconnecting with my wild and pagan soul.
Resurrection for Gum trees and galaxies.
Life kind of got a bit hectic so the blog did get neglected but all that has changed now. Back on track. I did take a short retreat recently and that allowed me to re-set, focus on things that matter and reorganise my priorities and time. Taking on an extra day of work and some … Continue reading Resurrection for Gum trees and galaxies.
Baiame’s Ngunnhu or the Brewarrina fish traps
I just want to acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands through which I travel and pay my respects to elders past and present. I also acknowledge the painful history of dispossession. Sovereignty was never ceded on these lands and yet despite all of the injustices of our colonial history, First Nation people have maintained … Continue reading Baiame’s Ngunnhu or the Brewarrina fish traps
Under the Milky Way
And it's something quite peculiar,Something that's shimmering and white.Leads you here despite your destination,Under the milky way tonight Wish I knew what you were looking forMight have known what you would find -Under the Milky Way Lyrics as written by Steven John Kilbey Karin Gunilla Jansson (A Soundtrack for this post: https://youtu.be/mA54NBtPKdI ) Photo by … Continue reading Under the Milky Way
Armchair travels – a Greek adventure
One of the few books I have managed to read and really enjoy in recent months is Sally Jane Smith's delightful Unpacking for Greece. A personal journey about resilience and adventure. The wonder of travel and the way it always makes us stronger, better people. Personal, funny and insightful, Sally and her experiences are easy … Continue reading Armchair travels – a Greek adventure
Back on the Blog
I must apologise to everyone participating in the Gaia/nature challenge. I am afraid I have been missing in action from the blog for some time. No excuse for my neglect of this project, but just by way of explanation, I like many in this world suffer from bouts of depression, sometimes it can be extremely … Continue reading Back on the Blog
A brief reading catch up
Okay, so I have been really slack lately, the start of the semester is always a busy time work-wise and I have rashly decided to add to my workload by enrolling in two units in environmental studies. Just wanted to formalise and consolidate my learning in this area. While only enrolled part-time and as an … Continue reading A brief reading catch up
Gaia/ nature reads catch up
Just want to share some of the latest links to Nature reads for the Gaia challenge. Margaret @ From Pyrenees to Pennines reviewed The Lost Rainforests of Britain by Guy Shrubsole a fascinating look at temperate rainforests in the UK. Hard to believe that temperate rainforests now only cover 1% of the earth's surface. They … Continue reading Gaia/ nature reads catch up
A Life with footnotes.
Truthfully, without over-egging it, as I often do, the library and journalism, those things made me who I am. - Terry Pratchett Will update the Gaia challenge and share some links later but for today just A quick non-nature post. I purchased the Terry Pratchett biography: Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes: The Official Biography … Continue reading A Life with footnotes.
Animal Migrations and Human Quests
“It has been decided by our leaders that economic growth is more important. That the extinction crisis is an acceptable trade for their greed.”― Charlotte McConaghy, Migrations image: José Eugenio Gómez Rodríguez Creative Commons I have completed my first two Gaia/nature reads for 2023 both books deal with the theme of migration or journeys, for both animals … Continue reading Animal Migrations and Human Quests
Let’s talk about taxidermy
Saw this piece on the ABC site last week: Poor taxidermy making 'fattypuses' and 'platysausages' out of Australian animals Essentially the article talks about Jack Ashby's highlighting of dodgy taxidermy around the world, especially in regards to Australian fauna. Ashby's book Platypus Matters has been reviewed here on Gumtrees and Galaxies and by May at … Continue reading Let’s talk about taxidermy
Are we ready for the 2023 Gaia/nature challenge
This is the last post of 2022 for me. It has felt like a hectic year and the pandemic pressure did not really ease up, even with open borders, for one reason and another I did not seem to escape into the bush as often as I would have liked, so if I do anything … Continue reading Are we ready for the 2023 Gaia/nature challenge
Some Gaia updates
Just catching up on Gaia/nature reading challenge posts. If you have read anything for the challenge and I have missed it please let me know and I will post a link. Two posts that I have not yet shared are May at Brizzy May's Books and Bruchetta who posted on the lovely children's book Tippy … Continue reading Some Gaia updates
Trees
And a Christmas read When did we stop seeing the sacred in trees? When did they become nothing more than a commodity, or worse sometimes just an inconvenience? Woke up this morning thinking about trees. They seem to be haunting my subconscious at the moment. The clearing of old-growth koala habitat has been a bit … Continue reading Trees
Wilderness reading
Gaia/nature reading challenge update, with the end of the year rapidly approaching this will be one of the last 2022 updates, but will continue into 2023 with the new Gaia/nature challenge. I recently read a delightful account of Scottish wildlife in the remote Ardnamurchan region and an absolutely brilliant eco novel that I expect may … Continue reading Wilderness reading
2023 Gaia/nature
I still have posts to update on this years Gaia/nature reading challenge but since the challenge is continuing into 2023 and rather than leaving everything to the last minute, I thought I would post an initial sign-up page now. To participate just leave a comment below. You don’t have to have a blog, but if … Continue reading 2023 Gaia/nature
A new experience for November
Hi everyone, G here and I have had first time experience I would like to share which is a little different to the general gist of this blog. To be a little different both B an I attended Supanova Brisbane 2022. What is Supanova you ask? "Supanova Comic Con & Gaming has been the welcoming home … Continue reading A new experience for November
More nature reads for younger readers
I am using this week to catch up on some Gaia/nature reads for younger readers, with Christmas rapidly approaching this seems timely. I last posted about Sami Bayly's excellent Illustrated Encyclopedia series: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals and The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature. This time I want to … Continue reading More nature reads for younger readers
Sami Bayly Illustrated Encylopedia series.
Firstly want to share a link to BrizzyMay's last Gaia/nature challenge post, super impressed with May's achievements and not just the reading ones, but all the practical things to help the environment. All any of us can do is make those little improvements whenever and wherever the opportunity arises. I have been a bit slack … Continue reading Sami Bayly Illustrated Encylopedia series.
Gorgeous new editions of nature themed novels
Just wanted to alert my fellow nature lovers to a new series of gorgeous editions of nature-themed novels from Vintage. If you are looking for a nature-themed work of fiction, this is a great place to start; the covers are just magnificent. From the Penguin site: Vintage Earth Series Discover great writing on the most … Continue reading Gorgeous new editions of nature themed novels
The Gaia/nature reading challenge in 2023???
“Reading is like thinking, like praying, like talking to a friend, like expressing your ideas, like listening to other people’s ideas, like listening to music, like looking at the view, like taking a walk on the beach.” – Roberto Bolaño Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com The Gaia/nature reading challenge has been running for a couple … Continue reading The Gaia/nature reading challenge in 2023???
Toowoomba – Where ghosts walk
Upon that night, when fairies lightOn Cassilis Downans dance,Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,On sprightly coursers prance;Or for Colean the route is ta'en,Beneath the moon's pale beams;There, up the cove, to stray and rove,Among the rocks and streamsTo sport that night... - from Halloween by Robert Burns Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com Here … Continue reading Toowoomba – Where ghosts walk
Walking Landlines
“Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise.” A few years ago I came across a book on the Wainwright prize short list that I absolutely loved, I would like to say it was life changing, but to be honest I think it just reinforced values I already hold dear. It was … Continue reading Walking Landlines
Elif Shafak and the wisdom of trees
“When you are in trouble or at your lowest point, and have no one in whom to confide, a hawthorn would be the right choice. There is a reason why hawthorns are home to fairies and known to protect pots of treasure. For wisdom, try a beech; for intelligence, a pine; for bravery, a rowan; … Continue reading Elif Shafak and the wisdom of trees
Gaia/Nature challenge update And Platypus Matters
First up I want to share a link to Karen's excellent post on Pearl S Buck's classic The Good Earth it is one of those classics I have always meant to read. And Curlygeek has written a great post review on How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum both the above make good titles … Continue reading Gaia/Nature challenge update And Platypus Matters
Coastal calm
Northern Woodgate Beach Ever since covid our escape routine has been disrupted and we have had very few getaways but last week I took a much-needed week off and we retreated to the peace and quiet of Woodgate to relax and recharge. To the best of my knowledge, Woodgate is Gubbi Gubbi country and as … Continue reading Coastal calm
Things lost, amnesia and the Gaia challenge
A bit of a catch-up post on the Gaia/Nature challenge today and sharing some overdue links. Curlygeek at the excellent book blog The Book Stop has been reading for the Gaia challenge and like me, they also included Lisa See's excellent historical novel The Island of the Sea Women in reads for the challenge. And … Continue reading Things lost, amnesia and the Gaia challenge
Tolkien and trees
"If you really want to know what Middle-earth is based on, it's my wonder and delight in the earth as it is, particularly the natural earth". - JRR Tolkien ( https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/j-r-r-tolkien-quotes ) “When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold, Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold; … Continue reading Tolkien and trees
Trees and literature
Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com Just wanted to share some useful links, the ABC has been focusing on trees as part of science week and since this blog has a distinct nature theme, thought others might find these interesting if they have not already seen them: Five memorable trees in books we love, from … Continue reading Trees and literature
Rare Earth – the dilemma of green energy and digital technology
We live in an age faced with monumental challenge; climate change, environmental degradation, mass extinction, all change largely driven by human activity on this small blue planet. Clearly our insatiable consumption of fossil based energy, is the principle driver of climate instability, and directly or indirectly associated with environmental degradation and the extinction event we … Continue reading Rare Earth – the dilemma of green energy and digital technology
Catch up on Gaia/nature reading challenge posts
I have been really, really slack, need to be much better organised. Just wanted to catch up on sharing links to challenge posts I may have missed lately. Way back in April Karen at Living on the Downs wrote a great post on The Yield by Tara June Winch another great choice for the Gaia/nature … Continue reading Catch up on Gaia/nature reading challenge posts
Peace on the lake shore
I will arise and go now, for always night and dayI hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,I hear it in the deep heart’s core. - William Butler Yeats The rhythms and routines of life have become very disrupted of late. Covid … Continue reading Peace on the lake shore
Sunflowers on the Downs
There is something magical about sunflowers - it seems impossible not to experience delight at the sight of a field of tall, bold, radiant blooms. Beloved subject of artists and Instagramers, symbol of happiness, hope and resistance. A few weeks back we had a sunflower field adventure just outside of Toowoomba. Warraba sunflowers at Cambooya … Continue reading Sunflowers on the Downs
Clinging on and catching up!
"Deep green was the colour of belonging and she climbed towards it." - Sarah Pye I am very behind but slowly snatching time to catch up. June started with a fantastic new event in Toowoomba: Wordfest I cannot speak highly enough of this great literary festival in my home town. I only managed to attend … Continue reading Clinging on and catching up!
Building a better world
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”—Margaret Mead Missing in action yet again. 😏 Still here, still doing the Gaia nature challenge and updates are coming. Last weekend was supposed to be my re-set, catch up, weekend but that … Continue reading Building a better world
Wordfest Toowoomba this weekend
I have been slack of late, need to get myself organised. To be honest I have been reading a lot of Ukrainian history and have been a bit bogged down by the horror of the past and the present, but enough of that for now. Today I just wanted to share a link to Toowoomba's … Continue reading Wordfest Toowoomba this weekend
“…the homicidal sun.”
The other day at work I stumbled across a couple of titles I thought would make good reads for the Gaia/nature challenge, so far I have read one of those titles, and I have to say, what a fantastic, serendipitous find it was! So what was my happy find? Well, it is a title I … Continue reading “…the homicidal sun.”
Understanding Ukraine – reading and blogging event.
It is hard to ignore the horror that is the Ukraine, at the moment and on that unhappy subject, I thought I would share Brona's reading and blogging event: Understanding Ukraine. https://bronasbooks.com/2022/04/13/i-stand-for-peace-reading-event-may-sept-2022/ I must confess to watching the reporting of the war with horror and wanting to try to understand why this brutal invasion is … Continue reading Understanding Ukraine – reading and blogging event.
Women and the sea
On her third dive, her mind begins to relax. She tunes in to the thrum that connects her to the earth, to those she's lost, to love. The way the blood pounds in her head makes her feel alive. When she's in the sea, she's in the womb of the world. - Lisa See Island … Continue reading Women and the sea
Community: Street libraries and seed swaps
2022 has become my year of community. I am by nature an introvert who thrives on solitude, so becoming more involved in my local community is a bit of a challenge for me. One thing I have realised in light of government failures to deal with social issues , climate and environmental issues, is, that … Continue reading Community: Street libraries and seed swaps
Eco fiction podcast
Who uses podcasts when they travel, drive long distances or just while doing menial tasks? I have to admit I am a big fan of being able to kill boredom with access to never ending fantastic content, so I thought I would occasionally share a link to a great podcast. Recently I caught a Earth … Continue reading Eco fiction podcast
Queen Mary Falls.
It has been a while since S and I have visited Queen Mary Falls. One reason is that the falls is a national park so we cannot bring our dog Ada who travels with us most time. This time, B and her dog Cassie hosted Ada at home so we could have a couple of … Continue reading Queen Mary Falls.
A March catch up
I have been a bit missing in action again but just doing a quick catch up post on March reading and the Gaia challenge. Firstly May at Brizzy May's Books and Bruschetta post on another wonderful children's read for the challenge; The Adventures of Euca, May wrote about the great idea of giving books instead … Continue reading A March catch up
Do you ever wonder what the future will think of us and our actions today?
Do you ever wonder what the future will think of us and our actions today? G has been reading, American author K.B Wagers, action, sci-fi NeoG series, and was a bit surprised to read a reference to Australia's Black summer of 2019 -2020 in the second book, Hold Fast Through the Fire. He shared with … Continue reading Do you ever wonder what the future will think of us and our actions today?
Visit to Tin Can Bay
S and I had a week long break and decided to go somewhere different. Looking around we decided on the village of Tin Can Bay. We were lucky to not be affected by the recent floods and did set up in a dog friendly caravan park called Kingfisher Caravan Park. It is a nice little … Continue reading Visit to Tin Can Bay
Help Peggy and Molly.
Just a quick post to share the story and current plight of Peggy, Molly, Ruby and their human family. Peggy is a little staffy who formed an unlikely bond with an abandoned magpie chick who came to be called Molly, it turns out Molly is actually a male magpie but at the time that was … Continue reading Help Peggy and Molly.
Friendship and Devotion
Those of us who have barnacled ourselves to inhospitable places may be trying to avoid people not because we do not like people, but because we love the things that people destroyed. Wild things. Horizons. Trolls. - Catherine Raven, Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship. Catherine Raven's reflective Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship was … Continue reading Friendship and Devotion
The Lighthouse, kids, creativity and nature books.
The first two months of 2022 are gone, one-sixth of the year, history already. Time for an update on the Gaia/nature reading challenge and to properly introduce The Lighthouse a new literacy and creativity centre in Toowoomba. I promised to donate a nature-related book to The Lighthouse for every post on the Gaia challenge in … Continue reading The Lighthouse, kids, creativity and nature books.
Embracing Change: Finding Meaning After Redundancy
image source: Pixabay TheDigitalArtist How do I begin to write about the radical change that has enveloped me at the end of 2024? A week ago I was still in full-time employment with enviable entitlements and financial security, working for a university library. Today I am redundant and embarking on radically revising my life and … Continue reading Embracing Change: Finding Meaning After Redundancy
Gum trees and Galaxies 