tragic disaster T_T

Summer here in Australia is also known as "Bushfire Season" and with an ongoing drought over the last number of years it's been particularly dangerous. Last Saturday the weather was lethal. With the heat that reached around 46°C matched with high hot winds, the fires that started have ripped through our dry state. We have a number of massive fire fronts still roaring and leaving devastatingly destructive paths and haunting memories. Even new fires starting.
The pictures on all the news updates just boggle the mind. It's hard to comprehend. People have been caught by just how fast the fire is moving.
Hundreds of homes have been burnt to the ground, some country towns completely wiped out and--last I heard--there's been 130 confirmed deaths and that toll is still rising. This bushfire is now the worst my state has ever had!
The reality of this horror started to sink in yesterday. My auntie and uncle evacuated here from Marysville where the campsite they lived at and managed is now burnt to the ground. Both my brothers were called up by the Army Reserve Ready Response Force to go assist and they left this morning to help out where they can. Apparently my younger brother, Matthew, has been assigned to King Lake which was one of the worst hit areas. And also there is the realisation of so many lives affected obviously by death and homes lost but also schools and crops--people's livelihoods--huge amounts of people working to restore electricity to keep lines of communication open, those attending to the now homeless and distraught... the list goes on. And still I really have no idea.
God grant wisdom to all those fighting the fires and helping to deal with this tragic disaster and comfort to all the hurting. And please God, help them get the fires out quickly.

record weather

Apparently Melbourne (capital of my state and 1hr drive from where I live) had it's hottest day in recorded history today. And records started 150years ago. They reached a high of 46.4°C. Sweltering. After I worked today I pinched Matt's car (he's away this weekend) and went to visit mum and dad and their new air conditioner. Surviving was much more comfortable there.

It was 44°C here today apparently and a predicted 24°C tomorrow and 19°C on Monday. It's gonna feel cold. Ü

frugality or beauty

I realised something today. Actually I've been thinking about it for a while but I realised it more definitely today. I'm a bargain hunter at heart and with the past 12 months being quite tight financially, I've been practicing being frugal and I can do it quite well. I decided last year that as I love journals/diaries it's worth getting nice ones that I get excited about using coz they're beautiful. Today I was shopping for a container to put my fabric in. I had in mind to get something beautiful and I'd spotted some that would do well. Square woven baskets. But as I do, I looked around a bit at other options. My dilemma came when I came across an appropriate, ordinary, rectangular, plastic container that was half the cost. The battle between frugality and beauty raged for about five minutes as I wavered in what I should do. Finally I decided--not completely sure--to go with beauty. Sure, it cost a little more but the square woven baskets turned out to be perfect and I'm very happy with my choice. My folded fabric looks beautiful sitting in them.
Now I've come to believe it's important to surround myself with beauty and not always be so frugal. Beauty is inspiring...for creativity and for happiness. You can check out my choice at my kelgell creations blog.

reorganised

I followed my plans. Here's the result that I'm very happy about. My reorganised room.My bedroom
My studio...with awaiting project on my work desk Ü

sweltering aussies

Man, we are currently in a week of 40°C heat (that's about 105°F) and I'm feeling it. We don't have air conditioning and our house isn't well insulated. D'oh. And the nights only drop to about 20°C. Oh well. We'll just swelter away.

Two days ago was Australia Day and it's nice to remember and celebrate being Aussie! We had friends over for a BBQ and then walked to the lake to watch the fireworks. Beautifully sunny and only 30°C, it was a great day for it.

Simon bbq-ing * Waiting for food * Two of my nephews so typically Aussie

Our crowd in our backyard

Me and the flag * Walking on Lake Wendouree * Waiting for the dark and the fireworks

We walked out on the lake and climbed up on the boat launch pier thing to get a good view.


Happy Australia Day!!!

room to reorganize

I had trouble sleeping the other night coz I foolishly looked at a bunch of creative blogs just before bed that got my creative mind buzzing. Amongst all my imagining of ideas, I decided I should really reorganise my room. Last night I got measuring and drew up a plan on my computer so I could shuffle things about until they worked. This is the plan...

So hopefully I'll get things moved this morning so you'll walk into my bedroom and then can move around the end of my bed into my "studio". He he. Down the left side of my room I have my desk (which will be removed of computer to create a larger work area), sewing cabinet and art shelves. Then there is my computer which will sit on a smaller table that Matt is going to give me from his room (coz he's been working on a desk anyway). So my electrical stuff will be in one area (I only have one double powerpoint so that's good) and my chair can easily move between my desk, my sewing machine and my computer. I'm so excited!!! Space to live and space to create.

second beginning

So there's been drama! I meant to delete a blog I don't use anymore and low and behold...AFTER I deleted it, I realised it was the wrong one! Damn. Tears. That all happened...about two months ago or so. I've been trying to get Blogger to find it and restore it. Haven't heard anything. However, my lovely friend, Tab, had been downloading my posts and says she has ones from Oct 08. Wonderful! So I can restore the last half of my USA adventures at least. Yay. So I'm back online...in case you thought this star had faded.