Happy Lunar New Year 2020!
As I write this, it is Chinese New Year today and Australia Day tomorrow. So I’m wishing everyone who celebrates either or both occasions a very splendid day.
I am celebrating today, albeit in the absence of the Chinese branch of my extended family, with the next step towards launching our next free BOM here at Clever Chameleon. I got word this morning that the Lunar New Year quilt BOM will be supported by Island Batik, who will very kindly supply the fabrics shown in the picture above so I can make the demo quilt. Auspicious timing! So stay tuned for the beginnings of that adventure very soon in February.
I will also be celebrating tomorrow with my first Australia Day in the Australian wilderness. Nothing more Australian than admiring macropods in the desert! We have made it safely to Arkaroola and moved into our new home. At least, the things we brought in our first load are moved in. Most of my sewing gear is awaiting a second trip, along with our bikes and the other fun things not crucial enough to be included in our initial move. I’ll be glad to have them in about a week’s time.
So far we have experienced our first dust storm, received our first shipment of School of the Air supplies, and made friends with the local wildlife. When I get some time I will show you around the place more. But here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to…..
Dust, like you’ve (probably) never seen!
We packed up our things and spent two days moving north. I did sneak my Accuquilt GO! into the first load (bottom right) 😀
On the second day on the road we encountered dust like I’ve never seen before! By the time these storms make it down to the city they are diluted to just a haze. Not so where they originate though.
The past year had the least rainfall ever recorded here; there is nothing left to stop the wind picking up the soil.
I even took a small video…
The next day the dust cleared, the sky is blue and, thankfully, the humidity has dropped. Altogether more pleasant. Mostly.
Meet the Locals….
I’m not particularly scared of big spiders, as they’re reasonably common where I grew up, but this medium one got a reaction out of me when I went to wash my hands first thing in the morning. I wasn’t expecting visitors just yet!
And we had a verandah full of calling cards to sweep out before we could unload too…. When we arrived at our cottage in the evening, a Euro (small stocky kangaroo-like animal) bounced out of our verandah. In the morning light, it became evident that it likes the verandah quite a bit…..
We hope it sticks around; we have filled a water trough for it. Apparently there are not many Euros left here at the moment, the drought has decimated the local population.
We’ve already had our first mail. In fact, it beat us here. School supplies!
And we’ve been feeding/watching the Yellow Footed Rock Wallabies with the local people every night. The poor things are usually too timid to interact with humans, but there is so little water and food left in the wild they are coming down from the mountains to this water feature every dusk to survive. Vegetable scraps and kangaroo food pellets are keeping these vulnerable critters going until it rains again.
Utterly beautiful creatures, but far more rewarding to see when you have to sit quietly in a canyon to catch a glimpse of one before it sees you.
And now more radio silence
Very soon we head back into “civilisation” to find out how to run the children’s remote schooling, and to pick up supplies and our remaining belongings. So there will likely be no more missives from the Chameleon until early February. Then hopefully things will settle into a routine again.
In the meantime, do some sewing in my stead! And join the ongoing Tuesday party in my previous post to share it with me. 😀
The Chameleon turns rainbow with pleasure when he hears from you. I am more reserved, so I will respond in gratitude by email instead. Now that it’s your turn…. Scroll right to the end, leave me a comment and tell me, what do you think? Thanks for connecting!
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Already the adventure has begun 🙂 The dust storm makes me think of the thick fog we get here. Glad you made it through that safely. The wallabies are beautiful; their fur looks so silky and soft. That spider, though? Not so sure I’d like that. Enjoy getting settled in!
Hi Dione The north is a great place – I grew up in the Horseshoe not very far from Hawker and went to school at Moockra .
Have a great time at Arharoola.
Cheers Marie
That dust storm was something else! So glad you made the first trip safely and glad you are all helping out the animals. They are beautiful! The Euro will miss having his/her veranda to itself!! Have fun and a safe trip on your journey to the city and back. So glad IB will be sponsoring your BOM with beautiful fabric!
Gone bush welcome! Seems like the natives have checked you out haha.
Happy Australia day.
Such beautiful, unusual animals. I’ve moved many times, including unusual places, so I’m relating to your descriptions. Keep moving forward. You are making great family memories.
Your quilt will be absolutely perfect with Island Batik fabrics!!! How blessed you are to have their support!
It was interesting to read more about the animals and the dust storm! Best of luck with the rest of your move!
Ohh the adventure has begun. I love it. Sounds like you do too. So glad that you all made it safely. Prayers answered. Look forward to your next post. Stay safe.
All the best for the rest of your move and settling in Dione. I hadn’t realised you were moving to somewhere so remote that you need remote schooling! I hope the drought ends soon (?!) to help the poor animals survive and to settle those horrible dust storms.
Certainly looks like you’re going to have a very interesting year. How nice that Island Batik will sponsor your new BOM even though you are no longer an ambassador. Because in a way you still will be, without the pressure of the monthly challenges. Happy Australia Day.
Lovely roos on the rocks, you will settle in in no time at all, and when the next load comes up, will be back to sewing. Love the ideas for this years BOM, and to know you have those IB fabrics to play with again is great news. Enjoy everything up there, and I know you will have new friends , a whole new way for schooling, and lots more adventures, over the year.
I enjoyed reading your blog. I could relate in many ways. We moved from our home in central Illinois in the USA down to Alabama to be near our oldest daughter almost 7 years ago. Moving is not to be taken lightly. It is a lot of work. I also enjoyed your mention of the School of the Air. My husband and I visited Australia in 2007. The joke was on me:) My husband and I were spending summers at that time in Taiwan putting on English camps for local churches. One year I said “why don’t we go on to Australia from there because we would be part way there anyway.” Obviously, I had not looked at any maps because it is a long way from Taiwan to Australia. We had friends living in Perth who we wanted to see as well as places. We visited Alice Springs, and while there we visited the School of the Air. We actually saw two lessons being taught. It was fascinating. (We are both retired teachers) We also went to Uluroo (probably not spelled right) as well as Sydney. How far are you from Alice Springs? We also visited the flying doctors place there in Alice Springs.
Hi Dione! I’m ever so glad to hear an update from you. The dust storms and the wallabies being forced to come down for water just makes me sad. That, coupled with all of the recent fires are really doing a number on your nation. Boy that spider would have made me jump a mile! {{Hugs}} to you and your peeps. Get all settled and that second, important (!!), load – we’ll be here awaiting your next update. ~smile~ Roseanne
I am loving your wild adventure vicariosly through your eyes. We have a beautiful country that is for sure. I love the idea of a Chinese Lunar bom and know I want to be part of that. Enjoy your peaceful surroundings and have fun settling into a new routine. I am really looking forward to this year with you.
Cheers
SOOZE
We moved 9 times in our first 10 years of marriage, so I know your pain! Although, after 30+ years in our current home, it would be a much harder move now!
Love the animals. I’m so sorry for what the animals and people are going through with the wildfires in your beautiful country.
Karen =^..^=
San Diego CA. USA
Your dust storm is like our white outs from snow here in Canada. I’m not keen on the spider although I have never been frightened by them. I have wanted to visit the Australian Outback since I was a little girl. When I was a child ( more years ago then I want to say) we had a television show called “ The Flying Doctor” , that started my love for Australia. I look forward to keeping tabs on your adventures.
Happy Chinese New Year – from one born in the year of the Wood Horse! You mentioned extended family being of Chinese origin…do you get to visit often?
Your move is inspiring! Especially more so given the fires enveloping your precious country…It seems your family is in fact providing( in a very natural way) respite, refuge and restoration to your new neighbors – one ‘drop’ at a time.
Happy Australia Day…strength and peace to you all.
Happy Chinese New Year and happy Australia Day! So many great photos, it is all so exciting and fascinating. It is terrible to think that we (Royal we meaning humans) have been responsible for the loss and endangerment of so many species of flora and fauna. I can hardly wait to see all your discoveries. It will be quite an experience for the kids to be at school remotely too, technology can be quite wonderful. Take care out there, we don’t want to lose any of you in a dust storm.
As for your BOM, it is lovely, and I am so glad Island Batik is still involved, being completely biased, they would be silly not too.
Take care Dione, and enjoy.
I am enjoying seeing this different part of the world through your eyes. I look forward to watching the Lunar New Year BOM.
Oh my you are really there! That dust storm was something and your company is interesting …. the spiders not so much! Hope all is going well and look forward to your next visit back to blogland. Glad IB is supporting your project….it is a delightful one. I think we are all roosters, so I may make that one!
I enjoy hearing about your moving experience. I’ll be finishing a BOM quilt – in your stead =D You’re gonna love it 😉
I’m sure you’ll be settled in soon enough, though the first impressions must have been a bit off-putting. Let’s hope it’s just the wallabies that are the frequent visitors, not the spiders!
Hi Dione, so good to hear how things are going. It sounds really remote and different out there. Good luck with the rest of the move and congrats on getting Island Batik to sponsor your BOM!
OMGoodness Dione, what an adventure, I just read your other post also where you talked about finally getting home and this story made me sad, and happy… I am saddened for the animals in Australia because I know what it’s like for animals to have to come down from the mountains to try and find food having seen that here in America when droughts have occurred also. I am hopeful they won’t have to wait long for the rain to come to start reflourishing the country that the fires destroyed.
The Lunar BOTM looks amazing, please drop me a line when you get it started, I’ll feature it on my blog. Hugs!!!