Posted in Food & Friends, Musings on July 24, 2010| 10 Comments »
If I’m ever feeling weary or blue, I watch this clip. It always makes me laugh, no matter how many times I’ve seen it before.
It’s an out-take from the Carol Burnett Show of the 1970s, with Tim Conway reducing his colleagues to hysterical tears with his completely ad-libbed lines. I’m posting it here so that I can find it again easily, but also in the hope that it gives you all a good belly-laugh this weekend!
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Posted in Food & Friends, Musings, tagged bees, colony collapse disorder, Ligurian honey, organic honey, threat to bees, Varroa destructor mites on July 19, 2010| 39 Comments »
I’m worried about bees. They’re such an important part of our existence – without them to pollinate our crops, we’d all be up a creek without a paddle. And they’re under serious threat – many of the world’s bee colonies are infected with dangerous parasites that are killing honeybees at an alarming rate, possibly also leading to problems like colony collapse disorder. Worse still, these mites are now developing resistance to miticides which have worked in the past. According to Wikipedia, a third of the bees in the US (!!) didn’t survive winter 2009.
Australia is almost the only country left whose bee industry remains unaffected by the ominously named Varroa destructor mites. Most experts agree, however, that it’s just a matter of time before these make it to our shores, especially as they’re now prevalent in neighbouring New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Whilst I can’t do anything to stop the parasites, and will continue to fret about the welfare of the world’s bees, I decided today that I needed to put away some Australian honey. I know it’s crazy – we only go through a couple of jars a year – but honey lasts almost forever, and I want to continue eating it in a chemical-free form for as long as possible (which will presumably only be until the Varroa mites make it here).
Fellow Aussies, did you know that we can buy organic honey, from the only remaining strain of pure Ligurian bees in the world, at Aldi? For just $5 a 500g jar? It’s a ridiculous bargain, and since a Sydney Morning Herald article was written about it last year, the price has actually gone down.
I have my ten glass jars of liquid gold stashed away. Even if you’re not as nutty as I am, I hope that the next time you have a spoonful of honey, you’ll spare a thought and a prayer for the plight of the world’s bees. And if you’re living here in Oz, give thanks that we still have access to organic honey at such a reasonable price!
Posted in Musings on July 14, 2010| 14 Comments »
When I got home I heard John Barbirolli conducting Beethoven’s ‘Seventh Symphony’, over the air. What was agriculture for, it seemed to me, except that such a thing as that symphony and the playing of it should be made possible? To make bread so that it shall be possible for mankind to have more than bread and hear the scripture of the kings; to listen to a Beethoven, a Sibelius, a Tchaikovsky, uttering some far message to paradox and joy.
John Stewart Collis, The Worm Forgives the Plough,
reflecting on the meaning and purpose of agriculture
after working on the land during WWII.
Posted in Musings, tagged beading, collecting, cowboy boots, fossils, Muppets, Somerville Collection, Swarovski crystal on May 3, 2010| 35 Comments »
I collect…
…secondhand cowboy boots. I now own five pairs! My black lizard Noconas with embroidered tops were just $28; Pete’s Tony Lama kickers a mere $12. I have truly appalling fashion sense, but these always make me feel dressed up…
I collect…
…Swarovski crystal beads. I adore the sharpness of their facets and the clarity of the lead crystal. My collection includes a wide selection of contemporary beads, as well as a few treasured strands from the 1940s (White Givre and Starlight, in case anyone’s interested).
Jewellery making is my passion, and I love the creative aspect of it. All my pieces are made with precious metal wire and crystal beads – here’s a sterling silver bridesmaid bracelet that I made for Vanessa’s wedding last year…
I collect…
…fossils. We don’t have many, but the highlights of our collection are this large ammonite fossil, 65 – 400 million years old…
…and this mammoth’s tooth – a gift from my little sister. True to form, she haggled down the archaeologist who excavated it. If you’d like to see a truly amazing fossil collection, please have a look at the photos from our visit to the Somerville Museum in rural NSW.
I collect…
…Muppet memorabilia. As a long time fan, I was pretty excited when the original tv series was released on DVD! My sons have grown up watching it, much to the amusement of their peers.
Are you a collector too? If so, I’d love to know what your passion is!
Posted in Musings on April 24, 2010| 7 Comments »
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If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.
– Buddha
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