Fire in the Simpson

It looks like theres a fire approaching from the South West. It's shaped like an enourmous red cross bow, stretching almost the entire width of the Simpson Desert, with the arrow lined up straight for us. The NAFI site on the internet will show you the fire site, which appears to have burnt more than a third of the Simpson Desert already. The fuel load is so high after all the rains, that it's unlikely to stop by itself. Ethabuka will get hit first, it's currently about 70 kms away. We've got a grader going in to make earth breaks around the borders and through the middle. 80 percent of the property was burnt out just before we got there last time, and it sure would be nice to not incinerate the remaining 20% which hasn't been burnt for a lot longer, and is Channel Country vegetation, which is very important in terms of its conservation values. Not that the dunefields aren't. They carry one of the highest diversities of reptile diversity in the world, not to mention all the small cute and cuddly species which still manage to exist out here. The dunefields are currently looking stunning, and it's hard to imagine them returning to the red wastefield with blackened stumps that they were 8 years ago. Cravens Peak would be next to burn, which doesn't bear thinking about. It doesn't make me feel so good either, being so remote with the kids and such a big fire eating it's way towards us. I do keep imagining the enormous wave of rats running in front of the flames! But really, they would probably go to ground, and the wave will really be full of camels. Al should stand out there on the border with his shotgun....

Home Schooling

Yesterday Asha and Clay made a 1m patch outside where she could guage change in the patch over time. It was marked out with string and ice-cream sticks, and Asha spent some time choosing where she should put it, depending on which flowers were in it, where ant trails were, or amongst some quartz rocks. she eventually decided on a sandy patch with white glittery pebbles, because then she could check out the tracks in the sand the next day. She carefully swept it smooth, then Clay had a go, then she did it all over again and stood up the sticks again. Next morning she raced out as soon as she was up to check on it. Very excited, she ran in to tell us that were kangaroo tracks and a track that she thought was a wild pig! It was in the house yard, so we would have been surprised, but Al went outside and told her it was a baby camel track, which wasn't very helpful but did keep her enthusiasm going. Luckily we did see some camel tracks later that morning so could show her what they really looked like. They have seen them in the flesh also, Al took them out  from Ethabuka a week or two ago and they came across a small herd. The kids came back to the house and told me all about how Dada had shot the camels and cut them up. They decided not to eat them that night though.  We bought them both bikes in Mt Isa, and they are so proud of them. Their parents were very stingy and bought them a bit too big, but they've figured them out and perch up on them very proudly, shooting off on our morning walk towards the dunes, Clay with his head bent right down low, going as fast as his legs can possibly go. Zave with his head craned around the backpack, trying desperately to keep his eyes on his big brother and sister who have disapeared into the red horizon.

Back after a trip down South

Back 'home' again after a whirlwind trip back to Tasy. My head is still spinning from it, but it was incredible to get a good dose of Tasy magic to keep our spirits high. Thanks so much to everyone who helped, housed and supported us in order to enable Al's book to be launched amongst the beautiful community that it deserved. What would we do without you all......
I know you don't need more rat stories, but think of it as therapy for me.....I arrived back home to some barely alive seedlings, which I carried out of the bath tub reverently. Outside, I turned on the hose to give it a soak, the water burst up in every direction, the rats had eaten the hose! Throwing it aside, I nudged the watering can, it still had water in it judging from the weight. I heaved it up and poured it onto the seedlings. Big chunks of hair fell from the top as a horrible thick brown liquid squeezed from the end nozzle. I dropped it and ran, but as the smell was enough to make my head spin.  I knew I had to deal with it. Tipping it out behind the back fence, it gave a whole new meaning to liquid fertilizer. 1, 2, 3 then on a lot of nudging, 4 rats fell out, in various stages of decomposition. My stomach is pretty strong, (except in pregnancy!) but I was bent over head in the bushes 3 times after that. Alright, that is it I promise, no more rat stories. They are on their way out now anyway, they have virtually gone from properties to the South, and are finished at Bedourie (our closest town.) Our turn must be next.... The air is smoky here from massive bushfires to the North (might need Mat to build us a bunker...), the animal numbers are dropping a bit as the heat increases. It is still beautiful though, and I am looking forward to seeing a bit more red soil.