Caldera Valley View

13/10/2026

A cup of organic blueberries for breakfast alongside my favourite rose all from my garden.
I had to net the blueberries to get any because the kurrawongs love them and won’t share. 🫐🐦‍⬛

05/10/2026

Lots of little native bees coming to the poppy flowers this morning. Look at their sweet little legs full of pollen.

02/10/2026

I truly believe nature is where we need to focus. Technology and big business are running at lightning speed. I refuse to run with them.
The air we share, the water we drink, the food we eat, all of the absolute necessities of life, we must value and protect as if our lives depend upon them, because they do.

I’ve been photographing these almost every day since the first buds. Every stage of growth, petal drop, seed strikes me like a miracle of natural progress and perfection.

I truly believe nature is where we need to focus. Technology and big business are running at lightning speed. I refuse to run with them.
The air we share, the water we drink, the food we eat, all of the absolute necessities of life, we must value and protect as if our lives depend upon them, because they do.

I truly believe nature is where we need to focus. Technology and big business are running at lightning speed. I refuse to run with them.
The air we share, the water we drink, the food we eat, all of the absolute necessities of life, we must value and protect as if our lives depend upon them, because they do.

I truly believe nature is where we need to focus. Technology and big business are running at lightning speed. I refuse to run with them.
The air we share, the water we drink, the food we eat, all of the absolute necessities of life, we must value and protect as if our lives depend upon them, because they do.

I truly believe nature is where we need to focus. Technology and big business are running at lightning speed. I refuse to run with them.
The air we share, the water we drink, the food we eat, all of the absolute necessities of life, we must value and protect as if our lives depend upon them, because they do.

I truly believe nature is where we need to focus. Technology and big business are running at lightning speed. I refuse to run with them.
The air we share, the water we drink, the food we eat, all of the absolute necessities of life, we must value and protect as if our lives depend upon them, because they do.

I truly believe nature is where we need to focus. Technology and big business are running at lightning speed. I refuse to run with them.
The air we share,

27/09/2026

Fragrance chemicals are deliberately hidden from us on the labels with catch all words in the contents like ‘fragrance’ and ‘parfum’. Time to wise up.

What Are You Actually Wearing? The Hidden Chemistry of Scent

When companies stamp the single, innocent looking word "fragrance" or "parfum" on a label, individual fragrance ingredients may not be disclosed. A fragrance formulation can contain numerous ingredients hidden behind that single word.

When clothes are treated to smell "fresh" for days or weeks, there can be much more traveling with them than scent.

Phthalates: Some phthalates have been used as solvents and fixatives in fragrance formulations. Certain phthalates are endocrine disrupting chemicals associated with reproductive and developmental concerns.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Fragranced laundry products can emit VOCs into indoor air and through dryer vents. Studies have identified compounds including acetaldehyde and acetone in laundry emissions.

Formaldehyde & Preservatives: Some preservatives used in consumer products can release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and respiratory tract.

Synthetic Musks & Plastic Microcapsules: Some fragranced laundry products use synthetic musks and polymer based microcapsules designed to deposit on textiles and release fragrance over time through movement and friction.

The Real Exposure

Clothing is worn directly against the skin for hours at a time. Fragrance chemicals and other product residues can remain on textiles, while volatile compounds can also enter the air we breathe.

How much of any particular chemical is absorbed through the skin or inhaled depends on the chemical, concentration, formulation, and conditions of exposure.

Most people have no idea which fragrance ingredients may be traveling with them on their clothing or entering the air from the products they use.

Clean doesn't actually need a smell. We can shift the cultural narrative. The way we smell today wasn't inevitable. It was manufactured.

And once you realize a habit is manufactured, you have the freedom to opt out of it.

Find fragrance free and essential oil free products at FragranceFreeNation.com.

Share this to help more people understand what is traveling with them on their clothes every day, and to bring greater awareness to the choices we can make for ourselves, each other, and the environment.

27/09/2026

Trying new ways with my favourites from the garden is truly the spice of life. Patience always pays off when it comes to gardening and fermenting the fruits of our labour.

I’m making two new ferments, garlic in honey and lemon and ginger in honey. The honey is pure raw Tasmanian Leatherwood. In my opinion it’s the Queen of honeys. Lisbon lemons and real garlic developed specifically for a subtropical climate all homegrown. I’m fussy about the garlic I grow and eat. Elephant/Russian garlic does not come close in flavour or goodness! It belongs to the leek family not a true garlic. Organic ginger from a local grower because I didn’t get mine in the garden this year.

As a good friend of mine says, what we put in and on our body is the most important thing we can do for ourselves. Another wise person once said something like “good health is the real wealth”.

I think my epitaph should read “At least she tried”. 😉

24/09/2026

Valley view. Bird sounds and Condong Sugar Mill.

24/09/2026

Hoping for another good harvest of macadamia nuts next year. One tree is enough when it produces like this tree.
Macadamia are endemic to Northern NSW and SE Qld.

21/09/2026

Cheers. We’ve made some ginger b**r using fresh local ginger. It’s bubbly and deliciously refreshing with live probiotics. I think it tastes like the tropics. The b**r we drink round here 😉

21/09/2026

When you harvest jackfruit you need muscles and a plan. This 12.35kg monster will be cut up and dehydrated. Fresh is delicious but this sized fruit is more than enough.

We have tried curry recipes but I enjoy the sweet flesh of jackfruit fresh or as a dehydrated snack.

21/09/2026