Zoom, Just One Look…
…and then my heart went boom… Well, not really. But it was good. Tonight, due to the Corona Virus, the […]
Moctezuma Monday…
One of my inside activities is photographing specimens in my collection. Also cataloguing. Although I haven’t (re)started the latter one […]
Laundry almost done…
Laundry cabinets installed today. Plumber arriving tomorrow (in keeping with the new Social Distancing requirements from the Governments – only […]
A Solar Storm…
We had a bit of a storm come through around lunchtime today. Some welcome rain (see below), even if it […]
Saleeite, Lake Boga, Victoria
I will be spending more time from next week on The Collector’s Guide to the Minerals of Lake Boga publication, […]
Morning Walk…
Becoming a regular feature in these odd times. I usually go for two or three laps around the lake next […]
Andradite-Grossular Garnet…
A photo taken last night. Today I have been busy painting our laundry (not finished yet!) as our new cabinet […]
Wulfenite from an obscure Australian locality…
Wulfenite, a lead molybdate, is not that common in Australia with the main localities being Whim Creek, Western Australia, and […]
Dolomite, Cerussite and an Unknown Mineral…
Current restrictions due to the Corona Virus still allow us to go out, but we are restricting that to just […]
MacGyver was here…
Our plumber has “MacGyver’d” our laundry in case the Corona Virus causes us to not get the new laundry delivered, […]
Carpet Down!
Our carpet layer managed to get all of our carpet laid today! Both floors! Looks like the way that the […]
Pulling the rug out…
Looks like Victoria is about to introduce new measures to tackle the Corona Virus spread. “Victoria will proceed over the […]
A bit of Social Distancing…
Did a bit of social distancing today (not too many people out bush). A short trip to Bendigo and Heathcote. […]
Hidden Within…
This iridescent goethite specimen from Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, hides a secret for those that have a bit of imagination. […]
Got to STOP LOOKING!
The more we do in this place, the more we find. This is a shot of the laundry plumbing. When […]
It’s Vewy Vewy Quiet…
(No. Not hunting wabbits.) Hardly anyone at the airport and some flights cancelled, so not surprising. Found a way to […]
To Be Sure…
Had planned to eat at Irish Murphys tonight. But. Had completely forgotten the date! Happy St Pats Day! (Actually surprised […]
Hobart Mineral Show
Spent a few hours at the Hobart Mineral Show today. Attendance was (understandably) down on previous years. It was good […]
Flying High…
Travelled down to Hobart (and @Marnie – nothing happened to me for a change!). Funny sight – a lady whose […]
Mineral of the Week – Chrysocolla…
Kicking off the new week a day early… Specially for Kay Macy! A phyllosilicate! This week’s Mineral of the Week […]
Corona Virus Impacting…
Found out tonight that the Palmer Mineral Fair in early May has been cancelled. We were scheduled to go and […]
Main painting is done…
Painters were in today and have done a terrific job! A crew of four got the job done in under […]
Monthly Mineral Chronicles Volume 3 Issue 3
Volume 3 issue 3 of Monthly Mineral Chronicles is now available. This month, in this 135(!) page full-colour issue, we […]
Surf’s Up!
Surf is apparently up at Lake Esmond, Ballarat 🤣 Just got back from an early evening walk around the lake. […]
An Exciting Opportunity…
One of the local universities here in Ballarat, Federation University, will be celebrating 150 years this year. As a part […]
P💩NIC Buying…
Anyone have shares in toilet paper manufacturers? This is a wee bit silly. Panic buying toilet paper. It has even […]
Baby Sitting Day…
Looked after the granddaughters today. Had to draw on all of my talents at railroad building. Didn’t I do well! […]
MotW Sceptred Crystals
This week’s Mineral of the Week (MotW) is sceptred crystals… This one is a Mexican amethyst sceptre. Subscribe to Dad […]
Turning Red Lead Into Gold Podcast
This podcast is the first of many planned. It is one of the things that I intended to do more […]
Staring at the Stairs…
Still not finished, but looking really good… Very happy with the way these are turning out. No more creaking. And […]
Pseudomalachite Ring…
I came across this really unusual habit of pseudomalachite. It has formed a ring. The white line is a reflection […]
Disappointing Auction Day…
With the demise of local auction house Kitteltys here in Ballarat (last ever auction was in November 2019), we decided […]
Back to the stairs…
Stair remediation (note: not renovation) now completed. Finishing touches being applied. Very happy with the outcome… Painters lined up for […]
Bariopharmacosiderite ++, Clara Mine, Germany
A pretty one tonight. Green cubes of bariopharmacosiderite on mauve fluorite and white barite from the Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Ortenaukreis, […]
Book ’em Danno…
No. Not in Hawaii. Picked up three books yesterday at Book Now, a secondhand bookstore in Bendigo. Australian Mineral Industry, […]