Ex-term-in-ate! Ex-term-in-ate!
I am not normally a fan of cup cakes but I could exterminate one or two of these šš Brought […]
A Good Thing or a Bad Thing…
Repair. Verb. Restore (something damaged, faulty, or worn) to a good condition. Nature produces some fantastic mineral specimens. We usually […]
Canadian Pseudomorph…
A neat specimen of pyrite after marcasite from Canada catalogued today… Subscribe to Dad Dad Diary.
Catalogue Additions – Wulfenite
Added a couple of wulfenite specimens to my catalogue today, from very different parts of the planet. One from Arizona, […]
Autumnal Fungi
It was a bit on the chilly side for this morning’s walk. There was also a hint of frost. Winter […]
Ulrichite, Lake Boga
Retook a photo of this specimen tonight. Amazing what 8 years can do. Here is the old one… Bit of […]
Mineral of the Week – Dioptase
This week’s Mineral of the Week (MotW) is dioptase! Subscribe to Dad Dad Diary.
Critter Cam – Bin Spider!
Decided that today was the day to wash out our rubbish bins. This “little” critter had been living under the […]
Critter Cam – Black Cockatoos
I was out in the back garden today and heard the unmistakable sound of Black Cockatoos approaching. Normally, we see […]
Planet of the Humans…
If you only watch one movie this year, make it this one. Planet of the Humans. Everyone should watch it. […]
Collected Back In The Day…
In these times of isolation, there is an opportunity to look back over things acquired, such as this gmelinite specimen […]
Pretty in Pink…
Erythrite from Bou Azzer, Morocco in the Pebble Collection. Click on the image or link below to see more details […]
Re-Unboxing II
In these times of isolation, there is ample opportunity to go back and look at (and maybe catalogue) boxes of […]
Critter Cam – Sawfly Larvae…
While out on our midday exercise today, we came across two groups of sawfly larvae. Not sure exactly where they […]
Murder Scene…
Three crows certainly killed these rubbish bins this morning out at Lucas in western Ballarat. Thus creating a Murder Scene. […]
Mineral of the Week – Alunite Group
This week’s Mineral of the Week (MotW) is any mineral from the Alunite Group. So any of the species below […]
No Room for Complacency, but…
The outbreak of Corona Virus in Victoria (as well as the rest of Australia) looks to be well under control. […]
Finished Malachite Artwork…
I have finished the malachite painting. I have been incentivised by the excellent hyper-realistic mineral artwork produced in recent times […]
Back Into Mineral Art
Having a rest from the garden today (although it is coming along nicely – see below) and spending some time […]
New Toy (Early Birthday Present)…
I got an early birthday present in today’s mail. A pair of Sony WHXB700 wireless headphones. XB stands for eXtra […]
Monthly Mineral Chronicles Volume 3 Issue 4
Monthly Mineral Chronicles Volume 3 Issue 4 is now available. This month, in this 127 page full-colour issue, we have […]
Veggie Garden Progresses…
Today’s weather again not bad. So I spent quite a few hours outside. It is coming along nicely… Subscribe to […]
Veggie Garden Here I Come…
A beautiful Autumn day here today. I spent quite a few hours out the back weeding. This area will become […]
Isolation Art Challenge Day 9
(And if you are wondering what happened to Day 8, the theme was Miss. So I did.) The Isolation Art […]
Monthly Mineral Chronicles…
The next issue is nearly ready to publish. It includes: From the Editorās Desk Darkfield Illumination Hobart Mineral Show, Tasmania […]
Unboxing…
One of the opportunities during this lockdown period is to go through drawers and boxes of specimens that haven’t been […]
Mineral of the Week – Wolframite
This week’s Mineral of the Week, something a bit more mundane. Wolframite specimens. Ferberite or hubnerite. Interestingly, I found out […]
Isolation Art Challenge Day 7
The Isolation Art Challenge theme for Day 7 is Material. My take on this theme is art material. I suppose […]
Isolation Art Challenge Day 6
The Isolation Art Challenge theme for Day 6 is Two. I have a small number of old 35mm cardboard slide […]
A Day of Reflections…
No breeze, quiet conditions, great for reflections in the waters of Lake Esmond… Subscribe to Dad Dad Diary.
Isolation Art Challenge Day 5
The Isolation Art Challenge theme for Day 5 is Gift. A Gift in Many Languages… Subscribe to Dad Dad Diary.
Quintessential Australia!
I watched Nullabor today. A 2011 animated movie set in the vast and barren landscape of Western Australiaās Nullabor Plain. […]
Isolation Art Challenge Day 4
The Isolation Art Challenge theme for Day 4 is Wild. Australian Saltwater Crocodile lurkingā¦ Pencil on paper. Subscribe to Dad […]
Isolation Art Challenge Day 3
The Isolation Art Challenge theme for Day 3 is Inside. This little devil is inside a blanket… Posca pens on […]
Isolation Art Challenge Day 2
The Isolation Art Challenge theme for Day 2 is Time. So what else but a Timelord-based piece? (and a mini […]
Nice Weather for Ducks…
We have had a bit of a wet start to April, already exceeding the monthly average. Around 65mm (roughly 2.5 […]
Isolation Art Challenge Day 1
Art Tutor are running a 30 Day Isolation Art Challenge. A 30-day sketching/drawing/painting challenge for people who are self-isolating due […]
Darkfield Illumination II
Had to rejig my setup today. Decided to use an old LED ring light so that I didn’t have to […]
Darkfield Illumination…
A contradiction in terms? Brian Beyer has kindly put together an article on Darkfield Illumination for the upcoming issue of […]