Monday, April 30, 2012

OUR WORLD - Peterborough Sunrise



                 Well, I'm safely back from our 1,400km trip to the wonders of our arid lands.
I have no idea why Blogger had to 'fix' something that was working well, at least much better and easier than now where every time I try to change something, I lose the whole post! This is my fourth attempt to get up an Our World post and I sincerely hope it works.


Once a thriving and important railway town with a prosperous agricultural base, Peterborough now still boasts a main street with four large hotels of the colonial era as well as the most imposing YMCA building I have seen anywhere.


Our overnight stop proved to be a goldmine of 18th and early 19th century architecture built to outlast the usefulness of the town itself.
The railway station has gone and unfortunately, there are many gaps in the once splendid main street.


The four hotels still left are the 'Federation', the 'Railway Hotel', the 'Peterborough Hotel' and, if I remember rightly, the 'Commercial.


A view to the YMCA and Town Hall with a typical palm tree of the 1870's still growing strong.


At left, the YMCA, a massive building with 15-18 foot ceilings and flanking it is the equally impressive Town Hall. Sorry, the photo does not capture the grandiloquence of either building and leaves out entirely the third in this row which is an even more opulent mansion, complete with ballroom.


For a sunrise walker, even the backstreets offer dear little cottages as well as many other houses marking the passage of the well-to-do of another era.


A little further back, there are also somewhat less salubrious sights.


And, lucky last, a peep at what lies ahead for a week or two of other posts to come.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Flowers for Leontien




Dear Leontien, these flowers are just for you. They bring inner peace and healing and my love and prayers for your courage to bloom strong and that you still find great joy in this life you have been given.

Hugs and Blessings . . . Arija

Thursday, April 12, 2012

SkyWatch ~ Kingston Sunrise


While I did my morning exercises with some light weights,
the sun painted the sky a glorious gold.


A horse was grazing over the fence with just enough light for
me to have a shot at him.



A quick dash inside to change lenses and off for my walk to the
sea. Overhead a Sacred Ibis turned pink in the rising sun.
It may not be quite in focus but what can you expect when
shooting with a hand held 500mm lens?


When I return from our sojourn in the Flinders Ranges, there will be
Kingston sunsets over the sea.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

World Bird Wednesday - In Black and White . . .


While we were in Wentworth, New South Wales, on the Darling
River, birds were unexpectedly scarce, probably because water was
around in abundance and most waterbirds had left for better
fishing grounds.

Magpie-Lark, Grallina cyanoleuca, Little or Murray Magpie,
Mudlark, Peewie or Peewit, can be found anywhere in Australia
except in direct desert areas.


Here's the other eye in case you wondered where it was hiding.


Pied Butcherbird, Cracticus nigrogularis, a wonderful songbird


getting ready to serenade me early one morning


and breaking into a gurgle of limpid melody. Unfortunately
he has some rather unpleasant traits regarding the nestlings
and eggs of other birds.


The only waterbird I saw was, a Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocorax
varius, drying off after his fishing exploits . . .
Once again I have led you astray and Stewart M has pointed out the error.
This is not a Pied Cormorant but an Australasian Darter,
Anhinga novaehollamdiae, and a lifer for me.


Another look at him


and one more in cased you missed the other two.



Sorry I won't be around next week or the week after - off to the
Flinders Ranges in the far North of our state, bordering on the desert
country. See you all when I'm back!

Monday, April 9, 2012

OUR WORLD - Perry's Sandhills


Perry's Sandhills, just outside Wentworth, New South Wales,
are like a mini Simpson Desert. They vary from deep red


through shades of gold,


with clumps of vegetation,


to a most appealing Naples Yellow or straw colour and cover
quite a large area. As in most of inland Australia, it is a hot
dry-land climate where harvests are good, if only there is rain
and rain is a very scarce commodity.



Time to post the best of your world on OUR WORLD, so get to it!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Pure Gold


On this Easter Sunday, I give you the last of summer's golden
glow along my driveway


and the bright autumn gold of Sternbergia lutea, in a dear
friend's garden.



Wishing a Joyful Easter to all you flower-lovers and any other visitors who
drop in here from time to time.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Shadow Shot Sunday - Travel Shots


While sitting at lunch at the Wentworth Servicemen's Club,
I looked at the Darling River and then looked straight down
an this is what I saw . . . how could I resist??


Another travel shot, me looking out to sea at Kingston. Any
place that has lots of water is home to me.



Shadows come and shadows go, where are yours, I want to know?

Thursday, April 5, 2012

SkyWatch ~ Kingston Sunset


Sorry guys, I went A.W.O.L. for a couple of days on the spur
of the moment. I drove Himself and me to Kingston on the
coast of the Southern Ocean to feast on crayfish before the
season closed. It is an approx. 300km drive but also the nearest
place for freshly caught crayfish. In the metropolis they are all
pre-frozen.

As a bonus I found this great walk along the Maria River to
the Pier that extends a long way into the sea and also has the
cray shop right next to it.

Reflected sunset clouds in Maria River as we hurry to catch
the main event.


I look up to see the moon clothed all in pink . . .


and at the edge of the world, a red, red sunset is tumbling
into the abyss,


spreading it's afterglow as far as the eye can see.


We sit at the end of the pier and drink in the glory of it all
and lo, as darkness deepens, Venus smiles dow on us and


dances in the wavering waves.



A perfect evening . . .

Sorry once again for being such a tardy visitor, I hope you know
I love all your blogs.

PS if you enlarge Venus, she becomes quite apparent.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Our World & World Bird Wednesday - More of Moonta Bay


What's happening in our world? Today I had a lazy day recovering
from yesterday's overdoing it a bit. I tackled the meadow in our
front garden with a line trimmer (petrol driven) and got a small
patch done to differentiate the cut grass from the overgrown flower
beds. Quite an achievement at my age!

Now, let me take you back to our recent trip to Moonta Bay, one
of my favourite fishing spots for fish, crabs, photos . . .

A Sooty Oystercatcher looking for his breakfast at sunrise


as the morning light turns the water into molten silver


and an Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Haematopus longirostris,
is also intent on a spot of brekkie.


Not easy to concentrate on the job when you are buffeted by
a stiff breeze . . .


perhaps a good time to take to wing and find a calmer place.


Meanwhile, the Pied Cormorant, Phalacrocoras varius, is
already drying his feathers


and indulging in a spot of preening.


Look left from the jetty towards the sun and the sea is a
silvery gray,


look right and the beauty of the early light and the cleansing
breeze is almost overwhelming,



What are you seeing in this wonderful world of ours?