Monday, March 31, 2014

OUR WORLD - Milestones


At long last I am breaking the silence
after being knocked off my perch by a virus.

After 6 years and 9 months of blogging,
this is my 1,000th post!

Oddly, I am not posting my own photos
for this milestone
but the last ones my husband took before 
his brain failed to function.

On our last trip to Arkaroola in the N.Flinders Ranges
we came across these camels behind the dead trees


this couple were hiding a baby


the youngster in front was obviously 
last season's progeny 

as we had moved away from the parents
the dad moved down the other side of the hill 
and bub came out for a calming drink.


I am deeply grateful to all of you who, passing through,
have left footsteps on my blog.
The last six years of my husband's life 
were also difficult ones for me
and blogging was the one way I kept my sanity
so thank you to all those who became my friends 
and left supportive comments.

Linking with OUR WORLD

a

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Wild Bird Wednesday - Just Ducks


Waiting for the dog to catch up to my car, I always check out our 
dam in the park
all summer there was hardly a bird on it
imagine my surprise at seeing unusual ducks on this occasion

in fact, two lifers for me, at least the first time I stopped to 
identify a Grey Teal (left) and a Hardhead behind 


the Grey Teal is quite a small duck with a distinctively
pale chin and neck


a pretty little thing, I hope they come again


Linking with 


with thanks to Stewart for hosting this meme

Monday, March 17, 2014

OUR WORLD - Show Time


Last Saturday it was yet again time for our local Mt.Pleasant 
Agricultural Show
one of the major regional shows in the state

camel rides wove their way around the booths
as well as pony rides


side-show alley was a little quiet and looked a little worn
although the children enjoyed the rides


dahlias in the show pavilion were spectacular as were some of 
the paintings and farm produce as well as cakes in all categories


my grandson-in-law was a star in sheep shearing, winning the
seniors section as well as coming second in the open against
the top shearers in the state 

(grandma-in-law proud as Punch)


and wouldn't you know it?
a lot of bull!

The others were being judged in the background and dwarfed by 
this huge beast


though the day was grey and troubled by a cold, gusting wind that
peppered one with flying sand,
a great day was had by all.

Linking with OUR WORLD

Saturday, March 15, 2014

TODAY'S FLOWERS & I Heart Macro - White Belladonnas


Calling from the back of the garden in the mounting gloom
like moonlight in the middle of the night
the naked ladies stand tall and proud
radiating their light from within


the brightness draws one ever nearer


until you stand before them in wonder of the light they diffuse
and the sheer beauty of the grouping of their blooms
surrounding those precious buds


you bend down to drink in their scent and come face to face with 
their golden hearts


What joy to have them in my garden for even a brief period each 
autumn.

They are survivors, just like me, through drought and poor soil
they relentlessly bloom in old farm gardens, a hundred years after 
the homestead has crumbled and the barren land lies deserted

the Belladonnas push up their buds through the hard-baked soil
as heralds of the first autumn rain that will fall two weeks hence.

I have watched them over fifty years at least and they never disappoint.

Linking with

TODAY'S FLOWERS

and

I Heart Macro

Thursday, March 13, 2014

SkyWatch - Blue Sky with Clouds


Clouds over the dunes in Goolwa


they seem to me like a couple of birds doing a courtship dance.

Linking with SkyWatch

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Wild Bird Wednesday - Hooray for Big Birds!


Nipped down to Goolwa for the day and spied these below the 
barrages on the Murray River.

Three pelicans pole sitting
our pelicans are really big birds up to 1.9m
since that is bigger than me,  even I can see them


getting into the swing of things
this White-faced Heron
also a bird of some stature that looks deceptively small at a
distance but can be up to 1m
I have stood next to one that was higher than my waist


put them all together and it looks like a dwarf next to 
the big pelicans


Stewart, any hope of an ID for the waders in the background?
I know they are not very clear,
unfortunately, due to a senior's moment, I had drained the 
battery on my canon with the 500mm lens


No idea what kind of ducks they are either.

With thanks to Stewart for hosting


Monday, March 10, 2014

OUR WOLD - Strawberry Jam


The summers gone but I still managed to get enough to make
some jam for my eldest (married) granddaughter who 
just loves the stuff


all cut up


and bubbling in the pot


and the finished product, two and a half kilos of strawberries 
make six and a half jars 
(I know one is already missing, G-d loves it with her yoghurt)

sometimes I think I'm a little crazy, the jam I make works 
out at being a little more expensive than the best quality
bought version 

but then, mine only contains organic strawberries and sugar


time for elevenses, strawberry jam on toast with a
glass of milk, yummm . . .

Linking with OUR WORLD

Saturday, March 8, 2014

TODAY'S FLOWERS. I Heart Macro & Nature Notes - Naked Ladies in all their Pink Perfection


Sorry for my long absence, nothing wrong, just needed to 
be kind to myself for a while . . .

meanwhile, the seasons have changed and these are not the 
'Darling Buds of May' but my lovely naked ladies in March


the heralds of autumn, they come in many shades of pink


as well as white which I may show you next week


above, a mid pink and below a startlingly strong pink


my garden and corners of the farm are ablaze with them and
awash with their very pleasant scent.

Linking with 



and