MY WORLD ~ 8 The Road Home

Our return from the mountains, a stretch
of 1,000km+, lead us through Melbourne
the capital of Victoria where we stayed with
my sister. From there the long 700km stretch
home.I can no longer travel the distance in one
day, so we like to spand a night in Horsham.
Horsham is a very well-to-do town in the western
wheat belt of Victoria. For us it boasts a number
of attractions, a Motel with a comfortable Q'sized
bed right next door to one of our favourite eateries,
Toys Chinese Restaurant. There is also a garden
ornament shop where the Prof. has been known to
splurge in a very big way.

Leon Toy is a remakable person. Sixth generation
Australian Chinese, the family still speak their
language. Apart from having built up this beautiful
restaurant, Leon had a grand vision and has established
a Chinese garden wonderful to see. Many water features
filled with Lilies and Fish and spanned by bridges, a
mini-golf course tucked away in greenery and to top it all
a beautiful version of the great wall of China to enclose it.

Come and see for yourselves.

Street facade with restaurant in the
background



One of the ponds with the beginning of the great
wall on the left



the Prof. and Leon Toy discussing garden progress



Some magnificent Waterlilies which are there
in a abundance



part of the eating area where the food that Leon
cooks is always delicious, the service friendly and
everything spotlessly clean



the place is decorated with art treasures. these
are two of the clay warriors shipped from China
for an exhibition.



Detail of an exquisite screen inlaid with mother
of pearl.



To finish, another view of one of the ponds.




Click to enlarge photos for best effect.

This is an integral part of our world, now check out
other beautiful places by clicking on the Logo.


As always, my appreciation to the MY WORLD/
SkyWarch team for being our hosts and mentors.

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ 9 More Southern Sun

Pleasw scroll down for SkyWatch and MY WORLD

More mellow yellow for the sun starved in the
far, far north.

Fine, perfumed golden Broom, drought tolerant
and garden friendly as it is sterile and does not
become a pest like others of it's kind.



One of our Native Cymbidiums with more than
40 flowers per well over a yard long bract.



'Peace' gleaming like thin sunlight.



and a little later, with the glow of afternoon.



A little sunshine from my garden to brighten your days.

This meme was conceived by Luiz Santilli Jr. and is

managed by Denise B. Castro and Laerte Pupo. To all

three my sincere thanks.

SkyWatch *16 Another Sunrise

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If you are sick of my sunrises, please shield your
eyes. I just could not resist this one.

For full effect, please click on picture to enlarge.

A promising start



with an interestingly pale development



reverting to some of its former promising of colour



changing yet again into quite different tonings



to form into a blue lightning flash behind the clouds

and revert back to red tonings

For a splendid finale of red, glorious flaming red!

To wing across the skies of the world, click on Logo.

To Klaus ad the gang, my sincere thanks for their

efforts and work on our behalf. Where would we be

without them?

MY WORLD ~ 7 Some Animals on the Farm

Please scroll down for TODAY'S FLOWERS

My computer has been out of commission for
few days so this is not what I promised which,
God willing, will follow next week.

I give you instead some of my 'grand' animals
on the farm.

One of a number in the chook yard, this one was
so fluffed up and broody it was kind of cute



the grandchildrens' bunnies, there are 6 in all




A clutch of ducklings from the farmers' market
acquired last week



two of the 5 horses my daughter and two grand-
daughters have



The old dog Kip and her new friend Rex

Our grandson's dog Rex with flyaway ear
turning like a stock horse on a sixpenny bit

This is but a small selection of the animals in my world.
I hope you have enjoyed them a little.

My thanks to the SkyWatch/My World team for giving

us this opportunity to show something of what we hold

dear.

To visit many interesting places click on the Logo.

TODAY'S FLOWERS ~ 8 Australian Sunshine

Please scroll down for SkyWatch and other posts.

All photos can be enlarged for full effect.

For those of you living in the far north, I bring
you some Australian sunshine to brighten the
darkness of your days.



The gold of our Wattles, Acacia



Sunflower against a cloudy sky



and against our blue, blue summer sky.

My thanks to Luiz Santilli Jr., Denise B. Castro
and Laerte Pupo for organizing this most beutiful meme.

For wonderfu flowers around the world click on the logo
on the right.

SkyWatch *15 Towards Sunset

All photos directly from the camera and can be
enlarged for full effect.

Whenever God closes a door, somewhere He
opens a window



The sky was so changeable, all these photos
were taken within minutes of each other



All of a sudden the angels were playing noughts
and crosss right across the sky



and shifting, ever shifting , they went towards
sunset



In less than 15 minutes, the sun had changed
its tune and brought some warmer tones into
the passing clouds.



To the SkyWatch team, my heartfelt appreciation
for giving us the opportunity to present our skies.

To wander the magical skies of this wrold, click on
the Logo on the right.

Footsteps

Footsteps lead fron doorway warm
into the white beyond
the single track grows long and lost
over the rise beyond

Over the hill and down through the dale
and ever onward going
through drift and and frozen patch of grass
the footsteps pass, the footsteps pass
along the wood with laden bough
they go not stopping for a rest
on, ever onward, forward going
with bent head to the falling snow they trudge
one foot and then the other



Till far into the darkening night
a light gleams through a window
the steps have long behind been filled
the snow lies silent there
and onward go the steps intent
on yonder lighted beakon.

The need is great, they hasten now
towards the one light beaming
Inside the room she waites and hopes
the child as yet unborn
with practiced hand he turns the babe
easing her sweating brow
the cry of life soon rends the air
filling the gentle room with joy
At last the weary feet can rest a while
as Christmas morn dawns bright and clear



before they set out once again
upon the sparkling morning snow
to make the marks that once have been
with lightened heart
tarrying now and then to watch a bird
or mind the light upon an ancient tree
and onward bound for home and hearth
where anxiously they wait for news
and for their safe returning.