TODAY"s FLOWERS - Desert Blooms

I take you back to another year when I was privileged 

to spend some time in our inland desert

click on any photo to get the full colour sensation

as you see, it was awash with colour

when flowering, these native hop bushed look quite insipid

but their seedpods are an entirely different story

they glow with colour. especially when bathed in 

late afternoon light

as they ripen, they turn a brilliant ruby red

with variations  of pure red or these that retain pale centre

the desert is a wonderful place when you consider that this is 

but one of the stunning items in God's garden

As you may have notice, I have a deep seated hot spot for deserts,

beaches, mountains, forests and all of God's creatures and 

creations and wild, unspoiled places

I just shy away from from the man made, cities are the

bane of my existence 

villages and small towns I quite enjoy for a short while . . .

Tammie's Meme - Gossamer

Tammie's brief to the day was 'Gossamer'

Like cobwebs of the mind the branches cross

and mingle

spangled with golden pearls of thought

drawing forth nebulous dreaming . . .

Linking to Tammie's

Drawing Challenge

SkyWatch Friday - Growing Rainbows

Yes, it is that magical time again when we

see rainbows

though the weight of clouds was great

the sun, like Atlas, lifted them with one hand

to create a rainbow fountain

too late to get the camera out of it's case,

so these are all taken with my very old but bullet proof

Samsung mobile phone

can you see that pot of gold gleaming?

I think it is nesting in the tree

Thank you to all those who present this lovely meme!

Wild Bird Wednesday - Sitting like a pigeon in the park

Saturday morning, dog was so patient while I shopped

that I took him for a nice long walk in the Nuriootpa linear park.

We discovered an old orchard that had been incorporated

 into the park

a Masked Lapwing complained at our approach

but was not too phased by us

two Crested Pigeons were pecking in the grass

this was the first time I have captured that iridescent 

magenta on it's wing
click the picture to see the colour

 one of them looked up but otherwise

they did not mind us

I don't get out much so getting birds is a bit of a 

hit and miss affair

at least these were big enough for me to see LOL

Linking with Stewart's 

Wild Bird Wednesday

OUR WOLD & Nature Notes - Crutching Time

Today it is 5 years and 900+ posts since I made a 

tentative hop into the blogosphere

it kept me sane during the dark years of my 

husbands advancing 

dementia

step by step, I connected with many like minded bloggers

many of them became friends

one particular friend is still fighting the good daily fight in 

caring for her husband at home

I greatly respect her indomitable courage

for all this and much, much more, I am eternally grateful

Panda and her twins in the sheep yards

a little unsure of me standing at the gate 

and opting for a comforting suckle

another set of twins, this time a mixed pair

the season has been crazy, the sheep are lambing 

a good month early

play time

when one starts levitating, the others instantly join in

the light was not ideal for action shots

but I'm sure you get the idea

unfortunately a few sheep went to the big wooly white ram in 

the sky, they got too stressed being so close to lambing

but there was nothing else to be done, they just had to be 

crutched before the lambs drop, their rear ends were filthy from 

eating lush wet grass and given a sunny day, 

fly strike was a distinct possibility.

Thank you all for being such kind commenters over the years

you comments helped me greatly in the tough times.

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Jonquils

Flowers raising their heads above all the weeds

in my little front garden

their pretty faces enhancing the putti

supporting the bird bath

softly smiling no matter the cold, rain or wind

be grateful for what you have

lest you are left with nothing at all.

SkyWatch - Yet Another Sunrise

Sometimes sunrise is so dramatic it pulls one

out of bed like a shaken champagne cork

you just stand there agog 

until the splendour passes

into more muted

but just as pleasing tones

Watch the sky for you will never see another like it

just as beautiful, yes

but always different . . .

Click on the picture to enlarge, 

and/or the logo to tap into the skies around the world.