OUR WORLD Tuesday - Autumn on the Farm and Elsewhere

Before our first autumn rain, the calves were dropping like 

the rain should have.

A recent baby making tentative friends with our last remaining

steer that, for the second time running, jumped out of the stockyards

not to be sent to market.

Ya gotta give it to him for spunk!

Togetherness, two mommas and their babies. 

No need to cover up, these girls believe in letting it all hang out.

On my way to town, I pass this beautiful farm

with two Golden Ash, Fraxinus excelsior 'Aurea' , flanked by

two beautiful Claret Ash, Fraxinus raywoodii.

The Claret Ash comes from a property not far from our Mt.Lofty house.

A gardener noticed a red sport on a Golden Ash and propagated from

it. It was a rather grand house with lots of visitors who, in a few

years time, marvelled at the depth of colour and the rest is history.

Claret Ash against one of my favourite shade trees, the Golden Elm

in our village.

We all are mirror images of each other,

some enjoying autumn and others, spring.

Whichever you are in, take pleasure in what it offers.

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Savour the Day

Got up early this morning and went to the country market.

That was a joy in itself -

after getting all the greens for the piglets and some provisions 

for myself,

I also treated myself to a pot of chrysanthemums in this

lovely bright and joyful shade of red.

Although the sun had hidden, they still glowed

and brandished their golden centres like beacons.

My one and only flowering rose had bestirred itself and was

catching up on lost time over our too dry summer.

Two bright spots in my heart and garden.

Hope there are some in yours too!

SkyWatch - Fog

Early morning, I wondered why the sun was still abed,

one look out the window and I levitated out of bed snatching

at my camera 

the paddocks softened by the scattered light

down the hill, the houses were fading away

but up the hill, the blanket of grey grew ever thicker

until it gobbled up the trees and shrubs and ground and 

indiscriminately hid the sheep and kangaroos . . .

as well of course, the sky.

Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes - A big Thrill in Home Birds

With our inch of rain last week, the birds are fighting 

over food sources that aren't even there yet.

A very noisy flock of New Holland Honeyeater were

squabbling in my side garden where I grow Grevilleas

for their delectation. They are nowhere near to 

flowering.

 A moment before this, there were three of the little 

darlings sitting in close proximity. By the

time I pulled the trigger, this was all that was left.

The House Sparrow flock still haunts my garden, 

probably because of it's unkempt state it still has

seed heads for them to feed on.

I rather like this gentle shot in mild fog.

The Yellow-rumped Thornbills are very active, noisy,

pretty as a picture and stay clear of my camera for 

the most part.

In case you haven't been bored to tears yet, here is

some eye candy, my piece de resistance,
the Red-cap Robin, newly arrived

and I am crossing my fingers, holding my thumbs

and praying he has brought a mate and will deign

to grace our gardens for the season.

Sorry he is not quite in focus but that is the best I 

could do with my hand held 500mm lens.

I got nine shots in and this was the only vaguely

keeper.

Sometimes they stay and sometimes they move on 

to the pine forests not too far away.

Linking to 

Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday

and 

Michelle's Nature Notes (Logo on side bar)

OUR WORLD - There's Gold in them thar Hills

A little rain and viola! the countryside turns gold.

I mean it, really gold.

As you can see, we are very near a grape growing district.

These were taken near Woodside on my usual route to town.

Whatever is going on in your neck of the woods,

make sure you enjoy it.

TODAY'S FLOWERS - Flowers from a bare Garden

After the long, hot summer without water for the garden except

what I saved from the shower and sink,

this is all there is to see

some weeds in the grass we sometimes laughingly

call a lawn

out of 150 bushes, one single, hardy groud-cover rose

this delicate looking but hardy daisy like perennial.

(the name escapes me for the moment)

and lastly, one single geranium flower.

Not much to show for a once showcase, large garden.

I just hope others have more than I.

SkyWatch - Sunrise Overload !

Third and final instalment of the sunrise I have posted over 

a few weeks. I promise this is the last one.

They look better enlarged.

Somehow these delicious colours remind me of Turner's paintings.

although the mixture of tints is just something a human 

cannot possibly achieve.

The colours muted into shades of magenta/purple

That little cloud was still there, getting whiter by the second

 the sun was only thinking of getting up, but the first bird was 

already on it's way.

To the south, the colours were fading and I finally gave up 

and went back to bed.

Keep posting those skies, we all enjoy them.