SkyWatch - Just a Sky or Two

A beautiful day 

that fades into a beautiful evening

whatever sky you have, enjoy it in full measure.

MY WORLD ~ Wirrealpa Station

We finally arrived at our destination after two days of steady

driving, Wirrealpa Station in the Flinders Ranges of South

Australia, a sheep and cattle run catering also to the intrepid

traveller seeking peace, quiet and skies that go forever in the

rugged Australian Outback.

Our quarters above, consisted of a kitchen and huge dining room

in the forefront and bedrooms in the shearer's quarters behind

our red farm ute. The other building in between we made use of

as a studio.

Above, a view towards the creek with the amazing array of green

tones by courtesy of the recent rains.

Below, one of the many honeyeaters I photographed but could

not identify.

The cooking facilities were modern electric or this delightful

original cast iron stove which, as is obvious, we much preferred.

Not only did it provide comforting warmth but it was big enough

to house a number of large dye pots as well as the ubiquitous kettle

and our delectable meals catered for by my utterly wonderful

daughter India.

The evening light accentuated the colours of the native hopbush

to perfection.

A little entertaining at the end of the day as our hosts joined

us for drinks and we all lived it up a little.

Another view of our accommodation with the the blue hills

in the distance

and a few swishes of the paintbrush on the verandah.

There are a lot more pictures where these came from, who knows,

maybe another day . . .

This is the world that sings to my soul and thanks to the MY WORLD

Team, I could show it to you.

SkyWatch & Nature Notes ~ Desert Storm

Our first day at Wirrealpa Station on the eastern side of the

Flinders Ranges in semi-desert country and what do we get?

You guessed it, a storm brewing on the horizon.

Getting more and more threatening

as it gathers force,

and brakes in a downpour and partial darkness.

What can one do but retire to one's room in the shearers'

quarters with thick stone walls, white washed on the inside

and deep windowsills.

I chose this particular room because The window opened and

I could get light, air and a view as well.

It was fun scrambling between sleeping and living quarters

as well as the shower block in the pelting rain. It adds to the

experience to get something so unexpected.

All photos enlarge as always.

To fly the skies, just click on the Logo.

Thanks to the SkyWatch Team we can all enjoy each other's skies.

The Bird

A bird I know not
and have never heard before
so near yet far away
with mournful cry
he fills the air
with his sad voice
yet find him I can not.

He haunts my sleep
disturbs my dreams
awakens feelings
of things lost
and just beyond recall
or hoped for and forgot
pulling at heartstrings
with melodies of wordless longing

MY WORLD ~ 26 The Great Autumn Leaf Hunt 2

Feel free to enlarge..the effect is quite different.

The Platypus pool at dawn, is there one on the left?



I creep with the light up the riverbank, hoping for what?
A platypus, awakening birds or just the thrill of a child
adventuring alone in the woods near precious water...



In the still dark woods, a little brook joins the river
at the platypus poole edged with autumn leaves and
solitude.



Dawn light mirrored in the flow as though from
Monet's brush



and as the sun climbs up with blare of trumpets
colour magically appears



flocks of tiny birds grazing the willow fronds all a
twitter as they flit about



some 300 photographs later I head back to breakfast
mmm porridge, I feel like mama bear!

Ah, there's the cabin with a glimpse of our chariot in front,

hope Goldilock didn't get there first to wake my sleeping

prince or steal my porridge

just had to snap these maple leaves on my way,

and now an apology, the colour extravaganza only

comes next week...I took so many pics I could not

bear to pass all these by, this was but the first morning

before breakfast and we were there for four days in

which there were more than 1,000 clicks!

This is a foretaste of what is yet to come...

To visit the world as it unfols, click on the Logo.

I salute Klaus and the My World team for their

unremitting care of this wonderful meme.