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 

Wild Bird Wednesday

with thanks to Stewart for hosting this meme

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

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

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

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

WIld Bird Wednesday

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

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 

Nature Notes

TODAY'S FLOWERS

and

I Heart Macro