Caught in the act!

 

Prayer

The following arrived in an email,and I think it's worth sharing:


Thank You Lord

Thank you for the little things
That fill my heart with hope,
For thinking of these little things
Sure seems to change the scope...


Budding flowers, seedling trees,
A warm afternoon and a cool summer breeze;

The lady bug, the butterfly
Big puffy clouds in a baby blue sky;

The clover patch, the honey bee,
A Sunday brunch or afternoon tea;

The sparkle of a midnight star,
And wishing on it from afar;

The calming effect of an evening rain,
As it taps against the window pane.


For all these things I can't complain!
So, when my life seems rough to me
I think of all your kindness brings,
And I find my spirits lifted up,
For you truly give my soul its wings.

(Author Unknown)



I don't normally pass on prayers or impose my beliefs on others,but I truly feel these thoughts are worth sharing..........please accept it in the spirit in which it is offered.

Perfect princess

It's been a while since I blogged here! Life has been busy......trying to "downsize" my stash and cleaning up prior to putting house and land on the Market;
Nearly 10 days in bed with a chest infection;
buying a Janome Xpressions Needle punching machine;
admiring the new families that the adult birds are introducing to our "feathered free-loaders restuarant.............
so I give you..........
Cadbury,our perfect princess! Isn't she a sweetie! 

Our Jesse

Our Jesse certainly knows how to make himself comfortable!

 


I've just laundered three white embroidered cushions,and to keep them clean and fresh, I positioned them on the head rests of the sofa!
His Lordship thought otherwise.......
and this is how I found him a short while ago! 

Another favourite of mine

....among the blossom trees is the Bauhinia,also known as an "Orchid tree"



Unfortunately,by the time I got around to photographing it,most of the blooms are gone---helped on their way by the Rainbow Lorikeets and Scaly breasted parrots enjoying not only feeds of nectar but a good munch on the flowers too!

I have only the pink variety:there is also a white! 

Wisteria tree

Each year I wait to see how many blooms my "wisteria tree" puts out for Spring!

It was a seedling I bought at the local Historical Society markets some 18 years back.



What it's true name is I have no idea as I acquired it as a Wisteria tree and have been unable to determine it's botanical name.

It's about 8 foot tall...and each year despite keeping an eye on its progress its blossoms always catch me by surprise. 

Cats make my day!

My friend Jacqui in the UK thought I needed a smile or three:
http://http://shadowdane.shackspace.com/cats.htm

As another friend asked:

How could anyone not love cats

Backyard birds

This photo was taken yesterday,and features two Scaly breasted Lorikeets and one Rainbow Lorikeet!

The three birds decided it was time for an afternoon snack on our side verandah.........to maintain good "inter species relationship",they got their snack,and I was permitted to get within 3 feet of them with the camera! 

Moonglow

I'm still learning how to use my new camera!


About 7p.m. tonight I realised that the moon was neatly placed in a gap in the branches of a gum tree in the back yard.
Time to have a play
With the focus set to 'landscape' and the Flash "off" I took a few shots.
On the monitor,the photo looked a bit pixillated,but a degree of editing helped improve things (I think)

In my opinion the first pic is clearer than the second.
More 'fun times'/experimenting ahead! 

I see the future..........

These are three postcards I sent out for the FATs "Crystal Ball Swap!

The top one " I see stars" features a butterfly ,and star sequins against a background of Angelina fibres.,and I stitched hand outlines each side of the ball.

The other two I incorporated Australian stamps with star sequins,glitter and some Angelina to produce "I see Mail" and
"I see a cat in your future".
(People who know me fairly well know to expect a cat somewhere in my projects)

This was a fun swap that caused me to move outside my comfort zone.

Hanging out.........

 

Another two galahs waiting for a "table for two". 

...and over the other side,

 
and whilst the Galahs were in the tree out the front,two Sulphur Crested cockatoos were hanging out in the Crepe-myrtle tree at the side of the yard. 

A couple of Galahs!

 
I haven't shared any of my bird pics lately,so..here's a pair of galahs that visit regularly 

Wacky women & pincushions

 

Next month my youngest grand-daughter's school is holding a (fund raising) fete,and her mother is involved with the Crafts stall.
So,I've been puddling along,making pot holders,pin cushions and wacky women!
Kayla has done her bit too....when she was visitng a couple of weekends back,I had her cutting strips of fabric for the wacky wild women,and she also made her own to take home.

My thanks to Faery Di for the idea and sample.

The pin cushions I thought, could be used for storing brooches instead of sewing pins,and should be affordable for the kids to buy as Christmas presents for Mums,Grans,even end of year gift for teacher.
So far,one has been made to represent a cake.I must try a few more as wacky gifts.
A cake that doesn't end up on your hips.............
I like that! 

Feathered free loaders.......

 

Two of the many Rainbow Lorikeets that 'drop in' for a snack.

Yesterday morning I saw one of our annual visitors down by one of our dams;
A Jabiru was apparently checking out the area for food,but the nearby traffic unsettled him and he left before I could get a shot with the camera. 

Spring has sprung........

 

Nestlings are hatching,and their parents are busy getting food to fill their beaks.
Our resident pair of Magpies(this is the cock bird) know they can always get a meal here.
If our cats decide their meat is "not good enough" the magpies and the Butcher birds
clean up.
Here's MrMag on one of the occasional tables on the back patio stocking up before flying back to his demanding family. 

Sunset

 
Today's sunset over the D'Aguilar Range 

Moonrise

 
Taken 5.45 pm today: the full moon overlooks our back paddocks.
WHY would I want to live anywhere else! 

Spring is sprung

 
Last week's 73 mm of rain may not have broken the drought conditions in our area,but Mother Nature has certainly responded to the lifegiving showers;
Our Freesias are blooming beautifully and perfuming the air ,so I thought I'sd share with you. 

KenmaursCorner: Women who Blog

KenmaursCorner: Women who Blog

King Parrots

 
 

Up until now,I tended to think of the King Parrots are being rather shy birds,but this guy was around before the tree-loppers arrived and this shot was taken within 15 minutes of them leaving.
The feed bowls that had been at the front of the house had been relocated to the side,in this thicket and as you can see the parrot apparently was unaffected by chain saws,wood-chippers and strangers!

All we want now,is good soaking RAINS!
...after I spread that mountain of mulch. 

The end result

 

The fellows have departed after a couple of hours,and this is now the view of the front of the house.
The cockatoos have been and voiced their disapproval over losing their feeding station,but the King Parrot was seen happily munching seed from a relocated tray.

In the process in cleaning up long grass near one of the sheds,a Black snake was disturbed...........I'm hoping it continued east across the paddocks.
The weather is warming up.....about 26 degree C,so we're getting closer to "snake season"---time to watch where you step! 

What have I done!

 
 
This is what my front yard looked like at 7am today!
Since then,the tree-loppers have arrived to do a clean-up!

For the longest time,I've delayed the decision about a short-back-and sides for the vegetation,because:
1.. it would upset all the birds that come to visit
2..make it difficult for the possums to have races on the roof
3..I hate leafless,branchless trees!

Okay,the men arrived and have been ruthless!

(I'll post pics later to show what I mean)
In the meantime I feel devastated at what I've permitted to happen.

My head says "It had to be done before the onset of the storm season"

My heart bleeds at the stark reality!

I can only pray that we have a good Spring/growing season and all returns to lush vegetation.

At least the northern side of the yard is still leafy, so the birds still have refuge and the possum box is undisturbed. 

Time for a dip

 
One of the reasons I changed cameras,was the hope that I'd manage better bird shots.!
I have a loooooong way to go!
These "double bar finches" were checking out the water for a splash! 

Weekend away

 
Taken from the Murwillumbah Art Gallery lookout east to the coast.Gorgeous country! 

South of the border..........

I ventured "south of the border" last weekend,into northern New South Wales into the Tweed Valley area and was nearly blown off Point Hastings by gale force winds.
I love the sea when she's wild and free!
Both these photos were taken from the same spot:the first is looking north,the second is to the South; and taken only five minutes apart!