May in Canberra (Australia) – Moments in May, momentous May, May in triptychs. But first, a poem, a kind of triptych of course.

May Change

Filaments of May morph and coalesce
‘twixt pearlescent rain and golden light,
while rising power bills outstrip inflation.

Leaves and pamphlets flutter in the breeze.
People power in technicolour. Rejoice!
Winter is upon us and Australia is infectious.

Sadly, little bird flies the coop. Man in repose,
rises. Listen, do you hear that?
Tick-tick, tick-tick, as we turn the corner.

What does it all mean, I hear you ask? Autumn finished slowly. It rained on and off, but the sun broke through often enough to dally with our affections. Jack Frost flirted, adding impetus to deciduous trees still reluctant to toss aside their colourful costumes. The wildlife has begun jockeying for power and has cleared out the pantry in preparation for next Spring’s bounty. There was, nevertheless, time for bathing. Speaking of bathing, a national election was held. The government changed amid pledges of a new, kinder, more collaborative polity in the future. My True Love survived his surgery. Our canary, Pan of the Wild Music, died. I got hearing aids today. I wish I could have heard Pan sing one last time. Apparently, I still don’t listen to my husband.

Triptych – black and white theme for the magpie juveniles who still haven’t left home.

Triptych – Crimson theme for crimson rosellas bathing.

Triptych – multicoloured mixed feelings.

Winter is now upon us. As I returned from my hearing aid fitting, the Brindabella range was shrouded in snow clouds. Rain hammered loudly on the windscreen. We’ve definitely turned a corner. It sounds like tick-tick, tick-tick.

This is my response to The Changing Seasons photo challenge, jointly hosted by Ju-Lyn (Touring My Backyard) and Brian (Bushboys World). This post is also doubling as my contribution to the triptych themed Lens-Artists Photo Challenge.

Goodnight, everyone. Be well, be kind and try to listen.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

About the Photos:
The last photo in the first two triptychs were taken by my True Love. I snapped the rest.

53 thoughts on “The Changing Seasons – May 2022”

  4. Lots of cans for you this autumn. I think that is what autumn signifies. Sorry to hear of your canary, Pan, and happy your husbands surgery went well. Changes. Ups and downs. I love the bathing rosellas. They ae certainly fresh and ready for their new day. Now be sure to wear those hearing aids so you can go out and listen to them…and your husband. donna

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  6. I love the birds. I thought of you this morning. I sat on my front porch waiting for my neighbor and got to enjoy the company of a yellow warbler. Not as gorgeous as the rosellas, but definitely a bright and shining little thing. I have not told Bear that winter is beginning for you. She wouldn’t understand. I’m very happy about the news of your TL — and as for listening? Once during my teaching career I took a learning styles inventory. I had an extremely low score on aural learning ability. That explained why my mom always said, “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.” she was probably right…

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    1. Ha, I’m pretty sure my mother said something like that to me too. She also said, “For a smart girl, you’re awfully dumb.” I was offended at the time and then I had children.

      Oh, that’s nice, Martha. I looked up the yellow warbler on YT. They’re lovely.

      Don’t tell Bear how freezing I was today. I pulled out my Michelin tyre man jacket out of the cupboard and was so comfy when I walked down the park. I’ve left it out so I can go for another walk tomorrow.

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  7. There’s listening and then there is hearing. I’m sad you didn’t get to hear Pan sing one last time. So happy that your TL came through the surgery okay. I hope your winter is smooth sailing with lots of opportunity to hear things worth listening to. (sorry being a little cheeky!) Loved the autumn pictures.

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    1. It is all fine, Heather. I dragged my big puffer jacket out of the back of the cupboard today so I will be able to take my hearing aids for some nice walks. I’m looking forward to it. Conversation deteriorates when we are all cooped up.

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  8. A wonderful Changing Seasons Tracy. So many great photos. Winter arrived here yesterday with cold blustery winds. I hope your hearing aides have a turn off switch so you can have a bit of peace. Give TL my best. Thanks for joining in The Changing Seasons 🙂 🙂

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  9. How exciting to see the Magpies and Rosellas bathing. I’ve never seen either bathing, but have seen other birds down in the Wetlands doing so.
    It’s like the middle of the coldest winter day down here in Melbourne. 7C yesterday afternoon.
    I agree with Bushboy – hope the hearing aids have an off switch 😀

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  11. Love this post Tracy you have captured what I feel is the emotions of the month. Beautiful bird photos, and so the government has changed with a majority. Do we hold our breath to see if they are going to keep their word on all the promises??? I’ve not been around blog land much this month. You’ll see why when you read my monthly “changing seasons” post… Pleased TL came through the op ok and I’m sure you will find the hearing aids are a big help socially. Jack does…

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  13. Thank you for the update on life over yonder, and for the beautiful poetry Tracy. We sometimes forget about the different seasons around our world as we work to survive our own LOL. Here in the southern US it’s once again headed toward beastly hot. I’ve always despised the cold of winter, hence my relocation south but I do miss the first signs of frost and the year’s first snowfall – and skiing 😊. Like everything else, we take the good with the bad. Sorry about your little winged companion but happy to hear about the positive surgery result. As for hearing aids, if my husband lost his I’d have to leave him ! Thank goodness for them I say. Beautiful post, loved the reds especially.

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    1. Thank you, Tina. It has been a strange and interesting time here. The weather brings many surprises. That is probably the case in your part of the world too. I have a photography challenge I am working on. I am experimenting, however the cold nights are causing me to procrastinate more than I would like. 🙂
      I am getting used to the hearing aides. My ears weren’t quite so itchy today.

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      1. LOL, I can find many reasons to procrastinate Tracy, including too warm or too cold. Of course if the weather is perfect I have to go out and enjoy it so that is a fine reason for procrastination as well 😊

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  14. Such a beautiful post, Tracy. I am back home tonight and can go through some more posts – it is great to see how everyone goes about the theme. Love your birds and your poetry – and that everything seems to get sorted out. Except Pan, sorry for your loss. Your husband is OK and now you can hear as well – good! I must agree on twixt and oft – love them both. Old poetic words make me feel better when reading new poetry as well. Stay warm and soft, Tracy, and hugs to you all!

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    1. Thank you, Ann-Christine. It was quite a challenge to portray my month in triptychs, but I am getting my experimentation mojo working again. Thanks for the push. I know you love your poetry too so I hoped you would appreciate it.
      I hope you are keeping well and staying sane amid the chaos. Thinking of you and hugs to you too.

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      1. Tracy – so far I am sane enough, and kept sane by my little grandchild. Today I got to hold her and sit with her alone. Hearing the soft sound of her breathing against my chin…
        So glad your mojo is back! Good! Keep well and loving – hugs to you and your sweet family.

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  19. How are you coping with your hearing aid Tracy? I don’t have first-hand experience, but being around several who have/had aids, I know it’s not the easiest to find the illusive sweet spot.

    How lovely to see those magpies still hanging about – they are so lovely. As are your bittersweet colours of the season. Thank you for sharing them with us at The Changing Seasons.

    P/S I don’t wear hearing aids (yet) but Loving Husband has lamented that I don’t listen to him either.

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    1. The hearing aides are going okay, Ju-Lyn.They’ll be fine. We are having another interesting month. More later.
      It is very brisk here now. I hear it is rather different closer to the equator. Have a good month, Ju-Lyn.

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  22. Hi Tracy. I am glad TL is doing fine and was there to bid Pan a farewell. Life is bittersweet.
    I loved your previous garden post too, especially the mosaic on the gate (brilliant idea!) and those Qualup Bells…they look so pretty!

    Loved your poem! Loved the pics… the colours are glorious!
    I have been out of loop for sometime. Though all is well, I am feeling out of sorts…maybe it is the relentless heat.
    Despite the hearing aids you can still tune out when you want to. 😉

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      1. You are welcome, Tracy. The summer this year has been too long. We have had rains this morning, the met dept says monsoon is here but the rains are always scattered and scanty. Ah, well! Might as well brace for humid months.

        I think the cold is exacerbating your TL’s cough and will resolve gradually. Sending him best wishes.

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