Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

All My Trials – Triennial Dog Bath

G’day, Readers. I hope you are all well and keeping busy. It seems I have lost the ability and will to blog at 3am. These days, 5pm seems to be my bedtime. It is all a bit strange really. I’m sure I have mentioned this before but it has been a long time between blog posts and I am sure you would have forgotten.

I’ve been watching a doctor show on the tele. The head doc is rude and his offsiders are pretty FITH. But they know their stuff. Amyloidosis, anyone? Since I am a real hypochondriac, it passes the time pleasantly. When I take my long list of ailments to my doctor, I get sent home with a fact sheet on menopause. What a cheek! Despite this, I am happy. A sure sign that I have really lost it.

However, continuing with all things positive, I thought I would overshare my dogs first bath in about three years. I bitch about my phone camera, but it sure does take nice dog photos. Makea had her bath last week when I was sleeping, so it was just Fynnie and Ama that faced today’s particular torture.

Actually, Ama was a little champion. She always is.

Plus, a well placed distraction.

Say cheese.

Excuse me!

Hope your day brings you a little slice of happiness.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Empty Space

A late entry for Patti’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Empty Space. I think the emphasis is on negative space in the photo below. Close enough. Naturally, this photo was taken by my True Love.

Into the Empty
Seeking the apex of all that life has to offer.
A chance to thrive, a chance to fall.
Thunder beats a primal rhythm.
Stretch your wings and ride the wild sky.


The queen ants fly into the wide blue yonder.

Take care, everyone.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Lens-Artists Challenge – Filling The Frame

Today I thought I would share some fairly ordinary photos in response to the Lens-Artists Challenge hosted by Anne of Slow Shutter Speed this week. For this week’s challenge, Anne has chosen the theme of Filling The Frame. I’ve told myself all I have to do is take the photos. They don’t have to be good. How hard can it be?

Anyway, I’m not a fan of my phone camera so I thought I would take a few photos with that. My phone is mostly stuffed down my bra so it is readily available. With some effort, I could even explore some of the camera functions.

Let’s start off with the garden. Because of our rodent problem we had to fence off some of the backyard from the dogs. Over winter, the warrigal greens consequently managed to populate a good section of the fenced off area. Not bad for a plant that apparently does not like frost. By the way, my True Love managed to evict the rats from the ceiling and wall cavities. Or perhaps it was just too hot for the rats inside the inner recesses. No aircon.

And again. Full frame this time.

I’m feeling a bit like Fynnie. Here he is growling at Makea because she happened to glance his way. I think Fynnie might be depressed or a psychopath.

What else have I got here? Oh yeah, I went to the dentist and took a snap of our city centre while I was in town. Also, I like tiles. The dirt just adds to the patina.

I fiddled with the tone in the phone camera and got something quite true to colour for once. A learning experience.

Thanks to all the gracious people who have put up with my depressed sarcasm. So now for the good stuff in appreciation of your support – a few bird photos taken by my True Love.

When the sign says “Swooping Bird”, one tends to think of magpies or masked lapwings, not Collared Sparrowhawks. This photo was cropped to within an inch of its life. And I thought I was unhappy!

Here it is again a bit further away among the trees that are filling the frame. Beats going to the dentist even if the sparrowhawk does swoop you.

A female Red-Rumped Grass Parrot.


Now the male.


I would like to thank Anne for her choice of theme this week. I really did enjoy it.

Take care, everyone.
Kind Regards.
Tracy.

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Hey Dude, don’t make it bad

For Anita. With apologies to The Beatles.

Hey Dude, don’t make it bad.
Take a fad song and make it madder.


Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you’ll begin
to fake it
Better better better.


Have a good one, everyone.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

PS. Not my garden but some other people having fun.

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Silent Sunday


This is a test, perhaps of my patience and perseverance. It seems there has been a software update somehow, somewhere, so I can no longer load photos that are true to the colour that I shot them in. I’ve tried the fixes but they aren’t working. So my workaround is to over-saturate my photos in Photoshop and then re-edit the de-saturated photos in the Windows photo app. Technology!! Anyway, this will do. I now look forward to seeing how this photo looks on my various devices.

Life goes on. Yes, I am still here. Hope you are too.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.