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Parrots Preening

One of my favourite obsessions is to try to get decent bird photos.  It is not so easy with the little birds, but I have been having a little more luck with the parrots.  We have been having very grey days in wintry Canberra.  When the sun shows itself, I quickly grab my coat and go out for a walk or take a cup of coffee outside and park myself in a sunny spot.  I am not alone in finding the sun soothing.  The parrots have been enjoying a few rays too, ruffling their feathers as though to trap all the warmth in the pockets of air they create. Read more

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The Changing Seasons – May 2019

Ah May …  absolutely sublime but odd.

Weirdly, still bathed in sun this late into autumn.

Because truth in promotion is important (just kidding), here is an artistic shot of a plastic bag polluting the creek.  Still, the light is nice.

creek

Record May temperatures have extended the growing season for my tomatoes and the beautiful autumn colour beyond their usual best-before date. Read more

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The End Is Nigh My Flower

One must not be subtle or delicate about climate emergencies.

Who shall dry my tears
when the flowers are gone?
Not the morally bankrupt,
nor the weekend warriors.
Caught in your own bubble
of flattery and deceit.
Walk into my parlour.  Take
your seat. Parliament is now in session
and treachery abounds.
Watch your step, watch your back,
said the spider to the clown.
What goes around, comes around.
Earth, she will not wait. Read more

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The Grand Finale

Dear Readers, my husband and I are just happy snappers when it comes to bird photography.  I originally posted these photos on my FB page because I didn’t think they were good enough for the blog, but one of my friends thought otherwise.  So I duly present them to you, because although the photos aren’t brilliant, this little Nankeen Kestrel definitely is.  Read more

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Food, Glorious Food

I do like my food.  Who doesn’t?  My son tried crickets the other day.  They were cooked.  He wasn’t too keen on going back for seconds.  Some of my friends prefer the raw diet.  Let me show you. Read more

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Wonders of Nature

Lies. lies, lies.  Sounds like something Mr Trump would say, don’t you think?  Fake it ’til you make it, otherwise known as cognitive behaviour therapy.  It also describes the internet perfectly.  Have you ever wondered what human nature is?  Isn’t it just nature?  Sorry, I’m amusing myself.  All this fake news has got me thinking.  Specifically, I am thinking you might enjoy learning about a little bit of trickery in the orchid world.  I am talking about sex, lies and infidelity, ladies and gentlemen. Read more

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The Changing Seasons – April 2019

Take me to the April sun in Canberra (pronounced Canbra).  In the words of George Eliot:

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”

Daylight savings has ended. so we sleep in another hour.

sleeping

Read more

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Lens-Artists Challenge – Less Is More

This week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge is hosted by Amy.  Her chosen theme is “less is more“.  Amy’s inspiration for this theme is a quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery:

“A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” 

Now that is a very intriguing notion to me, because it seems to me that there is nothing more perfect than nature’s design. Read more