Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

In The Firing Line

Australia burning — Dear Readers, one of my favourite poets and all round nice person, Frank Prem, is currently writing a series of poems on the bushfire crisis that is underway in Australia.  Frank is the author of Devil In The Wind, a collection of poems about the personal accounts of those who experienced and survived the horrendous Black Saturday bushfires that swept across Victoria (Australia) in 2009.  That book was published last year.  Needless to say, I won’t be reading it until the smoke has cleared.

For those of you who may not know, Frank lives in an area that is currently sandwiched between two enormous out-of-control bushfires.  This brings a poignancy and emotion to his poems that will touch any reader.  These poems are laments for what is, what was, what could have been.  Frank writes for all of us who are caught up in this situation.  Check out his poems on his website at https://frankprem.wordpress.com/blog/ .

I want to share with you a couple of photos that my husband took in Namadgi National Park a couple of days before Christmas. Read more

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Calendar Days

Speaking of calendars, my husband (aka my True Love) bought one the other day.  It’s a long story.   495 words to be exact-ish.  We didn’t buy a calendar last year and by mid year, regretted that decision.  Anyway, my husband has ordered one.  From a Danish vlogger of all people!  I am as surprised as you, ladies and gentlemen. Read more

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

The Changing Seasons – October 2019

October, all my bags are packed ….

The time has arrived.  It is the time of year when, out walking, I look anxiously over my shoulder or scan the trees ahead for danger.  It is the time of year for which I have been training these last six months.  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is magpie swooping (ie. breeding) season. Read more

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Just A Kind Of Magic

I think I have encountered it, ladies and gentlemen.  My spirit animal.  And what type of animal is it?  Is it a dingo, a blue whale, a rare bird or a raw prawn?  Well no.  It is a duck.  A very common native duck. Read more

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

Small And Mighty

As usual, ladies and gentlemen, I have far too many photos for my forthcoming July Changing Seasons post.  This is fortunate as I think this little bird, the weebill, that my True Love and I managed to photograph on a recent outing, deserves its own post. Read more

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

She – Red Capped Robin

Ladies and gentlemen, words cannot express how excited I was to see my first female red-capped robin recently.  Red-capped robins (Petroica goodenovii) are uncommon breeding visitors to the Canberra region (Australia).  I’ve only ever seen one male.  And, we had the camera with us!  Wonders never cease. Read more

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

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

Posted on by Reflections of an Untidy Mind

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