As today’s Ragtag Daily Prompt is diurnal, I thought I would post a couple of photos of the eastern long-necked turtle. The (Australian) eastern long-necked turtle is a sun-worshipper. It is a cold-blooded, diurnal animal. These small fresh-water turtles are most active mid-morning and afternoon once they have warmed up. Read more
The return to cooler nights and mornings heralds the turn of season. Autumn is upon us. The little birds, silver-eyes, are enjoying the cool mornings and evenings as they zip through the garden. Some even stop off for a bite to eat. Hey, little bird, that’s my fig! Read more
I would like to thank Margaret for the Ragtag Daily Prompt today. Her prompt is iridescence. She posted a lovely photo of a beetle that looked very like the golden stag beetle. So I thought I would join in with a couple of iridescent beetle photos of my own, as well as a bird photo for good measure. Read more
Here is my response to the Ragtag Daily Prompt — Diametric.
One of the things I really love about the Ragtag Daily Prompt is the contributions from all our participants. One of my favourite contributors (I have many) is Lois from On Pets and Prisoners. She always comes up with just the right quirky photo to illustrate the prompt. Today, I feel the need to respond in kind. So here is my fun photo too. Read more
I remember vividly that freezing cold day in 1991 when I went to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. It was more than the cold that sent shivers down my spine. There was no-one else there. Just us. We were so small next to that massive geological formation. I thought I would never see anything like it again, especially not in my own country.
Smaller in scale, but just as awe-inpiring. In Gamilaroi Country. Read more
In 2003, bush-fires ravaged the old Nil Desperandum homestead. After the fires, the historic rammed-earth cottage was re-built to the original 1896 design. Nil Desperandum forms part of the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (near Canberra). Amidst the devastation wrought by the fires, a part of a commercial camellia plantation somehow managed to survive. Surrounded by dense bush on all sides, it truly is a miracle garden. Read more
Happy lovey dovey day, everyone. It sounds like I’m not sentimental, but first impressions can be deceiving. After nearly 25 years of marriage (drats, I think I forgot my last wedding anniversary), I am still as much in love with my gorgeous man as the first time I ever saw his face. We don’t do the whole Valentine’s Day thing, but as I forgot our last anniversary, I’m going to have to make it up to him somehow. My love wouldn’t have forgotten the big day, but as it coincides with another apparently important anniversary, he would have felt it rude to overshadow the other event, unless of course I happened to mention it first.
To get in the mood for this lovey dovey day (and in the interests of this post), I’ve been listening to some of my favourite love songs/tunes (see my list below). I fear this list may tell you more about me than you would care to know, but I thought I would share it with you anyway. Here goes: Read more
This is my response to the Ragtag Daily Prompt — Manufacture. I’ve finally come up with the an idea for my next mosaic. After my last huge effort, I am looking to do something small, literally. I like to make mosaics from my own photos, but in this case I won’t be able to. I should be so lucky to see an endangered mountain pygmy possum! Read more
Today’s post will introduce two very strange aquatic creatures found at one of Canberra’s nature reserves — the first, one very odd looking duck, and the second, quite duck-like.
Australia’s musk duck looks half-fish, half duck. It must be the oddest looking duck I’ve ever come across. It is so named because it is very smelly, emitting a musky smell from scent glands on its rump. Musk ducks spend most of their time in the water. They even sleep on the water. They can fly, but launching from the water or ground is hard work, so they do so infrequently. When fleeing predators, they choose a watery escape rather than take to the wing. Read more
Today I have some clandestine photos to share with you, dear Readers. Provided on a need-to-know basis. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. The subjects are well camouflaged.
I recently went on a short walk with my son for the purpose of some online activity. Suddenly I heard the unmistakable sound of a bird of prey. “What was that?” I exclaimed. “Oh yeah,” my son said, “two sparrow-hawks nest in those pine trees over there.” To say I was indignant, Ladies and Gentlemen, was a total understatement. I demanded to know why this information had been withheld from me. Was the information top-secret, only to be disclosed to those who ‘need-to-know’? Well, no. He just forgot. Can you really believe that? Read more
Reflections of An Untidy Mind 