Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 26 July 2015

Sunday Selections #234

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
 
The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week I am focussing on a grey day - which was saved by splashes of colour.

We had some rain overnight, and the day dawned grey.  Uniformly grey.  Dismally grey with a slow dribble of chilly drops falling from the sky.  I had to go into town early (Lifeline) so started out the door.  I saw a splash of colour in the garden and came in for my camera.

Sunshine on stalks.


A neigbour's wattle is out too...


And then I remembered some colour in the city, so I kept my camera and headed into town.

It was still grey, and drizzling when I got into town but there was colour there too.  One of the streets in the centre of the city has been converted to 'shareware'.  The road is now shared by pedestrians, cyclists and cars.  The speed limit is 20 kilometres an hour (just under 12.5 mph), and cars have to give way to pedestrians (though thinking of my friend in hospital I won't argue that point).  To make the changed focus of the area clear it has both signs and decorations.














The birds are stylised gang-gang cockatoos, the emblem of my city.  That said, while I hear them pass over (they have a call remarkably like a rusty gate creaking in the wind) I have never seen them in my suburb.  Or indeed in the suburb in which I grew up.  This link will take you to a picture and some information.

The next building is after the share way - but I enjoy the reflections in the windows no matter what time of day or year I see it.


139 comments:

  1. Another super Sunday Selection EC. Thanks for sharing them and have a great weekend.

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    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you. A wonderful weekend to you and Gregg too. How is Gulley doing? Out of hospital yet? I hope so.

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  2. You seem to find beauty in everything, and for that I thank you. Your photos are the splash of color in my grey days. I love the painted street! So many unique (to me) things to look at in your part of the world.
    I'm so sorry to hear your friend is still in hospital. :(

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    1. River Fairchild: I am a beauty addict. Fortunately there is a lot of it about. My friend will be in hospital for at least another month. She is slowly getting some movement back though - which is wonderful. Still a very long way to go.

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  3. The bird paintings on the road are really unique.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: I liked them a lot. I would like to see the real ones too. Also a lot.

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  4. I like the bird paintings. I haven't heard of a shared way- that's interesting. I'm thinking about my husband who rides his bike on the highway with the drivers going full speed. I would love to have a shared way around here.

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    1. Terri @ Coloring Outside the LInes: There is only one small street in the middle of the city which is a shared space at the moment, but I like it and hope they extend it further.
      Sadly I don't think the bird paintings will survive the traffic. One or two of them already look like road kill.

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  5. I love that pretty yellow daffy at the beginning, and all the different angles of the painted cockatoo. I think of you often and am glad to know I will hear from you at least once a week. Sending you a couple internet hugs. :-)

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    1. DJan: Thank you so much. Hugs received - and returned.

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  6. I like that mirror building!

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  7. What is a wattle? Well it is very pretty with its yellow blooms. And I liked the street bird art.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: Wattle is a native tree. There are lots and lots of varieties, almost all yellow. This link will take you to some photos of them.

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  8. A nice collection of colour. I really love your photo of the daffodil, the droplets on it are beautiful. They are such vibrant and colourful plants. I always think of my dad when I see daffodils.

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    1. CountryMum: We have quite a few daffodils out now, and I am revelling in them. They make me think of my father too.

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  9. Oh, well done EC, those colours, and the birds......................

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    1. Bob Bushell: Lots and lots of colour. Very welcome on a grey day. Some day I will see a 'real' gang-gang cockatoo. And of course, that day I won't have my camera...

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    2. Always carry your camera with you EC.

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  10. Boy! Those reflections are so vivid! I love the artwork on the street. It looks great.

    Yellow is such a brilliant colour. I love it. I don't know if you watched "House Rules" or not, but during one of the renos yellow was used when creating a new kitchen in one of the houses...on the cupboards and the end result was just wonderful. It's such a happy colour, in my eyes...and heart, I guess.

    Now that I think of it...it's ages since I've seen any wattle...in reality.

    It's good to know your friend is on the mend...albeit it slowly...positive news.

    I hope you and the Skinny One have a good week, EC. Cuddles to your furry friends. :)

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    1. Lee: There is a lot of wattle round here, and each day more and more of it is coming out. The tree in our yard won't bloom for a couple of weeks I think. Yellow wattles. I know there is a red one now, but I have only seen it in nurseries.
      Yellow is a very cheerful colour - but I am not certain I am ready for it first thing in the morning.
      I hope that you, Remy and Sharma have a wonderful week.

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  11. Dear EC
    Thank you for sharing your colourful world - the bird paintings are lovely! Here's to a colourful rest of the week too.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: Bird paintings on the road are fun aren't they? I hope they last. I really hope they last.

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  12. Oh Wow ~ I love how you went looking for colour this week EC. We had one of those days too ~ Thursday I think where it was so dark in the morning. Love the daffodil ~ that inspired your hunt for more colour.

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    1. carolincairns: It was such a grey day that the colour 'popped'. Cheerful and inspiring. And very welcome. I do like the cooler months, but am not a fan of grey.

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  13. Love the yellow flower with raindrops...it looks fresh and cool...here is so, so hot...loved the feeling of the picture.

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    1. Bookie: It was cool. We were just above zero as I headed off, but raindrops do make everything look (and smell) delightfully fresh. I hope you get some relief from your heat (and humidity) soon.

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  14. Such unique and beautiful photos. I love the bright yellow. It always brightens my day.

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    1. Mason Canyon: There is a patch of daffodils which blaze in the early morning. They brighten my day too - and mood.

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  15. hmm...a 'share way.' Interesting concept. Over here we have bike lanes...otherwise any pedestrian caught on the asphalt is worth points. (At least it seems.)

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    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: We have bike lanes too. And pedestrians and cyclists do seem to attract points - which is why I am very distrusting on the share way. I like the concept, but don't believe it completely.

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  16. Love the color and the birds on the road. That last one is pretty neat, too.

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    1. mshatch: I really like mirror windows. They are no doubt 'old hat', but I enjoy them. And have been confused by them more than once.

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  17. As usual everyone has made all of the comments that I would have liked to make! The daffodil is stunning (and so full of "watch-out-winter-you're-on-your-way-out"!), and I love the birds on the road. Canberra has some civil servants who think outside the square, it seems.

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    1. Alexia: Some high-ranking public servants who are prepared to take risks. Which is lovely, and in our current political climate very brave.

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  18. Great bird paintings on the road.
    I don't know of any shared roads in Sydney, here if you venture on the road you do so at your own risk a lot of the drivers around here are in such a hurry but out in the burbs the cars are more polite except Auburn anything goes there.
    Merle.........

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    1. Merlesworld: You are right. The 'burbs' are safer - but not entirely safe. And the share way is just one road. I am pretty certain even if it does get extended it won't be my much.

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  19. What a neat street--& yellow is the color of my feathers!!

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    1. fishducky: Another reason to like the colour. Invigorating, cheerful, challenging and unexpected. Which are labels which fit you pretty well.

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    2. I'm wearing a floral, yellow caftan [lopped off at the knees to make it short and cool]. It's a grey day here!

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    3. neena maiya (aka guyana gyal): Love the thought of you in your caftan. I hope it is blissfully comfortable.

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  20. Lovely to open the post with sunshine-y yellows that lift the tonal greys.
    The painted cockies on the road are a real delight!

    Walls of reflective windows offer stunning changing artscapes - I like the way you see things, EC :)

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    1. Vicki: The little things are huge in my world. For which I am grateful.

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  21. Good to see the daffodil and wattle in bloom. The street is nice and to see the birds painted there, that's good idea to slow traffic down.

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    1. whiteangel: So far it seems to be working too. When I was wandering down the street taking photos I wasn't in (much) fear for my life. Admittedly it was still early, but it promises well.

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  22. I love that share street, the birds are fabulous. Now I'm having a thought. (wow, that's rare) City centres aren't all that big, the actual business parts, just a few blocks in any direction, so 20km ph shouldn't be a hardship for motorists and buses. If that speed limit was expanded for the entire city, you'd see a lot more cyclists, far fewer cars. Less pollution, fitter people. A bonus would be people like me, able to ride through the city instead of being scared to death by speeding traffic.
    I love the rain-jewelled daffodil and I'm excited by wattle time! I love the lemon scented wattles around my city.

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    1. River: All of our city centres have a 40kph limit now, but I would like to see it expanded. Hopefully as time goes by and people realise that the world hasn't fallen in with this one street, more streets and more centres will be included.
      I do love wattle and am really looking forward to ours coming out. And more daffodils. Lots more.

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  23. Glad you included the link on the wattle tree, (and cockatoos!) I'd thought at first it was a laburnum - the Great Scot's favourite tree.
    Your posts always bring colour to my world, even on the greyest of days; thank you for that. =)

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    1. Jacquelineand...: I am very happy to share colour. Too much colour is barely enough.

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  24. I'm allergic to the wattle. :( But it is so pretty!

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    1. Snoskred: All wattle? That would make life in spring miserable. And I doubt the prettiness makes up for it.

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  25. The shareway is an interesting concept, are there a lot of bikers in Canberra? I love the bang bang birds, very colorful adornment to the street.

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    1. Strayer: There are a few cyclists, and the council is encouraging more of them. I love the gang-gangs too.

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  26. What a delightful selection you have shared with us today.
    I think our Hay Street Mall was once a share way in Perth but not pedestrians only and deliveries by truck can only be made at certain times.
    They have also I believe, converted Murray Sreet to a pedestrian mall. I've not been into Perth for some years so it is only hearsay.
    I think gang gang cockies are beautiful but what a pity you don't see more of them if they are Canberra's emblem.

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    1. Mimsie: I live in hopes of seeing the gang gangs. I am glad that you enjoyed the visit to town with me.

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  27. Wattle, love it. I have a dried wattle branch that I "smuggled" into Canada from my last trip to Australia.

    Great reflection shot!

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    1. Karen: I don't think you could take a 'bad' reflection shot of that building. Some day I will be there for sunset. Smuggled wattle? Does it still have its smell?

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  28. I love your neighbour's wattle.Looks like the one I had, years ago and lost to borer (a typical problem with acacia sp) Never mind, a grevillea is nearing its end and I think I need another acacia to replace it!
    I'm too far north for gang-gangs.

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    1. dinahmow: Our wattle is weeks away from flowering. We have lost silk trees to borers and wattles to wind, but this one (fingers crossed) is thriving. Some day I will get a red one too.

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  29. You did indeed find colour. I was surprised to see magnolias beginning to bloom when we returned to home a week or so ago. I just had a listen to the sound of gang gang's and it certainly different to other cockatoos.

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    1. Andrew: No magnolias here yet. And they are a sore point with me. I love them, but our visiting birds have destroyed three and I won't buy anymore to be killed.
      The gang gang isn't musical is it? Like so many of our birds.

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  30. Loveseeing the splashes of colour you found especially the unique stylised gang-gang cockatoos. COOL

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    1. Margaret Adamson: Have you ever seen gang-gangs? In the wild?

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  31. The pictures won't 'embiggen' for me for some reason, but I can see them all the same, and enjoyed the trip through town. It's always interesting to see the urban element of places where my far away friends live. 'Sunshine on stalks' - Great title, works perfectly. I may nick it for the title of a poem or story. Thank you for showing us these *smiles*.

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    1. All Consuming: I wonder why they refuse to embiggen for you? Another blogger glitch I suppose. Our urban areas aren't very, which suits me just fine.

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  32. I'm sorry to hear you have a friend in the hospital.

    I don't think I've ever heard a Cockatoo, you've got me curious now, I'm headed to YouTube :)

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    1. mail4rosey: My friend was hit by a car. She has already been in hospital for six (or seven) weeks and will be there for at least another four. Then a lot of rehabilitation. She is improving though. Which is wonderful.
      Cockatoos are, like lots of our native birds, not precisely musical. We have screechers rather than singers.

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  33. Well you made the most of the gray with the street scenes...a wonderful emblem!

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    1. Donna@LivingFromHappiness: I suspect if I had focussed on the grey that would have been all I could see. I refuse. Colour is always there, and always welcome.

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  34. One of the things I love about Oz. Turn a corner, there's a bit of art.

    You've turned grey into fun with your pics.

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    1. neena maiya (aka guyana gyal): One of our Chief Ministers was particularly fond of street art, and we have a lot of it. For which I am very, very grateful. I like these new additions too.

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  35. The idea of a shared road seems weird to me. I still get wonky going across crosswalks with the walking man on the light. People just drive too crazy to be trusting like that on the road. I like the picture of those flowers, very bright!

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    1. Madilyn Quinn: I am wary, but it is only for a few blocks and was well advertised and signposted. So far it is working well.

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  36. I agree w/ the comment above, S.
    You find beautiful is all things!! xx
    How are kitties?

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    1. My Inner Chick: Jazz n Jewel are hanging out for summer. They do not like cold mornings. I do.
      And there is beauty everywhere if I open my eyes, heart, mind. Which I try to do.
      Hugs.

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  37. So nice to find color on a grey day. Glad you took your camera to the city. Thanks for the pictures and hope you have a colorful week.

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    1. Myrna R.: I was surprised at just how much colour there was. Always welcome. So very welcome.

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  38. Thank you for sharing!!! My little town of Antioch is so boring. We need to paint things on the roads.

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    1. Sonya Ann: I like the painted road, but as traffic goes over it, damage is happening. One bird at least already looks like road-kill. What would you like to paint on your roads?

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    2. Hahaha! Made me laugh.
      Not sure what I would paint but anything has to be better than the scary looking Dicken's village they came up with to set out to draw people in.

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    3. Sonya Ann: These days you could probably draw the crowds by painting a zombie apocalypse on the roads...

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  39. Sunshine on stalk is very pretty and so is the orange bike.

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    1. Munir: Welcome. The daffodil and the bike just about glowed...

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  40. Love the orange bike. Could be used as a colorful yard decoration.

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    1. SAM: Welcome and thank you. I suspect a lot of people could find a home for the orange bike - which is why it is chained to the post. It is fun though.

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  41. I like your attitude, EC. Next time we have a gray day, I know what I'll be doing. (You've already got me looking at sunrises and sunsets in a different way.) Glad to hear your friend is getting some movement back. I imagine she is having to work hard at it, but it will be worth it down the road.

    Hope you have a good week in your part of this old world.

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    1. jenny_o: What a lovely thing to say. My friend is indeed having to work hard. Very hard. But she is more stubborn than stains and perseveres.
      We have bright, albeit, chilly sunshine today and I am loving it. I hope your world is also treating you kindly.

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  42. These are wonderful! I try never to leave my safety in the hands of others...hope your friend is OK, Dear

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    1. Cloudia: My friend is battered, broken, bruised - and not defeated. It is a long hard road ahead of her, but she is determined. Which helps. I too try and not leave my safety in other's hands, but sometimes we have no choice...

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  43. I really enjoy this trip to town with you. Even through the grey parts of the day, splashes of color do arrive to save the day. Great pictures, cute little orange bike too!

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    1. Karen S.: I am really pleased you enjoyed my grey morning with me.

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  44. Great shots. I love the sunshine on stalks!

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    1. ladyfi: There is more of that particular sunshine coming out each day. Bliss.

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  45. Yellow goes beautifully with grey, especially in late winter. The street art (literally on the street) is very cool indeed.

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    1. Craig: I think the yellow stands out even better on a grey day. Which we really don't have too many of. This has been a weird winter, but there are certainly signs it is coming to an end.

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  46. Golly - you have a lot of readers! Love the yellow blossoms. And the street art is awesome.

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    1. Lynn: I am very, very luck with the people who visit and comment. And in the things I see.

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  47. I love seeing birds flying through the air or painted on the street beneath our feet. They're such majestic creatures.

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    1. Spacerguy: If I could have a super power, I would ask for flight. Every time. I don't like to fly in planes, but would love to be able to soar though the air for myself.

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  48. Way to make the best of a dreary day. I tend to avoid going outside when it's rainy but this shows you can still have fun! It reminds me of a saying--"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning how to dance in the rain!”

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    1. Stephanie Faris: I had to go out anyway, so it made sense to make the best of it. And I welcome rain. We have been through far too many droughts.

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  49. Those are some beautiful colors, but most of the time, I just like things in black and white.

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    1. Lon Anderson: I don't think many things are just black and white - but black and white (and grey) photos can be spectacular. I am fond of colour too though. Lots and lots of colour.

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  50. I have a feeling a share way could only work (safely) in a place like Australia. And maybe Switzerland. =)

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    1. Rawknrobyn: I was surprised at how well it seems to be working here. And don't think we could do it in every city. Too many of us are in too much of a hurry.

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  51. Nice post - I really like Gang Gangs - 3 flew over my house as I was going to work today - they really do sound like creaky gates.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. Stewart M: Welcome and thank you. I hear Gang Gangs quite often but very rarely see them. Sigh.

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  52. I have never heard of Gang Gangs. But- they sound like they have a distinct call. The share way sound cool! Glad it is working! :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: Gang Gangs are not widely known. Beautiful though - despite their voice.

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  53. daffodils:) What a sunny sight.
    I love the way your eyes harvest color
    even when it's bleak and gray.
    Thanks for sharing your pickings:)
    -Jennifer

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    1. Jennifer Richardson: There are more and more daffodils coming out every day. Bliss. And how I love your way with words...

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  54. I love how vibrant the colors are especially the yellow.

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    1. Lux G.: Yellow defeated that grey day before it started...

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  55. Love the wattle and the parrots as street art, very cool

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    1. Linda Starr: I am looking forward to our own wattle coming out. A while yet I think...

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  56. I'm not sure a "shared way" would work anywhere near my kids!!!

    PS I'm impressed that Australians can walk at 20 km/h :)

    Thank you, thank you, you're a great audience.. I'll be here all week!

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    1. Mark Koopmans: You can't walk at 20kph? I am sure your kids can. And do.

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  57. Clever, clever. The way the artist moved the birds along is delightful!

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    1. Susan Kane: It is clever isn't it? And I am so grateful that our local government is prepared to step outside the box.

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  58. Sunshine on stalks is super evocative, love it. Your wattle image made me check our wattles and sure enough there's a hint of sunshine starting to glow.

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    1. Kim: There is more sunshine blazing in the garden each day. Yay. And more wattle coming out too.

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  59. This suburban kid has to ask you, what is a wattle?

    As always, I love your photos. The flower ones in particular are amazing, and you get the best, most vibrant colors in all of your shots.

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    1. Riot Kitty: The Golden Wattle is our floral emblem.

      Immortalised by Monty Python.
      This heres a wattle, the emblem of our land,
      You can stick it in a bottle,
      or hold it in your hand.
      Orstraya, orstaya, orstray...

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  60. Yellow is such a happy color. Like sunshine. Is this the usual time of year for your daffodils to be blooming, or are they a little early? (I kinda figured your spring would more or less coincide with our autumn... which seems to be a loooooong way away.)

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    1. Susan: It is early. And they have been in flower for a couple of weeks now. I think there are a couple of dozen daffodils in flower, lots and lots of paper-white jonquils and a few sol d'or. Lots more coming through the soil too.
      I really, really hope it isn't a forewarning of an early Spring (which is fine) and summer (which isn't).

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  61. Share with bikes and pedestrians? Give way to pedestrians? Oh my, how I wish that would exist here! I guess this will never happen in this car obsessed country.
    Your winter sounds like our winter - if it rains.
    Except, we don't have cockatoos - they must be fun!

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    1. Carola Bartz: It is only a small area at the moment, but I hope they expand it across the whole of the city centre - and all of the city centres. So far it seems to be working well.
      Cockatoos are always a delight. A noisy, destructive delight.

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  62. Ooh, they've done that paving really well. Much better than our Bourke Street Mall (although that was 20+ years ago so can't judge it too harshly I suppose). I love the building in the last photo - beautiful.

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    1. Jackie K: They have done a nice job, but I don't think the birds will last. As traffic goes over them the paint is damaged...

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  63. Love the birds on the pavement.
    Jewel and Jazz look like very healthy, happy cats.

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    1. Sandra Cox. Welcome. Jewel and Jazz are healthy and happy. And have slaves to tend to their every whim.

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  64. I woke up to smokey hazy skies here (from a distant wildfire) so this reminder to look for color is quite welcome. I hope your friend is now out of the hospital and feeling better.

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  65. What a lovely street art.
    Hugs

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  66. Daffodils already? How wonderful for you! I’ll have to wait another seven months for such beauty. Last year, I planted fifty bulbs, and they certainly ARE beautiful.

    “We had some rain overnight, and the day dawned grey. Uniformly grey. Dismally grey with a slow dribble of chilly drops falling from the sky.”

    This describes a Willamette Vally winter.

    I’m always surprised by how much public are there is where you are. Some of it, I like well enough, but some I find appalling too. I would like to see people get a chance to vote on what they want (at least the major projects) instead of having it thrust on them by committees that appear more interested in being trendy than beautiful.

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    1. Snowbrush: Our daffodils are early this year. I did think of you when they started to bloom, because I know you have a fondness for them.
      If people voted on our public art I am pretty certain there would be less of it, and that it would be very conventional. Some of the art that is here now I love, some I dislike and some I don't understand. And I love that it is there. So, no consensus art for me.

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