Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 22 January 2017

Sunday Selections #311

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 also have my birthday in January.  Not a significant one, and much lower key than the smaller portion's this year.  But lovely just the same.


Starting with a gift he gave me.  Seen from the front, it is a glass fountain.  Seen from the back?  Meaningless cuts and notches in a glass pyramid.  I am in awe that anyone thought of it, and was able to execute it.



The day itself was hot.  Very hot.  The weather boffins promised us 37C (98.6F) but they lied.  By midday we were already on 38.9C (102.2F).  Given that my sweet spot is about 14C (57.2F) I was a sad and soggy person.  And yes, I do know that quite a lot of Oz gets hotter and was hotter, but MS thrives in the heat and summer is always difficult for me.

Just the same, we went for a drive to see how the kangaroos were faring in the heat.  

They were smart.  Their normal haunts were deserted and we finally tracked a few down deep in the shade.





We didn't disturb them, and left them in peace.

Sadly, on Friday 13th my city was hit with a windstorm.  A big windstorm.  Trees came crashing down, and it was very evident in the park the kangaroos inhabit.  It was too hot that day to get out and take photos but we went back a few days later.

By the time we returned lots of the damage had been cleared away.  There is more work to be done though and the scent of eucalptus from the downed branches was thick and heavy.







    
The kangaroos didn't care, and neither did a pair of red-rumped parrots (who were keeping their rumps hidden).  It is a lovely area and I hope it recovers quickly.





  

149 comments:

  1. Exquisite gift. Place it in your lap and maybe you'll cool down. At least learn the secrets of the universe, or so I read. Too hot, but then again, it is winter here.

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    1. donna baker: I would swap seasons in a heart beat. Secrets of the universe? Pass. I don't think I could cope.

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  2. EC What a great landscape with kangarros.. amazing animals. What a pity a lot of trees were damaged

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    1. Gosia k: The park with the kangaroos in it is somewhere we often go. We love them, and the park is lovely too. I am sad about the trees, and glad that most are still standing.

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  3. Hi EC - yes welcome Capricorn birthday girl ... we can share the goat together! The 13th didn't do you much good with the storm ... but I'm glad the area is recovering - nature is extraordinary how quickly it can come back ...

    I'd feel like you in that heat, and be like the kangaroos - lying quietly down desperate for some cooling respite. I'd like to smell the eucalyptus scent over here .. but not something one can pack up and send over!

    Wonderful shots and of the red rumped parrot - aren't they stunning shades ...

    Happy Birthday and here's to another year. That sculpted or etched glass fountain is quite beautiful ... while as you say you can't imagine it could appear when looking at the back - what an amazing present ... lucky you ... cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: And a happy belated b'day to you too. We can share the goat - or play the goat.
      Isn't the glass fountain clever. When first I picked it up I was looking the 'wrong' way, and had no idea what it was.

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  4. I love the vatiety in this post, EC. The beautiful fountain, the kangaroos and parrots are all wonderful. The heat sounds terrible. Stay cool!

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    1. Marie Smith: Yesterday and today will be cooler, before the heat ramps up again. This too will pass. And I hope that on your side of the world you can stay warm.

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  5. Wind can be so terribly destructive, glad it hasn't put the kangaroos off. Happy Birthday!

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    1. Cheapchick: Welcome and thank you. Kangaroos are incredibly laid back animals. Not a lot puts them off for long.

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  6. Firstly Happy Birthday! The glass pyramid looks beautiful.

    It looks like the kangaroos were using the broken down branches and trees for shade!

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    1. LL Cool Joe: They were using them for shade. I assume they stayed out of the way when they were crashing down, but they were happily lying under beside them a few days later.

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  7. I love the fountain. Happy Birthday! I hope no animals were injured as the trees blew down. I hope you can find some shade!

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    1. e: Thank you. Yesterday and today are cooler and I am revelling in the respite. I hope the animals were safe too, and haven't heard anything to the contrary.

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  8. What beautiful photos. Once again I am filled with envy because you are able to see creatures in the wild that I can never see. The kangaroos in Alabama must be excellent hiders, right?

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: Kangaroos ARE excellent hiders. On my birthday despite knowing that there are roos in the area, if one of them hadn't moved we would have missed them.
      I am pretty certain you see animals I would drool over. Probably fair. Ish.

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    2. LOL I only get to see deer, raccoons, possums, chipmunks and squirrels on a regular basis. Nothing really drool worthy

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    3. Anne in the kitchen: Raccoons, chipmunks, squirrels and deer would have me drooling. Your possums are quite different to ours as well so there could be drool there too.

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  9. This cool-climate foreigner has been very grumpy in mid 30s heat.But it's lovely right now(5.30am) so I'm off to water some plants...

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    1. dinahmow: Happy watering. I too am going into the garden shortly. Weeding. Sadly neglected weeding.

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  10. My husband has a crystal collection; I showed him your pyramid & he loved it, as do I!!

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    1. fishducky: It is really clever isn't it? And lovely.

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  11. Belated birthday wishes, EC! That is such an interesting piece from your partner - as you say, how do people think of these things?

    Love the pictures of the kangaroos and the birds. All so different from here. It's too bad about the wind damage. Do you get severe winds regularly this time of year? (We get tropical storms and sometimes hurricanes every September, which makes me wonder about your storm.)

    All the best for the year ahead, my friend. May there be many beautiful sights to bring joy to your heart.

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    1. jenny_o: We often get windy days in Spring. This was an exception. And the following days were also windy.
      Thank you so much for your wishes. As a beauty addict I am pretty sure there will be magic about.

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  12. Fun shots of kangas and rumpies, Happy birthday! It's an ill wind that blows no one some good

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    1. Cloudia: One of my sisters in law calls them 'bum birds'. Rumpies is much more civilised. And couth.

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  13. What beauty, the Kangaroos and lovely birds, excellent photography EC.

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    1. Bob Bushell: You would have a wonderful time in that park. Kangaroos, swans, moorhens, pelicans, bearded ravens, cockatoos, crimson rosellas...

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    2. Bob Bushell: Some day I hope you can.

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  14. awwww, we should all do some drifting.

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    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: I am in favour of drifting. Or floating. Or dozing.

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  15. Happy Birthday, EC. I love your glass fountain.

    The heat has been horrendous. It's so very draining. Fortunately, we had a storm here on Friday night (and it certainly was a raucous sound and light show)...on strike of lightning seemed to be just out from my bedroom window. I almost hit the ceiling. Remy and Shama were already under the bed! But the storm, and a mild one that followed yesterday have cooled things down a bit...for now.

    Strong wind is worrying because of the unknown, unexpected damage it can cause.

    Try to stay cool...have a good week and cuddles to Jazz. :)

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    1. Lee: The glass fountain is lovely isn't it. We have been promised rain, but it hasn't arrived. It is a bit cooler though which is more than welcome. And yes, strong winds scare me.

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  16. Happy birthday, EC. What a lovely thing the SP gave you - obviously he has very good taste. And you have given us lovely pics, as always - the roos still look very comfortable amongst the debris, and the 'rumpies' (the name made me laugh) are extremely handsome in their iridescent feathers.

    I hope it has cooled down somewhat for you and that you have a good week.

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    1. Alexia: Thank you. Himself is a very, very skilled gift giver. Rumpies is a wonderful name isn't it? I may adopt it.

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  17. That heat is intolerable even for a person that doesn't have MS. Do you have one of those cooling vests?

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    1. Birdie: I do have one of those vests but find it heavy and constricting. I will have to explore the latest versions.

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  18. Happy birthday!!! I hope you had the most wonderful of days, albeit a little hot. Your gift is exquisite.

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    1. CountryMum: Thank you. It was a quiet, low key lovely day.

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  19. Very cool gift - happy birthday!
    That is too hot to do anything outside.
    Quite the windstorm. That's a lot of tree branches down.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: There were trees down too. There and in other parts of the city. And yes, it was much too hot to do anything outside.

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  20. Well it is your sweet spot here in Michigan: 55 degrees which is unseasonable warm. Still I like it.

    Love your birthday glass fountain.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: I hope you can make use of your unseasonable warmth.

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  21. The glass fountain is amazing. That must have been quite a windstorm. Nature at work and of course the kangaroos don't mind, and they do know what to do when it is hot.

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    1. Andrew: I don't know what the kangaroos were doing when the wind was at its worst. Did they try and shelter under the trees, or did they hunker down in the open. They adjust to heat very well though.

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  22. Dear EC
    Happy birthday - I hope you had a lovely day. The glass sculpture is amazing - there are so very talented people out there.
    The kangaroos were most obliging posing for you and you took some lovely photos.
    I am always comforted by the thought that nature will recover - it may take time, but it will.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: I am always amazed at how quickly nature recovers. After devasting fires here with the first rain there is new growth evident. She is so very resilient.

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  23. Happy birthday! That truly is a lovely gift. And I could almost smell those eucalyptus trees from your description. Glad the wildlife is so resilient. :-)

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    1. DJan: Thank you. Partly because of the heat, the eucalyptus smell was almost overpowering. You could smell it from the car too.

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  24. Beautiful gift. I love glass (bottles, insulators, paperweights...) and things that look pretty in the light. Always love the kangaroos.

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    1. mshatch: I am a sucker for glass myself. Such a fragile medium, such a beautiful medium. We love the roos too. Always.

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  25. Amazing sculpture! It's beautiful.
    I still can't wrap my mind around having kangaroos lounge out in the open, having their picture taken. I envy you for them and all your parrots as well.
    I hope it cools down for you soon (and warms up for me).

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    1. River Fairchild: I would gladly share the heat as you would share your chill. The kangaroos in this park at least know that they were here first. They are not going anywhere. Unless it suits them.

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  26. LOVE that glass fountain, it's so pretty. Some one is very clever to have thought how to make it.
    Sad to see so many trees down. We're having similar windstorms here, far too often. For years Adelaide had two major storms with gale force winds, one in May and one in September. Now we have them far too often. clearly the weather pattern has changed, but why? What has man done to cause this? Or is it just a natural change like when the ice ages happened? We may never know.

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    1. River: I am still in awe at someone being able to think of it, and then create it. It really looks like nothing from the back. We too are having many more 'extreme' weather events. I suspect a trend which is going to continue and escalate.

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  27. P.S. Happy Birthday! how could I forget to say that? (*~*)

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  28. What a wondrous gift. That is truly beautiful.
    The kangs and the red hidden rumps are a delight. Thanks for sharing. You did have quite a storm.
    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: We see the kangaroos much more often than the red-rumped parrots. Both are a joy.
      And a lovely weekend to you too - you have rather more of it left than we do.

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  29. Happy Birthday. Nice of you to celebrate by sending us these amazing photos. May the future be amazing for you.

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    1. Martin Kloess: Thank you. I am always happy to share the wonder.

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  30. Happybelated Birthday to you Sue. Lovely gift but what a shame about the trees after the windstorm but I am sure they wil recover quickly. Too hot for me those temperatures.

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    1. Margaret Adamson: Thank you. Those temperatures are too hot for me as well. I hope the trees recover, though most eucalypts are slow growing.

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  31. Happy birthday !!
    I like your present, it looks nice.
    You have had a terrible storm, and of course on Friday and 13. day. Magic. But you have really awful heat, I wonder how you holding up to do anything... We have now here +3 °C and sun is shining, and a little bit snow, it's great weather. Hopefully, you will get a little cooler.
    The kangaroos are wonderful.
    Have a nice week.

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    1. orvokki: A sunny, snowy 3 degrees sounds blissful to me. I hope you too have a lovely week.

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  32. Happy belated birthday! That is a lovely gift. As always, your photos make me smile. That's the closest I've ever been to a kangaroo, or a red-rumped parrot. They looked like they were dealing with the heat fairly well. Too bad about the windstorm, but I suppose it's Nature's way of trimming the trees. Did the eucalyptus get gathered and dropped somewhere for feed to the animals that eat it?

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    1. Carolyn McBride: Very few animals eat eucalyptus. Koalas of course, but I believe that they are fussy about which types. Sadly I think the fallen trees will be chipped. Not totally wasted, but not fully utilised either.

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  33. The storms really can do so much damage. Unless it messes up their actual habitat though, I think we care more than the animals do. I saw that here when the last hurricane shuttled by. ;) Hope it's back to 100% soon!

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    1. mail4rosey: Animals live in the moment (mostly) much better than we do. And we mess up their habitat more than the weather.

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    2. Agreed. And I forgot to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY (belated now, of course, but sincere just the same). :)

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  34. A Very Happy Birthday! This post comes with much joy after reading what my son has just learned at school. I can always come to your blog and fee a balance and positive connection! Storms, animals, and people can all do damage. Yet, it is what we do or how we handle each moment that is important! A good lesson to learn! Thank you for always being such a positive energy!

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    1. Ginger Dawn Harman: Bad news at school for your boy? I hope not. And yes, there is a lot of damage and ugliness about and a lot of beauty too. I try (but don't always succeed) to focus on either the positives or things I can change.

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  35. Happy belated birthday, E.C.The fountain is beautiful. Sad about the wind damage.

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    1. Mason Canyon: Thank you. The glass fountain is an incredible thing and I smile at it each time I go past.

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  36. A blessed (belated) birthday, Dear EC!
    Even through a windstorm, there is beauty. Where there is beauty, there you are.

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    1. Rawknrobyn: Thank you. I am a beauty addict and a beauty chaser. Much more fun than ambulance chasing.

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  37. A belated Happy Birthday! Your fountain piece is a gorgeous piece of work! Sorry about the windstorm. Soon we will be in our tornadic season and it is always scary. This winter has been the windiest I an remember. I have chimes outside and even in the dead of night I hear them ring.

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    1. Bookie: We often get windy Springs, but this summer has been blustery too. Very much so. And I hear you on the windchimes. There are some clanging on our back deck now.

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  38. First of all, happy belated birthday! I didn't know that we share the same birthday month. Second, animals are just smart. No working in the heat but staying in the shade having a siesta. It seems only humans are still working in that kind of condition. Silly.
    I've seen the eucalyptus here breaking in high winds. It doesn't really take much. Years ago a huge branch crashed onto our garage. Our neighbors eventually cut the tree down which was sad and a relief at the same time. They're messy trees, but I love their wonderful scent.

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    1. Carola Bartz: We have three very large eucalypts close to the house. We have lost branches, but nothing major. Yet. And isn't their scent lovely. Another January girl. Capricorn or Acquarius?

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  39. I love those kangaroos. And I sympathize with you on the heat and wind. It gets really hot here too and during the changing seasons we often have violent weather.

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    1. Rick Watson: I never tire of the kangaroos. Indeed when I am feeling jaded we quite often go on an excursion to visit them. We too can expect winds at the change of seasons - particularly in early spring, but these winds were early and exceptional.

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  40. Wonderful photos. Love those kangaroos.

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  41. Happy, happy birthday to you!

    I'm also a lover of glass but it never looks as good in my house as it does in the shop!

    xo

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    1. kylie: Thank you. If I had the money or the house I would LOVE to have some Chihuly glass. And suspect that it too would look better in the galleries where I have seen it.

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  42. Must have been a strong storm to break those branches.
    The Roos look good.

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: It was. These photos were taken after much of it had been cleared away. Whole trees came down. The roos are always a joy though.

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  43. Oh wow that was a lot of damage! Glad yall were ok. The heat if awful over 100!!! I hope you have air conditioning like I do.

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    1. Kim@Stuffcould...: We were lucky. We lost some minor branches, but nothing more. We have evaporative cooling which is usually enough. Not at the moment. Sad, soggy and grumpy.

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  44. Wonderful Sunday Selections as always. I forgot that I was going to start them and my son visited so we were too busy for me to think.

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    1. Granny Annie: I hope you had a wonderful time with your son. Next week (or the week after) will be fine.

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  45. Joy to look at kangaroos, but the sight of trees damaged by the storm is sad. Regards.

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    1. Giga: Welcome and thank you. The kangaroos DO give us joy, but you are also right about the sadness for the trees.

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  46. Good morning (here), EC,
    Hope you are still partying down...quietly, very quietly. Grin.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: Very, very quietly. Have a great week.

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  47. When storms sweep in they create havoc, especially among the trees. We've had so many trees come down in the canyon with this last major storm. I hear them "boom!" in the middle of night. Great Sunday Selection again. Next time I'd love to see those red rumps. :-)

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    1. cleemckenzie: It is an unmistakeable sound isn't it? And a bit scary too. The red-rumps are tricky to capture, but I will do my best.

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  48. Happy Birthday. Ack about the windstorm though.

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    1. The Happy Whisk: Thank you. The storm could have been worse. Property damage, but none to people. I hope the animals were also safe.

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    2. Me too on the animals. Though, they often sense these storms coming and hide. But still ...

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    3. The Happy Whisk: They will have been frightened I expect, but I live in an animal conscious city and didn't hear of any casualties. Fingers crossed.

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  49. Happy belated birthday! Your glass fountain is gorgeous! How sad to see the aftermath of the storm.

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    1. Lady Fi: Thank you. And yes, on both counts. Gorgeous and sad.

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  50. The kangaroos bring a smile to my face :)
    Much love from MN, Sue. xxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: And too ours. I hope winter is treating you kindly.

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  51. Those parrots are just rainbows of colors aren't they.
    You have a great one.

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    1. Sandra Cox: The male is definitely a rainbow. She is more muted, but still beautiful.

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    2. Typical:)
      And I love the pics of the roos. They're so photogenic. You could almost here them say, go ahead snap it, I'm ready.

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  52. Happy Belated Birthday! Sounds way too hot for me, too! Sorry it was so hot on your special day, but glad you found some ways to stay cool and enjoy the day.

    The windstorm looks like it must have done a lot of damage if your pictures are after there had been some clean up. Glad the birds and kangaroos are going about business as usual.

    Your gift is fascinating and creative for sure! :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: Thank you. Birds and animals are much better than we are at living in the moment. Sadly, there was a heap of damage. Decades of growth down in minutes.

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  53. Sad to see all those trees down. Were you somewhere near the lake? I saw kangaroos basking under the trees there.
    I was very excited to see kangaroos when I first arrived in Australia, but sadly the first one I saw was dead by the side of the road!

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    1. Shammickite: The park in question is Weston Park. On the lake, and abutting the Governor-General's residence. And home to many kangaroos.
      Sigh on the road kill. We see way too much of it.

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  54. I love your gift, it does look very nice.

    So sad when a storm hits, but nature usually allows growth to come back, although of course it does take time.
    Boy your temperatures do sound very hot!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~ Jan: Thank you. It has been very hot, though today is cooler. And nearly pleasant.

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  55. Great selection of photos, and I always love those kangaroos in their native space. Thanks EC.

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    1. Denise inVA: We love our kangas too.

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    2. Sounded like an awful windstorm. Glad you were okay. I forgot to mention the glass pyramid, a lovely gift.

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    3. Denise inVA: Thank you. We lost some minor branches but were fine.

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  56. Hi Sue. We've had our share of disasters early in the year. We had bushfires at Peregian Beach (one of the places I hang my hat) while I was in Townsville. Didn't come near our house, but much damage was done to forests.
    Love the pics of the kangaroos. I've not managed to get that close to one for awhile.
    I hope you're doing well. Have a great week. :-)

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    1. Denise Covey: Bushfires are scary things. I am glad it didn't come near your home, but mourn for the homes of things in the forest.

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  57. High winds and broken branches around here too, but, if that was the worst of our worries in the US these days we'd all be smiling!

    Love those kangaroos, just lolling about.....

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    1. Molly Bon: True. I am watching what is happening in your country in fear.

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  58. Hello dear Sue! I just checked on Claudia's blog after receiving an email about her situation, and read about the lovely gift she received. :)
    I'll send you an email soon! hugs....

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    1. BECKY: Claudia is doing it tough, and needs all the support she can get.

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  59. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  60. That deleted comment by "Ron" was from me. Sorry about that. Whenever I have his email open on my laptop, I forget that it uses his name on any blogger comment. Weird, huh?? Anyway, I only said I loved the photos of the kangaroos!!

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  61. What a beautiful gift! You know what I love most about this post? That the kangaroos found something good about the aftermath of the storm. If only we could all be that way, eh?

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    1. Crystal Collier: Most definitely. We have a lot to learn from 'dumb' animals. (A label I despise).

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  62. Magnificent kangaroos. And beautiful colours on those parrots. I don't think I've ever seen that kind before.

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    1. Jackie K: The red-rumped parrots are tiny birds, and mostly like open grasslands. Very, very pretty though.

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  63. Exquisite crystal gift! You are right about how different it is from back to front.

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    1. Susan Kane: The back is incredibly different - and the concept beyond me. I am so glad it wasn't beyond the creator.

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  64. That is a lovely gift - so unique! I've never seen anything like that.

    Happy Birthday! A little late, sounds like.

    So glad the kangaroos and your feathered friends survived that storm. Lovely shots.

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    1. Lynn: Thank you. I have never see anything like the glass fountain either - I am so glad himself found it.

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  65. The glass artwork is totally amazing, I'm wondering how it looks when it catches the light. I am sorry so many trees were impacted by the wind. You've captured beaut shots of the roos and birds looking very calm after the storm.

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    1. Kim: The glass looks delightful in the light - as glass so often does. I was impressed at how laid back the roos were. They relax soooooo well.

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  66. First off, a belated happy birthday! That carved crystal is gorgeous, and a very thoughtful gift.

    I'm sorry it was so blooming hot. Do you have one of those neckerchiefs filled with pellets that turn into a cool gel after you soak them in water? They're a real lifesaver on hot days.

    Have a wonderful weekend. I hope the temperatures have cooled down a bit for you.

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    1. Susan: Thank you. I do have one of those neckerchiefs. It is great, but doesn't last long enough.
      We had a fewer cooler days but it is ramping up again. The next week or so is going to be a foretaste of hell. For me anyway. I know that a lot of people love it.

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  67. Belated birthday wishes! And a pyramid can't be meaningless - at any angle.

    The kangaroos and the birds wonderful as usual. Every time I come to your blog you make me ponder on the beauty of this planet. Even the damaged planet is beautiful - heart breaking, but beautiful. I am imagining the glorious scent of fallen eucalyptus sitting here.

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    1. Nilanjana Bose: Thank you. We do indeed live in a beautiful world. This beauty addict is very, very grateful. The eucalyptus scent was incredibly strong, probably a combination of the heat and the damage. And the birds and the kangaroos didn't care...

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  68. Hope you're having a pleasant, colorful weekend, EC.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: Lots of colour, lots of heat. Hope you are staying warm - and would gladly send some warmth your way.

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