Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 25 August 2013

Sunday Selections #134

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.

Like River, I generally run with a theme.  This week it is mornings - which have been very varied, and beautiful this week.  As always, click to embiggen.

On Tuesday morning I awoke to bright sunshine, and a dusting of snow on the nearby Brindabella ranges.  Not a lot - but it was very pretty.

 
On Wednesday morning, a beautiful dawn got me scurrying outside doing mad woman in dressing-gown with camera dances.




And, naturally, the garden continues to give me joy.  I will only inflict a few images on you this week though.


This is a King Alfred daffodil - the skinny one's favourite variety.


Crocuses - tiny little splashes of colour and enchantment.

And the first of the Lachenalia  (also known as Soldier Boys).  I hope the rest of the pot flowers as well.

The smaller portion continues to do the hard yards.  BUT, and it is a big but, this week he had two almost reasonable days, and while the rest of the week was vile, I hope we are turning the magical corner.  Thank you one and all for your good wishes and support.

74 comments:

  1. I will look up the Brindabella ranges. I want to know how they got such an interesting name. I love a gorgeous sunset or sunrise!

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    1. Strayer: The Brindabellas are beautiful. We fished there often when I was a child. And the link gives you not one, but two choices for where the name came from.

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  2. So glad you are finally seeing a bit of an improvement.

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    1. Delores: It is a tiny bit of improvement - but very, very encouraging.

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  3. You outdid yourself with these gorgeous pictures.

    I hope there are more than two good days this week.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: Thank you. We are hoping for more too. Not a good start to the day, but he has gone back to bed and I have my fingers crossed.

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  4. Magical corners are always a blessing.These photos were a blessing to me --- stunning images!

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  5. Mornings have the best light! I love getting out there with my camera early in the day. Nice.

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    1. Kathleen Cassen Mickelson: I agree - I am decidedly a morning person. Quiet, peaceful and beautiful too.

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  6. I love your pictures, and the mental image of you doing the Dressing Gown Dance. I am also hoping and praying that the corner has been turned, to the good. Does SP have any idea how many of us are hoping for the best for him? :-)

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    1. DJan: It was just as well it was too early for most - the Dressing Gown Dance is not pretty. And no, I don't think the skinny one does really comprehend just how many people are wishing him well. Which is not for want of telling.

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  7. I agree with all the others - it's great to have a little positive news! Here's hoping the trend continues.

    I like your lachenalia pot - very pretty colours. As are the lachenalias - more to come, I'm sure. And the King Alfred really is a beautiful daffodil.
    I'm waiting for a daffodil-themed post! ;)

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    1. Alexia: It is really encouraging to finally have some days which offer promise. Last night was bad, and I have been up since four, but things seem to have settled a little. Fingers and toes and eyes crossed.
      The daffodils are coming out by the dozen. Which is a cheery delight. And some of the doubles and the split corona daffodils are nearly out too...

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  8. And with the start of these photos, I see the new dawn and a new hope.

    And even with the setbacks, may the more favourable days for the both of you, become more frequent.

    In peace and hope,

    Gary

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    1. klahanie: Thank you Gary. At least there are some positive signs at the moment. They may not be consistent - but they do happen. Which is an improvement.

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  9. I second what Gary said. Hope things continue to improve.

    Take care.

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  10. Hope some significant sweetness grows
    even in the vile places
    and that your heart and eyes
    grow even sharper to the beauty and wonderment
    all around you.
    Prayers for comfort and peace,
    Jennifer

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    1. Jennifer Richardson: There is always beauty - and it diminishes the vile. Thank you.

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  11. I am wishing you both only the absolute best, along with a hug from me to you. These photos are wonderful! I hope the following week will be a much happier one and am still sending prayers, good thoughts, and healing energies.

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    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you for stopping in even though you are travelling. And your good wishes, like everyone else's are appreciated so very much.

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  12. Thank you for another delightful set of Sunday Selections and a wee bit of promising news re the SP. There are so many positive thoughts heading your way (including mine of course) as you already know and more are flowing there this week Fingers crossed for a better week for you both.
    King Alfred daffodils were my folks' favourite. We had soldier boys growing wild when we first moved in here but they've all gone. Must buy a few and start again. My mum loved them.
    ...and snow! I wish. Only rain here today but we need lots more of it. 26.4C here yesterday. Signs of spring are just around the corner. The bottlebrush is in flower.

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    1. Mimsie: Your weather is MUCH warmer than ours, but Spring is just around the corner now. Which is nice. And the garden is going gang-busters. Which is also nice. We too could do with some rain.

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  13. Firstly...I'm glad the small portions is making progress in the right direction, albeit slow. As each day goes by and becomes a week...may his weakness become his strength once again.

    Thanks for sharing your life...and your wonderful photos with us, EC. You inspire us all. :)

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    1. Lee: Thank you so much - but I just muddle along. I don't think inspirational is the description which fits.

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  14. We are so pleased to learn that SP is finally, maybe, hopefully turning the corner...Take care. And thankyou for the Brindabellas...a bit of nostalgia for me.

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    1. Christine: We can see the Brindibellas from our front veranda, and it is a daily delight. Whatever the season, whatever the time of the day. And yes, it is truly wonderful that finally we are getting some positive moves.

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  15. Those skies look like paintings! Lovely.

    I have all fingers and toes crossed that these tiny smatterings of hope you've had will escalate into real, bona fide permanent improvement. Crossed tightly...!

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    1. Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): I hope so. I really, really hope so. Yesterday was not good - but the night wasn't tooooo bad.

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  16. I never tire of your garden. Spring is definitely upon you and we are starting to think about tucking in as Fall comes to us.

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    1. Birdie: Thank you. I worry that I am boring other people to sobs with my obsessions.

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  17. Lachenalia! That's what I don't have on my list! I knew there was something I couldn't remember.

    I love the sugar sprinkled mountain in the first photo. I know it's snow, but it looks like someone flew over and sprinkled a bag of sugar.
    The brightness of the daffodil is amazing against the shadowed background.

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    1. River: I forget things all the time. The tritelia and the grape hyacinths and the delphiniums are coming out too. And Lachenalia are tiny delights.

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  18. P.S. glad to hear your man has had a couple of good days.

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  19. Crocuses are a lovely sign of hope.

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  20. Aloha,

    So glad I'm not the only one who rushes out semi-nearly dressed to get sunrise and/or sunset pics:)

    Adding my best wishes for your little guy, SP, too. I'm not fully in the loop, but it sounds like a very serious issue, so I hope his two good days this week is doubled for this coming week:)

    Best wishes to you both:)

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    1. Mark Koopmans: Welcome and thank you. I will come and visit you this afternoon (busy day ahead).
      I am certainly the only one in the street doing mad camera dances. Perhaps we need a street of bloggers.
      After the weeks we have had, even two days is WONDERFUL (though more will be very welcome).

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  21. I sometimes get sunset pictures but sunrise ones I always miss out, I'm just not up in time too lazy.
    Yours are good.
    Merle.............

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    1. Merlesworld: Somehow I have turned into an early bird - and love the mornings. I am not usually dressed before dawn though...

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  22. Haha! I can just imagine you in your dressing gown with camera in hand! If the neighbours are ever up at the time, perhaps they consider you, "the eccentric one" - I know our neighbours think I am :D
    Beautiful morning shots.

    And, snow!! Do you also have such a wonderful view of the Brindabellas from your house? You are fortunate indeed.
    What a pretty shot of the icing sugar snow dusting the Ranges.

    Love the King Alfred, it's such a classic.
    I do like the pretty paisley pot the Lachenalia is in.

    Two out of seven days? That's great news. Hopefully soon, it'll be three, and then four and then...
    Continuing good healing thoughts and very best wishes for you both :)

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    1. Vicki: I think eccentric is probably a polite way of expressing the neighbours opinion (which doesn't bother me).
      We do indeed have a view of the Brindibellas from our front veranda. Bliss.
      Thank you for all your good wishes.

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  23. Like Merle, I'm not much on sunrises. All that light comes up long before the sun, compounding the earliness! Thank you for reporting, it's lovely.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: I don't know quite when I became an early bird - but it is firmly entrenched now. And I do love the early morning light.

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  24. Those dawn photos are beautiful. Here in Melbourne too we've had stunning sunrises and sunsets all through the winter - not sure whether it's anything to do with weather or just coincidence, but it's lovely anyway.

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    1. Jackie K: We have had spectacular dawns here most of this year. I am not sure why - but love it.

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  25. "doing mad woman in dressing-gown with camera dances" - I KNEW you did descriptive dances of yourself as well! Well worth the dash by the looks of it too.

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    1. All Consuming: And I should have added 'wobbly' to the description. And yes, I was pleased I had gone..

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  26. I didn't know that you live amid such lovely surroundings as the mountains you photographed. May I use the daffodil for my desktop?

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    1. Snowbrush: Canberra is a very pretty city - and we are never more than half an hour from the 'bush'. Which is lovely.
      Of course you can use the daffodil as a desk top (thank you for asking). I have sent some more to you this morning.

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  27. I hope you and the smaller portion are turning the magical corner as well as winter turns to spring. I love your flowers.

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    1. Mia McPherson: Thank you. It has been wonderful to finally get some positive days. And we love our flowers too - the smaller portion even got outside to see them briefly yesterday.

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  28. What a wonderful view of those ranges - is that taken from your home? And your spring flowers are so full of colour - beautiful. It's encouraging to hear that there has been a bit of improvement on the health front for SP. I'm hoping, hard, that it continues. You must be exhausted and running on fumes by now. Can you nap? Not everyone can ... All the best this week, EC.

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    1. jenny_o: We can see the ranges from the front veranda (and could from the back yard too if it wasn't so overgrown).
      The improvement is more than welcome. I am indeed running on empty. There is still a lot to be done, so I am not napping well at the moment. When we are finally on the home straight I think I will fall into a coma...

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  29. Your pictures are wonderful, as always. Even more wonderful is the news that your hubby had a couple of good days this week. Here's hoping that's just the beginning, and he'll have even more good days this week, and EVERY day will be good before you know it.

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    1. Susan: Thank you - on both counts. Yesterday was a bit ugly, but today is better.

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  30. I love your dawn and dusk shots. Such beautiful hues, for some reason a distinct pleasure from the pleasure of experiencing them live. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. John Wiswell: I am glad to give you pleasure, and am a firm believer in taking it where ever and how ever it comes.

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  31. I am sure you'll soon turn the magical corner...my lovely friend :)>

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  32. Such beautiful photos of the morning. I do that too, run around in my nightie snapping pics. Good to hear your other half is starting to have good days...thats a good omen. Enloying your spring and my almost autumn.

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    1. Debora: Thank you. It is so nice to hear that other people do the early morning camera dance...

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  33. The morning sky is so pretty.....and flowers too

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    1. Kim @ Stuff could...: Thank you. Beauty everywhere - which makes me a very lucky woman.

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  34. Dear EC, I'm sorry to have been gone from the blogging scene for several days and to have missed your two posting before this. I did read them and I so admire you because being negative about all that's happening in the life of "smaller portion" and yourself would be so easy and so natural also. Your spirit, as well as your body, must be weary.

    In this posting, I just chuckled at the following sentence: "a beautiful dawn got me scurrying outside doing mad woman in dressing-gown with camera dances." I wish I were a cartoonist and could draw this. What description! Please take care of yourself. I know you take care of "smaller portion" but please be gracious to yourself also. Peace.

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    1. Dee: Thank you. I am glad that there wasn't another photographer (or a cartoonist) around to capture me... (It is really not a pretty sight.)
      Yes, I am tired but so very happy that perhaps we have turned the corner.

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  35. What beautiful shots! Love the dreamy pink dawn shots. I've been running out in my dressing gown too a lot in the early mornings...

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    1. ladyfi: It seems there are a lot of half-dressed photographers in the mornings...

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  36. I love your descriptive way of writing - I can just see you spotting the sunrise and dashing back in for your camera. Thanks for sharing that sunrise - just beautiful.

    Flowers and dusting of snow are beautiful, too. I'm glad there is light at the end of the tunnel for the smaller portion...

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    1. Lynn: I probably (certainly) wasn't a pretty sight, but I had to be out there... And yes, the light (while still small) is more than welcome.

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