Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 4 January 2015

Sunday Selections #205

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?  We are in the sweaty season and I am going out as little as possible.  I have only ventured out briefly early or late.  Reviewing my photos I noticed that I am stuck in a time warp.

This Sunday Selections is very like last Sunday Selections.  The same - and different.  The incredible co-incidence tickled my fancy (easily done) so I am posting them despite the similarities.

Corellas.




The sky on fire (and sadly real fires are burning out of control in two states).





And the garden.  The first is a weed (not a dandelion, but a plant which looks like a large and messy daisy) which has gone to seed.  I admired its intricracy and carefully picked it before the seeds could be broadcast.


And then to honesty/money plant/lunaria which is also in seed.  In the first photo you can see the seeds, and in the second I have revealed the 'silver dollars' and let the seeds fall into the garden below.



I apologise for the sameness and will endeavour to shift gears next week.

111 comments:

  1. Well, I forgot to look last week so all new to me! Those fires must be so frightening. The Hoya from last week almost looks as though it's been made by a skilled ceramics artist.

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    1. Gillie: The fires are frightening. And an annual event. The hoya could indeed be made by a ceramicist - or a cake decorator. Beautiful either way.

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  2. My mom grew moneyplants out back. Haven't seen one since.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: They are an unfashionable plant, but our garden is full of them. And I have spread the joy to other gardens.

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  3. Amazing colors in the sky. And you can post photos of the white bird anytime.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: Another corella fan? You might get sick of them yet.

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  4. Is the fire out now? I hope so!

    I bet the money-tree looks glorious at night.

    Don't apologise for 'sameness', that's the wonder of nature, it's constantly beautiful and we never get jaded by it.

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    1. Guyana-Gyal: Still burning in two states. Completely out of control in one. Several homes lost. Birds and animals certainly lost. No human losses identified yet.
      The money tree glows in the moon-light.

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  5. No need to apologise. The pictures are wonderful, no matter how many times you take similar ones. Sorry about the real fires.
    Hope you have a good week.

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    1. Myrna R.: Thank you so much. And a very good week to you too.

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  6. Yes, those bushfires. Have been reading about it on the news here. Shocking. I shudder to think of all the animals that will be lost or hurt ....

    Lovely pics.

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    1. Wendy: Animals lost, hurt and their habitat destroyed. Aaaargh.

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  7. Bushies, birdies and a kind of dandelionies, they lookies likies a beautifulies.

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    1. Bob Bushell: They do look like dandelions when they go to seed don't they?

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  8. I don't mind if you post a hundred pictures of those fabulous corellas. The second, with the wings spread, is a really good shot.

    Yes, poor people affected by fires. I'm glad my daughter is no longer living in Adelaide...

    Go well this week, EC

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    1. Alexia: Fires are a terrible thing. Terrifying and dangerous. And I suspect they will find out (as usual) that at least one of the fronts was deliberately lit.
      And you get excited as your new life approaches? I would be...

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  9. Those fires in South Australia and Victoria are horrendous..how terrifying for all those concerns...poor beggers...animals included. It's heartbreaking. The hopes for a Happy New Year soon dissipate, don't they?

    Have a good week, EC. :)

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    1. Lee: Fires are awful things. So useful, so destructive, and at the moment, so uncontrollable.

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  10. so many years since I've grown lunaria and it continues to amaze and intrigue me. hope rains come and first are squelched quickly

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    1. Linda Starr: My mother always grew it, and I have had it in almost all my gardens. It goes to seed each year, and triumphs again in the spring. I always knew it as honesty - for the transparent circle left when the seed covers are removed.

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  11. I worry about Australia, with the fires and the heat. Do you think it is getting worse as the years pass or just erratic business as usual?

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    1. Andrew Maclaren-Scott: Both I think. We do seem to be getting more catastrophic fires than we used to, but fires have always been a feature of our summer. Sadly some of the worst are deliberately lit.

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  12. As you overheat, I sit here wrapped in an old wool blanket (it belonged to my great grandfather) with the fireplace on. I am still cold. meh I would rather be cold than hot though. There is a sort of comfort in being cold and getting warm. Being hot is just...hawt!

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    1. ditchingthedog: Cold wins over heat every time for me. Not least because it is possible to get warm (hot drinks, fireplace, bed).

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  13. I cannot imagine living near out of control wildfires and I pray they can be brought under control.
    We planted money flowers in our garden three years ago. I believe they took heed of all the invasive warnings we received and did not germinate.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: Didn't germinate? Wow. They pop up everywhere here.
      Fingers and toes crossed the fires can be contained. Quickly. They are still raging at the moment.

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  14. My Granny used to have these Silver Dollars and I haven't seen them in years. Thanks for the memory!

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    1. Bookie: An old-fashioned, cottage garden charmer.

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  15. You can post the same type photos anytime as your photos are always so beautiful. Love the colors in the sky. You're going into the sweaty season and we're dipping down into the teens this coming week.

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    1. Mason Canyon: I would swap our weather in a heart beat.

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  16. Pretty birds! Your sky really lights up! I am so sorry about the fires over there. It must be terrible for the people living in those area.

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    1. Teresa: If only sunrises and sunsets were the only times the sky lit up.

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  17. That sky really does look like it's on fire. Someone on my Facebook friends list posted a similar picture from The Villages in Florida.

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    1. Stephanie Faris: The only kind of burning sky I like seeing. Magic.

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  18. Love the corella with its wings spread and the not-a-dandelion seedhead.
    I much prefer skies on fire to fields on fire :(

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    1. River: Fields/forests/houses on fire is terrifying. I so hope they can contain them soon.

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  19. Oh my dear, I ALWAYS enjoy your posts, whether or not I've seen a similar corrella before or not. And that sky is really something. I love those dollar plants; there's one just under the stairs on my way up to the apartment, and I admire it daily. They make me hungry for potato chips sometimes, though. :-)

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    1. DJan: Potato chips? You? Now that surprised me. And isn't a link I have ever made with the honesty. I suspect it is now a link I will always make.

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  20. If I had that beautiful bird in my yard I would post it every week until one of us, me or you, finally got tired of it. But, I am telling you, that we are a far cry from being tired of it ... in fact, I look forward to more pictures of said bird in the future. Your sky is indeed ablaze and sad that it has to remind you of the tragic fires burning on your coast. I pray that everyone is safe and little of value is lost. I always think of how the wildlife must suffer when there are fires of this nature ... very sad. Now back to the dollor plant ... what fun. My Mother-in-law used to grow them. She was good in the garden and these did remind me of her ... sadly it also reminds me of other aspects of who she was which I prefer to forget . That said, the dollar plant is a beauty and I think it is cool that you know how to make it into it's pearlized look. Best Wishes for your New Year, EC ... and just think, while you are sweatingt our temperatures will barely make the single digits (F) this week and I will be dreaming of times I could sweat :)

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. Andrea Priebe: Some world-wide weather moderation would be nice. I saw the photos of your polar bear plunge and yearned to be there.
      My mother (also a complicated woman) grew honesty too. And I cherish the good things I got from her, and ignore the rest.

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  21. No need to apologize for sameness in theme to me, I love reading these posts. I love the silver dollars too, those are cool looking. I'm sorry to hear about the raging fires. Happy New Year to you!

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    1. mail4rosey: Thank you. So very much. Fires still raging. Aaargh.

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  22. The Corellas are gorgeous. So is that weed.

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    1. mshatch: We are getting up to a dozen corellas at a time at the moment. Noisy, destructive - and enchanting. And the weed has charm - and will undoubtedly be back next year. I doubt that I got all of its seeds.

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  23. Oh my goodness, what utterly spectacular seeds. The daisy, an orb of softness, and the money seeds, little moonlet coins. I agree, don't apologize, I love all your photos and could never tire of the skies and the plants. Thank you for sharing every week!

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    1. Raquel Somatra: Thank you. The seeds are amazing aren't they? Beautiful, and functionality.

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  24. Please, EC. Never apologise. Your words and pictures are always appreciated. Your blog is loved - no matter what.

    I've been meaning to ask you, what camera do you use? Some of your shots have such incredible clarity! I do really like the second shot of the Corella - wings outspread, staring straight down the lens at you/me/us. Every detail, of him and the branch, in minute detail. Wonderful!

    I wish it were only the skies that were ever on fire, not this country of ours, which has gained such a dreadful reputation for being "on fire" each year...

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    1. Vicki: My camera is a Panasonic Lumix. The model has been superceded now (mine is over ten years old) but it is very forgiving. I bought the skinny one an updated version as a combined Christmas/Birthday present (his birthday is next week) and am a little envious of the hoops it will jump through.
      The 'on fire' bit of our country terrifies me and saddens me. Some dreadful news about a boarding kennel is hurting my heart.

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  25. The last three shots are most interesting. I have seen those seed pods somewhere, but I can't remember now. Isn't evolution a wondrous thing to produce something like that.

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    1. Andrew: Evolution is incredible. I am also always amazed at how often beauty (an unneccessary but appreciated bonus) goes hand in hand with practicality.

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  26. That first one looks like he's wearing an eye patch.

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    1. Michael D'Agostino: Corellas wear blue eye-shadow much, much better than most humans.

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  27. It's your blog, do whatever you like! I saw a small hawk on the way to work yesterday, just hanging out near the freeway on a patch of grass. Pretty cool.

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    1. Riot Kitty: Seeing a hawk would be very cool. Years back we saw a wedge-tailed eagle feasting on road kill (naturally when we didn't have a camera). An amazing sight.

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  28. Seed-heads are much underrated. So often a desire for tidiness makes us whip them away, and we miss the full intricacy of nature.

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    1. lynners: Intricate, and often very, very beautiful.

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  29. Gorgeous images EC. and yes the fires are a massive worry. A blog friend has been evacuated but is safe.
    My prayers and thoughts are with everyone in the paths of these monsters to stay safe, along with our magnificent Volunteer Fire fighters in all of regional Australia.
    Love those corellas!

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    1. Rose ~ from Oz: My thoughts are with the people affected and also with the animals and birds in the fires path. I have never, ever heard of an animal (other than our species) starting a fire either accidentally or deliberately.
      I am glad your friend is safe. And hope his/her home is too.

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  30. Don't worry too much about changing tack next week. Corellas will always make me smile no matter how often I see them.
    That 'weed' seed? If I remember rightly when we were children we used to call them 'clocks' and we would blow and make the seed scatter. As adults we'd not do that for fear of more weeds the following season.
    I must try and get some seeds of linaria as I find it a fascinating plant. Obviously quite easy to grow if it self propagates.
    Those fiery skies remind us of the tragedy that has been unfolding, particularly in South Australia and it's far from over. I wept when I learned of those poor cats and dogs perishing and I can only imagine how the owners of that property felt and to lose their home as well as their business is so sad.

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    1. Mimsie: I remember blowing dandelion clocks, but these are much, much bigger.
      And yes, I too wept at the destruction of the boarding kennel.

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  31. Your photos are always welcome, no matter the sameness or not. Who can't help but smile at your birdfest? Growing up in a fire-prone state, I can sympathize with the worry over their destruction. Try to keep cool in the hot weather!

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    1. River Fairchild: Today is cooler here, but the temperatures are ramping up again in the fire zone. I so hope they find relief soon.

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  32. It's always a delight - seeing your world.

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  33. Oh goodness, today I'm rather missing our sweaty season, as it's -4 degrees, and the wind is blowing, Brrrr! But your Corellas are just a sweet treat to see as are your other nature views.

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    1. Karen S.: I would take your minus 4 in preference any day. Minus the wind.

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  34. For what it's worth, your 'big, messy daisy' seed head looks like Salsify (aka oyster plant). Don't know if it grows in Australia, but the seed head and description of the plant match.

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    1. Jesusan: Thank you. Google tells me that it is indeed Salsify (the purple one). Our oyster plant is Acanthus Mollis - quite a different beastie.

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  35. Love your photos, repeat such beauty all you want. :-) The corollas are so magnificent, especially set against that azure sky! The second photo is my favorite of the trio, with the sun illuminating those wings and tail - such a soft and pretty shade of yellow, like sunshine itself!

    The skies are gorgeous - so sad about the wildfires, wreaking their havoc yet again. And I agree with Jesusan that it looks and sounds like you've got yourself a salsify! They grow wild and abundantly here, and were a food and medicinal plant for the Native Americans. The roots are supposed to taste like - turnips? I can't remember now.

    The last photo, of the silver dollars, is wonderful! I'd have been tempted to display them in something, but am glad you left them to reseed. So pretty!

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    1. Laloofah: After years and years and years of allowing the Honesty Plant to reseed I have more than enough to display as well as enjoy. The fires are still burning, but some of the danger has been reduced. We call them bushfires rather than wildfires - but wild they are. Feral and destructive.

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  36. You can see from the comments that no one mines seeing these wonderful birds over and over again. beautiful skies although I fear for the people that are near the fire and am so sorry for those that have already lost their homes. I used to grow Honesty and sprayed the seed heads at Christmas time.

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    1. Margaret Adamson: At last, another person who knows the plant as Honesty. I have never sprayed them - but they could look stunning.

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    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    3. usicdidribee titkea: You are astonishingly boring when you launch into obscenities. The insistence on capitals and exclamation marks is not exciting either.

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  37. The second photo in particular is similar to last week but not quite the same. I like it better than last weeks, more dramatic with the birds wings unfolding against the sky, showing a yellow tinge. The seed head photo looks very much like dandelion heads right before I blow the seeds to the wind, sometimes laughing because I'm using them as bio warfare. I love dandelions. Their roots are called the poor person's ginger.

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    1. Strayer: I didn't know that dandelion roots were poor person's ginger. Have you ever tried them? Are they similar?

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  38. In the dead of December, you offer warmth, love, sun, & fluffy birds!

    xxxxx KISSSSSSSSSS and appreciation.

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    1. My Inner Chick: I am happy to offer all of those things to you. And you are more than welcome to take the warmth. No return necessary. Hugs.

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  39. I thought for a moment that the first sunset picture WAS of the fires - such a huge swath of burning sky.

    Silver dollar plants - one of the few I recognize from your blog! My mother has grown them at every home she's lived in. She has a green thumb like you do; sadly, I do not.

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    1. jenny_o: The skies closer to the fires will be a much angrier and dirtier colour. Dust and smoke. When the fires hit my city a few years back by three o'clock the skies were black - except for the flames leaping into the air. And for days afterwards the skies were a dirty brown.

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    2. That sounds horrifying. And scary. Are these fires far from you this year?

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    3. jenny_o: Several states away from me at the moment, but my heart aches for them. And they are expecting another peak in danger on Wednesday...

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  40. Love the Corellas, never tire of them. And all your photos are delightful, always. Now I want to find some lunaria seeds - I've always wanted some, keep forgetting to look for them.

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    1. Carol: Would you like me to send you some seeds? More than enough to spare here...

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  41. Had a squawking "conversation" with a sulphur crested cockatoo this morning on my way to the shop, the first one I've seen this summer and of course I didn't have my camera. His mate was higher in the tree so I couldn't see him, but he made a racket too.

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    1. River: What a co-incidence. As I type my response I can hear a cockie indicating (loudly and not musically) that I have been lax and there is NO food on the feeder. The fact that there is plenty on the ground underneath is completely irrelevant...

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  42. Your photos get better and better--no "sameness" as far as I'm concerned! And I especially never get tired of your cockies… nor your sunsets nor your garden…. It's all a good mental health break.

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    1. Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): Mental health breaks should be mandatory. And a great deal more frequent. I am very, very happy to be able to contribute to yours.

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    2. Paper Chipmunk (aka Ellen): There will be more. Many, many more.

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  43. Lovely corellas - just fabulous!

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  44. Not a dandelion but surely a composite.

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    1. Snowbrush: A salsify. Which I also now learn has edible roots.

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  45. Honesty looks like slices of cucumber.

    I hope all's good in your world, EC. xo

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    1. Rawknrobyn.: Cucumber? Where is your romance woman? There is nothing slimy and icky about honesty. Literally or metaphorically. Cucumber on the other hand...

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  46. We have one of those brilliant red sunsets going on right now. It's so awesome. We had weeks of dreary clouds but the sun has returned for a few days, and I'm loving it. Clouds will return very soon.

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    1. Carol Kilgore: I would be grateful for clouds. And rain. Lots of both. Never satisfied...

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  47. The sunset pictures are absolutely amazing!!

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    1. Tammy Theriault: It was an incredible sky. Mad woman dances were involved in the capture.

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  48. Hey Sue,

    Yes, way down here below all those amazing folks, is finally my comment. Pardon me while I scroll all the way back up and have another look. One moment, please...........................................................................................................................................

    Okay, would you be so kind as to send me some "silver dollars", thank you :)

    Gary

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    1. klahanie: Always a pleasure to welcome you here. And you deserve more than silver. Platinum at the very least.

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  49. Wow these are amazing shots. I heard it was a tad sweaty over there. My friends are at the beach cooling down I am huddled near the woodstove trying to warm up, Take care. Hug B

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    1. Buttons: It is indeed sweaty over here. In some parts of the country very, very sweaty. Love the sound of your woodstove.

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  50. Was just sure that I had commented here. Anyway, great photos of course.

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    1. Grannie Annie: Thank you so much. I am glad to hear that someone else thinks they have commented - and finds out differently.

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  51. I hope you two are safe where you are so far the fires go. Are you? *worried frown* You have the gift when it comes to photography and I sincerely doubt anyone who comments find your pretty birds and wild sunsets commonplace. I wish we didn't all have to have such extremes in weather, here it is cold, cold and damp and I am creaking around my hips, knees and ankles making a growler of me. Tsk.
    I love your sunsets.

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    1. All Consuming: Yes, we are safe from the fires. For the moment anyway. I don't think anywhere can assume that they cannot be threatened though. And my heart goes out to the people (and the wildlife) affected.
      World wide weather moderation... wouldn't it be blissful? Warmth for you, coolth and rain over here.

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