Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 8 November 2015

Sunday Selections #249

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.  I am continuing the 'home and away' theme this week.  Thank you so much to everyone who last week assured me that I wasn't boring them to sobs.
 
Starting with home.  I am of course again going to feature the sky, the garden and some birds.




Special wasn't it?

And then to the garden.  We had some blessed rain this week, and I ambled the garden admiring the rain jewels...




I don't think I have ever seen a sadder poppy.  Two days later, dry, it has recovered completely.






I am very fond of the abutilon.


And this Green Goddess Arum Lily.

The garden and I loved the rain.  The cats didn't.  The birds were a bit ambivalent too.  I did feel sorry for them.



 It doesn't matter how often the Eastern Rosellas visit, I always stop what I am doing to marvel at them.




 The corella at the feeder let me get very, very close.  He/she was obviously STARVING.

Now to the away part of the post.

His high and skinniness's holdiday is drawing to a close.  His sister was in London visiting her in-laws.  Despite not seeing her very often at all when they are both in Oz, he hopped onto a bus and caught up with her.  A very long trip too.  Over ten hours each way by bus, plus train trips.

They visited Wisley Gardens in Surrey, somewhere his sister goes every time she goes to the UK.  Which I could well understand.  This time they revelled in the autumnal colour, and then went to have lunch in a pub on a nearby canal.  (Canals seem to be a feature of this trip of his.)











 He took some cat photos, he said for me, but I think he is missing the psycho cat from hell (who is certainly missing him) and 'the obligatory London street scene, complete with double-decker bus', before returning to Amsterdam.




He has only sent me one photo from Amsterdam since he returned (I think he is totally exhausted) from just outside the Amsterdam Stock Exchange.


A bullish market anyone?

140 comments:

  1. Hi EC - love the photos ... did that big storm cloud get you up where you are in Oz? Also the flowers are so vibrant .. those Rosellas are just beautiful.

    I bet his High and Skinniness will be somewhat changed on his return. Wisley is glorious and I hope they had a dry day .. it's been foul since mid-week. Glorious cats, yes London and then the Bull - wonderful to see .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: We did get quite a lot of rain, but we are usually so very dry it was welcome. Very welcome.
      I gather the weather was 'soft' while they were at Wisley. Not precisely dry, but fine to walk through. It will be interesting to see if this trip has changed him - and if he has seen that Van Gogh with the cigarette. I reminded him about it in an email last night.

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  2. His Holiness has shared some great photos with us (well...with you and then you with us...if you know what I mean)! :) This is quite a major trip he is on.

    I love battered fish, but I can never get my head around having it with peas. I like it with chips (of course) and a fresh mixed salad, but never peas. Different strokes for different folks...

    Between you and River I feel as if I've just had a stroll through the botanical gardens! Great photos, one and all.

    Have a great week, EC...and cuddles to your two furry roomies. :)

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    1. Lee: He is covering a lot of ground isn't he? And he tells me the photos on his camera are better than the ones he has been sending me...
      A great week to you and the birthday cats.

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  3. It must be wonderful to see England in the autumn. I am no longer surprised when food is served in all sorts of odd containers or boards, but serving peas in a colander is a knew one to me. I remember seeing that bull but I would not have been able to say where. Good photos again, from both home and abroad.

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    1. Andrew: The peas in a colander surprised me too. At least it wasn't mushy peas...
      England in the autumn would be amazing wouldn't it, though parts of the US look special too.

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    2. Haha, even though it's odd, I hadn't noticed that the peas were served in a collander. They'd go cold very quickly in that, I bet.

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    3. I was thinking it was a good thing they weren't mushy peas as well...

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    4. Jacquelineand...: Two very similar sick minds.

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  4. One of the reasons why I adore the UK is because of autumn. Those photos at the end of your post explain why. Thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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    1. A Cuban in London: Autumn is such a special time of year isn't it? Arboreal fireworks.

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  5. What gorgeous photos of the sky. The colors are magnificent.

    My cat always hated the rain. We'd be out in the garden and at the first drop she'd literally scream and run into the house. One day our landlord was there, and the poor thing looked at me and said, "I didn't do anything to her." I grinned and said, "I know."

    Have a good one.
    Mary

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    1. mxtodis123 ~ Mary: The current cats treat rain as an affront to their precious dignity. We have also had cats who would go out and lie in gentle rain. They are a rule unto themselves aren't they? Your poor landlord...

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  6. Your husband found some nice gardens there.
    Amazing how close you can get to those birds.

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    1. Alex J Cavanaugh: The birds are used to me. And that one was very, very hungry. I assume the wet weather had made finding food harder.
      Those gardens are a delight aren't they? His sister gets the credit for getting him there though.

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    2. "The birds are used to me," she says.

      I can just hear dem birds, Here she comes again with that camera!

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    3. neena maiya (aka guyana gyal): 'Why doesn't she put that clicky box down and give us more FOOD'.

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  7. I would have my eyes glued to the feeders if I had such spectacular visitors such as yours. Even my prettiest birdies have lost their breeding colors. I also enjoy your husband's travel photos. He does have a good eye. There is a similar bull on Wall Street in NYC.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: Believe me I do spend a LOT of time each day watching the birds. Those rosellas maintain that colouring all year round - which is a delight.
      I did love the bull, and am looking forward to seeing the 'better' photos from his trip.

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  8. It has everything painted skies, colourful flowers and birds and dinner at the end, weird way of serving peas.
    Merle............

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    1. Merlesworld: It struck me as a lazy way to serve peas. Dip the colander into the saucepan they are cooking in, and drop it on the plate...

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  9. All pictures are lovely, but I would like to be at the canals. The flowers are lovely. Here our color comes from the trees and pumpkins right now. Tonight we are to possibly get our first freeze. Love seeing your colors there!

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    1. Bookie: I would love to be at the canals too. I have long thought that a canal boat holiday in the UK would be blissful.
      I hope your freeze, if it arrives, is gentle.

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  10. What a sky, awesome. The Parrots are special too. Ending with a pub lunch in England, love it.

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    1. Bob Bushell: And a pub on a canal makes it even better. His sister didn't want an evening meal, but I am guessing that her husband and her brother both did.

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  11. I thought the flowers with raindrops really lovely, EC - well done! The yellow abutilon is very pretty, and of course the birds are special, as always.
    It sounds as if the SP is nearing the end of his trip - he has certainly seen lots of interesting places!

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    1. Alexia: He is indeed nearing the end of this trip. I suspect he will be itching to go back though. He has always loved travelling and health issues have grounded him for far too many years.

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  12. What a great selection from you EC - you never seem to disappoint us. Wisley is a lovely place to visit - it was wet the time we were there but enjoyable just the same. And as for food in strange containers - as Andrew mentioned served on boards. that I loathe more than anything else because I wonder if they go through the dishwasher or ar just wiped down, also the food tends to fall off the edges.. Wet wood takes an age to dry so the restaurants would need quite a few and I cant see that happening

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    1. Cathy: Dishwashers aren't kind to wood either. I suspect you are right and they get a Jamie Oliver wipe down. Shudder. At least the colander container could be readily cleaned.
      Wisley looks as if it would be a delight - whatever the season.

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  13. Like you have said EC, you needed some good rain to prepare for Summer. Let's hope there is more to come. The Arum lily is so elegant. Incredible that the poppy just bounced back from getting wet ~ nature huh?

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    1. carol: I do hope that we get more rain. Having lived (precariously) on tank water in the past I am never sorry to get rain. I am particularly fond of Green Goddess - I have other arum lilies but that one is my favourite.
      Nature is a very mixed bag. Always.

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  14. Love the cat pictures! The corellas don't look quite so muddy in this go-round, at least. They must be happy about that.
    I really, really want to go back to London now. I've never been there in the autumn and seen the colors.

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    1. River Fairchild: Despite my English heritage I have never been to the UK. I would like to see it in all seasons - and autumn is a particular favourite.
      Some of the corellas are cleaner - it was quite a downpour - and a couple of them are now brown birds.

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  15. oh those gardens so beautiful and the bull, how dramatic

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    1. Linda Starr: NOT a bull you would welcome into a china shop...

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  16. I love the term "rain jewels." May I borrow it, with full credit and thanks extended to you? That gives me a different view of flowers and I love the cat, his black and white coat looks like my Jacob. We are having no autumnal shadings here--still feels like summer, unfortunately. Best to you.

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    1. e: Of course you can use the term rain jewels. I am not even certain whether it is my own. It popped into my head as I admired the water sparkling in the sun.
      The black and white cat is a charmer isn't he? Both of our current cats are black. Beautiful, but with a very different feel to that charmer.
      I hope that autumn pushes summer out the way for you soon.

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  17. I love rain jewels on gardens and the corella with his/her beak in the seeds certainly does look hungry.
    The autumn colours in Wisley make a real pretty patchwork of the countryside, the canal picture right under the food picture is my favourite.
    Love the cats :)

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    1. River: I am enjoying cats from round the world too. And yes, to rain jewels. I would happily see them every morning. His sister has raved about Wisley Gardens for years now - and I wouldn't argue.

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    2. And flowers too, I think of them as jewels. Dew, rain, flowers...all jewels.

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  18. The pictures are beautiful....and those Rosellas, gorgeous!! I can't believe there are wild birds that stunning just flying into your yard. It's magical!!

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    1. 1st Man: Each and every time I see the rosellas I smile. We live in the 'bush capital' and visitors like that are one of the bonuses.

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  19. Very nice photographs! Glad that bull isn't real. . .

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    1. D.G Hudson: Thank you. It doesn't look like the most amenable of bulls does it?

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  20. Is the sky like that most mornings/evenings at your place EC? I'm sooo jealous.
    I love Abutilon too. Chinese Lanterns. I love the dual colours and the small ones and the large ones and....

    The birds have been especially hungry around here too. Lots of mummas and papas feeding growing babies.

    Wisley!! He went to Wisley! Argh, so jealous again. Next to Sissinghurst, it is on my list of must see gardens... if I ever make it over to the UK that is. Sigh, I literally inhaled these images. Isn't it a glorious place?!

    Huh, the peas weren't "mushy".

    Lovely sculpture.
    What a lot of bull...

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    1. Vicki: The sky is often, but not always a joy. A bit of cloud makes for better sunsets and sunrises, but it is very often beautiful. And I am grateful.
      Wisley looked amazing didn't it? I too would love to see Sissinghurst. I must ask his sister whether she has been.
      And yes, that was a HEAP of bull.

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  21. There's so much to enjoy here, an eye-feast.

    Oz sky in the evening with the scent of eucalyptus in the air...that's what your pic reminds me of.

    I too am in love with flowers dripping with rain, ayie yai yai.

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    1. neena maiya (aka guyana gyal): Definitely with the scent of eucalyptus in the air. We have three large eucalypts and despite them throwing branches at us every so often I love them. And rain.

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  22. Rain on flowers! Just something so good about that..they do look great.
    London photos...very nice showing the Autumn tones..

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: Rain is such a wonderful thing. Every thing looks and smells fresher after a rain bath. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons so I have been loving seeing it in other parts of the world.

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  23. He certainly keeps you visually up to date on all his international meanderings. I'm sure you and your garden were thankful for some rain, but surely the birds appreciate some moisture too. And why was the corella starving? There was a lovely sky here this morning too, I was up earlier than usual..... I don't normally see the sun rising!

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    1. Shammickite: He keeps me up to date visually, but is a bit lax with the words. The birds do appreciate the moisture - but have nowhere to shelter when it buckets down. It definitely did bucket down overnight and I suspect the corella was starving because food had been harder to find in the rain.

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  24. Happy moments all round, even with the rain. My chooks are having a great time in the leaf piles and catching bugs this week. :)

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    1. Snoskred: I do envy you your chooks. Contented chooky sounds are one of the most comforting things I can think of. And I like their bug hunting.

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  25. Your pictures are beautiful, especially the ones with the pink and purple sky.
    That was quite a long trip your partner took to see his sister. Good for him, though. Life is getting shorter and we should not miss the opportunities to connect with our families and loved ones.

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    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: Hopefully he will see more of her when they are both back in Oz too. Not only is life getting shorter our families are shrinking too.

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  26. Wow, Wisley Gardens is an inspiring sight! So well kept, and those trees look like they have stories to tell. I hope His Skinniness has had a proper good time.

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    1. John Wiswell: Wisley Gardens looks like a delight. As for trees and their stories, the Ents were on of my favourite bits of Lord of the Rings. I would love to be able to hear some of the trees stories. In fact I would like to become a tree.

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  27. Your sky shot are faabulous and the variety of flwers in your garden i impressive but the Poppy did look very sad. It wa great that your partner met up with his sister adn Weesley is the most wonderful place to visit. The canal scene look lovely and now it wil not be long before his return home to you.

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    1. Margaret Adamson: Thank you. Not long at all now.

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  28. Fabulous pictures, near and far. I love the raindrops, knowing how scarce they are, Had a lot of fun looking at all the pictures. :-)

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    1. DJan: Rain is precious. I hope you return to a more normal pattern with it this year.

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  29. When I scroll through your photos, it never ceases to amaze me how colorful the birds are that visit you. Ours are mostly all much more muted or simply brown/grey/black with just a touch of color here and there. A flash of a male bluebird is about as colorful as we get here. It sounds like the wanderer has had a busy trip!

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    1. Susan F.: You get birds viisting you which fill me with envy. Lots of ours are colourful (though we also get the little brown jobs) but they are not musical. Sometimes very far from musical.

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  30. Love those colorful birds. AMAZING that they just fly around!
    Why is the Poppy so sad?
    The kitty cats are FAB!!!))) xxxx

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    1. My Inner Chick: I really, really like the birds being free to visit. Or not. I think that poppy had been drowned - which is why I thought it looked sad.
      And cats are always FAB. Just ask them.

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  31. I have seen you comment on other blogs and came to have a look. Amazed at your reading list. Can't get over it. I am reading a Kate Atkinson book now, Took my Dog or something like that that someone recommended. I also have read and like Alice Hoffman though haven't read that book. I would like to ask this. I've had terrible luck with fiction this year and would you please tell me three of your favorite titles this year. (Would those be in the re-read columns?)

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    1. donna baker: Welcome. I read a lot. I neglect other things to read. Mind you, on the fiction front I don't think this has been a good year. I was intrigued by The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) and am looking forward to the Ben Aaronovitch which is about to be released. Also the latest Robert Galbraith.
      What do you like to read? That might help me give more focussed recommendations.

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    2. Oh gosh, not really sure. Just not romances. Last book I read that I liked was ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE. I tried Murakami and didn't like it. Then Michael Chabon and can't get through it, A SPOOL OF BLUE THREAD by Anne Tyler was boring and just read THE DOG STARS which I didn't like. Just having a terrible time picking books. Some readers gave me some titles and I am trying those. Just want to be really entertained I guess, not just think, I wish I had my money back.I'll google Galbraith and Aaronovitch. Thank you. By the way, I am such a birder; love watching them. What a treat to live around your species.

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    3. donna baker: I have heard good things about All the Light... And will get to it. Bloggers whose books warrant investigation are R Mac Wheeler (lots of books. lots of genres), River Fairchild (plenty of books, mixed genres, delightful snarky humour), Mark Koopmans - Revival came out last week and is a moving non-fiction memoir, Robyn Engel (Woman on the Verge of Paradise) made me laugh and made me weep.
      Murder Mysteries: Janet Evanovitch for fun, Laurie King for a series featuring Sherlock Holmes and his wife... and so many more. Books and birds are definitely my obsessions. Some of my obsessions.

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    4. Thank you so dear Child. I will write those down and look for them in the city this weekend.

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  32. One of those birds looks facedown dead, so I’m wondering if the fried or baked bird-shaped thing is him or her. I don’t know if I like the white rose or the read poppy the best. You say that the poppy looks sad, but I loved it way mucho. I’m sorry Skinny failed to photograph a double-decker bus. If you opt for divorce, we will all understand (it helps that we don’t know how you put up with him anyway since you’re so very extremely eternally and wonderfully sweet and, well, wonderful despite your modest mention of having somewhat of a temper, whereas all the hell Skinny ever does is stay home and have surgery and then carp about it, after which he leaves you to go travelling). I, personally—as opposed to impersonally--think you should stop off in England to pick up All Consuming, and then come visit Peggy and me.

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    1. Snowbrush: Not dead. Eating. I think (hope) that the battered thing he was consuming was fish.
      That poppy had been drowned, but has perked up and is dancing happily with rather a lot of relatives. My favourite things in the garden changes with the day, the season, my whim.
      Me? Sweet? Wonderful? I suspect there would be some arguments close to home. Stopping off to pick up All Consuming and coming to visit you and Peggy (and the felines who share your home) sounds very, very tempting.
      I would much prefer that his high and skinniness was overseas to the hospital jaunts he was making a habit of. Much.

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  33. Interesting (and Re "Psycho Cat": Is there any other kind?)

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    1. Andrew Maclaren-Scott: There is psycho and there is psycho. And Jazz fits both categories.

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  34. Special all! Hope you had a great weekend.

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    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: I did. Busy, but satisfying. I hope you did too.

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  35. What great pictures. The roses are breathtaking.

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    1. Sandra Cox: You always warm my heart with your comments.

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  36. The sky, the garden and some birds sounds like a great title for a poem. It certainly makes for a great photographic post. Thank you. All trips end, and soon routines will resume. Glad he's had such a wonderful time and that he spent time with his sister.

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    1. Myrna R.: On that basis I live my life in a poem - which is a different, but wonderful way of looking at it. Thank you for a bright new perspective.

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  37. I love the trees, as always, and those roses - from the number of buds, it looks like you will soon have many more. When I embiggen your photos it is as if I can touch the things you've photographed, and never more so than the photo of the corella. Having had a budgie as a pet (poor thing, this was many many years ago) I know how those feet would feel. And I presume the beak would be much sharper than my budgie's was ...

    I am glad you got rain, and that your partner is having a good trip after being sidelined for so long. Thank you for sharing all his and your photos.

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    1. jenny_o: I was out this morning taking photos of a softly beautiful dawn, and thought of you. Those wires were in evidence again.
      We too had birds in cages when I was small. Which I regret. Badly.

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  38. Are your sky pictures morning or evening? If morning, it would actually be worth getting up early to see. Do you frame your pictures? They are beauties.

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    1. Sandra Cox: This was an evening sky - but I was out early this morning capturing dawn magic. There are a few photos on the walls here, but none (yet) of dawn or dusk. Mostly Antarctica. And some of himself's travels.

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  39. Those rosellas are amazing! Such beautiful colours all over them!

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    1. Claire: Aren't they a delight? I am always amazed at how hard they can be to spot if they put their heads down in the grass...

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  40. I so love the birds you feature! I can't imagine having such gorgeous birds visiting. The sky photos are also stunning.

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    1. Julie Flanders: I long to see rather a lot of birds world-wide. Hummingbirds, owls, raptors, cardinals....

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  41. I do love your blog, all the pretty pictures and the smart people. Can I hide here for a while?

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  43. Your Sunday Selections are always so wonderful. The sunset (great) and all the birds and flowers you show us are so lovely. And UK views are also wonderful.
    Have a happy week.

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    1. orvokki: Thank you so much. And a happy week to you too.

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  44. Dear EC, what a lovely garden you must have with all those flowers in bloom at the same time--the colors are magnificent and the rain drops make them seem like fairyland.

    The colors of those photos of England/Surrey are equally beautiful. They are the shades of autumn and your blooms of spring. Nature is so generous to us.

    I went to Holland once, way back in 1979 with two friends. The people there were so helpful and welcoming. I have good memories of that trip. I hope "thinness" has equally good memories. Peace to you now and always.

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    1. Dee: His high and skinniness has had a wonderful holiday. It has been a long time coming, but is finally here. The garden is a mixed blessing - as they all are. Lots of flowers, lots of weeds. And on balance I get more pleasure than pain from it. Lovely to see you here. I hope it means your writing is going well.

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  45. The pink in your pictures is described in Nila's poetry today! Lovely!

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    1. Yolanda Renee: Nature is so often a poem isn't it? And/or a song.

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  46. The clarity of these photos is awesome. I love the flowers with dew-drops - impressive!

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    1. Rawknrobyn: Thank you. Rain, rather than dew - which made it doubly welcome.

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  47. Hi EC! Those flowers with the raindrops on them went straight to my head! So gorgeous and colourful and the rain adds the little extra to your photos. Thanks for sharing the UK and the Amsterdam pic. No doubt hubs is exhausting and looking for home by now! Travel is exhilarating, but exhausting!

    Denise :-)

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    1. Denise Covey: The raindrops made my heart sing. Puddling through wet grass, shortly after first light, camera in hand...
      I am not certain he is ready to come home, but he is coming anyway. There will be other trips.

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  48. Your sky pictures are beautiful! I love the colors. I am a sucker for flowers with dew or raindrops on them. Looks like the pictures from abroad are taking us to new places. Very nice! I love traveling the world when I am at your blog. Thanks for sharing!
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: It is one of the nicest things about the blogosphere that I know. We can share things. Beauty, books, troubles...

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  49. Fish and chips with mushy peas! Yum - takes me back to my trip to England. :)

    I adore your flower photos and glad you got some rain. We've gotten a little more than our share the last several days - to the point that tall trees are falling over.

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    1. Lynn: I am so sorry to hear that you are losing trees. We have lost them too - but to drought rather than rain. Nature is often not a compassionate being. Amazing, but not compassionate.

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  50. Love the pink skies. We are seeing a lot around here now too.

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  51. I miss my Irises. I'm going to have to plant some.

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    1. Sandra Cox: I hope you do. I keep falling in love with new ones. And weakening.

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  52. I was blown away by those birds. You are so lucky. We don't have those in Wisely Gardens, which is near where i work. I've never visited though. It's too far from my office.

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    1. Anna of the Mutton Years: Not far from where you work? Bliss. I would find it hard to go to the office. But then I did always find it hard to go to the office.

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  53. I love the rose in bloom photo, surrounded by buds. I wish the birds here were so colorful and exotic. Lovely pictures sent by your sp of the garden. He's had a very long holiday.

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    1. Strayer: Can you imagine your cats longing if our birds were taunting them? Jazz n Jewel both chitter with suppressed lust. Often.
      He did have a good holiday - and got back late last night.

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  54. Hi Sue,

    Awesome photos, as per usual. Wisley Gardens brings back some memories of when I used to live in Surrey.

    It's nice to see a shared combo of photos from you and your husband. He might tell you that the weather in England has been unseasonably mild.

    Thank you, Sue.

    Gary

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    1. klahanie: Wisley Gardens are beautiful. He did comment about the mildness of the weather. Amsterdam too. Russia not so much.
      I hope you, Tristan and Penny are well.

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  55. Hi EC:)

    "His high and skinniness's...." [I'm still laughing at that description]

    Anyway, I wanted to comment about the "Words for Wednesday" - If you still need someone to help/host for April and/or beyond, please count me in. I'd love to help continue this wonderful theme! Just let me know:)

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    1. Mark Koopmans: Thank you so much. The more the merrier. I will send you an email later today. My mother called my partner my better half. I am taller so said he had to be the smaller portion. From there the term his high and skinniness evolved. Which makes me smile too - and is affectionately meant.

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    2. Oh, I'm sure it is - and you obviously found someone with a similar sense of humor :)

      I'll look out for that email - but do it when you have some free time... I see you running around following this strange book tour... (and that is affectionately meant, too :)

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  56. Ah he is having a nice time. :) I saw that bull but it was in NYC. ;) These are great pictures. The London scene is nice. When we visited, my husband said he was surprised more people didn't get ran over on the streets there. The very next day we saw a big red bus bump into a man who was waiting for it. The man got on, they raised their voices at each other, he boarded and the bus moved on with him on it, lol.

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    1. mail4rosey: What a lucky man. I can't imagine that many people tangle with a bus and have no bad effects. And yes, he had a wonderful time.

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  57. Amazing, he's doing so well! And was over here too. I'm glad he's made the most of his time away, and I'll bet it's not just psycho cat that has missed him too. Your garden is as stunning as ever, how long have you lived there? Was there much in the way of plants when you first moved in? I so wish I had your talent with flowers, I'm bloody useless with them. This year I'm aiming to get a job lot of perennials that look nice and hope they look after themselves barring a bit of pruning. The birds look cheeky sods as usual. x

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    1. All Consuming: He is back - and had a marvellous time. I expect he will be itching to go again sooner rather than later. There wasn't a lot in the garden when we got here (20 years ago!). It has been, and still is a work in progress. And believe me there have been failures. Sometimes epic.

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  58. The other man's grass can be quite beautiful even with the absence of Tulips.

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    1. Vest: The tulips will come again - and he had plenty at home this year.

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  59. Bullish market. Ha.
    The garden they visited is so beautiful and serene-looking.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Isn't it? I would love to spend some time there.

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  60. Each and every flower you've posted from dew drops to rose thorns, and the tired poppy all remarkable in their own beauty. Always like your birds, even if I don't know them by name, they are such a joy to see. The trip is drawing to a close, (he may need a long rest) hehehe but the photos are wonderful. Especially the kitty-cats and that closing photo of the bull!

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    1. Karen S.: Thank you. He is home, and firmly asleep. As he has been for over twelve hours now. He is a world champion sleeper, and part of me is jealous. Not only has he had a very long sleep, he will be able to sleep tonight as well.

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  61. Hello, nice to find this blog. These pictures are absolutely beautiful. I love taking pictures too, and I love all of nature and adore cats.

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    1. Brenda: Welcome and thank you. I am also a big fan of nature, and the cats rule my world.

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  62. Wow - fabulous shots of your garden and skies. And, of course, the gardens in Surrey are stunning too.

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    1. ladyfi: The gardens in Surrey look amazing. I got a message this morning from his sister to say she was there again.

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  63. The juxtaposition of the images from here and there remind me of Dorothea McKellar's My Country. It's fascinating to look at the different light as well as the different subjects.

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    1. Kim: We were discussing the difference in light only yesterday. It is a real mood setter isn't it? For good and for ill...

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  64. Yes, those pictures you captured of the sky really ARE special. Such beautiful colors. Same for the shots of the flowers. The droplets of water on them made them even more exquisite. True art.

    The first cat pic your hubby sent cracked me up. Looks like he has a dapper little mustache.

    Happy weekend!

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    1. Susan: I have lived through too many droughts to ever mind the rain. Indeed I welcome it. And marvel at it.
      That was a very dapper cat all round wasn't it? Though it didn't look entirely happy to have its photo taken.

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  65. Wow, I am far behind. I think if I walked by that statue it would scare me!

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    1. Riot Kitty: Particularly if the light was dim...

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