Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 20 December 2015

Sunday Selections #255

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?  More things which have made me smile.


Mostly the usual things, but the smiles have been there (and welcome) just the same.

Visiting birds.




I liked the way the setting sun reflected the galah's colours back at it.

In the sky.  A colourful dawn this time.



The garden is suffering in the heat.  We are not as hot as some other parts of Oz, particularly South Australia and Victoria, but we are still hot.  Too hot.  And dry.  Just the same, some things are hanging in.

I do like these dwarf hollyhocks - and hope they spread their seed with gay abandon.





This calla is called mango and the fruit is another thing which makes me smile.

The biggest smile of all came from a treat the skinny one and I gave ourselves.  We went to see Cirque du Soleil's Quidam.  Which was fabulous.  As expected.  I don't think the performers are human.  Their agility, strength and suppleness are completely incredible.  

No photos while they are performing of course, so just two of the stage and the arena before the show started.


     
For those of you who celebrate it, I hope Christmas is full of love and laughter.  Indeed I hope that everyone's lives are full of those fine things - regardless of what they celebrate.
 

132 comments:

  1. Wishing you and yours a very happy, peaceful Christmas. I have never seen dwarf hollyhocks and hope I might find them here.

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    1. Relatively Retiring: I hadn't known about dwarf hollyhocks till I saw them in a catalogue of garden porn. I succumbed (of course) because I have had huge difficulties with the full sized ones. I hope your Christmas is lovely.

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  2. Lovely collection of photos. I came over from Hanna's blog and now I'm going to have a look about your place.

    :-)

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    1. PS: If you see my joining and unjoining your site it's because my profile picture has gone wonky and I'm trying to fix it.

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    2. The Happy Whisk: Welcome and thank you. I have been losing followers in droves over the last couple of years - but am always happy to welcome someone else on board. I will come over and visit you shortly.

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    3. My PS: I meant days. Over the last few days followers have been disappearing.

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    4. The same has happened to mine just today and yesterday. And then I got two more added back on. Odd, that.

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    5. The Happy Whisk: Blogger is a rule unto itself. I had assumed that I was being culled as part of some ones pre-Christmas clean up. I will wait and see.

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    6. I sometimes go through my blogs and unjoin folks that I haven't read. My husband used to do that every six months, just to clean up dead blogs and stuff like that.

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    7. The Happy Whisk: I should do a clean up. Soon. Ish.

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  3. First, the Parrots, loving it, and ending with the concert, brilliant images EC.

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    1. Bob Bushell: The birds are a delight aren't they? And Cirque was amazing.

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  4. I wish rain in their stockings for those who need it.Sunshine for others.
    I'm thinking a Cirque DVD might find its way under our tree...

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    1. dinahmow: We both said after the show that we would love to see it again - and would see different things each time we watched. There was so much going on...

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  5. Bet that was an awesome show to see. Incredible what those performers can do.
    Great sky shots.

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    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: It was awesome. Literally. This is the third of their shows we have seen live - and marvelled at.

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  6. Love it all and though we've just met recently, I can tell that I'm going to love you. Happiest holidays.

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    1. donna baker: Thank you so much - what a lovely thing to say. Happy holidays to you and yours too.

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  7. never heard of dwarf hollyhocks and love that mango calla lily. you got some really close ups of the parrots.

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    1. Linda Starr: I was quite close to the corellas and the galah, but the new camera has a most excellent zoom.

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  8. Love the sun reflecting off the galah's head. Gilding the lily.

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    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: If I was a 'real' photographer I would probably have been peeved. As it was I was intrigued. And you are right about gilding the lily.

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  9. I saw Cirque years ago & couldn't get over the agility of the performers!!

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  10. We tried Hollyhocks last year, but our seeds didn't sprout. We'll do it again this year; I do like them. The best of holidays to you and your Skinny One. I would miss you.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: I have had some epic fails with hollyhocks too. Insects took a few this year but I am pleased with those that survived.
      I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday - and that your healing gets a move on.

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  11. Thank you for this treat

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    1. Martin Kloess: My pleasure. Sorry, I still cannot access your blog.

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  12. Beautiful pictures but I love the birds today! How is Christmas celebrated in your country? Is it different from US I wonder? It doesn't feel like Christmas for me this year...tummy ache and tired of retailers screaming ads at me on phone, TV, and internet!!!

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    1. Bookie: Christmas is in high summer here so it is celebrated at least a little differently. The retailers are common though. And I am so over them.
      Here we will have a low key day. Salads. Calls with family members we cannot see in person.

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  13. I've also seen that performance from Cirque and absolutely loved it. I love (as always) your bird, flower and sky photos.

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    1. Cindi Summerlin: It was incredible wasn't it? As all of their shows are. This is the third we have seen live, and we have been blown away each and every time.

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  14. Beautiful birds, as usual...no doubt they've scouted out all the cool spots and the available water.

    Glad you got to see and enjoy Cirque du Soleil - those performers are quite magnificent. I've never physically seen them, of course, other than on TV.

    I hope you and The Skinny One have a great week, EC...and I wish you a Merry Christmas, whichever, whatever way you will be enjoying the time. Stay cool...relax and enjoy...cuddles to Jewel and Jazz and Christmas purrs to them from Remy and Shama. :)

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    1. Lee: If you get the chance, go and see Cirque du Soleil. Magnificent is an understatement.
      A lovely week and Christmas to you and to your furry overlords. How I would loathe being in a fur coat at the moment...

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  15. I always feel peachy pink pleasure from your work. Thank you. May you have really lovely holidays, my friend

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    1. Cloudia: Thank you. And to you. Peach and mango coloured pleasure.

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  16. Cirque du Soleil is an awesome thing to witness! They are incredible performers.
    I love the many birds you get to witness on a daily basis. Thank you for sharing them with those of us who are mostly birdless. :) Hope you get some rain soon.

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    1. River Fairchild: It is amazing isn't it? I run out of superlatives to describe it.
      I love our birds too, and am pleased that I don't bore people to sobs with them.
      Rain forecast for tomorrow, but I expect it will be incontinent pigeon rain. Splat, splat and gone.

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    2. Splat splat? Maybe not. We had a steady fall for several hours and I hope you get the same.

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    3. River: Even a pigeon could produce more than we received. More forecast for tonight. I hope it arrives.

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  17. Cirque du Soleil is amazing! Also, really really liked the first two pictures, the close and then really close were great :)

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    1. HBF: Thank you. We see the corellas most days and I marvel at them each and every time. And see different things in each photo I take. Being an obsessive with no short term memory has some advantages it seems.

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  18. Those birds... always take my breath away with their beauty. Blue eyes!

    Cirque du Soleil is on my bucket list. I am fascinated by what they do. I saw a recorded performance while waiting for an MRI once... amazing athletes... such grace!

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    1. Sherri: How nice to see you. You have been through such a hard time. Hugs. Cirque is amazing. Well worth seeing. And the recorded performances are good, but not a patch on the reality.

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  19. Always beautiful!
    Its the crap errr, I mean cold season here. But I shouldn't complain because it has been in the 40's so that is almost a heat wave.

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    1. Sonya Ann: Today we are nudging 100. A windy 100. And fires are burning here, as they are in at least three other states.

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  20. Seeing Cirque du Soleil is on my Bucket List. ;-)

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    1. Birdie: If you can, move it up the list. Really.

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  21. I was completely blown away the first time I saw Cirque du Soleil. It was bordered on fantasy that I had never imagined. The music and athleticism and creativity was stunning.

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    1. Jono: You summed it up beautifully. Fantasy that I had never imagined...

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  22. AFter you mentioned the fruit of the Mango calla lily, I tried to look it up, to see if it is edible and can't find anything about it, other calla lilies in general are toxic to dogs and cats, should they ingest them. You said the fruit makes you smile. So I assumed you eat it. Who knows I can't find a thing on the fruit. My search skills must be lousy. You got my interest!

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    1. Strayer: I am sorry. My woeful editing led you astray. The flower and the fruit are two very different beasts. I suspect the lily is so-called because of its colour, which is like the fruit which is in season here. And delicious.
      So many plants are poisonous to animals. Particularly cats. One of my sisters-in-law had an emergency vet trip after her cat ate her orchids. Here, Jazz destroyed one, but didn't take a bite.

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    2. That explains it. A "fruitless" search it was, for good reason. I love to eat mango's.

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    3. Strayer: I am sorry. And yes, mangoes are one of my favourite fruits. I am fond of fresh lychees at this time of year too.

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  23. What a lovely selection. The feathers on the galah's head seem to glow in the sunlight.
    That stage setting is so beautiful. I know Karen and her hubby have been to some of those shows in the past and have always been delighted by them. As you say the performers hardly seem human in what they can do.
    I hope you and the SP have a very happy and peaceful festive season.

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    1. Mimsie: The galah was a beauty wasn't it? I hope that your Christmas is peaceful, pleasant and NOT too hot.

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  24. A very pretty dawn. I did not know what a calla lily looked like. Now I do and they are common enough, but are they very different to Arum lilies?

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  25. I have been to three Cirque shows over the years and would love to see another one at some point. I don't know .. Perhaps three is enough for me really. I think the first was the best because it was full of anticipation and sensory overload.

    The calla is is indeed a lovely colour and I like the unusual choice of name .. LOL

    I hope your week is not too hectic and stressful EC. Happy Christmas x

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    1. carol: This was our third too. And I suspect we would sign up for a fourth. Greed? Perhaps.
      I hope your Christmas is peaceful and restorative. This week here is going to be a tad busy, and I am feeling overwhelmed but it will pass.

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  26. The colours on that galah! Nature is bolder and brighter on some animals than on others.

    I'm so glad you and the SP treated yourselves - Cirque is something I'd like to see some day.

    I hope your week will be quiet and restful, full of books and chocolate. And nighttime rain would be nice. Will hope for that, too.

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    1. jenny_o: The weather boffins are promising showers tonight. I do hope that they are not their usual 'strangers to the truth'.
      I hope your Christmas is gentle, with pleasant memories and not too many regrets. Hugs.

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  27. I am envious of the flora in your area as well as the birds. I have lovely singing birds, but they are not the gorgeous critters you get to see all the time.

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: Lots of our birds are spectacular to look at, but an equal number are NOT musical. Screeches rather than song.

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  28. Hi EC - how fantastic to be able to get to see the Cirque du Soleil's Quidam - wonderful and well done for giving yourselves that treat. Oh the heat - too hot .. I'm quite I'm back here in the cool now-a-days. Love the sky matching the Galla, the Mango Calla and then the hollyhocks - wonderful colours ...

    Have a peaceful Christmas and New Year coming up - cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: Way too hot. Cooler tomorrow for a day or two. I am so not a fan of summer. Cirque on the other hand...
      A peaceful and happy Christmas to you and yours.

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  29. The stage looks really nice.
    Never seen a Mango Calla lily, didn't know they came in a different colour, always thought they were white!
    Beat sky there in the am. Nice to see the Parrot white...and Galah, you were observant to see the light like that. Well done

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    1. Margaret-whiteangel: We have white, green, mango and yellow Callo lilies. And once had a red one. I think I like the green (which are known as green goddess) and the mango best.

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  30. Dear EC
    Lovely photos as always. Have a lovely Christmas and New Year too.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: And a lovely Christmas and New Year to you and yours.

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  31. I love the photos, especially the hollyhocks and calla lily. And of course, the bird!
    Merry Christmas to you, EC!!

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    1. Dawn@Lighten Up!: Thank you. I hope your holiday season is everything you could possible hope for.

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  32. I saw the Cirque many years ago and loved it. I know what you mean about it seeming like they are some other species than human. And I too wish you and the SP all the best for the holiday season and beyond. :-)

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    1. DJan: They are incredible aren't they? So much discipline, practice and work must go into each and every show. I imagine there are some spectacular bruises too.
      All the best (always) to you and Smart Guy.

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  33. I found you through Bookie's blog and subscribed. Love each of your posts and your wry way of describing who I take to be your husband. Bookie does the same thing with her DH. You're invited to subscribe to my blogs: pittypatter.blogspot.com (poetry) and pittypatter-pittypatter.blogspot.com (prose). I live in central Arkansas where this morning it is in the upper 30s. Glad our paths crossed; at least, I'm glad I discovered you/ your blog.

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    1. Patrica A. Laster: Welcome and thank you. The smaller portion is indeed my partner. We have been together well over thirty years now, but never married. I am envying your temperatures and will be over to visit later.

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  34. It does seem strange to think of having Christmas in the summer, but that is what you do. I would have to rethink the whole commercial version, though the real meaning of Christmas would remain.
    So such a treat going to Cirque de Soleil ... we went once in Las Vagas many many years ago before they became really famous. Then for a while they had a television show which we watched religiously. It is like watching supper hero's ... the amazement is endless and they just keep coming up with more and more. Lucky you ... that is a nice holiday present to savor.
    I wish you and SP a wonderful Holiday ... warm and cozy probably doesn't fit so I will say cool and comfortable with lots of love and friendship.

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. Andrea Priebe: How I would love a cool and refreshing Christmas...
      I hope that you have everything (and more) to make your heart sing.

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  35. I never cease to be amazed at the exotic nature of your birds. What a treat! Very jealous.

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    1. Craig: I suffer from blog envy on a daily basis. And gratitude that so many people share the marvels they live with.

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  36. Wishing you a Happy and Merry Christmas my friend...what images you have brought to make us all smile...the sky, the sun reflecting on the bird and those flowers! Pure joy....

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    1. Donna@LivingFromHappiness: I am always happy to share smiles. I hope your Christmas too is wonderful.

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  37. Merry Christmas to you and yours, too.

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    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: And to you and yours. I am deep into your latest book - for which I thank you.

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  38. Your fabulous birds and flowers just brighten ones day ... although I must confess to Cirque envy ;)

    Wishing you and yours a lovely holiday season.

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    1. Whisper Mist: Cirque envy is a brilliant term. I am so glad that our birds and flowers brighten days other than mine.
      I hope your holiday season is lovely.

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  39. Thank you for the Christmas wishes. The show looked incredible.

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    1. Sandra Cox: Oh it was. The superlatives I know were insufficient.

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    2. Your superlatives left a sense of breathlessness. So I'd say they were perfect.

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  40. The light on the galah is glorious, and now I want a Mango calla. Lovely photos, EC. My best wishes to you and the SP for a peaceful Christmas and a wonderful (and healthy) 2016.

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    1. Carol: Thank you. A healthy year (for both of us) is high on my wish list.
      I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday period. And that your garden does a phoenix and recovers completely.

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  41. The birds are fascinating to me. Especially the galah's colour. So soft. The flowers are gorgeous as well. I can't imagine having Christmas when the weather is hot, but it was hardly cold where I grew up in the south of the US. I always enjoy your blog.

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    1. Glenda C. Beall: Thank you. The galahs are very pretty birds (with far from pretty voices). Lots of our dawns are galah coloured too, in soft pinks and greys.

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  42. I have never been to a Cirque de Soleil show - I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Thank you for the gorgeous skies, and the birds of course - the flowers too.
    May you have lots of smiles every day!

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    1. Alexia: Thank you. I hope your life too is smile filled. Always.

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  43. Wonderful images, EC!
    The calla is aptly named...

    I think Cirque performers are definitely otherworldly ;)

    Thankfully, it has cooled down here, finally.
    The past few days have been abysmal, to say the least.

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    1. And, if this will be your last post before "the big day", I'd like to wish you, your SP and sweet Jazz and Jewel a safe and Merry Christmas!
      May 2016 be a very good year for you, filled with joy and wonderful experiences.
      Hugs xx

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    2. Vicki: Thank you so much. It is sticky here, but not as vile as the preceding days. I hope that you and yours have a marvellous year (and life) to come. I am so grateful to see your creative spirit at work.

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  44. I love that you are smiling.
    This makes me smile :) xx

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    1. My Inner Chick: I smile (and laugh) often. Sometimes at inappropriate things...Hugs.

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  45. The galah looks rooster red, and the mango looks delicious.

    Thanks for checking on me. xo

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    1. Rawknrobyn: You matter. I will keep checking on you. Hugs.

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  46. How on earth did I miss this yesterday?? I am so sorry.
    I've seen ads for Cirque du Soleil's Quidam on TV and think you are so lucky to have seen them.
    I think the galah with sunshine reflection should be enlarged and framed. I'm going to look out for dwarf hollyhocks every time I go to the nursery now.
    Love the dawn photos.

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    1. River: You had a busy day yesterday - and visiting here is NOT compulsory. Lovely to see you today though. We were lucky to see Quidam. Very, very lucky.

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  47. Beautiful pictures as always. Love a good show, Quidam sounds amazing.

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    1. Claire: Quidam was amazing - but I am yet to see a Cirque show which wasn't.

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  48. It's my dream to see Cirque!

    I was showing my mum your photos, she loves them. She's convinced the birds were posing for the camera, haha.

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    1. neena maiya (guyana gyal): I am glad that your mother liked the photos. Our visiting birds have become accustomed to the camera, and some of them do seem to put their best side forward.

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  49. Wonderful shots!

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  50. Like the parrot picture.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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    1. Filip and Kristel: Welcome and thank you. We are fond of the corellas and galahs too. And all the other feathered visitors.

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  51. Oh those birds are favulous, as are your flowers. Too bad it's dry but glad things are still growing. I love Cirque de Soleil. Will see some shows in January- I hope.
    May you have a joyous Holiday season. Treat yourself more.

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    1. Myrna R.: Thank you. I hope you do get your shows (treats) in January.

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  52. All of those photos are beautiful; I especially like the birds and the sky scene though.

    I'm not sure if you know where I'm at, but if you'd like to stop by you can click on my name by my comment and it will take you there, for I missed you my friend.

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    1. Lon Anderson: Thank you. No, I have lost track of where you are since you change blogs so often. Will be over to visit shortly.

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  53. I love the reflecting picture too!

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    1. Riot Kitty: Thank you. I was pleased with it - though a real photographer would no doubt sneer. Let them.

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  54. How adorable that parrot is. :)
    Happy Christmas!

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    1. Lux G.: I love them too. Cheeky, vandals, bullies - and much loved.
      Happy holidays to you too.

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  55. Every time I see your beautiful photos of your beautiful birds I can feel my blood pressure drop several notches — it feels like a big, happy sigh of contentment fills me.

    I'm not, however, happy to know that you are in the midst of your searing human parboiling season of misery. I feel guilty saying this, since I am at this very moment sitting in my car as a torrent of cold rain is crashing all around outside. It's hard to believe it is summer elsewhere.

    I'm glad you had the escape of the performance, which sounds lovely. Especially if it was air-conditioned. :-)

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    1. Ellen: I use the birds (and the sky and the garden) as stress relievers too.
      The sweaty season is vile. Truly vile. When we went to see Cirque the temperatures were nudging 100. The airconditioner was NOT up to it. I hope and trust it was much, much cooler for the performers.

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  56. Lovely images.
    I had to say we have unusual warm December this year... +8 .. +11 C and no snow at all. But it is not the same as you have there, I cannot even image your hot weather. Hope you will get a little bit colder there.

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    1. orvokki: The weather seems to be weird the world over. We have had a couple of cooler days (bliss) but it will start getting hotter again from tomorrow.

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  57. Your birds and flowers always fascinate me! My daughter loved cirque de soliel

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    1. Kim @ Stuff could...: I am fascinated by birds and flowers from your side of the world. Turn about is fair play. And cirque is amazing.

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  58. Hey Sue,

    Did some more serious scrolling....aha...I'm in the comment section :)

    Cirque du Soleil's Quidam is an amazing experience and I'm delighted for you both.

    Thanks for all those pretty pictures and have a great one.

    Gary

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    1. klahanie: Dear Gary. A great one to you too. Are you going to be on line at Christmas for people who need you again? I will contact you. Hugs.

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  59. Love your pictures, as always. The reflection on the bird's head is super pretty. What a shot! The Cirque performance sounds amazing. I have always wanted to see a show. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~ Jess: Thank you. Cirque was amazing. Truly amazing. As are the birds.

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  60. Merry Christmas, my friend! Love your birds so much! I'm always awed by them. It makes me want to round up all the caged birds here and bring them to you!

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    1. Lynn: A very Merry, love and laughter filled Christmas to you too. How I would love to set the caged birds free...

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