Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 17 July 2016

Sunday Selections #285

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.  It is winter here.  And one day this week the weather reminded us.  Forcibly.  The wind howled all night (bringing down trees and powerlines across the city).  Snow was forecast.  And when I got up the next morning it had arrived.  So I headed out just after first light.  Those of you in the Northern Hemisphere will probably snicker at our relatively insignficant fall, but it was more than we have had in the city for years.  The snow melted relatively quickly but the wind continued all day and we didn't reach double digit temperatures.  The wind chill factor meant that it never felt above 5C/41F.


It was pretty though.  I was (for a change) grateful for MS which means that I rarely get cold, and himself and the cats were very grateful that our heater (which had been non-functional) had been fixed the day before.











Later that day we headed off the arboretum to see the annual Warm Tree exhibition.  Photos to follow later.

136 comments:

  1. And up here, the rain continues.More drizzly at present, but yesterday's laundry is still out....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dinahmow: Crisp and clear here. No rain. No clouds. The washing doesn't dry in a day though. Or not without assistance.

      Delete
  2. Takes me back to the days when I was an outdoors man

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Martin Kloess: I hope you enjoyed the wander down memory lane.

      Delete
  3. Looks like the hills and mountains got a fair share of snow.
    We see some here, but not a lot. And as hot and humid as it is right now, your snow looks really good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex J. Cavanaugh: I will take wind and snow over hot and humid any day.

      Delete
  4. Very pretty and it looks icy. No wonder the politicians leave for the winter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew: You have just given me another reason to like winter. Mind you, the pollies don't see a lot of weather. The airport is airconditioned. Comcars are airconditioned. Parliament House is airconditioned...

      Delete
    2. Politicians are airconditioned...no, wait; they're just air.

      Delete
    3. River: And not fresh air either.

      Delete
  5. Lovely photos, I love the snow.
    Roasting hot here today ... with the same people who have been asking 'Where's our Summer?' now complaining 'Its too hot!'... Typically British xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bugerlugs63: I like the snow too. And we are pretty good about moaning about the weather too. Any weather. It is always too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry...

      Delete
  6. Snow? In Australia? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
    But, fantastic images EC.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob Bushell: Definitely snow. And it falls every year. Just not usually so close to home.

      Delete
  7. I've only seen snow from afar...never up close. And that was snow on Mount Wellington when I was in Hobart in July 1987...the year Pat Cash won Wimbledon.

    And the closest I've come to the closest thing to snow here in Queensland was winter 1984 when we were living at Coolum on the Sunshine Coast. One very cold day much to everyone's surprise sleet decided to pay the area a visit.

    I hope you have a great week ahead, EC...cuddles to your two furry mates. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee: Snow can be very beautiful. Very, very beautiful. In one of our homes in the central-west of NSW we used to get snowed in at least once a year. And I much prefer cold weather to hot.
      I hope you and your furry overlords have a great week too.

      Delete
    2. Snowed in? In Australia??

      Delete
    3. River: Snowed in. We lived on a farm. Dirt roads only. It didn't take much snow (and we often got eight or nine inches) to make them impassable unless you had four wheel drive. Which we didn't. It was thirty years ago at least, and four wheel drives were rare.

      Delete
  8. Gather the cats, a blanket and a pile of good books and settle in. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Birdie: After our outing to the Arboretum that is pretty much what we did. And I enjoyed the outing AND hunkering down inside.

      Delete
  9. Very pretty shots, EC. I wouldn't like to be out in it, though! We have a mountain range within view, and usually see a little snow on the tops about once a winter. Not so far this year, but the ski-field operators, further south, have finally been smiling this week. Take care and keep warm - well, comfortable anyway :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alexia: We can quite often see snow on the hill tops, but rarely see it closer. It was pretty. And 'invigorating'. I suspect most people were happy to see it gone though.

      Delete
  10. We had a wild windy night here through the week too. Must be the same night. I am not enjoying this Winter at all; it has been mostly overcast and if the sun does appear it isn't until around 10am and the damp evening air starts to settle in again around 4pm. Looking forward to your visit to the arboretum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. carol in cairns: Our winter days are usually crisp, cold with blue skies. We have had more grey days this winter too. Blue today though. The arboretum was fun. As it always is, whatever the season.

      Delete
  11. After spending much of my life enduring the cold winters of Indiana, I now live where it seldom sees frost, let alone snow.
    I actually love it quite a lot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Cranky: Warm weather seems to be kinder to your health, so I am not surprised you are loving it.

      Delete
  12. Keep your snickers tied tight. Today, wishing I could trade places. Fried my brain trying to catch up on yard work since hurting my ribs. Three pints helped at linner (lunch-dinner)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Author R. Mac Wheeler: I hope you didn't set your recovery back. And it doesn't take much heat to fry my brain cells. Both of them.

      Delete
  13. Thank you, EC! I'm in a miserable Summer here and am dreaming of frosty days and nights. I don't feel the cold either, but the heat is unbearable this year, and not "normal" for this corner of the world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Austan: When our sweaty season arrives I long for frost. I am quite happy for winter to stay, and hope you get some relief from the miserable heat. Soon.

      Delete
  14. I love watching snow fall. It's certainly more common here than there but still infrequent enough to be special and exciting (and only occasionaly annoying). Glad the heater got fixed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HBF: It is special. It is exciting. And beautiful. And yes, the heater working again is a positive.

      Delete
  15. No snickers here! It looks cold to me, although those sky pictures are wonderful at any time of the year. I didn't know you don't feel the cold so much with MS. Learned something new. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DJan: Heat does me (and many others with MS) in. Cold? I am comfortable at temperatures many are not. My sweet spot is about 14C/57F. I do get cold, but it takes a long time and low temperatures.
      And I did love the snow. Insignificant as it was.

      Delete
    2. My sweet spot is considerably higher at 25C, but my comfort zone is quite small, 25C to 30C. After that I'm too hot. I do enjoy the cold weather, but not once it gets frosty, for me, that's too cold.

      Delete
    3. River: 30C is well outside my comfort zone. Which is sad, because we often have weeks over that.

      Delete
  16. Love the photos. Here in Alabama (USA) we've been in the upper 90s with temps around 108 degree with the heat index. Snow is cold to me no matter if it's a dusting or several feet. So glad your heat is functioning again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mason Canyon: While I am also grateful the heater has been fixed I prefer our current temperatures to yours.

      Delete
  17. Great photos. Not my favourite time of year but it can look so pretty, as you've shown.

    Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marie Smith: Thank you. More beautiful winter shots next Sunday. I hope you have a wonderful week too.

      Delete
  18. Replies
    1. kylie: It was. A very different start to the day, but undeniably pretty.

      Delete
  19. It's 84 very humid degrees in Los Angeles--I wish we could get some snow!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. fishducky: 84 and humid sounds like a foretaste of hell to me. I would happily share our snow with you. If we still had it. It is still cool though. Blissfully so.

      Delete
  20. It looks so pretty, but I'm glad we don't get snow here.
    I like the pink tinged clouds and mountain tops, sunrise adds a nice glow. I don't think I'd like to be at 5C all day, it's bad enough shivering in the predawn chill when Angel is insistent about going out or coming back in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River: I do like it. The cats insist on going out in it - and don't last long at all. They have fifteen minutes (at most) outside and come in, have breakfast and hunker down for the day.

      Delete
  21. Oh, I feel cooler just looking at your lovely photos! We had a bit of a reprieve today a balmy 25C. I actually got out and about, first time in 3 weeks. Temps soaring back into the high 30's(C), low 40's with disgusting humidity in the coming days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen: I am so sorry. I know that you, like me, have huge problems with heat. I hope you can stay cool inside and aren't going too stir crazy.

      Delete
  22. Very pretty to see snow on those mountains top. We don't get any snow, but we did get that icy cold wind and rain that was coming in sideways.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CountryMum: That wind was vicious wasn't it? Definitely a lazy wind, going through not round you. And there was no doubt it was coming from the snow.

      Delete
  23. Very pretty photos. 5C/41F almost sounds like a summer day to us Brits! Ha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LL Cool Joe: I suspect I would prefer your summer to ours...

      Delete
  24. Hi EC - I well remember your descriptions ... Johannesburg is over 5,000 feet - and boy was it cold at this time of year - we'd get hoar frost ... we had lots of snow one year in September. I'm glad you got the heater working for himself and the cats ... take care and don't slip - yugh - cold! Cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: I remember hoar frost. Beautiful, but bitterly cold. I still prefer cold to heat. I find it easier to get warm than to get cool.

      Delete
  25. I don't miss snow. This week will be hotter and hotter as it progresses and will not have air conditioning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: Enjoy your ride - and stay safe. You can keep the heat though. I really don't miss summer.

      Delete
  26. It snows here on occasion and you're right, it can be beautiful. But right now it's in the 90 f and will be in triple digits next weeks. Snow sounds really good right now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rick Watson: Triple digits? Shudder. Snow would be much, much better. Stay cool, stay safe.

      Delete
  27. I decided to post some Sunday Selections this week. Mine aren't beautiful scenery like yours but they are as beautiful of my granddaughter who was with me all week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Granny Annie: I loved your Sunday Selections. And your granddaughter IS very beautiful.

      Delete
  28. Dear EC
    We're forecast a mini heatwave for the next two days with humidity and temperatures of 32 degrees C which is much too hot for me!
    I hope you enjoy the snow (I always enjoy looking at it from inside!)
    Best wishes
    Ellie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ellie Foster: 32 and humidity? Not good. I hope you can stay cool.

      Delete
  29. I love the look of snow on mountains. What a gorgeous sight. I'm sure Jazz n Jewel weren't thrilled by the weather. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River Fairchild: No, they weren't impressed. They asked (demanded) to go out. Went out. And rushed back in. Wussy cats.

      Delete
  30. interesting you don't get cold, I didn't use to but now in winter my legs get cold, beautiful photos and I am intrigued by warm tree ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda Starr: I do get cold, but it takes quite a while and cooler temperatures than most people. Warm Trees is an annual event at our Aboretum, and the day we went the trees looked very grateful for the warmers...

      Delete
  31. As I'm looking at your photos of snow and winter, I'm shedding layers and turning the fans up higher. The beauty of our planet that is so similar and yet so different, hmm?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolyn McBride: It is a very small world some days isn't it? And I love the fact that if I am not enjoying a season I can look at a very different one elsewhere. I am enjoying our winter though.

      Delete
  32. I can understand your excitement about the thin layer of snow - this is how I feel if we ever get a little bit of white dusting in the winter (which we usually don't). And I'm by far not a person who isn't used to snow!
    I love the mountains that you can see (from your house?). What a lovely area!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carola Bartz: The hills are part of the Brindabella Ranges. And yes, we can see them from home, and I love them at all times of year (and day). And I was definitely excited at the dusting. My German father told me that snow was overrated, but I love it.

      Delete
  33. Beautiful photos, EC. Does your garden mind the snow? When we get late season snow it's called poor man's fertilizer because it brings nitrogen to the soil. I don't think it's late in your winter yet, though.

    Glad your heater is fixed, and looking forward to the warm trees photos - last year they made me smile!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. jenny_o: We didn't get enough snow for the garden to object. It is used to frost, and the snow was just a heavier frost.
      The warm trees made both of us smile too.

      Delete
  34. I love winter but you can keep it. Summer here and wow, it's been a nice few days of sunshine and summertime.

    Have a yummy week. Cheers and boogie boogie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Happy Whisk: You can keep summer. Isn't it lovely that we are both enjoying the seasons we have...
      And a yummy and clutter free week to you.

      Delete
    2. Yes and so neat that we can live a world away and still chat in seconds. So fun.

      Got supper in the oven. Mind you, I'm still in my jams from this morning. What a lazy day.

      Delete
    3. The Happy Whisk: Some times lazy days are an essential.

      Delete
  35. Summer here in Maine, and oh yeah, we get a bit more snow than that in the winter. It's awful pretty though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mshatch: Snow is pretty isn't it? An understated elegance.

      Delete
  36. Seems so odd to see the dusting of snow there. It's SO hot here right now - I embrace the air conditioning.

    Lovely photos, as always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn: I am more than grateful for our evaporative cooler. It makes our sweaty season endurable. And, for the moment, I am revelling in winter. No more snow, but bright, clear, crisp days...

      Delete
  37. I love the scenery of those mountains.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lon Anderson: I love them too. And enjoy them all year round.

      Delete
  38. Look at all that lovely white stuff! I really enjoy winter, but right now we're in the middle of our summer, so no snow in sight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cleemckenzie: Lovely white stuff it was. I can't even see any in the distance now. But it will be back. I hope.

      Delete
    2. We need more of it next winter. That's really where our water supply comes from, so I always like to do a little snow dance each January.

      Delete
    3. cleemckenzie: If I thought it would work I would do a snow dance every month...

      Delete
  39. The pictures are wonderful. But I'm glad to be far from snow. I don't get along with cold weather. I do like looking at snow. So I'm grateful for your pictures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Myrna R.: Thank you. I am glad that you enjoy looking at snow. I did too.

      Delete
  40. Great photos! How exciting!!
    To see snow on the beautiful Brindabellas is so wonderful! A real treat :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vicki: It was a treat. A huge treat. I was smiling so very broadly - into the face of the howling wind.

      Delete
  41. Snow, wow! Still no summer here, in Oregon. Cloudy all day once again. Still hoping.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Strayer: I hope you get your summer. I hope our winter stays.

      Delete
  42. The first snow is always lovely and even better if it melts off quickly. Lucky you that you got the heater fixed just in time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe: This was the first snow which had 'stuck' even a little bit in years. And yes, it was lucky that the heater was fixed. We had been expecting a much more drawn out affair.

      Delete
  43. That is just the perfect amount of snow!
    Good timing on the heater.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandra Cox: I would happily take more snow. Quite a bit more snow.

      Delete
  44. I HATE snow but you some how made it look pretty. I don't know what you could do with a few feet of snow like we get her north of Chicago. I'll take the heat anyday. It is supposed to be 90 all week here. YAY!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sonya Ann: 90 all week? I would be a sad, soggy and grumpy mess. You can keep the heat.

      Delete
  45. These are gorgeous photos! Wow! I love the hills in the distance and the clouds in the sky!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Love the last photo particularly and thanks for your kind attention to my typo. It is now fixed. Have a wonderful week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. e: Thank you. I really liked the light as I looked up the street, and was glad that the photo came out.

      Delete
  47. The snow looks unusual with all that greenery going on :-D

    Winter in Oz is COLD!!! I know the folks in Canada would laugh, for 4 or 5 degrees is faaareeeezing.

    Australia always looks like a place in one of my childhood books. Love love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. neena maiya (guyana gyal): When we lived in a part of Oz which got more snow I can remember seeing marigolds blooming through it. Which did look weird. But fun.

      Delete
  48. We rarely see snow here in NC. If we do it will shut down the city with just a flurry. ha. Its in the upper 90's here this week. May get over 100. But I love it.
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa: Over 100? Shudder. I would be firmly inside under an airconditioning duct. I am glad that it is you, not me, and that you love it.

      Delete
  49. Your snow looks like powdered sugar. I enjoyed the vicarious chill as we are edging towards (0 F here with humidity to boot! Beautiful sky on that last one....

    ReplyDelete
  50. I meant 90 degrees F. Oy Took me three tries!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Molly Bon: How glad I am to see someone else wrestling with technology and dyslexic fingers. 90 and humid sounds like a foretaste of hell to me. I hope you can get some relief.

      Delete
  51. It's nice to see photos of Australia that AREN'T of the beach and ocean - with snow-capped mountains even. Very nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rawknrobyn: We are a varied country. Very varied. And I like these particular mountains - snow-capped or not.

      Delete
  52. WOW!
    Is that a view from where you live?
    Outstanding.
    xxx kissssss

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Inner Chick: It is indeed. All these shots were taken in our front yard. Hugs.

      Delete
  53. I didn't realize that was a side affect of MS. Is your body temperature always up?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandra Cox: Lots of us are badly affected by heat. Some by the cold. MS plays by its own rules.

      Delete
  54. Wow, such beautiful captures, not just the sky either, which by the way you always know just how to shoot! Nature is our best gift in life. It's interesting too learning about how cold doesn't effect you- as you know living in Minnesota one must be really up for the cold! But I love the heat too, which most true Minnesotans can't tolerate! Their loss is how I see it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen S.: I am certainly a loser on the heat front. It makes me truly miserable, and unwell. Thank you for your kind words about my sky photos.

      Delete
  55. Beautiful photos. That last one is really stunning.

    I'd gladly trade weather with you right now. 90 degrees here and so humid that going outside feels like walking into someone's armpit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mich: Welcome and thank you. You can keep your heat and humidity. Cold is fine.

      Delete
  56. Oh how beautiful..especially with the snow, and especially with how hot it is here! LOL It's super hot here, and I am ready for the temps to chill out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terri @ Coloring Outside the Lines: I am hoping our super hot weather doesn't return. A vain hope, but a real one.

      Delete
  57. Golly, I had no idea that you would ever get any snow in your part of Australia! Nothing compared to the amounts we get here is Canada, but wow.... I love your photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shammickite: One of the areas which gets snow each year is just up the road - 60 miles away. Close enough to see on the surrounding hills each year and occasionally closer.

      Delete
  58. Shivers! but so pretty. The first image is particularly beautiful, I like the graphic nature of it and can imagine it looking awesome as a wall feature.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kim: I hope you are out of hospital again. And can stay out. It really was a lovely morning. And I enjoyed the rest of the day too.

      Delete
  59. A little snow is nice when you're not used to getting it. Just a little though. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mail4rosey: I would be happy to see quite a bit more. Which might be ignorance speaking.

      Delete
  60. The first snowfall of the season is enchanting, no matter what part of the world we live in. I understand it's the fiftieth that starts getting a little stale. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susan: I doubt that we will get fifty. Or even five. So I can enjoy it. And do enjoy it.

      Delete
  61. Oh, how wonderful, you had snow. I believe that it is rare when you live in the Southern Hemisphere. I never thought that there would be snow elsewhere than in the mountains.
    We now have a hot summer (above +25 C). It is nice, but I think +20 C would be a suitable temperature.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. orvokki: Some parts of Australia get snow every year. Some parts of Australia quite close to me. However it is rare for us to get any. And 20C is a much nicer temperature in my eyes than 25+.

      Delete
  62. I am glad you got to enjoy a little snow. Nice that no shoveling was needed. :) Great photos! Sounds like it was very chilly- but I am glad all of you were warm.
    ~Jess

    ReplyDelete