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? Not so much a theme as snippets from our week.
Starting with early sky shots.
Then to the National Arboretum on a chilly, but lovely day. The visit will probably get a post of its own when I get off my lazy behind...
This is a Californian Fan Palm - and those hooks were vicious.
The sign was correct. It was definitely a steep descent.
And reverting to type I am going to finish with birds. A currawong and the kings who visit most days.
I do like my city. Perhaps because it is quite possible to forget that it is one...
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? Not so much a theme as snippets from our week.
Starting with early sky shots.
Then to the National Arboretum on a chilly, but lovely day. The visit will probably get a post of its own when I get off my lazy behind...
This is a Californian Fan Palm - and those hooks were vicious.
The sign was correct. It was definitely a steep descent.
And reverting to type I am going to finish with birds. A currawong and the kings who visit most days.
If only I could charm the birds out of the trees...
ReplyDeletedonna baker: Most of the birds who visit remain totally uncharmed. They charm us, rather than us them.
DeleteLove those birds. Very pretty.
ReplyDeleteJamie Ghione: We love them too. And early this morning more than a dozen of them visited.
DeleteThose clouds in the first photo look so uniformly choreographed by Mother Nature. It's a really beautiful image. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
A Cuban in London: Mother Nature excels at rather a lot of art forms.
Deletewhat a great view and lovely photos; nice how the city is tucked into so much greenery.
ReplyDeleteLinda Starr: One of my cities nicknames is the bush capital. There is a lot of greenery and I love it.
DeleteNo currawongs up here.I miss them...
ReplyDeleteBut the Spangled Drongos http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Dicrurus-bracteatus are currently entertaining us, especially at daylight.
dinahmow: We get a lot of currawongs. And love them. And despite the distribution map, very, very rarely see the spangled drongos. It would be a treat.
DeleteI have never heard of Spangled Drongos.
DeleteRiver: They are one of our less talked about birds I suspect. Which is a shame.
DeleteThe birds always fascinate me. Such a beautiful area, EC. It doesn't look like winter from here.
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: By Australian standards we get cold. On the world-wide winter metre? We don't rate.
DeleteDelightful!
ReplyDeleteSandi: Thank you.
DeleteReally nice pictures EC, the close-up on the fan palm came out really good.
ReplyDeleteJimmy: Thank you. The fan palm fascinate me. I take photos of them every time we visit the arboretum.
DeleteLove your king parrots
ReplyDeleteSue in Italia/In the Land of Cancer: We do too. Lots.
DeleteYour sky images are beautiful. And as always I love the birds. I look forward to your post about the Arboretum. Have a great day. Jo
ReplyDeleteJo: Thank you. I really should start work on the Arboretum post. There are lots and lots (for a change) of photos.
DeleteThe photos of the city from a distance are great and your last line about forgetting it is a city is very is very apt. That is the nastiest looking thorny plant I have ever seen.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: It really is more of a big and properous country town than a city. Despite the best? efforts of our local government.
DeleteLovely skies and birds but I know how cold it gets in your city all your brass monkeys must be ball less by now.
ReplyDeleteMerle..............
Merlesworld: The monkeys have tucked their balls away for the next few months. We are still in the negative temperatures at the moment, despite bright blue skies and sunshine.
Deleteyes, ditto what everybody above said [except for Spangled Drongos which is a new one for me]
ReplyDeleteYou made Canberra look lovely.
Ann ODyne: I have seen Spangled Drongos, but not often. And I think my city is lovely. Apart from the politicians.
DeleteI was going to remark about hills (your sign) ... we don't have any around here. Wish we did. It is flat as snot...which reminded me you remarked about my cold as snot line in my book...which prompted a posting about how many ways you can use snot. Hot, cold, dry, wet, ... just about any condition can be 'as snot.' Just so you know. I still need to write that post
ReplyDeleteAuthor R. Mac Wheeler: I am looking forward to your snotty post. Which sounds all wrong.
DeleteAwww rats! I was eating. Was.
DeleteRiver: Fortunately I wasn't.
DeleteI thought the fan palm was aloe for a second. Love the birds.
ReplyDeletemail4rosey: We love the birds too. And I think the fan palm's hooks are more vicious than aloes.
DeleteLooks like a great drive through a cool area. Those plant barbs do appear sharp.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: It was a lovely day for a drive - and even a wander.
DeleteThe National Arboretum.... I went there!
ReplyDeleteShammickite: It is a lovely place and will get better and better. Long after I am dust and memories it will be beautiful.
DeleteBut, wait. To what is that sign attached. I mean, tbi or not, it should be more obvious.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: The sign was skewered into the ground beside the road. The hill blocked the pole it was on - and the road.
DeleteThank you for this moment and what fills the sky of your world.
ReplyDeleteMartin Kloess: The little things are huge in my world and heart.
Deletelovely clear days... we could all do with some rain soon though - thanks for sharing your great images
ReplyDeleteAnna: Some rain would be lovely wouldn't it? We have had some incontinent pigeon falls (splat, splat and its gone) but need real rain.
DeleteA couple of regulars were flitting around outside yesterday morning...the Pale-Headed Rosellas...pretty birds and they, like, the Lorikeets have fun getting stuck into all the nectar...and the after-effects!
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great week, EC...cuddles to Jazz. :)
Lee: We don't get the Pale-headed Rosellas and rarely the Lorikeets. I am grateful for the birds we do get though.
DeleteI hope you and your furry housemates have a wonderful week.
Good photos EC..
ReplyDeleteTreey Stynes: Coming from a professional that is high praise. Thank you.
DeleteThere they are! The green and red birds... the king parrots! How I wish to see some in my backyard. Or in the parks where I brisk walk. I would settle for that. :)
ReplyDeleteCaterina: They are beautiful aren't they? We had more than a dozen of them visit this morning which is unusual - and lovely.
DeleteHi Sue,
ReplyDeleteAlways nice to see your early sky photos. Interesting photos and we're actually having some cooler weather here.
Some tranquillity in the city.
Gary
klahanie: The world needs tranquility. And beauty. I hope both settle down with you - and some cooler weather too.
DeleteI really like that sign, and I think my daughter should have one at the beginning of her driveway. It seriously goes down hill just like that! Your lovely views of nature and birds and words are such a blessing, and you have eased my straight from work blues! Enjoy your evening!
ReplyDeleteKaren S.: Straight from work blues? Not good. I am very glad to be able to help. And shudder thinking of a driveway which matches that sign. A friend had one, and on frosty mornings she was stuck.
DeleteYour "lazy behind"?? I don't think so!
ReplyDeleteI've been sick all week, so it's lovely to see all of your cheerful photos. Birds, skies, your beautiful city - just what I needed to cheer me up.
Also, I gor a seed catalogue in the mail yesterday...
Alexia: Believe me, I am often lazy. Garden catalogues are referred to as garden porn here - and we succumb. Often. I hope you are much, much better - and that next week is kind to you.
DeleteA city that you can forget is a city sounds (and looks) just about perfect
ReplyDeleteKim: I think so.
DeleteWow . . . a bird eating right from your hand, what a good feeling that must be to have such closeness.
ReplyDeleteLon Anderson: It is. A privilege and a joy.
DeleteI love skies that are rippled with clouds and that second picture, the top layer of clouds almost looks like a row of white birds flying.
ReplyDeleteYour arboretum is beautiful. There is an arboretum fairly close to me, about twenty minutes walk, but I've never been there, I should go one day, but I'm betting it isn't as pretty as yours.
I love the king parrots and the currawong.
River: Each time we go to the arboretum we comment that in the years to come it is going to be amazing. Many of the trees/forests are really only saplings at the moment, but it will be majestic and wonderful. A lot of the trees planted are endangered too, and I love to think of them surviving and thriving here. I hope you can get to your arboretum - and would love to see photos.
DeleteI'm hearing our Corellas again now, every morning just after seven they fly overhead on their way to the parklands, loudly chattering about the best spot for breakfast, who has a new nest, isn't the sunrise beautiful from up here...at least that's what I imagine they're saying.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I suspect you are right about what they are saying. And the corellas here are telling their friends that breakfast is on - which always makes me smile.
DeleteAs I am a California native, I can attest to the viciousness of those hooks...
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your birds so much! They really are a gorgeous group. :)
River Fairchild: I was surprised at just how nasty they are. A palm tree is not something I associate with thorns.
DeleteWow you live in a great place so close to the nature
ReplyDeleteGosia k: I am so very grateful. The arboretum is perhaps twenty minutes from home.
DeleteOh your beautiful birds! I still envy how gorgeous they are.
ReplyDeleteAnne in the kitchen: We had over a dozen king parrots visit this morning, and one was so anxious for food that he was walking over our shoulders and head.
DeleteHi EC - beautiful skies with some lovely landscape views from the Arboretum ... the valleys look steep. Those hooks definitely need to be avoided. The currawong looks quite a pretty bird .... while the parrots are so amazingly colourful ... thanks for the views of your world - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: The currawong's song is a thing of beauty too. Which is rare - many of our birds look pretty, but are not songsters.
DeleteAll lovely as usual and yes, you do have a beautiful city. Was one of my mother's favourite places to visit. Hope you are both keeping well.
ReplyDeleteI do envy you your feathered visitors. We see so few birds in our suburbs of late.
Mimsie: Lovely to see you out and about in the blogosphere. Canberra is a well kept secret, and I am happy for it to remain so.
DeleteWhat a lovely series of photos. The view is wonderful, remains me a little of Switzerland with these mountains and hill. Birds are lovely, especially the red parrot.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice your winter time.
orvokki: Our mountains, like our winter, are totally unimpressive on the world wide stage. I am fond of them both. And the king parrots are a joy.
DeleteI hope summer is treating you well.
I know those palms all too well. I still have scars from the ones we had in our Southern California yard when I was a klutzy little kid (as opposed to the klutzy adult I am now). Even the edges of the fronds can be sharp.
ReplyDeleteYou are so fortunate to live near your national arboretum! I have to cross the entire continent to reach ours. I've only been a couple of times, but enjoyed the visits immensely.
Marty K. :)
Marty K.: Those thorns struck me the very first time I saw the fan palms. Himself looked at me as if I was crazy when I said how vicious they were. My klutzy self recognises danger. It doesn't stop me damaging myself though...
DeleteI do love the arboretum, and realise how lucky we are. I won't live long enough to see it at its best, but it will go on.
We used to live a couple of miles from the county arboretum and I went there often. So lovely.
DeleteI hear you about the recognizing -- but not being able to stop -- danger. Many's the time I've started to take a step and heard the voice in my head saying, "This isn't going to end well." I blame the fibro. I ALWAYS blame the fibro! ;)
Marty
Marty: I have always been a klutz. MS doesn't help, but I think my klutzdom is one of my defining characteristics. I assume that you, like me, always have bruises?
DeleteI have loads of pictures on Facebook. I can't get into it because I lost the password.
ReplyDeleteTreey Stynes: That is awful. I have never played FB, but surely there must be some way to recover your password. I hope someone else out there knows, and will share it.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteI have a small palm tree in a pot and didn't realise that it has thorns (not as vicious as the one in your photo) until I inadvertently put my hand in to remove a dead leaf and got scratched. I now treat it with much more caution.
I do like your visiting birds.
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: How interesting to learn that other palms also bite. Unexpected, but interesting. We love our birds too.
DeleteThe steep hill sign barely showing is epic!!!!!
ReplyDeleteStrayer: Cyclists do some training on the roads around the arboretum. I suspect they curse this hill (depending which way they are going).
DeleteYou are fortunate for the lovely surroundings.
ReplyDeleteGrannie Annie: We are. Very fortunate.
DeleteYour snippets are beautiful. I love the different scenes. The birds you have coming to feed always amaze me. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMason Canyon: They amaze (and delight) us too.
DeleteThose throngs do look vicious. And that king parrot has eyelashes! Thanks for taking me along with you. Great skies. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan: I am glad someone else noticed the eyelashes. I loved them.
DeleteWonderful country in your lens, dear! Sweet bird faces at end
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Aren't the birds lovely? Destructive, but lovely.
DeleteI love the look of clouds in front of mountains with the tops of the mountains showing. The clouds aren’t as pretty here in my part of Oregon (where the sky tends to be either cloudless or overcast) as they were in Mississippi and in the desert of eastern Oregon. I really miss their beauty.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should steal the "Steep Hill" sign and put it in front of a long flat area.
Snowbrush: Love the idea of transplanting the Steep Hill sign.
DeleteWe don't get a lot of overcast days here and, if it isn't raining, I resent the ones we do get. Wasted grey days...
I know how you feel. I miss clouds because start sunshine isn't great either, but I prefer stark-sunshine to clouds.
DeleteSnowbrush: We so rarely get enough rain (and need it now) that a grey sky which isn't raining is a waste.
DeleteI always look forward to your Sunday Series EC, and will look forward to your photos from the National Arboretum. Beautiful clouds in the sky, the cloud bank in the one photo caught my eye and amazing scenery. But oh my gosh, the currawong and the king birds are a delightful sight. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteDenise inVA: Thank you. I am an avid sky watcher and do worry that I bore people with my obsessions.
DeleteI love those clouds; that particular kind always reminds me of the patterns left behind by the outgoing tide at the beach where we have our cottage. It's a kind of lovely pattern repetition in nature.
ReplyDeleteOh, those birds! Especially the second-to-last photo! Amazing colour!
Hope you have a good week with the SP and Jazz.
jenny_o: You are exactly right about the clouds. I knew it was familiar and couldn't think what the pattern made me think of.
DeleteI hope that you and yours have a lovely week too.
That currawong just looks OFFENDED in the first picture. haha
ReplyDeleteRobert Bennett: The poor currawong had every right to be offended. It was just enjoying some quiet time and didn't need the papparazzi.
DeleteThe King's parrot is my favorite. Those red and green feathers are quite striking.
ReplyDeleteAnn Bennett: They are very striking indeed. And back again this morning.
DeleteThe birds are so interesting there to me.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
peppylady(Dora): There are birds all over the world I would love to see.
DeleteI love seeing you with birds...they bring out your best, I think. The clouds are lovely, too.
ReplyDeletee: I can't tell you how much time we spend watching and interacting with the birds each day. It starts at first light and continues.
DeleteYou take some pretty amazing pictures. It's almost like being there with you. Hugs...
ReplyDeleteRO: Thank you. What a truly lovely thing to say.
DeleteI love the King Parrots, too.
ReplyDeleteDid you have a nice weekend?
kylie: Not bad at all. How about you? Chilly, but very pretty here.
DeleteLove your bird captures, and what a beautiful sight- those mountains...sigh. I am a mountain person, versus being a beach lover. My sister is opposite, but I tell everyone..you have to physically be in the mountains to fall in love with them. I don't like heat, sand, sharks, jellyfish, or sunburns. I guess you can get the first and latter in the mountains, but I still love them. Colorado and Wyoming...sigh. It's time for a vacation.
ReplyDeleteTerri @ Coloring Outside the Lines: I like both - but not in summer. Heat is not my friend. And it is a very long time since I have been to the beach. I hope you get your vacation. Soon.
DeleteYour bird pictures make me smile each time I visit your lovely blog. I also enjoyed the pics from the National Arboretum and will look forward to seeing more of them.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely week.
Barbara Fisher: I am glad you enjoyed them. A lovely week to your and yours as well.
DeleteI'm so glad you reverted to type. I love seeing all those colorful birds in your posts.
ReplyDeletecleemckenzie: Stunners aren't they? I am so grateful they visit.
DeleteYour city sure does make for beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteI've been in California all my life, and I'm glad to have never run into a California Fan Palm.
Rawknrobyn: I like the area, but many others condemn it as boring. I am pretty certain that if I lived anywhere which had the Californian Fan Palm I would have fallen foul of them.
DeleteYou live near such lovely places! I hope you steared clear of the palm. Ouch.
ReplyDeleteRiot Kitty: I treated it with immense respect. There is a small forest of dragon trees nearby, and they are not NEARLY as frightening.
DeleteDear EC, I am so grateful that somehow you and I found one another's blogs. You have shown me and taught me so much about Australia. Where you live is not at all how I picture Australia. I guess I always think just of the outback and even then I think only desolation. I have a lot to learn I know, but you've got me started. Hot here; humid. But inside my home the cats and I are fine. We nap together and they sit nearby as I read a Daniel Silva novel. Life is good. I hope for you too. Peace.
ReplyDeleteDee: My country, like yours, is incredibly varied. The blogosphere is an education isn't it? I am glad that you and your cats can avoid the heat and humidity. Happy reading.
DeleteBirds are honest beautiful spirits bless them and with your skies, you've got the perfect playground for them to roam free, EC. Thanks
ReplyDeleteSpacer Guy: Not only them, but lots of other birds. Which is wonderful.
DeleteGlorious skies as always, and majestic kings! I've been missing them and your photos...rains and travel are lovely but sadly don't gel well with pottering around on the net...sigh...
ReplyDeleteWish you the most awesome week!
Nilanjana Bose: How lovely that you found time to drop in - and even lovelier that you are enjoying your travel and the monsoons.
DeleteLovely photos. Awesome sky and love those birds.
ReplyDeleteRasma Raisters: Thank you. We love them too.
DeleteMore wondrous pics.
ReplyDeleteThey had an Australia Exhibit at the aquarium and I told the family I had an Aussie buddy who had exotic birds eating out of her hand:)
Sandra Cox: What was in the Australia exhibit? Our blue-ringed octopus? Pretty, but deadly.
DeleteThey had a small arboretum. Fauna, turtles, birds. I don't remember what was in the aquarium.
DeleteSandra Cox: Our arboretum doesn't have an aquarium. Probably just as well.
DeleteSuperb images of the skies, and beautiful Parrots, I love them all EC.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: Thank you. You would have a lovely time on our veranda.
DeleteNice pictures. Good idea for a meme.
ReplyDeleteMisha Gericke: Thank you. It is a great meme, and has been running for quite a while now.
DeleteUnusual cloud formation. I like it.
ReplyDeleteTreey Stynes: I did too. And captured some different ones this morning I also enjoyed.
DeleteYou had a beautiful day even if chilly. It is good to pay attention to steep hill signs! This bird is so regal looking...beautiful
ReplyDeleteKim Standard: The King Parrots are well named aren't they? Or at least the male is.
DeleteLovely photos. Awesome sky and love those birds.
ReplyDeleteโกเด้นสล็อต
สูตรบาคาร่า
Gclub จีคลับ
phann son: Welcome and thank you. We love the birds too.
DeleteYou live in an enchanted place - I always say that, but it's true. Love the bird eating out of your hand.
ReplyDeleteLynn: We are so very lucky.
Delete