Sunday Selections #377

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 I am staying close to home.  A soft and gentle dawn (which changed by the minute) to start with.

 

And then a wander into the garden.  Summer is finally showing signs that she is leaving (hooray) but some plants are having a final fling (also hooray).

One day last week we had fifteen spits of rain (essentially incontinent pigeon rain - splat, splat and it was gone).  I would have liked a lot more, but it was pretty.  

I do love begonias.  Their leaves are lovely and the blooms spectacular.

This rose has the most glorious scent. 

Words for Wednesday

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Computer issues led her to bow out for a while.  The meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. 

Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write.  Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image.   What we do with those prompts is up to us:  a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with ignore...  We can use some or all of the prompts.

Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog.  I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme, which includes cheering on the other participants.  If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
 
Last month the Delores provided us with some excellent prompts and challenges.  This month the prompts will be posted here.

This week's prompts are:

1. thin
2. frightened
3. scratch
4. wealthy
5. flowery
6. sulky 

And/or

1. stove
2. unwieldy
3. fearless
4. zoo
5. price
6. inquisitive

 And a photo to use or ignore as well.

Have fun.     

The prompts will be here next month as well, but provided by  Margaret Adamson and her friend Sue Fulton.  They will include photographs taken by her Margaret's friend Bill.
 

Sunday Selections #376.

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 I am again focusing on flying visitors.

Starting off with a delightful butterfly.  We had a small flock of them flitting around the garden.  I 'think' this charmer is a Common Brown Butterfly Heteronympha merope, - but am happy to be educated.  And I think it deserves a nicer name. 

And from the side - where it looks quite different.

Then to the feathered flyers.  In addition to the usual suspects, this week we started getting visits from a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets.   They are not usually seen in my city, but stand out when they visit.

Not only did they not read the book about where they live they also refused to restrict what they ate.  Apparently their usual diet is pollen and nectar with a 'little' fruit.  No-one told this pair that.  They have been hogging the apple and are remarkably bolshy about it - challenging and seeing off cockatoos and corellas both of whom are much bigger than they are.  If they arrive when there is no apple they let us know about it too.   

I will finish this week with a very brief video (15 seconds) showing you just how unmusical the young corella is.

I did smile at its shock at the end when a bigger bird gave its own cry.  For anyone who can't see this video here is a link to it on Youtube

Words for Wednesday

This meme was started by Delores a long time ago.  Computer issues led her to bow out for a while.  The meme was too much fun to let go, and now Words for Wednesday is provided by a number of people and has become a movable feast. 

Essentially the aim is to encourage us to write.  Each week we are given a choice of prompts: which can be words, phrases, music or an image.   What we do with those prompts is up to us:  a short story, prose, a song, a poem, or treating them with ignore...  We can use some or all of the prompts.

Some of us put our creation in comments on the post, and others post on their own blog.  I would really like it if as many people as possible joined into this fun meme, which includes cheering on the other participants.  If you are posting on your own blog - let me know so that I, and other participants, can come along and applaud.
 
Last month the Delores provided us with some excellent prompts and challenges.  This month the prompts will be posted here.

This week's prompts are:

1. tick
2. fresh
3. droplet
4. magnificent
5. juice
6. appeal

And/or

1. clue
2. cancel
3. cheap
4. purple 
5. whales
6. love

Have fun. 

Sunday Selections 375

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 returning to my avian obsessed ways, with pictures of some of our feathered visitors.

I adore the bearded ravens and feel privileged that they visit us.  I treat them with respect though.
As do the other birds.

This young corella is a regular visitor.  And very, very noisy.  It is only quiet when food is being stuffed into that gaping maw. 

The crimson rosellas are much quieter.  And always welcome.

We can now hand feed king parrots, cockatoos and corellas.  Which makes for some problems.  We have insufficient arms and cannot minister to their needs/wants simultaneously. 

It is incredibly trusting of the corella to bury its head in the food bucket so close to the feeder and the photographer.

That whinging youngster again.  It goes on and on and on.  And on.  And is very far from musical.

I wish I had been quicker/more accurate with this photo.  The whinger was just about to be fed.

I really like the 'chevrons' under the King Parrot's tails - though you may have to embiggen the photos to see them.

The cockatoo behind the King Parrot got tired of waiting 'patiently' and marched up and menaced the King Parrot off himself's hand.  And was itself bounced by yet another cockatoo.  Pecking order isn't an empty phrase.

WEP April Challenge - the road less travelled

The WEP (Write, Edit, Publish) Challenge so generously hosted by Denise Covey and Yolanda Renee is back.  Olga Godim and Nilanjana Bose have joined the team, providing welcome support to the doughty duo and adding to the wealth of ideas and talent.

This April, the WEP challenge is to create around the theme of the road less travelled .  We are asked to create something from the prompt - and can do so through fiction, non-fiction, photography...  

 

If you visit here and click on any names with a DL next to them you will be taken to some wonderful pieces.   I wimped out of participating in the last few challenges but I have read all of the submissions with awe and wonder.  I will marvel at the other participant's skill, imagination and ingenuity this time too. 

I am posting a smidge early, so please, don't discount those who don't have a DL following their name yet.  It will come, and a revisit is definitely worthwhile.

In the summer of 2004 I used a substantial chunk of money inherited after my mother's death to travel to Antarctica.  It was a dream come true, and despite substantial criticism from family and friends I don't regret it.  At all.  

Antarctica

An impossible dream,
realised.
When opportunity appeared I fell into her arms
(prudence and sanity be damned).

Somnolent seals, and
porpoising penguins,
Monet's water lilies,
Exquisitely, delicately executed in ice.

Uncompromising, unforgiving.
Chilly blues, hard-edged white.
Monolithic ice-bergs, flurries of snow.
Dawn and dusk separated by no more than a heart-beat.

This fragile frozen land  sent daggers into my heart 
and ignited a firestorm.
A storm of awe, of wonder,
and of joy.


Memories fan the embers to a blaze
and warm my heart.
I hope they always will.
I know they always will.

 

 Word Count:  Truly pathetic - less than 100

Full Critique Acceptable.