Sunday Selections #393

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.  Mostly snippets again this week.

Our weather has been variable.  Last Sunday our nearby hills were dusted with snow.

It was pretty, but didn't last.

As always we have spent (lots of) time watching the birds.  The next two photos are of a rare visitor.  I was struggling to identify it, but the lovely dinahmow nailed it for me.  We have a female Satin Bowerbird.  I hope to see her mate as well.  Isn't that blue eye lovely?

And then a red wattlebird which was intent on grooming for a considerable period of time.

I am fond of the wattlebirds.  They are often the first bird I hear in the morning (considerably before sparrow-fart) and the last in the evening.  

The last photo is a blatant sympathy ploy.  I have developed a sensitivity to something.  We cannot identify what it is, but there is obviously a LOT of it about.  It started on my lower back (which remains the worst).  I now have rashes on my arms, my legs, my hands, my feet, my neck, my shoulders, my butt, my boobs, my back and through my hair.  The itch is intolerable and they have been driving me bat-shit crazy and making me more bad tempered than usual.  Anti-histamines and soothing creams are providing limited relief.  Cross your fingers that we can identify and remove the culprit soon.

In much better news, my eldest brother who has been through a much more serious medical mystery is finally out of hospital.  He still has a long way to go, but recent progress has all been in the right direction.