Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Wet and Aggressive Corella challenges Magpie

Sunday 4 August 2019

Sunday Selections #440




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.

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.  
  
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 

 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
I usually run with a theme. This week was busy, fraught and sometimes unpleasant.  So we headed down the the lake as we so often do for a kangaroo fix and some calming beauty.





Heart balm at its best.

However, on our way down to the lake I noticed a splash of colour beside the road.  On our way home we stopped to investigate.

Murals!  Colourful and vibrant murals which have been added to one of our Water Company's suburban stations.  Murals which spoke loudly to my bird obsessed self.








I particularly appreciated that most of the birds can be seen in our local area.  Both of us were smiling broadly and benefited from our mini-excursion.

I do hope that your weeks are also packed with beauty.  

145 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Susan Kane: I loved that it just popped up in a residential suburb - and that we remembered to investigate the splash of colour that I had seen.

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  2. You attained Nirvana this Sunday! :)

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    1. Catarina: I certainly came close that day. It really did lift my spirits.

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  3. I love the prehistoric look of kangeroos, like mini dinosaurs with fur.

    And those paintings! We are sweltering here in unseasonal heat and these cheered me immeasurably!

    XO
    WWW

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    1. Wisewebwoman: I wonder whether there were furry dinosaurs? And assume that there were. I am pretty certain we were trespassing and don't care. They cheered us up too and I am very glad to share the joy.

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    2. Mastodons and Mammoth, enough fur on one to clothe a family and supply floor rugs too.

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    3. River: Ancient they were, dinosaurs they weren't. Alexia set me right.

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  4. As you can well imagine, Sue, I was thrilled to see those murals. After a kangaroo fix, to come across them must have completed the restoration of your spirit. i know it would have mine.

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    1. David Gascoigne: It did. Of course it did. I am still super impressed that most of them are 'local' birds. There are others they could include on the next mural too.

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  5. I do love your bird murals and the kangaroos! Sadly, my landscape lacks both though I do love the trees in my neighborhood. What community spirited acts of kindness do you have afoot this week? Be well.

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    1. e: I love the trees too. And mourn that some of our big older trees are showing damage from our extended drought.
      I have no particular plans for this week (other than a supervisory shift for Lifeline) but will see what unfolds...
      I hope your week treats you well.

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  6. Dear EC
    Fabulous murals and views and kangaroos. All balm for the soul in their own way. We need things like that in our hectic, busy, ridiculous (but also beautiful) lives.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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    1. Ellie Foster: I am a beauty addict, and so grateful that there is so much of it about.

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  7. You are a wonderful ambassador for your area. And you have a great eye

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    1. Cloudia: Thank you. I think our area has a LOT to recommend it. And rejoice in the wonders I see.

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  8. Lovely Muriels! Not everyone in Canberra is a staid old fuddy-dud.

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    1. dinahmow: Aren't they fun? The Chief Minister who was responsible for a lot of our public art popped up this week saying the city needs more. I hope the current crop listens to him. And no, we aren't all fuddy-duddies. Or politicians (not that the two are a mutally exclusive group).

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  9. What beautiful murals they are.

    I hope the coming week is less hectic for you, EC...with more time to relax. Take care...cuddles to Jazz. :)

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    1. Lee: They are. I wonder how many days they brighten, and hope it is lots. A less busy week this week before it ramps up again. I am going to spend time in the garden.
      I hope you and your furry overlords have a great week.

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  10. Awesome murals! What a lovely sight.
    Always great to see the roos and the photo through the double tree trunk is great. Hope you're feeling more rested now. Hugs to you and Jazz (not that he would accept them!)

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    1. River Fairchild: Definitely more rested, and with another mini-excursion planned. Jazz and I thank you (though you are right - he would reject your overtures).

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  11. Yes, i am much refreshed with your photos, and i really needed that right now.

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    1. Also, my selections will be over here in a little bit.

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    2. messymimi: Your life is so very busy I am glad to bring some refreshment to you. I look forward to your Sunday Selections too.

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  12. That is truly a wonderful set of murals, just plain delightful! Thank you so much for sharing them with me, too. :-)

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    1. DJan: I am so glad to learn that other people enjoy them as much as we did. I hope your healing continues - and speeds up.

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  13. The murals are spectacular. You brought a smile here too, EC.

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    1. Marie Smith: I am glad to share the joy. Very glad.

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  14. Those murals are awesome. One day I would love to see your part of the world. It is beautiful.

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    1. mxtodis123: Thank you. I am so grateful to the blogospher for expanding my horizons, and hope that you can see my part of the world someday.

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  15. So sorry to read that your week has been "busy, fraught and sometimes unpleasant"

    A very good idea to head down to the lake, water can be so soothing and healing, especially when you see views like the ones in your photographs.

    Then to see those wonderful, colourful murals!
    Wow! They are so nice.

    A lovely post.
    I hope the coming week is more chilled for you.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. I do find water soothing and healing. If ever I come into bucketloads of money I would love to live beside water.
      I am so glad that we spotted the murals - and that we took the time to investigate.
      This week will be mostly better. Next week is a tad challenging.

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  16. What fantastic murals! It would be interesting to know who actually painted them. Was there any signature that you noticed? They are wonderfully colourful and happy-inducing.

    The kangaroos' faces and colouration remind me of our deer. The rest of the body is quite different, though!

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    1. jenny_o: I didn't see an artist's name on the murals. Next time we go back (because we will) I will investigate further.
      I can see the kangaroo/deer similiarity about the head.

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  17. Those murals are stunning, and I'm so glad you stopped to look at them! I love the roos as always, and the third pic absolutely exudes serenity.
    I'm pretty sure that dinosaurs didn't have fur, although there is evidence that some had feathers - the birds are the modern dinosaurs :)

    I hope your week is neither fraught nor unpleasant, and not too busy!

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    1. Alexia: You are right. I was wrong. And careless. Some birds really show their dinosaur ancestory don't they? Pelicans for one.
      I am so very grateful to have the lake relatively close to home. We go there quite often and never, ever return home without feeling better.

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    2. I have great faith in the healing powers of water: lakes, rivers, and especially the sea...

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    3. Alexia: Me too. Water, moving or still is a true benison.

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  18. Heart balm. I love it. And those murals...outstanding.

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    1. Sandra Cox: That patch of the lake IS heart balm for me. Always. The roos and the birds we usually see there are bonus balm.
      And aren't those murals a joy? We were both smiling broadly as we wandered around them - and all the way home too.

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  19. What beautiful murals in your area. Being by the lakeside is so rejuvenating and the kangaroos really add some interest. They are unique to your country. We will be heading for the lake at my daughter;'s cottage shortly for our annual get together.
    Enjoy the first week of August.
    Hugs, Julia

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    1. Julia: I hope your time at the lake with family is truly wonderful. And am sure it will be.

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  20. The water company. Who would have known! I hope you learn if their altruism engendered the project, or if the artists approached the water company and asked to make the space more lovely.

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    1. Joanne Noragon: The water company is seriously 'on the nose' in the local community. I wonder what did inspire this positive addition and will check.

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  21. Replies
    1. Bea: Aren't they? I smile everytime I think of them.

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  22. The murals are so bright and cheerful, I would love to have some of those around here. The kangaroos look happier now the cooler weather is here.

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    1. River: I think these are the cheeriest murals I have seen in quite a while. I love them.
      The kangaroos were very happy. There were quite a few lying down soaking up what sun there was, without baking their brains out.

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  23. Those murals are the type that make me happy too!

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    1. Strayer: Aren't they great? You only get a flash of colour from the road, I am really glad we went exploring. And no doubt trespassing.

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  24. Kangaroos have big feet! I want one for the back yard. Those murals really are great.

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    1. Bill: They do have huge feet. Seeing the males balancing on their tails and landing kicks with those feet is enough to make your eyes water.

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  25. Love the murals too - and your photo through the gum tree

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    1. Anna: I often stop to look through that tree, and a similar one nearby. Often and often.

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  26. Hi EC - seeing the roos and the lake must be so soothing for the soul ... while those muralised boxes are delightful - I saw lots in Vancouver ... gorgeous images of your local birds - love them. Cheers Hilary

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    1. Hilary Melton-Butcher: You are so right. The roos and the lake are always soothing. And I love that they are almost in the heart of our nation's capital city. The bird murals are great, and I am so impressed that most of them are local birds. (There are a few exceptions but the majority are birds we see/hear in the suburbs.)

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  27. Lovely Kangaroos, and all that street art. Beautiful.

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    1. Bob Bushell: Thank you. I agree wholeheartedly.

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  28. Those are just lovely. I love the major Mitchell and the native flowers in the sidelines are wonderful.
    I hope you find more beauty this week

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    1. kylie: Isn't the Major Mitchell stunning? They are very rare visitors here, but I forgive the painter because they are just gorgeous. I liked the native plants too.
      I WILL find more beauty - and indeed found some sentimental loveliness this afternoon.

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  29. That was clever to paint those murals there. The birds we have are beautiful but the ones like you have there we only see in captivity.
    R

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    1. Rick Watson: The murals brighten an otherwise very plain structure. You do indeed have some lovely birds. Birds in captivity hurt my head and my heart.

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  30. The murals are so colorful and vibrant. Very intriguing.

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    1. Jamie Ghione: Aren't they lovely. They fill me with joy.

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  31. Hi EC,

    I love the fact you can just "pop down the lake for a kangaroo fix". The joys of being an Aussie.

    :o)

    Cheers

    PM

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    1. Plastic Mancunian: A kangaroo fix is a regular treat. For which I am very grateful.

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  32. Love the murals and they do make you smile. I find looking at the water very calming. Hope you have a great week.

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    1. Mason Canyon: It seems that there are a lot of us who find water calming. The murals were too vibrant for calm - but they lifted my spirits immeasurably. Thank you, and I hope your week is everything you could hope for.

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  33. Love the murals and the roos! I wish we had more big art where I live.

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    1. mshatch: I am so very grateful to the politician who 'littered' our town with art. He no longer has political power but is a person of influence and is agitating for more art. I do hope he is listened to.

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  34. Fantastic bird murals! Thanks for sharing.

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  35. You brighten my day always, but these murals just lifted my sad mood. And I am a big fan of your kangaroos. Once again, thanks for a tour of your home and your area in Australia. With the sadness in our country today, I wrote about it on my blog today, seeing such pretty color and knowing you had a smile on your face, brought a smile to mine.

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    1. Glenda Beall: Thank you. My heart has been aching as I watch your news, and I am so very pleased that my splash of colour gave you something to smile at.

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  36. The kangaroos are so pretty. I love the murals.

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  37. I do so enjoy your photos of kangaroos. The murals are excellent! I love them. We have some murals on the main drag in my part of town, but our murals aren't anywhere as good as the ones in your photos.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Janie Junebug: I post photographs of the roos quite often, so I am grateful that I am not boring you. These murals are right up there with the best aren't they? We have others that I don't like nearly as much.

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  38. I am going to take some pictures of the critters around here. Now I have to add kangaroo envy to my bird envy!

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    1. Anne in the kitchen: I would love to see your critters - and expect that I will be jealous. Possibly very jealous.

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  39. I like all these photos. Thank you!

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  40. Those murals are a lovely discovery for sure. Bright and beautiful! I love that the birds are ones that can be seen locally and they are very uplifting to look at.

    Glad the kangaroos helped make your heart feel better. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. DMS ~Jess: A kangaroo fix and the lake ALWAYS makes things better. The murals were a bonus.

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  41. Those murals are fantastic, so are the kangaroos and that beautiful scenery. Thanks for sharing EC and I do hope your week will go better.

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    1. DeniseinVA: Thank you. This week should be fine, before it ramps up again next week.

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  42. Hola:) Yes, adding to the wishes that your week goes better, or the fraughtness dissapates forthwith!

    You've definitely got some good local artists, and it's great to see they used the space to create something most in the community can appreciate - and not just random grafitti.

    Take care, EC, and have a nice, quiet, relaxing week:)

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    1. Mark Koopmans: We have noticed that in areas where there is public art the graffiti is significantly reduced - which is yet another reason to applaud public art.
      And thank you.

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  43. Ooooo those bird murals are very nice indeed. I do like to see splashes of colour like that, and why not make those industrial looking boxes pretty and delightful to look at. Did you say hello to the kangaroos for me>

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    1. Shammickite: I will make a point of saying hello to the roos next time we are down by the lake. I suspect we will go at least once this week. Brightening up industrial boxes is a huge win isn't it?

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  44. sorry your week was unpleasant.
    The kangaroos are adorable! The Murals are gorgeous!!!Glad you had a something beautiful to see and make you feel a little better:)

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    1. Marfi-topia: Thank you. And yes, the roos are adorable, the murals were lovely and both made me feel better.

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  45. I've been fighting a cold so I'm all in with relaxation, and these pics definitely do it. I'd love to pull up a chair with a good book in front of those murals. Hope this week will be a better one for you. Hugs, RO

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    1. RO: I am sorry. A cold makes a person feel truly miserable and I do hope you feel better soon.

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  46. All these photos look so beautiful.

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  47. So beautiful! And those roos are delightful.

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    1. Lady Fi: We love them. And have added the murals to our 'go-to' places.

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  48. What a lovely Sunday! A kangaroo fix, a lake and fabulous bird murals. Hope this week is better for you than the last one seems to have been.

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    1. Kalpana: Thank you. We are so lucky to have this beauty close to home.

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  49. Hope your heart balm carries you through this week.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: It may need a top-up. Which is easily done. Hugs received and reciprocated.

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  50. What a lovely surprise. I think I too would have smiled!

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    1. Friko: It was a totally delightful surprise and a welcome addition to the suburb.

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  51. Great photos. Love the kangaroos and all the great artwork. Hope you have a great week.

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    1. RasmaSandra: Thank you. I hope your week is lovely too.

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  52. images are lovely dear friend :) specially water is so tranquil

    murals are absolutely gorgeous
    more happiness to you !

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  53. Dearest Sue...oh I am so sorry you have had a difficult week.🙁 But am really glad you were cheered by these wonderful sights that you have so kindly shared with us here!😊😊
    WOW, not only the beautiful kangaroos...but those murals too! So breathtakingly mesmerising!!

    I hope you are having a much better week!

    All my love and hugs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

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    1. Ygraine: Huge thanks. Aren't those murals a joy? A kangaroo fix always makes me feel better and the murals were the icing on the cake.
      I hope you are feeling much better yourself. Hugs.

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  54. Hope this week is the best week ever.
    All the murals are wonderous, but especially that first one.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra Cox: Thank you. The first image is of a Major Mitchell cockatoo which is a rare visitor here - but truly lovely.

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  55. Your mini-excursion was fabulous! (Proof? It made you both smile!)

    Those murals are beautiful. I'm glad your eagle eyes picked up on that splash of color, so you didn't miss seeing them up close. I haven't had my "kangaroo fix" yet, but I'm looking forward to cooler weather so we can head to north Georgia to visit the kangaroo rehab facility. (Makes me excited just to think about it! For a fee... more than I think I'm willing to pay, but I dunno... I could cuddle a joey!!!)

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    1. Susan: We went on a micro excursion early this week - which also made us smile. Winners and grinners.
      I do hope you get your roo fix soon.

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  56. Dear EC, once again I need to comment on how different the United States is from Australia. I can't think of any company or city service that would hire and artist to paint murals for the viewing satisfaction of the citizenry. We just lack the sense of fun you all have "down under." Of course, with our almost daily mass shootings and domestic shootings, why would we have a sense of humor? Peace.

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    1. Dee: I don't know why our water company has commissioned the murals - and you have reminded me that a little later I should check and see whether they will tell me. They are NOT highly regarded here so perhaps it is in the nature of a distraction and a bribe. It is welcome though.
      Sadly, not all of us do have a sense of fun, but mine demands feeding regularly. Luckily there is plenty of it about.

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  57. Aw, the kangaroos are so cute! And I love the murals. Colorful birds - what more could one want? :-) No wonder you were smiling by the time you got home.

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    1. Diane Henders: My family often talked about 'small things for small minds' but I stick my adult tongue out at them and continue to revel in the little things. Which are huge.

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    2. Absolutely. It's the little things that make the big things worthwhile. :-)

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    3. Diane Henders: Most of the big things are beyond me. I can not alter them, and sometimes find them incomprehensible.

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  58. I love these. We have them in out town, but they're on electrical boxes. I think the ones that house the mechanism for changing lights. The murals make such colorful additions to our street corners. Yours are beautiful.

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    1. cleemckenzie: They are a wonderful addition aren't they? Some of our electrical junction boxes are decorated as well.

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  59. That tree is a wonderful nature frame isn't it?
    Hope your day is filled with flowers, birds and sparkle.
    Hugs

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    1. Sandra: Nature has superb galleries - and an amazing palette and style.

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  60. Love the murals! Artists bring so much joy and awareness to the world!

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  61. I want a kangaroo fix!!!
    Those murals! Fantastic - oh, how I can understand the smile on your face!

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    1. Carola Bartz: Kangaroo fixes (and murals) are definitely smile producing. Every time.

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  62. I savoured the first three images for ages before looking at the next ones and seeing those fabulous murals, how superb.

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    1. Kim: We often go down to that spot by the lake and revel in its beauty. And the murals are a wonderful addition to the suburb. I have since noticed another big one on a water company fixture. It won't be easy to photograph though, being on a very major road.

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  63. There are the kangaroos you told me about!! I love it! How blessed are you to be able to drive to a park and see them? Those pictures are so pretty. What a great visit you had. I hope you had a better week.

    Elsie

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    1. Elsie Amata: A kangaroo fix solves a whole range of ailments. The week was (mostly) better and thank you.

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  64. Two fixes in one day Now that cannot be bad and I hope the fix lasted ALL week. The murals of the birds are fabulous Sue. I am back from my travels at least for a little while so thank you for your comments during that time when I could not comment. Have a marvellous weekend.

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    1. Margaret Birding For Pleasure: Thank you. The fix(es) helped a lot. I hope your travels were lovely.

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  65. So sorry to read that your week has been "busy, fraught and sometimes unpleasant". I hope you are ok EC!!!! Please take care of yourself!
    Thank you for the most beautiful post!!! My soul is smiling! I love seeing the gorgeous murals and the cute kangaroos! Big Hugs!

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    1. Magic Love Crow: Aren't those murals lovely? We are very, very fond of the roos too.
      Huge hugs.

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