Sunday Selections #509

 

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 I am sharing the festive season's approach to the Dignity Drive.  The Dignity Drive seeks to give people (particularly women) in poverty some of the dignity that they so often lack.  We were asked to fill a gently used handbag with items to put a smile on the face of someone who is struggling.  As usual I had fun selected items to include and cramming them into the second hand bag I picked up at an op shop.

As well as necessities I added a few 'luxuries'.  I can well remember a time when I had to save up for sanitary items, shampoo and conditioner and never want to return to those dark days again.  With that in mind I added some moisturiser, some lip balm, some nail polish, a colourful scarf and a couple of strings of beads.

When I took my bag down to the real estate office I was pleased to see others clustered under their Christmas tree - and even more pleased to hear that they had already made one delivery and expected to make more before the Dignity Drive finishes.  For Australian readers I understand that Bunnings Hardware stores are also acting as a drop off point.

I am going to finish this post by reverting to type and sharing some of the colour blazing in our garden.

I really like these double poppies (as do the bees and other insects).  I save the seeds each year and broadcast them across the gardens.

 

Our 'Christmas Cactus' is blooming early (and well) this year too.  Another splash of red to brighten the garden, the day, my mood...

 

 Spectacular aren't they?

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, and mixing and matching is encouraged.

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.

The prompts will be here this month but are provided by Margaret Adamson, and her friend Sue Fulcher.  The prompts  will also include photographs taken by Margaret's friend Bill Dodd

Sadly Sue is unwell and Margaret is very, very busy so neither of them are likely to use their prompts this month.  

This week's prompts are:

1. Furnishing
2. Tablet
3. Platform
4. Arrow
5. Frame
6. Content

And /or

1. Vase
2. Eagle
3. Ballroom
4. Propelling
5. Brand
6. Epilogue

 
Have fun.  

Huge thanks to Margaret, Sue and Bill for providing us with the prompts this month.  The prompts will be here next month as well, but I will be providing them.  I will also be asking for your assistance in providing the prompts next year.  If you would like to do so, please let me know in the comments which month(s) you would be able to challenge us. Margaret and Sue have indicated that they are happy to provide the prompts for November next year as well.

Sunday Selections #508

 

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 I am returning to the zoo.  My owl encounter took place relatively late on a hot day when I was not at my best.  Just the same I reveled in both my treat and some of the other animals.

I adore otters, and they were much more active than most of the other animals that hot afternoon.

In the past there were a number of peacocks and peahens wandering freely through the zoo.  Sadly they don't seem to have a strong sense of self preservation and after visitors watched several of the chicks being devoured the decision was made to relocate the peahens.  The remaining males still strut their stuff, but cannot reproduce.

 

Most of the animals were totally 'laxed weren't they?  

 

My treats for the day continued, and the sunset that evening was particularly vivid.

 

I hope your week is bright, colourful and treat filled.
 

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, and mixing and matching is encouraged.

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.

The prompts will be here this month but are provided by Margaret Adamson, and her friend Sue Fulcher.  The prompts  will also include photographs taken by Margaret's friend Bill Dodd

Sadly Sue is unwell and Margaret is very, very busy so neither of them are likely to use their prompts this month.  

Here are this week's prompts, which this week are photos taken by the talented Bill.

And/or

Have fun.

Sunday Selections #507

 

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 I am returning to my avian obsession - and telling you about my treat.  

Starting with the birds we see at home.  Regular readers will have heard/seen me complain about the Sulphur Crested Vandals more than once.  We feed the king parrots (who are low on the pecking order) by hand.  This cockatoo watched with interest.  It then walked up my partner's leg and settled on his knee - evicting the king parrots.  They are not tame birds but trust us - which is an incredible privilege.

Then to a less regular visitor - which is also welcome.  We hear the yellow-tailed black cockatoos but rarely see them in the garden.  Over the last couple of months we have seen them in a neighbour's garden feeding on banskia nuts.  I suspect their presence is a reflection that the food in their 'home territory' has not yet recovered from the fires we had late last year and early this.

This is not a great photo but...  I was trying to photograph the cockatoo perched in the tree when I got photobombed.  You can clearly see in this shot where the name Yellow Tail comes from.

Now to my treat.  And it was HUGE.

On Wednesday afternoon I went to our local zoo and had an up close and personal encounter with two Barking Owls, Rocco and Ruby.  Both of them perched on my (gloved) forearm and I was even encouraged to pat them gently.  This treat was delayed by our catastrophic fires, by Covid 18 and by the owl's breeding season. 

This video (three minute or so) is worth watching.  You can hear the owl call at about the 2.30 point.

Less talk, more photos.  Lots more photos.

 It really was an incredible treat.  Of course while I was at the zoo I took other photos, which I will undoubtedly show/inflict on you some other week.

I hope you find joy this week too.