Sunday Selections #466

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.  The fires still burn and a State of Emergency has been declared for my city.  I am probably safe unless there is a dramatic wind change but we are on constant watch for ember attack.  In a direct line I think the nearest fires are about ten to fifteen kilometres (six to nine miles) away. 

The following photos were taken from my veranda and my driveway over a couple of days.

Sadly this fire (which is raging out of control) was started accidentally by a Defence Force helicopter.  Its landing lights were hot enough to ignite the tinder dry grass and once started it was off and running.  That said, I don't blame them and have been very, very grateful to hear (and sometimes see though the smoke) the waterbombers going back and forth, back and forth...

The colour in those plumes of smoke is flames and reflected flames rather than sun.

My anxiety levels are high so I have been looking for distractions.  And finding them.

Any day is improved by a rainbow - even if it is produced by sun shining through glass onto our carpet.

The birds continue to give me joy.

Pretty as the rainbow lorikeets are (and they are very pretty) they are shameful bullies.  This one was defending apple we had put out against all comers.  It was so busy shooing other birds off it barely got a mouthful itself.

The metal owl is a relatively new addition to our back pergola.  I like it - and the birds ignore it.

I headed into town one day last week to do my shift (a very very busy and challenging shift) with Lifeline.

It was smokey and nasty when I headed off.

When I got into town my mood was lightened by some delightful installations celebrating Chinese New Year.

The first featured the rat... Musical rats no less.

And the second trees and lanterns.

 I really liked both installations.

I am still hoping for a week with no climatic extremes.  World wide.

Sunday Selections #458

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 (mostly) focussing on the skies.

I am invariably up before dawn.  Mostly our dawns are muted affairs decorated in soft pinks and greys.  One day this week was very different.

Note the birds on the lamp post, waiting for feed to go out.

Red in the morning, shepherd's warning was an allusion to heat and wind rather than rain.

That vivid sky was bookended at the other end of the day too.

I amused myself taking pictures of the reflections too.  

The first reflection is in a neighbour's window and the second ours.

The fires continue.  Wreaking havoc across too many states.  Yes, we always do get fires in summer, but summer has only just begun.  Yesterday there were over 100 fires burning in the state nearest to me.  Many of them are out of control, and the three largest have joined together.  The Eastern States are all suffering, as is much of the rest of the country.

A Sydney blogger put up this post.
How scary is that, that the flames are leaping so high that they are reflected on the ground - miles away?
Dust from our dust storms has been smeared across New Zealand's glaciers and the smoke from the fires in New South Wales (and possibly) Queensland can be seen in that country. 

The ongoing forecast is very, very frightening.  (The Bureau of Meteorology has said that my area at least can expect significant rain in February - or perhaps March).  My heart goes out to everyone (regardless of species) who is in danger.

I am going to finish on a kinder note, with a kangaroo fix. 

As you can see, they were totally unperturbed by picnickers.
Have a wonderful (and safe) week.