Sunday Selections #800

 

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. Sorry I still haven't succeeded in working out how to do a blog hop. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 

 

I usually run with a theme. I am finally taking you to our National Galleries latest art work, an interactive sculpture in the gallery's forecourt.

Lindy Lee's 13-tonne Ouroboros, based on the ancient tale of the same name about a snake swallowing its own tail, allows visitors to enter the sculpture's "mouth" and see the light beams inside.

As part of the years-long process, Lindy Lee worked closely with Ngunnawal elder Aunty Jude Barlow, and in an "unbelievable coincidence" discovered the importance of the snake to Ngunnawal heritage. 

Visitors can enter the Ouroboros's "mouth" and walk into the curved space to experience darkness that is illuminated by light beams emanating from 45,000 holes in its surface. 

The sculpture's stainless steel finish has been designed to last for at least 500 years (which means it will be standing long after the gallery is gone) and is now open to the public 24 hours a day. 

It would be an amazing sight at night but for our first visit we went during the day.

In my usual minimalist fashion lots of photos follow.

 

I found the interplay of light and reflections mesmerising.  In common with many other countries the world over the cost of living is rising here.  Many people are struggling and more money needs to be invested in housing, in health and in education.  With that in mind do I regret the money spent on this sculpture?  No - and in the interests of perspective it cost the Australian public less than a dollar per person.

I hope you find things to delight you this week.

Sunday Selections #530

 

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 not so much, I am going with snippets from the last few weeks.

One block in our city has benefited from the generosity of the executives of the Canberra Airport and has recently acquired three new sculptures.

The first was this one.

 Then this one.

 

And now the third one has been added.  It is a much more abstract design.  Please forgive me but for the moment I have no details about the sculpture's name or its artist.

This remarkably sinuous statue moves in the wind.  On my first photo I was so amazed I forgot to take a video.  When I went back a few weeks later there was no wind when I arrived in the early morning.  And then I got lucky.  On my return trip the wind had picked up AND my bus stopped at a traffic light beside the statue, so I have included a very short video (less than thirty seconds) of it drifting in the sky.

 

My next photos are of a sight I saw at home which worries me.  Most of you are well aware that I delight in our birds.  One morning a corella appeared what I can only describe as a 'cone of shame'. 

I have no idea how it became wedged in this piece of discarded plastic and did feel shame at our careless ways.  The corella could eat and it could fly but I do hope it managed to remove that cone very quickly.  I have not seen it since.

Now to happier wildlife images. We headed down the lake for a kangaroo fix.  I have often commented that our roos relax really, really well.  I have rarely seen them quite as laid back/lazy as this big boy.

 

As you can see he was completely unperturbed by nearby people and was too tired to even lift his body to eat. Other nearby roos were fairly 'laxed too.
 

I am finishing up in our garden.  Autumn is here.  Frosts, and probably hard frosts, will happen soon.  As always I wonder whether the tree dahlias will flower before a hard frost kills them (watch this space).  In the meantime I am delighting in the very last of our tuberous begonias.  They line the front veranda and always make me smile.

Not quite a frost - but very close...

In other gardening news in our usual unrestrained fashion both of us ordered copious quantities of spring flowering bulbs.  As is also usual we did so without consultation. They have arrived.  For the next few weeks we are going to be very busy indeed planting hundreds of bulbs and hoping for a bright and beautiful spring.

I hope your weeks are filled with joy.

Sunday Selections #463

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 received a treat in the mail.  The lovely Sandra Cox despite the sadness and worry in her own life sent me a book.  One of her books.  Flower Power spoke to my garden obsessed self.  For a slim volume it contains a lot to absorb.  Planting by colour, planting for sun/shade, the meaning of flowers, plants which are dangerous to animals, planting tips, aromatherapy, floroscopes...  I can see me dipping into this gem often.  Thank you Sandra.

Her very generous gift encouraged me to focus on the garden this week in Sunday Selections.

It is still very dry.  Fires still burn.  Dangerously so.  Homes and lives continue to be lost.  I weep and my heart aches.  Just the same, this fire related image made me smile.  I have showed you 'A Delicate Moment' by Suzie Bleach and Andy Townsend before.

The air quality is my city is still hazardous.  Masks are in short supply.  I think it says a lot about how her community values her that the statue was given a mask, and also that no-one has nicked it.  The sculptors' home town was hit hard (and repeatedly) by recent fires so I suspect they would appreciate the image too.