Sunday Selections #618

 

 

 

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. Last Thursday I went in to do my shift at Lifeline (which was busy).  It was a public holiday. Australia Day or Invasion Day depending on your perspective. As in many other cities across Australia there were protests. I went in to town too early for the protestors and they had moved on by the time I finished.

So I focused on street art and beauty.

I really like the way the mirrored windows of this impersonal office block reflect the trees in the park across the street.

This is a magpie, a female magpie (which I knew because her nape is grey rather than white). She was very close to my next photos of her big brother.

I was thrilled to see that The Big Swoop by Yanni Pounartzis has been repaired and returned to the city. When it was first installed it was attacked by vandals within hours. It was fenced off but attacked again. So far the oxygen thieves have left it alone this time, and I hope they stay well away. I think it is a beautiful addition to the city.

Walking on (and it was a very hot day) I smiled to see that a local tavern was misting their outside patrons with a cool spray. What a lovely idea.  I stopped long enough to benefit.

I don't know what this last sculpture represents. It was close to the first of my bus stops (and public transport on a public holiday is woeful). I only saw it by chance. I will investigate further.

On the Batty front we continue to watch and wait. He went back to the vet this week (and I suggested he should attract frequent flyer points). She agreed with us that he is better, but also agreed that he is not right yet. His anti inflamatories will run out in the next few days. We have instructions to ring her in a fortnight or earlier if his condition deteriorates to discuss next steps. Surgery may be on the cards. Poor Batty. I should add that we seem to be much more worried about his condition than he is.

I do hope that your week is packed with beauty and health.

Sunday Selections #471

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. I am taking you back to Enlighten this week, but we are starting in town rather than in the Parliamentary Triangle.  On my way to do my shift at Lifeline I spotted not one but three 'Illuminated Mini Beasts'.  The beasts are brightly coloured neon insects, which will remain in the city centre as part of the Enlighten festival.

Starting with the Swallowtail Butterfly.

Then the Neon Cuckoo Bee which is apparently native to Sydney.  They rely on other bees to raise their young and lay their eggs in the nests of others.

Finishing up with the Cicada.  Apparently this cicada hums when touched, but I went past early in the rain and it refused to sing for me.

It was a very, very busy and draining shift at Lifeline so I was grateful for these colourful treats.

There is still more to come from Enlighten but it can wait for another post.

Keep your fingers crossed for me please.  Our Balloon Spectacular started yesterday and I am heading off shortly before dawn (in a couple of hours) in the hopes of seeing them take to the skies.

Sunday Selections #434

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. I have mentionedwhinged that life has been a tad busy of late.  These photos were taken on early morning walks/excursions.  They were all taken with my phone, a camera I rarely use.

It was a pretty morning (and pretty chilly too).

My new bus stop is beside community gardens.  I have never seen anyone in the gardens and the beds looks to be vacant at the moment (though they were full in summer).  The scarecrows are interesting though and I don't think I have seen 'canoodling' scarecrows before.

Two buses later I reached town.  Not only is my bus stop further away, the one in town has also been shifted.  So come wander through the streets with me.

The bearded raven was obviously in familiar territory as the crap stained seat it perched on testified.

This statue is 'Little Big Man' by Dean Bowen.

I do like the splashes of colour.

 I think the ACT Memorial (which was commissioned to honour people who have had an association with my city and territory who have served their country in war, confict, peace keeping and humanitarian missions) is an elegant addition.

I like the textured wall to the Commonwealth Bank too.

This nice bus driver was taking the bike for a ride (which stems from a family joke triggered when a work colleague's daughter told her how nice the farmers were always taking their cattle for a drive.) 

I liked this painting which filled the window of a shop under renovation too.  The art was sponsored by Transport Canberra (one good thing they are doing) and City Service and a Youth and Community Centre.

 The walls of the take-away fish and chip shop have charm as well.

As does this delightful colourful and textured planter.

I am still peeved at the changes to our bus system (and not alone) but I am also seeing parts of the city I didn't see often in the past.  A small positive.

Sunday Selections #428

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 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 post (like my life at the moment) is less organised.  Random even.

Earlier this week, Margaret-whiteangel posted about the Ross Bridge in Tasmania here.  I mentioned that years ago I had done a long-stitch tapestry of that bridge for himself's mama, and Margaret said she would like to see it.  After his mother died it came back to us and here it is.

A few weeks ago in another Sunday Selections I showed you a mural which was being painted.  When I went back to town last week I remembered to take a photo of the finished product.

I like it.  The more I look the more I see in it.  There is certainly a link to the art of our First People, and my city's native bird (the gang-gang).  I liked the reflections of the trees and the very blue sky in the windows of the building behind it as well.

Returning to my usual obsessions.

I never tire of the sky.

Just after first light.

And a glowing sunset with a new moon high in the sky.

The birds are a continuing obsession too.  We are getting up to eight or nine King Parrots visiting each day.  They are low on the pecking order and don't get a look in at the feeders.  So they make it clear that they are hungry and we oblige.

We have some brightly coloured galahs visiting at the moment too.  They are always welcome.

I have been very, very busy in the garden.  Weeding, weeding, weeding, planting, planting, planting, mulching, mulching and more mulching.

Photos will follow in due course.  However I will show some shots of the tree dahlia (dahlia imperialis) which has beaten the frost again this year and is coming into bounteous flower.  Bees love them.  Ours are at least twelve feet tall and bending over with the weight of the blooms.  The first hard frost will see the end of them, so I am revelling in them now.

 In other news, I am likely to be late and a bit patchy visiting your blogs this week.  Himself's sister is coming to stay from Tuesday.  Sadly the reason for her visit is a family funeral and we have a six hour plus drive (there and back) on Thursday.