Sunday Selections #592

 

 

 

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 at home again, and mostly featuring early morning shots as well.

Yesterday was a chilly start.  At first light it was hovering around -6C (just over 21F).  So naturally I went out to attempt to freeze bubbles.  It was a tad too breezy for that, but I still spent nearly an hour outside, fascinated by the patterns in the frost.  In some of these shots you will see where the expression 'a sharp frost' comes from.

 The dawn when I headed off to Lifeline early in the week was not as chilly - and definitely more colourful.

On the morning we were doing our grocery shopping it was grey, chilly and drizzling.  The day was immediately improved when we saw a rainbow on our way to the shopping centre.

I often show you king parrots.  The males have the red/orange heads and beaks and the females and the young ones have largely green heads -though the males can be identified by their orange bills.

One day last week we were delighted to see a young male developing his adult plumage.  It is such a privilege when the adults bring their young to visit.

 Just two more photos now.  Close to two hours after I came inside again yesterday morning I had to go out again.  And was amazed to spot two frozen bubbles.

We hadn't yet got to positive temperatures and the bubbles had acquired a layer of frost.  The broken bubble is proof positive that they had indeed frozen.

I hope you find beauty in your week as I did in mine.

I am going to finish on a bit of a family brag.  The youngest of my brothers has now donated blood/plasma 400 times.  There is an old saying that says that whatever you do you should give a 100% of yourself - except when giving blood.  Over the years my brother has given more than six times the volume of blood in his body.  I am super impressed.

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.

Sunday Selections #373

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 is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen. 
 
Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week I would like to share a day with you.  

I have been volunteering with Lifeline Australia for over twenty years now and part of my commitment involves a fortnightly shift on the crisis line.  I head out the door early, and was greeted with a gentle sunrise this week.

There is an elderly Slavic woman selling posies from her garden who has a regular spot in town from Spring to Autumn.  I have been chatting with her for a few years now, and this week I gave myself a present and bought one of her posies.  And the roses smelt glorious.

On my way into Lifeline I stop at the Early Morning Centre which provides assistance for the homeless and drop off some food for inclusion in their 'weekend packs'.  Easter means that the weekend (where regular meals are harder to obtain) will last longer, so I brought extra this week which included several bags of small chocolate eggs.  I was lucky enough to arrive when they were just starting to pack the weekend meals up, and was super impressed.  And smiled broadly because I am there so regularly I am welcomed by staff and clients alike.

Then to Lifeline.  Public holidays/family celebrations are hard on lots of people.  I expected the shift to be busy and heart-rending.  I was right.

After I finished my shift I headed off to Haigh's chocolates for an Easter treat for himself.  Haigh's have been making and selling chocolate in Australia since 1915, but it took over 100 years before they set up in my city.  When the skinny one gets up in a few hours from now he will be greeted with a Chocolate Bilby.  I should explain that Bilbies are native to Australia and their large ears have led to them becoming a popular Easter treat.

Haigh's was crowded. Very crowded, and there was a queue.  When I was nearly there the man behind me tapped me on the shoulder and told me that how much he liked my beautiful hair.  I floated to the checkout to pay for the bilbie.  What a lovely gesture.

Purchases made, I started to head for the bus stop.  And was stopped in my tracks.  Some of you will remember the illuminated jellyfish from our Enlighten festival.  Some of them have found a temporary home in the shopping mall.  I like them best in the dark, but they still have charm.  And I was chuffed to learn that the collective noun for jellysfish is a bloom.

And then home.  I was a tired puppy by the time I arrived.  The garden and the birds gave me solace (pictures next week).  As did this very gentle sunset.  A gentle start and end to a busy and stressful day was much appreciated.

A very happy Easter to those who celebrate it - and an equally happy weekend to those who don't.

Sunday Selections #218

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 is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme. Our local Government is working hard at the moment in an attempt to revitalise our city centre.  I saw an article which said as part of the process they were opening up a service laneway in the heart of the city to street art.  I had to go into town anyway one day this week, so I took the camera.

The art started as I headed out the door.

A stunning sunrise.

It takes me two bus trips to get into town.  I changed buses at an interchange, and admired, as always, a mural on the wall.

Another bus trip, and then to the laneway in question.

It is still not an enticing or particularly inviting area, but the colour does liven it up.  I would be happy to see the work going further up those walls too.  Much more work to do, but a promising start.