Pretty Crabby

Unfortunately, due to a number of circumstances, I didn't get to spend my morning with Chicklet as planned and I was feeling pretty crabby (not really, but by the end of this post, you'll know why I said it).

After my usual morning at the 'Seat of Knowledge', I planned on heading out to the beach, so that I could explore the sand flats and the rocks at low tide.

At the last minute, I decided to start at the river flats, where I was yesterday and work my way back to the beach.

It was right on low tide and there were soldier crabs EVERYWHERE!

Of course, as soon as they spot you, they dig holes and bury themselves in the sand.  It's virtually impossible to get a good shot of them while trying to get closer.

I decided to park my butt on the sandy slope and wait.

Sure enough, after only a few minutes, the soldier crabs began emerging from their sandy burrows and marching ever closer to where I was sitting.

I kept low, aimed my long lens and snapped away.

On the lookout.

On the run.

Beautiful Bluey.

An obliging seagull landed nearby and began feasting.

Run for your lives!!

Where is Bruce Willis when you need him?

I didn't end up going to the other beach, because I had so much fun with the crabs,  it was time to go home when I finished.

I try to be home, and out of the sun by 10am every day, because the Queensland sun can be brutal.

So the morning started off a bit crabby and ended pretty crabby too!

Nite all.  

 

Surprise Skyping

It had turned, but the tide was still low, so I decided to go for a walk along the beach before the river engulfed it.  

The last time I walked at low tide, I came across a couple of Collared Kingfishers, sitting on sticks in the mud.

Today, I didn't have any such luck.

Today, however, I did find a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits!  They travel from Alaska to New Zealand every year!  Here is one of them...

I had to post the photo in 'flickr' to find out from someone clever, what these birds were.

In a little stream behind the beach, where I was searching for something else of interest to photograph, I found this feather floating on the incoming tide.  I even managed to catch a light reflection in the water.

After I got home from my little photographic jaunt, Adoring Husband and I drove into The Bay to do some grocery shopping and while we were there, I received a text from BGWLBH, telling me that it was her parent's Golden Wedding Anniversary.  

A couple of times this year, her parents and I skyped  (http://www.skype.com/intl/en/welcomeback/).  It's a free call you can make with your computer to another computer, and if you have a webcam, you can see each other on your screen as you chat.

I thought I replied to her text, but I arrived home and found the reply still in my outbox, not yet sent.  **rolls eyes**

So I sat down at my laptop and logged into Skype and very soon I was chatting away with the Golden Couple AND BGWLBH :o)

It was lovely to see them all.  The Golden Man has been very ill for quite some time and has lost a lot of weight, but he seemed full of beans and looked healthy on my computer screen.

Unfortunately, our connection was not good due to a storm in their area, so after about five minutes, their voices were fading in and out and conversation was impossible, so we had to end the call.

It really made my day to see and hear BGWLBH.  After such sadness during the week, it was really nice to see familiar faces from afar, and to talk to my loved ones.  Thank goodness for Golden Wedding Anniversaries!!

Tomorrow I get to spend the morning with my little Chicklet.

So, after my surprise Skype call today, and a visit with Chicklet and Vegan Chickie tomorrow, my healing should be nicely kick-started.

Nite all.     

Taking a Moment

Today, at 10am, everyone gathered at St Albans Anglican Cathedral in Griffith for Di's funeral.  So, at 10am, I pedalled myself down to the water's edge, found myself a seat in the shade, and took a moment to reflect on our shared history.

It really was a glorious morning with a beautiful sea breeze and the tide was on it's way in.

The sky was blue, which made the water blue and the lorikeets and green parrots were squawking in the trees behind me.

A young couple were fishing off the bank just up river from me, and somebody was playing soft classical music in one of the houses behind the park.

It was such a perfect setting for remembering my friend.

After about an hour, I decided it was time to move on and I looked up and saw a rather large goanna climbing out of the rocks that lined that river bank ...

It was funny when an average sized magpie flew down to the ground beside the reptile and scared it back into the rocks!

I thought I would go check out how my little Tawny Frogmouth Chicks were going, and this is what I found ...

There is actually a third baby with it's back to us, between the Mum and the top chick.  This is a different nest to the other photos I've been taking, and it has younger chicks.

This little guy is my favourite :o)

They are just adorable!

A few days ago when I was desperately searching for 'symmetry' options, I got a shot of this guy.  By the time I got into the right position for a perfect symmetry shot, he flicked his tail and swam into the depths, never to be seen again.

When you click on the photo to enlarge it ... check out that eye!

Except for my sad start to the day ... it has been a nice day, with just a few tears.  The gaps between the deep sadnesses are getting longer and that is a good sign.

The Breaking Dawn movie was great!  There were a couple of freaky wolf moments that I thought were a little over done and a bit cheesy, but aside from that, I really enjoyed it.  It went very fast and that's always a sign of a good movie.

I'm looking forward to seeing it again, but tomorrow, I think Adoring Husband and I are going to see 'Real Steel' starring Hugh Jackman.

Time for me to take another moment and try to catch up on some of the sleep that I missed out on last night.

Nite all.

Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Trailer 2 In HD Official 2011 (Kristen Stewa...

I am off to watch the midnight screening of Breaking Dawn, so all you get tonight is a sneak peek of the movie and I will let you know, tomorrow, what it's like.  Apparently it has had mixed reviews.




Nite all

Photo Challenge Complete

I have completed this month's photo challenge, which is themed 'Symmetry', and here is my entry ...

Symmetry

Now I have a new challenge through the Canon website 'EOS Inspires' and the brief only has one rule, and that is, that my photo must feature an umbrella.

I have until 8am on Monday, 28th November to complete the brief.

I've been slowly and silently pedalling all over town for the last couple of mornings.  Mostly in a daze, thinking about my friendships from the past and my lost friend, Di.

Every so often, something caught my eye, and I stopped to take a photo.

This morning I stopped in front of a white picket fence that had a single beautiful sunflower growing in front of it and took my long lens out to take a shot.  Suddenly a woman came running down the driveway yelling "What do you think you're doing?"

I replied "Oh I'm so sorry if I've disturbed you, but I just wanted a photo of your beautiful sunflower"

She looked down at the flower, said "Oh", turned around and walked back inside!

Single Sunflower

One of my flickr friends suggested that I print the photo out and put a copy of it in her letterbox ... spread the the love :o)  I like the way she thinks.

Lastly, for this post, I have my first Art Deco inspired photo, which I took while in Rockhampton last month.  The whole cottage was furnished vintage art deco style, so I took some shots on our last day.

Art Deco inspired vintage.

I still have a long way to go before the Exhibit next year, but at least this is a start ... that first step that is always a little difficult.

Next Wednesday will be my first visit to the Art Gallery where the exhibit will be held and The Artist will take me around town to check out some photographic opportunities.  There will be lunch and some important introductions as well.

Nervous, but excited!  Photo challenge complete, but more challenges ahead!

Nite all.

No Words. Just Pics.

Noisy Minor Chick

Three Baby Tawnies with Mum on the right.

Brand new tawnie chick

As viewed from 'The Seat of Knowledge"

Goanna with a growth on his neck

Wispy cloud reflecting sunset colours.

Nite all.

Caution: Sadness Within

Dianne Beer   24th April 1964 - 13th November 2011

The depth of sadness that I am feeling after the loss of my friend today, is overwhelming.  My heart feels so heavy and the tears come and go without warning.

I know that in my old town, there are many hearts breaking today and some of Di's closest friends are wondering how they will ever recover from this loss.

During the twenty years that I have known Di, many of us have suffered trauma, tragedies and heartbreak and she has, through her friendship and support, provided us with the strength and courage to work through them.

She never judged us.  She found the greatest joy in our happiness.  She was our strength when we couldn't find our own. Her smile brightened our day ... every day.  Whether she had seen us 5 minutes ago or 5 months ago, she was always happy to see us.

Di was so many things to so many people.  Our boss, our colleague, our friend, our mentor, our sister, our mother, our rock, our confidante and she always had our backs.

Such a wonderful role model.

She was loyal to all of us and kept our secrets to the end.

Di was such a genuine, loving, happy person.  So strong and independent.  She had suffered so much in her own life and so she could sympathise and empathise with us all.

Her death is such a shock to us all.  Too young.  Too soon.  

We were so lucky to have her in our lives and we are richer for having known her.

The value of her friendship is immeasurable, but so is the pain of her loss.

When I think of her, I see her smile and I hear her laugh.

It makes me smile through my tears.

I hope that soon, the tears will pass and I will be left with the smile.

Goodbye my friend.  RIP

Nite all.