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.

Thank Goodness for Xmas Orders!

I arrived at the markets wondering whether my stall spot would still be available, because I missed last month and hadn't made contact with the organisers.

It was a relief to see that nobody had taken my position and pleasing to see that the SES (State Emergency Services) had set up their barbecue/food stall beside me.

That would bring more people near my stall surely??

Across the way was a young man busking.  He played guitar and sang.  He wasn't bad, but he sang the same three songs over and over and over.  He only stayed til 10am and made a bit of money because it took a while for him to pick up the coins from his guitar case, one by one.

The music student who has been busking at the markets for over a year wasn't there today.  He has been trying to raise money for a special event that was coming up (I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I can't remember what that event was), so perhaps the special event is happening as we speak?

I do know that if I sold tricycles, I would make a killing.  Every month at the markets, we have at least six people making enquiries about our trikes - how much they cost, where they can be purchased, how easy/difficult they are to ride etc etc.

Perhaps I should do some research into second had trikes and expand my business!

It seems that every month the number of stalls is decreasing at our little markets.  I don't hold much hope for the future of our market.

Today, there were stalls selling second hand toys, hand-made ironing board covers, wind chimes, leather hats and belts, plants, 4 jewellery stalls, garden wall plaques, home-made cakes and slices, fresh fruit n veggies and the other usual odds n ends.

The only stall that sold anything was the SES barbecue stall.  The other stall holders, like me, were looking very sad and forlorn at the end of the morning.

It was a beautiful day.  The sun was shining, the birds were singing and there was a lovely cool breeze making the wind chimes on the stall behind me sing, and it carried the delicious aroma of bacon and eggs across from the SES stall.

There were quite a few people walking through the markets today, and I had more people than usual stopping to look, but nobody wanted to buy.

I will do one more market day, next month (the final one before Christmas),  but after that, I will withdraw from the markets.

I do enough business through my facebook page, my relatives and my friends, to keep me busy enough.

We did discuss, today, the idea of selling my framed photographs on the stall WITH the jewellery.  I guess that's an option.

Anyway, a new neighbour from my street, stopped at my stall and asked me to drop by her house and take a photo of a flowering plant in her garden.  She wasn't sure what it was called, but it was so lovely, she wanted a record of it and a photo to send to friends and family.

I think it's from the 'ginger' family.

So I did that, and got to know her a little better and met her dog, two cats and four birds.  They seem like a nice couple.

In a nutshell, I missed out on a morning with my little Chicklet, to sit at the markets and watch people NOT buy anything.  I DID catch up with some locals, who I hadn't seen for a while and I DID make a new friend.  I DID get to spend some time with Aussie H.

Apart from a day of nil sales, it was a happy, friendly day.  Thank goodness for Christmas orders!

Nite all.

A Bit of Family History

Oh my goodness, I can relate to that!

A cousin whom I met once, about 40 years ago, has made contact through facebook, and we have been inboxing each other.

She has been doing genealogy and researching the history of our family, on my father's side.  Apparently we have Doctors and Pharmacologists in our recent history!  Kind of a surprise!

Anyway, she is going to scan some family documents and email them to me and, in return, I have found a few family photos and emailed them to her.

From the left is my Uncle Jimmy, my Dad and then my Mum.  This was taken in the very early 60s at a work function.

My Dad - 14th Aug 1940  -  24th Nov 1997

My Dad (standing) and my Uncle Brian

I have another photo of my Dad with all of his brothers and both of his parents, but I have put it in a safe place, and can't remember where that safe place is!!  Don't you hate that!?  

His father died in 1964 of cancer and his mother, in 1971, of a heart attack.  He has five brothers who are all still living, as far as I'm aware.

So that's a little lesson in my family history.  I'm looking forward to learning more about by father's family.

Adoring Husband returned home today safe n sound.  He disliked being in Sydney and is very happy to be home.

Psychotic dogs, Lovely Laying Chooks and I are happy that he is home too :o)

I have markets tomorrow, so it's now time for me to sleep.

Nite all.

A New Day

This is where I spent the first hour of my day ....

... and I finished my day with Tootsie and the Scotsman, who invited me for dinner, and then had to improvise because I was allergic to what they had prepared!

I spent a lovely three hours at their place chatting about everything and anything.  They are a lovely couple.

Adoring Husband returns home tomorrow, a day earlier than planned.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my 'alone' time, but it'll be nice to have him home again.

For now, it's time for bed, ready for another new day.  Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Nite all.

It was the best of times. It was the Worst of times.

After spending a bit over an hour at the 'Seat of Knowledge' this morning, I went searching along the river for a turtle that Gentleman Jim, and a couple of walkers, had seen earlier in the morning.

On my first search, I found nothing, so I selected a seat in the shade, right on the river bank and sat with my camera at the ready.

Within ten minutes, I saw a large shadow in the water, just up from me, so I stood up and watched and waited ...

I had also noticed during the morning, that sting rays were jumping out of the river.  They jump a couple of feet out of the water, and have been known to jump INTO boats in the past.

So I decided to ride along the river and attempt, with a lot of luck, to capture a shot of one in flight.

No such luck, but found these instead ...

They were quite a way out, so I couldn't get great shots of them.  A mother and baby and another three dolphins in the pod, but sadly, at no time did all of them come to the surface at the same time.

As I pedalled away from the beach and towards the Post Office to check my mail, I came across this little fellow ...

He was too big to fit through the grid, but appeared to be sunning himself in this position.

I then ran into Aussie H on the way to the Post Office, so after we checked our mail and did a little shopping, we pedalled home together.

I left her at her driveway and as I got to my street, instead of turning the corner towards my house, I looked up the street ahead and noticed a large tree.

Over the past couple of years, I had heard stories of owls nesting in this tree, and I had never gone to investigate.  Today, I decided that I should.

This is what greeted me ...

Father Owl

Mother and one baby

Three adorable little babies!

I was positively beside myself with excitement when I saw these three babies!!

After all of that excitement, when I got home, I discovered a message in my facebook inbox from a friend in my old town.

My old boss and dear friend, had a major stroke at work this morning and is currently in hospital on life support.  They suspect a brain tumour.

After her mother and three sons arrive and are gathered together, the Drs will be turning off the life support.

She is only 47 years of age.  She is a happy, loving, caring, supportive and loyal friend to so many of us.  As a boss, she was fair and just, as well as empathetic and sympathetic and she felt more like family, than a friend.

She has been a part of my life for almost twenty years and she is one of the most amazing women I have ever known.  I am praying for a miracle, hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.

My day has been the best of times and the worst of times.

Nite all.

New Challenge

The new photography challenge has been set for November.  The theme is 'Symmetry'.

As an example, our tutor posted a photo of a tiger's face.  He took the photo when he was at Australia Zoo last week with his daughter.

It's a fabulous photo and it provides an example of symmetry in nature.

The closing date is 23rd November.

In the meantime ...

I had morning tea with the girls this morning.  Aussie H, Lady Lynne, Kaz, Maid Marion and Michelle Mabelle.

There was a lovely moment as we were saying our goodbyes, when Lady Lynne and Kaz, both with a tear in their eye, acknowledged my blog post from 1st November, Age Challenged rQQzy: Isn't it Funny? about my son, Jamie.

I was touched by their kind words and felt very loved.  Thank you girls :o)

... and today was family lunch day, so Vegan Chickie, the Bare-chested Chef and Chicklet came over for a few hours and we ate and played and napped and played with electronic devices lol.

I love family lunch day :o)

I skyped with Adoring Husband tonight after the power was restored.

Sydney had a massive storm and the power was lost in a few suburbs for a couple of hours.  People were stuck in electric trains for two hours and shops and restaurants had to close their doors.

Adoring Husband and our flickr friends have posted all of their fabulous photos from Sunday's night shoot in Brisbane and I am feeling very jealous to have missed out.

I'm not a fan of the city, but they have all made the city and the beautiful lights look warm and inviting and oozing with wonderful energy.

I hope I have the chance, sometime in the future, to take such great shots.

Night shoots also pose a cool challenge.

Nite all.

Rocket Rod

Three years ago, after Adoring Husband and I moved here, the daily bus would travel past our house at what seemed like the speed of light.  I nicknamed it the 'Bathurst Bus'.

http://www.bathurst1000.com.au/

After a few months, the bus slowed down.  I have since learned that the original speeding bus driver had moved to Brisbane.

Well, guess what?  He's baaaa-aaaack!

A few weeks ago, after Vegan Chickie & fam moved into The Bay, I began catching the bus on a Saturday morning to spend some time with them at their new unit.

The very first Saturday was harrowing!  The bus driver sped like a maniac and I felt very unsafe.

The following few weeks were fine because it was a different driver.

Today, Aussie H and I caught the bus into town for a girlie day and we had the maniac bus driver.

His nickname, apparently, is Rocket Rod, and he has been reprimanded in the past for his driving abilities.

After today's trip, I am emailing the bus company to lodge a complaint about his speeding, his cutting corners (a car coming in the opposite direction had to brake quickly to avoid a collision with our bus), and his missing passengers' stops.

A man with a prosthetic leg had to walk 30 metres to get to the bus, after the driver overran the stop on the main road and was unable to reverse in the traffic.

Then, on the return trip, the driver had to reverse 20 metres because he overran a lady's stop.

I will stop using the bus service if he continues to drive like that.  Apparently, he was removed from this route once previously because of his speeding.  Crazy man!

ANYWAY ... aside from the crazy driver, Aussie H and I had a lovely day in The Bay.

Aussie H bought some new darts.  She has been playing competition/social darts at the local club and really enjoying it, but she has been using some cheap darts that she won as a lucky door prize.

Now she has some fabulous new weighty darts, so she should tear her opponents apart this week!!

GO Aussie H!!!!  Oi! Oi! Oi!

Then we did some girlie shopping and bought clothes and shoes and dvds and hats.  We had lunch together and then made our way home.

It really was most enjoyable and I hope we get to do it more often :o)

I did a couple more silly picture quotes this afternoon ...

... had a Skype call with Adoring Husband ... and now it's time to sleep.

I imagine I'll be having nightmares about Rocket Rod!  Wish me luck!

Nite all.

This is what happens ...

I couldn't get any good shots today, so I played around with some old shots and came up with these ...

... and then, Vegan Chickie emailed me some wonderful shots of my little Chicklet.

This one is my favourite :)

They make me LOL every time I look at them!

This evening, I decided to pedal down to the park to check out the sunset.  There were some fabulous cloud formations that had the potential to create an overwhelming sunset, and it almost looked like it might happen, but unfortunately it fizzled out to nothing.

This was at it's peak.

Bummer huh?

This is what happens in a day of my life, when Adoring Husband, goes off to do a night shoot in Brisbane with twelve of our flickr friends.

I hope he got some fabulous shots of the Brisbane night lights!

Nite all.

Chicklet Update Overdue

I had a most enjoyable ride in the bus into The Bay this morning with the 'Hamish and Andy' radio program on over the speaker system.  It was a giggly way to start the day.

Vegan Chickie,  Chicklet and I met at the Bare-chested Chef's restaurant, which is part of the Wetside Water Park in Hervey Bay.  It was their first day open for breakfast.

I had a Crab Omelette for breakfast and Vegan Chickie had Canadian French Toast.  Hmmmmm it was DELICIOUS!  I think we need to do that again!

Chicklet had fun sitting on the grass in the outdoor area of the restaurant, eating sticks and leaves and grass and anything else she could wrap her fingers around.

Afterwards, we caught a taxi back to Vegan Chickie's place, where we both harassed Chicklet with our cameras and took about 400 photos between us!

Chicklet has so many facial expressions, she had us laughing our butts off, which meant that some of my photos came out blurry from my shaking with laughter!

I had a lovely morning.

Thank you Vegan Chickie, Chicklet and the fabulous Bare-chested Chef!

A giggle to end our Chicklet update for today ...

Nite all.