What a Year!

So let's start by saying a big "Happy Birthday" to my little sister, Squirt, who turned 40 yesterday.

I'm sorry that I couldn't be there to share the fun last night, but I'm glad that you had a good time with your friends.  I'm glad that your head wasn't sore this morning too lol.

Luvyalotsxxooxx

**********

Yesterday, I mentioned Baddow House in Maryborough.  The home is Heritage listed.

http://www.greatsoutheast.com.au/gsec2cqw/story.asp?weekID=587&storyID=2861

It doesn't have a dedicated website, unfortunately.

The Artist and I crept around the property like a pair of 'would-be' thieves, casing the joint!  We didn't go inside.  

We circumnavigated the property, trying to find a good angle to get a photo and this required some hiking through bushland, a little mountain climbing and some tricky navigation ... and all in heels, thank you very much!

The Rear Entrance. 

Picture Perfect

It is a pretty spectacular home.

This morning during my ride to the Seat of Knowledge, I rode past my owl family, but the tree was bare!

As I scanned the nearby trees, hoping to catch a glimpse of the family, I noticed two babies and an adult sitting high in a tree, about 20 feet away from their nest.  

While I was wondering where the other baby was, I happened to glance down at the fish scaling table at the base of the tree.

There, trying really hard to look like a branch, was the third baby.

I found it difficult to leave him alone there, because I was worried that some kids would find him and harass him.  I will be visiting him first thing in the morning!

Adoring Husband's Mum has taken ill down in Sydney, so he will be flying down to be with her tomorrow.  My love goes with you my darling.  We need to be prepared for the worst, but at the same time, let's hope for the best.

What a year!  The highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  A never ending challenge.

Nite all.

Arty Farty Friends

Finally!  After two postponements and a false start, I got to Maryborough with my arty farty friend, The Artist.

She was right on time, and on this very hot day, we drove to Maryborough and straight to the Art Gallery, which is called Gatakers Artspace and is situated on Kent Street.

http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/web/guest/gatakers-artspace

The Artist introduced me to all of the staff and then showed me around the floor space.  We then made inquiries as to what props and other resources were available to us for the exhibition.

We discussed some ideas over coffee and scones in a little coffee house/book store.

The Artist took me to the art supplies store where I met an incredibly talented artist by the name of Bette Phillips.  She creates the most amazing pastel paintings.  The photos of her art on the website really do not do them justice.

http://www.bettephillipsartist.com.au/index.html

In particular, I love her Wine and Music collection.

Then we drove around Maryborough looking at some Art Deco architecture and taking a few shots before heading to The Muddy Waters Cafe for lunch where we shared a smoked salmon pizza and wine and discussed some more ideas for the exhibition.

There were some fabulous photo opportunities on the old wharf there.  After the floods in January, there is only a small section of the old wharf left, which is fenced off for safety reasons

Part of the old wharf on the Mary River.

An old rusty mooring ballard.

We visited the Golf Club, where one of The Artist's works is hanging in the entrance and then drove around some more for other photo opportunities.

Art Deco style home.

Topiary

On the way home, we drove past the cemetery and decided that there would be some Art Deco headstones that I could photograph, but decided to do that another time because it was getting quite late and it was VERY hot.

All in all, I had a really good day.  I met some lovely people.  I saw some fabulous pieces of art.  I learnt a lot about my friend, the Artist.  I discovered some parts of Maryborough that I didn't know existed, including Baddow House, which I will talk more about in tomorrow's post.

It's just the start, of what I expect to be, a big year ahead.  So much to do, so little time!

Thank you, Universe, for my arty farty friend.

Nite all.

14 Years Already

Today is the fourteenth anniversary of my Father's death.

Fourteen years ago today, my family and I had to make the decision to turn off my father's life support.

The decision was not a difficult one, because all of his organs had shut down, after his brown snake bite had been incorrectly treated, at the Gladstone Hospital.

My father had applied the correct first-aid to his snake bite wound, which was confirmed by the ambulance paramedics who met him halfway to the hospital.

When he arrived at the hospital, it was like a comedy of errors, from the second he was wheeled through their door.

He knew, after the staff's first mistake, that he was going to die.  He told my mother as much.  Such was the enormity of that first mistake.

The hospital staff told my mother not to worry because they had never lost a snake bite victim.

He was, after more mistakes, put into an induced coma and flown to Royal Brisbane Hospital.

He never woke from that coma and two weeks after he was bitten, we made the decision to let him go.

He was 57 years of age.

After a lengthy court case, my mother was paid a large compensation payment, after it was proved that he had died as a result of the hospital staff incorrectly treating him.

It didn't bring him back and it didn't take away her anger, but it did allow her to have a comfortable lifestyle during the eight years that she lived after his death.

One of the conditions of that compensation settlement was that Mum wasn't allowed to discuss the case with the media or speak publicly about it.

However, 'I' can tell you ... don't go to the Gladstone Base Hospital if you are bitten by a brown snake!

I think we will always feel a little bit angry about the unnecessary loss of our Dad.

There has been too much sadness in my blog over the last month, so I would like to end this post on a more happy note.

I went to visit the original three baby owls, whose photos I posted here a few weeks ago and they are almost all grown up!

The third baby was further along the branch pretending to be just that .. a branch!  They are growing so fast!

After I left there, I headed to Cheelii Lagoon and discovered a little hidden patch of bank where many species of bird were congregating.

There were Heron, Spoonbills, Cormorants, Ducks, Water Fowl and Ibis.  They were the birds that I could see.  There were smaller birds but I couldn't determine what they were from that distance.

Cheelii Lagoon and a little hidden pocket of birdlife.

It was very very hot today and the weather bureau has promised rain and storms for days now, but they never eventuate.  It just gets hotter!

I'm ok in the air conditioned comfort of the house, but tomorrow is the big trip to Maryborough and it's always hotter there by a couple of degrees.

We have survived the fourteenth anniversary and I can't believe it's been that long.  I wonder how he would have felt about being a great grandfather?

Wish me luck for tomorrow!

Nite all.    

False Start

Thought it was my big day today.

I got all dressed up, ready to meet with The Artist, and head to Maryborough to check out the exhibit space at the Art Gallery and meet important people.

I noticed that she was online and forwarding jokes via email at around 9am, so I sent an email asking if the agreed time today was 10am.

She replied that our date is Friday, not today!

**forehead slap**

So I changed into casual clothes, loaded my camera bag into the basket of my trike and headed towards the river.

I have recently been spoken to, rather tersely, by the man who runs the council caravan park.  He chastised me for riding my trike on the walkway beside the park, after he put signs up which banned bikes, skateboards, roller blades and scooters.

Locals told me that he shouldn't have put the signs up and that the path was not part of the caravan park, but I needed the 'official' word on the matter before I felt comfortable riding on the path.  (I must admit that the rebellious teenager in me rode on the path a couple of times after he had chastised me lol)

Anyway, there was a meeting last night in the town hall and I have since been informed that council will be telling him to remove the signs from that path, as well as other signs that he erected without permission.

So, this morning, when I found out that today wasn't my date day, I hopped on my trike and rode down to the path to gleefully ride along it.

The signs are still there.  Obviously, council haven't taken action yet, but at least I know that I am within my rights to ride the path.

I visited my owls again ...

This photograph is terribly over-exposed, but I thought it amazing that the owl's eyes still stand out clearly!

This is Mum in the tree opposite.  I learned today that Dad stays with the chicks during the day, and the mother does it at night.

Cute little chickie with Dad protecting from behind.

So today was a false start for arty farty adventure/challenge.  We'll have another try on Friday!

Nite all.

Babysitting Gig

First of all, I'll get today's photo out of the way.  This afternoon I had my camera out because there were a large number of magpies in the back yard and I was hoping to catch a shot of Jack (one of our psychotic dogs) chasing them from the yard ...

... when all of a sudden, I heard a very angry sound coming from the rear neighbour's roof!  When I looked up, this is what I saw ..

It's ON!  Two kookaburras ready to rumble!

************

Today, I got to spend two wonderful hours with my little Chicklet, while Vegan Chickie and the Bare-chested Chef had a movie date.

We went shopping together.

We had coffee and mango.

OK 'I' had coffee and Chicklet had mango.

We tried on clothes.

OK 'I' tried on clothes and Chicklet offered helpful advice.

We collected our lotto winnings.

OK 'I' collected our winnings, while Chicklet threw her toys on the floor.

We paid for some new swimmers and a top.

OK 'I' paid for the goods while Chicklet charmed the salesperson.

We had Chinese chicken and vegetables for lunch.

OK 'I' had Chinese chicken and vegetables while Chicklet gargled and dribbled about 300 mls of water down her shirt.

We had a long conversation.

OK 'I' thought we were finished after a short conversation and got ready to move on, and Chicklet yelled at me because she wasn't finished yet.  So really, we had two short conversations, which equal one long conversation :)

We went for a long walk from the shopping centre to the movie cinemas to wait for Mum n Dad and as soon as we sat down to wait, Chicklet fell asleep in her pram, and was still asleep when Adoring Husband arrived and still asleep when Mum n Dad came out of the movies.

I thought it would be nice for Vegan Chickie to find us alive, happy and well, waiting for her when she came out.

I also thought it would be nice for Chicklet to wake up from her nap to see her Mum's face smiling down at her, so I was praying that she wouldn't wake up before they came out!

Just one thing though, I have strained my back from trying to steer the pram ... which I liken to a shopping trolley with a wonky wheel in the supermarket.

It actually didn't hurt until I sat down for dinner tonight, when I felt a slight twinge, but it has gradually got worse during the night.

If I can get a solid night of sleep, my body might just heal itself.

I was wondering if I can claim compo???   ***moan***  ***groan***  ***whinge***

But REALLY, of course I'd do it all again and I am looking forward to my next babysitting gig, whenever that may be.

Nite all.

It's a Wonderful Life!

Another goanna sighting today ...

Honestly!  They are everywhere!

Everybody loves Spring right?  The beautiful weather, the flowers blooming, the birds singing, little animal babies being born, bees buzzing, butterflies fluttering by and the Winter woollies get packed away for another year.

I have always been a big fan of Spring, but until I got my camera and began my daily search for photographic opportunities, I just didn't comprehend the 'vastness' of Spring.  

Every day I am surprised by what Mother Nature has to offer.  The sheer volume of certain species inhabiting the local area, and then when you travel even 100kms, there is a whole new range of species to discover.

Just when I think I've run out of things to photograph, somebody will stop me in the street and point me in a new direction.

It's wonderful!

What else is wonderful, is the fact that I will be babysitting my little Chicklet tomorrow while Vegan Chickie and the Bare-chested Chef go to the movies.

My first babysitting gig.  How exciting is that!?

I will tell you all about it tomorrow night, but for now, I need a big nana nap!

Nite all.

Beat the Heat

It seemed, this morning, that even nature was in hiding to beat the heat.

I left the Seat of Knowledge just before 9am and headed out to the beach flats, as the tide was still making it's way out.

Hoping to find some treasures trapped in the rock pools, like the time that Adoring Husband and I went exploring a few months ago.

That day, we found a large turtle hiding under some rocks and a sting ray trapped in a pool of water, as well as fish, crabs, coral and shell fish.

As I walked across the flats today, I could already feel a bite in the sun, so I knew that I shouldn't linger too long.

In thirty minutes, all I found was a seagull resting in the rocks, a shrimp (whose camouflage was so good, I couldn't see it in the photo!) and some more soldier crabs.

The First Marker 

Resting Gull

Low Tide Stroll

So I arrived home quite disappointed with my photographic opportunities today, although, on my ride home, a huge goanna raced across the road in front of me and hid on somebody's front porch.   I just wasn't quick enough to grab my camera!

Today, I have consciously changed my eating habits and am keeping a food diary.

In three years, I have gained over 17 kgs!!  I am feeling very unhealthy and lethargic, my clothes don't fit me and I'm losing any enthusiasm for socialising, withdrawing into myself and my home.

Aside from those reasons, the sudden deaths of two young women in my life, in the last month have motivated me to look more closely at my health and lifestyle.

Without going overboard, I am going to look more closely at the food that goes into my mouth and make sure it is healthful and that my diet is more balanced.

Although I ride for at least 30 minutes to an hour every day, I am going to find other ways to increase my fitness level - must ask Adoring Husband to get my mini trampoline out of the shed!  Morning walks along the beach would also be beneficial!

So that's the plan!  I know I had this plan earlier in the year, and it kind of fell by the wayside, but my motivation is high right now.  My future involves beating the heat and battling the bulge, so, once again ... wish me luck!

Nite all.

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.