Seems to be fixed – Blogger and my mood

Hello everyone – thanks for your encouragement as far as the Blogger photo issue.  In fact its been nice to see all the the bloggers who have dropped in recently and to read their comments. 

I think I’ve fixed the problem, went back into the posts and reduced the size of the photos and it seems to be showing all the picture now.  Hopefully thats all the problem was. 

Its a nuisance when something is advertised as being ‘better than the previous ‘ version yet doesn’t deliver the goods or even live up to our expectations – you’d think we’d learn by now that it isn’t always the case lol

I really think this has been the week that wasn’t – it rained for the majority of the time and I felt quite miserable.  All my thoughts of being out in the fresh air went poof – or do I mean splosh – I suppose I could have done something out there but it would have been in little bursts as once one rainy period ended another came along soon after – bit like they used to say in England about buses – there’ll be another along soon lol   No sooner did I put my wellies on I was taking them off again so as is rather obvious I spent a lot of time in front of the computer. 

I took loads of photos when we in Queensland and really wanted to share them with you so decided to take part in some of the weekly photo memes – do you know how long it takes to decide which photos to use and then sort them into order and then load them – then workout when to post them – having to take time differences into consideration – good job it was raining as I seemed to spend hours here lol

I hope you’ve enjoyed them all as I may do them again next week:))

Anyway the pity party is over, there’s no more sweet stuff left in the house ‘cose I ate it all,  the freezers almost empty of those soups and standby meals I put aside when I cooked too much – I’m not an enthusiastic cook at the best of times and my enthusiasm had certainly left me last week so I was glad of all the hidden mysterys in there, 

Normal service has now resumed.

I cooked dinner Monday evening after Dh got back from Sydney (tossed some diced chicken breasts into a pan with onion and garlic, added some chicken stock courtesy of the last carcass I had in the freezer, diced carrot, potato and sweet potato (‘cose thats all the fresh veg I had) found a small tin of chick peas lurking in the cupboard so they went in, yes I know lots of white and not much colour lol) and it bubbled away for a while till soft and ready.   We ate it with hunks of bread, quick and easy, delicious and light tasting but not tastless.

I managed to take myself out for a walk ealier on this morning which is something that also has gone by the board and Dh’s gone off to golf. – and – this is good – I won’t need to cook this evening as theres heaps left from Monday evening sitting in the fridge

Yesterday we went to see some friends at Healesville, they are a little bit older than us and have found thmeselves slowing down – G’s got a ‘bd back’ and F get tired  but they do still like to have ‘people round for lunch’.  A very simple meal of cold meats and salad along with an apple cake F had made teamed with berries and cream.  Believe it or not after all those cold wet days we had last week. yesterday was very sunny and very warm – about 27c/81f – too warm for them so they had put the cooling on. 

To try and warm myself up – the house was a bit too chilly for me and the sunshine inviting – I wandered down through their big block to see how it had fared over the winter. 
Not a posh garden, very long with a creek at the bottom, it had been very picturesque in its day.
For a better view please click on the photos to enlarge them
 Some of the garden furniture has seen better days –
Heres the old chook shed and pen looking ‘cute’ covered in star jasmine  – over the years they tried to make it fox proof but the cunning devils (the foxes I mean) always found a way in so F said she couldn’t take the heatbreak any more and so no more chooks.
No more big compost heaps – they find it easier just to roll this one over a couple of times a day
Theres no way G would have let the grass grow so long in the orchard
but he now finds it hard to sit on the ride on mower
And heres the creek running very fast after all the rain from last
None of their family live locally
so they are contemplating asking the Shire for some help
thats available to Seniors with disabilities

Watery Wednesday – Oct 2009 – 3

Stone Island
(sometimes called North Island)
Bowen Queensland
August 2009

I like lighthouses –
I like to think of the feelings of security
they gave the sailors in years gone by
when they didn’t have the navigational aids they do today
This picture was taken in 1876
National Library of Australia Collection
These were taken up at the Flagstaff Hill Lookout
http://www.australiantraveller.com/component/content/article/3515
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/Bowen/2005/02/17/1108500202157.html

Seems there is a ferry to take you out to the island but we never found it.
Will keep it in mind and try harder next time we are up that way
Don’t think it will be next week tho
Its a long 4 day drive from my place lol 

For more Watery Wednesday posts click here

Is it me or Blogger

I recently changed to a new ‘updated’ version of Blogger –
But sometimes there only seems to be part of my photograph published. 
It seems fine at first but then if I go back an view the blog days later I notice half of it is cut off. 
It also isn’t every post – some are fine and some seem to be cropped in half
Has anyone else had this problem?

Todays Flowers – Oct 09 – 1

Down the bottom of our garden lives a very large
Philadelphus
aka Mock Orange
Which is just starting to flower
The first blooms always seem to be at the top
There are only a few open at the moment
But I thought you might like to see them
By the look of the shrub we are in for a smelly time
as its covered in buds

The beautiful creamy white flowers have a very strong perfume
– supposedly similar to orange blossom –
All I know is when its flowering I can smell it right up at the front door
Over 100ft away!!

Dont forget to click on the pictures for a better view

To see more of todays flowers from around the world

Things I am noticing

I am noticing that if I’m taking things off the line
and drop them
I must pick them up there and then
and not think
‘I’ll go back later’
Reason being
I get side tracked
Well – that’s my answer
Dh’s answer is -I forget lol
I’ve been looking for this sock all week
Theres no wonder I couldn’t find it
See where it was
Stuck in amongst the flowers on the lavender bush!!

My Place and Yours – On the shelf

Pip at Meet me at Mikes has another weekly thingy going

click photo to enlarge
Called My Place and Yours
This week’s theme is :: On The Shelf
This is part of the windowsill
(I suppose you could call it a shelf)
in our laundry
At the moment it holds vaious bits and bobs
A tiny china doll with a broken leg, been there for a while now
Grandma tried to fix it but no luck
 blue vase and bowl found in an op shop
Little blue wrens and cats
Photo of growing grandaughter
Hairband buttons and lots of dust
Oh and some dirty windows lol
You can read all about it and see other shelves here

Out and About cont. This is what I saw at the lake

See previous post
– Out and About – 
 for what I was following
When I fnally got round the corner of the lake
near the library
the bird was walking quite quickly across the reed bed 
and look what was there to meet her
(I’m assuming it was the female)
The adult started pulling up bits of reed
tearing a piece off
and sort of ‘chucking ‘ it to one side for the chick
They wandered about together
but very cautiously
I assume the chick was still quite young
as every now and again they would lift their heads
and the chick would move closer to the adult
It was almost as if they were trying to decipher
the noises going on around the area
Listening for danger
Unfortunately you really do have to enlarge these pictures
to see the detail
There was quite a distance between me and the bird
Its just a little point and shoot camera I have
Zoomed in as much as it would go

However when I arrived home I looked it up on the internet
Remember Dh is away so I can spend all day and night there if I want :))

Turns out they are called Purple Swamp Hens
aka Eastern Swamphens
Not very purple looking that day as it was very dull and overcast

You can find information here

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/bird/87

http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/environment/birds_in_the_parklands/purple_swamphen

http://photos.rnr.id.au/birds_purple_swamphen.html

http://australianmuseum.net.au/Purple-Swamphen

Out and about in the suburbs

I had to go to a neighbouring suburb the other day
and popped into the library there for a while
Anyway next to the library is a lake
Manmade, its been there for years
with reed beds and islands
Its home to what at certain times of the year
seem like hundreds of ducks
At those times theres always letters to the local paper
talking about culling them
Can get very emotional at times
There are walking duck signs on the main roads close by
and its quite funny to see Mumma Duck leading her brood across the road
with traffic slowed down to let them go their merry way
Not many ducks there the other day
but I did see some birds I’d never seen before
Mind you thats not an unusual thing as apart from ducks and gulls
I’m not a font of information on water birds
But I’m learning:)
They had a dark look to them
and their tail feathers looked white
Heres a couple by the waters edge
click photo to enlarge
One swimming around in the very murky water
and these three charging away with a lot of noise
at a fast rate of knots
Then I noticed this one running round near the fence
Its feet weren’t webbed
they reminded me of chicken’s feet
He/She seemd very agitiated
And then it took off into a bushy section – very overgrown so I couldn’t get in there
More for the birds protection I think
I did follow on round the side of the lake
and
I’ll let you see what I found
Another Day!

Mumma duck says

I was down at the Wetlands yesterday and
I had a little laugh when I saw Mumma Duck and her latest brood
When I first spied her she was taking them for a walk
I could hear her quacking away before I even saw her
She was still telling them what to do when I arrived
click and enlarge to see the detail

Then they slowed down as if to say
Do we have to?
Next thing I know is they are really putting on their parts
and refusing to follow her
Looking back to where they came from
So I stood and watched as she gathered them all in a bunch
and walked them back the other way

She knew exactly what they wanted
Here they are gathering at the waters edge
Take your marks! Get set!
You can see the anticipation in their faces
One of them is really itching to jump in
Got what they wanted didn’t they lol
Where do you think you’re going ?
Theres always one little b……..in the family isn’t there
Look at him showing off !!

Skywatch Friday

Low Tide in Port Denison
Bowen Queensland
August 2009
Following the clouds
– this is Far North Queensland –
– there has to be some blue sky here somewhere! –
This is the jetty used in the movie Australia
For moore worldwide skywatchers click here

Spiders Love/Hate relationship

Good job I don’t suffer from Arachnophobia – a terrible fear of spiders
‘Cose I was merrily pottering around the bedroom a few weeks ago
 and this is what I saw
up above on the frilly cutain valance
Can’t see the first photo
Look at this one
Still not visible
Ttry this one
I’d put your glasses on if I was you

OK here goes
Last chance
‘Cose it went out the door very soon after this

Big hairy monster that it was – it never made a murmur
when I ( oh well, when Dh) held the piece of newspaper underneath its legs
I did move out of his way so as he wouldn’t drop the paper
“cose goodness knows where it would have gone them lol
I may not have the fear of spiders
that Little Miss Muffet had
 but
I know I wouldn’t have been sleeping in that room
till it was found, thats for sure!!
Shhhh – don’t tell one of my girls that
as she still relates the tale of her dad telling her
to ignore the one on her bedroom ceiling
as she was much bigger than it
and it would be scared of her
and not the other way round!!
or as one of my friends used to say
B.B.Bs
(Bloody Big Buggers)
ps.  If you want to see a really big spider go over to this blog
Its a big one !!

Fresh air and no sunshine

This is what I saw looking off the back deck late yesterday afternoon
Looks delightful doesn’t it
 poured again for most of the night
but had sort of cleared up by this morning
Having had enough of being cooped up inside
(‘Cose thats where I’ve been most of the week)
I decided to take my chances and go for a walk
These two weren’t going anywhere so I was on my own lol
I headed for a local park –
the one I told you about when we did the
Brolly and camera in hand I strode off
Not a soul in sight
 – it was only drizzling and not too cold –
and I was enjoying the fresh air.
Grey skies as I walked around
– you should be able to see the outline of the Dandenongs
through those trees –
Should was the word lol
Found one of the ponds and some ducks quite pleased
that what the shire is advertising as Wetlands
are actually wet now
and they have somewhere to swim
Heard frogs as well which was quite nice
Didn’t see any tho’
Further round I had another glance up the hills
Still heavy low cloud covering all the range
Another part of the pond looked nice and calm
Came to the little bridge
Still very wet and slippery from last nights downpour
But I strode on
That sounds good doesn’t it lol
I actaully ambled over it and met up with a friend coming the other way
Fed up with being indoors she was out ‘taking the air’ as well
Thought we’d have a sit down and chat
But changed our mind when we saw this bench
Very wet
Seems to have deteriorated a bit over the hot dry summer
It had a lovely overgrown appearance
Surrounded by loads of spring grass
courtesy of all the welcome winter rain
Will have to get the council out with their mower
As that could attract snakes
and other things

Looked at the water again and both of us decided to make our way home
It was coming down by the bucket load

Watery Wednesday – Oct 2009 – 2

Whilst we were away during the Winter just gone ( July/August/September)
we visited Winton in Queensland
Looking around the web before we left home I found this picture
of a pool with some pelican statues that was built about 1995
 at one end of Main Street in Winton
Info at this site
National Library of Australia
Guess what it looks like now
click on the pictures for enlarged views
They aren’t the best of shots – bit dark
For some reason – time of day and shadows –
Couldn’t get a nice angle
Traffic going by
– even tho it looks deserted there were loads of cars around –
Did get a good meal at the Pub tho’
Winton was previously known as Pelican Waterhole
Click here to see more Watery Wednesday posts

I’m beginning to think I don’t matter anymore

It happened again today. 
October 12th 2009
My birthday – yes another year older
but definitely not deeper in debt lol
The phone rang this morning and I answered it pleasantly
We are a market research company, could you spare a few minutes
Certainly says I
Depending on your answers it won’t take long
Thats fine says I
Could you tell us about your employment situation
Are you working full time, part time, casual,
if unemployed are you looking for work
I laughed and said jokingly – Oh I gave that up years ago
Sorry – Pardon
I’m retired
OH goodbye
I’m standing there stunned
Don’t I matter anymore
My answers obviously weren’t what they were looking for
Am I of no use, isn’t there any interest in my opinion,
even to a market research company
A similar thing happened last week
started by going through various age groupings
when I indicated which I belonged to there was a curt goodbye
Left me short of words
Well I said a few to the silent phone
Wish I’d had the quickness to say them to the caller
before they rang off!!
One of my girls gave me a birthday card this morning
with lots of happenings for today
October 12th
1492 Christopher Columbus discovered America
That was one of the things we learnt in school in England
I have always remembered that one
‘cose if you rearrange the year you get my birth year!!
OOPs TMI lol
Sadly its also the anniversary of what is known as
The Bali Bombings 2002
202 People – of which 88 were Australian – lost their lives
209 were injured
RIP
Oh well back to being invisible again

I am noticing

That each morning recently there have been a few of these on the grass by the dividing fence
What would they be you ask
– well, they are the juicy new tips from this tree –
next doors Oak Tree that overhangs the fenceline
– and makes an awful mess when dropping its leaves –
– but then on the other hand –
it gives me a free supply of ingredients for my compost :))
Which means just one thing (spooky music)
The possums are back
Photo from wiki
I thought I heard footsteps on the roof and screeching during the night
decided I was hearing things 
WRONG
it has obviously warmed up enough for them to start night manouvers!!
Read all about Brushtail Possums here

Time will tell

Bit bleary eyed this morning – was woken about 4.30 and then after closing my eyes at 5am managed to catch another hours sleep. I’ll be on my own this week, well till next Monday evening to be precise – as Dh left at that unsocial hour ( with a friend who has a rather noisy motor in his car so I’m expecting the neighbours to complain sometime about it running outside at 4,30am) – for Sydney and the World Masters Games.   

He’s a Tech Official for the Canoe/Kayaking discipilne so will be a very busy bee out at Penrith dealing with all the highs and lows an event ot this standard brings.

Which means…………. I’ll be here with a week to myself wondering how to fill it – not. 

Even if the weather is cold I hope to be outside clearing up some of the winter ‘mess’ and making the garden look more like it should be. 

I spent yesterday rearranging the doorway to the underhouse access.  A few years ago we laid bricks in front of the doorway and – don’t ask me how – they raised a little and on the one occassion we wanted to open it the door wouldn’t go over the top of them.:) 

I think we decided otherwise and just glacned round the side but thinking about eversince has bugged me so that was my job yesterday.  Pulled all the bricks up, relevelled the earth, then laid the bricks again. 

I now remember why it wan’t level the first time – many years ago we just tossed large pebbles there but I got annoyed ‘cose I couldn’t sweep the leaves away in the spring – anyway when I made the decision to put the bricks there I got fed up trying to dig the earth that had all these stones in and once the door skimmed over the top I just sort of ‘made do’ with the level I got to.  Had the same problem yesterday – cursed all those stones – but persevered and now have a nice clean, tidy and accessible space like this

So…………..as the weather man says there is only a slight chance of showers later in the day, I have two choices to fill the time in today – well I have more than that but these two appeal to me more than any of the others lol

Sort out this mess by the back door – doesn’t seem all that long ago I would be out there carrying on at kids if they left the place like that


Or wander round the side of the garage and start on the area round there.  Now my New Toy aka 2000ltr Water Tank – has been installed I can tidy up and lay paving slabs along the front of it and then decide whats going to live (be stored) up the back of the tree stump.

Oh Decisions! Decisiosn!!

Things I am noticing

Louise who posts some really nice things on her blog Home is where the Heart is 
mentioned something Ginny at Sweet Myrtle is doing this month of October.
She is posting about noticing things
So I thought you would like to see what I noticed yesterday
This rather nice butterfly settled in the sunshine on a slab of paving
And didn’t even move when I walked round her

Thursday Thoughts

Here it is Thursday evening, nearly the end of another week.
These past few weeks since we got back from Queensland have been bitterly cold and very very wet, in fact the overnight temp here last night was 5c/41f and tonight we are expecting 3c/37
– SO – please
Could Melbourne’s weather fairy stop acting like a Contrary Mary
and decide whether she wants the season to still be Winter or progress properly to Spring.
Last week the rain came down constantly and very heavily
so much so that parts of the Yarra Valley close to home were flooded
These are scenes not seen for many a year
click on the pictures for a better view

It looked like these poor cattle or are they cows didn’t quite know what to do with all that water
One even waded in – do hope he/she was able ot got out and join the rest of the mob
We have now had our water tank installed so are sure it will stop raining soon lol
I’d cleared the chosen spot near the chosen drainpipe many months ago
so Dh didn’t have much in the way of work to do.
And as one of the Sons in law loves getting his hands dirty he was a willing worker when it came to sorting out all the pipework.
So if it ever does rain again
and
if I ever manage to get some veggies planted
I should have some water available for the plants