Posts Tagged ‘nature’
Meet Harold
August 8, 2009
Have you ever read For better, for worse and for lunch by Christina Hindhaugh? It is the most hysterical book, based on a city dweller who marries a farmer and her experiences as she adjusts to farm life.
Christina has a character in there named Aunt Grace, or more aptly, Amazing Grace! Aunt Grace mentions that it is much better to be seen as an eccentric woman than a tardy housekeeper and suggests that if ever entertaining guest and a spider or mouse runs by, call it by name!
So, this massive huntsman spider, that turned up on my kitchen ceiling this morning, is Harold!
I’m hoping he’s just passing through, but you never know and since I share my house with a number of crawly critters (that often come in on the firewood or through tiny gaps around the windows). I’m quite used to them and they don’t bother me much!
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Moon Magic
July 19, 2009
I’ve been trying to capture this photo, twice before when we’ve had a full moon. But with a camera that doesn’t let me focus manually, I’ve had trouble in getting it sharp!
This one, as you can see, is still a bit blurry, but it’s just a magic sight!
When I took this photo, it was only about 4:30pm and the sun was thinking about setting. The moon was the brightest thing in the sky, even with the sun around – I just found the whole scene beautiful.
Perfect Days
June 12, 2009
Some days its hard to describe the landscape’s beauty. This photo doesn’t look anything special, but the atmosphere during this day, was.
The day was warm with little breeze blowing. The grey clouds were beginning to roll over, bringing with them the hope of rain.
A neighbour was burning somewhere – bush smoke (at this time of the year, when it’s too damp for raging bush fires) is a beautiful smell – the birds were singing … I could pick out about four different calls, the crows (of course!), magpies, butcher birds and a wattle bird.
I could hear the cows munching at the grass and the bleating of lambs and when I stood still and shut my eyes, I could even hear the cattle slurping the water from the dam.
Sometimes, in the rush of life, we forget to stop, listen and enjoy. I enjoyed my afternoon!
The End of the Day
May 29, 2009
Isn’t this photo interesting? The way that there’s a big shadow in the middle of two ray’s of sunshine? Well that’s what happens when you’ve got a big hill behind you!
As the sun is setting, it gets really dark at the house and where the shadow of the hill is cast, but it’s still light everywhere else.
If you turn around and look towards the hill, this other photo shows you the view!
Specky Visitors
May 14, 2009
These Black Cockies arrive suddenly and leave just as quickly! One day the pine trees are quiet, the cattle are grazing without a care in the world… and then suddenly… “SQUARK, squark, squark’! They’ve arrived.
I’m sure these attention seekers have got no idea how loud their call is and how frightening it is for the stock when they fly in mobs of fifty or so over the sheep or cattle, yelling at the tops of their voice! It’s not unusual to see a mob of cattle suddenly take off across a paddock with the Black Cockies above them.
They’ve been back here about three weeks, talking, squawking, and picking at the pine cones, either on the trees or ground. Anthony jokingly calls them drought birds. They were here heaps last year when it was dry and should’ve been raining… they’ve appeared again as the lack of rain begins to bite once more.
Apparently Black Cockies aren’t supposed to frequent the east side of Esperance, so we’ve been documenting their arrival and departures as often as we can… I think I’ve just proved their on our farm wouldn’t you say?
Finding the time …
February 16, 2009
Having just finished the last edit of Red Dust and farming, kids and just ‘life’ not allowing a lot of time for writing at home, I picked up my laptop and headed to town.
Plonking down at a cafe on the Esperance Bay foreshore I started to focus heavily on Blue Skies for the first time in about three months.
Re-acquainting myself with my main character, Amanda, and her world of “Kyleena” (the family farm), I failed to notice the beauty that was surrounding me that day, until I finished the part I was working on and ordered my second cappuccino!
The sea was flat, the yachts that were moored were bobbing gently and there were people swimming and running through the sea and up and down the beach.
How lucky I am to live in such an inspiring, beautiful place.
Morning Glory
January 22, 2009
My late father-in-law had a saying ‘Morning is the best time of the day, I always say!’ and the past few mornings have been just that!
Calm, cool and really quite autumn-like. It’s been a joy to be up and about early.
Majestic Creatures of the Sky
January 21, 2009
We live at the bottom of a huge big granite hill – well, not big compared to NSW, Vic and Tassie standards, but pretty high for around here. Most of this country is gently undulating.
Anyway, back to the story. This granite hill is covered in thick native bush, poking out inbetween the granite. and is home to an amazing array of wildlife and flora.
Every evening we watch two majestic Wedgetail Eagles fly low over the hill, looking for prey. Mostly they stay well away from the house, but recently have come closer and enabled me to get this shot.
Wedgies really aren’t farmers friends since they’ve been known to take lambs, chooks and so forth, but there is no denying their power and magnificence as these creatures soar so effortlessly.
Boxing Day at the Beach
December 27, 2008
After the busy day of Christmas, we decided it was time to head to the beach and work off some of that extra pavlova and wine we had!
Some of my family that came for Christmas hadn’t been to Esperance before so we took off down to Thomas River in the Cape Arid National Park (the best beach in the world!) to have a run — or walk!
Magic blue seas, skies, and a beach to ourselves made for a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment, with the kids running rampant and the adults vainly trying to keep up.
Idyllic
December 19, 2008
Well the storm’s passed and we thought rather than wallowing in self pity, the beach was a better option!
You wouldn’t even known it has rained today, although there was some nasty damage around the shire. Tonight it’s still, calm and peaceful. We might even be lucky enough to catch a fish!
