Flowers - A to Z Challenge

My Yucca trees are in flower for the first time.

It’s the end of Summer here and whilst the weather is still warm, the season is definitely moving towards Autumn, if somewhat slowly.  I’m not complaining, I love Summer but Autumn is just about the next best thing.

The flower is sensational but I can’t get close enough to be able to tell if there is any perfume.  At first I thought the flower would be short lived [maybe a couple of days] but after three weeks it appears to be continually developing.

I have no desire to remove the flowers, they can stay exactly where they are, and I can enjoy them day in, day out from my kitchen window and naturally when I sit by the pool to enjoy a good book and a cuppa.

Billabong Bliss

Billabong (pron.: /ˈbɪləbɒŋ/, BIL-ə-bong) is an Australian English word meaning a small lake, specifically an oxbow lake, a section of still water adjacent to a river, cut off by a change in the watercourse.^[1] Billabongs are usually formed when the path of a creek or river changes, leaving the former branch with a dead end. Billabongs, reflecting the arid Australian climate in which these "dead rivers" are found, fill with water seasonally and are dry for a greater part of the year.^[2]

 

 

 

Coronet Bay - Victoria, Australia

 

This is my secret wonderland, a small billabong hidden behind a quiet coastal beach.  Walking distance from my beach shack. 

 

This billabong is home to a large paddling of ducks, several white faced heron and I've been warned, a haven for a slither of snakes.  I tread carefully when navigating my way around this tranquil environment.  The Jack Russell pups are on a very short leash when we walk along the track.  The water is fresh and clean [I know, I've tasted it] and far on the other side of this oasis is rich farm land occupied by a herd of wet nosed, sweet faced dairy cows. 

Blue, cloudy skies are a feature of my wonderland and quite frankly, this part of the world, top and bottom, is a tiny bit of heaven.

 

The billabong flows quietly into the ocean, stretching across the sandy beach, digging deep crevices into the sand.  The Jack Russells have finally learnt that sea water does not quench a thirst and a playful race to the meandering billabong overflow will fortify them on their journey home.

 

Ah such bliss ~ my billabong wonderland

 

Sweet dreams ~ Goldie and Lilly

 

A View Down My Road

Joining in today with Deb at Ramblings of a Square Peg in a Round Hole for a photographic scavenger hunt. 

View number one - My driveway is my street

This tree is home to two very noisy and robust kookaburra's and it's a mighty long walk from the house to the letterbox

View number two - Retirement

This is where I plan to retire in about four years time.  This is the view standing directly in front of our beach shack.  Wish I could get rid of those power lines!!

View number three - The Beach

This beach is a two minute walk from our shack which is closer than my current letter box

Scavenger Hunt - A Solitary Tree

Linking up to Deb's weekly photographic challenge at Ramblings of a Square Peg in a Round Hole

These glorious trees are within a short walk from my home. With trusty camera in hand when I come across something so beautiful I just have to capture it.  Not always easy with two hyper-active dogs on a lead.  These photos were taken last year in Autumn. 

The dying Gum tree still stands grandly.  I wish I could see the same view from this tree that the Rainbow Parrots were enjoying the other day.

Scavenger Hunt ~ What Happened At 6 O'clock

The evening sky puts on a beautiful display after a lovely Spring day.  The cold seeps in and it's time to close the windows and doors, draw the curtains and turn on the heater for the day is coming to an end.

The 6 pm view from my backyard

It's time for the little ones to come in from the cold and rest up after the exhausting events of the day.  

Goldie and Lilly say goodnight dear visitors.

Linking up to Deb's weekly photographic challenge at Ramblings of a Square Peg in a Round Hole

It's A Beautiful Day - Singing and Pinning on the Weekend

                     Start the video, scroll down nice and slow and enjoy

Source:  http://youtu.be/OBfqABtOoxI

                                                       

                                                                 Source: feelgoodsongs.info via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Pinning & Singing on the Weekend Pinterest Party

Link back to Natasha to join in the party

Heart is a bloom

                                                            Source: digital-photography-school.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                                                         Source: chicy-creations.blogspot.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Up through the stony ground

                                                                       Source: media.fukung.net via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                              Out of luck

                                                                       Source: pubsub.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                                   No space to rent in this town

                                                                   Source: flickr.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                                                                   Traffic’s stuck

                                                        Source: highgatedreams.tumblr.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

My friend

                                                                   Source: Uploaded by user via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                                                                    

Don’t let it get away

                                                                         Source: google.ca via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                                                          

                                                                   Source: flickr.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                                                              Source: Uploaded by user via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Take me to that other place

                                                      Source: employscoop.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

On the road, no destination

                                       Source: myshutterspace.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Love this town

                                                    Source: skimmmmmilk.tumblr.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Don’t let it get away

                                                        Source: weheartit.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Take me to that other place

                                                   Source: Uploaded by user via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

It’s a beautiful day, teach me

                                                  Source: helloiamaliveandlovely.tumblr.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                            See the world in Green and blue

                                                              Source: i53.tinypic.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

China is here

                                                                          Source: google.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Canyons

                                                                   Source: xpandapplex.tumblr.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Bedouin Fires at night

                                             Source: photography.nationalgeographic.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Oil fields at first light

                                                                     

                                            Source: decapitateanimals.taokitamoto.dk via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

See the bird

                                                                      Source: imgur.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

                                                                             Source: lyrics2liveby.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Don’t let it get away

                                                               Source: Uploaded by user via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

I hope you have a beautiful day

Lost My Senses

Are We Happy Yet?
I've exhausted my sense and sensibilities this weekend reading an enormous number of blogs and basically whittling away hours of precious weekend time looking for an answer.  There are heaps of messages out there, good advice on how to be a better and happier person.  Heaps of advice on how to stop focussing on the negative and go with positive.  Great advice on getting an education.  Heaps of advice about heaps of things.  I think I'm following roughly 200,000 blogs after this weekend's little foray.  Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but close to the mark.

                                                                              Source: google.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

 My spiritual sidekick sent me on this blog reading journey, to try and find some answers, I'm sure of this.  Sidekick said "Do you really have any clue what you are doing?  Build a bridge girlfriend and get over it."

                                                         Source: boys-beaches-bitches.tumblr.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Well, that was a bit nasty, but I kindly replied "What is it that I have to get over?  It's not that I'm feeling sorry for myself.  I don't think it's that!  It's more that I am getting old (and very old in the eyes of some) and I just don't know what to do with the rest of my life.  You do understand Sidekick that I am likely to live another forty years.  Don't you think it's worth a bit of thought."  "Um", said Sidekick,  "I think you've got something there.  Still, I stand by my advice.  Once you've worked it out, build that damn bridge and get over it."

Like I said, Sidekick sent me on this journey, but has been no help at all.
                                                        


Can We Just Chat About This?
"There is nothing wrong with getting old dearie." said my sweet friend when we were chatting at the local Sunday market.  "Hard work never hurt anyone. What doesn't break you will make you.  All that sort of nonsense.  Look at me, I'm starting to get a bit old, but I'm still working away.  Happy as a lark.  Trust me, tomorrow will be a better day."

                                                                Source: Uploaded by user via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Never Trust Anyone Who Says - "Trust Me"
This little parrot looks terrified in a blissful kinda way.  Oops, I transgress!   But what to do?                    

                                 

                                                                      Source: birdaday.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Six Goals

The practical me is going to set six goals, just for moir.  There's no other way around it.

Goal One - Get re-educated and discover a new and exciting career

Goal Two - Take acrylic/oil/watercolour painting classes

Goal Three - Not worry about what others think

Goal Four - Learn to love my wrinkles and liver spots

Goal Five - Stop worrying about all the things I can do nothing about

Goal Six - Do everything I can to ignore the negative and enjoy the positive

Be Happy - It's Not Difficult

                                                              

                                                                           Source: polyvore.com via Golden Lilly Crafts on Pinterest

Anyone care to give me some advice, all comments will be given due consideration.  I might even consult with Sidekick on your recommendations.  Thanks for visiting.

Tasmania - A window to my soul

A recent trip to Tasmania to visit my parents in-law gave me the opportunity to take a few shots of the local countryside.

Full of old world rustic charm, you get a sense of  days gone by, where London once sent it's convicts to this small island 'Down Under'.

Evandale is a National Trust classified Georgian village know for it's artists, period cottages and famously the home of Penny Farthing Cycle Championship.

Whether you enjoy photography, painting, writing, crafts, riding a bicycle or just day dreaming, inspiration is everywhere.

Noble homes abound, filled with mystery and wonder, memories and maybe a ghost or two.

An old gate opens up to expose a magical garden filled with roses, oak trees, granny bonnets, vines and the clucking and haggling of ducks and chickens.

A wondering traveller at some point will happen upon a crystal clear ocean, the calming water lapping lazily on the sandy beach.

This post sounds like an advertisement for Tasmania but in actual fact a dear friend Pam from Gingerbread Snowflakes asked me to tell her about my trip to Tasmania, it's best described with photos. 

A couple of Tasmanian web friends that I'd like to share with you is Deb, she has a beautiful photography blog Ramblings of a Square Peg and Susie who is an artist and musician from Susie McMahon Dolls. A real live Tasmanian friend is Di from  Di Arnold Dolls.  My friend Di has a beautiful country property in a tiny village called Westbury where she looks after sheep and chickens that will never end up on the dinner table.

Hope you've had a moment or two to enjoy the tranquil scenes captured here with my humble digital camera.  Thanks for visiting.