Anyone for breakfast?

I've been a bit slack with my photo challenges lately but came across these FOOD photo's when I was looking for something else the other day.



Amazing aren't they? I think I had the last one - the BIG breakfast - enough for at least 3 people!



Makes me HUNGRY - I have been doing a meal replacement regime and have lost 4 kgs so far. I'm getting ready for Christmas!
Mind you I still have a life and can manage a few glasses of wine on the weekends!



These brekkies were served at a restaurant in Belmore basin in Wollongong.

Look what we found yesterday ...........

Our van park Bundilla at Durras North is right in the middle of the Murramarang National Park and there are easy walking trails through the bush and around the lake.
Yesterday we set out for a walk before we came home and look what we found!
I noticed a dark 'flash' in a tree and saw a male Satin Bower bird above us. Aha says I, I wonder where he came from? as you can see (or can't see really!) the bush looked fairly nondescript until I investigated further. I looked down and saw a blue peg - hmmm that's 'out of place' I thought.
I then peered under a Burrawang palm and saw this.
What priviledge to find his bower.
He has been very busy building his display 'vestibule' and lining the actual bower with saliva and charcoal mix - so the book tells me :-).
He has it decorated with straws mainly but also blue feathers, pegs and bottle caps. We found later that the park caretaker had thrown a blue peg onto the grass near the shower block when he was cleaning and it had gone when he went to pick it up - I wonder if it was the same one?

We see quite a few females down there and altho they are timid, they will come up on the deck for food. We don't seem to see the males, perhaps it's because they are too busy 'building' etc.
As you can see he wasn't too happy at us looking at his 'parade ground'.
It's so special that they build this close to 'civilisation'.
I just hope that the big goannas we saw later on don't find him.

A day out in Sydney ....

Last weekend, Maureen and I decided to have a day out in our beautiful Sydney.
We hopped on the train at Oak Flats - 5 mins away from home at 8.45am, paid our $2.50and away we went.
We arrived at Circular Quay at about 11am and wandered around to the Rocks - it was a bit showery but not cold. This gave a bleaker look to our harbour but there were still tourists wandering about. A young Canadian lass asked me to take her photo with the Opera House in the background and asked where we were from. "Oh we live her" says I. "Wow" she said - "Well how come you are still taking photo's of it?" My response was "Well, it's still beautiful!" And it is!
We walked around to Darling Harbour and caught the little trolley from the Aquarium to the main complex(to rest our legs!)where we had a nice lunch before walking up around the Maritime Museum and lighthouse to the ferry wharf to catch one back to the Quay. We had a great ride on the harbour and by now the sun was out to show it at it's best.
I just had to take another shot of the Opera House and Luna Park - the original shot does have the whole face but as usual Mr MosaicMaker cropped it for me! The building on the point surrounded by trees (for our non Sydneyites) is Kirribilli House - the PM's residence. Great view eh?
Then back on the train up to Central and home.
We got back to Oak Flats at about 6pm and had a GREAT day out just doing nothing except enjoying the day!
Not bad for $2.50 eh?
I didn't count the $4.50 the trolley ride cost or lunch and coffee - well they are absorbed costs - LOL

And here are the carrot's going in .....

 

I don't think they will be in a straight line!
Next photo's will be when it's time to thin them out and then we'll get to TASTE them.
If they make it that far - LOL.
She is so ernest in her endeavours - perhaps she will be a scientist or a botanist or maybe a Prime Minister one day!
Who knows ................

Zara's Garden .....

 

Today Zara planted her first garden. Aunty Maureen helped her firstly with a petunia plant. And then Mardie added some carrots!

Fun at the beach ....

These shots were taken last weekend at the van.
We have found a great 'dog friendly' beach at Bateman's Bay and the doggies enjoy a frolic on the sand when we go into town.

 

You can tell the weather is warming up.
Even Bailey who is not a great water lover enjoyed a game in the creek.

Dont stand still .....

Or you'll get painted!

 

We were in danger one and all today of getting a new paint job when Princess Zara was introduced to the concept of water painting.

Early Morning in Paradise .....

 

Last Saturday morning I set off to the loo at 5.30am - as you do in a caravan park - but when I saw the sky I had to backtrack to get my camera.
It was well worth the effort!

Weekend with Harry

I was packaging up a parcel on Monday, which included a raggy quilt for new grandson Nick when I thought - 'wait a minute I have a free weekend!' So here I am.
It is just a fleeting visit - back home on the train tomorrow.
Here we are reading a book. Harry is growing up!

But wait - you get dirt on your hands!

 

"LOOK- dirt on my hands!"

 

"It's OK - I have dirt on my hands too says AM"

 

"What fun - I'm allowed to run my hands under the tap!"
They learn something everyday don't they?

Helping in the garden.....

 

Zara loves to help ... she is helping Aunty Maureen put some pebbles around the pots.
"This is how you do it Zara"

 

"Now you get some out of the bucket .... that's right"

 

"Now put them all in on top of the soil, under the leaves."

Last efforts for 'WET" are:

I have been a bit slack this month and haven't had time to do the 'in depth' stuff (sorry - LOL :-) But here are some oldies.

Wet Woofers



And some Wet Waves including the blowhole at Kiama when it's working!



And - a wet woman!
Leelee last year in Brad's pool.

This morning's Harvest

 

We bought some mushroom compost for the veggie garden a couple of weeks ago.

 

And, it certainly has it's fringe benefits.

 

Yummo - growing a few mushies before adding the compost to the garden. This bucket, about 4 days growth, weighed 2 kilos.

Can you guess who is having mushies on toast for lunch!

 

A Successful Purchase!

 

Look what we bought at the garage sales last weekend.
A very successful purchase at $5 I must say.
The only problem is that Miss Bailey - Bottomly Potts covered in spots likes it too even tho she only just fits in it!
I have had to stack stuff on it when not in use so it doesn't become a doggie bed. She has been hunted back to HER beanbag. I'm sure that her original owners must have let her sleep on various lounges and beds etc.
Anyhow Zara loves her new lounge - just right for reading Hairy Maclary and Slinky Malinki on! They are her current favourites.
I must tell you this weeks tale.
Firstly we are learning to wee on the potty which is really cute - flushing the toilet is the BEST fun.
We picked some geraniums in the garden and Mardie said - "come on we'll go inside and put them in some water."
So off I go to get a vase and when I came back out to the courtyard, here is missy dunking them in the dogs water bucket.
Well she WAS putting the in water wasn't she? She is just TOO cute.

Budding Soccer star

 

Here's Harry's big brother Nick playing soccer at Old Bar last Saturday.
He was all over the field isn't he ?
He scored a goal on Sunday but I wasn't there with the camera.
Well done Nick!

This is what I call WET ....

My daughter Lee and I have just returned from a weekend in Taree with son Brad and his family. It was great to catch up with them all especially grandson Harry. He is growing into a big boy, full of life and mischief. He is a full time job for his Mum and Dad and big brothers. He is off like a flash when he finds a door open so the next project for Brad is to get a fence up in the backyard. Here is Harry in the bath last night. Definitely very WET. This is the first of the WET postings for the month.

My favourite, favourite ......

I took this one in Tassie - just on a dam beside the road.
I had to climb over a fence to get the shot.
I just like it.

Reflections of Canada

I think I got my best ever reflections in Canada.
The first one on the left was taken out the window of the Rocky Mountaineer on the way across from Toronto to Banff. The second one of the mountain lake is at Lake Patricia just out of Banff where we went on a 'wildlife' hike. The last one actually wasn't taken in Canada but it was in the New England of the United States on our 'Fall Foliage' tour - beaut eh? We live in a beautiful world.

Litle Blue Riding Hood

 

I forgot this one.
I had just enough tartan fabric for this poncho and lined the hood with some fleecy that I had in the stash too.
Might have been better in red but hey - I already had this and she looks so cute and snug in it.
I bought her some mittens with cut off fingers on the weekend and after I got them on her tonight, she wanted to wear them to bed.
She's sleeping over again - Mum and Dad are off to the WIN Entertainment Centre to watch the OPALS play basketball.

Harry who?

 

No it's not Potter - it's our Harry - his latest mug shots.
He looks kinda cool in Dad's glasses don't you think eh?
Actually he looks very like his big brother Nick.

 

 

What can I say?
'Don't I have a great smile Mardie?"
Of course you do darling!

Look what I found on the footpath in Bobbin Head Rd ...

I'm sure it was a give away - I hope. LOL

 

Anyway, I took it home - gave it a scrub up and tightened some screws - added a new seatbelt and some wing nuts to secure the seat.
Doesn't Zara love it???? Too right she does.
She does 'broom broom' noises to match.
Trouble is she doesn't steer too well yet and her feet don't quite reach the pedals.
Oh well she is growing...
Until then I guess I just have to push and steer all at once.
Ho hum.
What else are grandmothers for???

Sydney by night ... I can't resist it

I just have to take the camera when I go into the city.
We went to the Opera House to see 'My Fair Lady' for my birthday so here are a few shots I took that night. Note the time on the Central Station clock towe.
Why do we travel overseas when we have THIS right here at home?

Creek Reflections

Reflections have always been a favourite of mine so I have a few stored away and I'll get them out over the next couple of weeks.
I couldn't resist taking a few more when down at Bateman's Bay recently.
Early morning is a good time so with lovely light and no wind I found these great ones a couple of weeks ago.
Sometimes it's hard to work out which the actual scene and which is the reflection - usually the reflected sky is bluer in the water.

Canine Reflections .... at Corrigans Beach Bateman's Bay

Well, now that Kambrachallenge is done for another year, I have a few moments to upload some reflections.
Number one - here's Bottomley Potts covered in spots - our Bailey - only just caught. It is sure hard to manage to get her in focus, in the middle of the frame and WITH a reflection. Hence she is running OUT of the photo. LOL


Little Lulu - much quieter and easier to snap.


And, here's the pair of them on the go.
We have found a great dog friendly beach with a creek outlet which allows for some great reflections.

More creek reflections to follow .....