Ruffled Feathers

As the birds flew in, they'd take a few seconds for their feathers to settle down.

They would also land with their crest flared. I failed this night to capture that.  

 If nothing else, it was very good for me to work on my observation skills. My attenton to detail is somewhat lacking.... 

They also spaced out. If they didn't land apart, they would walk a certain distance to their 'spot'. Does anyone know why they do this?

One of the things I love about Sydney, is even in the city there is nature and wildlife if you look properly.

Linking with #WonderfulWednesday  #WordlessWendesday #WildbirdWednesday #GardenAffair #NaturesNotes #HappyTuesday

It's time for #Allseasons for another week.

All Seasons is open from Friday through Wednesday 5pm, Sydney Time. 
2. Please link one  'seasonal' post a week. 

3. Make sure you link back to this  #AllSeasons post.

4. Please comment on the post before yours. Don't dump and run 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Visitors

While staying at Palm Beach, I was lucky enough to get these visitors up close and personal morning and night.

I did regret not bringing my camera to get good close ups, but the birds didn't seem to mind getting close up to me, so there are still a few good ones.

The people next door made the mistake of feeding them and then yelled and screamed when the birds stole their dinner as well.

The birds and I seemed to have an understanding. Mine based in fear or at least cautious of those claws and beak....

I have noted before that good bird photography is an exercise in patience and perseverance, something which I lack. So I enjoyed the mindful encounters, waiting for good shots.

Linking with #SaturdayCritters #WildBirdWednesday 

“Each of us has the power and responsibility to become a rainbow in the clouds.” - Maya Angelou

Linking with #BlueMonday

GRATITUDE: We had a long weekend away with all the kids, including the eldest who moved out last year. I loved having everyone together. And I think the younger siblings loved having their big sister back. I am so grateful we got to do that, though I am sad because I suspect it was the last...

LOVE: The Jeffrey Smart exhibition in Canberra is well worth the visit. It's joyous and uplifting, it's funny (humourous) and it makes you look at every day objects and streetscapes in a new light. It really changed, at least for awhile, how I viewed the world, and I saw beauty in the strangest of places!

I love this one because I'm often on this road and it was instantly recognisable - though very differnet landscape these days.
Linking wiht #RubyTuesdayToo

HEALTH: So far, all good. I do feel it's only a matter of time, and probably when schools go back is when we will get hit.....We've not been eating in restaurants or bars but have been going to shows (masked the whole time). However, we did eat out in Narooma. I thought I might do a RAT this morning before my daughter's friend comes over as I've a stuffy nose (but I suspect that is more from the ice cold waters with the seals...see below).

CONNECTION: I have a friend that loves Hamilton and I am taking her on Australia Day as I won the $10 tickets. It will be fun seeing it with someone who is so into it.  I haven't celebrated Australia day the last few years as it feels false to celebrate when it is dividing the country....

APPRECIATION: We snorkelled with seals in Barunguba (Montague Island) off Narooma. It was AMAZING. I have a deeper appreciation for these wonderful creatures as well as how we humans are really such a small part of the planet (yet sadly the have a  destructive streak that impacts on a grand scale). Unfortunately, my camera has broken and the zoom won't focus so I missed a lot of fantastic shots. I am hoping a service will fix it as the same camera has gone UP in price, serveral hundred dollars. It's weird!! I had thought I'd get this fixed & give to my youngest and get me a newer one with better capabilities but the prices are bananas.

CARE:  A friend put up a meme that she thought was a speech her friend made - and one of the lines is 'You are not Atlas, you don't carry the world on your shoulders'. Everyone seemed to like that. My mother said something similar about not bothering herself with the troubles of the world. I am at odds with this. I understand you can't save everyone, nor can you change everything, but surely you have to try? Isn't it how we got into this mess by just caring about our own personal worries, rather than the big picture? Why do we only care about what impacts us? I am really surprised that no one seems to care anymore? I understand there's a futility in railing against things you can't change, but surely you have to at least try? 

Linking with #SaturdayCritters (for the seals) #FridayBliss  #OurWorldTuesday  #MCoW #TheRandom   #LinkupPotpourri  #FriendshipFriday

"In order to see birds, it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” -Robert Lynd

 

Because I'm an idiot, and thought I'd be back by now, but am instead taking the whole month off, I didn't reallise I'd closed #Allseasons. So this link up is open until the end of the month.

I hope everyone is having a safe but fun month. It is the weirdest time., and a difficult headspace to be in, trying to not catch coivd when the Government appears to be so reckless. And where the hell are the RATs?

Get the N95 masks and keep your distance - also if you caught covid, speak to your doctor about a booster as I think you are now still meant to get it because of Delta floating about there.

It's that moment where everything you used to know is now wrong.

In cheery news, I've been working on my bird photography. Got some corkers in the pipeline for you. But for now, here's a few....

Linking with #Idratherbebirdin 

Linking with #GardenAffair

Thaw

Not really back but wanted to share the photos from Thaw, a free performance  that was part of the Sydney Festival. 

A thought provoking performance on Climate Change, and a reminder we need to take action. 

Linking with #BlueMonday (ice) and #RubyTuesdayToo (hair) #MCoW #OurWorldTuesday  #PicturePerfectWednesday #WordlessWednesday #KeithsRamblins

It is sobering to think that we will now expereince it, and we've squandered precious time with greedy inaction.

But there is hope. There are better generations to come, if we don't mould them into our behaviours and mentality.

While the photo below isn't great, I do like you can see the ice melting.

Share Four Somethings - January

Still on a break but taking time to write this post as I'll be away swiming with seals when it's due. Hopefully, COVID permitting...

Something Loved: Time to read. I'm on to my fourth book since New Year's. The week at the beach has given me plenty of time to do nothing. Such a rare and under-rated luxury these days. I fell much better for it. Tove Jansson's The Summer Book was perfect for the celebration of summer, with it's noisy insects and sudden storms. The book looks at ageing and memory among other things, through the lens of a grandmother and grandchild's relationship, both with each other and the world. 

Irrelevant photo but no one really wanted a pic of dog's vomit...
Linking with #SkyWatch

Something Gleaned:  I returned from holiday to discover the dog had vomitted on the carpet. Bright yellow on a cream rug. Google discovered this method of removal - Bicarb to soak up initially (they say 15 minutes, I left it on all day because I was unpacking and running errands). Then vaccuum up. Mix of  1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, one table spoon of white vinegar and 2 cups warm water - blot with this solution (I just rubbed it, to be honest) until absorbed. Then sponge with cold water to remober the vinegar solutin.  It worked like a miracle!

Something Braved: Trying to have a fun and relaxing holiday while COVID swirls around and the Government seems to imply that everything we learnt about COVID in the last two years is irrelevant. It's very confusing when the Govt says one thing and my doctor friends say another. I am off to the theatre for the first of my Festival shows so unsure if that's okay or irresponsible anymore.

Something Achieved: Written two super shorts for the new version of Furious Fiction, and will sign up for the New York Midnight contest again. Not writing as intended though - maybe this week?

A short post as I'm off to sign up to the writing contest for this weekend. Offline except Insta probably until the end of Jan.

Wishing you all a COVID free holiday with ease of access to RATS, the new luxury item...

Linking with #ShareFourSomethings 

#AnythingGoes