Oranges and lemons.......

It is the time of year for oranges and lemons in my garden. The fruits of winter.

Today was a mixed winter day - white clouds scudding across a beautiful blue sky one minute and then grey sky and driving rain the next, but always constant was a a howling wind that blew all day, wrapping my washing around the line, and tearing at my hair as I worked in my garden doing some winter pruning that was well overdue.

The orange and lemon trees are bearing their bounty and so I picked this basket of beautiful oranges, and made a jug of lemon juice - pretending to be a summer day.

 

 The last few grape vine leaves are clinging onto the vine, and will soon wither and drop - making way for the new shoots of spring to come.

I hope you have enjoyed these pics. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful week.

This is my contribution to Mosaic Monday. To see the work of Mary and other wonderful contributors, please click on the link - Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

Congratulations Cadel - winner of the 2011 Le Tour de France

Congratulations Cadel Evans from Australia in winning the 2011 Le Tour de France.

As an Aussie I am very proud of his achievement, and so I have created a little mosaic with some pictures I took in 2005 when we were in France at the time of the Tour. (thankyou to www for the pic of Cadel in this mosaic)

Cadel, born Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia, announced in 1991 when he was 14 that he wanted to win the Tour de France and today he realised his dream.

Cadel said - "I think that's the ultimate dream of a Tour rider, to stand on the Champs-Elysees with an Australian singing the national anthem ... it's not a dream that comes true for many Australians.

"This win is for everyone in our country. It's amazing."

I have been glued to the TV every night watching the Tour - maybe now I can get a proper night's sleep!

Read more about Cadel here - Cadel Evans - Dream Comes True

I am linking up with Mary at Mosaic Monday at Little Red House. Please click on the link to see the wonderful work of Mary and other amazing photographers - Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

The ocean's edge - Yallingup & Smith's Beach, Western Australia

Last weekend we plucked a few days from our too busy lives and stayed at a lovely beach side place at Smith's Beach at Yallingup in Western Australia's spectacular Cape to Cape region that stretches between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.  It is an area we have explored many times over the years, but there is always something new and interesting to do and places to go. And is just perfect for relaxing. A prime area for surfers and holiday makers in summer, it is also a great destination any time of year, as there are bush and coastal walks, wineries, gourmet food outlets, galleries and restaurants. Or just lay on your balcony looking out over the ocean, and spend time walking along the beach.

Here are some views. 

Early one very cold morning as the sun was coming up we went walking along the beach. There was a mist rising up from a stream running into the ocean, and the mist gently spread out over the ocean, caressing the waves.

As the mist curled over the crashing waves and it looked to me like a mob of wild white horses plunging across the water with their white manes flying in the wind.

They inspired me to write my first attempt at Haiku poetry which I have just been introduced to by my writer's group, South Side Quills.

Mist over crashing waves

flying manes of wild horses

in the morning light

                                                     Jill Harrison 25-7-2011

At the end of the beach you can see where we stayed at the  Canal Rocks Beach Front Apartments.  It really is a lovely spot, with a balcony and view over the ocean.

 From Smiths Beach we did part of the Cape to Cape walk around to Canal Rocks and then beyond to Wyadup and back. It was a wonderful 3-4 hour walk (depending on how many times you stop) with spectacular views over the rocky cliffs.  There were only a few wildflowers out but during spring it would be a mass of colour. This is looking towards Canal Rocks.

At Canal Rocks you can see the power of the ocean as it crashes against the rocks.  Spectacular on a winter's day.

 Further on we came to a seat where we just sat and looked. On the seat was plaque commemorating the life of Alison Taylor (1980-1999). And we were reminded of her words which we had read at another lookout along our walk - 

"The ocean's edge is a place to contemplate life's journey with it's changing patterns of winds, waves and tides. 
Please care for these special places."

And a beautiful sunset at day's end with the promise of another beautiful tomorrow. And the knowledge that life is a wonderful gift to be treasured.

I hope you have enjoyed these images. I look forward to hearing from you.  Have a wonderful weekend. 


To see more of the Capes region, you might like to go to my September 2010 post - click here - Walking at Cape Naturaliste 

mist in our path

Life changes and our future is in the mist - we might have a plan, but we don't know how our path will twist and turn, and take side roads we never expected.  However, there can still be joy experienced along the way, if only we embrace change and the challenges that are put in front of us. And see beauty through the mist.

And a few words that I borrowed from the wonderful blog of one of my favourite "on-line" Canadian "friends" Lisa at Red Willow -please click on the link to visit her blog - Red Willow Photography

Letting Go

"When we choose not to focus on what's missing from our lives
but are grateful for the abundance that's present...we experience heaven on earth." 

                                  Sarah Breathnach

This photo was taken through the top of a glass outdoor table, with the roses underneath. A little grain added in Photoshop Elements.

The Bird

The beautiful Bird of Paradise is flowering at the moment.............such gorgeous colours on a dull winter day.......have a wonderful weekend

and a quote for you -    

Happiness is something that comes into our lives through doors 
we don't even remember leaving open                                                                                            

                                                    - Rose Lane

Camp amongst the Cajuput trees, Skull Springs, Western Australia

Skull Springs is a free camp site located 108kms east of Nullagine - an old goldmining town on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert, 1186km north of Perth and 110 km south of Marble Bar in Western Australia (known as the hottest place in Australia).

There are no facilities, but Skull Springs provides a wonderful place to relax under the Cajuput trees, wander along the river banks, or try some fishing.

We collected a “mud” map and some local information from the Nullagine Road House before heading off along the Skull Springs Road which winds through spinifex covered hills softened by the colour of Mulla Mulla and Sturt Desert Pea.

It took us three hours to drive from Nullagine to Skull Springs.  There are many creek and river crossings to negotiate that require low range 4WD and good ground clearance.  It may be necessary to wade through creek crossings to check for depth before crossing. Places of interest along the way are the 20 Mile Sandy Creek State Battery ruin and the Granite Wall, a natural ridge of rock that juts up like a manmade wall.

The turnoff to Skull Springs is appropriately signposted by a camel’s skull.  The springs are located in the bed of the Davis River and despite its name it is a beautiful and idyllic place to camp and spend a few days. Gigantic silver cajuput trees shade the numerous trickling watercourses that crisscross the river bed. 

Explorer Nat Cooke named Skull Springs when he found an Aboriginal skull here in 1886. It is said that the papery bark of the cajuput trees was used by Aborigines to construct huts and make baskets. 

The river is protected from the wind by high ridges, but the force of cyclonic flooding is illustrated by the debris caught high in the tree branches and huge trees that had been uprooted.  Flooding can happen without warning, so be careful where you camp. 

My full story about camping at Skull Springs can be seen in the May edition of On The Road magazine, Australia.  On The Road Magazine

Gorgeous Grevillea's

There are many types of Grevillea in Australia - and there always seems to be one or two flowering around my area.

I love the way the parts of the flower start all curled up and then slowly open out

This one I didn't notice the ant till I downloaded! - see along the lower edge of the pic...

And this is a Flame Grevillea from the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia

And the Silver Leaf Grevillea from the Kimberley

Have a wonderful week - life is too short so enjoy every minute - and hug the ones you love.
Thankyou for stopping by to have a look at my blog - I look forward to hearing from you - and your comments are always appreciated and enjoyed. 

I am joining Mary and other wonderful photographers from all around the world at Mosaic Monday. Click on the link to see their work - Mosaic Monday at Little Red House 

Life's path

A lot of changes have been going on in our lives lately, and we were talking today about how we plan the path we would like to take in life, but life doesn't always go to our plan. Sometimes our plan and path changes, and we either fight against the change or adapt to it. 

We all have challenges that we are given. And I am often reminded of something I read somewhere once -

"it is not the challenges that life throws in front of you that are important but how you deal with them".

In the process we meet and are inspired and helped by new people that come into our lives at that particular time. 

Then today I saw on the wall in a health worker's office this saying -

The Will of God will never send you to a place where the Grace of God will not protect you.

May you all have the strength to face the challenges that are set before you.

For Jeanie

My dear mother-in-law is very sick in hospital at the moment, so I send her these flowers with love.

Memories in old things....

During a project on Fllickr last week, and inspired by fellow photographer Lindyannajones, I went around my house photographing old things. Each of them holds memories from the past -

Clockwise from top right -
 pair of candle holders mounted on my wall, handles of salad servers from my mother-in-law, the basket weave of my grandmother's sewing basket, ribbon spool from old manual Imperial typewriter (I learnt to type on one of these at school), detail from a kerosene lamp, an iron stand, my grandmother's silk iron, keys from the Imperial typewriter, and in the centre my grandmother's silver thimble. The thimble dates from the late 1800 - early 1900s. The detail is exquisite - I treasure it.

If you wonder about the coppery tones on some of the objects, these photos were taken in low light so I upped the ISO so I could hand hold, ans this was the result!  I think the colouring suited the age of the objects.

and the handle of a silver serving spoon

 

I'm linking up with Mary and other wonderful photographers at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday - please click on the link to see their beautiful work -  Mosaic Monday - Little Red House