Just a glimpse

This reflection was noticed by my friend as I was about to back out of her driveway.

Participating in James' http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

happy weekend to all

Golden glow of sunset

These shots were taken at Whittlesea (referred to in my posts earlier this week) in mid-Summer and show the glorious countryside aglow with the setting sun's warm rays.

Joining in Skywatch Friday at http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/

(Happy weekend to the host and participants)

Just catching the sun . .

During our 6-week revisit to the UK in 2009, we visited relatives in South Wales. In this shot I was amazed at the height of the pier/jetty and how dwarfed the couple catching the sun appear.

This little piggie . . . .

Meet "Fred and Wilma" . . . .

Several years ago I joined another volunteer couple at Whittlesea in Victoria for 3 weeks as temporary caretakers of the MMM (Mobile Mission Maintenance) International HQ while the regular volunteer residents spent Christmas with their respective families in different States of Australia.

The property was at least 20 acres in size and included a large Administration block, several homes for resident volunteers as well as other accommodation for temporary volunteers, a large garage and maintenance shed, several farming/agricultural vehicles, a barn, pig stys (sties?), pigs and cows.

Our duties included checking and sorting the mail delivered by the postie, taking messages from incoming phone calls, checking the property fencing, feeding and hosing down the pigs (temperatures were in the 30's - degrees C during our stay), checking the cows, cleaning the pool, collecting bread from a nearby town, weeding the gardens, painting signs and generally maintaining the property.

 Trotters in the trough

 From the barn and pig sties looking up toward the Admin building & accommodation

 A different perspective of "breakfast in bed" !  We were informed that this sow - who had given birth to a huge number of piglets in previous days - was suffering from "post natal depression", was isolating herself and had gone off her food, so we hand fed her!

Looking towards the barn and sties (at bottom left) and, in the distance (some 40kms away), Melbourne



It was a wonderful experience and a lasting friendship developed with the other temporary caretakers who live in New South Wales and I'm so looking forward to catching up with them next weekend as they come through Adelaide en route.

Devastatingly, this entire property and its buildings were destroyed in a major bushfire which swept through the State of Victoria a few years later, wiping out the homes and belongings of about a dozen families.

Sharing with Camera Critters at http://camera-critters.blogspot.com.au/
and http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/

Decisions, decisions ... !

Couldn't make up my mind which of the above 2 shots to post, so am including both!

They were taken on the edge of the dam at Wynn Vale late one afternoon.

To see more reflections from around the world, check out

James' http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

On the road again ..

Joining other contributors to Skywatch Friday

at http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/

Raindrops keep falling . . .

Joining in with http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/

Awaiting warmer days . .

Yesterday was a particularly wet, grey day here in Adelaide, but this outdoor setting in a friend's garden suggested brighter days are not far away. (Personally I enjoy the refreshing, invigorating coolness of Winter and the depth of colour it brings to nature)

Contributing to http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com.au/ and
http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/

Pretty in Pink

Joining other contributors to http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/

(better late than never!)

The wonderful fragrance of these (I think) Asiatic lillies lingers on - just looking at the photo brings back a remembrance of it !

A rejuvenating rural outing . .

Following a sad start to the day attending the funeral of a very sweet aged neighbour, I was delighted to receive an unexpected invitation from my good friend and photography enthusiast to "hit the road with our cameras" for the afternoon.

We headed north of Adelaide and "happened upon" some wonderful subjects and scenes: the above collage shows just some of them

It was a lovely outing and a real lift to the spirits.

Joining in with http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com.au/

Blue & green . .

These pretty agapanthus bordered this little man-made lake adjacent to an inviting timber outdoor decking area of a property in the Adelaide Hills during another photo-hunting expedition.

Visit James' http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/ for other reflections from around the world. (thanks for hosting James!)

Another long weekend done!

Heading home from a friend's place on Monday evening (5:30pm), at the end of a long weekend, this sight came into view as I headed down the hill.  (The holiday was to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's birthday).

Joining in with other http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/ participants.

Lakeside

Just a quiet afternoon strolling around a local lake

An oldie but . . .

This cottage has featured in an earlier post of mine but in colour, however, it did seem to lend itself appropriately to sepia treatment and here's the result.

Contributing to http://sepiascenes.blogspot.com.au/

A pretty divider

These two homes in a delightful Wiltshire village caught my eye during my return visit to England in 2009. A fence can convey many messages between neighbours and these seem to brighten up the approach to each home.  (I was quite taken by the deep burgundy colour of the home on the right and can't now recall why I didn't include the whole frontage!)

Linking in with http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/

A wavy white flag

Joining http://www.floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/

Double delight !

This was taken on my way home at 6:45 one evening back in January this year.

(The reflection is off the roof of my car.)

Am "cheating" by counting this as my contribution to not only Skywatch Friday at

http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/

but also James'

http://www.weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

Tantalising Tasmania

Several years ago, a good friend and I spent a week holidaying in Tasmania - WHAT a fabulous place to visit. The scenery is fantastic and there's so much to see and experience. We couldn't do it justice in that short time-frame, but got a taste by flying into Hobart in the south, hiring a car and driving up the middle of the island to Launceston in the north where we spent a few days exploring. Then drove along the east coast aways before returning to Hobart for the remainder of our stay.

The following images were taken in the Russell Falls region of the Mt Field National Park, north-west from Hobart:

I am hopeful of making another trip to "Tassie" sometime in the future to absorb more of the island's delights.

Contributing to http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/

Dots of sunshine

On a somewhat gloomy day (weatherwise) mid-Winter last year, these cheerful Wattle flowers brightened my walk and their fragrance was quite "heady".

Joining http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com.au/

and trusting you've all had a wonderful weekend.

Patience vs Patient(s)

Recently, a close friend's husband finally underwent a hernia operation (after FIVE deferrals!) in the Royal Adelaide Hospital. While enjoying cappuccinos and a hot chocolate in the ground-floor cafe pre-admission, I suddenly noticed this reflection of the main entrance in the cafe window.

Joining in with James' http://weekendreflection.blogspot.com.au/

Almost surreal . . .

Above every cloud there's a silver lining !

(This was taken at 5:30pm on 29th January from the top of a hill adjacent to my street)

Joining http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/

.... and just as a day brightener, here's a stunning rose from the garden of a dear friend

Contributing also to http://www.floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com.au/