Many of these photos have focus difficulties but I have now learned a lot more about how to use my cameras effectively and am happy with some of the results.
Australian Geographic article can be found here.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Aus Geo Scientific Expedition - El Questro, Kimberley, WA
Here are some photos to accompany my diary for the trip. Happy reading.
Many of these photos have focus difficulties but I have now learned a lot more about how to use my cameras effectively and am happy with some of the results.
I shared this lovely tent with Gloria.
View of the Cockburn Ranges from the Pentecost River crossing on the Gibb River Road.
We were privileged to see, catch and handle many animals. Many were taken back to camp to measure and photograph then released at their place of origin again.
Each day we volunteers were rostered on to help a different scientist for all or part of the day.
Steve checking the toad fence traps at Emma Gorge.
We had caught a King Brown (Mulga snake) and these tinies.
Life back at base camp was spent entering data, measuring and photographing animals, identifying species, chatting and eating....
Photo taken at Branco's Lookout ... what a view and so much of the vegetation has been wiped out by the recent flooding rains.
Tiny beasties along Emma Gorge
A strange waterplant found at Emma Gorge - Eriocaulon setaceum...
A blue winged Kookaburra - they woke us most mornings sounding as if they were being strangled.
An elusive rainbow bee eater...
A Blue Argus...
Posed photos back at camp.
The array of technology was incredible but no internet.
I would love some of this fabric, not skin of course but the design is beautiful and so tactile.
Yes, I really did lend a hand.
In this bag there is a huge tree frog species, Litorea splendida. A real find for the frogologist.
There were some really bad river crossings... this one is up to Branco's Lookout.
Our tented cabin luxury... here we are all gathered (Eddie, Shane and Gloria as well) in my cabin having after dinner nibbles.
Gloria hugging a medium sized Boab at Emma Gorge Resort.
Australian Geographic article can be found here.
Many of these photos have focus difficulties but I have now learned a lot more about how to use my cameras effectively and am happy with some of the results.
Australian Geographic article can be found here.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Three days in Darwin and Kakadu
My recent trip to the Top End included a short stay at Garry and Helen's then a quick 2-night trip to Kakadu with Garry.
If you'd like to find out more about my trip click here.
Catching up on May
I am so behind with blog entries since my lovely trip north so I decided to rearrange entries a little to keep them in chronological order.
Firstly the process of creating a vege garden...
1. Removing the old chook sheds.
2. Tidying the area.
3. Covering the precious chook poo to use later and defining the vege patch with some logs. The old wooden fence was then replaced by my lovely neighbour John.
4. Planting the far end of the patch. The silverbeet did very well and the rosemary is thriving.
5. Marion and I constructed some raised garden containers and shovelled all the precious chook poo and soil into two of them and left two for stockpiling soil dug from other places in the yard.
6. I have now planted out some of the beds to see what will grow. The soil is so rich it should support lots of leafy greens and other hungry plants.
Then there was the area outside the back door at the bottom of the ramp.
1. I gave the hibiscus a boy prune but it grew back quite quickly. It actually ended up filling the background of this photo.
2. I accumulated all the pots of bulbs and herbs into this area and planted beans which gave a fabulous crop.
3. Now Geoff and I removed the hibiscus, planted all the bulbs in the front garden and I sank the herb pots half way into the soil to try to retain moisture a little better. I completed the paving to the bottom of the ramp and generally tidied up a bit.
4. I have now planted peas on the bamboo trellis. They are not doing as well but the whole space is looking much better.
Firstly the process of creating a vege garden...
1. Removing the old chook sheds.
Then there was the area outside the back door at the bottom of the ramp.
1. I gave the hibiscus a boy prune but it grew back quite quickly. It actually ended up filling the background of this photo.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tiny Tour in Macquarie Street
Today Marion and I visited the Hyde Park Barracks Museum and the Museum of Australian Currency Notes in Macquarie Street. The day was made all the more enjoyable by joining Geoff and Jen for lunch at The Mint Cafe where Mic is a chef. A beautiful lunch. Next time we'll have to visit the Mint Museum as well.
Friday, April 29, 2011
A Very Wet Picnic
This week we celebrated Surrey's birthday with a picnic in the Botanic Gardens. It was supposed to be held under his tree but the rain drove us into a nearby rotunda where we joined a few strangers who were also seeking shelter.
Surrey's tree is still alive and growing. It is getting fatter in the trunk (a little like its namesake) but the leaves have thinned out (it is a deciduous tree).
We were able to spread the picnic rug and our fabulous 'sandwiches' and cake picnic on it again, even though it was not on the grass.
Alex and I took some photos of the group but when Alex noticed that I was missing from the photos we had taken he took the one above. I then suggested that he should be in one but unfortunately he blinked and I did not notice. It is here for the record anyway.
Marion was able to come and we were joined by John and Karen as well. They knew a little rain (well actually a lot of rain) would not deter us as Surrey has brought us up tough and independent.
The boys had a great time running around when the rain eased playing hidings with Geoff, Rod and Jen. We adjourned for coffee (and chocolate milk) in the cafe then wandered back towards the station with a little shopping on the way.
What a lovely excursion. Especially as we were a bit stir crazy from almost a week of quite heavy rain.
Surrey's tree is still alive and growing. It is getting fatter in the trunk (a little like its namesake) but the leaves have thinned out (it is a deciduous tree).
We were able to spread the picnic rug and our fabulous 'sandwiches' and cake picnic on it again, even though it was not on the grass.
Alex and I took some photos of the group but when Alex noticed that I was missing from the photos we had taken he took the one above. I then suggested that he should be in one but unfortunately he blinked and I did not notice. It is here for the record anyway.
Marion was able to come and we were joined by John and Karen as well. They knew a little rain (well actually a lot of rain) would not deter us as Surrey has brought us up tough and independent.
The boys had a great time running around when the rain eased playing hidings with Geoff, Rod and Jen. We adjourned for coffee (and chocolate milk) in the cafe then wandered back towards the station with a little shopping on the way.
What a lovely excursion. Especially as we were a bit stir crazy from almost a week of quite heavy rain.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Easter and Anzac Day
Marion and I have had a quiet, wet long weekend. Lots of quilting has been achieved. Also we have worked with Geoff to move most of his belongings (stored at my place for the last 6 months or so) to his new home. Only the pot plants and some larger items of furniture to go now. This enabled me to be able to clear some room in my quilting 'sweat shop' upstairs ready for another quilting weekend next weekend. I just moved the clutter over to the space Geoff had been using for storage and will sort that later (ha ha!).
We made some Anzac Biscuits of course and they are absolutely delicious. Invited Helene in for morning tea. I had to use her butter to make the biscuits because I only had margarine.
We made some Anzac Biscuits of course and they are absolutely delicious. Invited Helene in for morning tea. I had to use her butter to make the biscuits because I only had margarine.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Take Two
One game that Alex is enjoying now that he is starting to read is Take Two. Many friends have asked me for the rules so here I go.
Take Two (or Speed Scrabble)
Take Two is a speed word game that can be tailored for children or adults. Children as young as 8 (younger if they are paired with an adult) can play successfully. You will need a set of letter tiles from a scrabble set or equivalent, a pencil and a scoring pad, a dictionary if arguments are likely to arise (a scrabble dictionary and scrabble word rules apply). One scrabble set is adequate for 2-6 players.
1. Spread the letters on the table, turn them all upside-down.
2. Seat players evenly around the letters so that each has space in front of them to create their words.
3. Each player takes 5 tiles, leaving them upside-down until ‘go’ is called.
4. At ‘go’ each player individually tries to create words in front of them that link like a crossword puzzle. Each player can change or rearrange their letters and words at any time through the game.
5. When one player has used all their letters in their crossword they immediately call ‘take two’ and all players take two more letter tiles to incorporate into their crossword.
6. Continue Step 5 until all the centre tiles have been used (the last call might be ‘take one’ depending on the number of players and/or the number of tiles remaining).
7. The first player to use all their tiles calls ‘stop’ and play stops.
8. Players then score their crossword by adding the number value on each tile. If a tile is used twice then it is added twice. Leftover tile values are deducted from the final score.
9. The player with the highest score wins.
TIPS:
• Take care rearranging your crossword puzzle as it might be a slow process and this is a speed game.
• Small words are quicker to create but 2 or 3-letter words can be difficult to ‘hang’ other words from.
• Aim for speed rather than high word scores.
• Do not count out loud when adding scores as this confuses other players.
• The speed can be adjusted to the players’ abilities. It can be completely competitive or players can decide to help others on the table if abilities or experience of the game differ widely. Helping players and negotiating rules when required are acceptable behaviours.
For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble_variants
Take Two (or Speed Scrabble)
Take Two is a speed word game that can be tailored for children or adults. Children as young as 8 (younger if they are paired with an adult) can play successfully. You will need a set of letter tiles from a scrabble set or equivalent, a pencil and a scoring pad, a dictionary if arguments are likely to arise (a scrabble dictionary and scrabble word rules apply). One scrabble set is adequate for 2-6 players.
1. Spread the letters on the table, turn them all upside-down.
2. Seat players evenly around the letters so that each has space in front of them to create their words.
3. Each player takes 5 tiles, leaving them upside-down until ‘go’ is called.
4. At ‘go’ each player individually tries to create words in front of them that link like a crossword puzzle. Each player can change or rearrange their letters and words at any time through the game.
5. When one player has used all their letters in their crossword they immediately call ‘take two’ and all players take two more letter tiles to incorporate into their crossword.
6. Continue Step 5 until all the centre tiles have been used (the last call might be ‘take one’ depending on the number of players and/or the number of tiles remaining).
7. The first player to use all their tiles calls ‘stop’ and play stops.
8. Players then score their crossword by adding the number value on each tile. If a tile is used twice then it is added twice. Leftover tile values are deducted from the final score.
9. The player with the highest score wins.
TIPS:
• Take care rearranging your crossword puzzle as it might be a slow process and this is a speed game.
• Small words are quicker to create but 2 or 3-letter words can be difficult to ‘hang’ other words from.
• Aim for speed rather than high word scores.
• Do not count out loud when adding scores as this confuses other players.
• The speed can be adjusted to the players’ abilities. It can be completely competitive or players can decide to help others on the table if abilities or experience of the game differ widely. Helping players and negotiating rules when required are acceptable behaviours.
For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrabble_variants
Garden Update
While Alex was here we worked hard in the vege patch removing weeds and harvesting my pumpkins. These are about half the pumpkins I have had through late summer and now in autumn. A variety of sizes and shapes but all quite delicious.
Since the rain and poisoning the rats in the vege patch I've got a great crop of spinach again and my tomatoes and rosemary are starting to flourish.
Now that I have finished the bamboo out the front I can concentrate a little more of my time on growing food for myself, my family and friends. I have the time, the space and the chook poo but lousy sandy soil.
They came from this corner where my new back fence has now been built by neighbour John to replace the wooden one built nearly 40 years ago. It began to really fall down when I removed the old chook sheds that were holding it up. It actually began to rot many years ago.
Since the rain and poisoning the rats in the vege patch I've got a great crop of spinach again and my tomatoes and rosemary are starting to flourish.
Now that I have finished the bamboo out the front I can concentrate a little more of my time on growing food for myself, my family and friends. I have the time, the space and the chook poo but lousy sandy soil.
Busy Week
It has been a busy week! Out to lunch with Geoff and Jen on Sunday, a visit to my Mum on Monday, Marion and Barre arrived Tuesday and stayed till today, Alex came for a sleepover Thursday night and Ellen, Rod and Luke joined us all for dinner last night!!!!
The activities with Alex included a visit to the Australian Museum to see the dinosaurs and birds of paradise displays but the favourite was the interactive table of dangerous Australian animals.
Then there was outdoor work. Feeding the chooks and weeding the vegetable patch.
We had a long walk to the park where there were lots of children enjoying a lovely autumn day with their mums and grandparents.
It was a great time for us all.
The activities with Alex included a visit to the Australian Museum to see the dinosaurs and birds of paradise displays but the favourite was the interactive table of dangerous Australian animals.
Then there was outdoor work. Feeding the chooks and weeding the vegetable patch.
We had a long walk to the park where there were lots of children enjoying a lovely autumn day with their mums and grandparents.
It was a great time for us all.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tamworth Quilting trip
Having returned from a wonderful quilting trip to Tamworth I have now updated the Rainbow Connection Quilters blog with my story. Feel free to read all about it there.
One of the activities was a show and tell. I took Surrey's Waterlily Quilt I made him some years ago as my show and tell.
One of the activities was a show and tell. I took Surrey's Waterlily Quilt I made him some years ago as my show and tell.
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