Author: bushboy

Landcare, photography, music, poetry (of sorts), cooking, our environment, life on the land and making a difference where I can. MotoGP is my "boy" fix.

My Life According to……

Published on by bushboy8 Comments

Response to The Shoes I Wear

I thought this looked like fun! Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, ie a solo performer, answer these questions. I’m starting as I mean to go on by NOT tagging anyone but I’d love it if anyone wants to have a go – if you do please link to me so I don’t miss it! Try not to repeat a song title if possible. If you have to it’s okay though!!

harry nilsson

Your Artist: Harry Nilsson

Are you male or female: Daddys Song

Describe yourself: Jump Into The Fire

How do you feel about yourself: Spaceman

Describe where you currently live: Old Dirt Road

The first thing you think of when you wake up: Gotta Get Up

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Over The Rainbow

Your favorite form of transportation: Driving Along

Your best friend is: Cuddly Toy

Your favorite color is: Salmon Falls

What’s the weather like: Open Your Window

If your life were a TV show, what would it be called: You Can’t Do That

What is life to you: The Lottery Song

What is the best advice you have to give: I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City

If you could change your name, what would it be: Poli High

Your favorite food is: Coconut

My soul’s present condition: Think About Your Troubles

The faults I can bear: Everybody’s Talkin’

How would you describe your love life: Without You

Toys

Published on by bushboy4 Comments

The word prompt from Franks Tuesday Photo Challenge: Toys

Here are a few of the toys from around my place. Some I have found in Op-shops or at markets or garage sales.

A cute little tip truck a Grandpa probably made for a child.
180816_blog challenge_toys_tip truck

This tractor was perhaps a school project.
180816_blog challenge_toys_tractor

A wonderful home made train.
180816_blog challenge_toys_train

The pull along horse and rider that my girls played with. I can’t remember where it came from.
180816_blog challenge_toys_horse

The metal truck was my truck from when I was a toddler. My Mum said that I used to sit on it was push myself around the house.
180816_blog challenge_toys_tin truck

I hope you liked my toys

The Black Bean Tree

Published on by bushboy2 Comments

Since I posted a bit about Black Beans and their pods, a few people have asked about this wonderful Australian tree.

Black Bean Castanospermum Australe is a walnut-like hardwood timber. It is a timber that ranks among the most hard-wearing with uses in furniture and in general wood turned products, walking sticks, bowls etc

The Black Bean Tree is mainly a rainforest species and where I am is on the southern most limit where the tree could be found. The tree can grow from around eight meters to twenty meters. In some rainforest conditions it has been found to be almost forty meters in height.

The one in my garden will probably get to around ten to fifteen meters.
black bean story_tree_named_home_august 2018

This year was good year for the pods. So many scattered around the ground. Luckily I don’t have livestock as the beans can be poisonous to stock.black bean story_pods_ground_named_home_august 2018

The large leaves hang from single stems. As it is very dry at the moment, the leaves are hanging down a bit more than normal.
black bean story_leavest_named_home_august 2018

Here is an assortment of pods and beans. the pods can have between two and four beans.
black bean story_assortment_named_home_august 2018

The pods fell from the tree a few months ago, so they are a bit weathered and twisted. I found one that hadn’t opened.
black bean story_pod_shape_named_home_august 2018

The inside of the pods look quite comfy for a bean to sit and wait to ripen.
black bean story_pod_inside_named_home_august 2018

In the post about the Black Bean pods I did under estimate their size. This was the biggest pod I could find that wasn’t damaged. Imagine this pod dropping from the tree. On the street Black Bean Trees in town is a warning that pods can drop so don’t park under them when it’s pod dropping season.
black bean story_pod_length_named_home_august 2018

This bean weighed in at 39grams. I tried to look for a bigger one that wasn’r squashed. Most beans are around this size.
black bean story_bean_weigh_named_home_august 2018

A large four bean pod weighs in at 123 grams.
black bean story_pod_weigh_named_home_august 2018

Black Bean pods hanging from a tree
180301_out of this world_black beans

The flowers grow directly from the branch. So lovely in their yellow and orange/red hues
black bean tree flowers_home_named_dec 2014

Thank you to those who asked for a bit more information about the Black Bean Tree that is in my garden.

Small

Published on by bushboy24 Comments

The word prompt from Debbie at Twenty-four: Small

It is good to see that people are taking up Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge while she is on vacation. Thank you all.

A tiny Soft-shelled Snail
snail_soft shell_named_binna burra_april 2018

Whats smaller than ants
ants_black small_tree_lismore_named_june 2014

A lovely Line-blue Butterfly, about 15mm in size
line blue butterfly_named_binna burra_feb 2018

Hidden in the folds of a flower, a small Crab Spider waits for something smaller to drop by for a snack
spider_yellow flower_named_oct2013

Stingless Native Bees having a feast on a Crocus flower
native bees_crocus_named_jan 2014

I love finding small fungi on my place
fungi small red_named_home_march 2017

A flower which is a big 10mm in diameter
yellow flower small_home_named_crop_dec 2014

Baby birds are cute especially in a small nest
fantail young01_nest_binna burra_named_small_nov 2014

The smallest Honeyeater, a Scarlet Honeyeater
170823_blog challenge_small subjects_scarlet honeyeater 03

Patterns

Published on by bushboy11 Comments

The word prompt from Lens_Artists Photo Challenge: Patterns

So many patterns in this world it was hard to stop myself from just going on with too many photos.

The colourful patterns on the cliff face
cliff face_patterns_named

The amazing patterns created by spiders
spiders web_blackandwhite_named_binna burra_march 2018

The reflection on the water make a very liquid pattern
water reflections01_burano_named_oct 2015

The crazy cat pattern made by the bark of a Spotted Gum Tree.
tree cat_named_home_sept 2017

Wonderful patterns made by Sand Crabs
crab art02_named_emerald beach_march 2017
The patterns on an aeroplanes tail
180812_patterns_airplane tail

The patterns made by water lillies
180812_patterns_water lillies_water

Amazing patterns on the underside of a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
180812_patterns_yellow tailed black cockatoo
Fabulous patterns on the feathers of an Ibis
180812_patterns_ibis feathers

And of course, the wonderful patterns on our Moon
moon_named_nov-2016

Gulls

Published on by bushboy22 Comments

The word prompt from city sonnet: Gulls

The Gulls flew while the Cormorants just bobbed about hunting fish
terns_cormorants_seagulls01_brunswick heads_named_feb 2014

Soaring majestically in the sky
sea eagle_gulls_named_brooms head_jan 2015

Or hurriedly leaving the beach in a tangle of wings
yamba_200710_gulls tern flight_crop

Or just standing at the waters edge enjoying the sand between the toes.
seagull02_ballina_named_feb 2014

Finding a shady spot on the beach on a warm day
umbrella_seagull_named_broken head_april 2015
Looking nonchalant
seagull01_close_ballina_named_feb 2014

Or being cheeky
171017_blog challenge_bird_gull

Enjoying the morning sun
seagull_sunrise_named_ballina_feb-2017

Or a surprise Gull – an Australian Gull Butterfly
australian gull butterfly_named_home_feb 2015

The Eastern Spinebill

Published on by bushboy19 Comments

Over Winter, Eastern Spinebills come and hang around my garden. Although there isn’t many flowers one Grevillea has lovely little flowers which the Eastern Spinebills enjoy.

I think this Spinebill wants to be a Hummingbird

eastern spinebill01_grevillea_named_home_august 2018

Eyes open to make sure of the connection.
eastern spinebill02_grevillea_named_home_august 2018

Some wing flapping for adjustment.
eastern spinebill03_grevillea_named_home_august 2018

Keep flapping and contact.
eastern spinebill04_grevillea_named_home_august 2018

And just as fast………gone
eastern spinebill_grevillea_gone_named_home_august 2018

Black Beans

Published on by bushboy20 Comments

Franks Tuesday Photo Challenge: Row

Black Bean Trees, Castanospermum australe, are growing on my place. The seed pods can measure up to 100mm in length. Most have three to five beans to a pod. Yes beans in a row.

180811_blog challenge_row_black beans

Some pods have just a couple. The Black Beans are quite big weighing around 30 grams.
180811_blog challenge_row_black beans_more

The leaves and beans are toxic to animals and humans in the raw state. It is great to make tiny canoes from the pods and race them down the river.
Some flowers of the Black Bean Tree. Flowers in a row.
black bean tree_flowers_named_home_nov 2017

A Photo a Day Keeps Boredom Away – The Wattles

Published on by bushboy18 Comments

Debbies word prompt: A photo a Day

I have been trying to remain positive even though the rain has become scarce, the garden is hard to keep water to and the forest around the house is starting to show signs of a lack of water. The usually climatic systems have changed as they do periodically. A lot of Australia is in drought conditions, water is becoming scarce, most farmers are having a difficult time deciding what to do with their stock, whether to plant crops or what to do which is the best for their families. Many appeals have been put in place to assist the best we can. My town is trying to do whatever we can for those west of the Great Dividing Range. Not only are the farms being affected but the businesses in the towns are having a hard time. No cash flow for the farms means a lack of spending in the town. Many appeals are focused on the farms but the small business in towns are suffering as well. No one is spending on the luxury of having a hair cut, getting the kids to the dentist, buying that bit of pleasure whether it be a bar of chocolate or even having lunch in town while you shop for the basics you need to keep your family going.

  I am fortunate that I no longer have stock to feed (only have one chook now) or even have a vege garden (possums have paid price to that luxury) but I have a garden that gives me pleasure. I feel like a bad parent as I decide which plants to water and who I hope will survive. Last year, the dam that I use to water the garden had a leak and the full dam I relied upon to get me though the normally dry Winter, is now around one quarter or less.

Back to the subject of this post. At this time of year, my home is ringed by the heady scent and yellow profusion of Wattles – Acacia fibriata or Fringe Wattle. The dryness has resulted in a reduced amount of blooms and are not the vibrant yellow that normally rings the place.

I have tried to use selective colour to highlight the wattles but as you can see, the dryness of my place has made the highlighting of the yellow of wattles diminished.

180811_wattles_named_home_august 2018