This is March 2019

What a month of differences. I had some good rainfalls in February but March became quite dry. The dam I use for watering the garden and use outside didn’t receive any run-off and is very low. I am in water conservation mode and back to watering the garden plants sparingly. The pot plants on the verandahs are getting the precious tank water. I have lost a number of my Begonias sadly. I have a number of plants of the same species and nothing has been lost altogether.

The coming of Autumn is usually a time to plant but as the same as last year, there isn’t the promise of rain and soil moisture. I have a number of plants that are now going to re-potted into bigger pots. The best thing is the sunsets this Autumn so this post has a number of sunsets as I couldn’t decide which ones to use.

I haven’t included the photos I have used in posts over the past few weeks, such as the Wedged-tailed Eagle having lunch on the side of the road. I have also put some in reserve for posts to be written later on.

There is a a good selection so maybe a cup of your favourite beverage, a snack and get comfortable to see some of the stuff I found in my world in March.

I was very privileged to be part of a smoking ceremony. A traditional Aboriginal welcome to their part of country. The leaves that were on the fire, Lemon Scented Gum, Cinnamon Gum and another type of eucalypt leaf I can’t remember.
smoking_ceremony_aboriginal_indigeous_pit_named_redfern_sydney_march 2019
We stood or sat around the circular fire pit. One of the most amazing part was we were told that the smoke would touch us all. They began playing a welcome tune and the smoke went in a spiral around the circle of people, the smoke touching everyone. Yes the hairs on my arms and neck stood, it was a magical moment.smoking_ceremony_aboriginal_indigeous_players_named_redfern_sydney_march 2019
The leaves had to be put on regularly to infuse the people and the moment which gave us a sense of being part of country. smoking_ceremony_aboriginal_indigeous_loading_named_redfern_sydney_march 2019
One of the murals inside of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence where the NSW Landcare Forum was heldmural_NIEC_named_redfern_sydney_march 2019

The city sunset
sunset_named_redfern_sydney_march 2019
One afternoon, the sun was so yellow bathing the countryside giving an eerie glow to the Grass Tree sentinels that watch over my besties place. grass_trees_named_caniaba_march 2019

I wish I had more time to explore Redfern its streets, houses and gardens. I love this ornate piece on a gate.
gate_decoration_named_redfern_sydney_march 2019

Back at my part of the world, I found a bit of rust.
rust_hole_pier_named_macleay_island_march 2019

One of the jardinieres in the front of a house
urn_garden_named_redfern_sydney_march 2019
Meanwhile at the beach, the shadows  on the sand caught my attention.beach_grass_shadow_evans head_march 2019

The colours of a Small Common Yellow Butterfly seemed to change as it sat on the lomandra.
butterfly_small_grass_yellow_named_caniaba_march 2019
My nighttime visitor who dropped in and commenced doing her laundry. praying mantis_home_march 2019

The early morning rain at my besties on a spiders web.
spider_web_water_drops_named_caniaba_march 2019
The water dropspalm_fronds_dead_water_drops_named_caniaba_march 2019

While on the hunt for spiky things for Beckys March Square Photo Challenge, a purple Spider Orchid said pick me.
orchid_spider_purple_named_lismore_market_march 2019
Another angleflowers_orchid_purple_named_lismore_march 2019

Some Eucalypt flowers look spiky but are so soft
flowers_white_named_lismore_march 2019
Purple flowers in the morning sun.flowers_purple_named_caniaba_march 2019
Another orchid found at the Lismore Farmers Market where we go most Saturdays for breakfast and get some produce from the growers.flowers_orchid_named_lismore_march 2019
The Desert Rose is also for sale at the Marketflowers_desert_rose_named_lismore_march 2019

After not doing much, the rain came to my besties in March (but not my place) and the bean plants started to grow and flower.
flower_bean_named_caniaba_march 2019

This is the very first time I have seem coconuts growing on a tree.
cocnuts_named_macleay_island_march 2019
Time for a few bird photos. The cute little Striated Thornbill enjoys dropping into to use  the bird baththornbill_bird_bath_named_caniaba_march 2019
OK….now we are back at the beach. The Crested Terns flew in and sat on the beach with us.crested_terns_sitting_evans head_march 2019

On Macleay Island, the Bush-stone Curlews had a young one.
bush stone-curlew_young_named_macleay_island_march 2019
Having a drive around we came across a family of Grey-crowned Babblers having a feed along the side of the road.grey_crowned_babbler_named_gore rd_march 2019
One afternoon the sky was filled with a cacophony of squawking Little Corellas, the most Little Corellas I have ever seen in one huge flock. There were hundreds.corellas_little_flying_flock_closer_named_lismore_march 2019
The flock stretched across the sky in the afternoon sun.corellas_little_flying_flock_named_lismore_march 2019
I love the graceful Ibis as the soar overhead.ibis_flying_named_lismore_march 2019

The Black Kites are always hovering and swooping at the waste facility.
kite_black_named_lismore_march 2019
A look at the steering mechanism on a Black Kite.kite_black_steering_named_lismore_march 2019
I am so happy that the Scarlet Honeyeaters are still around the garden at home.scarlet honeyeater_grevillea_honey_gem_home_jackadgery_march 2019
It is always a treat to come across Eastern Rosellaseastern_rosella_fence_named_gore rd_march 2019
The rain at my besties has bought out the happy looking Green Tree Frogs.frog_green_tree_named_caniaba_march 2019
On the drive around we came across an Eastern Grey Kangaroo and her Joey.eastern_grey_kangaroo_joey_named_gore rd_march 2019

The morning sun on the pampas grass seed heads
grass_seed_head_pink_named_caniaba_march 2019
The car ferry on the way to Macleay Island was soon overtaken by the catamaran ferryferry_fast_named_macleay_island_march 2019

It was a treat when the yacht owner put up the red sails
boat_sails_named_macleay_island_march 2019

The sunset over the bay made the end of a busy day worthwhile.
sunset_yacht_golden_named_macleay_island_march 2019
The sunset on the watersunset_water_named_macleay_island_march 2019
The farmer next door ploughed and planted a paddock next to my besties place. When it was ready, he let the cows into the paddock. This cow certainly seemed to enjoy having a snack.cow_licking_named_caniaba_march 2019
The calf kept a wary eye on me.calf_looking_named_caniaba_march 2019

The calf at sunset.
sunset_calf_named_caniaba_march 2019
Another fabulous sunset.sunset_dark_named_caniaba_march 2019

Another day, another sunset. This is the eastern sky
sunset_swirl_named_caniaba_march 2019

I think this was my favourite sunset of March
sunset1_orange_named_caniaba_march 2019

Probably my favourite sunset photo. Well the suns gone down…..
sunset2_orange_named_caniaba_march 2019
…..and our Moon is in the sky, so it’s time to go.moon_named_caniaba_march 2019

I hope you have a had a good time wandering about, sometimes a bit chaotic, in my world. The featured photo is one from Beckys photo challenge which a lot of people liked. Maybe you have a favourite photo too?

Some Rocks I Found

The Ragtag Daily Prompt Sunday: Rock

I have found rocks in my travels around where I live.  Let’s start with some from my place. I love to find these blue rocks when I walk about my property.
170622_blog challenge_vision_rock
The most wonderful rock I have found at my place is this hand axe. Goodness knows how old it is as the indigenous people have transversed through here for thousands of years. When I picked it up and held it, it just sat in my hand easily. I bet the bloke who lost it was rather annoyed.170519_traces of the past_stone axe

This is the rock that he used to make the hand axe
170519_traces of the past_stone tool

OK off my place and onto the road. Down at the beach is a great place to find rocks. I also like to find faces in things. Can you see the dog?
dog-rock_named_coffs-harbour_oct-2016

A rock on a fence post. No, I don’t know either.
180117_odd ball_rock post
There are always rock pools at the beach.rock pool_beach_named_evans head_oct 2018
and colourful cliffs170921_blog challenge_layers_evans head02

Rocks also serve a purpose. A Long-necked Tortoise likes to sun himself on a rock that looks like a Tortoise
tortoise_named_oct 2013

This is one of the early songs I loved to play on guitar. Sounds of Silence was the first LP I bought with my own money.

I love this live version

Stones

Frank has set the photo challenge of Stones. I know I have posted these before but they are stones that represent a part of the history of Australia. Many years ago, the Indigenous people of the land, that I now call my place, used to trek through this land. They may have been following the seasons. Walking from the Mann River to the Clarence River to perhaps trade with the other peoples from the other parts of the Clarence Valley. Someone took the time to fashion a hand axe from the stones that I still find here. This stone axe fits perfectly in my hand and I would be able to use it today. The edge is very sharp.
170519_traces of the past_stone axe

This stone is the one that would have been used to chip off the edge of the axe. Again a tool that fits very comfortably in my hand.
170519_traces of the past_stone tool

Here is both together where you can see the edge of the axe
170519_traces of the past_stone axe_tool2

Thanks for reading my Stones. The Indigenous culture is thousands of years old. I have no idea how old these tools are. European settlement in my area has been over 100 years. I am privileged to hold these tools knowing I have the past history living in my home. Thank you Frank for allowing me to tell the story.

Thursdays Special: Traces of the Past Y3-05

Traces of the Past
My little piece of history may be thousands of years old as the Aboriginal culture is the oldest culture in history. I discovered these artifacts on my property many years ago. On a walk with friends I first came upon the stone hand axe or cutting tool. The photos don’t really show the sharpness the edge. When I first picked the tool up, it fitted into my hand so wonderfully well.

The second discovery was made a while later. It is the stone that was used to chip off bits of stone to make the hand axe possibly. Again the smooth roundness of the back fitted into my hand perfectly.

170519_traces of the past_stone axe

 

170519_traces of the past_stone tool

 

170519_traces of the past_stone axe_tool2

 

170519_traces of the past_stone axe_tool1

jupiter najnajnoviji

Have a look at the other wonderful photos from the past in the Lost in Translations blog