Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Any Kind of Geometrical Shape
Tag: aboriginal
Culture
Debbies One Word Sunday:Culture
The smoking ceremony is a welcome to Country, part of the Indigenous culture in Australia for 60,000 years. It is quite moving to be involved and hear the stories.
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.
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.
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.
One of the murals inside of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence where the NSW Landcare Forum was held
The city sunset
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.
I wish I had more time to explore Redfern its streets, houses and gardens. I love this ornate piece on a gate.
Back at my part of the world, I found a bit of rust.
One of the jardinieres in the front of a house
Meanwhile at the beach, the shadows on the sand caught my attention.
The colours of a Small Common Yellow Butterfly seemed to change as it sat on the lomandra.
My nighttime visitor who dropped in and commenced doing her laundry.
The early morning rain at my besties on a spiders web.
The water drops
While on the hunt for spiky things for Beckys March Square Photo Challenge, a purple Spider Orchid said pick me.
Another angle
Some Eucalypt flowers look spiky but are so soft
Purple flowers in the morning sun.
Another orchid found at the Lismore Farmers Market where we go most Saturdays for breakfast and get some produce from the growers.
The Desert Rose is also for sale at the Market
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.
This is the very first time I have seem coconuts growing on a tree.
Time for a few bird photos. The cute little Striated Thornbill enjoys dropping into to use the bird bath
OK….now we are back at the beach. The Crested Terns flew in and sat on the beach with us.
On Macleay Island, the Bush-stone Curlews had a young one.
Having a drive around we came across a family of Grey-crowned Babblers having a feed along the side of the road.
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.
The flock stretched across the sky in the afternoon sun.
I love the graceful Ibis as the soar overhead.
The Black Kites are always hovering and swooping at the waste facility.
A look at the steering mechanism on a Black Kite.
I am so happy that the Scarlet Honeyeaters are still around the garden at home.
It is always a treat to come across Eastern Rosellas
The rain at my besties has bought out the happy looking Green Tree Frogs.
On the drive around we came across an Eastern Grey Kangaroo and her Joey.
The morning sun on the pampas grass seed heads
The car ferry on the way to Macleay Island was soon overtaken by the catamaran ferry
It was a treat when the yacht owner put up the red sails
The sunset over the bay made the end of a busy day worthwhile.
The sunset on the water
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.
The calf kept a wary eye on me.
The calf at sunset.
Another fabulous sunset.
Another day, another sunset. This is the eastern sky
I think this was my favourite sunset of March
Probably my favourite sunset photo. Well the suns gone down…..
…..and our Moon is in the sky, so it’s time to go.
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.
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.
This is the rock that he used to make the hand axe
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?
A rock on a fence post. No, I don’t know either.
There are always rock pools at the beach.
and colourful cliffs
Rocks also serve a purpose. A Long-necked Tortoise likes to sun himself on a rock that looks like a Tortoise
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.
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.
Here is both together where you can see the edge of the axe
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.
Have a look at the other wonderful photos from the past in the Lost in Translations blog