Autumn ~ From Balmy to Biting

Stirring the porridge on the wood stove I think back to the beginning of May

 when the full moon was out. 

There was a warmth in the air, moisture too.  

That's what caused the fabulous rainbow ring around the moon.  

I scurried up the hill to the west in the early morning

The light shining on this web was just like the ring around the moon the night before.

 I was just in time to catch that same full moon going down behind the farmland.

The mist lifted to reveal bright autumn foliage on the liquid amber trees.

By afternoon the sun's heat tricked us all into thinking that summer had never left. 

The bugs came out in their masses, great feasts for the birds!

The evening sun slid slowly out of sight leaving us bathed in it's warm glow.

Fast forward a week or so and things are changing fast. 

The wind whooshes through the trees and leaves are defenseless, 

falling falling falling....

A chill fills the air, summer's really gone.  Winter's not here yet,

but from the feel of that bite in the wind, it won't be long.

It's comforting to think that whatever the season, 

wherever we are,

 that same moon shine's down on all of us. 

Back on track

A bolt from the blue found me in hospital with a mystery illness last month.  

I'm back on track now thanks to wonderful care from the nurses & doctor 

 in our lovely little local hospital and of course from my beautiful family & friends.

It certainly brings things into perspective though 
and makes you realise what's important in life.

So yesterday I met up for a picnic lunch with my son and family in the little town of Guyra

some 100 kms to the west of us, and about half way between Brisbane and Sydney.  

Guyra is the highest town on the New England Tablelands of N.S.W. 

at 1330 metres (4363 feet) above sea level. 

Autumn colours there are in full swing.

The usual hour and a half journey home took way way longer
 as I stopped constantly to take photos!

The country is quite dry here so colours stand out in all their vibrancy

 against the dry vegetation.

I am at risk of becoming boring......(I warned you I took lots of photos!)

so I think I will continue on my journey home next time.  

The photo above gives a hint of what's ahead.

Bye for now

Time to Reflect.

The sun was already low in the west when I closed the door on the farm accounts, escaping to stretch my legs and breathe some fresh air.  The dog leaped out from under the house, tail wagging. He finds book work boring too! 

A kookaburra kept one eye on us as we passed him by,

 but his gaze was out to the distance.

Down the hill we went at a spritely pace towards the dam

 surrounded by gum trees.

Cobba  frightened a pair of ducks and they took off  in an excited flap to circle above us. Tiny flying insects and water boatmen, and the plop of a water dragon launching from the bank, were all that remained.  

Clouds reflected in the rippled water

                               Cobba waited for me ~  not so patiently!

Gum leaves wafted in the breeze as I trudged up the hill.

There's always something to catch your eye 

(and let you get your breath back!) on the way up.

The sun was setting as I reached home, lovely soft soothing colours.

  I fed the dog, brought in some wood, 

and headed inside without another thought.

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As I am about to publish this post I am sitting with a heat pack on my lower back, having done too much in the garden yesterday.  My back is now suffering the consequences.  

It has made me think about just how much I take for granted every day ...... being able to go for a walk, bend down to pick up a feather, reach up to study leaves on a tree....things that you don't think about until you can't do them. For me it is just temporary, but others are not so lucky.  I hope that I will appreciate these things just a little more now.  

How about you?

Some days are Diamonds, some days are Gold!

Yesterday was the last day of June, and for us in Australia, the last day of the financial year.  Well I'm thinking that the signs are all good for the coming year because the day was truly gold!

Sundown brought golden clouds dancing across the sky

The evening sun shone on the underside of a little moth settled on my kitchen window.

And the ripples of water on the dam fairly gleamed!

It was a golden day indeed, but sadly short lived because today has been, grey, grey grey!!

They say bad things come in threes ~  I think good things do too!

 How about you?

Japanese Children's Festival

Coffs Harbour Botanic Garden was host to the 

Japanese Children's festival a couple of weeks ago.
The sixth of it's kind to be held in this beautiful setting. 

We were welcomed with  kites in all colours & sizes
& there were kite making workshops too.

  We meandered along the path leading through the trees

No prizes for guessing who wasn't long in finding the cup cake stall!

The dancers were an absolute delight, and this gentleman 

was thoroughly enjoying himself!

Some families got into the spirit, and everyone had fun.  

The beautiful Japanese Gardens and bright red bridge

 were the perfect location.

I took a couple of the photos earlier in the year like the one above left, so on the day the tea house was buzzing with people enjoying a cuppa and a bite to eat provided by volunteers. And the trees below had nearly lost their leaves but I had to include this photo from earlier because it is so vibrant. I believe it is a type of Crepe Myrtle.

This fish was just one of many being displayed to show us the different colours. Dear follower Midori has let me know that this is a Koinobori or carp.  If you like things with a Japanese twist, hop over and take a look at her blog,you'll be glad you did!

This rainbow lorikeet couldn't work out what all the fuss was about!

Even dancers have to relax sometime......oh what a feeling!

Our sweet grand daughter gave the sushi a tick of approval!

And then it was time to head home, after a fantastic day out.  Next year I hope our son and daughter in law who is from Japan, will be able to come along as well, and we can all wear the beautiful kimono's that her family gave us at the wedding last year. Maybe you could join us too!