Returning Home The Long Way Round

So it's time to take the second part of my trip around the loop road which links me back to home. See the first part of my journey here. 

Thought you would enjoy listening to John Williamson singing "Cootamundra Wattle" while you're reading. So if you'd like to, just Click here and leave it playing while you join me, and apologies for the ad at the beginning, I don't know how to get rid of it. If you find it distracting, just listen and read separately.  There are Wattles in this story, just not the Cootamundra type!

I left behind me the little tin church
and travelled through beef and dairy country

It's been very dry and you can see
a bush fire in the distance

My dear cousin Mar left a comment that this tree 
looked as though it was wanting a hug!

The dirt road leaves the gentler fields
and heads into steeper forest country.

A distant view towards Dorrigo

Towering gum trees

Some spectacular leaves

Fiddled around with this photo for Mandarin Orange Monday.
I like the results. Hope you do too!

A friendly pony is a reminder of the
homes and farms hidden in the bush

Dust on the dry dirt road

Heading to a lower altitude
 tree ferns are more in evidence

Gateway

This is a wattle in flower
(let's not get technical about names!)

I reach the creek in the valley
where the road crosses

The sun is getting low in the sky
 and leaves a golden glow on the ripples

I cross the bridge

And the wattle blossoms of a
Blackwood (pretty sure!) welcome me home

I have had fun taking you with me on my day out and look forward to another one really soon!  Where would you like to go?  

Take Me Home, Country Roads...

The other day we had to vote in local elections.  My nearest polling booth is 5 kms away, but there is another booth some 10 to 15 km's away that is in need of numbers or it will cease to exist.  So off  I went for a wonderful Saturday day out!  I am sharing with you here my photos from that very lovely Spring  day.

Bright lime green leaves herald Spring in a vibrant way!

I headed West and passed by the beautifully
 green pastures of a nearby dairy farmer......

....and wound down the window onto a dryer
 but no less exhilarating  view

the distant blue hills were hypnotising

This one is special

Arrived at the turn off to my destination..
As you see the school bus travels this way
 twice a day during term time.

This is where I had come to vote.  Which I did, 
 and then lunched on  a delicious sausage sandwich 
loaded with yummy fried onions,
and all put on by the local Rural Fire Service.
Enjoyed a long overdue chat with neighbours...

.....then continued on the loop road for my return journey home.  

I had to stop at the perfectly lovely old  church nearby. 

The daffodils  were in full bloom and saying a welcome Hello!

The Gum Trees over the road from the Church
 beckoned me on down the road.
 It was time to say good bye to this lovely hamlet
 and continue back around the loop road home.

I look forward to sharing the rest of my trip with you later.
Isn't it sad that we don't venture off our normally beaten track
 more often?  The delights are enormous and add beauty to our lives. 

Do you have a place you have been meaning to visit, but like me, just don't quite get around to it?  Tell me about it if you wouldn't mind.  I would really love you to share your story with us:)

Bye for now, and thanks so much for dropping by for a visit!

Oh Still Small Voice of Calm

I have added these words from John Greenleaf Whittier to a photo of mine.  

The words form part of the hymn "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"  

I hope you love it as much as I do.

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

is a hymn with words taken from a longer poem,

 The Brewing of Soma by American Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier. 

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

Forgive our foolish ways!

Reclothe us in our rightful mind,

In purer lives Thy service find,

In deeper reverence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard

Beside the Syrian sea

The gracious calling of the Lord,

Let us, like them, without a word

Rise up and follow Thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee

The silence of eternity

Interpreted by love!

With that deep hush subduing all

Our words and works that drown

The tender whisper of Thy call,

As noiseless let Thy blessing fall

As fell Thy manna down.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still, small voice of calm!


And if you would like to listen to this lovely hymn click on the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqOnjmr9Ah0&feature=player_detailpage

"In an English Country Garden"

It's Mum's birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!! 

Thank goodness for phones and skype and email, 

it makes the distance between Australia and England not quite so great.

So specially for Mum I thought I would share with you some more photos I took in July of the flowers in Mum's lovely garden.
Sit back, relax - Mum's done the weeding :) - feel the warm breeze that carries the sound of  the birds singing in the trees, and the bees flitting from flower to flower. Smell the beautiful perfume of roses, stocks, and wallflowers.

It's a kaleidoscope of beautiful colours, shapes, textures and perfumes!  

Mum's garden is just like her -Beautiful.

Have a lovely day Mum, and hope the weather is kind to you

 so that you can get out into your lovely garden.