Blazing from Winter to Spring

In no time at all it will officially be Spring here in Australia!  

It already feels like it's here with longer days, warm breezes, 

and the smell of native daphne floating on the air.

Sharing here that transition from frost-chilled orange juice for breakfast and bonfires, 

to the buzzing of busy bees around a bottlebrush in balmy Bellingen!

  the cattle were inquisitive when we cleared a fence line and had a bonfire

Crimson Rosella


Native daphne or sweet pittosporum which I read is becoming a weed in some areas.  
Sad because the perfume is delicious

flowering pear blossom 

budding tulip tree against the moon 

Australian red cedar (Toona ciliata var. australis) ~ new pink growth.  
I'll tell you more about this wonderful tree soon.

bottle brush (don't ask me which one!)

I was listening to a program which spoke about the demise of the awareness of the seasons

because so many of us have air conditioned houses, cars and work places 

and so the seasons can pass without us feeling or noticing any change.

If this is the case, then I feel very sorry for those people

but I for one will keep on seeing and sensing the seasons

 and I'm pretty sure you will too!

Bye for now

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. 

Peaceful end to a lovely day out.

OK everyone, it really is time to get home. The sun's going down, the chooks need locking up and the dog will be getting hungry.  Hop in and let's go!
(In case you missed parts one and two of our day out in the New England Tablelands of New South Wales, please have a look here )

The last rays of sun stream through the trees to our west, as we drive east

No more roo's to be seen, even around aptly named Kangaroo Hills Creek.  

Early evening is a time you need to be very careful to look out for them on the road.

Too dark for any more photos, and here we are at home now.

 Well, thank you so much for the company.  It's been lovely to have you come along.

Bye Bye, I have to go and feed the dog now, he's not a happy chappy!

PS

Do you have a favourite place to go for a day out that's within reach but still feels like a bit of an adventure?  I'd love to hear about it.

Heading home

Ready to get back in the car and head east towards home?  Good, so am I !  

For those of you who missed the journey so far check it out here

The hint I gave as to what we would be seeing was simply animals, cattle, sheep & horses of course.

Quick or you'll miss them....  

These roos are ready to jump the fence for greener pastures!

Stopping for a photo break beside the road where a side road joins ours.  

It's not as bad as it looks!  The cattle truck waits for the gravel truck to pass...phew!

Drama averted, and oh what a view.  Going on 5.45pm, the light is glorious.

This journey is taking longer than I thought....

 so I think we will have to carry on to a Part Three.

Glad to have you along so far, and hope you'll come back for hopefully the last leg next week.  

See you then!  

Bye for now