Wednesday 24 April 2013

LEST WE FORGET





In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

John McCrae



In memory of the thousands of ANZAC servicemen and women who have died in foreign lands.

ANZAC Day 
April 25th



Thursday 18 April 2013

Beautiful Monarch


This morning at 5:15 am a new monarch 
emerged from it's Chrysalis.

We had been watching it grow
 from a minute caterpillar to a very fat, 
yellow and black striped eating machine.




Then one morning, just a week ago,
 it spun a web and closed itself away in it's chrysalis.
It only took a couple of hours.


Just one short week later it emerged
 - a fully fledged, beautiful creation.
Such a quick transformation.


At lunch time today the residents where I work, 
set it free in the garden, 
where it attached itself to a Magnolia tree 
outside the dining room window.


It spent the afternoon drying and spreading its wings.


What a blessing.

Unfortunately my photo's didn't turn out 
so I've had to cheat and take some 
from the internet. I hope you don't mind.

Diana

Tuesday 9 April 2013

A hint of Autumn


I was taking a friend home from 
an appointment yesterday 
when I noticed all of the leaves 
that had fallen into the gutter near her place.
I love it when the leaves begin to fall.


Of course the temperature tends to fall with them, 
but it still very nice in the afternoons. 
Once the sun has come around a bit 
 it pours in through our lounge window. 
We are lucky enough to face north west.


When the grands were smaller 
we would go out and kick the leaves around
 and throw them at each other. 
Great fun!

One thing with the falling temps, 
I now have a valid excuse for hot puddings.
So later yesterday I picked the last of my rhubarb 
and stewed it and we had it with custard after tea.


Not a lot of colour in the rhubarb but it tasted good. 
I didn't have any cream or ice cream to go with it, 
but never mind - we enjoyed it.


Wishing you all a great week
wherever you may be.
Diana