Bob's birds

It's such a miserable night we decided to get

fish n chips for tea. It doesn't look a lot

but there was enough for two of us and some left over.

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More from our holiday in Aussie.

Once we arrived in Mackay we were able to relax and recoup. I spent most of the first week sleeping, I didn't realize I was so tired until I got out of bed at my sister's home and could hardly drag myself around so after breakfast it was back to bed for me and I stayed there until well into the afternoon. I took the next few days off and slept and didn't do much else, each day I managed to stay up a bit longer. What was my poor old GKB doing while I slept? He was photographing the local birdlife and rather than show you pictures of me sleeping I thought I'd put up some of his birds :)

 Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

White or umbrella cockatoo

Crow

 Ibis...

...feeding

Masked lapwing or masked plover

Green faced honey eater

Magpie lark aka Peewee

not sure what this is but not a house sparrow

Brown thrasher

another Thrasher 

He took all these photos from the comfort of the covered area outside Sis's living area, where we sat to relax of a day.

I hope I haven't bored you by putting up too many pics. And my knowledge of Australian birds is limited so feel free to correct me if I've named them wrongly :)

Diana

Lunch in Outram

It was a beautiful spring day and as life has been a tad busy lately we decided to head over to Outram for a bite of lunch. It seems everyone else had the same idea but we managed to get a little table outside and dined al fresco.

That's my GKB sitting under the hanging basket on the left.

I had a cinnamon roll and cup of tea which was served in a lovely Queen Anne rose patterned china teacup. Lovely. It's nice to get your tea served in one of these dainty cups when you're out.

One of the reasons we decided on Outram was that we wanted to get some photos of the blossoms and daffodils. And although it is country it's only 10 minutes drive from home.

The pink and white blossom is really beautiful and we could hear the tuis calling to each other as they fed. I have more photos and will put some up next week if I get the chance. 

We had parked in the gateway to a farm road and it is absolutely beautiful. Either side of the driveway is absolutely smothered in daffodils. More photos of those as well for next week, so I guess this post is a bit of a tease.

And finally on the other side of the road were the paddocks with the ewes and lambs. Sure signs that spring is here.

I hope you have enjoyed my springtime photos.

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Thank you for your concern for my little mother.

She has had a bad year and for someone who is not used to being ill and is very independent she has not coped well. On Monday she had her annual checkup with the heart specialist and on Friday she goes in for tests to ascertain what to do next. She is much happier now she knows something is being done. 

joining:
Five on Friday
Friday foto friends
Teacup Tuesday

The week just gone by

A friend rang me during the weekend to see if I wanted to join her for morning tea at the local art groups' exhibition. I did and we enjoyed seeing the paintings as well as having a good

 chinwag over coffee and cake. Some of the paintings were for sale but we didn't buy anything this time. Mind you there 

were a couple I really rather liked. Really, really liked :)

There are a lot of talented people out there.

And staying with the coffe break theme, my GKB and I went over to Wal's Plantland one afternoon for tomato plants and potting mix. There's a nice cafe cunningly placed at the end of a tunnel/hothouse  and while we didn't buy any extra plants we did enjoy a late afternoon tea which meant I didn't need to cook that evening. Bliss.

Staying with plants, aren't the blossoms on this magnolia magnificent? This tree belongs to a neighbour and 

my GKB had to wander partway up their drive to 

take the photo. Spring is certainly here :)

I took this photo while out walking one day. I love the moody clouds, rain threatened but hasn't happened yet. And that was several days ago. I rather think we may have drought conditions this summer as winter has been rather mild and not a lot of rain.

This is another pic I took while out walking. I had tried to get a shot of a flock of sparrows having a peck at the dirt on the road in front of me but they didn't cooperate with me at all and flew off :) This little thrush wasn't so shy, she just sat there and let me snap away. I love thrushes, their lovely colour and speckles on the breast. So cute.

Just to finish off  we went outside one evening and found we had this little fellow visiting us. He didn't stay long once he realised he had company. It's amazing how fast hedgehogs can run when they get up on those little legs and start to move.

Joining Amy and friends for
Five on Friday
and
Friday Foto Friends

Bird dance

My GKB was out practising with his new 

camera about a week ago and took this photo.

The bottom one is cropped to see the dancing bird more easily.

I'm pretty sure it is a starling.

As you can see too, the buds were quite fat on the tree, 

it's been very mild up until this last week 

but now I have had enough of winter :)

Walking and strolling

We have been very good with our walking and strolling, my GKB and I.

Sometimes we stroll along the Silverstream and have views like this to look at.

This was along the 'left bank'. 

When you get to the end of our street and go onto the floodbank 

you can turn either left or right. 

One side is flanked by the Silverstream and farmland and in the case of the 'left bank', 

it is farmland on both sides.

If you turn right it is private dwellings on one side, 

most of them have lovely gardens to admire, 

and the Silverstream and farms on the other.

It is a shared space, 

cyclists, joggers, walkers and dogs with their humans.

It's never boring.

We met a dog with her man a couple of days ago,

she takes him out at 1:30pm every day

 regardless of the weather, so he said.

I meant to get a picture of them but got so busy talking I forgot.

Oh well..

Sometimes, like today, we head for a park. 

I wanted to go to the library before we head up to the caravan 

so we took a walk around the gardens at the adjacent park.

They are dressed in their mid summer frocks at the moment

and are rather pretty.

House sparrow.
 I believe he is a male, as the males wear a bib on their chest.

We had a bit of a sit before we headed home again

and this little fellow came looking for crumbs.

He had a few mates with him but I'm afraid we disappointed them all

 because we hadn't really thought about feeding the birds.

Maybe next time we'll be better prepared!

We are off to the caravan in a couple of days,

so until we get back look after yourselves.

Have a good week everyone,

Diana