Hitting a Purple Patch

This year has been one out of the box..we lost our darling old pup..we are losing the other..we have spent months going from vet office to busting  a gut outside in preparation for our Daughters wedding..throw in a nose operation the septic throwing a fit  things breaking down breaking up or just breaking bad! as we rounded the finish line to the wedding hubby on his way to work at 4.30 hit and killed a joey that came out in front of my new car..poor Joey died instantly Hubby was fine..car ..well it’s been written off..the day after that our daughter called to say her sweet inside kitty Sherriff had gotten out and not come home..thankfully he did after a couple of restless nights.

The few markets i could attend have been pretty dismal..the weather so bad we cancelled several..it has certainly put a dent in my enthusiasm to say the least..investment versus reward..in the negative. I will be seeing how the markets go over the next few months but i think if it is a case of me basically not even covering my costs at the minimum then i am done, i will just keep going long enough to cover the contract of my eft machine as really financially it is costing me.

The time i have spent out taking pictures this year is minimal..i feel like with all that has happened i have lost a year..no canola trips ,mountain trips, nothing i enjoy.

Apart from a brief trip overseas and our daughters wedding the whole year has been pretty horrid.

I will not even go to the sadness that has befallen so many of my dear friends..sadness that weighs heavily in my heart.

So that is a brief explanation for my lack of blogging..even as i type this i have done no Christmas cards..have all manner of paperwork for market that i really am over ,need to get prints replaced and have let Doc out three times for a peemail.

I have the vet AGAIN this afternoon…so i leave you all with these pictures.

But like purple in these images has now all but gone from the landscape..so shall my Purple Patch..

Fields of color

 

Grounds view

The bend

Purple

Alone

Like a dancer

Tanked

 

Tracts of Purple

On the crest

Silvery Gum

What a view

Shed

Hugged by Purple

Wildlife Wednesday

Well folks since it is Wildlife Wednesday i thought what better than some cute little guys that i fell in love with when in the US..

I know most of my followers being American will probably be very blase about these but i was so excited to spot Squirrels..and they proved quite a challenge to capture with my camera.

Fast like birds and erratic..like all wildlife if you watch long enough you can often predict their movements..let’s just say i had some cooperative critters and some ..well they just saw me coming and laughed as they took off i am sure..

You would have laughed at the sight of a middle aged woman..creeping along..camera in hand and tip toeing around bushes and trees..

The things i do 🙂

Have a super Squirrrely day folks !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summers End

Well what can i say..Summer left a few weeks ago..it left us with Autumn..slightly less relenting on heat but my energy has been zapped!

So many things have happened here and in the blog world and i know i will never catch up..and yes it seems to be my byline!

I have seen that many bloggers have experienced losses..this is so very sad and of course like life is always something we are not quite prepared for.

I have missed celebrations and commiserations but know i have felt them all.

I got to a point where i felt i had nothing to blog about and the longer i have left it the harder it has been.

Just starting seemed a daunting task!

And so as a tentative dabble back to a forum i love and have missed i want to share with you the last remnants of the Summer that nearly killed my spirit.

I planted almost as a joke some old sunflower seeds i had sat on the porch and carefully pulled from flowers i had grown two years ago.

They had sat in a box waiting for me to find some time for some frivolous gardening.

Nothing here is ever frivolous! hubby had made me some garden beds out back to try and bring more color to our grey/brown/parched world and as the new plants were popped in i threw these seeds in the ground behind them.

The idea being maybe they would offer the new plants some protection.

Well i did this so late in the season i expected not much to happen,in fact i had forgotten about them when they all started to shoot.

Thanks to our Summer refusing to let it’s heat go peacefully the Sunflowers thrived.

Hence the reason i have magnificent Sunflowers when i should have none at all.

I guess Summer decided to give me something to smile about.

Thankyou all for your patience with my 3 month abscence, it’s a long time and i hope these images from my garden can go some way to saying how much you all mean to me .

Remembering what was fought for

I apologise for my lack of blogging folks..it has been bugging me that other things have taken up my time..i will be back and in the thick of it again soon..

Lot’s of exciting things and weird things and scary things happening at one time have been keeping me from being here.

I took a down day today and got into the garden..it has never been so neglected and some weeds were almost as tall as me..i felt ashamed of the state it was in..and the house could do with a good clean as well..anyone who has known me knows this is really not me at all.

So i was so happy to just walk away from the computer, from spending time chasing orders and sorting files and cataloging and framing and printing and driving around like a madwoman.

Time away from Drs appointments of which todays was almost the last straw..another story for another time in another galaxy hopefully far far away..

And of course nature is the place i prefer to hang out in..i can do this because i have the freedom of choice..a freedom that today we remembered was hard fought for by many brave men ,women and animals.

I am sure that when they had our country in their hearts they were thinking of not only the people but the place we live..the ground we call home..the land we rely on and our need to be free to enjoy all that we have.

Every thing we have and hold dear is a gift and should always be appreciated..the large the small the seemingly insignificant ..because many brave souls lost their chance to return to this land..and many who did would never be the same..

Lest we forget ..

Please enjoy some reflective time with me in the garden..i am off to bed…

Just happy to hop

 

Determination

 

 

A forage on the Borage

 

Making love not war

 

A solitary soul

 

Even a vegetable has a beauty and place in the garden

 

 

Beauty and it’s supporting cast battered edges testimony to days coming to an end

 

Wanting to take off

 

In the Peace roses she must be the prettiest tiniest spider i have seen

 

Coral in the garden..or lichen could be either

 

A vertical stroll down the planter pot

 

The bird may have left this behind but it still takes flight

 

Forgotten garden

My poor garden has been well neglected these past few months..and before i know it my Irises have bloomed by the dozens and i had almost missed out on their beauty.

Ironic that my photography is all about capturing those beautiful images and yet between computers and practical aspects to getting my images out there for a market place i am losing myself in a less than natural place..

My back is still trying my patience as i found today when wandering the property , trying to manage cameras and gear and being mindful of where i was stepping because of  snake season, well i am paying for it tonight..

But this afternoon as i looked out the window i spotted a stumpy tail..he was happily munching on weeds that have flourished in the barren dirt we laughingly call grass!

I went out and took some shots of him..all the time wondering why i was having a hard time focusing..and why i was having to get so close to him to get what i wanted..it was not until i spotted just how many Irises i had that i realised..i had the micro lens on..seriously..really..good grief..between that and this mornings episode of no sd card in my camera and wondering what was going on!

Yes it appears i have spent so much time on developing my photos that i have been sitting on my brain!

The good thing was that the shots i took of the Irises are lovely..go figure 🙂

So be not afraid..the Stumpy Tail is  NOT  a snake..believe me there is a lens for our Eastern Browns and it is called Brutus! my lovely  500mm telephoto that will keep me at a safe distance!

I have kept the Stumpy Tail pictures to last for folks who freak out over them 🙂 ..the last shot he is headed in a drain pipe i sure hope he comes back out..i have been worried all day! i am sure he will he has a girlfriend who has made a nest under the mulch in my fig garden 🙂

So my garden today..a nice place to get away from technical nightmares..

And a song from my youth that i think is appropriate 🙂

 

 

 

 

Iris in bloom

 

 

Iris in the sun

 

 

Purple Iris

 

 

 

Captivating Iris

 

Stumpy Tail and the weeds

 

How rude!

 

 

 

Such a sweet prehistoric face and love those feet!

 

Really..dude has a ‘tude!

 

 

I am amazed at the ancient faces on these sweet lizards

 

Bye bye mate

An afternoon for some downtime

Hi guys..well i picked up my camera for the first time in a few weeks…feeling better and missing getting out and about ..what i really miss is the pure joy of losing myself in the moment.

So i headed to Skydancers literally over the highway from me..the nursery is bursting with Spring colour and as well as the nursery they have an awesome cafe and a Butterfly house..this time of year the butterflies all hatch and there is no nicer way to spend an afternoon than watching these gorgeous critters flit about enjoying the sunshine and plants as much as us humans.

I find sitting on the ground and waiting for them very therapeutic..of course i do stalk some but prefer to keep my distance.as always i think that creatures are far better observed when they are not stressed by human interaction.

So please enjoy a trip to the nursery with me..i hope you find it as relaxing and colourful as i did..

If not for a head that started pounding i would have finished the day with a latte and a piece of cake..maybe next time 🙂

Cheers Fozziemum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dragonflies and Cats Whiskers

Romance by the dams edge

 

Cats Whiskers in black and white

Thursday thoughts

Hi folks..the tests have come back and i have not got sciatica but a Labral hip tear and some chondroitis in the joint so pretty much the same deal that i had with my knee on the same leg,my back that i hurt just over a week ago is not healing as quickly as i would like either and between the two issues i have been in a bit of pain…the Dr has put me on Tramadol which i have not taken before as the ibuprofen is not good long term and was giving me awful gut pains..winner winner chicken dinner 🙂 she will be consulting with  the radiologist regards a cortisone shot into the joint.

I recall complaining  about my hip about five years ago and the Ortho i saw gave me an xray and said no problems which was the same when i complained of my knee and an xray said fine..only to have an MRI done a year later and require surgery as the kneecap was shredded and i had to have a lateral release to stop my knee slipping out..so i have been grinding my hip for 5 years . The symptoms were very sciatic like and so i gave it no more thought ..the Dr has queried all the falls i have had and i have told her my ankles are the problem.

When i had my first fall inside on the same steps of doom my ankle did not fully heal, i told the Dr i was seeing then and he said soft tissue damage it will be fine..since then i have had several more falls as my ankle is not stable..and of course the other ankle has been playing up as well.

So i will be asking for a check of them so i can either get strapping sorted for them or some physio.

My regular Dr is super but he has been away and this Dr seems quite ok so i am thankful for that!

A lot of Drs are only to happy to see Fibro on your chart and put every ailment down to that…well at least with the scans the proof is there..so i hope to get back up and running..well sauntering soon..i hate being unable to function normally..and with the fires around it is not good to be unable to move!

We sadly have had an early start to the fire season..a controlled burn that has apparently gotten away..yes they need to be done but they must not be left unattended especially prior to a dangerous heat wave..people have lost homes..my cousin i found out tonight ,has lost sheds..his home was saved and his horses and family safe..i messaged him to offer help and see if he is ok and he said he was and it was old hat for him..his Mum my Aunty lost everything including one dog during the Ash Wednesday fires..i can only imagine the memories yesterday bought back for him, and he was only young at  the time too. Damn fire.We will be getting no rain.We have been warned this will not be a good season..

Hubby came home early yesterday as wind damage on houses was everywhere..so he has been busy with the SES..and he was going to go to the staging ground in Lancefield where the CFA  (Country Fire Authority) had set up with other Emergency services but my back was that bad he did not want to leave me here for fear i would be in trouble if i needed to get out. And i would have struggled indeed. We had  a couple of small fires in town but they were out quickly and believe me the winds were scary..and the temps high in the 38C range and the humidity dropped too..

So i am thankful my cousin is safe and that my hubby is safe..he worked from home today and is pooped as he was on a roof again today fixing damage from winds…not our roof but a call out with the SES.

So again i apologise for the here and there visits..when i am on the couch i cannot get blogger blogs on my phone..no idea why..and half the time i start to visit and comment and then because i am lying down i fall asleep..good grief..what a life 🙂

So i leave you all after this verbose post with some little shots i took the other day,i tried to go out and get motivated but i tired quickly and my back and hip started singing..but i did see these sweet garden friends..and have some thoughts to go with my images..

Loves Fozziemum xx

Real beauty often comes late to us in life

Select what you need from the beautiful things in life and you will find yourself satisfied

Being surrounded by beauty does not lessen your own magnificence

An Apple blossom does not care what it will become..it savors what it is

Only the harshest winter can make the Spring so rewarding

I did say i wanted to go on a trip didn’t i ?

Well what an eventful few weeks..and the cherry on the cake of discombobulation was my little trip.

Yes i have been banging on about taking a trip…well ask and you shall fall..not quite the trip i had in mind!

I was lucky that hubby had gotten back from Sydney only hours before and our son and his wife were here..which they would not have been if hubby was still away..yikes..

I am still very sore but also very lucky i could have done some major damage as i hit my spine directly on bone when i fell, i have been able to sit up for awhile but then forced to lie down..tomorrow’s MRI for my sciatica ,which has not let up, will be an interesting moment i am sure..as i may have to be steam rolled flat before they can do it 🙂

Today Spring which was late in arriving..well it left..actually it left yesterday but today was hotter..by 10.30am ,which was really 9.30am as daylight savings kicked in, it was already 33C ..we got to over 38C today..this week we have been told will be nasty heat and wind..joy of joys.

Funny we never have a gentle easing into any season here..it’s bang ..

I was so happy to get emails and hear that some peeps had received their cards..i hope everyone else gets theirs soon as the mail is so random..

I never understand how different it can be,from one state to another one country to another..i mean my sister sends me something from suburbs away it takes a week..i send her something and she jokes she gets it before i sent it!

So if you are still waiting i am super sorry 😦  seems the post is not as efficient as us bloggers at getting things done!

So i am off to bed..my back aching..and i have been trying to reply and catch up but when it starts singing i just have to ‘down tools’ as us Aussies say 🙂

So tonight i leave you with a most beautiful scene..i think so anyway..

I was in my kitchen the day before my tumble and looked up to see this sweet family to the left and behind our barn..so i crept out the back door..

Now this family i think is a new one as they have been hanging around but are very skittish when they see me..which is fine…keeps them safe and me safe and all is right in the world!

So i had to be super quiet..they do have great hearing despite what some folks think..i grabbed an outdoor chair and popped it against the fence and like a jack in the box only slowly i popped my head and camera up..yes i know i wonder why i fall..go figure..

Well they did spot me and seemed to be quiet cautious but did not take off..i got a few shots but the trees were in my way..so i went back inside and slowly out the front..a few took off but the others seemed content to munch the green grasses that will soon be gone..and i could see why..there were a few Mums with joeys in the pouch..and hefty sized ones too!! .. little monkeys having a great time while poor Mum lugs them around 🙂

I was so happy to see healthy happy families..so without anymore waffling as the back is getting antsy i present this gorgeous family..

Have a great week all..Loves Fozziemum

 

Oh hello..

 

 

Umm can we help you?

 

Time to move on maybe

Take heart

Well folks the weekend is at a close in 6 minutes here..and so Monday begins..

I have a very busy week ahead..very busy..many things on the go…Hubby flies out again in the morning for Sydney this time..i will be glad when all this ends..

Life around here has been crazy…but i can take heart..the universe is working it’s magic i am sure..

Loves Fozziemum

Take a little heart with you this week