Wildlife has blooper moments

The other day as i ventured up from the dam after spending a fun time watching Wanda and her wee Buttons i came across some roos that had been camping in our lower paddock.

Now it can be hard to see them when they camp as they like to do so amongst the rushes.

More than once i have come across one and had the beejeebers scared out of me.

When you crest a hill and a big lad over 6 foot tall and all chest puffed and arms flexed is there it is quite a sight to see.

I defer to their right to be there and hope for the best 🙂

Well back to my trek up to the house..so i spot the roos…and the poor things must have been in a real daydream as i scared them a bit..i do not like to scare them so as i looked up i see roos going in all directions..i turned the camera on and shot some pictures..

I thought i saw what looked like a roo tumble over the reeds..damn..i hate that..i mean i know these guys are tough and all but i still hate to see them fall..

When i got back home i had got dinner sorted and mucked around a bit..when i finally got my sd card in the computer i went looking through all the shots of the wallabies..

Ok i come to the Blooper moment..what i saw next in my images were these shots..

Oh my..mid air collision of roos..both were fine after as i saw all roos hop off and then stand as a mob and watch me!

I guess sometimes even the wildlife is a tad uncoordinated and does not pay attention 🙂

Have a super weekend all 🙂

Cheers Fozziemum

Notice that there is a roo behind the rushes on the left..

 

Now the roo on the left takes off

 

Now rabbit up top left is taking off,roos are both in flight and not looking at each other

And the moment both roos collide!

Dust kicked up and over they go!

Calm restored..

 

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

260 Kilometres…

Hi everyone..thankyou so much for all the beautiful birthday wishes and cards on Facebook and here..thankyou all for making an old gal feel very special indeed..i will share my cards with you all later this week..and i want to also say i am so happy and relieved that Easy’s  Dad Mark is home and on the mend..and that i still send my love to my little sister Lisa as she mourns the loss of her gorgeous doggie Skii at the age of 13..it has been a sad few days and hence the reason i did not post on my birthday…

Today i want to talk about aging..i am not worried to say i am 54..i am lucky i have made this journey so far when so many do not..

I have earnt every wrinkle..every stretch mark..i know my butt is no longer where it used to be..even my knees now look oddly different..but i have walked many miles..i have seen and done many things and i have no worries in saying i am no longer 26..

There is a beauty that comes with age..a patina that only lifes experiences can leave..the good and the bad have a profound effect on us..both physically and spiritually.

But what a boring canvas we would be without those layers of life emblazoned across us ..yes being younger we have a youthful glow..but aging gives a mellowness that has it’s own glow..born of many paths travelled.

So i thought today i would share some of those travels..i travelled a lot over the week..in fact in one day i racked up 260 kilometres..

I found some old things that had their own gorgeous patina..and also some new things full of the glow of youth..none of these were people..but landscapes and buildings..also able to age and weather and show beauty as they do…

Loves Fozziemum xxx

A beauty in the bush

 

New beginnings in the field

 

Once was..now no more

 

The lone tree and the looming sky

 

Another past

 

The path to once

 

Winds of change

 

 

Rust in the water

 

The old farm the new crop

 

Vibrant and fresh

 

Where the water passed

 

Fields of green and skies of grey

 

Beauty in age

 

A proud life left behind

Every photograph is history

Hi guys..you know every time you take a photograph you are making history..that time, scene, place will never be exactly the same again.

The sun, clouds, trees swaying in the breeze all make for a one off event ..a time that will never be again..when you look at your photographs you are looking back in time..amazing..

So as i drove up our street as i have done for coming on 4 years in a few weeks i was all of a sudden aware of something.

It made me feel a little sad..but it also is a sign of new things coming.

You may remember this image i posted.

 

This lonely scrubby tree..it sits on top of the hill on the right side of our street.The acreage is bare and there it is..every day as i drive home..i look to the right, there it is..i always joke it is like the  singing bush from The Three Amigos movie..it sways and bends .tough little thing..

It has had some amazing clouds form behind it and provide me with ooh ahh moments..sunsets and storms have raged and there it stood.

Well yesterday as i drove out i looked up and gone…it has gone..the people who have bought this bottom acreage have maybe pulled it out..or it has finally died.

The hill looks lonely now…it has no character ..the backdrop is not as dramatic without this tree as it’s foil..

I was set to wondering why i had not taken more pictures..so many different backdrops..but i didn’t..so my little singing bush is no more, it is now history.

I felt the same sadness when the other new neighbours across from us sold their windmill.it had been a lovely sight to watch from my verandah..telling  me when the wind gusts were coming…a bright bit of color on a drab day…but it to has gone now, it is history.

 

I know that these are not amazing world changing events..but they do make me stop and think about those things that are here today and gone tomorrow.

Maybe the whole quest of the photographer is to find that history..whether it be a big important event or even a small time never to happen again.

Maybe my desire as a child to be an archaeologist or travel to space as an astronaut is now being let loose in a quest for daily history..places, people, animals that appear and maybe never are seen the same way again..

I wonder what history you saw today..that maybe nobody else did.. i bet if you think about it you may surprise yourself at the uniqueness of your everyday life.

 

A single drop seen by only me..makes it no less beautiful or important than if the world stood in wonder. Bev Green

Wild on Wednesday

Hi guys…well looks like i am back with the Wild folk again..a return of the roos has meant i am spoiled for photo ops..

They are healthy happy and flourishing..many joeys in pouches and many young males who seem to outnumber the girls…this should make for some very interesting times ahead!

I have spotted some real whopper boys too..three so far..and even from a distance i can see they are BIG!.. they seem to be staying mainly in our back paddock..interesting when i go for a walk..need to be a bit careful i think ..

I have shown a brief video this week and have an extended one which i will try and get up next week.

With the roos we are always cautious on our street..but even more so as a few are really random in their jumping..and i have tried to capture a picture to show how close they get to the road and you cannot see them until the last moment.

They are super camo and often ‘camp’ as they call it by the verges and when a head pops up it scares the beejeebers out of you..i would never forgive myself if i hit one..we have a young healthy Male who seems happy to camp at the back of our property and by himself..he may be branching out and looking to start his own mob..he is not injured ( i always try and check) and is eating and happy….so maybe this is his time to be the man of his own family!

I spot him when i get home from the shops..i get out of my car walk over near the barn and through the scrub and gumtrees i can see him resting…we play this game when i leave and when i come home..he seems quite bored with me 🙂

 

I took some pics of him for you all and also have included some of the roo that was by the road on our street..it is a deadend street and we are the last house so he is safe..we all take extra care on our street..we are quite proud of our roos 🙂 he also show how well camoflagued he is..certainly born to live and survive in our bush environment..he watched me ..and in two hops was across the road and giving me the ‘look’…later next week i will post the pics of the funny little roo that was already on the other side…he played peek a boo with me..it is not easy to take a quick pic with my camera on my lap in the car..with a dirty windscreen..so forgive the roadside pics 🙂

Have a great day i am off to bed to catch some zzzzz’s

 

Lone Male camping

 

Hears me

 

Decides to look around

 

Checking the direction of the noise (me)

 

Oh it’s her again!

 

See this great camo!

 

Over the other side in a second

Wild on Wednesday rewind

I imagine you have all guessed I am offline a bit these past few days..i am in a flare up..tired sore and hence unmotivated!
But I finally found my video in the deep recesses of my computer..and thought I would share it as my Wild Wednesday offering..it always makes me smile to watch my roos and they have been not so frequent as the grasses dry up…so please enjoy the Ketchup Mob.
So turn the volume up and fill the screen and excuse my spelling errors..sheesh..

Travelling Tuesday

So today I continue the travel with Bashful I have been side tracked and now that I am getting some order in to my computers…yes still wrasslin two! i think it best I get on program!
So when we last left we were still in Mossman Gorge..and Rick our guide had kindly drawn a map of a watering hole close by..a safe one..no crocs!
So I will show you some more pics from inside the Upper Gorge walk ..I hope you do not find the amount of pics too much..just so hard to pick some…and believe me I have not even come close to the amount I took…I MAY have a problem 🙂

Vine creeping upwards

Vivid green of the rainforest

A view to the water

More revealed

Boulders in the water

These actually move when there is a massive downpour of water!

Perch swim in a waterhole

A heavenly spot

Water draws me..

So quiet

Full of life

More amazing funghi

Believe it or not a Lillypilly tree!

We say goodbye

Cane tractor as we head out of the gorge

Canefields a blur as we head to the watering hole

We arrive at our destination..a seemingly odd place

Clearly the place to be!

Beautiful cool water

Vibrant foliage hides the road

Bashful meets a friend at the watering hole

Fozziedad chilling out..looking at fellow rocks!

Views to die for

A quiet spot for me

Truly a paradise

We hit the road after a dip..in search of food..the Flame trees line the roads

A cane train stands alone

We had some lunch in Port Douglas..and I loved this little one refusing to walk!

Lunch done a stroll on the beach..

And in the distance a sweet female staffy…chasing the surf!

My favourite place to be the ocean..

This girl every day comes with her peep to play..she wore me out! but never got close to the camera !

Little sand crabs make patterns like batik!

I waited for such a long time and they are so quick! but I got him !

Day done we head back to the resort..views never a problem

Our beautiful country!

I jumped out f the car when I saw this couple..what a way to spend the first day of the New Year..on a sand bar …

Bashfuls New Years day adventure at Mossman Gorge

I was going to show you our New Years eve with Bashful ..the video for some reason will not upload to youtube..but we spent the evening on the beach at Palm Cove..watching fireworks on the barge at the end of the pier over the beautiful Coral Sea..we had a hankering for Fish and Chips but the only restaurant open was the Italian one..so they made us a kids serve and we ate this delicious food and enjoyed the fireworks and then headed back to our resort.

New years eve ..Bashful watching the fireworks at the beach

Well the first day of 2015..i awoke with what appeared to be a broken toe…it was like an eggplant and pretty dang sore…a pity as we had plans..and no bad toe was going to interfere!

We had booked for a guided tour through http://www.venturedeeper.com as they do Mossman Gorge tours.
This tour was for 3 hours so my toe would just have to ‘man up’ .
Mossman Gorge is not far past Port Douglas and we headed off with Bashful in the pea pod hire car .
As we approached the Gorge it was starting to rain..still humid and very warm the rain was refreshing and after all we were in the ‘wet tropics’.
We entered the Mossman Gorge Centre and were met by Rick our guide,he had umbrellas at the ready and to our absolute joy we were the only ones taking the tour with him!
This was going to be awesome!
The rain stopped as we went with Rick and caught a mini bus to our destination for the beginning of our walk..we had chosen the Upper Gorge walk (great with a toe like mine!)
Rick was a great guide , very knowledgeable about the plants the trees the environment and a musician also so Hubby was of course impressed!
The walk was stunning..not at all stressful on the feet..the scenery magical the water and giant stones awesome..the air was fresh with the smell of mosses and funghi. The canopy alive with birds and the water so clear and clean and full of native perch a protected species.
Rick explained the way the eco system worked here and we were amazed at the amount of diggings in the ground from feral pigs..he said they were a big problem and one that the lands caretakers were trying to manage as best as possible.To say we were impressed with this beautiful place would be an understatement!
Halfway through our tour we stopped at a gigantic strangler fig tree..where Rick pulled out of his backpack some thermos’s of water with a bit of lemon in them for us..very much appreciated!,then the trail mix and chocolates..we sat and chatted about life ,music, nature and family..a lovely break and in such serene surroundings!
I must say to that the resemblance of Rick to the actor Sam Elliot was uncanny..tall slim cowboy boots and an air of being totally at home here.
In a very candid conversation he explained his love of nature..he and his older brother used to shoot roos..they did this for feed for their dogs (many moons ago he said) and many country people did this.
One day apparently his brother shot one and when Rick went to prepare it for his dogs his brother said “no just leave it”
Rick never shot another roo..he could not comprehend the pointlessness of the roos death…like I said a candid conversation and an event that profoundly changed a young man and turned him into the man who had such respect for nature today and was so proud to share with us.

Our break over we continued our tour and before we knew it we were finished..3 hours of the natural world at it’s best spent with a man whose love for this gorge shone through every word he spoke.

When we returned we asked Rick if there was a good place for a safe swim..he got a piece of paper drew us a map and voila we had a place to cool off..we said thankyou and headed into the café for what was one of the best coffees I have had in a long time! Rick headeoff to take his daughter for a flying lesson!!
The following are some of the pics from our day..i have to do the second part tomorrow as there are many more of the water features and where we headed to with Rick’s map!

Mossman Gorge Centre

Arriving at the Gorge

Looking deep into the gorge wilderness

Beautiful mountains

The story of the mountain

Another view into the forest

Now this is impressive

Sticky bean tree

The sticky bean tree story

I loved how the light fell on some little patches in the rainforest..highlighting them for just a moment

The sky seems so close to the canopy

A funghi lovers paradise

Bashful chilling in the gorge

A strangler fig..these roots sound hollow when you touch them..unbelievable they hold such giant structures

More amazing funghi

The giant Strangle fig we stopped at for a break..Bashful really impressed

The strangler fig story

Look at these beautiful toadstools

The pattern on the trunk of this amazing tree looks like a tiger in the bush!

Wow..i was so enamoured of this beauty..look at the colour!

So pop back tomorrow and I shall continue our trek through Mossman Gorge..a day that was yet again spent in awe of our amazing world.

Sunday side trip with Bashful

Hi guys, yes WP is an inspiration..thanks to the way it drove me nuts I was inspired to get off the computer and get out.
I have not yet finished with Bashful’s travels up North .
But the weekend we decided to get out and have an adventure in our own backyard of Victoria.
Hubby installed the doggy door for the pups which has now, with the totally safe yard, given us a chance after 3 years to go and have a day out without stressing…awesome!

So off we went…Bashful in tow!
Now I am not sure if any of you are familiar with the 1975 mystery movie called Picnic at Hanging Rock..by Peter Weir.

I will pop some links to info at the end of this post for you.
Well hubby and I have never been there and it’s only a 40 minute drive from home..so off we went ..picnic basket and our international guest on board!

Basically the film tells the story of some schoolgirls who vanish in eerie circumstances at ‘the rock’ never to be found again..it was at one stage almost an urban legend that it was a true story..strange things have been mentioned by many visitors indeed..so of course..i have to go 😉

The girls adventure

The pathway to the Hanging Rock..yes another steep one

Amazing rock formations

One of the many amazing rocks ,can you see Bashful?

Hmm

Wonderful views over Mt Macedon the area devasted by the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires

Where is Bashful?

Awesome

More steep paths

What a lovely view

Look at the character in this rock

Bashful and I having a break

Bashful right at home

More views to die for

Great little nook

Hi there!

Reaching the top hubby takes Bashful for a better view..

No mean feat these rocks are slippery!

Goodness Bashful this is daring..watch your step !

Of course I ALWAYS find some new friends..these cute lizards under their rock

Gorgeous lizard

My usual awkward ankle twisting look while trying to get wildlife pics

I always get my man hahaa

We get to Hanging Rock with Bashful

Come on Bashful..we are in the rock..where the schoolgirls disappeared…

How’s the view…eerie indeed

Yikes

Come on dude you can’t stay here!

Looks like I have to rescue the little guy!

Remember the girls Bashful!!

This waterfall though dry still ha some sprinkles of water falling…like a little rain shower

Again I try and get a good shot

The very top of the waterfall..so pretty

Back at the bottom and it’s picnic time

Bashful and hubby resting

At the café we grabbed a coffee and Bashful said G’day to this cutie

So another adventure down..please check out the link to this magical spot

http://www.visitmacedonranges.com/natural-attractions/hanging-rock/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picnic_at_Hanging_Rock

Bashfuls visit to the Daintree wilderness

I must confess I have totally mucked my days up and am now posting our trip in no particular order..i think!
This day was the day we went to the Daintree.
To give you an idea of the Daintree I will give you some little facts..

The Amazon is about 7 million years old.
The Daintree is thought to be between 110-200 million years old! Wow..amazing.
From a total of 19 primitive flowering plant families on Earth 12 are found here!
These plants are known as Green dinosaurs.
I have much more information so if anyone has a question please ask and I will endeavour to answer as best as I can!

So to get to the Daintree rainforest system it is a gorgeous drive along the beach and through the forests from Palm Cove where we were staying through Mossman and on to Daintree Village where you drive onto a ferry and the cross the Daintree river..
Once across we drove to the Daintree discovery Centre to have a look around, grab a coffee and take in the spectacular views!
You can take a canopy walk which will take approximately 1 1/2 -2 hours and also climb the Canopy Tower.
The tower is 23 metres high and has 5 viewing platforms designed to withstand cyclones.
The walk is leisurely and easily achieved even with a wheelchair..i found the tower climb a bit harder as the humidity was insane but the views were well worth it..the canopy is alive with the sound of birds but I was unable to get any pics as I left my Brutus lens behind..not a good weight to lug around!

We loved this place and it did indeed feel like stepping into Jurrasic Park.

We could have stayed a lot longer but ‘other’ things were on our agenda that day as well..i will return again without doubt as the whole experience for photographers, gardeners,bird lovers,animal lovers was a dream!
When we returned to the café it was funny to find the lady behind the counter after a chat has a daughter that lives in our town! this happened with a few people as you shall find out later..when more of bashfuls Down Under travels are revealed!
I have a massive amount of photos and when I have finished Bashfuls holiday shots I will be more than happy to share ,so if any particular spot I feature interests you please let me know and I will post some more pictures.
Please enjoy Bashfuls day at the Daintree – Part One!

A quick stop to admire the scenery before we get to the Daintree

Arriving at Daintree Village to catch the ferry

Never smile at a crocodile!

Even our birds down under are dangerous!

All aboard Bashful admiring the Daintree river

Arriving at the Daintree Discovery Centre

The Canopy walk and tower guides

Bashful gets up close to a Cassowary! lucky it was just a model!

Reading up on the Wet Tropics with some beautiful scenery behind him

Bshful trying to get his Tarzan on!

Amazing growth on the trees

I wouldn’t be me if I did not have the luck to spot the wildlife!

The Canopy Tower..a great work out!

But the views were well worth a bit of sweating and puffing!

Bashful charming the ladies at the café..who made an amazing coffee! and us Melbournians are very much coffee critics! the lady holding Bashful has a daughter in our town!

Next Post will be Part Two of our Daintree experience..and things really hot up!!