FEBRUARY PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT...2020

Linking up for the second hunt of 2020 with Kate from I live, I love, I craft, I am me.
Our list of words for this month, weren't necessarily tough, but the weather has not been conducive for getting out much, even with it being summer.  Had to do quite a bit of searching through the archives & photo bombing inside.😖  I've also come up with a few doubles & a little bottom heavy(lol), you'll see what I mean as you scroll down!!
So here goes.....

1.  HEART/S.

Can you see the heart shapes indented into this rock?  I took the photo at Smith's Beach on Phillip Island some years ago.  I often wonder how rocks get to look as they do with etchings or bands of beautiful colour.  Our world is so fascinating!😖
2.  REPAIR.

I thought of many things for this word & then DH got involved & suggested repairs to our lovely MM which has happened many times over the years since we got her in 1991.  In August 2015, it was decided her timber tray back needed replacing & I happened to take a few photos of the progress.  Looking through the folder of photos, DH spotted this one & said, ooh, that one is good.
After the next photo, you'll know why I underlined a certain word.😊
3.  TAIL.

Left was the obvious one I chose to start with.
I took this photo at Melbourne Zoo a few years ago when we went with DD, Master L & Missy Moo.  I was looking at the peacock, camera in hand & he suddenly opened his tail & stood looking at me as though waiting for me to take his photo.  I obliged.






Next as I was looking at other photos, I realised that so many people are fascinated by our local wildlife, that I'd pop on this one too, to feature the size & strength of a kangaroo's tail.  Er!!  That underlined word has just made another appearance in this photo & I wasn't going to use it, but DH thought the coincidence was funny & everyone may get a good laugh.  Certainly need to smile with so much in amongst all the bad news this year seems to be inflicting on this huge rotating orb.


4.  KEY.

Me being silly once again.  I thought of so many for this one & failed to get out to find a few I'd thought of.  Hence a photo was needed of something & as the last few days have been quite dark, dreary & wet, I needed to put my thinking cap on.  Here we have piano keys, a timber key rack & an old style key on a big ring made at Sovereign Hill (based on a gold mining town) in Ballarat.  And why the monkey?  Monkey ends with "key"....ha ha!  This one with it's rather flat tail, was eldest son
A's, when he was little & he chewed that tail.
5.  KNOT.

I had this one in mind for heart, but when I couldn't find my old Macrame Knot plant hanger, I changed my mind and chose my Colonial Knot embroidery of a heart.  Again I took this photo yesterday & the light just didn't do anything justice.
6.  MY OWN CHOICE.
Can I have 2 again?

                                              A dream space for a sewing studio.......yes?
This garden room is at Harlow Carr, the RHS garden in Harrogate, North Yorkshire where they hold talk, lectures etc. and I think it is gorgeous.  Or you could be viewing this from it's windows...........

                                                        Aren't you ever so cute Mr. Caterpillar?
Also photographed at Harlow Carr last year in August.  I really must catch up on some posts about our trip, as I've lots of lovely photos.
OK, that's my lot of being a bit wacky this time.  Hopefully there will be lots of giggles.
Thanks Kate for supplying the words & now I'm off to link up.
Take care all & huggles.
Susan.

JANUARY PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT...2020.

Time again for our photo hunt linking up with the lovely Kate.  No the easiest this month for me, but here's what I came up with.

1.  LOST/FOUND.
This one (I think), I found the most difficult.  Not getting out much this month because of heat, fires etc., I'd not even really thought about the hunt.  Luckily I scoured both my archives and other bits'n'bobs & noticed this sitting in my library of DVDs.

A word for  "lost" and the "found" part is that I actually found something.

2.  PRINT/S.

A set of black & white prints my late mother-in-law gave me many years ago.  These are of Leeds & I framed them in certificate frames, which I felt suited them well & they have hung in our spare bedroom in each house we've lived in.

3.  LUNCH.

Lunch for a pair of King Parrots at our poor now defunct feeder, as the post rotted and fell down whilst we were away in UK last year.  We must resurrect it soon.  Their water bowl is still there & plenty of birds use it to drink.

4.  STARTS WITH M.....
OK, I couldn't make up my mind with this one, so all 3 have a place.

MOSS

The most sumptuous mossy wall.  This photo was taken on a walk in the Lakes District with my friend Jayne.

MALHAM COVE.

The gorgeous Malham Cove, somewhere I love.  I think I took this in 2014, when we said that we'd do the steps up the side next time we visited.  Sad to say, we've been back to UK twice and still not done them.

MORRIS MINOR.

Our beloved car with a rose arbour framing it.
Sorry about that lot, but this is what happens to a mad woman on a seering hot day of 40 degrees.
Ooh, it's yuk..............fires close to our son again in Canberra.... worrying times.

5.  ENDS WITH T.....

CRAFT.

And then---------------these all end with T too.  We have crochet, knit, quilt and woodcraft, which are my wool bowl & cute cat.  My 3 items are all in progress at the moment, though slowly as it's been hot & not comfortable to knit or crochet much.  The quilt has progressed from the photo last post to this and will be on the big machine before too long.

6.  MY OWN CHOICE.
OK, this was something I saw on the internet & thought about how some people have chosen a word for this year & this sort of fell into place for me.  I need a kick up the butt occasionally & I struggle feeling like I'm worthwhile, so I'm plucking up the "courage" to do something about it.  Maybe watch this space!

Enough of my waffling and I'm off to find a cooler spot  in the house, (no cooler outlet here in the study) and also prepare our evening meal of cold meat & salad.
Hope everyone has a great weekend, stay cool or warm wherever you live.
Take care & huggles from Susan.

UK TRIP (Part Two).

YORKSHIRE.
My posts of our trip away, could be a little top heavy with photos.  Sorry.
Ah, here we are now in Yorkshire & some lovely photos from a day at Bolton Abbey.

        A view towards the Abbey from the terrace of the cafe, where we had a morning cuppa.

                               A walk along the path above the river netted me these photos.

                                                                          Wildflowers.

                                  A stile plus a little hole for maybe wildlife, a dog or even a child.

The monument along the path after we'd crossed the river & no, to those who know the area, not on the stepping stones, but the bridge further upstream.

Another view of the Abbey from the above path showing the river with it's sandy type edges and so many people enjoying a great day out.

 Looking over beautiful lawns to the lovely.................Um, not sure whether it is a hotel, reception centre or just a house, but it is beautiful.  Maybe someone could help me with this one?

                                              The pretty black face sheep, that I truly love.

                                        For me, such a quintessentially English looking scene.

THE LAKES DISTRICT.
A few days away in the Lakes with my brother & sister-in-law saw us take them to places we've visited, but they haven't.  Odd!!! 
Again just some photos of where we went, my happy snaps & trying to remember where they were taken.😖

 Driving in such beautiful countryside.  Not a great deal of luck taking photos this particular day due to dreary weather & not being able to stop, with so much traffic on the roads.

 Honister Slate Mine, a place my friend Jayne introduced us to in 2016.  The in-laws were well taken with it and thanked us for taking them there.  I do find it fascinating too.

                                            One of the little engines towing a lump of slate.

From the parking area of the mine, you can see this creek (or should that be beck or stream), flowing down the hillside and forming a waterfall.  Gorgeous!!!!

Another stop was Castle Rigg and as there were a lot of people around, I didn't take many photos.  I do have some good ones I took back in either 2014 or 16.  This is part of the remarkable view you see from this lovely spot.

The day after A&J had departed, DH & I took ourselves for a drive and ended up at Lake Windemere.
Again, way too many people about for many photos, but we did see this...................

A simulator for a motor bike ride.  Our grandson Master L. would have been blown away.  He is a big Guy Martin fan, (as are we, lol).  We didn't partake, but photos are worth remembering.

            On our last day in Keswick, overnight rain had made the river run very high.  Quite scary.

OK, I am catching up & will definitely do a couple more through the week, as I need to start getting my butt into gear with more happenings both here and on the crafting front.
Hope you enjoy some of our adventures (more to come) and thanks for visiting.
Take care all & huggles from Susan.
BTW.  Weather wise, here in southern Victoria, it is cold, wet, windy and oh so miserable.  Not a bit like late Spring, even snow on Mt. Donna Buang (not far from the outer suburbs of Melbourne) & Mt. Baw Baw, just north of us.The big thing is, that I'd like to send some of our rain north, as they are in severe drought and ravished by bushfires.  Such a difference in weather patterns in our large country and I'm feeling for them.
xxxxxxxxxxx

FEBRUARY PHOTO SCAVENGER HUNT 2019.

Sorry everyone, but I published this last Friday by accident and have had trouble with getting  it to post as I scheduled, so hopefully this will work.  We've been having i'net maintenance "AGAIN" & I've been so, so, so hot today & very lethargic.  It was 40.8deg this arvo & the weekend isn't going to be much better.
Anyway, let's see if this appears.

Here we are again linking up with Kate over at I live, I love, I craft for the monthly hunt.

I have found this one extremely difficult & the words may be limited.  My mood over the last few months hasn't always been up to scratch with little brother's health woes, DH & his cold, missing family so much these days, no close friends near where we live & some who have difficult times ahead.  The weather lately hasn't played ball either, with some weird extremes & not much gardening happening, which I do miss.  The walking has also been on the wayward side.  Must start remedying some of this soon.  I sometimes wonder why I blog, but the friends I've made out there in blogland, are so very supportive, so I thank you all for taking time to read what I ramble on about.
Here goes......................

1.  SOUND/HEARING.

This is the Panopticon known as The Singing Ringing Tree outside Burnley in Lancashire and it certainly sounds amazing on a windy day.  Photo taken in 2016.

2.  SMELL/SCENT.

The jasmine in full flower on our pergola up at No. 4, our old house.  The perfume of this climber is sometime overpowering, but very beautiful.

3.  FEEL/TOUCH.

Now to tell the truth, I don't know what this actually is.  When we go walking along some of the beaches in the South Gippsland area, they are washed up on the sand at low tide.  I very carefully picked one up last time & took this photo.  They basically look & feel like warm, firm jelly.  Not sure whether they are a living creature or whatever?  I didn't hurt it I hope & placed it back again, very carefully.

4.  TASTE.

Home grown TASTES best.  Although my garden has been quite neglected this year, a photo from 2 years ago, will fit the brief.

5.  SEE/SIGHT.

To me, this is a wonderful "SIGHT".  Ribblehead Viaduct, which is just so Yorkshire, a place I dearly miss, although I'm a born & bred Aussie.

6.  MY OWN CHOICE.

A bowl of colourful hellebore flowers, taken a few years ago at Post Office Farm Nursery, where they specialise in these plants.  There has been a lot of "Hellebore" talk amongst my UK blogpals lately & I just couldn't help myself.
OK.  That's my lot for this month.  Do hope you enjoy & thanks Kate for making me really think this month & hope I've come up trumps.
Take care all & huggles,
Susan.

OCTOBER SCAVENGER PHOTO HUNT 2018.

Joining in once again with I live, I love, I craft, I am me, whose aim is to challenge our photographic skills, being alert to the world around us, making new friends far & wide & to have lots of fun as well.
I'm also putting out an apology for being so absent.  Many who know me well, understand I've an anxiety problem (now you all know) & with such a hectic year behind us, it all impacted with a few unexpected problems throughout the last few months.  They being my poor old back pain, car maintenance items, the Queensland holiday bringing home to me, how far spread our children are, doing a couple of customer quilts which I'm not used to, having no immediate friends close by, and our area growing at a great pace with no new infrastructure & having nearly tripled since we came in 2004.  Mad!!!  The other part which worries me, was a strange comment I've had on my last 2 posts.
THERE...............All said and done, so here comes the hunt.

1.  PRINT.
I've chosen two, as I just couldn't make up my mind.

The print at left was photographed at Post Office Farm Nursery at Woodend, which specialises in Hellebores.  I thought about some of my blogpals not having heard of our native  Brolga & this is a very cute depiction.





The words below are printed on the end of a Furphy Water Cart barrel, used in the colonial days of Australia and manufactured by a firm called Furphy Foundry in Shepparton, Victoria.  I took this photo on a day out earlier this year at the National Trust property of Gulf Station in the Yarra Valley.

2.  LEAVES.

The many varied colours of Coleus leaves in the vast glasshouses at Temple Newsam in Leeds, West Yorkshire.  They are stunning.

3.  SPOT.

I found this one quite hard & really wanted to think outside the box.  At the centre of these gumnuts, is a darker spot which is actually a little hole which holds the minute seeds.  Taken a few weekends ago on a very grey day (must do a blogpost of this outing), which netted some interesting snaps.

4.  BOUNDARY.

Another one I had to think long & hard about, but these beautiful stone walls are definitely defining the boundaries of the fields, (nearly said paddocks😄).  This was taken in 2014 as we followed some of the route that the Tour de France took on it's UK leg.  A grey day once again, as much as the photo above.

5.  FLAME.

Flame coloured Red Hot Pokers (Kniphofia).

I took liberty with this one & thought you put a poker into the fire or furnace to stir up the flames.  Taken last year on day out in the Dandenong Ranges.

6.  MY OWN CHOICE.

DH's handiwork.

I needed a photo of K's woodworking skills for someone and on a lovely sunny day took them outside to the steps and snapped this.  The latest is the one on the top step in the middle.  Clever hubby!!!

Well, that is my lot for this month.  I just realised that we've a mixture of Oz & UK!!!!!!!!!
Sorry about the top blurb, but maybe just saying it all helps me too.  I really must do some catchup posts with days out & some more of our holiday in Queensland. Oh and I need kick-starting to get some motivation for craft/quilting etc., so my blogging can be about that again too.
Thanks once again Kate for our words, take care all & huggles.
Susan.

 

JULY SCAVENGER PHOTO HUNT. (2018)

Linking this last Friday of July with Kate from I live, I love, I craft, I am me, to show my selection of photos for her word list.  I've had fun with both finding in the archives & more recent ones, including a last minute photo yesterday, which is very fuzzy, but will have to do.  So here we go.

1.  DOOR.

A side door with beautiful ironwork at Bolton Abbey in the Yorkshire Dales.  Somewhere we head to each time, we visit the UK.  So this one is from my archives, probably 2014.

2.  11AM.

This is my fuzzy one, but hopefully you can read the little blackboard heart.  Taken about 2pm yesterday, at the Craft & Quilt Show in Melbourne, where I had a day out savouring many works of art.  If I was just a tad taller, it may have been better, but I did find it and, with a little bit of laughing by the stallholder as to why I needed it.  Luckily she is someone I know as she used to have a quilt shop in the next suburb to where we live, but it closed many years ago and is now an on-line business.  SAD!!.

3.  TEXTURE.

Just look at this old cart made from timber.  It definitely has TEXTURE!!!!!!  I took this photo earlier this year on a day out to Gulf Station, which is a National Trust property in the Yarra Valley region & is only open odd occasions.  I should do a post about it, as I did take many photos.

4.  SHADOW/S.

Another from the archives.  Taken at Temple Newsam in Leeds, this is part of the walled garden & although looking for another photo, I spotted this and realised the shadow line went diagonally from corner to corner.  There were a few other contenders.

5.  VIEW.

I narrowed this one down to a more recent photo, from the quick trip we had to Sydney.  This view is from the lookout area on Cambewarra Mountain, on the south coast of NSW, in the Shoalhaven region.  For many years we lived in Cambewarra Village at the bottom of this mountain, where hubby and I both worked out of Nowra.  Alas, this where I was made redundant from the bank, where I'd worked for many years and we've moved on several times.  It is an area I still dearly love, and yes that is the sea in the distance, and the little lump on the left is Mt. Coolangatta with the Shoalhaven River flowing out to sea in the centre.

6.  My Own Choice.
OH DEAR!!!!  I've two for this one.  Sorry.............................
Both doggy photos, to join with others who do the "dog bit" for their own choice.

Dash, on the left and Patch to the right.

On Sunday, just gone, it was a reasonable day, although, extremely fresh and we made our way to the coast for my monthly sea-air fix.  We walked along Cape Patterson beach, made our way up to the grassy knoll at the top to take in the view before we started along the beach again, back to the car.
As we sat, a motorbike descended the track to the beach & what did I espy in his back pannier, but these two cuties.  I asked politely if I could take photos & told yes I may.  The very nice man gave me an account of how he collects for The Children's Hospital by taking them out on odd occasions to raise this money.  I didn't have any money on me, due to just walking along the beach & he said it was OK, as they'd just needed a "wee" stop. BTW..  Patch licked me death.  They even have their own Facebook page.

Millie.

I'm sure everyone will know the artist who painted this.................
A beautiful portrait of a friend's dog, who sadly passed away suddenly, very recently.  This little lady was our unofficial mascot for the car club we belong to and is missed very much by her owner, as well as many of the members. I commissioned it from Kate.   We should be presenting this to her next Wednesday night at a committee meeting & I'm sure she'll do as I did, and cry as she unwraps it.
OK, that is all from me for now.
It's been a busy year so far and I know I've been slack on the blogging front, but the Scavenger Hunt keeps me on my toes, so as the weather warms and we venture towards Spring, I may keep more up to date.  I'll do the linky thing & keep an eye out for the other Hunter's post.
Take care all.
Susan.