watery wednesday: Ambrose's holiday in Thailand

My cousin Ambrose went to Thailand.




http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

Made for Sharing

A very kind, generous and talented woman from Dumfries knitted all these so that I could use them to raise money for the charity I work for.


Cinderella doll. Sad this way up...


... ready for the ball this way up


Royalty


Don't do it!


Meanwhile, we have been reviewed


And a final reminder that yes, it's that time of year again.

A cardinal placemat for Ruby Tuesday.

Bringing nature indoors is a wonderful way to decorate and to extend the pleasure of observing nature. This cardinal picture you might recognize from my header. The cardinal drinking glass I had found at a large flea market this past summer. The bordering fabric used with cardinals flitting about among the trees is called "Fresh Fallen Snow by Chris Lammers and Maywood Studio. This fabric was a delightful gift from my daughter Riel of http://www.quispamsisquilter.blogspot.com/


I'm very happy to hear that you and Jesse both like your birthday present, Davis!!!

Got photos with red? Why not share them by posting them to
Ruby Tuesday. To find this delightful red focused meme, please click here.http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

Sunrise on the Prairies for Mellow Yellow Monday

A beautiful early morning photo taken by my brother Roger L. R. on the past weekend in the Prairie Province of Alberta. The colour is more than mellow, It is vibrant! Beautiful job Roger.

Got pictures with yellow? Why not post them on the mellow yellow Monday meme by connecting to this link. http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/ Or You can click on its icon found on this page in the right column by finding it by scrolling down this page. If your plan is not to post a photo, then perhaps you will just want to enjoy all of the yellow contributions posted there.

Sunday Scans: memory lane in 1974

Sports played a big part in Kai Chung School. That year, due to my shouting with Lynn Wong/Leng, A La Man Da, we won. This was Miss Chieng, she was my best girl friend when I was teaching there.

One year, there was a funeral in Sibu, Mr Pau and I accomapanied the students by motor launch aka a big boat. After the funeral, we were treated to an eating house, not exactly a five star restaurant. But to the students from small town Binatang, Sibu was a big place. I recall Mr. Pau telling one girl who had gastric that she wasn't to eat the bigger strands Bee Hoon, but she ate any way. Mr Pau sighed. Mr. Pau has since passed away. I will always remember Mr. Pau.

Then I arranged with my Aunt to visit See Hua Daily news paper. They not only printed the newspaper, they also made plastic bags. I was most impressed how the sacks of whistish granules of rice like plastic could be made into transparent sheets of plastic,

Another of my bucket list.





http://sundayscans.blogspot.com/

Al http://alsphotographyblog.blogspot.com/.

Sunday Bridge and scenic Sunday: Venice

This is what Bart saw from the cruise ship. Can you see the bridge on the extreme right?



http://bayphoto.blogspot.com/


http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/


My Cousin Bart Ngieng is the Travel Manager with Wah Tung Travel Service Sdn Bhd. in Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia. www.wahtung.travel

ITs been a Woodpecker Week in Bird Alley

This morning this delightful little woodpecker showed up in Bird Alley,a male Downy woodpecker. He looks very similar to the male Hairy Woodpecker that came visiting earlier thisweek. I shall now be watching for the female Downy.

Have a great day everyone!

Flowers: Chinese Lanterns

I was in someone's private garden. I had never seen them before, but read about Chinese lanterns. It is the end of spring here and the flower is now dried up like paper.

Abutilons or Chinese lanterns are closely related to hibiscus, and most of the hundred or so species have pendulous, hibiscus-like flowers. Cultivars produced by hybridising some of the South American abutilons have all been placed in one group known as Abutilon x hybridum, and these are the ones most commonly grown in Australian gardens. They have a wispy, delicate form and colourful, lantern-shaped flowers. For gardeners who prefer plants with a more dense habit, new compact varieties are also available. Another popular abutilon is Abutilon megapotamicum, which is a prostrate ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifr ground covering species with small orange flowers. There is also a variegated leaf form, Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum'. Megapotamicum means 'from the big river' referring to the Rio Grande in Brazil.

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Chinese-Lanterns/868

Macro Flower Saturday
Macro Flower Saturday Macro Flower Saturday ">
href="http://flowers-macrophotography.blogspot.com">Macro Flower Saturday

http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html

Reflections at Oromocto

Last week I had seen Mallard Ducks in the Oromocto River from Hazen Park in Oromocto. Yesterday I looked again for ducks and found some swimming there in the river. As well as ducks the river contained beautiful reflections of the tree lined shore on the opposite side.
Have a great day everyone. Also this view above was from the same location at Hazen Park. This reflective view of the Burton bridge ,which is just slightly downriver from the park.

Sick Squid

I'm a bit peely-wally at the moment. And I'm leaving for the Highlands tomorrow, but only for three days.

Unless it snows.

Skywatch Friday: Rain Rain go away.

http://skyley.blogspot.com/


These two days,
the gale is blustery,
It is howling.

You can't see them,
but it is there.
Where is the wind?

It is evident from the rubbish bin,
They have become litter themselves.
I took these wheelie bins.

Schools cancel their interschool sports meet.
Kids are restless.
It's rain day, they are cooped inside.

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
More gales and rain are on the way in the "classic" spring fashion, says a forecaster.

MetService Weather Ambassador Bob McDavitt said parts of the country will be pelted with heavy rain and severe gales tomorrow.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/weather/news/article.cfm?c_id=10&objectid=10767974

The weather warning follows a manic day yesterday which saw a Wairarapa couple crushed by a falling tree branch, floodwaters threatening the South Island West Coast and flights grounded in Wellington.

MetService has issued a severe weather warning for more heavy rain on the West Coast and a severe gale watch from south of Napier to Wellington.

Mr McDavitt said severe gales would hit Wairarapa tomorrow afternoon, and could reach up to 120km/h.

"That's strong enough to break a branch, which could take down a power line."

Southland and Westland could see rapidly rising rivers and streams after heavy rainfall, while Buller could see surface flooding and slips.

He said the heavy rain would affect regions that were already saturated.

Mr McDavitt said changeable weather patterns were a "classic spring scenario".

By Thursday and Friday a strong, cooler southwest wind flow was expected to spread across New Zealand, which could bring gales to the region between Invercargill and Dunedin, he said.

Snow in Bird Alley brings birds and deer!

This handsome male Northern Cardinal has found the source of the food in bird alley. Above the cardina lis a new bird feeder which the Blue Jays dominate. As the jays are hastily feeding they are scattering seeds that fall below on the ground. It the snow in its beak is a clue at all, I would observe that thid bird guy knows where the bird food has fallen and he is foraging for a few tender bits and pieces. Now that we know he knows where to feed we will be awaiting his return appearance today.

above: female Hairy Woodpecker

Earlier this week in a previous post I had posted photos of a male Hairy Woodpecker. today its female counterpart arrived, a female Hairy Woodpecker. This gal bird is quite striking in her appearance. Notice her contrasting black and white beauty. Also she is lacking the red at the back of her head which the male Hairy displays. Maybe the little male Downy will show up today also, as it has done previous this week.


American Goldfinch, We now have a passel of them. Previous to the snow I was seeing two a day feeding at the nyger seed feeder. Today I have had up to eight at this feeder.

I also mentioned deer in my title today. We didn't see a deer but the tell tale tracks that it or they? left behind. Howdid it get in? We have fenced our yard so that no deer could get in, but we have been outsmarted! I probably won't get any pictures of them in Bird Alley for it is only overnight while we are sleeping that the make their feeding visits. I kind of miss looking out my window and seeing them.

Our yard birds so far today:
Blue Jays
one female Hairy Woodpecker
Black-capped Chickadees
Mourning Dove
American Goldfinch
one male Hairy Woodpecker

Happy Birthday!

Second biggest brother is 60 today. Just over a year younger than John, he mortified my mother during his babyhood because of his skinny legs (she had to keep them covered with a blanket at all times when out with the pram). Incredibly hardworking, uncomplaining and one of those people who was put on earth satisfied with his lot, he is undoubtedly the best of us.

Husband to one, father of three and grandad to five. I'm proud to be his only sister.

On the far right here, in his youth

At his daughter's wedding, with Mum and some of mine
Happy Birthday Roger! Solid.

watery wednesday: Trip to Pakatoa Island.

http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com/

A nostalgic post. A day trip to Pakatoa island with my flat mates A, L and LK, and a friend P from Binatang in 1978.


An Island Paradise for Sale

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pakatoa Island

The nearest I got to a des-res was a day trip to Pakatoa island with my university flat mates, I, L and LG, in the late 1970s. We were among the rich and the not so rich but masquerading to be rich to get away from it all. We went in their private boat, swam in the swimming pool, drank from their bar and ate in the licensed restaurant. We watched people playing golf and tennis, and wished we were not day trippers but campers in their chalets.

Then in the 1980s, I worked for the Kerridge Odeon Corporation founded by the movie mongul Kerridge family who owned this island and paid their accounts. I rubbed shoulders with the captain of their private boat Kotuku. I didn’t get to go to the island but worked from their city office at 246 Queen Street building, and liaised on the phone with the managers of the resort and their store.

Companies sent their staff for conferences to what was a time for play rather than for work. Their most famous employees must be Russell Crowe. He was seventeen when he became the entertainments officer for Pakatoa Island Resort. He laughs when reminded of that time. "Yeah, it was lovely living on an island but I got sick of organizing Bingo tournaments.”

Alas, the corporation no longer belongs to the Kerridge family and Pakatoa Island was up for sale. A German con artist caused quite a stir in the late 1990s. Ralf Simon offered to buy the island with no money in his pocket or bank account. He was subsequently deported.

Now, the island is for sale for a mere $40 million dollars. It is approximately sixty acres and is only 45 kilometers from Auckland city. The weather is mild, and you can arrive in Auckland by air or by sea.

***Kotuku in Maori is a white bird, egret. By coincidence, my room where I teach ESOL is the Kotuku room***

Hairy Woodpecker for Ruby Tuesday

This morning previous to my looking out the window, my question had been " What to post for Ruby Tuesday? and there was my answer in the form of a male Hairy Woodpecker feeding on our peanut feeder.
The red on this bird guy's head is so outstanding at the feeder! Hopefully maybe its minature look alike, a male Downy will show up today as well. I saw one in Bird Alley one day last week.
This bird has such a lovely fat looking little belly! but I don't think its because he's so full of food, rather I think he puffed up because its so cold out this morning. Yes, the cold weather has arrived in Bird Alley. Its - 10 degrees C. I think the C could stand for "cold in Canada" as well as the Celcius temperature reading it represents.

Got photos with red? Why not share them by posting them to
Ruby Tuesday. To find this delightful red focused meme, please click here.http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

roadside grasses for mellow yellow Monday

These beautiful roadside grasses enticed me to stop the other day to take their picture. Their beautiful eart tones colour presented as a mellow welcome. No longer rosdside wildflowers but instead this fall bouquet of colours waved at me and grasped my attention..

Got pictures with yellow? Why not post them on the mellow yellow Monday meme by connecting to this link. http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/ Or You can click on its icon found on this page in the right column by finding it by scrolling down this page. If your plan is not to post a photo, then perhaps you will just want to enjoy all of the yellow contributions posted there

Wish You Were Here

The boys are not too interested in most of the blogs I follow; I try to ignore their possibly unhealthy interest in what TFE stands for.
They are, however, relentless in their demands to see the latest posts from two blogs, Pink Rabbit Abroad and A Splotch Monster a Day.
You can see why here: http://pinkrabbitabroad.blogspot.com/
and here: http://asplotchmonsteraday.blogspot.com/

Splotch Monsters are the creation of Steve Loya, a rather marvellous artist who also blogs here: http://goflyingtrtl.blogspot.com/

Steve was asked to contribute to an exhibition at The George Orwell in Islington, the brief being "Think of your perfect place and re-create it". Remarkably fortuitously, the exhibition was running while I was up in London last week, and Islington is walking distance from Euston. So I walked to the Essex Road, ignored the urge to keep on till I hit home, and I found the George Orwell.
The place (which is a pub) was full of wonderful work by a large selection of artists, and I really enjoyed the exhibition. Unfortunately, it was 7pm by the time I got there, and it was dark, dark, dark and evening-pub atmospheric. So the photos aren't brilliant (sorry Steve!)
But I was there. Wish you were.