Seven Prawns a Grilling

On the Seventh Day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me,
Seven Prawns a Grilling,
Six Priests Crocheting,
Five Frozen Things,
Four Collie Birds,
Three Fresh Pens,
Two Purple Gloves,
and a Cartridge in a Bare Tree.

Six Priests Crocheting

On the Sixth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me,
Six Priests Crocheting,
Five Frozen Things,
Four Collie Birds,
Three Fresh Pens,
Two Purple Gloves,
and a Cartridge in a Bare Tree.

Five Frozen Things

On the Fifth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me,
Five Frozen Things....
Four Collie Birds,
Three Fresh Pens,
Two Purple Gloves,
and a Cartridge in a Bare Tree.

Four Collie Birds

On the Fourth day of of Christmas, my True Love gave to me,
Four Collie Birds,
Three Fresh Pens,
Two Purple Gloves,
and a Cartridge in a Bare Tree.

Three Fresh Pens

One the third day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me,
Three Fresh Pens,
Two Purple Gloves,
and a Cartridge in a Bare Tree.

Two Purple Gloves

On the Second day of Christmas my True Love gave to me,
Two Purple Gloves,
and a Cartridge in a Bare Tree.

A Cartridge in a Bare Tree

On the First day of Christmas my True Love gave to me,
A Cartridge in a Bare Tree.

Ive had some fun with Paint Shop Pro 6 again, this time for my tounge in cheek Christmas celebration. The source photo of the dormant Frangipani tree was taken by Anonymous of Bird Anonymous, who graciously has allowed me to use and tamper with it. Heres hoping she doesnt regret it when she sees this, Thank you Anon!

As I will be on holiday from Dec 23rd to Jan 3rd, I thought Id start my Twelve Days of Christmas now. Mind you, I only have three of the twelve days done so far - so dont get too excited. I may be forced into "Radio Silence" during that time - long story - suffice it to say: Blood Sucking Monopolizing Bar-stools!

Sunday Mixed Grill!

Anigozanthos, Kangaroo Paw

Close up of the buds of my all time favourite Kangaroo Paw plant. I love the fuzzy orange buds, and the fact that this one is happy in my garden, while so many other Kangaroo paw plants have perished.

Sweet Pea, Old Spice

Fantastic colours and the best sweet pea for heady, old worlde fragrance.

Out of Control...

Sweet Peas and Queen Annes Lace race each other to the clouds.

Dianthus Deltoides, with lemons

Future Food: Tomato

From this little yellow flower, a tomato will form. Pretty groovy when you think about it.

Hello, Chicky Bird!

Heard a Little Wattle Bird scolding someone outside. And he sounded close to the house, so you know what I did, I grabbed the camera. Soon found him, on the railing outside the back sliding glass door. And who was he scolding? My two cats Aurora & Priapus, who were eyeing him with less than noble intentions.

Its hard to tell the chicks from thier parents now, I can only use behaviour as my guide. I know this is one of the chicks for two reasons. First, his parents learned long ago that a cat behind glass is no threat, and secondly, look how nice and calmly he sits when I show up with a camera. Good to see you, Chicky bird!

Australian King Parrot

The Most DH works a shift, so although its sunday morning, we were up as the sun rose. I give him his coffee, then pick up The Guardian of the Portal so he can go out on the front porch without kitty Priapus escaping.

On getting outside, he gestures with his coffee cup and quietly says "King is here." I drop the cat and run for the camera. Except its not much of a run, first thing in the morning and without adequate caffeine, its more like a hobble crossed with a shamble.

Once outside, I carefully stalk the pair between our lawn ornament (boat) and the thicket between us and the downhill neighbor. All the while I can hear them speaking to one another, small low grunt like noises mixed with the clicking of thier beaks as they munch the nuts from a conifer. But I cant see them, so I head out to the road.

From the top of the neighbors driveway I can see the male King Parrot. He is breathtaking. He is a fair way away, and its rather dark still, so Im not happy with the quality of these shots, but I am happy to have got them.

The male King Parrot finished his breakfast and flew away, but he chose to fly between me and the thicket and not off to the other side where there was much more room. The tip of his wing nearly brushed my leg as he flew by....one of those magic moments to savour.

Course then I had to hustle to get The Most DH's lunch ready. :)

Would you like to see clearer shots of the Australian King Parrot?
Try King at Bird Anonymous and
King factsheet at birdsinbackyards.net

Oncidium....bugrit

"Millennium hand and shrimp! I tol 'em! I tol 'em!"
- Foul Ole Ron

Theres been a lot of hectic activity and major upheaval here as the lampworking studio was dismantled and its contents sold off. There is very little left, and the room now looks enormous. All thats left to reclaim the space, is to uninstall the ventilation system (such as it was) and repair the cieling from whence it exits.

Then I can begin to explore again. Perhaps only tentatively as the whole Annual Tree Slaughtering Celebration of Consumerism is nearly upon us. Groan. Must go before I morph back into Foul Ole Ron......