Aechmea again

I still marvel at how I can have flowers in the garden through the winter. Also Im surprised at how 'tender' Ive become. I used to be able to withstand much more severe winters than we get here, but today its about 12c and I am completely frozen through. Which makes me curious - lets do some math! Hmmmmm, thats 53f! If in my country-of-origin you got a 53 degree day in mid-winter, it would seem positively tropical! Funny that.

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Beyond this, its all complaining. Ciao for now!

Interesting, boring, and kinda gross

That is the interesting bit above. See, I want to experiment with infra-red photography - without doing surgery on my camera.

I could spend $60 for a filter which will give near-infra-red effects...$60 bucks!...they're dreamin'! And they want about that much for the fabled 'neutral density filter' that I would use alot more, and covet hotly.

All of which explains why the other day there was the shot with the red cellophane over the lens (just held on with a rubber band), and now today: this is a combo of red and dark blue cellophane, its getting there, dont 'cha think? Curiosity may also be a mother of invention.

All that could also constitute the 'boring' content too, depending on which way you are inclined.

Whatever.

Check out the colours of the bricks and sky - no post-processing here.

And for the gore lovers out there, heres my incision. It is nearly two inches long, keyhole surgery is for wimps! Beats me why they just steri-stripped it back together instead of tying a few stiches, (probably a cost cutting measure).

Bed and Breakfast, Bonne Chance

Returning to me after a 2 day absence-without-leave. Where have you been Mate? Dont you know I get worried when you dont show up for several meals in a row? Take pity on your poor furless friend, and let me know if you wont be in for tea.
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So the surgeon I like wasnt able to do my carpal tunnel release last week, and her stand in did it. Which was OK with me on the day, because, as you all know, it needed doing. But today was the post op check, and no, the thumb is not supposed to still be numb, nor the hand in general weaker than before I went in. So we are going to give it another week, and hope it resolves itself by then.

Its always something, eh? On the bright side, I am weaning off the 'hed-meds' and so any day now I might stop looking for a fight everywhere I go.

Trash+Wind+Tree = Photo

Well at least this is pretty trash. Unlike that plastic grocery bag that has been stuck in the jacaranda for about a year now. It can stay till I am bored with it too.

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We decided yesterday that this new med is a bust. Although it has kept me on a more even keel regarding lows and highs; it has also made me very short fused and not able to be nice to my fellow human beings. Its got to go, you cant bite the hand that feeds you, literally.

BORED!!!

Limited to what one can do with one hand, one finds oneself BORED OUT OF THE GOURD! So I shot these chilles through a piece of red cellophane, then digitally tortured the image, untill I realized that I was still so blooming BORED...off to make a nuisance of myself elsewhere. Ciao!

Aurora in her fave window

A month or so ago, I got this shot of Aurora in her favourite window. I like how her dark fur allows the reflection of the iris to show.
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Hand less painful today, but Im having some numbness I dont care for. A lovely bruise is beginning to show above the wrapping. Stitches come out on the 27th, and I can hardly wait. It is so weird to be suddenly dependent on someone else for your own basic care (hair, shower etc). The Most DH deserves some sort of prize.

Owie! Owie! Owie! Owie! Owie!

The nerve block wore off yesterday afternoon, and its been killing me since. But it cant last long - theres only enough pain meds to last today. LOL

Look Ma, one hand!

The pain isnt too bad and Im feeling otherwise well. Most likely there will be more tommorrow - But I snagged this shot this morning! Awkward as, but how to resist trying? A Little wattle bird against my fave acacia (cultriformis). Ciao! Ciao for now!

In the meantime, heres Aurora!

Volunteering to keep you company untill I return, here is Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn.

Remember the Gymea Lily?

Last year I chronicled the blooming of our backyard Gymea Lily. Here she is in all her faded glory, covered in open seed pods. Still lovely to my eyes.

Roses and Rosehips

Regular readers will remember, that I am pruning my rose bushes a tad early this year. From that, Ive gleaned some lovely rosehips and even roses to bring inside. The micro-climate in my garden keeps them blooming, albeit on mostly bare branches, right untill winters bitter end.
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I seem to be sailing at a more even keel on this new med. Iam looking forward to seeing the actual psychiatrist in September - I want a qualified opinion on what flavour of impairment I am experiencing. Pity you have to be in such bad shape before they let you get that. (((diatribe deleted)))

So, tuesday the 18th is the big day for Carpal Tunnel surgery #1, knock on wood it isnt cancelled again. I have been practicing doing things left handed for a couple weeks now, and I hope I will be able to post through the week. However, if I should go missing, dont worry. Keep safe out there!

Further on down the road

Got that blues tune in my head now...ah well. I find if a song sticks in my head I have to put it on and listen to it. Otherwise they just go on for days and days and days untill I do. Most times though, they are little messages. Doubt thats the case here...but I must cease my digression.




Why have I brought you to a toilet block? Cause it was such a groovy one! We both admired the simple, industrial beauty of the thing. Built obviously to withstand vandal attack, salty winds off the nearby beach, AND thermo-nuclear war. It was also the cleanest public facilty on the whole trip, which is saying alot seeing as how it is a pit toilet. I am going to learn to do what I gotta do: standing up, I swear.

So because it was so dreadfully windy and cold and grey, we didnt venture out from the car much after this stop. Which we were planning to do, as we were hanging for a good coffee, and had our travelling facilites for such with us. But, Brrrrrrr!

Still, I cant resist shooting pics, even when it is clearly time to put the camera to bed. Having said that, I am experimenting with night photos - sans flash - I will share some more sometime, but heres a two for now.




Tommorrow we are on the road again, this time to leave our Rover in for a timing belt replacement - an EXPENSIVE but important bit of maintenance. We are supposed to be getting a fully tricked out 4WD as a loaner for the day, and we cant wait to experiment with options we have been thinking about adding to our Disco. Ive got the camera gear all ready - heres hoping its a nice sunny day to make mischief in.

Young Xanthorrhoeas in bloom

Lucky me! Usually when we see grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) we are speeding by, and cant stop for a shot, But on this day, I got to take my time with this nice specimen.




This last shot shows that the plant deploys its blossom in a sort of spiral, one row is open now, and indeed, there were a few bees working them despite it being a very cold and grey day. But you can also see a second spiral of flowers still in bud. Now thats one smart plant to spread its resources out over a period of time, as opposed to all at once. After all, what if you bloomed when there were no pollinators out and about? You'd be stuffed, Mate!

(I need my eyes examined again, I could swear this was a crisp shot when I took it. Harumph!)

These next shots I took in Perth, 2005. First, a mature specimen shows you why they are called 'grass tree'.



And here is a cross section of ones trunk, it had been blown off in a storm.



We had one of these once, in a pot. It lived very happily, untill we bought the house and sunk it into the garden. Was dead in a week! LOL

Misc. Mysteries

Sculpted by the Sea and her Winds, Snapper Point

At the end of the road...

Kick it to me!!!

The last of the seagull shots, for this location anyhow.
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Im just going to ramble it off and push the publish button - if I try to 'compose' I will just be here all night:

In regards to my mental health, its been definately different. Had a dose adjustment last friday (up a bit) and if this week is anything to go by, it could go up just a smidge more. Seeing the GP for a follow up on this friday. Now, at last, they have approved me to see a psychiatrist, (as opposed to a psychologist). His first available appointment is in September, HA!! HA!!

But on the bright side, well, fingers crossed...through a series of events I managed to get myself on another surgeons list (same one that did my breast lump) for the carpal tunnel/wrist surgery, and Lo and Behold, if it isnt postponed again, I will have my right hand done on August 18th - Woo F-ing Hoo!

After that I can go on the list for my left, which is very nearly as bad as the right - but they insist on doing your dominant hand first. The Most DH has arranged to take that whole first week off, and I have been saving bread bags to waterproof my paw when I want to shower. I tell you all this because I know how much you want more excruciating details.

So Ive been practicing doing things southpaw style, to reduce frustration later. Also, many things have to be done around here before the surgery, so if Im missing in action here, Im probably pruning roses; or if around the 18th, I may be enjoying playing the invalid - for so long as I can get away with it.

Seabird Rugby is my fave sport

Seagull Vogue - Strike a Pose