Voice of the (Bunya) Nut

It had been sitting in a shady spot on the concrete porch landing. Now at the end of January, it was completely dried out, and very much lighter.

As I pick it up, a number of cockroaches run out. A disgusted, but alarm tinged "UGH!" escapes me. No doubt the roaches made similar exclamations, as I turf them out of thier beautiful home with flicking fingers.

Now at my leisure to study it, this orb of a nut felt brittle.

Then as I turned it over in my hands it made a sound!

A papery, urgent whisper...

"Drop me on the earth!"

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We had thought we might try eating some of the seeds, but after my close encounter with its former residents, the roaches, No Thank you!
But we will attempt to germinate them as per the original plan.

Future Food: Bunya nut - Araucaria bidwillii

Collected from the road side in early December. About the size of a human head, and weighs 2 kilos, thats just shy of 4 and a half pounds!

For more information, and to see the tree these monsters come from check out Wiki's Araucaria bidwillii page.

Sorry theres no more time today - miss you all!

Grand Finale of Sun Shots

This was the best sunset ever - last shot from the series.
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Argh! There was no time today to write a thing, and I dont hold much hope for tommorrow, but fingers crossed!

A few minutes later...

Another shot from the December 1st file, taken just a few minutes after yesterdays. The shot for tommorrow was taken a few minutes after this one.

I remember that evening. I was cooking dinner when I noticed how colourful the sunset was, and dashed out with the camera for a couple quick ones. The only thing that brought me back to reality was the smoke alarm going off. Dinner was charcoal, so we had a pizza delivered instead.

The colours of this shot are just as they appeared. I cant say Ive seen such a magnificent sunset - before or since!

~ ~ ~ DELETED CONTENT WAS HERE: ~ ~ ~
Synopsis: Rant on digital manipulation and mis-representation of images as technically brilliant, but actually - in reality - fake! If its photoshopped, it shouldn't be presented as though it were not, and what ever happened to learning how to take a proper picture in the first place?

Sunset Stormcloud

A shot from last December- December 1st as a matter of fact. Thats one folder culled and archived...only 34 more to go. Oh. Yeah. And whats still in the camera.

Guess I should not try a low light self portrait shoot tonight.

Oh, okay. Maybe.

Oh, ALRIGHT!!! But not untill after you cull at least three more folders!

(Aw, Geeze!)

Another hidden world under our noses

If you saw yesterdays picture, you see how these little wonders get missed. Each individual flower is tiny. Yet, stick a macro lens up to them and - Whoa! Did you ever imagine such a far out and freaky flower?

But Wait, Theres More ~
Welcome our new Alien Overlord!


Check it out! Bees love this plant, but me personally, I dont think Id stick my head in there and let it tickle my belly...it just seems - dangerous to me.

I think these were the first things I shot with the macro. It is not a top of the line lens, (Optex OVL311 Wide angle/Macro Video Lens, with the wide angle segment removed). In addition, it was meant for use on a (video) film camera, not my digital (still) Canon. But it simply screws onto the front of my Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II lens, so how could I resist having a go?

All things considered, the shots are great. But since Im the one that took them, I mostly see where they could be better. Then again, these flowers arent flat. So with this lens, getting every element in focus is, well, probably never going to happen.

Hey, I still get to have alot of fun trying while I save up the big bucks that more suitable equipment will require. And no, if the government gives me any 'economic stimulus money' I wont be using it for photo gear - it wouldnt be enough anyway!

Catnip, Nepeta cataria

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) has terribly interesting flowers to top its furry leaves and square stems. I had a big session with catnip flowers one day with the Macro lens, so I will find a close up of them for tommorrows post.

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It is 415pm Saturday evening as I write this. Its been a long grey day with plenty of welcome rain. As I look out the window, I notice the lawn is sending green shoots up. Im afraid The Most DH will have to mow that later this week.

Oh but so cold! I had to dig out my trusty sweatsuit and ugg boots first thing this morning. Ive actually brought in wood to have a fire tonight, this has been one crazy summer, weatherwise.

Not normally a summer dinner dish, but tonight Im making Chilli.

This is so dreadfully mundane, its stultifying. Perhaps Id best leave it till tommorrow? See you then.