Early Spring?

The weather this week has been beautiful. Cool enough to wear long sleeves and snuggle under quilts at night, but not cold enough for hot water bottles.

Just before going away with Ess last month, I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase the Nikon 28-300 lens! It's quite a handful. I've been enjoying learning how to use it, and yes, there is a learning curve - for me, anyway. Going out into the garden has been an enjoyable way to see just what this lens can do, what my camera can do, and what I can do with them both. Lots of awful shots, but lots of learning even from those.

Here are two of our neighbours, happily roosting in the big tree in our front yard. This shot was taken this week from right under the tree (the tree is taller by far than our 2 storey house), using a tripod.

Natural beauty

I found a piece of wood when out walking yesterday. The smaller branch (probably a creeper) that grew around it has made a spiral indentation in the larger branch, both living together for who knows how long till they were chopped down and cast aside. Now they are a beautiful addition to my nature plate on the dresser. I love the textures of wood, the unpredictability of it, the earthy quality of the colours, the variety of shapes to be seen within it. I love wood; real wood that can breathe and which speaks of the life it had as a living thing.




This chip of wood is no taller than my thumb.
It caught my eye immediately, because the eagle head side was facing up. I love how it looks like an eagle on one side, and like an afghan dog on the other.




Sometimes I think that weeds can look even more beautiful than ordinary flowers. They are less pretentious somehow; you have to look harder to see their beauty.

My garden, closeup

Here are some photos I took a while ago around the garden. Shot on a Nikon D80 with a Tamron 90mm lens.

A grevillea, taken just after rain.




I always forget the name of this one...


More to follow as I get them uploaded. I just love the Tamron 90mm! The world looks different and more beautiful somehow, through this lens.