Brisbane Bound



Finally, every item on the long lists of Things to Do have been ticked off, the suitcases packed, passports and visas tucked into a handbag next to a Kindle freshly loaded with new novels and biographies. Most importantly the G12 camera batteries are charged and extra flash cards purchased.  Tomorrow we lock the door behind us and travel to Australia for five glorious weeks with the kids and grandkids in Brisbane. 

Never mind that the setting sun turned the sky and sea into a crimson glow, the birds were tucking into a last minute snack from the feeders and that the Buddleia was wafting its sweet fragrance into the warm evening sky, we're outta here. 

I'll be posting from Australia whenever I can get to an internet cafe so watch this space.

Discarded

Seen on my country rambling ...

  ... an odd grouping of awkward and ill matching objects.  What sequence or chain of events lead to a broken school desk and chair sharing space with a rusted container of metals flowers? 

Passionate Observer - Love the Light

The challenge for Week Three of A Passionate Observer was to document our worlds while exploring a variety of lighting situations and different and unexpected vantage points.
So here is my wildly differing collection of images which  hopefully reflect my everyday life and the intriguing rhythm of the everchanging light.





Fynbos flowers in the solitude and soft cool colors of early morning light

Radiant cobalt wall paint and the glaze on the inside of the large terracotta pots make this trickling water feature a thing of beauty.

When I first came to live in the Cape Province one of the strongest impressions made on me was the sight of white washed buildings, dappled by vine and oak tree shadows cast by the scintillating sunlight; and arcing over all, the china blue bowl of the sky. 

This farm stall sells  the best blue cheese and fruit preserves in the area, well worth the detour from the busy national road.  The light glowing through the diamond shaped windows and the intricate pattern of the woven baskets is also a pretty good reason to stop for a photo opportunity.

 

A walk along one of the beaches, accompanied by noisy swirls of sleek white seagulls, loudly complaining about the temerity of human encroachment on their territory.


 

Back home in my office, the only way to distract myself from the antics of birds, mongoose and the occasional amble past of tiny little deer, is to pull the blinds down over the windows.

 

In the late afternoon the west facing side of the house is flooded with honey colored warmth and light ...

 

... and odd sunshine shapes on the cooler color of the quarry tiles.

The red and black hands of the mosaic clock above my desk with its myriad reflections and warm shades finally lure me outside and down to the beach again.  

 

For a few fleeting minutes the setting sun wraps the small terracotta flower pots in dazzling light ...

... and casts sharp geometric shapes against the sitting room wall.

 

In a final burst of splendour the sun etches in gold the figures of my husband and daughter, the latter proving that texting messages is entirely possible even as the light fades.

Thank you Susan for helping me to look more closely at the changing light quality and inspiring me each week to try just that little bit harder.  I'm enjoying this photo challenge so much and the discipline of a deadline is definitely good for my usual lack of determination.