365: looking ahead to 2012

Well, I had hoped to end the year and this 365 blog with a beautiful sunny landscape- but rain seems to be our lot today, so you are getting an indoor shot to finish. But though you may not be looking at a sunny landscape, this is a 'looking forward' shot to the Chemins I plan to walk in France in 2012. Eventually, on the Festina Lente blog that I will compile, mainly after I get home again, you will see some of the sunny and not-so-sunny landscapes that I walk through. (And if it seems too long to wait for the blog from the new Chemins, here is the retrospective blog about my first Chemin/Camino in 2008.)

Last night I had two friends staying the night, who plan to walk the Camino Frances in a few months time, so we were comparing equipment for 'packing'. New adventures call us into 2012...

Well, it's been a great adventure, but this blog is now 'ended'. I will leave it here -as is where is- for another month or so, then will merge it with my 'occasional' Kiwinomad blog. See you over there sometime perhaps. One blog may have ended, but it seems I am an inveterate blogger, in one place or another, and you won't get rid of me just because 365/365 has arrived!

364: on holiday

The year is nearly at an end, and I am very much in holiday mode at present- as are my little toys- resting at home after a busy time in the reading corner at school, at the beck and call of five year olds. They all look very relaxed too, so life is at it should be just prior to New Year...

355: blackberry beginnings

Out clearing the jungle that is my 'back garden' this morning, I came across these blackberries- with their promise of treats to come in the late summer/ autumn. I cleared away the convolulus that was climbing all over it- and hopefully there will be a feast for the picking in March...

350: Holiday Flowers

Yesterday was the last day of the school year and I am now on holiday! This beautiful bunch of carnations was given to me. 

346: weeds & seeds

Gardening is not my forte..... weeds have become seeds to become weeds..... I will be busy in the garden these hols, but it's too little too late...

327: here comes the rain again...

Here comes the rain again..... November has been like that. Sigh. At least the wind doesn't seem to be quite as strong as it was a few days ago  -not yet anyhow...

326: another spiderweb

I used to think that I could only capture a photo of a spiderweb on a wet day when it was outlined with raindrops. But I have discovered recently that late in the day, when the sun's angle is low, spiderwebs hidden amongst the leaves of trees or shrubs might reflect back some of the sunlight that is falling on them...

321: comfortable possie

I don't have a cat, so the neighbourhood cats make themselves at home in my backyard. They have even reached some kind of 'agreement' amongst themselves so that they can share it most of the time. They have an unerring sense of the most 'comfortable' place to be. Today there is a strong wind and the deck is not immune to it, so this cat has found itself a cosy place near trees that is completely sheltered. And he dozes on, cosy in his own ball of fluff...

320: washing line

This morning the rain was absolutely hosing down. This afternoon I arrived home to see a pond of water in the backyard, and the clothesline was reflected in it...

280: clematis

The clematis on the fence with my neighbours is coming into bloom now, and I imagine it will soon look spectacular again...

279: orange tulip

I love the hues of this tulip- gently laden with fire...

258: a treasure

 

My niece made this 'Australian Aboriginal doll' when she was still at high school, and gave it to me as a gift. She is 26 now, and this still reminds me of her, with great affection.

Snowy Monday

I am not sure how I missed posting these photos of our snowy Monday! I think I got so busy sending photos by e-mail to friends and family that I knew would find it hard to believe we had snow, that I quite forget to put any here! Anyhow, here you go- snow at my place- something I am unlikely to see again!~

And this last photo shows you the ranges the next morning...

227: Snow at Home!!!

I have lived here in Palmerston North since 1984, and have never seen snow here ever before. But this afternoon it snowed steadily for at least an hour and it settled!

PS: Some more snow photos and video are on my Nomad Blog.

217: surely not?!

While I am away from home the neighbourhood cats have worked out a 'roster' for sitting on my back deck, and sometimes a couple even co-exist peacefully together there. This afternoon there had been some patchy rain/hail, and I came home to find this cat in possession of the prime piece of shelter. As I opened the deck doors, you could read the cat-language quite easily: no quick slinking away for this feline- instead it was almost saying- oh no, you don't expect me to go do you- surely not?!

208: waxeye feast

 

After the storm, the feast in the backyard. Waxeyes at the bird feeder.

I know the lighting etc is all wrong- but loved the sight of these birds all having a great meal.

199: shells & stones

The sun is shining in the back yard this morning, and onto this collection of stones and shells on my back deck- all collected on various walks around NZ countryside and beaches.

193: ornament

This ornament is quite elderly now: one of my sisters gave it to me as a gift when we were both much younger. Very precious.

192: desktop

Yep, it's hosing down outside again, so you get another 'interior' shot!

191: Bird feeder

 

This weekend I have been taking some camera movie footage of the birds at the garden feeder, ready to edit at my last digital camera class next week. Here is a still shot of a silver-eye.