Showing posts with label praying mantis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label praying mantis. Show all posts

Monday, May 20, 2019

Autumn Electives

My work takes me to visit many schools in the region. This was a mural on one of their walls depicting their values; I thought it also seemed appropriate for the upcoming Anzac Day commemorations. 


We're still enjoying checking out the local cafes for breakfast - as long as it's got fruit; it's healthy, right?


As newly-minted citizens, this was our first opportunity to vote in the federal elections, so we went to do our civic duty. The voting stations are usually located at primary schools and the schools use the occasion to fund-raise -for many it is their largest event of the year. Everywhere sells hot dogs for sustenance after the exhausting business of working out how many boxes to tick on which voting paper (seriously, it's not as straight-forward a system as I'm used to from previous country), and they are known as 'democracy sausages'. We felt that to do this thing properly, we really should partake. 

Democracy Sausage
There was also a massive moon that night, which is probably an ominous omen or a positive portent. Or, it could be an astronomical phenomenon - I'm actually none the wiser about any of it, but it was big and bright and shinning over the tops of the terraces. 


Meanwhile, back at the house, those beautiful autumn leaves are making a nuisance of themselves, by falling everywhere.


Some of them are still clinging to the trees, and the garden is really rather glorious. 


And we've got praying mantises among the silk camellias, which is not a euphemism (at least, not so far as I am aware).


And there are some other things growing as well - there is a limit to my botanical knowledge.


Ooh, lavender (I know that one)
A collage of autumn stuff
One of my new run routes takes me up Mt Painter past the Cook sundial. Apparently the suburb of Cook is named primarily after Captain James Cook, who 'discovered' the east coast of Australia in 1770. (Just to keep the locals happy, it is supposedly also named for Sir Joseph Cook, who was Prime Minister of Australia from 1913-1914 and knighted in 1918.) The citizens of Cook marked the James Cook bi-centenary by the erection of this sundial. I'm sure he was well chuffed.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Cultural Outings with Cake

Having been to see a fascinating exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, The Luminosity and I needed sustenance. Fortunately there was sustenance in the form of cake; the problem now was making a decision.

 
Persian Love Cake
The Luminosity with cake
When I went home to relax in the garden and read my book (as if my mind wasn't already full), this fellow came to join me.

Praying Mantis
Praying Mantis with Prisma filter
I went for the first jog I have managed in ages. It was good to be out and about among the trees.


Another date with The Luminosity was to see Antony and Cleopatra at the Playhouse in the Canberra Theatre Centre.


From museum, to theatre to the pub; The Phoenix to be precise, where I spied this piece of graffito and wondered if that was a 'w' or an 'm' and whether it mattered.

Phoenix Graffito
I saw Shoeb Ahmad (seen here with Emma McManus) and Passive Smoke (who were part of the COUP: Canberra performance of Vinegar Tom, as was Emma).

Shoeb Ahmad with Emma McManus
Passive Smoke rocking The Phoenix
Him Outdoors made me his version of a gourmet breakfast burger with smoked bacon from Pialligo Estate and black pudding on the side (it didn't fit inside, apparently) from Market Meats at Belconnen

Breakfast Burger by Him Outdoors
And in the afternoon I went to Sue's Salon at the home of Mr & Mrs Lovely Bonkers, where there were friends and conversation and bubbles and laughter - this could well become a 'regular thing'.

At Sue's Salon
The gorgeous Gindelle with tiara

Monday, April 24, 2017

Four Winds and a Prayer

This was the first free weekend we all had as a gang to pop out to Four Winds Vineyard for our annual 'New Year's' do. The colours and crisp autumn weather were delightful; the pizzas were plentiful; the wine was superb; the company was excellent: what a way to spend a day.

 
 
Four Winds Winery Lunch
Mr & Mrs Lovely Bonkers
 

I played about with the above picture on my phone photo app to make the following images.

 
 
 

And when we got home we were met by this fellow at the front door.