Impressive Clouds...

... unimpressive result!

One would think that clouds as dark as these would be longing to drop their rain everywhere. Alas, not a drop. I don't know where the clouds went, but went they surely did and took the rain with them.

Let's hope tomorrow's clouds will be more obliging.

Surely, only a Mother ......

.... could love these Crimson Rosella chicks.

We're not very hopeful of the last two eggs hatching.

Names? My brother suggested

'Rose', 'Ella' and 'Son of Crim'.

(You're a sad case, C.)

Huntly Open Gardens

Yesterday we visited these country gardens. It was quite a warm day but shade offered by the lovely trees would make these gardens a delightful place to relax on the hottest of days.

Several sections of these gardens were destroyed in the 2003 bushfires and it is a credit to all concerned for their impressive restoration.

The strength of Wisteria.

Tulip and birch trees.

Fenced vegetable garden to keep out the rabbits and peacocks.

"Knock, knock, who's there?"

This is our letterbox. It's built into a brick retaining wall along the driveway. There's a door on this side to retrieve the mail, and a slot on the other side for the mail to be put in.

And this is who lives in there! A blue-tongue lizard, about 25cm (10 inches) long, spends much of his time under a piece of polystyrene. He climbs in and out of the box through the letter slot. (We lifted the concrete top off the letterbox and removed the polystyrene so we could photograph him.)

The postman doesn't know he's there, and I won't collect the mail!

However ....

..... the grandchildren have no such qualms.

(l to r. Zoe, Marcel, Richard, Shelly, Shay)

Shay takes her turn, with Marcel on the alert for mishaps.

Announcement!

Richard and 'Alice',

after many weeks of waiting

and trips up and down the ladder,

have pleasure in announcing the birth of

3 or 4 tiny Crimson Rosellas on

15 October 2007.

We will tell you their names when we stop arguing about them!

The Clouds Roll In ....

.... and roll right on out again leaving little or no rain in most places. Certainly none on my garden or in our tanks!