Kookaburra

I snapped  this laughing kookaburra in a large gum tree at a park in Toodyay. His raucous laugh alerted me that he was around. I am a bit of a novice taking bird photos but at least he sat still long enough for me get a couple of shots.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year
 

Linking with Wildbird Wednesday

 

 

 

 

Mellow Yellow

I had to look no further than my freshly picked sweet corn cobs for today's Monday Mellow Yellows

Shadows and Critters

I trust everyone enjoyed Christmas Day with family, friends and loved ones. I hope it was filled with laughter, fun, indulgence, reflection and thought for those less fortunate. Mine was a very low key affair this year, but enjoyable none the less. I took these shots on the way home from Toodyay on Christmas Day.

 

Linking with Saturday's Critters

 

                           Shadowshot Sunday 2

 

These large hay bales outside a farm gate were  formed to make a giant Xmas Teddy

 

 

 

Further along the road these cattle were seeking out some shade from the hot sun.

 

 

 

Lake Ninan in the distance, a large salt lake. Clear blue skies, and very dry countryside, this is Christmas time in my neck of the woods.

 

 

 

 



Skywatching

Last Saturday night's full moon made a spectacular sight, with a strong breeze blowing clouds quickly by. It was as if the moon was playing beek-a-boo. I watched for a while then decided to see if I could get any decent pics.   I really must get a tripod for shots like this but I am reasonably happy with the results.

 

Linking with Skywatch Friday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Water Tower

This old water tower at Wongan Hills Railway Station was built between 1913 and 1914 from jarrah and karri wood. It stands 40 feet high and held 100,000 litres of water when in use.  It's purpose was to supply  water to the steam trains. A few years back it had to reinforced to prevent it toppling over. A new building built was at the old  station. It  houses The Community Resource Centre, An Arts Centre and  The Visitors Centre and is  is aptly named "The Station"   

 

Linking with Rubbish Tuesday

              Good Fences
 

 

 

Looking out from  the visitor centre window 

 

 

 

Opening day of the new building in the front of the railway line and water tower

 

 

Ruby Tuesday

These little beauties came out of my vege garden. My first pickings.  Sweet and oh so tasty.

 

Linking with Ruby Tuesday Too

 

Relics at Wyalkatchem

Last weekend, feeling a bit bored we took a drive over to Wyalkatchem, about 130 klms away. After poking around at the swap meet and lunch at the hotel, we wandered over to the museum, with it's wonderful collection of old tractors, cars and trucks, dating back to the early 1900's. Rusty relics of a past era.

 

Linking with Rubbish Tuesday

 

 

Old Goods

 Railway Carriage

 

 

Model T Ford, 1924

 

 

Dodge Sedan 1926

 

 

Would once have been the height of luxury

 

 

Chevrolet Truck, 1942

 

 

 

Early Tractors, a long way from the comfort of today

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shadow Shot Sunday

I will make this post a vege garden update.  All the winter crops are gone, beetroot has been preserved in jars, broccoli has been blanched and frozen, along with excess spinach. Onions are hanging in the garage to finish drying.  Hubby couldn't help himself after the winter success so an early crop of tomatoes, sweet corn, pumpkins, rock melons, capsicums, lettuce and cucumbers were planted. The summer heat up here takes it's toll on  vegetables so not many people worry about planting for summer. These are all looking good at the moment because we have had heavy soaking rain in the last week. We have already started picking tomatoes, capsicums and the odd cucumber will be ready in a day or two.  The early morning sun  cast some nice shadows as we were watering.

Linking today with Shadow Shot Sunday 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just an onion or two hanging to dry

 

Skywatching

Last night's sky, looking eastward at sunset.  Earlier in the day we had another thunderstorm which dropped 9 mils of rain on us, and thankfully put out several bushfires in nearby towns,  which had started the day before due to lightening strikes.

Linking with Skywatch Friday

 

 

Skywatching

An interesting sky caught my attention earlier this week. Slight rainbow colours appeared in one little patch of clear sky. By the time I had raced in for the camera of course it was fading, drat, don't you hate that.

 

Linking with  Skywatch Friday

 

 

This sky below  was captured a few days earlier, rain and hail were the order of the day then.

 

Reynoldson Reserve

This small stretch of bushland comes alive with colour during October through to December. There are seven varieties of verticordia along with grevillea, tea tree and others. The reserve is about 28 klms from Wongan Hills  taking the main road, or just 16klm as the crow flies. The Wongan Hills Visitor Centre is taking bus tours out to the reserve this weekend as part of The Reynoldson Reserve  Festival. Mid October, early November the reserve is at it's peak for the colourful verticordia.

 

Linking with Scenic Weekends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The picture below gives you an idea of   the reserve before flowering commences