A Family Last, Angourie

 

Miss N, Miss O and seated is Miss G (Miss N's identical twin)

I guess every new beginning is accomplice to some 'lasts'. On Thursday we took time out as a family (except for our eldest two already away at uni) to have a 'last' day out before Miss N (18) moves to Sydney to pursue her cricket dreams and new job/traineeship. We went to Angourie, a place Miss N had spend many days working recently in her environmental job. My husband was familiar with the area over 30 years ago but for the rest of us it was all new and unknown.

Angourie is a well known surfing location on the NSW North Coast, yet as we arrived we found the surfers were still, admiring the antics of a pod of dolphins which were surfing the waves. A beautiful sight. We caught glimpses of some humpback whales (distant splashes and flippers) far out to sea. After a coastal walk and picnic lunch we spotted a Brahminy Kite with its catch of a crab for his lunch.

We finished our day with a visit to the Blue Pools of Angourie, one of which is known as the Green Pool and the other the Blue Pool. They were formed by quarrying operations to supply rock for the Yamba break wall or middle wall in the 1890's, and although only a stone's throw away from the ocean, they are fresh water, fed by an underground spring and coloured by algae. They are used for swimming and diving when the algae levels are safe. Being mid winter we were't tempted to swim, although some other visitors looked ready to dive in.

It was a great day out. You will find some extra beautiful photos of our day on Miss E's brand new blog - 'Pieces of Entertainment', all from an eight year old's eye level, using her very own brand new camera (which you can see in the top photo)!

Small Pleasures

It is their soft, excited chatterings which first alert me to their presence. I notice a group of about five female Superb Fairy Wrens flittering through our yard at some point most days. These wrens rarely sit still for more than a second. We sometimes call them Jenny wrens. The males are a splendid blue as in this older photo below and here, hence they are also known as Blue Wrens. Irrespective of the colours of their feathers, it is always a delight to see these wrens, and other small birds, enjoying our garden each day.

Sharing at Our World Tuesday, Wild Bird Wednesday.

Always Changes

Enjoying the sunshine and also the rain which has been a wonderful blessing after our long dry summer. All around town the lawns and trees are beautiful shades of green with the occasional show of autumn tones on the few deciduous trees. The camellias are bursting into flower, as they do here each winter, having endured summer, protected on the shady southern sides of homes. There is a pleasant satisfaction as I admire the pristine petals of the white camellias I planted several years ago. Also rewarding us well is our lemon tree which is younger than our camellias. I don't think I've picked a lemon as large as this one today. 

Homeschooling, sport, visiting the library (yes that's Miss E and Miss E on the banner in the foyer), annual homeschool sports day, having Master J home for a few days and stitching more hexie flowers as the days quickly turn into weeks. More changes ahead as Miss N finishes work this week and prepares to move to the Sydney for the next chapter of her life journey. We all have mixed feelings as each new season brings challenges and great opportunities - choosing gratefulness and optimism. 

Ordinary Lovely

I love how a photo can capture joy, beauty or particular moments in time with their associated emotions and memories. Here are some of the ordinary lovely moments of the last week or so, ending with a 'golden oldie'.

Yesterday we were visiting some new friends who live out of town when this Red-necked wallaby with her joey hopped by to leisurely graze on their front lawn. Wallabies are similar to kangaroos but much smaller. Our friends pointed out how the wallaby's pouch is at the perfect height for her joey to graze while the mother is also.
Our neighbour's zygocactus is a beautiful sight as the afternoon light catches the many blooms. It grows outdoors all year round, in a hanging basket under their macadamia tree just over our back fence, looking rather plain - until it flowers!
Now that the weather has cooled down it's much more pleasant working in the garden. Master T (16) has chopped down some small trees, breaking two brand new wooden handles axes in the process. The third axe bought this week (after receiving refunds) had a fibreglass handle and stood up to the job at hand, however the effort required appears to have been greater than anticipated, judging by the sign which appeared on the fence! 
Miss E (8) cleaned out her garden bed and sowed fresh seeds, labeling each area with a marker stone. I had to laugh when I discovered the label above. She later showed me the seed packet - 'Mesembryanthemum', yes, I guess they deserve the marker she gave them.  :)

A ruffled pansy on the back deck, a neighbourhood hedge scene, early morning calm on the river after a hot winter's day (30C/86F - crazy), a few more hand sewn hexie flowers for my long term quilt project. Last but not least is a family favourite, taken in October 2008 as Miss E reached out to her older sister's new baby doll - the similarity in their profiles is striking and so cute! Yes, I DO love the wonders of ordinary lovely days and photos....

Time Marches On

We took a trip down to the seaside village yesterday, for my mother-in-love needed to collect some winter clothes (yes, it's winter here already). The wall calendars may be two or even three years out of date, yet she still loved spoiling her grandchildren with a fresh takeaway fish and chips for lunch. Some of the grandchildren had not been back to the house since both grandparents (grandfather passed on three years ago) moved into aged care in our town over three years ago.

Stepping back in time, yet moving forward, always with much to be grateful for. Being low tide at the bay, the Light-blue Soldier Crabs were scurrying around in their thousands, unless you came too close, in which case they quickly buried themselves. The Rainbow Lorikeets were happily enjoying the nectar from the Grevillea 'Honey Gem'. The banksia tree along the path holds it large seed heads high. The children/grandchildren mark the changes and have a fresh desire to return for a holiday and linger longer where they once played often. I think all of us may be ready to anticipate a new season of holidays in old familiar places.



Sharing at SkyWatch Friday.