Twelve Apostles

Today marks the halfway point of our travels here on the other side of the world.  The Professor has been doing his professorially things and we squeeze in trips here and there around his schedule. With all the places we've been visiting, I'm glad to have a cool iPhone app that I had been using over the past year.  Day One is like a journal in which you can record ideas, memories, photos and it syncs effortlessly with my iPad and Mac.  I love it and it's so easy to use!  If you're like me, you can't remember what you did yesterday let alone six months ago! What was the weather like then or the address of that restaurant with great pasta.  Here's a snapshot to give you an idea.  Check it out here.

Now on to more interesting sights.  We arrived in Melbourne on Day 19 of our travels.  (I only easily know that from my Day One!)  We immediately got our rental car and headed out of town. We had a destination of Port Campbell about four hours by way of the Great Ocean Road.  Oh my! What a beautiful drive.

Our true destination was the Twelve Apostles, limestone rock stacks that rise up out of the Southern Ocean.  They used to be caves along the coast millions of years ago, eventually turning into arches that eventually collapsed leaving the current stacks.  There used to be 12 stacks, but now I think they are down to 7.  It was absolutely beautiful!  Although these images have been enhanced, the colors of the limestone and sand shift as the day progresses.  I couldn't quit taking photos.  But first, I had to get DOWN there.  Fortunately, I beat the bus load of tourists just in time!

 Since the previous late afternoon had been cloudy and filled with people, we returned early the next morning.  The Gods were good to us!  The clouds parted and gave us a great light.  And we were practically the only ones there.  Nice.

Hope you enjoyed this beautiful spot in southern Australia.  Next stop .... Melbourne!

Later, my friends,

Journey through the Marlborough vineyards

A trip to New Zealand must include a journey through their many fine vineyards.  We returned to one of our favorite towns, Nelson, on the South Island, well known for their arts and crafts.  The image above was shot as we were coming into the small city.  

Yes, my iPhone was on.  Bad me.

As soon as we arrived, we got our rental car and headed to one of our favorite spots for sunset.  

The Boat Shed provides such a place and we were not disappointed.

Another great landmark in Nelson is Christ Church Cathedral on Church Hill.  

We were treated to a beautiful spring day.

 Upon leaving Nelson, 

we drove on to explore the Marlborough wine region.

The vineyards were just beginning
to sprout new life.

 It was interesting to see sheep roaming amongst some of the vineyards.

Free labor in keeping the grass mowed!

Oh, there were so many wineries ....

... and so little time!

New Zealand has some beautiful landscape.  

But also some awesome plants.  

One plant that I just loved seeing was this tree fern with its trunk like stems.  

I love how the furled fronds unfurl 

into their large selves.

And then there are the birds.  

So many interesting songbirds.  

This little Song Thrush was singing his heart out one evening.

So loud and clear!

Makes me smile every time I see this image.

More later, my friends, as internet access permits!

~ ~ ~

Sweet sweet spring

We had a gorgeous weekend here and sometimes images

 are just better than words.

It was perfect to enjoy all the sweet fragrances and bird songs

that spring has to offer. 

Isn't Spring awesome?!

Out and About

Finally, 

Spring has decided to make an appearance! 

The yard has been speckled with robins 

and the temperatures soared to 73 degrees yesterday.

The weekend even turned out pretty awesome and The Professor and I took advantage of it.  

We enjoyed an evening out with some friends downtown Philly which offered me the opportunity to capture the city in the early evening light.

On Saturday with clear skies, 

we decided to explore a few outside flea markets in the area.

Unfortunately, nothing caught my eye except for these water towers.

I love water towers and always enjoy

my friend Daryl's Water Tower Wednesday posts at 

Out and About in New York City.

Come Sunday, we had the pleasure of being entertained by Bill Cosby

for a solid two hours with his non-stop humor.

The afternoon show was packed with a lot of us baby boomers 

and he did not disappoint.

(photo courtesy:jetmag.com)

~ ~ ~ 

And last but not least, I've been having some new visitors

dropping by.

Three crows have been checking out my backyard. They mostly sit in the trees scoping out the area.  Occasionally, they get brave enough to come pick up some food under the feeders but are very skittish.  I used to frighten them away until I read "Gifts of the Crow" which describes amazing, true stories of crows who rage, grieve, give gifts, work together, and use tools. Some of the book gets a bit too technical about brain structure but I did enjoy all the stories of their behavior. Now I feel a bit bad that I was so rude to them.

 Hopefully they'll forgive me and maybe someday bring me gifts!

And see those new buds on the tree.

Yep, Spring has finally arrived!

Bring it on

There are signs that Spring is attempting to make an appearance.  But don't be fooled by the image above.  There are no blooms or blossoms in my neck of the woods ... yet.  I was looking at photos from a year ago, same time, and we were in full bloom.  I guestimate that we must be about 2 weeks behind last year's blooms.  Come on SPRING!

But then, Mother Nature moves at her own speed.   Time keeps marching forward.  

~ ~ ~ ~

There's nothing like nature to remind me of the frailty and beauty of the world, even in my own back yard.  Prior to my Big camera, I took little heed to all the activity right under my nose.  It's like a regular soap opera out there!!

Take Mrs. Cardinal, for example, who lost her tail last month due to fright molt, probably barely escaping with her life from some predator.  But it has grown back as if nothing ever happened.

Or the loss of Mrs. Red-bellied Woodpecker's mate who was attacked by a hawk right outside my office window.  She still comes to feed and someday, I hope she'll bring another mate along.

And then there are the little chipmunks.  Last summer, there must have been a half a dozen of them running around but so far this spring, I've only seen one.  Several days ago, for two days straight, she was chirping all day long.  Upon googling why she was doing that, I discovered that she was calling for a mate.

Perhaps that was due to us finding a dead chipmunk in our basement two weeks ago!  How and why he was in our basement is beyond me and why he laid dead in the middle of the floor is a mystery.  Poor little fella!

But she continues on ... if not a bit cautiously.  

And she should.  

The hawk swoops by daily.

I'm also wondering if she found a mate.  Her chirping has stopped!

~ smile ~

The squirrels have been extremely active.  

But what's new?? 

This little girl has been hard at work building a nest.

Beginning of another new cycle of life.

Spring washes over THEM and US 

with the desire and need to march forward.

To begin anew.

Whether it be a new tail, a new mate, a new love, a new start,

Mother Nature pushes us onward.

As it should be.

Even when we are so exhausted from the thrill of it all.

 So  ...

I'm ready and waiting Spring.  

Bring it on!