Flower

Flower, originally uploaded by broopdon.

My mother rang me the other day and asked if I could come around to her house, as she had something to show me. This flower!
It has bloomed on a succulent that she has had for years and has never flowered before.

Harries

I have two friends named Harry.
One has a lifetime ahead of him,
the other has a lifetime already lived.
One has a world of experience etched in his face,
the other is a fresh canvas.
One is going on three and the other is going on eighty.
They are both gorgeous and I love them both dearly
but I dont' know who has the cheekiest grin!

Alectown

Alectown, Newell Highway, originally uploaded by broopdon.

This is the front yard of a house in Alectown. It seems to be a collection of recycled garden ornaments (amongst other things) all brightly painted and arranged for our viewing pleasure, down to the bordering rocks. It's a myriad of gnomes and statues and wheels and toys and ornaments and whirly things. See the whole thing here.

Alectown is a small village 15 mins from Parkes with a population of 50. It's on the Newell Highway, so this garden gets alot of passing traffic.

Moon

Moon, originally uploaded by broopdon.

I took this with my camera tonight through our new binoculars. This is the best shot I got. It's very frustrating and harder than it sounds. I shall keep trying.

Fire Bucket Christmas Day 2006

Fire Bucket Christmas Day 2006, originally uploaded by broopdon.

It was a very cool Christmas day this year. We had friends over for the evening and it was too cold to sit outside under the stars and have a few drinks without the fire bucket. Luckily we had some wood left over from winter. The fire bucket itself is an old clothes dryer barrel.

Beer O'Clock

Beer O'Clock, originally uploaded by broopdon.

Our christmas present from my mum. It's always beer o'clock on our back veranda!

Waiting for Santa Claus

Waiting for Santa Claus, originally uploaded by broopdon.

Christmas eve... dusk...
HARK, is that reindeer I hear?
Gubba says "I'd better get off the chimney"

Merry Christmas everyone ;)

Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim, originally uploaded by broopdon.

Our Tiny Tim tomato plant is an absolute goldmine! We estimate we've already picked over 400 tomatoes. Most don't make it to the house, bur what are tomato plants for if you cant scoff the fruit at the source!?! At this stage it look like it will never end. How good would that be?

French Cricket

French Cricket, originally uploaded by broopdon.

Total concentration as they try to get the batter out.
What better way to pass a summer holiday afternoon?

French Cricket Rules

Rain!

Rain!, originally uploaded by broopdon.

We had a really good downpour this afternoon. The rain gauge says 23 mm. WOOHOO!

3 month rain history

Black Cat

Blue Cat, originally uploaded by broopdon.

This is our black cat Wicca (dont ask). He has himself curled round quite tight to fit on a bar stool. He's very cruisy, but very vocal. You can hold a conversation with him, but he repeats himself alot.
More photos of our pets

Carnivale

Carnivale, originally uploaded by broopdon.

Youngest daughters end of year school concert with a carnivale theme. The children dressed in vibrant colours and danced the likes of the Conga and Cococabana. Here they are patiently waiting their turn.

Shedding

My favourite tree, originally uploaded by broopdon.

My favourite tree lives in the park opposite the High School. It's a Lemon Scented Gum. At the moment it's losing it's bark... shedding it's skin. Makes me want to peel it, like sunburn.
My favourite tree

Harry

Harry, originally uploaded by broopdon.

My favourite boy. Walkin' the handbag walk.

Lake Forbes

100_3794, originally uploaded by broopdon.

The large lagoon in our neighbouring town Forbes is also drying up from the relentless lack of rain. The last time Lake Forbes dried up was 48 years ago in 1958. More photos here.

Cockroach and Merlot

Cockroach in wine glass, originally uploaded by broopdon.

I left this empty wine glass on the back table last night. A cockroach crawled into it and couldnt get back out. When I found it this morning he was going round and round the inside of the glass. I wonder if he drank any merlot. Altogether now... eeewwww

View from above

Bee

Bee, originally uploaded by broopdon.

This bee bit my daughter on the sole of the foot last night. Same story... it hurt like hell and the poor wee bee died. Not your average honey bee though, we haven't seen one of this breed in the backyard before.

Cactus flower

Cactus flower, originally uploaded by broopdon.

I came across this cactus in full bloom on my morning walk today. Quite large and very delicate flowers. Amazing that something so beautiful can sprout from something so nasty! Close up here

Salad

Salad, originally uploaded by broopdon.

How's this for a healthy school lunch box? This is what yongest daughter (10) takes for lunch most days.

Bushmans dam

Bushmans dam
Originally uploaded by broopdon.

The dam at our visitors centre is being reduced to a mere puddle due to the drought. Council will relocate the fish if and when the time comes, and I guess the birds will be able to fend for themselves.
More photos.
Story in the local rag today.

Tattoos

Tattoos
Originally uploaded by broopdon.

This is the pose 2 year old Harry struck for me when I asked him if I could take a photo of the new tattoos his mum had just given him.