Annie's Blog

 there were some interesting versions of Christmas trees in the church leading up to Christmas services...someone decorated a ladder (above)  some very pretty  this blue one might have featured in the "blue" service...for people for whom Christmas is not always the happiest time of year!!  a musical tree atop the organ  a wonderful traditional tree decorated in red and interesting original origami like green trees as well as very light and delicate ones. and of course I forgot to take a photo of the most original (and funniest) one..made out of a lawnmower a rake and spade all decorated with tinsel with an Aussie gardening hat on top..outside the entrance to the church.. I do hope you have been blessed by company,  friends and family this Christmas season and perhaps by a gift of quietude , maybe even a good book, and possibly an interesting satisfying meal.  We have been blessed by lovely cooler weather, and the skie...

This year a little  three year old helped to decorate the tree, along with multiple cousins who were visiting on their way to their annual holiday at the beach... I have a little giggle whenever I walk past and see how he put multiple baubles on the same branch... what a cutie pie.... The other day while I was minding him,  he announced he would like his cousins to come back again. I said I would let them know...so if they are reading this ...they will know now ;-) I love Christmas... I love the real meaning of Christmas, that Jesus was sent as a babe to tell us about God's love for us.  I pray that you will  have a wonderful Advent.

a glimpse from the last month...a baby butcher bird...is this the one I rescued when I found it on the ground? I discovered that Australia Zoo Hospital (a la Terry, young Bindi and of course the late Steve Irwin fame,) was only too happy to take injured animals..in fact it seems easier to get help for an animal in the night than for ourselves!! ;-) apologies for a scarcity of posts lately...seem to have been busy with visitors...and a little gardening  spring gardens and trips to the seaside  seagulls  and a sunset at Caloundra  a frangipani starting to flower  and below, finally a swim at  the beach at Mooloolaba...my second swim in the ocean (with visitors...thanks Carol and Cheryl) in three years! A shocking statistic!! another sunset ...  and a preview of the supermoon...from the night before... more to come

 some of the lovely blooms out in the last week or so... playing on the toy train after seeing Mummy off on the real train to the Big Smoke for another conference I am losing my touch with blogger, when I try to shift photos they don't always do what I ask ;-) enjoying some new blooms  Hope you are able to enjoy some new and different blooms and views this week...May God go with you!

A grand daughter and I spent a little time having lunch and a look at the plants for sale, as well as a sculptured pottery display the church next door had a wonderful floral display and a rogue gladioli caught my attention in this back yard. My father used to grow them on our farm when I was very little just after the war Hope you have a great week...and that there are gardens to admire where ever you are!!

always fun to have a birthday... great to be able to celebrate at the beach!!

this Kangaroo  didn't seem to be inclined to move  on the day I was there ;-)

I am not very familiar with the bird world, especially in other environments so unfortunately I do not know what this particular bird is. Found it being very still in the bushes at the beach, the day the little grandson went to sleep on our way to look at the "beach water" name is a curlew..see my comment below...

Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast south of Brisbane Queensland is fairly well world renowned... for its beaches and high rises... and possibly the night life It is a long time since I have been anywhere remotely near there but this last week I spent two days there minding the baby while his Mum was at a conference. So I took the baby for a walk to the beach close by on the first afternoon we were there and he went to sleep in the pram before we even got there (he hasn't been well) So I took some photos with one hand a little difficult but some of them turned out. (I was particularly pleased with the seagull, even though I didn't get the whole bird in the shot...problems with a cracked screen on the camera that only shows half the photo I am actually taking..!)  the 19th floor was a little challenging for a nervous grandma with doors that opened onto balconies...that had tables and chairs out there...good grief... the tables and chairs mi...