Dane-sized Water Sprite

I use our two bore-fed sprinklers at Granite Glen often, in a valiant attempt to hold the crispy dry browness (over two months of no rainfall will do that to a once-green vista!) at the fenceline. It's a fact of country living that even if the situation in the paddocks is dry and dire and depressing, morale stays reasonably high when workmen and women can come home to a little bit of greenery.

It's good for the soul.

And essential for mental health.

So says Dr BB anyway!

...

The only real drawbacks of this watering activity are:

1. The bore water is pretty dirty - it stains anything light-coloured (fences, house walls etc)

2. I have to remember to turn them on. And off. And move them occasionally.

3. Sometimes the sprinklers play up with all the grit and sediment coming through the hoses.

...

So I was blaming the sediment for suddenly discovering that a sprinkler I had carefully set up with a low, wide spray between the house and carport was suddenly spurting long straight bursts against the creamy house walls and our white car...

Should I let the photos do the talking?

Alrighty then...

Yes I know.

Naughty. Ridiculous. Dog.

*Sigh*

Almost vegetarian...

Just so as my father doesn't leap into the car and hot foot it back here from Brisbane, I would like to clarify that we are NOT actually about to become completely vegetarian. That was just a little hook I used to tease readers with the possibility of a beef producer going vego - Hold the Front Page! I actually have some very sweet vegetarian readers and hey my sister went over to that tribe for around a decade. But I really don't wish to give my 'must-eat-meat-three-times-a-day' Pater a total heart attack. He's rabidly meat-eating and the possibility of having two offspring go to the 'other side' would probably do him in.

OK?

OK.

Good-oh.

...

That said, I actually adore my veges.

Didn't always, used to buck at cauliflower and brussel spouts especially, but I love my green stuff now. I even grow veges- an outrageous claim, if you knew the city version of Bush Babe. But necessity is the mother of all (gardening) incentive -fresh crispy veges are not always available at our local (50km away) grocery stores - and last year Mr Incredible built me my very own vegetable patch.

...

I have grown accustomed to picking my very own, non-insecticided, non-waxed, non-chlorinated produce. And no, I am not wearing an apron with a rag bonnet. Yet.

...

Please meet my vege garden.

From front to back:

Spinach (not silverbeet!)

Peas (supposed to be snow peas, but apparently a brindle mix!)

Cauliflower

Broccoli

Assorted Lettuce (hidden from sight)
I never fail to be astounded that something I plant actually SURVIVES and GROWS and sometimes even FRUITS. It's a miracle of epic proportions, given the sporadic nature of my gardening. So bear with me as I show off my veges this 'spring' (said she sweating away in 34 degree heat)...


Hello spinach - how I adore thee.

All deep green and lush and fabulous in my spinach and feta pies.

And wilted in butter with my steaks.

And stir-fried gorgeously with some chicken (sorry dad).

Ahhhh... peas.

So crispy and delicate and full of sweet crunchy goodness.

Even if I don't know whether these plants are supposed to be snow, or peas-in-a-pod kinda peas... I am so excited just to have them spilling lushly out through the netting.

I feel positively GREEN and EARTH-MOTHERY.

(Jeanie, stop laughing this instant!)

And broccoli... oh broccoli... what can I say?

Just that there is nothing in this world like a head of broccoli lopped from the plant and consumed almost immediately... fresh and crunchy and sweet.

Mr Incredible doesn't even wait for me to steam it....

Crunch, crunch, crunch...

...

Of course I have had a failure - while my cauliflower plants are enormous and leafy and green, they have not fruited (veggied?) at all. I have fertilised and watered to no avail. Why? Anyone have any advice here? But I am not too badly disheartened, with my peas more than making up for the lack of white vegetable on our plates...

Speaking of which...

I had better go pop the sprinkler on, so my sweet peas are crunchy and ready for picking first thing in the morning! If they are anything like Axel and I, they will be wilted in this heatwave...

...

But before I go...I need to know:

Do you own a vege patch?

If so, what's in it at the moment?

If not, what WOULD you grow if you could?

My comments section is awaiting your report/ideas/suggestions!

BAN the BABIES

Not sure if I have mentioned before that half of my family either has new babies, is cooking up new babies or is thinking of heading down that crazy, sleepless path... it's a little insane!

...

I waver between thinking 'two healthy ones is quite enough' to 'gosh, that is TOTALLY gorgeous and I'd quite like me another one of those'. My husband is of the latter persuasion. He watches my swinging opinion like a spectator watches a tennis match: head bobbing back and forth, with a slightly bemused expression on his face. I wonder aloud if I am too old, how I would possibly cope out in the sticks if we ended up with a sick child (cause you know I have real experience there), and how my two adored offspring would cope with a new intrusion. He is wonderfully patient with this emotional internal debate I have, but sometimes, just sometimes, his real feelings become kinda obvious.

...

Like at my cousin's wedding a couple of weeks ago.

This is Edwin, who has always been fairly freaking handsome, but appears to have morphed into the ultimate baby boy in the last couple of months. He is strong and has the clearest blue eyes, and just happily sat against Mr Incredible's chest and gazed upon the reception gathering with interest, making the occasional pertinent 'gah' at his legion of admiring fans.

Oh those two faces...HELP!

...

It's almost enough to drive a girl to religion:

Dear Lord,

This child is NOT helping my resolve.

Please let him scream the next time my husband holds him.

Just to keep it real for me.

Amen.

Weather Wednesday - or What Happened to Spring?

Went for a flying trip to Big Town sans children today

- that's six hours driving, six hours dealing with shops and appointments...

I did take a few seconds out for Weather Wednesday photos on the way home

(only a few though, precious cargo on board: fresh Indian curries for family!).

I don't know about you, but our weather is INSANE at the moment.

Remember how we had WINTER about 2 days ago?

(OK it was a bit longer, but you get my meaning...)

Well now we are in a hellish kind of premature summer

and are knee-deep in BUSHFIRE WEATHER.

Seriously. Paddocks were smoking everywhere. This was about 1 hour from Granite Glen - but country which has had about the same amount of rain as us. These fires were widespread but under control apparently. Everything is sooo dry it's just gone in minutes once the grass is alight. A little scary really. I know I sound like a cracked record, but we need rain to help ease the threat (and help the green grass shoot back through the already-charred countryside).

And how's this for serious spring warmth?

(Check out the dash lights if you can squint that hard - ignore the insect-plastered windscreen!)

After 6pm and still 22 degrees celsius (71.6 F)!

On Monday we broke the all-time record for an August day with 35.6 C (96F) maximum

In August... yikes!

...

Tomorrow's forecast for Granite Glen:

MINIMUM - 8 degrees C

MAXIMUM - 30 degrees C

CHANCE OF RAIN - 20% of less than 1mm (did someone say spit?)

...

And your forecast?

Don't forget to share where you are in the world...

Is the season weird for you too?

The Grand Canyon of Granite Glen

It's been a case of lost and found here today.

Found the photo memory card that holds all the family photos from the wedding last weekend. Exactly where I had left it, in the centre console of the groom's car. I knew that. I was not panicking about it.

Was. Not. Either.

And lost?

Well, not me exactly... more Dash really. You recall the last Dash-related post? Well, it needs updating. And I reckon you just CANNOT be too graphic when it comes to seven-year-old dental milestones.

The following slideshow MAY seem familiar, but hold tight for the new ending.

And don't forget to hang onto your stomachs, my pretties...

The Tooth Fairy is gonna have some serious Deja Vu tonight!

Garden gazing...

A couple of quick shots from the garden tonight...

My vege garden to be exact.

My 'pea' section of my vege garden to be absolutely specific.

This ladybug was trying to hide in the cap of a snow pea...

...

And the light shining through the translucent shell

of this pea shell captured my eye...

How cool are the 'veins' and 'baby peas'?

More garden shots to come but these couple caught my eye.

...

I'm not much of a green thumb,

but am finally understanding the little bits of magic

to be had tilling the earth... how 'bout you?

Any earthly magic touched your world lately?

Torture relief of the enamel kind

The torture we have been enduring since I first posted this image:

has been EXCRUCIATING.

...

Sure 12 days might not seem a lot in EVERYDAY land.. but where I have been living, in WAITING FOR TOOTH FAIRY land, the hours since he first discovered both front teeth were wobbly have been endless. Dash has been unable to leave those teeth alone.

...

His hand has been CONSTANTLY in his mouth to check on progress!

And the need to SHARE that progress has been URGENT and EVER PRESENT...

(and yes his face is dirty... I am keeping it real here people!)

The DROOL factor has also been kinda hideous...

And the TWIST angle is almost stomach-turning...

So you can imagine my relief this morning when THIS...

FINALLY HAPPENED!!!!!!

He now has a MOTHER of a gap at the front of his sweet little face...

The Fallen Tooth.

I had to help Dash hold his hand steady for this pic, he was just WAY too excited to BE STILL!!!

Can you tell??

...

Oh, and a quick word for the Tooth Fairy,

should she check blogs for updates for her run tonight...

It's only fair that I warn you:

You had better be quick about your work tonight, my dear!

Cause this little enamel factory is sure keen to catch you at the gold coin delivery!

If he doesn't go to sleep with one hand on that tiny purple velvet pouch waiting for you, then I don't know my son!

Happy Little Vegemite: Streakers and Wormers?

I grew up with Vegemite as the major toast accompaniment at breakfast time. This doesn't make me special - pretty much every kid I know has eaten it at some stage of their life and at every daily meal.

From being thinly spread on rusks as babies, the traditional toast option at breakky, scraped on holey crackers to make squeeze-through 'worms' as schoolkids for smoko (my favourites were Vita-Wheat biccies), and even added to gravies for flavour at dinner.

...

For those who aren't Aussie, and who didn't get to wake up with Vegemite's heavy salty flavour slathered over hot buttered toast, here are a couple of vital facts about this most Aussie of condiments.

...

Some official vegemite facts:

- The spread was the brainchild of a Mr Fred Walker (who started the company which would become Kraft Foods) and fully developed by a serious scientist called Dr Cyril P Callister (whose impressive name evokes the image of some kind of cartoon hero) in the 1920s. So Fred and Cyril are responsible for our black gooey toast. Onya boys!

- It is a rich source of Vitamin B... and yes, it is basically made from leftover beer stuff. Talk about recycling! I feel totally green just talking about it!

- It was almost called 'Parwill' (to combat its major English rival - with the clever tag: if Marmite then Parwill). Luckily Fred saw the light and let a random Australian choose the final moniker in a competition - the winner's name is long lost but the entry is now firmly embedded in Aussie lore.

- The Happy Little Vegemites jingle (still in use today!) was first used in 1954 (see final clip on this post)

- It just tastes great... (as long as you like things a little salty!)

...

In the interests of community education on black condiment use, I am also adding a 'how to' for the spreading of vegemite. According to my research (alright, I just whipped over to the official vegemite site) I am a streaker and a wormer.

Hey, this is a serious information blog.

So pay attention!

...

First unscrew jar... allow aroma to work its way into your nostrils.

Your senses need to get used to that intense salty hit your tastebuds are about to experience! You need to give them a little warning...

Then grab some Sao biscuits (you can also use toast, English muffins or any kind of salt crackers). Now slather some butter on...

This in not time to be shy - butter and vegemite were born to be together!

Now load up your knife with the good black stuff... don't go silly with it, a good scrape is all you need.

Now apply ... my personal preference is for coverage with the butter still peeping through.

(According to the Vegemite website, that makes me a Streaker. My mother will be so proud!)

But if you are a beginner, go light. You can always add more later!

Now chomp... mmmmmm.

Expect salty and buttery...

(Note to self: Try not to eat the ENTIRE Sao before you finish explantion!)
...

If you have survived a straight vegemite experience, I would also recommend some avocado on top of your Vegemite ... it's a meal, baby!

And before I leave, I give you one of the orginal Vegemite ads with that famous song...

It puts a ROSE in every CHEEEEEKK!!!

Wednesday-ish Weather Watch.... from Paradise

Oh heaven's above... nearly forgot my Wednesday World Weather Watch (or as I like to call it: The Attack of the Alliterated W's!)
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I am mid-road-trip with four-year-old in tow, and staying at Sister Jeanie's tonight. She's free and easy with her laptop (God Love Her!) and the weather here is balmy as Paradise should be. The landscape whizzing by has been crackling dry. From Granite Glen (which enjoyed a brief teasing shower a week ago, bringing just 4mm of rain ... the only rain in over almost two months) to RockVegas (sprawlingly set on a wide open parched flat on the equally brown Fitzroy River) and for three hours drive south, the view has been unrelentingly sepia. OK, there is an equally-relentless unbroken blue sky rising from the monotone vista. And OK, some of the eucalypt and brigalow foliage offers that grey-green of the Aussie bush... but mostly... brown and dry.
...
Can you all blame me for coveting the rain pelting down in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma?
(Being thoroughly under-appreciated by its recipients I might note!)
Before the forecasts, I decided to put up one of my all-time favourite (and vaguely related) songs by the incredible Tina Turner. It was filmed in 1985, when I had just left school and undoubtedly attempted to wear a jumpsuit exactly like this one!

Oh Tina... I COULD stand the rain... honestly I could!
...
And so to the forecast for (what remains of our) Wednesday:
PARADISE
Current temp: 14.5 degrees Celsius
Outlook: 11-24 degrees, sunny and calm
.
GRANITE GLEN
Current temp: 14 degrees Celsius
Outlook: 5-26 degrees, sunny and calm
.
And how is Mother Nature treating you today, my friends?

Weekend Wedding on Wednesday Wallow...

So, this week is shaping up as kinda busy for me - I am flitting about like a demented willy wagtail, barely home long enough to get the mountains of washing done and download a gazillion images after our wedding weekend in Big Town, before I am off again to the Other Big Town with Mr Incredible, and then BACK to the first Big Town again the following day (round trips of 6 hours each).

Craziness.

...

In order to pay some sort of attention to this blog, I am going to shut up (no, really) and share a couple of snaps from the wedding of my cousin Tom and his fiance Jay. They proved to be terrific models (oh ye of little faith, Bush Babe!) and maintained their relaxed demeanour throughout the ceremony, shoot and reception (with Tom delivering a stellar, heartfelt speech in his new role as husband). And he actually smiled on command... perhaps my bullying technique worked? (This argument would hold water if he actually read my blog. Which he doesn't!)

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Oh, did I say something about being quiet? Alrighty then...

As the happy couple are still honeymooning on an exotic island, and have not had a chance to see their own photos yet, these are really just sneak peeks...

Glimpses of some little details as the bride got ready to walk down the aisle, in the glorious church her in-laws got hitched over three decades ago.

I adore tulips... cream and hot pink... divine!

Jay's dress was softly silver and detailed without being fussy.

Breathtaking...

So if Tom and Jay manage to get internet on their exotic honeymoon (and remember my blog address) I hope they enjoy this early review of their Big Day. Remember guys: There are only a gazillion more photos for you two to trawl through on your return!

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I am adding a link here to my own wedding to the fabulous, long-suffering Mr Incredible. It's only fair that if I share someone else's wedding, that I share the ups and downs of my own, right? Cause it was not all plain sailing there, I can tell you! So if you have time and a good caffeine at hand, indulge a little further in the wedding wallow...

...

And if readers would like to share a little of their wedding experiences with photo shoots (or any nuptial-related tales really), I'd love to hear about it in the comments section. Feel free to leave links to blog posts to round it out for us... I'll be back to peruse after I safely navigate a few laps of central Queensland ...

Lovely Lacey

We have arrived safely back from The Wedding in Big Town on the weekend.

It's always a relief to find that all animals are intact when we get home...

I am a worrywort when it comes to our dogs and horses -

and lately one furry friend in particular is the focus of my attentions...

...

This is Lacey, Dash's wonderful old mare and main steed.

There was a Cagney once - am not sure what happened to Lacey's 'partner'.

She went during the couple of decades I didn't live at Granite Glen.

But Lacey is an institution here.

She has had quite a career -

from pickup horse in my uncle's bulldogging (steerwrestling) rodeo days

to polocrosse pony for two of his four offspring

to handy mustering mare for all the posse

to reliable kid's horse.

In other words:

She's 'Bloody Priceless'.

...

This photo above is enlarged in Dash's room, for him to gaze upon with loving brown eyes.

He sees a horse that will not buck, bolt or harm him,

who is content with puttering along happily behind the mob,

but who will take him fast when he asks...

What do I see?

I see an old, old mare.

Greying around the chin and a little tired looking around the eyes.

Her coat is rough from winter (despite being rugged and pampered lately).

I see a heartbreak coming up sometime at Granite Glen.

And not just for Dash...

But for my cousins too.

Those long grown out of this kindly chestnut mare

but with fond memories entwined in her presence,

like the happy knots in her mane...

And for my uncle.

For this mare has seen him through life stages, from

gung-ho young man through to hard-working doting grandfather.

...

How do horses do that?

How do they nuzzle into the toughest hearts and make a home there?

What chance to do the soft-hearted of us stand?

And how do we ease the blow for little hearts, when we know that terrible news must surely come sometime in the forseeable future?

All advice gratefully received...

BB

Floor space...

Remember Axel?

The cute little Great Dane puppy?

Uh huh...

THIS is the amount of floor space the great boof-headed pooch takes up now.

Like HALF of our temporary office.

I have deliberately left the laptop, my awful feet and the laptop cord in the shot to give you some perspective. And scale.

Or something.

Yes, I am quite lazy in the housekeeping department...

why do you ask?

Of course there are other even more lovable things about Axel (AKA Axel Rose or Axel Roseberry - a particularly butch name dreamed up by Dash)...

Like his drinking technique.

A close up is called for, methinks!

And don't get me started on the 'messages' he leaves around the yard.

Our last dane's droppings were fondly known a Coz Bombs.

This one: Axel atoms. (Or Axel Atom Bombs!)

You can say 'thankyou' anytime for me NOT posting pictures.

Not pretty at all.

...

Lucky he's the most lovable thing ever.

...

(Hoping he is being lovable with at sister Jeanie's place tonight, as he spends his weekend first sleepover in Paradise while his Mama photographs a wedding!)

The final shoot

Tomorrow is my cousin Tom's wedding.

He is my youngest cousin, and the most laidback character in our competitive, loving, chaotic family.

This is the view above his house... taken one foggy morning earlier this week. It's among my favourite vistas, especially when clouds snuggle into the low-lying flats.

...

I have been the 'official wedding photographer' for three of my four cousins (the ones who grew up next door to us here at Granite Glen). And I took photos at the other one anyway. You can't stop me really... it's a disease I have.

...

And anyone who knows me well, knows that the role of Official Photographer is not a title I take on lightly... actually, I don't do it for anyone else.
I get a little... well... worked up by this job. I am normally reasonably calm, but have actually been known to vomit with nerves as a wedding pap. There is a reason wedding photographers charge like wounded bulls - it's not really an event you can reshoot if something stuffs up. And the people being photographed can tend to be a little tense, and on edge, and wanting you to make them look utterly glamorous... well, it's just full on. But I love these guys, and it's something I can do to make their day easier - having someone you know hanging around documenting your day makes the lead-up easier.
At least I hope it does....when I am not vomiting in the background anyway!
...

Tom's fiance and I have been chatting in the lead up to this wedding - the LAST of the cousin's weddings. And I have to say, the girl is probably the most easygoing bride to be I have ever come across. Honestly, when I seek details on what she wants, she just waves a hand in the air and asks me to 'take some photos'.
Cool as a cucumber.
Unflappable.

Mind you, she can be fun too - as this kind of behaviour (at Jeanie's post-wedding lunch) might indicate:

But no-fuss would generally describe her. Apparently she loosens up after an ale... so rumour has it! But I am yet to discover if this laid-back-ness (is that even a word?) is going to translate into a huge blessing, or hard work. 'Cause, as I mentioned earlier, Tom is pretty laidback too. Hardworking but laidback. And hard to coax into posing or being remotely serious...
For instance, at his sister's wedding recently, this was the best he could come up with:

I call this the James Bond 'bridesmaid' pose.
And I am hoping that posting this photo will effectively bully him into behaving for the post-wedding photos tomorrow. But I have never had much luck in the bully department. And he is more likely to crack me up than buckle himself, and crack a serious wedding-y smile.

So y'all need to be wishing me luck.
I have a feeling this could be a wedding (and shoot) like no other.

Something old, something new - a weather update for you!

It's Wednesday, Australian time.

And you know what that means:

Weather Watch time!

(I know, keep your raging excitement under control please!)

Before I rush into the forecast for the weekend, the image I am sharing is one snapped recently down at the stables. It's of old rusted horse shoes (duh) hanging on an equally weathered old gate. I really love the authentic stamp Mother Nature and Father Time stamp on man-made things (well most of 'em... p'raps not roads... or airplanes!).

...

And this shot is relevent because...

My youngest cousin and his wonderful fiance get married this weekend.

(This couple here).

And I am shooting the pair of them. With a Nikon (unless Tom gives me too much cheek, then all bets are off!). And I guess this is my bloggy way of sharing "something old" (and horse-shoe-lucky) with them in the lead-up to their wedding day. They need no luck though - the most laid-back, well-suited pair you ever did see. Here's hoping Jeanie's paradise brings them sweet weather and a joyous day...

FORECAST FOR GRANITE GLEN

Temp: 7 - 28 degrees C

UV: high

Wind: 13 km/hr N (warm and nasty for fires)

Chance of Rain - sweet F/A (OK, that was my term)

Outlook: mostly sunny (and v. dusty. Again, my call!)

&

FORCAST FOR 'PARADISE' on Saturday:

Temp: 13-26 degrees C

UV - high

Outlook: Mostly Sunny

Wind: 19km/hr ESE (perfect for veil tossing!)

...

So peoples... how's the weather outside your window today?

And any special events it might affect this weekend?

Booking in the Tooth Fairy!

Two front teeth looking MIGHTY precarious today...

As Dash says:

Think they're 'bout to drop out Mum!!

Enough of me already!

A quick note to say I have changed my blog header image (above)

from this:

and instead I give you:

Roos and Emus...

a Bush Babe version of the Aussie coat of arms if you like.
...

The previous one had only been up a few days but I simply could not bear looking at my freaky psuedo-serious face anymore!

I rather like being behind the lense, not in front of it

(and behind it at the same time, if you look closely - pic taken via the car mirror).

...

Thoughts people?

And ideas for next header?

Visit to the Vet

I stumbled on this group of photos tonight... they were taken in April, when Axel (our ludicrous Great Dane puppy) was getting his vaccination shots at the local vet.

Yes, I DO understand that I am supposed to blog-as-it-happens but I got busy. And disorganised. And this is too cute to miss, so pretend it's four months ago, OK?

This series was taken as Axel arrived (all bumble-footed and puppy-like) at the surgery and was confronted by the little terrier puppy (a similar age I think) who owned the place. He scampered under the Prado and had to be coaxed out. Tail between legs initially, as the terrier yipped at him to play, Axel was all:

"Oh, sorry, you live here?

Sorry, you want me to leave?

Oh? You want me to play?

Oh, you sure? Don't beat me up, OK??

Note the paw reference halfway through the set, as I coax them into the waiting area and they finally make friends, as only dogs (and young men) do...

I also should preface this slideshow by also saying that our vet is in love with our Great Dane puppy. He was in love with our previous Great Dane goofball and I suspect he would fall in love with ANY Dane that entered his premises.
I mean, who wouldn't, right?
(Dad, don't answer that please!)


Oh, and lastly, please understant that this was taken a long time in dog years ago. Axel is now about three times this size.

Unfortunately, he has no idea of the transformation he has undergone and continues to cower at anything that stares him down. Like the horses, the cat and the weaner bulls. I was considering showing him a mirror, to try and get through that he is almost the size of a small pony (if not quite as round!) but am afraid he might have a coronary.

A 'real' farm dog, he ain't!

Freaky Friday...

It's funny the things you see on the way to a meeting, isn't it?

...

You know, when I was a city chick, I would see all kinds of crazy on the way to work at George Street - addicts straining to appear straight as they stumbled home from an all-night bender somewhere, schoolkids up to mobile-phone mischief on benches waiting for school buses, businessmen sweating profusely as they squeezed their suited-up bulk into the standing-room-only jam of the third car of the Roma Street express. You know the kind of thing. All highly entertaining on a hour-long commute from the 'burbs.

...

These days, when I head to a meeting to discuss our family business, the loons I come across are of a different breed altogether.

Can you see what I spotted as I drove up the paddock (with the ipod happily blaring on the shuffle setting) to meet the boys this week?

(And yes I know the photo is hazy... it's taken through the smeary dusty windshield, what do you expect!?)

Oh yes.

Freaky Friday Full Moon Crazy bird alert...

Hello bird brain!

I think emus are the weirdest of Aussie creatures...

they stalk around all knobby-kneed in straggling gaggles,

mindlessly darting whenever the bird in front so much as twitches,

with their phoofy feather tutus,

and starey amber eyes.

Their kind of freakiness is quite hard to describe really -

maybe "sepia-hued Lewis Carrol versions of awkward prehistoric ballet bird dancers"?

Yeah. Nah.

I should shut it and let the photos do the talkin'...

This particular gang didn't bolt immediately as I let the Prado idle closer,

they were tense but curious ...

(and apparently closet fans of Guy Sebastian's 'Midnight Hour').

This one seems to be thinking:

I am exactly the same colour as the dry foliage here...

and if I hold still, no-one could POSSIBLY see me in this clever disguise!

While his brothers are bravely sneaking closer (in gaggle formation) and thinking:

What is that strange white rectangle?

And what is that funky music ...

could it be Guy Sebastian?

And this one is all:

'I'm gonna do everything I told ya,

In the Midnight Hour!'

And this one is muttering:

For Heaven's sake, the things you see on your way to a meeting!

...

So...see anything freaky - freakier than BB communing with giant flightless birds - today?