A smattering of snaps

I've been thinking about my contest and wondering

what people would like to see on their walls...

if anything I have snapped here

would appeal to you...

it's such a personal thing, isn't it?

So I thought I'd pop up a couple of images

I've been thinking of adding to the 'for sale' section of this blog...

And you can tell me what 'speaks' to you...

Or you can just look...

And maybe shake your head and murmur under your breath

'What on earth was she thinking?'!

'Who the heck wants any of this rubbish on their walls?'

...

Course, I hope you don't say that.

Or if you do,

just keep it to yourself...

OK?

....

Don't forget to comment on this post if you'd like a free poster of my work.

Or if you think it's rubbish, just go here instead!

Win something huuuge!

OK. It's time.

For a CONTEST.

...

As you may already know, my contests are a little different from most.

What happens is that I post a pic I like to call a 'mystery photo' (and often they are not very mysterious at all) and then YOU make up something wild and wacky to explain what that image might possibly be. As my Dad would say:

There is no need to ruin a good story with the truth!

If you have no idea what the hey I am talking about, here are some of the entries from previous contests. Just reading the outrageous and hilarious entries is always worth the click anyway!

...

And then, after you let loose with your imaginations, I look over the entries as I have yet another coffee, and I freak out as I realise how truly clever and creative my readers all are, and that I cannot possibly choose just one winner. And often more than one person gets a little somethin'. I'm hopeless.

...

For this contest, the winner/s get their choice of (are you ready for it) a

20" x 32" print

of any image I have taken

on this blog.

So if you have space on your wall, get your crazy caps on and go for it!

...

Here 'tis:

A little somethin' to get you started...

It's NOT a wing-wong for a goose's bridle!

Comp closes Monday evening Oz time. Winners announced as soon as I read, digest, freak out, close my eyes and stab my finger at the screen to select an entry...

Have fun kids!

Grass fire (from the car window)

Driving down the road to home this week, I could've been forgiven for thinking the grass out the front of our house paddock was on fire.

It was all red-tipped and rippling and alight.

So I took a photo.

Or two.

(Are you shocked? No? You are in the right place then!)

The late afternoon light was low enough to

really catch the flowering tips of the Red Natal grass...

Lighting it up all fiery red...

With flashes of white-hot ...

That Mother Nature ... she loves messin' with mah head!

:-)

BB

PS News from southern Australia (in real bushfire country) is that the threat is easing.

Fingers crossed!

PPS Thanks for the messages yesterday - my husband is still reeling from embarrassment at all your 'movie star' comments! Of course I know how handsome he is, but he thinks I am just biased. Heh.

Wordless Wednesday - for my man

Fire watch from afar...

Just a note to remind everyone to keep an eye on their news bulletins...

The fires in Victoria are ramping up again with thousands of people evacuated and hundreds of firefighters removed from the firefront currently considered 'too dangerous'.

My heart aches for those who have been on alert for weeks now.

I cannot imagine the weariness, the loss of normal life, the constant need to be 'on guard'.

I hope the vigil pays off.

I hope everyone stays sane.

And that a good night's sleep (or two!) is just around the corner.

...

And while I have been appreciating our green outlook & recent rain showers up here...

My thoughts are down there - thousands of kms to the south of Granite Glen - with them tonight.

May the green follow the black... and soon!

...

Postscript: some rain has fallen overnight... not enough to put out fires but a hopeful change!

Cool. Clear. Water.

Water is essential to all life.

Now I realise this statement falls into the "duh!" department, but sometimes we lose sight of the simplicity of the concept. I know I have. Mostly when I was living in the 'Big Smoke' and worrying about traffic and road rage. I'm not a patient person. And I know myself well enough to know that get worse when I'm not near some sort of H2O... whether it's a just a shower or a full-blown Kakadu waterfall, I need my 'fix' to keep me sane. And smelling nice!

...

Humans are drawn to water, often in a subconscious way.

It's a fact that 'we' (the masses) pay massive amounts of money to holiday near (or even live near) water. Especially when we live in group situations (i.e. in towns or cities). A 'water view' puts the asking price of a dwelling in any Australian urban area up outrageously. And 'uninterrupted ocean views' can push those figures into the stratosphere.

...

When I lived in the city, Mr Incredible and I had an ocean glimpse of which we were inordinately proud. You'd have thought we'd built the Pacific ourselves, we were so keen to show off our square inch-through-the-trees flash of it's aqua shimmer. You were not allowed to walk up our front stairs without a being whipped off for a quick detour to the deck for a viewing. Our motto: You got it? Flaunt it baby!

...

And I guess it's the one thing that gets me, living in the bush:

The fact that I'm not always sure those that have been out here forever really fully appreciate the view...

Sure they love the water, the locals round here

(I'm referring to the ones I know personally) ...

Water is practical, it keeps animals alive and it ensure good grass growth. They know better than any that good rainfall helps keep the threat of bushfires in hand. And helps get stock through our long dry winters. Bushies measure rainfall and compare tallies and talk about it constantly...

But the sheer soul-reviving beauty of the flowing precipitation?

Do they go into poetic raptures about it?

Not. A. Bit.

They smile. Little knowing smiles.

But the 'raptures'?

They'll leave that to certain citified prodigal country chicks.

(That'd be moi, if you missed the oh-so-subtle hint there!)

Cause they know I find it very hard to drive past a trickling stream...

Or a move on by moody, reflective body of still water.
And should someone go and throw some colourful cows into the mix...

Well I can't help but go getting all misty and poetic...
...
And the 'locals'? They smile, and shake their heads and go on about their business. And you wonder why I blog?
Heh.
...
So make me feel less like a crazy geek... what's made you go into raptures lately?

Weekend warriors...

Weekends for most people are a relaxing time.
A time to take some respite from a hard-workin' week.

To do something different from the everyday.

For most.

Can you guess what our weekend consisted of? Oh sure, we were away from Granite Glen for a few hours. And sure, there was the happy cameraderie of friendly faces...

Hello Jude. Hello Pete.

I have known this wonderful couple my whole life.

They are also known as The Scorer and The Timekeeper respectively.

On weekends.

And here's another friendly face...

Hello Mr Incredible.

OK, he's not looking all that friendly. He's in Concentrating Mood. You don't want to be interrupting this particular mood. Or taking photos of it. Just so you know.
This is what he is concentrating on...

Thundering hooves.

And some more thundering hooves...

And here is (Super) Trooper, Mr Incredible's stalwart steed...

He's watching thundering hooves and wondering when it's his turn...

to thunder.

Now I have to admit I was much more nervous than Mr Incredible at his very first campdrafting event, and failed to take any decent photos of my husband in action...

with the possible exception of this one.

...taken just as he's about to leap from the camp behind the steer into the main arena.

For the record, he didn't win.

But boy he had fun.

And he has assured me that there will be many weekends in my future just like this one.

You wanna know who did win?

This talented and determined rider...

Man, she was amazing. Totally fearless.

And that's just one of the great things about the sport of campdrafting.

It's totally unisex.

Chicks win and it really annoys (some of) the boys. Heh.

Girl Power rules!

(Sorry Mr I. Had to be said. Love you! Better luck next time, baby!)