2018 frontpage

Sunday challenge... ordinary object made beautiful

rural Queensland Saturday challenge... processed

... from little acorns grow. Ancient metal money box which I had as a child. There is something inside and I have lost the key. "You'd scarce expect one of my age To speak in public on the stage; And if I chance to fall below Demosthenes or Cicero, Don't view me with a critic's eye, But pass my imperfections by. Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow..." David Everett 1770-1813 American newspaper editor, proprietor, and poet. Sunday challenge... money related, not actual money

In our backyard, Queensland. Sunday challenge... weather

I prefer the colour version, in notes and comments :-) Saturday challenge, red changed to B&W

Australian Drongo Saturday challenge... silhouettes

Oz still looks cute in it :-) Sunday challenge... something that does not fit

Bottles of water, one half full. Saturday challenge... anything glass, best qualities

Sunday challenge... Fill A Glass Container with objects The glass container may be a jar, vase, jug, etc. The objects may be a collection, identical objects or whatever you want to use EXCEPT liquids. This orchid was a present over a year ago. It has always been experimental as far as I am concerned. I knew nothing about orchids and they are still a complete mystery. I decided to repot it and it appears to be growing in thin air. I bought some orchid mix which looks like sizable bark mulch. I put it in a new pot(in comments), but a friend suggested that a clear container would be better to let the light in, so this is the latest effort. I will await developments

On our fence, in Queensland Cracticus nigrogularis Artamidae The Pied Butcherbird, widespread throughout large parts of mainland Australia, is the familiar species of butcherbird to most people. One of the species’ readily recognised aspects is its beautiful, haunting, flute-like song which may be given throughout the day and sometimes well into moonlit nights. Once heard, the song is difficult to forget, and it has been described as ‘one of the finest in the world’. Added to this, Pied Butcherbirds also often include mimicry of a wide range of species in their repertoire. It is a medium-sized black and white bird. It has a full black hood, dark brown eye and long, hooked, grey and black bill. It has a broad white collar that goes all around its neck and a black bib (throat area). The rest of the underparts are white and the legs are black. The upper parts are mostly black, with large patches of white on the wings and rump. In flight, the white corners of the otherwise black tail are easily seen. birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/pied-butcherbird Sunday challenge... Wings

the Saturday challenge... baskets

Saturday chalenge B&W contrast

Saturday challenge Will post a clue later :-) Taken from the stern of a cruise ship looking down on two lower open decks. We have just returned from a cruise on this ship. Photo in comments.

Rural Queensland Saturday challenge... anything red

SE Queensland Autumn sunset, taken from our patio. Zero editing. Saturday challenge... Clouds/colour or B&W

In sunlight, filling the frame for the Saturday challenge :-) Euphorbia pulcherrima is a shrub or small tree, typically reaching a height of 0.6–4 metres (2–13 ft). The plant bears dark green dentate leaves that measure 7–16 centimetres (2.8–6.3 in) in length. The colored bracts—which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled—are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves. Explored

25 August 2018, Tewantin, Queensland. Lest we forget. With my Dad, now 101, who served in the British Army in WWII... 6th (ARMOURED) DIVISION 1939-1945 September 1940 - Divisional Headquarters formed in the UK. United Kingdom: 12.9.40 - 8.11.42 At Sea: 8.11.42 - 22.11.42 North Africa: 22.11.42 - 18.3.44 Italy: 18.3.44 - 8.5.45 Austria: 8.5.45 - 31.8.45 Explored

Published c1867 London: Milner and Sowerby, Paternoster Row. William Milner / Milner and Sowerby, Halifax William Milner (1803-1850) started this Halifax book publishing firm. As a young man he apprenticed in the trade before beginning his own house. By the 1830's he was publishing thousands of "cheap books" per day. His well known series called the "Cottage Library" was comprised of the "cheapest books in Britain". His firm was among the first to publish inexpensive books. He left his publishing business to his two stepsons. The house was then known as Milner and Sowerby. Illiustration and poem in Note Saturday challenge... Books Explored