Friday, September 26, 2008

A break from the clean up

The shed clean up continues, but the progress isn't as dramatic as on the first day so I haven't been very good about recording this adventure.  We are set to have a big yard sale on Sunday and for sure there will be photos of this huge event.  Dave's putting on a sausage sizzle.

I got another chance with the new emu family the other day.  The dad was more relaxed with me for the most part but I was glad I had a longer lens on anyway.






I actually got to hit the water for the first time since I've been back in Australia. It was a glorious day out with flat seas, blue skies and humpback whales everywhere. We had to stop the boat on the way to the dive site as several humpies decided to change course and swam leisurely straight in front of us! Underwater was tough shooting - lots of surge which was very surprising as there was little swell and tons of floating sand. Focus was nearly impossible in places so I didn't shoot very many frames, but I certainly enjoyed my time! The nudibranchs are out in force again and I found 7 species in only a few meters of reef...and there was an 8th hiding that I didn't see until I downloaded my photos!

I also found a species that I haven't seen here before, so that's always a treat! I'm not 100% sure on the ID, but I think he's a Noumea flava He was flipping from one bit of weed to another as the weed rolled along the sandy bottom. He was about 3mm long and a total pain in the patootie to shoot, but I got a few good frames!
Hypselodoris malucosa checking out an urchin

he decided that it was too prickly so he decided to go around, only to find a big ditch to cross




The Girls have been running amok inside lately. I love to watch them play, though it gets a little annoying after a while coz they are so loud and have no sense of personal space!








OK, I have to put this link out there again ... Cake Wrecks is just so flippin' funny, you have to check out it out now and again!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Great Shed Clean-Up ... Take II ... Day One

You may remember the beginning of this adventure back in early September.  It's taken a while to get started on Phase Two, but yesterday Dave organized a crew to come in and lend a hand.  We worked from about 9am to 5pm and took a good chunk out of it.

The yard in the morning as Carl starts the initial sorting

Rowie starts hauling stuff

Inside the shed at the start of the day


Tilly with a cheeky grin...that's a newly renovated hole behind her

View from the door back towards the patio as the sorting continues - there's even some empty space!


The shed by about 11am

stuff everywhere

The backyard at 11am

Dora just chillin'

MatildaLily has to check to see that Dora's doing OK without her


Backyard at 11:30am

Lunch cooking on Dave's new sausage BBQ

MatildaLily and Dora were actually very good dogs most of the day. We had the gate open and the shed open but neither of them ran away...until about 5pm! Then they were BOOM gone down the road. I ran after them and Dora came back, but Til was long gone. Luckily, Dave was driving back at the same time and stopped to collect her. She, of course, thought him chasing her was a great game. She had bolted down there after a little dog and was having excellent fun. When Dave tried to get her in the car, the other dog ran over and hopped right in...Til took off towards me and I ran home with her. The other dog, Jed, was a total sweetie and luckily he had a collar so we called his dad to come get him. In the meantime, we popped them all in the backyard and they had a really good time running amok. We did lock the cats indoors and Jed really liked watching them!





Finally we have some real progress...here's the scene from the shed at quittin' time

Looking back to the shed from the edge of the patio

The patio - it looks worse than it is. Most of those boxes are books and I have them all sorted, so it's a matter of putting the bookshelf back in the house and putting the other books out for sale next weekend.

The shed is looking tidy and organized. There is still a lot to go back into it, but at least there is room, you can get to things and it's clean!

The dogs were exhausted after the big day and playtime

A well deserved beer at the end of the day

We are hoping that one more hard day will see everything back in its proper place, a big load gone to the tip and a big pile ready for a yard sale next weekend!


Sunday, September 21, 2008

Come along, Kiddos

One of the town emu dad's has three new chicks.  They are so tiny and so cute with their little stripy football shaped bodies!  Dad was not amused as I tried to take shots of the little ones - he kept charging, spitting and hissing at me whenever I would try to get up alongside them or in front of them.  So I, being the brave soul I am, chose to stay back ... and come back another day with a longer lens!

Here they go around the corner

Getting the evil eye

Off down the alley

Follow me, obey the rules

Dave has started working on the great shed clean-up project again. It's taking a long time because there are so many distractions and his helpers keep running off with new treasures!





Tilly has a few problems figuring out how to carry the bat




But eventually figures it out...even if she then isn't sure why!