The use of a word ...

Well it was a big day yesterday.  I had a medical appointment  (well now that you ask, it was an MRI.  Who would have thought that a middle ear infection back in July would still be annoying me now!?  ENT fellow wanted to have a look at the big picture .. ahh that would be my brain).

 

So before I headed off to the 10am Melbourne Cup Day morning appointment, I thought to myself well at least it’s before all the hoo-ha starts, and the nation stops to watch the race.  I certainly didn’t want to be stuck in the machine while others watched the race!

 

Then I remember that hoo-ha was an expression my Mum used quite a bit, and I don’t hear it very often now.  I pondered whether it actually was a word, or just a made up.  So of course I asked Mr Google who confirmed that it is a term for fussing about, but also a slang word for something else entirely .........

Well!  I didn't know that - you learn something new every day. I've led a sheltered life it seems.  So  I will have to use the term more carefully now it seems – maybe I should try out brouhaha.

Melbourne Cup Day always leaves me a little nonplussed.   Like most people, I've have enjoyed quite a few lunch outings over the years and have joined in the office sweeps on many occasions.  However, I’ve never been to the race itself and as a horse lover I just don't really enjoy watching horses race.  It was sad to hear that one of the horses, Verema was put down.

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A few snaps about the place.  Luckily the gardenias are flowering at moment, not much else is.  The lorikeets are happily enjoying one of our gums that is in full flower at the moment.  It seems that a side order of sunflower seeds is popular as well.

Two books heading back to the library.  The yarn one is beautiful to look at, but a bit complex for me.  The Hilary Mantel novel is .......well, interesting.  It started off as a witty - bordering on humorous - toned story about nuns and priests in ‘50s England ... until the strange visitor Fludd appeared in town.  Things become slightly more complex and the expression ‘putting the cat amongst the pigeons’ springs to mind.    However, maybe that’s just my mind at the moment.  It’s just a bit addled from being x-rayed from many different angles!

Cheers for now

Wendy 

Morning Walk (Part 2)

I've realised that I didn't continue the post about my Morning Walk - here is Part 1.

The first part of the walk takes in the 'rural' aspect.   I enjoy walking past our neighbouring acreages, most of them being between 5 and 10 acres in size.  Not a lot has changed in this part recently.  The ones who live on these blocks are seemingly like us - enjoying the natural surrounds.

Continuing this walk to the end of the street I can access the park.  It has a concreted track which is open at two street frontages, and it also loops around through the park.   It is (I'm guessing) about 10 acres.

This particular park however,  is a little different from most. 

This is what makes it different.  An innovated person in local Council some years back decided to do things a little differently.

Half the park is mown, with large groupings of native plants, heavily mulched and thriving.

Effectively in the middle, there are the usual park settings of swings and BBQ seating.

However, on the opposite side, land has been left to re-vegetate.  Of course, this area would have already been cleared of a lot of heavy timber many years ago.

 

 

 

The most exciting part for me is to see, over the years - how the natural area of the park has evolved. More and more birdlife is becoming apparent, along with other native wildlife.

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that there are very few areas for little birds to hide when all the undergrowth is cleared from properties.  The little finches are just amazing, but of course I wasn't able to take photos - they are way too fast for me!

A few people I have spoken to on my walks have mentioned 'the lack of mowing' in this section of the park.  What about the snakes?  What about fires?  To my uneducated eye though, it appears that this section of the park is just how things should be in the natural balance of things.  

There is a low lying swampy area. 

Swaying grasses for the seed eating birds like eastern rosellas and others to feed on.

 a nicely undulating hill with scrubby trees like Black Wattle

Plus ones that have been planted to show what used to grow in the area before clearing, like this Blue Gum.

I guess we are pretty fortunate to live where I can enjoy this walk daily.  All in all it is a nice morning walk - a bit rural and a bit civilised.  Dexter likes it too.

I would encourage you to photograph your daily walk.... I know that not everyone has rural surrounds, but it is amazing how different things look when you take photos of the everyday.  I know that just by taking these photos, my eyes have been opened a little more.

Take some photos of your everyday walk and feel free to link back to here!

Cheers for now - Wendy

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saving for travel - I'd be happy to send the snake skin onto you SFT - if you can clear it with Customs first!

**Anne** - chickens are always so cute aren't they - just have to keep them apart from the snakes.  I think we have the pens snake proof (I hope!) now

Fi - I agree with the snake sentiment - &  I can understand why NZ is nice on so many levels!

Shaheen - thanks for the push about my other blog which I haven't started yet!  I will get onto it soon I promise.

Kim - I'm surprised your bantams aren't clucky Kim.  Surely it will happen soon?  when the weather warms up more maybe.

Gooseberry Jam  - yes, she's a very clucky hen and a very good mother too.  Sounds like someone I know!

muppy - yes - absolutely to both!