Thursday 30 September - Child's Play

Today I took my camera and a rug outside hoping to find and insect or a flower to photograph. I promptly fell asleep on the rug and didn't get around to taking a photo - although I do have loads of video on Nicholas. So here is the evidence of Nich's playtime.

29 September 2010 - Cape Town

This is a view of the mountain above Rhodes Avenue in Cape Town. We were leaving the city to return home this morning and were just amazed at the clarity of the sky and the mountains. Cape Town is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I so enjoyed being there.

Tuesday 28 September - Fishoek beach at Twilight

We went down to Fishoek beach after the conference to just enjoy some fresh sea air after spending most of the day in computer labs. I really enjoy the hues of the mountains in the distance. I know why my friend Gwen loves the beach so much.

Monday 28 September - Whale waving

I went down to Fishoek beach early this morning to meet up with friend Gwen. We've been sharing our daily photos on Facebook and now had the chance to meet. There was a whale in the bay and we had a lovely time trying to get a shot of him, hoping he would breach. This didn't happen whilst I was there but he did give a couple of waves.

Sunday 26 September - blossoms

Today's photo was actually taken yesterday evening at a farmstall near Somerset West. There was a row of these fruit trees in bloom. I'm not sure which fruit - peaches or plums? I couldn't resist getting a shot of the pretty pink against the blue sky.

Saturday 25 September - Steenbras Dam

This is a view of the dam as seen from the national road into Cape Town. The weather had cleared and the sun came out. It's such a peaceful scene.

Friday 24 September - Go Away!

Today I set up my camera at the bathroom window and took some photos as the parents came and went from the nest with meals for Fang and Jaws. At one stage this parent looked straight at me with this menacing look as if to say, "Take your camera and get away from us!"

Thursday 23 September 2010 - Pigeon

It's been an exciting afternoon. This pigeon allowed me to walk right up to him to take this shot. I didn't even have to zoom. He then went on contentedly pecking at snacks in the lawn.

The other exciting news is that the wagtail babies have hatched. I've been keeping an eye on the parents rushing to and fro gathering food for their hungry little babies. You can read more about that in the Wagtail Diaries blog.

Wednesday 22 September 2010 - Pretty Petunias

I didn't find much in the garden today but this pot of cheerful petunia blooms brightened my day. Such happy flowers....

Tuesday 21 September 2010 - Poppy in late afternoon.

Our front garden is very shady in the late afternoon but today I caught the setting sun lighting up this poppy.

Monday 20 September 2010 - After the Rain...

We had some more rain today - just enough to dampen the garden but not enough to break the drought.

I found this large nasturtium leaf with raindrops held gently in its palm. The best is seeing the oak tree reflected in the large drop in the centre.

Sunday 19 September 2010 - Graphics

Today I've been pretty lazy. After church we came home and I stayed inside for the rest of the day - sleeping and chilling. The result is I haven't taken a photo - lack of inspiration - and I decided to upload another one I took at the cricket last night. This is one of the graphics they project onto the scoreboard when someone scores a four. I also took some of the fireworks when a six is scored but without a tripod those didn't come out so well.

Saturday 18 September 2010 - Caught!

Last night we went to cricket at St George's with Chris and his family. Actually everyone else had been at cricket all afternoon but I was facilitating a workshop until 4pm so I only joined them for the second match.
We had lovely seats in the first row behind the covers at the Duckpond end. it was great and I managed to get this action photo. Chennai Kings were playing the Bushrangers. It was a really exciting match which ended in a draw and finally had to be decided by a Super Over. Well done to Bushrangers for pulling it off.

Friday 17 September 2010 - Reel Gardening

I recently saw an advertisement for these seed packages. The idea is that the seeds are sealed in long paper strips with a small amount of fertilizer for each seed. They are evenly spaced and one just has to dig a channel and place the paper tube into the ground with the top half above ground. As they are watered the paper degrades and the seeds begin to sprout. It's an innovative idea and I'm looking forward to planting them. The company is found at http://www.reelgardening.co.za/

Thursday 16 September 2010 - Birthday Boy

My beloved Mark is 61 today - although he tells me he's really just 16. I guess we're all still 16 in our heads. Come to think of it, we've know one another since we were 16. It's been a great journey. Thanks Mark for being my best friend over so many years. May the year ahead be really blessed.

Wednesday 15 September 2010 - Wind

Today was a wild day for wind. By the time I arrived home the sun was gone and there was nothing much to photograph. I tried to capture the movement of the trees but my photo isn't very exciting. It's one of those days where the need to have a photo surpasses the availability of a subject.

At school I was on playground duty and wished I'd had my camera with me. At one stage a gust of wind blew a huge cloud of dust into the air and the kids were left blinded by the sand blowing in their eyes. The swirling dust would have made a great picture.

Tuesday 14 September 2010 - Stupid

Yesterday I had a serious stupid episode. When I arrived home and parked my car I climbed out to go and lock the gate - leaving my keys turned one notch in the ignition and the door slightly ajar.

I then unpacked the boot and started fussing around inside. Shortly after that Chris and Christie popped in for a visit and all thoughts of returning to the car were gone.

This morning I started to look for my keys as I was about to leave for work. Hmmmm.... One flat battery and no hubby at home. Thank your Joy for a lift to and from school. Eish!!!

Monday 13 September 2010 - Violas

Thanks to friend Maggie I now know these are violas. There is a patch of them flowering in our garden at the moment. They are so pretty and the special part is that I didn't even plant them this year. I think they just came up from a previous planting. Something to cheer up my day.

Sunday 12 September 2010 - Daily Bread

Today I decided to bake some bread. It worked beautifully. The yeast worked hard, the texture of the bread is soft and delicious and the crust is crisp. The smell of bread baking filled the house. Good bread is a blessing.

Saturday 11 September 2010 - Deep Nest

Today I tried to take a photo into the nest so I could see the eggs. I opened the bathroom window while Mama was out for breakfast and managed to take this shot.... Unfortunately I couldn't see right into the nest because it was too deep. And so we wait.....

Friday 10 September 2010 - Snail race

When I arrived home from work today these two speedsters were tearing down the driveway, racing for the finish. It looks like Speedy1 it going to win by half a length. Go Speedy!!!

Thursday 9 September 2010 - Ms Wagtail

The pair of wagtails have built a beautiful little nest outside our kitchen window and now they're starting their family. This afternoon I peered out a crack in the shower window and spotted Mamma in the nest. I carefully opened the window a bit wider and she took off. After about an hour she was back and I was able to get this shot. The white part is the window frame. It's so exciting anticipating the arrival of a little wagtail brood.

Wednesday 8 September 2010 - Pelargonium

This very colourful pelargonium has been blooming for a couple of months in our garden and it doesn't appear to be fading. It makes a lovely splash of colour and the bees just love it. It's also visited by an occasional butterfly. Lovely drought resistant shrub.

Tuesday 7 September 2010 - Red flower

This gorgeous little fluffy red flower is just beginning to bloom on an indigenous shrub in our garden. I don't even know the name .... The bees are loving the flowers and I enjoyed admiring them this afternoon.

Monday 6 September 2010 - Cat's Cradle

When I was at school we used to play a game with string called Cat's Cradle. This afternoon I wanted to take a photo of the dark clouds and the sunlight reflected off the trees in a neighbouring property. When I downloaded the photo I was struck by the intricate wires merging on the pole. The converging wires reminded me of the game of Cat's Cradle that we used to play.

Sunday 5 September 2010 - Bee on Pelargonium

My photo for Sunday was this bee with his head buried in a pelargonium flower. I'm still trying to get the macro shots right. It was such a warm afternoon sitting in the sun waiting for a photo subject.

Saturday 4 September 2010 - Purity

I love these wild arum lilies that come up in our garden every Spring. They are so beautiful with the contrasting white and the yellow stamen. This one is particularly beautiful today with its unblemished white petal and makes a lovely contrast with the dark green shadows.

Friday 3 September 2010 - Nothing

I've got that blank end of the week feeling today. I came home and fell asleep. I woke up feeling very cold and uninspired. After sitting in the garden for a short while I was frozen from the chilly wind so I came in and heated up some soup. Now the bowl is empty - nothing left, and I still don't have a photo. Nothing. So this is as good as it gets. Empty cup and bowl on a plastic tray....

Thursday 2 September 2010 - Wagtail Wandering

After getting so excited about the wagtails building a nest outside the kitchen window they seem to have abandoned that nest. Perhaps it was too close to humans for their comfort - or maybe they weren't happy with the paparazzi. I haven't seen them working on the nest since Monday but they are around and today I was able to sit and watch them pecking around in the vegetable patch. Then this little chap wandered up closer to me on the lawn. He didn't appear to be afraid, he just kept nibbling in the grass. I think he was eating the seeds of the weed that's coming up in the lawn.

Wednesday 1 September 2010 - Spring Day

This morning whilst hanging the washing I saw two sparrows doing the "spring thing" in this tree. Later this afternoon I was lying on the bench looking up at the wispy clouds in the beautiful blue sky when I noticed the new leaves on this pin oak. Wow! the 1st September and spring really is in the air!