brolgas

…and I’ve just learned a new word. Well, I’ve known this word for many years, but this definition is new (surprisingly!) to me.

I did think I’d have a little guessing game, but it would be too easy for the smarty-pants crew to google it. This is what they’d find: In some parts of the U.S., “brolga” is used to refer to a cocktail made from gin, Sprite (or 7 Up), and a few drops of Angostura bitters.

But boring ol’ me had something else in mind http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brolga

Taking palm trash up to the local tip this morning I spotted a small group of Brolgas so I pulled over to the side of the road, scrambled across to the passenger seat, put the window down and managed a few shots with the little camera. (more on Flickr)

Another fact…the brolga is on the Queensland State coat of arms, with a red deer. Never figured out how or why the red deer, an introduced beast ,made it to that level!

update The final and current addition to the coat of arms was created in 1977, during the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, with the granting of supporting animal. A Red Deer, to represent the old world and it is a classic animal of heraldry; and a Brolga, which represents the native population and it is the state’s official bird.

More here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Queensland

Sporran is back to normal after her limpy leg adventure. Not sure what Dave gave her, but I’m thinking of asking him if he’ll jab my shoulder with some!

Don’t know why I’m trying to write a post when I’m so tired. We stayed up late, watching Tim Minchin on television. Recorded when he performed at the Sydney Opera House.With the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. When I think what they did to Lenny Bruce for swearing…Mr. Minchin would’ve been on permanent cauliflower cheese back then! If he’d been performing then. A difficult trick, since he wasn’t yet born! He has quite a few clips up on youtube; here’s one of them. If the sixth letter of our alphabet upsets you, don’t play the clip. Otherwise…enjoy

The bar is open…back later. 😉

…And not, I might add, without a little trepidation! I may write more of this bravado later…

But first, I’d like to acknowledge another blogger, who prompted this Sunday lunch dish:

Sweet potato wrapped with bacon and sage.

Of course, Ronell’s posted recipes look so much more enticing with vibrant watercolours…

But hey! you’re lucky to get even a quickie photograph… see that black, furry banner, waving, top left? Trust me, one does not fiddle about being David Bailey when Super-Nose is homing in!

Let me just say that lunch was delicious, although, local sweet potatos being somewhat bland, next time I’ll add a little spice. Water colours? Hmm…not with a hungry Man and three “tea leaves”* around!

But my day began well before lunch. I loaded the car (God bless the station wagon!) with what felt like a million dead palm fronds and butts and headed for the local green tip. This, fortunately, is just a five minute drive away, whereas non-green garbage has to go to the Big Dump, ‘way across town. Yes, we do have weekly garbage collection, but green waste disposal is down to householders.

A road less travelled? Not this one!

I had the camera along for the ride as I wanted to “catch” some birds that live in the swampy (ex-swampy) area by the dump.

I’d been hoping to see the brolgas but I guess, being birds of wet areas, they’ve “swanned off.” In fact, it is so dry up there at present I was able to walk right into the stand of Melaleuca.

After a recent burn. Controlled or mischievous? Notice the new growth, bottom right?

I wouldn’t mind seeing these charred beauties in moonlight. P’raps I should tie a knot in my hankie for next full moon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And that hi-tech stuff? Well, I’ve spent a lot of time going through my photo files and trying to decide what to keep and , having decided, whether I want it on the hard drive or on discs. And whether I have an ENTIRE DAY (and, probably, night) in which to do this. Some, of course, are swimming about in the ether of Flickr, but I still have a fair load on the hard drive and if I have another serious crash…well, let’s just say Mama will not be having another 85th birthday!

So, back to a little more editing before I head down to the cafe to hang the “Vestival.” Yes, I will have some pictures to infli share. Maybe tomorrow…

*Tea leaf is Cockney slang for thief.