Extended Family..

Our crested pigeons are back..

Actually they never went away, and they seem to have increased in numbers, as have the honey eaters, ducks, galahs, magpies and the ibis.

The crested pigeons are breeding two months earlier this year, (compared to last year). In the same little tree, just near our dog kennels and the side of the house. They have built another small nest, near their last year's nest.

This is the 2008 nest up above, if you look close near the bird's head you may make out last year's nest.

2007 nest, and the tree, minus it's foliage..

The result of the hatched eggs, such friendly, calm birds...and so big! It's amazing how quickly they hatch and grow, and accept us and the dogs.

2 Bee........

I've been thinking about the last time I saw bees.

September, 2007.

We used to have heaps of bees, some in the peppercorn tree near the horses, we all got on just fine, horses never bothered the bees and they all shared the water trough.

A gumtree that is up the back paddock, used to have a hive in it every year. Snakes shared it with the bees, and all got along as sweet as could bee.

Now for years, there has been less and less of the little critters.

The dogs and I found this walking along a back road, I sent the dogs off ahead to get away and snuck in for closer pictures.

Very quietly.

Then I ran. :)

Was all fine though, no harm to them, or me and some interesting snaps.

This spider has been living in one of the rain gauges. Sometimes it gets tipped out when I empty the gauge, (ha! not often, not much rain falls), but it makes its way back in.

A Life Passion..

You can tell a horse owner by the interior of their car. Boots, mud, pony nuts, straw, items of tack and a screwed-up waxed jacket of incredible antiquity. There is normally a top layer of children and dogs.

~Helen Thompson

A horse is a thing of such beauty...(Xenophon)

Filled with fury, rapt, inspir'd. (William Collins)

Horse thou art truly a creature without equal, for thou fliest without wings and conquerest without sword.

~The Koran

A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart, And wins with his character.

~Tesio

In riding a horse we borrow freedom.

~Helen Thomson

The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit and fire.

(Sharon Ralls Lemon)

To me, horses and freedom are synonymous

~Veryl Goodnight

The horse through all its trials has preserved the sweetness of paradise in its blood.

~Johannes Jensen

...tireless, swift as the flowing wind. Shadowfax they called him. By day his coat glistens like silver; and by night it is like a shade, and he passes unseen. Light is his footfall!

~ J.R.R. Tolkien