Tag: cloud catcher

Australia · clouds · family · history · Mount Warning · sunrise · Tweed Valley

Hattons Bluff ~ A Landmark of the Tweed Valley

Joanne5 Comments

There were a couple of showers of rain early this morning, so when I awoke at around 6:30 am, a few flimsy pockets of mist had formed in the valley.

My husband noticed mist surrounding Hattons Bluff, and suggested I take a photo. I had been complaining to husband that with all the rain we’ve had lately, I haven’t had a clear view of Huttons Bluff in ages. This morning, however, the mist circling the landmark accentuated its position next to Mount Warning.

Being interested in local history and family history, I had hoped that my husband would know something of the history of Hattons Bluff. Some time ago, I asked him what he knew about the area … “it’s next to Mount Warning” he told me. That was the extent of his knowledge! Being born and raised in this area, I had hoped he would know more, such as who the bluff was named after. Apparently not.

Now I have raised his curiosity, husband is curious about Hattons Bluff’s geographical position, so today, when business took him to the small town of Bray Park just outside of Murwillumbah, he took a closer photo of Hattons Bluff on his phone and sent it to me.

To the right of Hattons Bluff, Mount Warning can be seen peeking over the tops of the trees.

As for the history of Hattons Bluff, I have been doing some investigating, and have learned some information which I find intriguing! I will share my findings tomorrow. 🙂

Australia · clouds · family · Mount Warning · summer · Tweed Valley

Cloudy Thursday

Joanne8 Comments

Last night, the clouds rolled back in and the rain started pouring down from the heavens again.

For the past few days, while I’ve been catching up on a thousand things (offline) I have been contemplating changes I’d like to make to my blog (online). I must have ‘written’ a thousand posts in my mind during recent days as well, whose words have never quite made it to the page.

Maybe tomorrow I can devote some time to sitting down at my computer for a change, and writing.

Both of my daughters visited today with their children, so I had a lovely ‘family’ day, but now it’s late, I’m tired, and I’m heading off to bed.

Australia · Mount Warning · native Australian birds · new beginnings · quotes · summer · Tweed Valley

Australia Day 2021

Joanne9 Comments

26 January 1788

In the evening of the 26th the colours were displayed on shore, and the Governor, with several of his principle officers and others, assembled round the flag-staff, drank the king’s health, and success to the settlement, with all that display of form which on such occasion is esteemed propitious, because it enlivens the spirits, and fills the imagination with pleasing presages. ~~ Except from Journals of the First Fleet, Arthur Phillip and Watkin Tench.

And so began the development of the country – Australia – into what it is today. ❤

Australia · clouds · garden flowers · gardening · in my garden · Mount Warning · native Australian birds · rain · seasons · summer · sunrise · Tweed Valley

Monday Morning Mist

Joanne6 Comments

This morning I awoke to the most beautiful sight in the valley.

After another warm day yesterday, we had an unexpected downpour of rain late last night, nothing major, but it seems the moisture combined with the heat was enough to give the valley an “other worldly” appearance this morning.

While I was outside admiring the valley mist in the early morning light, a female Pee Wee came by. I have four regular Pee Wee visitors these days – two males and two females.

Even though drizzly rain continued all morning, there was something special about the light today. I played around taking photos for a while from my front patio, and one of my favourites was of my white miniature rose. A couple of weeks ago, the plant looked a tad frazzled, but since the days have been cooler, it seems to have had a new surge in growth.

Like the miniature rose bush, the cooler and calmer summer’s days we’ve had recently have given my Tibouchina tree a new lease on life too.

This summer, I am basking in the glory of cooler-than-usual days and nights, which have allowed me to spend more time in the garden than usual this summer. If every summer could be this agreeable, I’d be a very happy all-year-round gardener. 🙂

Australia · clouds · garden flowers · in my garden · Mount Warning · native Australian birds · native Australian plants · rain · summer · Tweed Valley

More rain …

Joanne4 Comments

When the rain bucketed down at 7am this morning, there was no sign of Mount Warning. Ignoring the inclement weather, two little Magpie Larks, or Pee Wees as they are affectionately called in Australia, arrived first for breakfast at my back door.

The first photo is a little lady pee wee, with verticle lines of black feathers through both eyes, and white around her beak.

Nearby, another pee wee waited, a male, with a horizontal black “mask” across his eyes, and more black feathers around his beak than his little lady friend. My photos would have been clearer if it wasn’t for the dreary weather, but with such shy flitting birds, I take what I can get.

Later in the afternoon, the mountain appeared from behind the veil of clouds which had hidden it all day.

For days now, I have been trying to take a photo of the new Lilly pilly flowers appearing on some of my potted plants. They will eventually form a hedge in the garden, but for now, I am keeping them near to the house where they can be watered every day – manually, with a hose, (was the plan) although I have rarely used the hose this summer due to our excessive rainfall! Lilly pillys are usually very hotogenic flowers, except on dull days, apparently. I will persevere though. They are very pretty Australian natives and I would like to document their growth more extensively, besides showing off their beauty. 🙂