Happy Birthday Grit and Giggles

On the 27th of July, 2011 at 4:16pm I published my first blog post.

How things have changed since then. 

It all started as a way to share and record my life living and working on a remote cattle station. A way to share and record the fun, the adventures and the challenges connected to living in the bush, far from anything and anyone. As a way to share what a Governess does and what happens in a station schoolroom.

Click on this cutie to go back to the beginning.

Click on this little cowboy to check out about a year later, 2012.

Click on this pic, my view from work, to see what I was up to about a year ago.

Now it has changed and grown. It has mapped those changes and that growth. It has been a place to record the grit and giggles of life, of my life. It has seen me move from the bush to the city and I hope it sees me through a lot more.

Click on this pretty scene to go to my latest happenings.

Thank you to those who have followed along during this journey. Thanks to those who have lifted me up with awesome comments. I hope you enjoy continuing along on this journey of mine with its twists and turns, its grit and its giggles.

Now all that is left is ... to think about what I will post next.

Waterfall on the Edge of the City

This morning I probably didn't do the smartest thing considering the weather but I went off in search for a waterfall I had heard about. I have no idea what it is called but it is at the back of Edmonton, a southern suburb of Cairns which was once its own community.

 

Once the cement path ended I realised that my choice of footwear was maybe not the most sensible. Not being bothered I had just worn thongs, I had thought about joggers but that was as far as it got.

At the end of the path, well kind of end, there was a waterfall. Not a big one but it was a very pretty area. It was like being in the middle of a rainforest yet I knew that just a short walk away was suburbia. I had parked on a close and not walked that far at all.

After discarding my thongs and getting my feet wet I rethought my decision of footwear, it was a wise one. One thing that wasn't so wise however was not putting on insect repellent. This was mosquito haven and I think I will be paying for it over the next few days. Let me tell you a was swatting, slapping and swearing at mosquitoes like the best of them and still trying to take photos. You would think after living here over a year and a half I would know to put on the mozzie spray, EVERY TIME.

The sun came out for a bit, changing the scene, adding some light. It wasn't for long though. The clouds closed back up and I knew it would rain again soon. I kept wandering around though.

I did a little off track climbing to try and find a bit more waterfall.

I did but the mozzies were driving me nuts so a few snaps and I was headed out of there.

Back to the path, then back to the car. I think I timed it fairly well as the rain came down just as I was heading back out.

The Northern End

I had never been to the far northern end of the Esplanade, well now I have.

I happened to need to be down there yesterday and it is a bit different to further south.

Firstly you don't have to pay for parking, secondly there is a bit more sand and last of all there is a nice park with plenty of shade and even when it is filled with families it feels peaceful.

At the moment there is some smoke happening across the estuary, up in the mountains to the south. It happened last year and is no surprise to see it again. I had been meaning to get some photos, it has been going on for about a week from what I have seen.

The fire might have been lit by someone it shouldn't have or they might be deliberately doing a controlled burn or back burning. Either way I don't mind seeing it and I know that come the heat of pre wet season it means there shouldn't be any out of control fires to worry about over there.

Also the smoke is being blown away from town to we can't smell it, just see it.

This end of the Esplanade has a nice strip of sand and I did spot a little girl and her dad having a lovely time in it. There isn't much in the way of sand at the other end, really only what has been put by the lagoon or the fake beach.

I enjoyed sitting and watching. I was surprised by how many families were enjoying the shady play ground and park. It was peaceful and holiday like. Nice.

It made me wish I had a little one as an excuse to head down and enjoy the area while the weather is nice. I might have to head down again for a nice sunrise view.

 This park is known as Pirate Park as the playground has a ship shape in it. I think it has a different name on the maps of the Esplanade just to confuse. 

Some more of the Esplanade can be found here and here.

Looking into my Backyard

Sometimes you can find something amazing right at you back door. Sometimes you don't need to go to where you think the grass is greener to see something beautiful, eye catching or interesting . I often go on drives or walks to find something new or interesting to see and photograph. The end of last week though, the beautiful, interesting thing came to me. It was right outside my back door, hanging out on my back fence.

Eye spy with my little eye a ...

... Forest Kingfisher.

I got a bit excited. I took some snaps and then I took some more that looked just like below. Urgh yet again with the bad photos when this beautiful, little one came to visit. Then it was gone.

The next morning I heard another visitor, I spotted another visitor and I lined it up in my sight and clicked away. Then it was gone.

Kookaburra

Then while I was looking out the back door, something caught my eye. I raced up stairs, camera in hand, hoping it didn't disappear like every other time. It was still there.

My pretty, little blue visitor hung around for a photo shoot. I hunkered down on our little balcony and took photo after photo, getting them while I could and all the while hoping he/she would move a little into the sun or that the light would move before it decided to fly away.

The light moved first and I clicked and clicked.

What a good little visitor, hanging around, and then it was gone. 

The next morning I spotted something white outside, I race up the stairs, camera in hand, hoping it would hang around. There is was, my visitor was back.

It sat and looked and looked and sat while I snapped and snapped and snapped.

Then it turned around ...

 ... and it was gone.

I have seen these beautiful little kingfisher around on occasion yet every time I went to take a photo it didn't focus or the bird was gone. So disappointing, every time. Then I saw one while walking at the wetlands and managed to capture it, not great but it's image recorded forever. Then at the end of last week they slashed the area out the back of where we live. Visitors didn't take long to arrive. When I saw the little kingfishers on the back fence I raced around like a headless chook grabbing a camera and then trying to get a pic. Mr Sparky just watched and shook his head I am sure. I have finally managed to get our little visitor, who I have seen on and off the whole time we have lived here (I am assuming it is the same visitor of cause). Sometimes the most amazing things can happen right in your own back yard.

Now I am not sure of exactly what type of kingfisher it is but I have guessed it is a forest kingfisher after a bit of kingfisher googling.