SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS, N.S.W.

I have mentioned before that my stepdaughter lives in the Southern Highlands between Sydney and Canberra and that they have had a major drought for what seems like years.  It is getting really serious.  Yesterday she told me they had rain forecast and this morning I received an email that they woke to SNOW  and that the gauge had 20 ml of rain and the rest was snow.  It will be great if they get some more rain but it will take a lot to break the drought.

It is, of course, spring here in the Southern Hemisphere.

MORE BIRDS - METAL THIS TIME

For his birthday Doug received some more metal birds from me.  There was a larger Fantail to go with the smaller one.

and the two Kereru have been joined by a Tui.

This close up photo is harder to see because of the shadows.  The two Kereru have weathered to a lovely brown which the Tui will do in a short time.

NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS, EYES AND A BIRTHDAY

The Waratahs are looking good.  I had my second eye operation yesterday and a check up today.  All was good and I have a final check up in a week. It all seems to have gone very quickly and well.

It has still been a busy week.  Wednesday (9/11) was Doug's birthday.  He wanted a roasted Scotch Fillet and vegetables from the butcher so that is what was ordered.  We thought his youngest daughter was coming to lunch but there was a misunderstanding and she came on Tuesday as Wednesday is a busy day for her Rural Delivery (postal service).  In the end his eldest daughter came to lunch on the day.  She is vegetarian so I cooked some fish for her and she was able to have the roast vegies and greens.  Doug's phone decided to die so we then went and bought him a new one and when we got home two of his local grandchildren called in to wish him Happy Birthday.

It was good having the roast as there were plenty of leftovers for the following days.

BIRD FEEDERS

Doug's eldest daughter who has recently moved up here and now lives just around the corner asked her Dad to make her some bird feeders.  This is the result.

It only took a day for the birds to start using them.

BIRDLIFE - SUGAR SYRUP FEEDER

The main birds that feed from the sugar syrup are the Silver Eye also known as White Eye and the Tui.  They also have a selection of halved mandarins or tangelos to feed from.

The white eyes are so fast it is hard to get a photo so here is one from the web.

BIRDLIFE - SEAGULLS

Feeding time is a lot like a certain Hitchcock movie.  About ten years ago Doug started by feeding "No Feet" but gradually her friends arrived as well.

Yesterday's cataract operation went well.  One is covered from head to toe with only the eye that is being operated on left uncovered.  The only uncomfortable  part of the operation was removing the cover from around the eye as it is stuck to the face.  Piece of cake.  Apparently my sight is already better in that eye without glasses than it was previously with glasses.  Roll on next week for the other eye.

SPRING

Today is the first day of spring and it really has been a spring-like day.  We have not really had a winter as such in fact I bought a winter coat but have not worn it.  The Monarch butterflies have been emerging all winter.

We have had some wet days but more drizzle than rain.  Lately, it has been cold in the morning but good days if one could keep out of the cold wind.  In spite of this the spring flowers seem to be early this year.

I just went around the garden and took a few photos.

I leave these cyclamen in a shady place and bring them out when they start to flower

There are several cinerarias

The blueberry we were given last year is coming into bud

The poinsettia has been in flower for a while now.

I think this rose is on a bush that has not been cut back yet.

These New South Wales Waratahs will be a show before too long.

There are a few daffodils

including this lovely clump of miniature daffs which have been flowering for a while.

Some stock and geraniums

A yellow Red Hot Poker or is it a Yellow Hot Poker.

some more cinerarias

 and my hanging pansies.

We are still picking the various broccoli  that we planted and there are lots of chard, spinach, beetroot and leeks.  Will have to start clearing some beds shortly for summer veges.