What's that dog looking at

We have some regular night-time visitors, and as soon as Mirrhi heads outside, she looks for them, and is instantly riveted when one is spotted.  She knows all their hiding places and gently sniffs around, under and on until she suddenly goes on alert and points her big snout in the visitor's direction. ( The odd yellow cast to the pictures is from the yellow fluorescent light which is meant to keep insects and bugs away.)

Oh look! I think I've spotted one.

Yes, there it is, on the shoe cupboard.........a big green frog!

 

A quiet reminder to "be gentle" and she hunkers down very slowly and carefully.  Frog stays still while she edges closer.....

.... and closer

Mmmm, love this froggy 

Oh bliss - touching.....but still ever so gentle

Ok dog, you've had your fun, time to leave, places to go, bugs to eat.

Oh, no, please come back out, don't go.

 There's actually about four or five frogs that gather nightly for supper under the outdoor lights, and sing very loudly in the downpipes when it rains.  They're very welcome visitors to my garden, and a sign that it's a very healthy space.

Til next time..............

all that rain

 

Mirrhi was excited to find "her" park was a lake when we headed out for our walk yesterday morning.  Constant heavy rain for nearly 24 hours had resulted in some localised flooding and the river breaking it's banks.  This park across the road from my house is usually a grassy play area for the school on the corner and local dogs.....the fence encloses the playground equipment.

 North towards the bridge and 'Hospital Hill'......we usually walk under that bridge to a park on the other side....not this time, we'd have needed a boat!

 

Looking towards town across the river.....people come and fish at that gap in the reeds



I took these photos late in the afternoon when the water had already gone down a bit, it was still raining too heavily when we walked in the morning to take photos.  The reeds in the centre of the above photo mark the river's edge and stand about 2-2and half metres tall.  We usually walk along there, but stayed on the top of the levee bank yesterday.  Once the rain stopped the sun came out and the afternoon was hot and steamy.

 Looking west to Mt Warning and houses on the opposite side of the river

 

 Ibis flying home at sunset

 

 The road home....underwater, too deep to wade through

 

 Early morning today....most of the water has drained away and everything was quiet and spooky- looking with fog.  Birds come in from all over and enjoy the feast of insects and worms, frogs and whatever else lives in the mud.  One year when it flooded we had hundreds of pelicans swimming gracefully along the park, enjoying all the bounty.  The noise last night was deafening as the frogs...those not eaten.....came out to play.

The sun's out now and I have a muddy chook run to muck out!

Whatever your weather, enjoy your weekend..........

Frogs and art

I meet up once a month with a group of women all interested in various aspects of textile and fibre art.....The Gold Coast Wild Women Ceative Textile Group....and we met yesterday and the big event of the day was checking out each other's frogs from the Frog Challenge. All were much bigger than mine, but he held his own quite well amongst the big boys.   The challenge was well interpreted, with a variety of background fabrics, textures, embellishments and goofy expressions and a couple of toads.

This felted fellow had a tongue stud.....think he might be a cannibal though?

A couple of months back we did a weekend workshop with Carol Wilkes,  who teaches free motion embroidery and textile art.  A couple of our ladies brought some pieces they'd made since the workshop, and one focused on making the cords we'd been taught.  She'd made a large decorative piece, as well as some smaller  pieces, which she uses as jewellery or clothing decorations.



This was about 40cms long (15") and about 30 com (12") wide.





Smaller piece attached to a large ring, made into a necklace

These pieces were interpretations of layered fabric and thread work taught at Carol's workshop.  Carol is a vibrant and energetic teacher, and generously shared her skills and knowledge and love of textiles to inspire us to find our own "voice" and individuality.   She teaches one or two techniques that can be altered and interpreted in as many ways as her students can think of.


It's always a fun day, lots to see and learn from show and tell, and plenty of chatter and sharing.  Our next project is to make a Christmas wreath to give as a secret santa swap for our Christmas meeting....can't wait to see what turns up, we have some wild and wacky artists who think way out of the box.