The grass is greener

These are photos taken last week on the Tantanoola/Kongorong road. The road we usually travel down to get to our holiday house, which is only about half and hour from where we live.

In contrast to the dry, brownness of Summer, the grass is lush and there is water laying in the paddocks. New lambs dot the landscape.

I stopped because I wanted to capture this view of the irrigation tractor (if that's what it's called?), with the mountain in the background, because the sun was trying to peek through on the patch of grass at the top. These ranges are one of my favourite comforting views of our area, along with the majestic gums around Kalangadoo. 

I love this part of the world, where I do believe I am blessed, because the grass really is greener!

The funniest thing as I was concentrating on one side of the country road, a herd of cows started to come from near and far (even running) to see who had pulled up next to their home. I guess they thought I had come with gastronomic gifts. No hay here guys!

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Bush mouse vs Beach mouse

I grew up in the bush. A small town in rural South Australia. There was a mill, a train station, a deli, a pub, several stores, a cop shop, a school and a bank. There's not much there anymore, you'd be lucky to trip over a tumbleweed. A couple of humble shops and the school remain.

It's landscape is warm and familiar, it welcomes me with open arms. Mighty gum trees, green fields and grassy roadsides.

Childhood memories flow like lava, I long for those days again. Playing in the front yard with log truck rumbling past, my brothers and sisters pumping our arms for a horn blow. Dad playing Boche down the road with the other Europeans immigrants, underneath grapevine covered greens. The smell of freshly cut pine filling the air from the timber mill.

I am torn between the bush and the coastline I now live near, although I didn't go that far. I am still only thirty kays from where I grew up. The beach is closer.

I spent a lot of my school holidays by our local beaches. Gran and Grandpa lived in Southend, their house was only a sandhill's walk away from dipping my toes in the water, or filling a bucket with shells.

The air is crisp, the waves calming. I remember many nights laying in bed listening to the waves ebb and flow on the beach. I could not tell you how many times I was nipped on the foot by a skittish crab while paddling in the surf.

I learnt how to fish on it's jetty. Cray boats scattered the bay, bringing in their catch and rolling it in on steel carts along rail lines. 

Not too much has changed here since I was a kid, mainly the people. The beach has been eroded away by huge winter seas, but I still enjoy spending the day along it's sandy shores. These days I'm a lot more sun wise, no more blistered red shoulders, that would stick to the sheets at night, skin peeling off the following week.

I am calmed by the whispering waves, as they take my cares out to sea. I take in the fresh air, deep into my lungs and expel the negative. 

Both the bush and the beach hold a special place in my heart, though I don't think I could ever life too far from the beach now. I would miss feeling the sand between my toes. 

Are you a bush mouse or a beach mouse?

Joining Denyse for #lifethisweek

An InLinkz Link-up

Sunrise and sundown

We stayed at our holiday house by the sea over the weekend. Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, with some warmth in it too.

I am always commenting on other people's photos of sunrises, that I wish I was out with the camera at that time of day. I happened to wake up at the right time, squished in between Summer and Izzy in our queen size bed. Brett had vacated, or been kicked out sometime during the night. They were all still asleep, so I snuck out to enjoy the sunrise.

The sun rises at the back of our house and sets(the last three photos) at the front. 

Our little stone house is located away from the beach, thank goodness, because in rough weather those that are on the foreshore end up with seaweed in the front yard!

We have farm land behind us and across the road at the front of the house. There's usually cows in those paddocks. There is a heap of water at the moment from the amount of rain we've had. We are lucky we are up a little higher and the yard is dry. Our neighbours have a huge pond puddle at their front gate!

All my life's a circle

Sunrise and sundown

Moon rolls through the night time

'Til the daybreak comes around.

All my life's a circle

But I can't tell you why

Season's spinning round again

The years keep rollin' by.

- Harry Chapin 

An InLinkz Link-up

Sky #fmy52weeksofmemories







I was on the ball this week and had the sky on my mind whenever I was out and about with the camera.

 

The weather was obliging and dealt some pretty interesting skies.



 

 

The road to Pelican Point

Often I have driven these roads, taken in the scenery and thought I must share it. Monday of the long weekend, I headed to Pelican Point to clean the house, after tenants had been through.

It's around a 40 kilometre drive through farm lands. After you turn off the Tantanoola/Kongorong road, the scenery turns to pine plantations all the way to Carpenter Rocks.

I was by myself as Brett was home from work, and had taken the girls to a friends house to play.

I had all the time in the world to stop and take the photos I've so often thought I should.

 

 

Added to Raychael's Wednesday link up at Agent Mystery Case

Where I belong

My place in time #76

On a recent short drive to the small town where I grew up, I had to stop and take photos of this country.

While driving through this landscape, I felt pride, I felt at home, I belonged.

It's sprawling fields, where sheep and cattle graze. Where tall dry grass, lines the roadside. Old windmills dot the horizon. I have travelled these roads many a time. 

The air out the window is refreshing, the red gums like welcoming friends, familiar, they free me from my worries.

This is where I belong, I am a child of this landscape, comforted in its embrace.

The Ash Wednesday fires were 27 years ago, but blackened trees still stand as a reminder.