Give a Little Listen

Nothing to see here, really... but give a little listen. You'll need to crank up the volume, because this pair of  'bad boys' were about half a kilometer away, over on the hills near Lumina, howling back and forth to each other last night about midnight.

They were producing quite a lovely duet, so I filmed (?) it. The moon was pretty impressive too.  The background noise is the waves coming ashore -- there was a bit of wind, which also blew away some of the wolf sound. 

But what the heck... listen in anyway.

Sound and Signal Memories

 

What a lovely visit from Pamela O'Callaghan, aged 89, and her daughter Lyndsay -- seen here making friends with our famous artist, Napster Felinus the painting cat.

 

 Pam was among our first guests when we opened the Lodge in the mid 1960's. She remembers her first stay there with her husband and friends, and being joined at the breakfast table by two other guests -- Mrs. Maria von Trapp and one of her daughters.

 

That would have been about the same time as The Sound of Music was being filmed, before "Maria" became a household word! It was fabulous to have lunch and a cuppa with Pamela again, and remember such wonderful 'old times'.  Pam has claims to fame all of her own -- during WWII worked at Bletchley Park, and is listed on the Roll of Honour recognizing the Signal Breakers  (this experience no doubt explains why her youngest daughter, Tamara, who worked for us at Bondi for several summers, used to say she could NEVER get anything past her Mom!)

Moons and Screams

 We had a photo club stay with us this last weekend.  One of their projects included taking a trip up to Magnetewan to the Screaming Heads to get some pictures under this same huge moon.

Now, that is a spooky sort of place in daylight -- it must be totally unreal under moonshadow.

I hope they'll send us some of their photos!

Other Autumn Shades

Not to be outdone by the spectacular reds and oranges currently blazing into fall on our hillsides, check out the colours put on by our beautiful Lake.

Fashionista on the Beach

Dave Rogers was here all last week. And every day, he made his way to the lake. Some days he swam. Some days he just meandered along the shoreline, emulating a wading bird.

But every day, he carefully co-ordinated his wardrobe with the glory of the autumn season.
We appreciate this attention to the small details, and Dave, as perhaps our last swimmer of the season, we salute you!

Chipmunk Wheel

Maybe not the smartest move the chipmunk has ever made -- he clambered INSIDE the new bird feeder, only to discover he couldn't as easily clamber out, so went round and round a few turns.

Living Up to the Advertising

camera 'selfie', after it's big adventure...

 I have a bad tendency to destroy the cameras that travel with me, jammed into pockets (sharing that domicile with dog cookies, bits of hay, horse treats, car keys and lord knows what else)   Apparently, that habit is murder on telephoto lens, which 'gum up' and 'give up'... But I need a camera that is small enough to come with me, in said scruffy pockets, to let me catch pics for this very Blog...   

Fujifilm camera, living up to its advertising

So last time round (about two years ago, in fact) the fine folk at Huntsville's Cavalcade Color Lab suggested that I try this model.   "Shockproof", they said.  Which is good, since I've been known to drop a camera or two while juggling chickens, kids, horses and the like...   "Waterproof", they said.  Which is also good.   It has a limited zoom capability, but that zoom lens is contained within the camera, so there are no exterior 'bits' to collect the bits of detritus living in my pockets.  Dog treats make no impression on this baby...

It's a good thing it is shockproof and waterproof... those very qualities helped get it through not just the wash, but the rinse and the spin cycle of the washing machine.  Not a good feeling, to pull out the clothes and find the camera still nestled amongst them.      Words were spoken.

But the camera shrugged off the experience, and continues to take great shots.  So, I am officially impressed.  And wanted to share this testimonial, for anyone else out there who is guilty of CameraAbuse. This might be the one to have stuffed in the backpack, or the canoe, or in your pocket while you are riding your horse, or just out in the rain walking the dog.  Thanks Fuji.