In My Own Defense

I am writing this in my own defense just in case any of you think I am heartless and unfeeling.

Boneman posted a graphic photo of his little dog Gni Gni's anal cancer on his blog First Farm and Weather Report today, there were a few comments posted, one by his friend Jean, first of all only one by me whereby I was offering my sincere opinion and support as to what might be done and what the subsequent outcome for GniGni would be.
There were a few comments by others, one by anonymous criticising PETA, after their comment.

Then PETA the animal rights people had their say accusing Boneman of animal cruelty and some heated comments were exchanged between the two parties.

Now all of a sudden I have been thrown into same category as PETA by Boneman as he has accused me of taking their side, which is not true, I said nothing about euthanasing GniGni now but in a very nice way I did say that since she has cancer that might be the inevitable outcome despite all of medications, the loving care and attention Boneman is giving her.

Then Boneman launched a few unwarranted and uncalled for comments at me, to which I replied again trying to explain myself...these fell on deaf ears, he had already made up his mind on how he wanted to percieve my comment..the same reaction to my e-mails.

I'm sorry Boneman if I gave you the impression I was siding with PETA as I was not and if you had read my comment in a calm and fair way you would realise that...I'm also sorry that you felt you had to end our friendship over this...and no this is not a 'howl out' for attention as you would put it.

I am not writing this expecting any comments or support from any of you, nor am I critising Boneman, he is a great guy and I know he is your friend...I'm merely explaining my comment so that you dont think I am heartless and would not give a little dog a last chance at life.

I might take a break for a while, I should have just kept my mouth shut and not given a sympathetic comment to someone whom I thought was my friend, it seems I cant do anything right and I dont need any of this shit at the moment.
Please excuse my language and this erratic post, I'm more than a little upset you see. ♥

Goodbye for now...

My comment...

dianne said...

Boney dear that is terrible and so sad, I'm sorry... are you sure she is not in any pain?
I know you have consultations with the vet, has he/she given you any hope or indication of her recovering from this?

If not you may have to make that inevitable decision,I know you love her and you are doing all you can for her and at the risk of alienating our friendship I must say I'm sure youwouldnt want to see her get worse if there is no hope of recovery. ♡

April 28, 2009 6:19 PM

If You Forget Me

If you forget me
I want you to know
one thing.

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow Autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire
the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists,
aromas, light, metals,
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.


If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide
to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day,
at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower
climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own,
in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguised or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love, beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

Pablo Neruda

If You Forget Me

Fiddle and Feet...And an Irish Dancing Experience

Bangor, where I live, is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The name 'Bangor' was selected in 1895 by the land's owner, a farmer named Owen Jones, after his birthplace, Bangor in Wales.
To avoid confusion with Bangor in Tasmania, the Postmaster Generals office changed the suburbs name to Menai in 1910. Another Australian Bangor is located in South Australia.

Menai Bridge ( Hi Glyn) is a town opposite the original Bangor, on the Menai Straits in Wales.
When the Australian Menai expanded, the eastern section was renamed Bangor in 1976.
Bangor is located 28 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district; it is situated on the southern bank of the Georges River and is adjacent to Menai and Woronora.

As there was only one main road through Bangor and Menai the Bangor Bypass was completed in February 2005, to alleviate traffic in the area.
There is no rail service, although this is welcomed by the residents as it keeps visitor numbers down and the community remains peaceful and quiet. The only form of transport is bus and when I first moved here there was only two bus runs per day...if you missed the bus you had a very long walk. :/

We have many residents living here who are originally from the Celtic nations, so every year we have a festival which is great fun and very entertaining; plenty of Irish step dancing and set dancing, reels, Irish ceili bands and Scottish dancing and bands...many fiddles, tin whistles, bodhrans, uillean pipes and bagpipes. Parc Menai is decorated with the flags of the many Celtic nations, there are many tartans, so it makes for a colourful day out for everyone.
I did have some footage of the 2007 festival but unfortunately I lost it when my computer crashed.

I have posted two videos, one of four Bostonians 'The Boston Kiltics' who perform Celtic folk music from Novia Scotia, the other video is of Irish dance.
All four have a least one parent from Novia Scotia and spent lots of time there growing up and have embraced and been influenced by the rich Irish traditions there.
The fiddle player is Doug Lamey, Cliff McGann on acoustic guitar, the step dancers are Pam Campbell and Christine Morrison; Pam and Christine have been dancing together for 16 years.
All four have auspicious family connections to the Celtic and Gaelic professional music scene.

I really love this kind of music and dancing and just wanted to give you a small sample of what Celtic music and dancing are about since I don't have my video footage; of course the music varies, this is a group of four, some of the bands have many musicians and many more dancers performing such as the spectacular Riverdance.
I hope you will enjoy this, especially my harshest music critic Pug Peurileuwaite....♥

Slow Motion for Boneman

I have just watched Boneman's video about 'Energy in Jello' over at Stuff I Found on the Net ... really cool video and I was reminded of this ad for Schweppes which is a soft drink manufacturing company here in Australia and various countries.
This is a television commerial where ultra slow motion cameras capture Schweppervescence at 10,000 frames per second...I think this is really clever advertising. ♥

From My Autumn Perfumed Garden

Anthurium, native Maiden Hair fern and a mixture of Calla lillies; Lilli Pilli with pale green fruits; strappy leaves of Cardamon Ginger and Thalia, a water plant; gray-green foliage of Coastal Rosemary andCorrea Alba; variegated foliage of Prostanthera Ovafolia; new growth tips from Backhousia Myrtifolia and Backhousia Citriodora which has a beautiful lemon scent, the lemon oil from its leaves is used for most perfumes and other commercial products where a lemon fragrance is required. Most of these leaves have their own special fragrance which is evident when you brush past them or the sunshine warms the oils and the scent is released...absolutely heavenly. ♥

A closer view of a vase containing native Maiden Hair fern which grows prolifically in shady spots in my garden, white plumbago blossoms, new growth from calistemon and a native vine, name unknown.

White flowering Anthurium otherwise known as Flamingo Flower...I havent removed the spent blooms as they have their own special beauty.

The warm glow and ambience from an aromatherapy candle...always romantic...

Hakea Salicifolia

Curious Bobcat with his beautiful green eyes, partially obscured by a green leaf...he is my floral assistant and advisor...he loves to help his Mummy. :-)

I didnt go for a walk today as it has been raining heavily on and off but it is very welcome, my garden loves it.
I have also overdone it with the walking and climbing over uneven rocks and have managed to flare up a painful knee injury from a fall I had about two years ago...I need to have surgery as I have done quite some damage...I hope to have that attended to sooner rather than later.

This was a comedy of errors, a French farce, call me Clousseau...it should have been filmed and put on youTube or Funniest Home videos, I can laugh about it now but it wasn't funny at the time. :-)
It was winter time and I was sitting on the sofa in the living room enjoying a hot cup of tea, the phone rang and I got up too quickly to answer it, tripped over, went lurching across the room... aerial ballet, tried to break my fall with my right knee...big mistake, landed with my ample boobs right on the electric heater which luckily had an automatic cut off switch, thank goodness as I was laying straight on it, went for a slide on the heater across the slippery floor and spilt hot tea all over myself.
Oh boy did it hurt, I couldn't move for a few moments and then I tried to get up, that's when I realised how much it did hurt and the damage I had done to my knee, not to mention the burns from the heater and the hot tea. I just layed there and cried until I could manage to crawl away and help myself up with the use of a chair. Ouch... I have had all kinds of treatments but now surgery is the only option.
Lesson everyone, don't lose your balance while carrying hot cups of tea near heaters. :/
Regrettably the heater didnt make it... :(

I love my garden and though I have many flowers in bloom such as my fragrant gardenias and white Autumn crocus with their bright yellow stamens, I thought I would show you some of the many foliage plants that I grow. This is only a small sample of what I have, there are so many more and it has taken me years to either propagate some from seeds, from cuttings or find them and buy them from the garden centre.

Which reminds me of another silly thing I did, I climbed out on a rock ledge and jumped over a ravine to another rock, I was trying to get some seeds from a native plant which grows in this area; it is a species of hakea, it has beautiful lime green leaves and creamy white flowers. It was not available in the garden centres then and since I was good friends with the girls from our local Native Plant nursery they suggested I collect some seeds and propagate them myself.

Well I got my seeds and then found I couldn't get back across the large space between the rocks, I thought I would be stuck there forever but thankfully my ex was with me then and he reached over and caught me as I jumped. I shudder to think where I would be had he not caught me.
Well I did manage to propagate the seeds and I had my beautiful trees for many years, they are not long lived usually about seven years at the most and they were a good reminder that you shouldn't be foolhardy and take risks to collect seeds...I am much more sensible now.
I have included a photo of the plant here as well.

Of course some of these flower in the Spring and Summer, but the many coloured greens, leaf shapes and textures I find are beautiful in their own way. Most have a beautiful fragrance all of their own from the spiciness of the cardamon ginger, the citrus scent of the Backhousia Citriodora and lemon scented tea tree to the almost sweet herbal scent of the Prostanthera... which is another delight for me and the trees and shrubs have that beautiful architectural look to them even when they are not in bud or flower.

I often pick a bunch of green foliage for a vase in the house, they look so fresh and green and the fragrance is delightful...just have to keep those curious kitties of mine away and I am careful not to bring anything into the house which would be harmful to them.
I hope you enjoy these photos and please click on the image for a larger view. ♥

Restless...

I was feeling quite restless earlier this evening, I dont know why, I guess I expect more out of life than I am getting even though I invest so much of myself into making it more satisfying...I dont ask for much, but still I am not content.

I put so much of myself into friendships and relationships and I foolishly expect others to be the same and then when they arent I feel disappointed and let down...
I shouldnt expect so much.

I decided to go for a walk as that always makes me feel better and expends some of the extra physical and mental energy I need to dissipate.
We had a violent electrical storm here last night which was rather exciting, it always fascinates me when the sky puts on its spectacular light show accompanied by the cracking, thunderous noise... all of this preceded some very heavy rain which is always welcomed.

Autumn here is a lovely season, I really enjoyed my walk even though it was dark...just before nighfall there were many crickets and frogs singing, such a comforting sound. The temperature here tonight is a pleasant 22c /71F; there is a balmy breeze blowing, just sofly enough to rustle the leaves on the trees.
The sky is a beautiful dark blue, not many stars visible as it is cloudy and the moon is partially obscured, it seems to be sitting up there on a dark, puffy cloud, waiting to emerge from its rest. No shooting stars to wish on tonight either; you can feel the moisture in the air so I think we will be getting some more rain.
Something very soothing about falling asleep to the sound of rain and that lovely fresh fragrance.

There were lots of sweet fragrances as I walked along, the distinct smell of gardenia blossoms mixed with other flowers which were no doubt from many other blossoms both wild and exotic and the low hanging brances of eucalyptus leaves... as I brushed them out of my way...leaving their fresh oil on my hands.
Most of the illumination came from the white light of the street lighting as I passed underneath, so many moths hovering around drawn to the light.

I always have many thoughts when I am walking along, I problem solve, sometimes think of a poem, its a good way to clear away the cobwebs. I was thinking how fortunate I am to live in an area where I able to walk around at night without any fear of being shot by a gun, sure there is plenty of crime here but not to the same extent of some areas.
The only thing I have to be watchful for are creepy guys and I'm sure there are some around but they wouldnt want to take me on for I have one mean karate kick... but I am careful.

Well I am back home now feeling much more relaxed and rested and tomorrow is another day, who knows what that will bring...lets hope its a good one. ♥

How Green is my Valley...More Photos

Just one more photo

Starting to get a little darker now

Sun starting to disappear behind tree line on top of ridge

Sun shining behind Angophora Costata also known as a 'wishing tree'

From this rocky outcrop of sandstone ledges the valley drops away, then plateaus for a distance then drops away even further; it is over 1000 feet to the valley floor where there is a creek and here I am hanging off ledges to get these photos :/

Another rock ledge...it is very decepetive this drops away for more than 200feet

Some wattles along the way

The view from my rock ledge, its a long way down

Another track to explore

Another view of my rock ledge vantage point...no high heels here...just sensible trainers...this is higher than it looks

Rock ledges with native flora where I was standing to take the photographs

Another rocky outcrop...I climbed out onto this one as well...reminds me of a crocodile

Looking back up the Track

The Beginning of the track, just before this I went down quite a slope, have to watch your balance here. :-)

View of Valley from street, weeds and all, some people have no respect and dump weeds anywhere.

I wasn't feeling particularly energetic today but I decided to go back and take some more photos...more...try about forty :-) ... I was disappointed with my efforts yesterday so I borrowed my sons camera, its a Canon EOS 350D, much better than my cell phone camera.

Instead of walking I hopped in my car and drove to the spot, you see these pics are taken from the road across the valley from where I live so you are looking in the direction of where my house is over on that far ridge.

If you want a better view please click on the image for a larger photo, I'm not forcing these on you like someone with their holiday pics, so you can either look at them or ignore them.

Please take into account that the photographer, that is me, went to a great deal of effort to get these for you, scrambling over rocks and climbing out onto ledges, dodging large spiders and being ever alert for any snakes which might be still lurking about...but rest assured I had lots of fun spending time in this wonderful place.

Yes I live in the 'sticks' as it is called but I love it, I am only half an hours drive away from civilisation in any direction and that suits me just fine.

I do hope you enjoy these. ♥

How Green is my Valley...

The bigger picture of the valley obscured by some trees which are survivors of previous bush fires.

A wattle which is common to this area.

I went for a walk yesterday as it had been raining earlier in the day and by late afternoon it was still overcast with clouds and much cooler. I was seeking a little peace and solitude, some time to reflect on recent events in my life and this is a place where you will find the space you need.

I didn't venture too far into the bush as just beyond here is a very steep drop to the bottom, you have to be very careful, there are some paths that wind down but it is not any easy walk, not one to do alone.

There were some lovely vistas of the valley from where I stood, the beautiful palette of so many greens and various shapes of trees and vegetation,the creams and yellows of the blossoms on the flowering trees, a gray sky and some mist still lingering just above the valley floor.
Oh and the fragrance was wonderful, the cool fresh scent of the the recent rain mixed with that of the leaves on the forest floor, the ferns and mosses, the many trees and wildflowers; you would have to be here to experience how beautiful it was.

I took quite a few photos but unfortunately only these two were worth posting, I was going to return today and try and capture some more images but it seems I don't have the energy...however I will go back soon.
I do hope you like these photos, just think of them as a preview of more to come.

♥

Speaking of Puppies...and Easter

Yes we were speaking of puppies and dogs over at Diane's Addled Ramblings a couple of days ago, the 7th of April actually . Diane was asking for our help and suggestions on what to do about a new neighbours little dog which was obviously being neglected, she was helping in any way that she could but wanted to ask about a more permanent solution to this little dog's plight and what we thought was the right thing to do.

There were plenty of suggestion of help, I was particularly moved by Boneman's rescue of some dogs from cruelty, we all know what a kind person he is; he has taken many dogs into his care and given them a loving home. I'm sure he still pines for that boxer that came to stay for a while then left, leaving Boneman heartbroken with worry as to where it had gone and wondering was it safe.
I have done the same as I cannot condone cruelty to any living thing, whether it be a Mother in danger, an abused child or animals...they dont have a voice so we have to watch out for them and help in any way we can.

My dear friend David from 'A New Start' sent me the following story in an e-mail yesterday and I would like to share it with you, I think there is a lesson to be learned from these words.

A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the 4 pups and set about nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard. As he was driving the last nail into the post, he felt a tug on his overalls. He looked down into the eyes of little boy 'Mister,' he said, 'I want to buy one of your puppies.' 'Well,' said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, 'These puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money.' The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. 'I've got thirty-nine cents. Is that enough to take a look?' 'Sure,' said the farmer. And with that he let out a whistle. 'Here, Dolly!' he called. Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur. The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence.. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner, the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up.... 'I want that one,' the little boy said, pointing to the runt. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, 'Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would.' With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe. Looking back up at the farmer, he said, 'You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands.' With tears in his eyes, the farmer reached down and picked up the little pup. Holding it carefully he handed it to the little boy. 'How much?' asked the little boy. 'No charge,' answered the farmer, 'There's no charge for love.' The world is full of people who need someone who understands

I hope you all have a lovely Easter, a time of new life and new beginnings, celebrating this religious holiday with loved ones, family and friends.

Take care and be kind to each other. ♥

LONGING ...

Behind closed eyes
if you only knew
I avert my gaze
so close to you
For if you saw
you would surely know
My quickening pulse
a blush that shows
My flights of fantasy
On wings
Straight to you
My secret longing
all for you
Deep in my heart
out of view
Heartache breaks
my hopes of you
I wait and hope
for a sign from you
And sadness pools
and blurs my view
Waiting and wanting
my dreams of you
Eyes wide open
I look at you
My searching eyes
so close and true
Does my secret show?
I wish I knew
Should I tell you?
If you only knew
Should I tell you?
If I only knew...

Poem by Dianne

MODIGLIANI

Nude Seated

Nude

Jeanne Hebuterne

Cypress Trees and Houses

Landscape at Cagnes

Reclining Nude

Nude with Blue Cushion

Nude 1

Some diverse paintings from Italian expressionist painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani.

Amedeo Modigliani doesn't get a mention in the National Gallery's recently opened Rebels and Martyrs Show - but, in terms of proving a point, he could have had a whole room to himself. For the Italian-born artist was the paradigm of the romantic bohemian, the outsider painter who pursued his own vision amid a swirl of drugs, alcohol and dissolution in the Paris of the early 20th century.

He died in penury and squalor in January 1920 at the age of 35, discovered by a neighbour in the final throes of tubercular meningitis, his bed strewn with bottles of alcohol and cans of sardines, his mistress Jeanne Hébuterne nursing him. She hadn't thought to call a doctor, but her devotion to her lover was so great that, two days after his death, she threw herself backwards from a fifth-floor window. She was nine months pregnant with their second child.

Amedeo Modigliani 1884 - 1920

Some More Sisley

Station at Sevres 1879

The Cornfield near Argenteul

The Garden of the Hoschdede Family 1881

Louveciennes - The Heights at Marley 1873

Banks of the Liong, Moret 1892

A Forest Clearing

Bougival

Meadow 1875

Garden Path in Louveciennes 1873

The Bois de Bologne

Path at Les Sebions 1883

Village on the Banks of the Seine 1872

Some more landscape, rural and village paintings by Impressionist artist Alfred Sisley.

Alfred Sisley 1839 - 1899