A walk after Christmas.

I went for a bit of a walk around the block just after Christmas - camera in hand.

At some time in the past I read a sentence that went something like this; "Nothing sounds as stupid as the silence that follows an angry word" - well there were no angry words for me, but the thought came into my head about how things look after the event.

It was not longer Christmas, but the trees in out street were still decked with holly, or at least tinsel and ribbons - and I made some form of link between the sentence and the presence of decorations that were (only a day of two) past their purpose.

Then I found the rose on the ground and stopped to take its picture - grey to green, an old year to a new year - well maybe.

Then I found a whole heap of stuff that had been put out for the council to collect and I wondered how much new stuff we had added to our house, and if this was really a good idea.

I think it's good to consider these things.

Maybe I think too much.

This is not meant to be sad or angry - it's just what happened as I want for a walk!

You can find more pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

An apple tree / fresh air

Strangely, I've been rather busy over the last week, so I have plunged into the archives for this shot.

I found this miniature forest on the limb of an apple tree a few months ago - this growth of lichen is an indication of low air pollution.  This is hardly a surprise as there was not much south of this tree except some forest, a small coastal town, the ocean and antarctica!

You can find more macro shots at Macro Monday 2 and I Heart Macro.

Cheers - SM

A post for Friday

Its obvious that it's not just us humans who like a drink at Christmas!!

Cheers and hope you all had a good few days.

Wild Bird Wednesday 76 - A Christmas Bower

Hi there and welcome to the Christmas day edition of Wild Bird Wednesday!  By the time this posts the big day will have started in New Zealand and be just a few hours old in Australia.  You guys in the west will have to wait a little longer!

Just a post and run today - but I thought I'd put up some bowerbirds  As cardboard cut-outs they would make great decorations on a Christmas tree - and in the flesh they are real show stoppers!

Thanks to all the linkers, commenters, +1ers and folk who just pop now and then for making WBW what it is.  I have no idea how it ranks compared to other bird sites - but I think we have build a good little community here - so I'll see you in 2014.

Satin Bowerbird (female)

Satin Bowerbird (female)

Satin Bowerbird (male)

Regent Bowerbird (female and male)

Regent Bowerbird (female)

Regent Bowerbird (Male x2 and female)

Regent Bowerbird (male)

Now its your turn to join in - if you are here on Christmas day (or there abouts) I assume you know what to do!

A different (almost) Christmas view

Most of the people who drop into my blogs seem to be from "up north" - i.e. the other side of the equator to me.

So, this is what Christmas looks like in the southern hemisphere - green and leafy.  We have a had a cool spring, so no brown landscapes just yet - although its only a matter of time.

One closer inspection I wish I had seen the house number on the left hand side - I would have include all of it if I had!

Hope you all have a good Christmas - and for those "up north" keep warm, and for those "down south" keep cool - and for those in the English Lake district - keep dry!!

You can find more pictures from around the world at Our World Tuesday.

SM

The Ghosts of Christmases,* Past

* birthdays, acts of spontaneous kindness and impulse buys by me.

Just a quick post here as I was thinking about Christmas and the things that are beginning to gather under the tree!

You can find more close ups (assuming this is a close up!) at Macro Monday 2 and I heart Macro if they are up and running in this season!

Cheers.  SM