Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Thematic Photographic 168: Metallica

This week's theme over at Carmi's blog gives me a chance to post some of the shots 
I took on a Sunday walk in August (late winter here). 
The day was fine and sunny but the light was hard and wintry. I visited the old 
goldmine battery in the Karangahake Gorge
There are walkways and bike tracks, the skeletons of the old buildings, and rusty old machinery lying everywhere. It is really interesting to walk around the site and look at all of the metal pipes, machines and bits and pieces those old miners left behind. 
Here are my heavy metal pics:


 











Finally a photo of the metal footbridge by which you can enter the park:


 For more metal pics, visit Thematic Photographic and join in the fun!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Thematic Photographic 167: Edible

Everybody's posts are so interesting and enticing this week at Carmi's Written Inc  
around the theme of Edible. Some of them made me really hungry, so I had to go 
and make myself an early lunch.
Here it is: cream cheese and pastrami on a ciabatta bun, with tomatoes, leftover-from-last-night asparagus, and a few Kalamata olives.
And yes, it tasted good!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Welcome Spring

On my side of the world spring is really getting into its stride. I've been away for a week
of our school spring holiday and seen some beautiful gardens, one of my favourite coastlines, and a lighthouse - of which more later.
For now I want to post some photos I took an hour ago in my own garden. I love dwarf Japanese maples, and just as they have stunning autumnal colours, they also have lovely foliage in the spring, albeit in less intense shades. Here are 5 of my little trees:






As well, the wisteria is out,


the jasmine has begun sending its sweet smell around the garden:


the pink leaves of the 'Toon' tree (cedrela sinensis) are sprouting


and Mr A has planted 36 precious tomato plants, each one carefully protected against predations by the resident cat and dog ;)


You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt.  
~Anon

Monday, October 3, 2011

Thematic Photographic 165: Welcome Autumn?

Well it may be the beginning of autumn for Carmi at Written Inc., and for all of my northern-hemisphere friends. Here it's well and truly spring, and to take part in this week's theme I have very little to offer but a lovely liquidamber tree and some fungi from last autumn:



Enjoy your season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, y'all - I'm looking forward to summer!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

What English teachers know...


English teachers know: that texts are always invitations to a party and that not all 
parties are the same.  For instance, at some parties they spike the drinks. 
Enjoy the invitation and check out the party.


Words by Terry Locke. 
Pictures from here, here, here, here and here