9/06/2013

 

To help save some money I've started buying clothes and books from second hand stores. This has lead me to begin a Readers Digest collection of condensed stories. These books were first published in the 50s and to this day are still going strong. I just adore the look of old hard cover books; the illustrations, the wallpaper pattern covers, the fonts, the boarders.... honestly I could ramble on and on about how much I love these books!

The story I'm reading at the moment is The Honey Flow by Australian author Kylie Tennant. Our protagonist Malee Herrick succumbs to the adventure and charm of becoming a migratory bee keeper, traveling through the rich eucalyptus forests in search of the perfect "strick" - a honey-yielding area of blossom.

In our front yard a large tree was dangerously over grown and had to be taken down, however, the root was never removed. It's now beginning to sprout leaf covered branches, slithering out of the ground like a snack trying to catch the warm sun.

Flowers and twigs with berry like buds that I really want to turn into head wreaths.

Bobby in front of her favourite mirror.

my new haven

There is a nature reserve not too far from where I live that has become my new favourite get away. Last year I posted some photos taken from an adventure Jarryd and I had exploring parks that ran along our neighbour hood, well this place connects to it.

Wandering around this area it reminds me of far off places; the forest's Marie Antoinette's carriage passed through, weeping willows for sleepy nymphs to rest under, the gum trees straight out of Picnic at Hanging Rock.

This place has become my new source of inspiration. There's endless foot paths to explore and I just want to shoot all my photographs here until I get tired and fall asleep in the afternoon sun!

 

 

Bobby Part 2

[Bobby's story, Part 2]

 My little Bobby is a feisty creature. Once she becomes familiar with you it doesn't take long for her to warm up and greet you with gentle kisses, but on her first meeting with everyone she bites. Not hard enough that it'll draw blood but hard enough to hurt.

The first time I met her in that large aviary that's exactly what she did. This tiny warm bundle of blue fluff, she didn't make a sound except for some irritated grunts as she tried to wriggle out from my cupped hands. Not old enough to fly but quick enough to run away.

I remember how excited I was to show my family the photos my friend had taken of Bobby and I. It wouldn't be long before Bobby began sprouting enough wing and tail feathers to take flight and I could finally bring her home with me.

The days to follow would be difficult. Bobby was quiet and shy the first few months, she'd sit in her cage and just stare. It was understandable - moving to a new strange place with people you don't know. I was a little naïve in thinking Bobby would warm up to me as quickly as I'd warmed to her.

In the afternoon I'd spend hours trying to train Bobby to stay on my finger and not bite but nothing seemed to work. After a long day of coaxing Bobby out of her cage only to have her fly away from me I broke down in front of her. In-between the tears and tantrum I asked her why she didn't like me, how I wanted us to be friends and for her to stop biting my finger. She stared at me from the on top a shelf as we both sat in silence for a while.

After that I started being more patient with her. It was a long process but sometimes you don't build an instant connection with an animal like in the stories. You have to gain their trust and give it time.

The more time I gave us the less she ran away, the longer she'd stay perched on my finger, and the more she began to whistle and be active.

Bobby's a permanent part of our family now. She can talk, enjoys mimicking whistle sounds we make, and still hates being cupped in a person's hand (unless you're our mum, then she enjoys the occasional cuddle).

Recently though Bobby has developed a lipoma on her chest. It's been there for a few years but through a change of diet we've managed to minimise its growth. I'm not sure though if it's something that will ever completely go away. A budgie's life span is averaged to be 15 years; our little one has been around for six which is longer than what I could have ever imagined. She's happy and loves us and I couldn't be luckier to have a bird like her in my life.