A touch frosty this Sunday morning in Canberra.

Had to turn the heater on this morning for 20 minutes or so. Feels like a spring morning in Canada but it is almost winter here. The days are beautiful in Canberra and the sun is still shining with clear skies. Who would complain?

 Some laundry I left outside has a bit of added texture this morning.

Pollen Baskets

So today I was hanging laundry outside in the backyward when I noticed the bees buzzing around. I looked at them and noticed large orange bulges on their legs which a had never noticed on any before. Took a few photos and then googled it and apparently they are pollen baskets that the bees fill up and then take back to their hive/ nest. So interesting. I'll go out and take more pictures later, but I really need to focus on all the marking I have to get done. I'll save the fun for later.

So it's slightly later and I haven't finished all my marking but I took another break and went outside with my camera and I found a few things that needed to be captured (or to help me procrastinate) and here they are. I love my macro lens. It makes me appreciate the 'little things in life' a lot more.

and another break...

Night Sky from the backyard

This is a pretty crappy photo I took but I am trying to learn how to take night photos. This is my first solo attempt and I can tell you that it's pretty hard trying to focus up at the sky, crouching down low to see roughly where the camera is pointing(on a tripod), and then constantly changing settings. I'm thinking it's not for me. I also don't like being in the city and feeling like I am lurking in the dark or waving flashlights around when there are neighbours around thinking someone is breaking in or something. It is all quite funny really. Anyway, I digress...

The Vietnamese Spring Rolls I made for school.

Well here are the spring rolls I made. They took 5 hours to make including the sauce. I made vegetarian ones and meat ones. Lots of freaky picky eaters on staff. I hope they like them because I will never do that again in my life.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls, testing them out for staff morning tea on Friday. I think I'll do it but super labour intensive.

Baked a German Chocolate two layer cake with coconut filling and topping for Jess' birthday (creative arts faculty cake club).

First time making a chocolate collar and would definitely do it again just to lick the spatula.

The birds and the bees at the Australian Botanical Gardens in Canberra

One of the few weekends finally without marking to do so I headed to the Botanical Gardens and then to the James Turrell exhibit at the National Gallery.  It was a great day, mostly because of the bees.

There is something about photography that reminds me of meditation ( not that I meditate but what I imagine it to be like). When you are trying to take a perfect photo there is absolutely nothing else interrupting your thoughts. All the problems in your day to day life are gone and all that exists is your subject and your composition. I strive to improve with time. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.

I loved the shape and strength of these flowers

Delicate tiny flowers

Makes me think of Christmas

The direction, colour and texture made me take this photo

Bees, what beautiful noble creatures...

What a bizarre and beautiful plant. Great texture and colour.

Finally a GangGang that let me take pictures with it's baby beside it and a nest close by

So hard to get a picture of these birds in a natural setting, this one flew away immediately after I took this photo.

Texture and colour in the glass house.

Interesting and odd flower, loved the whimsical shape

Another interesting combination of texture for one tree

Wow!

Stunning texture and colour!

Shape, texture and colours of the leaves, how beautiful

The ends of the petals are beautiful aren't they? Nice contrast with the spheres and needles.

The tiniest I have seen so far. A grey kangaroo or a wallaby. A local wasn't sure but guessed it might be a grey kangaroo because wallaby's aren't as common. This little guy was super mellow and in no hurry to go anywhere which let me get up close and personal with the photos.

A big yawn!