LIZZIES INSOMNIA

Oh Deer

2012-01-21T20:00:00.001+11:00

Have been meaning for two years to do a series of the red deer in the district and always saying next week next week which has extented into next year and the next so decided had better do it. Sometimes in life we just tend or at least I sometimes do overlook what is sitting under ones nose. Will post this one image of a magnificent buck belonging to one of my best friends taken this week as he made his magnificent way up the paddock. He tolerates kangaroos and another buck but did kill another deer as just could not tolerate its presence. I will try and get images of this guy with the kangaroos just to prove he lives in Australia.

Cheers,

Elizabeth

RED DEER

2012-01-19T11:47:00.001+11:00

Have been meaning to get a little serious getting some images of the red deer running on my property in the Upper Brisbane Valley. The red deer were introduced in the 18 hundreds a reminder of the old country and the local shire Somerset uses the deer as its logo. The deer thrived in this mountainous valley country and multiplied to huge numbers this present day and roam over thousands of hectacres of this sweet country.

Very skittish for good reason as they are culled or would become out of hand if not there already. We have strict tick regulations about going here and there yet the red deer a primary host of the cattle tick roam anywhere, so bears out the theory of many old timers ticks are where they want to be climatically.

Went out yesterday afternoon and my patience was rewarded and was presented with one of the most stunning cloud formations lit up like a neon for a few minutes, so was in luck to say the least...

Next time I will try and get a roo or two in the image just to prove this is Ostralia....:))

DRUMS OF TIME

2012-01-18T08:13:00.008+11:00

Went for a drive yesterday to visit a friend to whom I sold a thoroughbred mare I was particularly fond of. When leaving the property late in the afternoon as I was taking some images as the sun went down two curious horses galloped up to the fence and stayed with e the time I was there. The two out of a paddock full of horses were the two grown up daughters of my mare Drum. Must have known I was their gran..:))

I had a new camera in August and was experiencing some difficulties with it and towards the end of November became unusable. Sent off to Canon and returned and am so pleased as looking back through my images realize it was always a little off and now the images are sharp and clear and am very pleased with the results achieved yesterday. These are a sample of what this piece of equipment is capable of producing taken in the only hour of sunlight experienced in the area the past few days.

Will come a day when these food bowls of the country will be the commodities that will rule the world ahead of the energy boom as who will need the energy if the population is unable to be fed. With the expected growth of world population the math says it all

Sorry Margaret

2012-01-17T08:56:00.004+11:00

I apologise for not being here and appreciate your concern and do think of your circumstances and your kindness.

My head is sorted and am now working full time, I would need to have my head sorted work 9 night shifts in a lock down facility and what I see each night allows me to count my blessings which are many.

THE BEAUTIFUL JABIRU PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA, QUEENSLAND

THE INCOMPARABLE MT FEATHERTOP IN THE VICTORIAN ALPS OF AUSTRALIA

MOUNT FEATHERTOP FROM HOTHAM

CURRUMBIN ROCKS, GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND, SEEING IN THE DAWN

A LITTLE AUSSIE, THE EASTERN ROSELLA

I often wondered where the name Rosella came from and now I know. The first settlers in Sydney would occasionally see these bright parrots in the area with the European name of Rose Hill and called them the Rose Hilliers gradually become Rosella which is such a pretty name for a gorgeous species of parrot as have a few variations of colour in these Parrots, Crimsons, Pale heads, Easterns and saw a different colour again on the Einsleigh River of Far North Queensland but too quick for me to have him in the camera

BLUE MOUNTAINS NSW AUSTRALIA

Spent a few days walking these trails and only scratched the surface of course had to climb on the first of the Three Sisters. The commercial set up and crowds surrounding The Three Sisters I will not go there, and the parking fees are something else but was reassured when driving the back roads of this area, to see the campers and parkers enjoying this bushland and vista as it should be enjoyed. I have a resistance to fences and Keep Out signs for ones own safety, I am of the opinion this land belongs to me and you and should I wish to direct my footsteps where ever I will do so ever mindful of damage.

I do have 5 nights off in sequence each fortnight and usually travel in these times, even flew to Melbourne and saw snow for the first time in August, climbed to the top of the highest mountain in Oz amongst other things and getting a good look at this wonderful country of ours. I am now a wanderer, not as yet a full time wanderer but is heading that way. Two more years of work and I am off.

I have travelled from my birthplace in the Gulf of Carpentaria to the Alps in Victoria, much in between including the Blue Mountains of NSW where the walking trails are magnificent indescribable walking the edges of these escarpments for ks and this year am going to venture to Tasmania and further west into the deserts of this great country. I will begin with returning to my birthplace in the Gulf of Carpentaria on the banks of the Norman River. I returned my mother's ashes to this vast delta land that she loved so much and lived her life to the fullest

THE MIGHTY FLINDERS RIVER

NORMAN RIVER & KARUMBA

DELTA DOWNS BIRDS EYE VIEW

DELTA DOWNS BY ROBINSON 22 HELICOPTER

WETLANDS OF THE GULF

DAWN IN THE GULF

This is my birthplace and wandered over the Gulf retracing my ancestors and my steps acknowledging the place was more beautiful than my childhood memories.

I think I am about to go walkabout big time, first Australia and then will take myself to the regions of this earth I wish to gaze upon.

Australia

2011-07-02T09:57:00.001+10:00

Having been driving about the eastern part of this great land for the past couple of months, just a sample and will endeavor to post in a chronologically manner for the next posts, get some discipline into my posting as it were, like Diane...:)))

This image was taken after quite a treck into the Wilderness area of Border Ranges where this beautiful pristine creek wends its way through the rainforest. On the track the thousands of year old Antarctic Beech are evident. I found this a most magical forest with the air so clean and sweet.

The iconic Millaa Millaa Falls of the Tablelands of Far North Queensland, revisiting my young years

Leura Cascades in the Blue Mountains NSW Australia on a wet and windy day. Hardly a soul about on this morning. I had never been to this area previously but would like to return and walk a few more of the tracks, must say though covered quite a bit of country on shanks.

Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains NSW Australia, foggy and wet, I love the weather foggy and wet does that say something about my personality, I think I will leave that alone for the moment...:))
Will post some more of the unbelievable waterways and waterfalls I had encountered on my little drive.

Tripping about Oz and Thinking

2011-07-02T08:58:00.001+10:00

I have been away from this site for some months thinking and wondering about the rest of my life. I had been grounded in a good way during the past years initially caring for my father before he died and then my mother who recently passed away in quite a tragic and unsettling manner in amongst the devastating flooding in this area which did contribute to her final stroke and subsequent hospitalization and death.

Herein lies the dilemma which may confront many in the coming years as to when to call a halt to procedures. I am having much difficulty coming to grips with the last weeks of my mother's passing and did not wish to disturb my family but figure should they read this is for their contemplation as well as mine.

We may be living longer and our health politicians scream this from the rooftops but at what cost and I have serious doubts as to the quality of life in many instances. Life is precious and the sanctity of life is to be recognized and followed as herin lies the judgement of us as a society. After what I have witnessed I would suggest perhaps the quality of life should be thrown into the mix or are we and our elected representatives too weak to acknowledge that sometimes enough is enough. We would not continue with animals and the RSPCA would be called in and we would be fined and dragged through the courts if we did to the animals what we in some instances are doing to our elderly. I am not saying neglect quite the opposite in the procedures and strategies in place. An example is after a stroke a person in their 90's before the stroke not able to walk but a few steps be placed into intensive physio therapy. I asked why a paralyzed not able to speak person needed this as the pain medications were lightened off so the assessment could be made. I was informed so that she could be a one person assist from bed to chair instead of two. To me this is not in the interests of the elderly stroke victim, who was my mother and could see a downward deterioration each day. To stop this torture I had to call in a cast of thousands.

In saying this the care of the elderly is precious and the nursing homes do the very very best they can with a very minimal budget provided by our Government and in most cases the cares and procedures to prolong life are warranted but for those last weeks in some instances the agony and suffering just for those last days and weeks to me needs addressing but of course is a grey area and not voiced anywhere. Health professionals have their hands tied and can not do anything but follow the procedures. The procedures are locked in cement and families want life for their parents in many cases at any cost. I feel that we as a society are looking out for the emotional interests of the families rather than that of the dying parent. This issue needs to see the light of day as many many families put it in the too hard basket and leave their parent in a nursing home and perhaps visit once a week if that.

I would suggest to those of my generation the baby boomers who will shortly flood the system to breaking point look into preparing and Advanced Health Directive so is set out what your wishes are should you not be able to articulate or cognitively recognize where you are at.

I needed to voice this even if only to two people now I shall move on and try and forget the last weeks of my mother's life where I feel I had failed to do what she would have wished as I knew full well she could have done without the last weeks of her life, an independent bloody minded proud strong woman who would never have wished for herself the indignities of her last weeks.

Let Me Touch Your Golden Sunlight

2011-04-02T09:48:00.003+11:00

Let Me Touch Your Golden Sunlight, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Am back in the workforce,working nights in a sad environment, uplifted with the glory of the morning.

Very strange being back in the workplace after nearly two years of looking after my mother who passed away in February.

I work nights and in an endeavor to get my fitness levels back, post stay at home, walk to and from work each morning which involves walking through the bush in the starlight and moonlight and returning home now as the sun rises in the crisper early morning fogs. Pure magic as the summer turns to the shorter winter days.

This morning experienced the most beautiful light through the fog, rushed home 2 ks of fast walking, grabbed the camera, threw on some whites as had an idea of what I wished to achieve and the fog waited the extra ten minutes I needed to get something like the images I had in mind. I used in postprocessing a softening of the image to give the ambience. I will try this again and hopefully at a time when I can utilize the light for more than the 10 minutes.

May your God go with you....

A Magic Sky

2011-03-26T19:02:00.002+11:00

Yesterday afternoon went to check on some livestock of mine in a paddock about 20 ks away. As I finished checking the animals the sky was beginning to look interesting so raced further along the track, which is actually part of The National Trail, of Australia, mapped out some years ago by an enthusiastic band and put aside for future generations. Not many traverse this trail, here, anyway, but would imagine in years down the track this will come into its own and become regarded as the national treasure it is.

The sky coloured up like a giant dome every colour imaginable from horizons to horizons. Some of these images may give an idea of the scale of the sky and colour which is quite unusual for the whole sky to be reflected in the sunset glow. A privilege indeed for me to be able to view it and photograph it and take it home with me to muse over any time I wish...:))

The sky and landscape was so coloured from the reflected colour of the sky my skin was reflecting a red glow when I held my arm out.
My Sunset

I close my eyes and I can vision my sunset laid across the water with clouds gently placed on top.

The yellow is so bright that it consumes my thoughts I fall deeper into the colors of the sun so that I could touch the orange glow, what a soft feeling, my sunset.

My sunset takes me to another place and time where there will be no problem to tall to overcome. This vision is imbedded in my mind it is like a river running free a clear thought on a sunny day and it ends with my sunset and me.

My sunset frees my thoughts from confusion it leads me to believe that I am on top of the world, setting me free to score over the waters of my mind.

My sunset places me in a part of heaven where the day comes to an end with the beauty of my sunset.

Kimbaline Navas

New Day, Fresh Beginnings

2011-03-21T18:31:00.003+11:00

Am back in the paid workforce, finished work this morning so tired and saw this unworldly light in the fog shining here and there as the sun forced it way through. Something special about sitting on a mountain top hill actually..:)) with the mist breaking and swirling about silently. I have some rather fanciful thoughts as during the night a palliative patient slipped away from her suffering but will leave that alone for the present.

I find I need the solitude and silence at times to think and remember and pay my final respects to that soul.

A fog bow a phenomena, I had never previously seen arched across the sky as the sun burnt the mist away.

A fog bow according to Wicki....

A fog bow is similar to a rainbow, but because of the very small size of water droplets that cause fog, smaller than 0.05 mm, the fog bow has only very weak colors, a red outer edge and bluish inner. In some cases when the droplets are very small it appears white. Fogbows are therefore sometimes called "white rainbows". A fogbow seen in clouds, typically from an aircraft looking downwards, is called a "cloudbow". Mariners sometimes call them "sea-dogs."

When the droplets forming it are almost all of the same size the fogbow can have multiple inner rings, supernumeraries, that are more strongly colored than the main bow.

The fogbow's lack of colors is a result of the smaller water drops... so small that the wavelength of light becomes important. Diffraction smears out colors that would be created by larger rainbow water

drops.

I will put up a few more at a later date when I have more time to process and choose from the images taken this morning

Have a good week....:))

I see a few dust bunnies or perhaps moisture drops on the second last image that I had neglected to remove, oh well my eyes are not that good at times.

My 2010

2011-03-20T16:40:00.000+11:00

Come Fly With Me

2011-03-20T09:37:00.000+11:00

Throughout all the worry and upheaval I went for a little fly to clear my head in the gorgeous little Skyhawk with the Toowoomba Aero Club...was looking for the mountain formation that I hope to climb in April. Took heaps of still shots to have an idea of the best access to the mountain range. This valley is situated near the Queensland/NSW border in the Main Range National Park and can not wait to climb the formation.

Random Thoughts

2011-03-16T19:45:00.002+11:00

The weeks that were are food for thought across the world, we had our inland tsunami and flash flooding with loss of life and devastation all over the state. Our disasters are then followed by the earthquakes in Christchurch and now Japan, followed by the devastating tsunami of biblical proportions.

Loss and Gain (Digital Art)

I took this image at Cressbrook Dam opened for the first time since the floods, shut because of the landslides on the roads and the fear of further slips in the roads leading to the dams. The church was an image I took of a church in Armidale last year and the model is Teegan who has modelled for me over the past year.

Went to Duranbah Beach near the Queensland/NSW border the weekend before last to photograph the Quicksilver Champions. Left here some 3 and one half hours away to greet the dawn at the ocean. The ocean is always uplifting. After watching David Attenborough's latest on the origins of life can understand our facination with water and in particular the ocean as is in our DNA. This dog obviously belonged to an early morning surfer and was keeping an eye on her master out on the boards at the break.

These intrepid photographers stood in this spot for most of the morning but think may have moved on as the tide was coming in...:))

The beautiful jade green waters of the beaches of eastern Australia

As the dawn slowly arrived, I managed to get soaking wet with rain squalls coming across the water every few minutes. Will post some of the surfers doing their thing in a less than ideal conditions but was a privilege to watch the best in the world doing what they so so enjoy in the next post.

Coastal Visits

2011-02-24T08:51:00.001+11:00

Over the past months with a day off here and thee discovering the unsurpassed beauty of our coastlines

After The Floods

2011-02-23T09:06:00.000+11:00

Here in South East Queensland, in the mountains we experienced flash flooding with walls of water rushing down the narrow mountain streams to the valley floor taking homes and lives with it.

I have many images of the devastation but will not add them at this time.

After the floods the creeks have taken on a new dimension are quite beautiful and weed free beautiful fog shrouded pools of clean water greet me as I walk the waterways.

Today will spend a little time contemplating the disaster in our sister country New Zealand with the earthquake of yesterday the devastation and the loss of life and my heart goes out to those in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

What Madness

2010-11-30T21:31:00.004+11:00

On Saturday of this weekend took a couple of hours off to get away for a drive and went west on the beautiful Darling Downs of Queensland. Took along my camera and tripod and started taking images of the harvest in full swing. Had done this some weeks back and even though on a main thoroughfare did encounter some farmers not very friendly.

Noticed the signs about the place concerning coal mining and the troubles they were facing. I then decided to look into the matter and am astounded at what is occurring. The farmers perhaps thought we were mining people taking levels and mistook the tripods for another piece of equipment that stands on a tripod, hence the hostility.

Firstly the country in question is arguably the finest agricultural land in Australia and Queensland, productive with rich black soil going deep into the crust. In Australia's vast land mass not too much country is arable and viable and with climate change a real threat to the southern parts of this continent in the immediate future, this could well be and is the major food bowl of this continent. Underneath this land lies vast deposits of coal and gas and herein lies the conflict. As I understand the situation vast deposits of coal and gas and other mineral wealth lie in more isolated areas but am I being cynical in thinking that the multi nationals engaged in this situation are making the push for this land which has infrastructure in place already?

I am aware as are most people on the planet that our energy needs are growing exponentially and to deny the energy for some utopian solution is not possible without world wide collapse of economy and civil structure. But to continue on a path of knee jerk reaction and allowing the mining industry carte blanch over our agricultural land is to be stopped at all costs if the information I have gathered in the past two days is correct and will stand correction.

From reliable sources the scientists in the government body who oversee and make the recommendations to the government on environmental issues associated with industry have been over ridden by the politicians, that is the Anna Bligh Government. I believe the recommendation was made to the Government Minister that the gas extraction development in this area be put on hold until a solution was arrived at by all parties as to the disposal of the waste product from the gas extrusion process. Australia's productivity exists due in large part to the Great Artesian Basin, huge aquifers underground from where the water is pumped to the surface. The extraction of the gas from underground involves force pumping water through the man made cracks underground through the coal, the gas dissolves in the water and at surface is extracted from the water...Now herein lies the scary part. What happens to the water which is now full of toxic waste. Is it placed in holding pools to evaporate, and when it evaporates what happens to the carcinogenic sludge left behind. On the other hand Australia is a land of drought and flooding rain and nothing has changed in that regard since the poetry of Dorethea. Not if but when the flooding rain occurs on these plains and the holding pools overflow or leak through into the aquifer this stuff does it have the potential to contaminate the underground water supplies of this continent? This is purely my understanding of the matter and will stand correction as only have been looking into this in the past few days. The idea would be to have a look and see what the mining companies have done previously with the welfare and disposal of this waste in their past records all over the world. I am hearing they have not given a shite.

I guess some are looking at the farmers as not in my back yard mentality but hey I think this involves each and every Australian to get to the bottom of this situation as this issue is more important than the Franklin Dam. I am hearing the farmers are going to involve themselves in civil disobedience and I think if my understanding of the situation is correct and here I am open to correction this country should draw a line in the sand for the benefit of children and grandchildren and say what you as a government is doing is not right allowing the mining to go ahead in the face of your own scientific advise, and you need to be held accountable before it is too late.

The ordinary person in the city with an eye on the five to midnight should stand shoulder to shoulder with the farmers involved in this issue until it can be proven that this will not contaminate and destroy not only the soil but the underground aquifer. What alarms me most of all is the State Government's complete disregard for the advise of the scientists employed within the bureaucracy, the people to advise us on such as this have been totally ignored, shut down and can not speak, and I know this little piece of information to be correct. Food will be the commodity we need the most in the future. If the information I have been able to access is correct we as a community, state and nation have a duty to look into the veracity and ongoing development of this situation.

Exploring SE Queensland with a camera

2010-11-08T21:35:00.002+11:00

Carr's Lookout, Killarney, Queensland, Australia

Point Cartwright, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, pre dawn this beautiful silent white sailing boat emerged from behind the Point gliding over the rough waves with the appearance of something so elegant and out of this world.

Just waves, with a little light at a small cove at Coolum, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia

Taken into the sun rise, the sail boat traversing across the emerging sunlight with the huge cruise liner in the background negotiating the shipping channel heading for the Port of Brisbane.

Beautiful Killarney

2010-11-02T20:28:00.000+11:00

Hiking in the beautiful Killarney area of south Queensland

Wivenhoe Dam

2010-10-14T15:20:00.001+11:00

Wivenhoe Dam
Originally uploaded by cnlizziebns

The first time in a decade that the gates of the Wivenhoe Dam have allowed out excess water. In SE Queensland we have been on water restrictions for years. The population is quite excited albeit with a little wariness and thought for those who are being flooded with this surfeit of water.

Uploaded by cnlizziebns on 13 Oct 10, 5.01PM EST.

Girraween Wandering

2010-10-05T13:05:00.001+11:00

I have one weekend in four off as my son is on rotation from New Guinea and cares for my responsibilities here. Did a bit of walking in Girraween National Par, climbed some mountains and crossed some creeks and was so lucky as struck the flowering wild and experienced the climbs before the heat of summer, which I am sure I could not do in the heat. We have areas in SE Queensland that have got to be the best kept secrets in Australia...

Walking down the creek a few k's the wildflowers were coming into bloom

A tunnel through the granite that needs to be negotiated before the rock face when climbing to the top of Castle Rock

Castle Rock, spotlighted with the skudding clouds

A tree growing on Turtle Rock

After the rain in the district the creek is magnificent, photographed as the sun began to touch the foliage on the top of the image

The Sphinx Rock photographed from a ledge on Turtle rock

The granite arch photographed in the dark with the rock and surrounds "light painted" with a torch

The creek swirling and bubbling downstream

Me, on the top of Castle Rock

Interesting eucalyptus grow out of the rocks

Down stream with the rock formations allowing the water to run down natures channel

The trail up the first Pyramid Rock...I thought this was quite steep...:))

The wind was fierce and gusting, I crawled at stages as rounding a corner the wind would nearly blow me off my feet....the first Pyramid nearly at the top

An Insomniac ....Fingal and the Giants Causeway

2010-09-27T20:42:00.004+10:00

Have not blogged for some time, have been looking after my mother and when I get away I usually hike in a National Park and have been visiting some beautiful and sometimes less travelled locations in this corner of the world ...some of the sights & sounds take my breath away. I usually leave at midnight and travel to the spot I wish to be at dawn and watch the sunrise.....Have always been a night owl so it suits me and do not sleep well either so instead of being the insomniac on the Internet have been the insomniac on the highways and bush....:)) take the images home with me...

Some of my more recent efforts are below...

This is Fingal Head at sunrise where I have played with the images from this location as standing on the edge with the salt and wind blowing in my face put me in mind of the place where I imagined the elves would have sailed at the end of Lord of the Rings...

I had never been to Fingal before and was hearing the booming and crashing of the surf against the rocks and as it was dark took some shots on the head overlooking Cook Island so that before I ventured out on the cliff face I would get a little more daylight to check the footing...

The big breakers would rush over this rock formation and the water would cascade from the rocks in the most beautiful manner.. The morning was full of delicate colour because of the broken cloud cover and I have enhanced this somewhat as was feeling in a fantasy mood.

As I was changing positions with my camera I spied this surfer who jumped off these rocks into the most enormous swells and he paddled calmly out to the break which was to the left of this image

I moved up later in the day to Byron and took shots on sunset and this was another timed exposure at Little Wategos Beach which is below the Byron Lighthouse.

As I was taking the images here a couple of backpackers who were sitting on the beach enjoying the evening spied a number of dolphins swimming about where the second wave is breaking and with great glee dived into the water trying to swim with the dolphins who to me seemed to be enjoying themselves teasing the swimmer. When he would get within yards of the dolphins they would wizz off to the other end of the beach and wait until he swam towards them and then wheel about out of reach and interaction. I think the dolphins were laughing their heads off as I was....nicely it was so funny. Would not catch me swimming here just on dark when the noahas arcs are usually prowling about at sundown...

The headland below the Byron Bay lighthouse, do not ask me how I climbed over this little lot...

Wategos Beach on the sheltered side of the above crashing waves headland and you can see a lone surfer on the upper left hand corner of this image, again this is a long exposure of over a minute or so

More rocks

The lighthouse in the late night darkness doing its thing...

I thoroughly enjoyed having a look about at the coast mainly in the dawn and dark...related to a vampire but love these iconic spots deserted, I think they belong to me which they do for a very short time.

Foggy Day

2010-07-29T19:46:00.000+10:00

Down the road

Out the back...what do I have to winge about....

The road I live in winds along the edge of the escarpment with this little creek with granite rocks.

At the Alter of the Sun

2010-07-27T13:24:00.002+10:00

At the Alter of the Sun, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

As the sun came out briefly on Saturday...the only time seen all day...

Moogerah Dam, SE Queensland, Australia...Sunrise, 24/7/2010

Damn, The Destroyer

2010-07-27T13:21:00.004+10:00

In the moonlight the dead trees haunt the night sky. The dam destroys and builds at the same time, the fish jumping all morning, bats flying and with the dawn the water birds waking and populating the vicinity.....Dams, contentious, in the case, a balance, as the streams into the lake are seasonal at best....This stretch of water has a certain serenity and ambience in the moonlight......to me, a place to meditate with the reminder of the dead and the alive...and a reminder to strike a balance in all things.

Moogerah Dam in the Moonlight....taken at 3.30am

Moogerah Dam as the Sun rose

As the sun rose the fish stopped jumping and the birds flew in....could hear bats during the night.

Light Painting

2010-07-17T07:45:00.001+10:00

Bought myself, vindicate the purchase was on special....:))), a remote gadget for the camera which allows me to fix the shutter open for as long as I wish. I have had it a couple of days and the possibilities with artistic license and the camera are endless.

After observing what the camera does with the star trails as the world spins on its axis I am making it a point to visit the observatory of the stars at Maindenwell, a tiny town high in the northern Darling Downs which is only 90 ks from where I live.

I would have to pick the coldest morning of the year to experiment with this....

My first effort and had not located the south axis....ie where I can get to photograph the star trails in a complete circle. Did a little research and have to find the southern cross and two of the same distance approx beneath that configuration....I also did not have the branches of the tree in sharp focus.

I had the tree in focus and still did not have the axis spot on....This photograph is exactly how the camera sees the night sky. This was with the shutter open for 15 minutes.

I found the southern roatation point ok but could not step back any further because of a hedge . I am more fortunate than most as do not have any interfering light ie city light as those in the city who wish to do this have to travel many ks away from any street lights to get the effect or the lights of a town city will blow out the image. This is straight out of the camera without any deepening of colour with software.

Taking the image in a software programme DPP, and putting a bit of darkness back into the mix.

Taking the concept a little futher leaving the shutter open here for only 5 minutes with the lens facing the east and the trees are backlit with orange light and the foreground are painted with a torch with blue light making for interesting colour. Torchwood as it were...

The big wheel keeps turning and certainly hope it continues to do so...This image was taken facing the south and was freezing cold and had to wait for an hour....If the shutter was left open for 10 or 11 hours the star trails would be almost complete circles, if the shutter was left open for 12 hours for one spin of the earth but is somewhat impossible as daylight encroaches and blows the image right out. I can not leave the shutter open for much more than two hours because of battery life but I guess those who want the shutter to remain open for the 10 hours would have a special rig up.

The backlighting here was created with very orange streetlights in a housing development south of Toowoomba. (No houses yet) The shutter was left open for about 50 minutes here as the street lights would completely blow the image out with too much light as need complete darkness and the new moon phase of the sky to get the really stark trails but I enjoy the ambient light....

The stars the stars and guess that is where the future is in a million years of so...sobering thought...I do have a very fanciful imagination and when viewing this realize the insignificance of my being and the immensity of existence...

Balance

2010-07-08T09:03:00.002+10:00

The lovely Teegan as model, the surf at Burleight and a moon shot from a couple of months ago using masks and filters.

by Tyrone Grah am

Balance

The long road or the easy way?

A lifetime’s fight or for the day?

A life of ease or one of pain?

The choice returns time and again.

Will souls survive to grow or burn?

Questions rise and questions return.

No man is free from nagging doubts:

Each man’s mind turns and turns about.

Must one give of one’s full measure

Of choice for some unsure treasure?

Proof is scarce and answers are gray –

But is there not a middle way?

There is – it is a narrow path

That brings joy but rouses no wrath.

With much thought and a dash of luck

A careful balance can be struck:

The Wilderness of the Border Ranges

2010-07-06T20:53:00.004+10:00

A month ago was speaking with a Park Ranger, Lionel, at Byron Bay, an aboriginal descendant of the ancient peoples, Githabul, who lived in the area of the Mt Warning Gonwanda land calandra. His description of the history of the place fired my imagination, which is pretty full on most of the time anyhow, to go see for myself the cradle of the rainforests of the world.

BORDER RANGES NATIONAL PARK

Border Ranges National Park (31,683 hectares), a World Heritage listed rainforest park on the rim of a vast and ancient volcano, . It stretches 85 kilometres from east to west. Together with the McPherson Ranges, the Springbrook Plateau and the Nightcap National Park, Border Ranges National Park forms part of the caldera of the Mount Warning shield volcano the largest caldera in the southern hemisphere.

Border Ranges National Park has been included on the World Heritage list as part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves (Australia) along with other major rainforest stands in north-east NSW and south-east Queensland. World Heritage properties, places of outstanding value to the world, may be natural wonders or monuments and landscapes of human culture.

More than three-quarters of Border Ranges National Park is managed as wilderness. As declared wilderness, these areas are provided protection for their natural features and access is by foot only.

I left home at 2.30am and picked up my friend in Toowoomba and headed "South of the Border"...a big deal for us Queenslanders who are so precocial ...Mostly travelled in the dark to Warwick, Killarney, Legume and as day was breaking hit Kyogle just in time for milking....the farmers were all up and about after a night of heavy rain, which made the air so clear and crisp....crisp being the operative word here.

Did not catch a sunrise as the cloud was too thick but do enjoy being rugged up and warm as the mist rose from the valley floor. The roads were gravel and quite steep and slippery after the heavy rain...no trouble for the beast but would not like to have been negotiating with a sedan with the silt slick on the road..

After leaving Kyogle and criss crossing a creek on the valley floor.

The thick cloud is rising and the sun is trying to get a grip in the east and was soooo cold around 1 degree C.

The start of the climb leaving the farmland behind with the sun struggling through the fog here and there...

Sheepstation Creek the first walk of the morning and was cold in here

The top of the falls along this creek.

This was a little fraught as was hanging from the side of the bank...wet and slippery just like me...

This sweet little yellow robin, darting here and there catching little insects and picking up larva in the moist ground...I wish I could cling to a tree like that....

Moved on to Brindle Creek to walk in to find the ancient Antarctic Beech trees over 2,000 years old. The track was quite faint in places and very pristine the walks with the moss overgrowing the trails so would summize that this area of wilderness is not overused. This place had an atmosphere all of its own....even began to whisper, I guess that is how it affected me......walking in a primeval rainforest.

Quite dark under the canopy like a religious cathedral with a green dome.

Crossing the creek on a moss covered plank back into the thick undergrowth

Walking in this wilderness was special, uplifting and a privilege....not to mention the burning in my muscles after the walk...:)))...know I am alive....

Walking The Border Ranges

2010-07-04T15:52:00.001+10:00

Yesterday got up early and went for a walk in the wilderness area of NSW...mind you left here at 1 am Saturday morning and arrived back 3.30 am Sunday morning...was so cold when arrived home slept in the car with my face in the steering wheel, as was still warm from the heater...ouch...I did mention once or twice I can sleep anywhere....

Forgive the camera work with this but will get better with the video...first time I have uploaded to You Tube....

This wilderness is primeval and has a feel about it that I have not experienced elsewhere...relatively quiet as the moss had overgrown the paths so not a lot of feet tramping through this wilderness. Will expand a little later when put up the photographs...

Exploring

2010-06-30T22:08:00.003+10:00

Last weekend decided to do something a little different and explore the mud flats and surrounds of the Port of Brisbane, Nudgee etc. Left the hills at 12.30 am picked up a friend in Toowoomba and off we went to Brisvegas to take some photographs of an area I had never seen before and I guess a lot of people never will unless they are completely nuts like.

Arrived at a gloomy fog filled mangrove foreshore at low tide about 4am. A mob of people were having a party and was not english they were speaking...immediately I think of conspiracy and only two of us seemingly in the middle of nowhere and in the dark would only be able to see I was blond, would not be able to see the "old" part.....soldiered on regardless with a contingency plan should the party get ugly. The loud loud scitmar music seemed to be the go which I was getting a taste for out on the tidal flats, and we were ignored. Arguably I may have been more worried if they spoke English sadly enough. Needless to say I fell into a hole and was freezing and wet for a time but the climate is relatively warm compared to up on the hill where I live, so was not such a big problem.

Looking across the tidal flats to the mouth of the Brisbane River at the Port of Brisbane with the containers being unloaded on the container vessel. While doing this a fellow came over in a boat to check that we were not crab pot bandits......crack pots maybe ........

Moving out a bit further the aerodrome, one jumbo touching down on the tarmac and one circling. Because the shutter of the camera was open for some seconds the jumbo seems to be blurring on the left and in the middle of the photograph a line of lights which is another coming in for approach.

The sun was behind the cloud and a few rays penetrated for a few minutes turning the sky a strange lavender. This image is saturated slightly to what came out of the camera. I think the colours would be from the pollution in the air with the dense cloud cover not allowing the chemicals to disperse....the only thing going for pollution is the intense colours of the sky at times at sunrise and sunset. We when coming from the hills notice the intensity of the colour comparatively.

It was hard to believe the tide came in so quickly and I was not paying particular attention and luckily my friend was waving me in....I had been out beyone the second line of breakers to the left and by the time I had made my way slowly back to the shoreline the water had come up to the edge. Mind you I was walking slowly and taking photographs as I walked.

Walked through the mangroves on a boardwalk which was covered in significant amounts of dog poop so had to tread warily. A shame really that people do not clean up after the dogs on a boardwalk. The haze was such that the horizons blended into the sky seamlessly. Obviously from this little seat fish were caught as the white under the seat was fish scales and rather large scales at that...How good would that be to be able to sit here in peace and fish and catch.

This to me looked magical with the silvered water and the mangrove tree being surrounded by the rising water...did not seem earthly..of course I am somewhat fanciful.

The seagulls on the shore with good grace leaving the Saturday afternoon to the fisherfolk

Ah well there goes the missus.........more time for me to fish

Went further north up the coast to a little village may have been Donnybrook or the next one down and had a sign beware of kangaroos on streets...."Yeah right" I thought and these must think they are beach bunnies...not him..casually as you please crosses the road and you have to wait as he may punch you out...

The intention had been to photograph the partial eclipse of the moon over the sea....so made our way back to Bribie...This was a lovely beach except it is a dog beach and you guessed it......so I chose to photograph the driftwood

Was quite tired so threw out the swag on the edge of quiet park at Bribie to have a snooze and that really upset some of the locals apparently....I was too busy getting in some zzzzz's. A woman was pacing up and down looking daggers trying to decide whether or not to wake me up and tell me not to sleep in her park...My friend who knows a little of grumpiness when being judged was hovering about with the camera in the hope that she would wake me and tell me off as knew perhaps I would go off like Vesuvius......Makes me take a moment to pause and think about people who do not have much and give the person the benefit of the doubt and think perhaps she was going to extend a helpful hand to someone she thought worse off than herself...lets hope so...

The most glorious light show happened...so stunningly beautiful....the moon was behind cloud so decided to take off to Somerset for clearer skies for the eclipse......I really enjoyed exploring this area of Brisbane. We are a fortunate mob of people living on this island down under.

The bridge connects the island with the mainland.

I would have liked more detail in the bright side of the moon but was so tired and sitting on the shores of Somerset in the dark was half asleep and did not concentrate on my settings enough......Looking at the moon with the black creeping across the surface I found quite eerie and spooky.

Australia's New Prime Minister

2010-06-24T12:13:00.003+10:00

Australia's New Prime Minister, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Thanks guys have been away from this for a while...posted and ran...

The Young Horse Whisperer

2010-06-23T07:53:00.000+10:00

My grandson, Joseph lives in the city and visits me on a couple of weekends a month. He started school this year. Last year he would live with me for four days each fortnight an occurrence not happening this year I am still coming to terms with.

A couple of weekends he came to stay and we have two new ponies to teach to lead and the little man did it himself with me talking him through the moves. This child has a genuine love of animals and looks into their eyes and they seem to do as he asks with persistence, patience, give and take. I had a lump in my throat after this session.

These Magic Moments

2010-06-08T08:32:00.000+10:00

My dear friend Matthew and his delightful daughter Ellie and I drove up the mountains into the horse paddock to witness the sunset. A great place to watch this beautiful backdrop with two of my best friends.

Why I live where I live on the beautiful Darling Downs of Queensland and to me the promise of tomorrow holds endless possibilities.

New England, NSW

2010-06-04T15:46:00.001+10:00

Visited the Dorrigo Plateau and New England area of NSW a couple of weeks ago. The temperature was quite low but still clear days were beautiful.

A little north east of Armidale is a Church built along this road when at the time all the deciduous trees were planted leading to the small old building...

The church appears to have been part of a sheep property in days gone by and is now favoured for weddings I believe.

I found it difficult to photograph because of the dark shade and bright sunlight.....on an overcast day or early early morning I believe would be a more favorable time to take an image of this quaint old church.

Leaving the plateau and heading along a road to Gosford the most beautiful Wilderness areas which due to time constraints did not get to explore fully....Did walk up this pristine creek after traversing a dirt road for some ks......

I had not had a break in years and unfortunately for me was sick and out of sorts with the flu and mentally run down so when feeling better will go and explore this wilderness area in more detail at a later date.

I was waiting in the impending gloom of the evening and unfortunately only had the wide angle lens with me and a lyre bird popped out of the rainforest. I had never seen one in the wild previously so was thrilled. Is not a good image but is a start.

lizzie

2010-06-02T20:32:00.002+10:00

Sorting out the lighting in my studio with me as the guinea pig....the fitness regime have lost 8 kgs and have another 8 to 10 to go.....more hiking...Is getting hard and have such a sweet tooth so relapse.....I am a sweetaholic.......

Had a mole that was inflamed and growing taken from my face last week, a wake up call for me to not put things off...Pathology confirmed the growth was malignant but no lymphatic space infiltration and the excision margins appear clear.....

Have been climbing the walls this week, had to stay indoors so did not get infection from the horse yards...did venture out shopping but will wait until the stitches are out as frighten little children...

Wipe Out

2010-05-29T18:19:00.001+10:00

A surfer photographed in the late afternoon on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Wake Up Call

2010-05-27T09:55:00.000+10:00

Have been a little distracted of late will get back on to doing posts. I have had a mole which would not heal and silly me but my head in the sand hoping it would go away, which it has not surprise surprise.

Worry worry and stress and do not do anything about it and now it has grown suspected malignant and and am having it removed tomorrow. I am concerned to the extend they will excavate my face and am concerned to the extent of the malignancy and am concerned regarding metastasizing...

I tend to but my head in the sand and hope bad things will go away .....not a good policy....

Went for a very short break to the coast where I had not been for a lot of years, became ill with the flu and a few other issues but managed to appreciate the beautiful coastlines we have here in Australia. I had never seen the coastline across the border into NSW and the deserted pristine beaches are absolutely glorious....

The ocean crashing into the rocks at Byron Bay, northern NSW in the early morning.

Byron Bay lighthouse in the early morning before the sun rose. A little distortion with the wide angle lens which I quite like for more drama.

Another later in the morning of the Byron Lighthouse...such a beautiful spot.

A beautiful deserted beach on the northern NSW coastline

In a national Park on the coastline of Northern NSW

Pelicans feeding on a cornered school of bait fish...the dark smudges under the water is the school

The water turns to aqua in the shallower areas where the pelicans were having a feast.

The surfers in the early morning autumn morning

Age is no barrier doing what one enjoys....the early sun shining through the water was just gorgeous...

This surfer is an inspiration of what the human spirit can do.

Back in Queensland looking across the bay at the lit up Surfers Paradise

Here We Go

2010-04-30T02:13:00.004+10:00

DO NOT READ OR LOOK ANY FURTHER IF YOU ARE DELICATE OR SQUEAMISH..THIS IS NOT A PRETTY SIGHT....

I was sleeping as usual in front of the computer...I watch iView on the computer as do not get TV reception here, would if I installed a proper antenna but usually only watch Aunty and these days 7 and 9 are available on the computer....well a friend sent an email and I woke up with a start as the computer boings...turned off 39 Steps which I had watched the first five minutes of and promptly feel asleep in a you beaut feet up lounge chair....

After replying to my nocturnal friends email heard a commotion outside...grabbed the torch and one of my stallions was having a wonderful time gallop about and screaming gleefully at everything and everybody else in the horse world...the nonce...can not convince him yet to serve a mare as is all noise and no action but he thought he sounded stallionely.....what to do with him I have no idea....another story..

So I am turning the air blue with choice words and eventually snaffled him in a smaller yard beside the stables and heard a loud thump and screaming from underneath the boganvilla bushes...had a fair idea what was going on that bloody Slytherin and I had thought she had retired for the winter but no...

Put the stallion away and shone the torch under the bush and sure enough there was no not Slytherin as Slytherin is humungous but a smaller clone of Slytherin, the carpet python, gleefully clasping a hare by this time dead and was busily squashing the hare...not a pretty sight but am going to take you through the whole thing just the same as it happens and is nature...

I went back into the house emailed my friend what I was doing, is better to share especially nice stuff, not, and grabbed my camera, torch and a heavy coat and crawled under the boganvilla and took photographs to share with the world....not exactly David Attenborough but is nature and really is remarkable how the python got that hare down his throat...I thought no way you wanker that is too big...

No way are you going to do this I said and thought....and I like the hares who are always bright eyed and bushy tailed and never seem to get out of control and now I have a fair idea why...but this was my fault as they always run under the boganvilla when I am thrashing about in the night and this was lying there and could not believe his luck....

Took him a fair time to get to this stage and I still thought no way you waster...

The python was squeezing the hare skinny...it beats me how he does not impale himself on a broken bone as they must be breaking to get the body down skinny...

I never thought he would get this far and I would have bet the farm this snake could not get the hare into its gut and at this stage knew that perhaps I would lose if I had bet.

The snake is squashing and squashing up near its mouth and pushing towards its mouth with the rest of its coils

Twisting and squeezing

I would

Unbelievable and quite sinister...snakes are really creepy but this happens...and the hare only survived seconds before it died....I heard the screaming of the hare which only lasted seconds and in the few minutes it took me to run the stallion in and crawl under the bush the animal was dead.

Down go the feet

The python paused here and his whole body was undulating as it forced the animal into its length, and the hare was elongated into twice its length as it passed the immediate area behind the snakes head, must have very powerful mechanism inside as well as out.

Done and it slithered away....and I was not crawling any further under that darn prickly bush to document its departure..

I raced in and out of the house, downloading the images, crawling back under the bush trying to hold the torch, manually focus the camera and thinking where was Slytherin who is twice or even three times the size of this python and thinking Slytherin could probably digest me...no just joking but these things tend to crawl into the recesses of the mind when looking at something like this... and my friend emailing me telling me to document and do not be squeamish as this is life and no matter what I do will not change nature.

Hey Cindy does this look familiar!!!

It is 2.16 am in the morning and I am off for a shower and will watch a movie preferably pillage and plunder to get my mind off this little lot and hey I am passing it on...A Bad Hair Day ....

Postcard

2010-04-19T19:33:00.001+10:00

Postcard, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Your Thoughts

2010-04-19T19:22:00.003+10:00

This is a design of a postcard I wish to release.....your thoughts...I do not know why this has repoduced so dull will upload to Flickr and transfer over and see if it is any better.

Refractions

2010-04-18T08:19:00.001+10:00

Reflections, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Have been thinking of doing this for some time...now I am on a roll and will have water drops everywhere :)....Have a good day...

COMMENTS

2010-04-18T07:34:00.003+10:00

I do not know what is happening here but I am receiving an inordinate amount of comments which I believe lead back to soliciting .......I have changed my comment codes for which I am saddened....In this world I try not to take advantage of anothers space just because they are willing to open themselves up....I guess the people sending all these bogus comments believe what a fool leaving their access open....sad really......If I asked you not to do this particularly with the sex and erotic links because I am not interested as enjoy real life and do not need to be a voyeur from the sidelines as some of you think life should be lived and I will not allow MY space to be a forum for such as this.

I believe the internet is a wonder of this world allowing people to exchange ideas across borders in a wink of an eye and as all these comments are in manderin you people should be aware of this more than most, and here you forcing restrictions on yourselves and others who perhaps do not warrant these restrictions.

Please desist....apart from being cowardly it is not honourable

我不知道什么是发生在这里，但我收到的评论，我相信中处于领先地位，争取.......我已经改变了我的意见，我感到很伤心.... codes过度amount在这个世界上我尽量不要利用彼此的优势空间，只因为他们是愿意开放自己了....我猜的人把所有这些假的评论认为是个傻瓜离开他们的访问打开....真悲哀......如果我问你不要这样做，特别是与性和色情的联系，因为我没有兴趣作为体验真正的，并不需要从一旁偷窥正如你们有些人认为生活应该是生活和我是不会容许我的空间是一个像这样的论坛。
我相信互联网就是一个让人们交流思想的一个跨越国界的眼睛和眨眼，因为所有这些评论manderin你人们应该更加意识到这比大多数世界奇迹，在这里你就强迫自己和限制也许别人谁也不能保证这些限制。
请停止...租赁停止....除了是懦夫是不光荣

Construction

2010-04-17T01:26:00.000+10:00

I was commissioned to photograph the progress of a bridge under construction which I thoroughly enjoyed. The workers initially were a little nervous with a photographer about but they settled and I have nothing but admiration for these construction workers, a hard and dangerous occupation but filled with camaraderie and down to earth real people. No room for pretention here.

I am let to understand the Main Roads Dept. of the Queensland Government is undertaking a programme of upgrading a lot of the old bridges throughout regional Queensland. This is a bridge across the upper reaches of the Brisbane River.

The stone is deposited for a pad where the crane sits to place the concrete beams which weigh fifty one tonne each. The crane is capable of lifting 350 tons. The preparation for the placement of the crane was exacting and precise, with the pad under scrutiny and huge counterweights attached to the bottom of the crane, semied in with five semi trailers, and this is before the machine can begin to work.

The crane testing the stability and the counterweights.

This construction worker, Will, knew his job and he and his partner, Scotty, worked together to my eyes anyhow like a well familiarized, co ordinated team.

Chains attached to the concrete beams to be hoisted. I was amazed that fabric was used as part of the chain, configuration to hoist the beams.....the fabric, ropes encased in a covering pocket so could not see the texture of make up of the ropes/fabric? Much more flexible than steel. I do not know the reason for the use of the fabric material but intend to find out....I am such a nosy parker...just gotta know stuff for the sake of knowing.

Attaching the cables of steel

Up she goes, this is the second beam

I did a HDR effect for a change with this photograph showing the second beam going into place late in the afternoon with the essential backhoe bucket shown in the foreground who asked me to shift before he scooped me and my camera up lol

I totally enjoyed my day out on this site and have a greater appreciation of the work ethic of these construction people.

Thank You

2010-04-15T22:29:00.000+10:00

Thank you for all your kind words which is appreciated and will take the opportunity of sharing my morning with you....

I love the kindness of all who comment it uplifts the spirits and I am privileged to have the opportunity to be able to share...

I do love the lyrics of this song which I relate to often

Morning Sky

Don't hide your heart behind the wall
Don't walk alone in grey and dark nights
Look to the sky and you'll be allright
There is a sun for you to shine
Lookat yourself, what do you see?
A childhood fear to be alone, maybe a heart
Without a home, but someone's waiting there for you.

Morning sky let me touch your golden sunlight
Let me dream away the dark night, let me ride
Your silver cloud, morningsky promise me you
Live tomorrow push away my pain and sorrow
In God's golden morning sky.

Be like a river wide and strong, don't be afraid
To trust a friend, so let your life be like a song
Sing with a feeling in your heart.

Morning sky let me touch golden sunlight........

A Fly Past

2010-03-30T19:57:00.001+11:00

A Fly Past, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Sitting on the mountain tonight shaking off the dog, heard the dingoes howling, the red stag roaring, the night birds calling and the thump and thud of the marcupials as I crashed about, forget to put new batteries in my torch didn't I?? The moon came out of the clouds briefly and took a big shot of it and put it in this photograph when it was behind the clouds...got out my broomstick and went for a fly.

The deer roar happens at the full moon every year around Easter and we get the city boys dressed in their camouflage stalking about being poachers, half the adventure for them I am sure.....I am thinking thinking as every now and then I spoil their fun and go riding in the mountains all night singing a reciting poems after all I did not call this Lissies Insomnia for nothing (oh yes I can spell my name but the keyboard has given up on the last letter of the alphabet)...

Sometimes I see in the distance a campfire and then when ride in closer can not see the darn thing...quickly doused and them hiding in the bush...Why they hide is beyond me....they are armed to the teeth with guns/bows and arrows...Can you imagine...now boys give me the guns and you can go home...yeah right....BUT when and if I find their vehicle they are in trouble he he.....although a lot of the Rambos now get dropped off and picked up at a agreed spot and time.

I am sure one of these days a stray bullet may find someone....the funniest thing I have witnessed is when one or two get lost and give up with their hands up I am exaggerating a little here...they are so embarrassed and I am stifling giggles but looking appropriately stern mounted on my horse with the stockwhip over my shoulder looking menacing but they do have the advantage with the huge guns they tote....such is life with a property not two hours from a major city....

uuuuummmm should I or should I not go and be a fly in the ointment!! decisions decisions

Have a safe Easter

Glasshouse Mountains

2010-03-26T22:35:00.000+11:00

On Tuesday went for a drive and hike into the sunshine coast hinterland

The Pretty City

2010-03-26T22:06:00.000+11:00

Took these above Toowoomba looking towards Gatton from the heights at Preston.

Took this in the clouds in the Border ranges...have not seen dew drops so tiny covering all the cobwebs and sparkling in the sun

Life Can Be Like That

2010-03-26T19:58:00.000+11:00

Went walking in the border ranges a couple of weeks ago....a beautiful place...good for the soul...

I will not talk about it as the images say it all.....and am a little down and this should pick me up....Why am I down, no you did not ask but I am going to tell....

Yesterday afternoon the dogs went beserk and I peeked out the window and my friend Philip who lives down the road about 10 ks down the road....he was staggering with a hole in his head above his left eye a broken arm hanging and half his cheek hanging down his face....I steadied him and put him in my car which was about 6 metres away rushed inside and rang 000.....I received such a fright as thought the hole in his head was a bullet hole and looked like one. I did know the neighbour down that end of the road had fired a shot over his head on one occassion.....hill people here, fueding.....playing banjos...

Emergency services were here within minutes, how lucky are we in Australia, two Ambulances, Police and my yapping dogs, and my mother collecting dirty rags to put on his head, thinking that would make him feel better!!!. His short term memory has disappeared...I am friends with his daughter who lives in Fernvale and his wife was away on a training course....eventually tracked down his whole family to get into Toowoomba.... It was not bullet hole, what caused it is a mystery, cerebral fluid was leaking from his ear.....He does not know what happened to him....and I do not know if his short term memory will return.....I can not speak of this to the locals as is too shocking and am just here now telling the whole world...I did ring a friend and he did not listen......I had decided way back not to put anything bad on this blog but there you go and there I go.....

Me

2010-03-11T20:00:00.000+11:00

Took a friend who is a photographer back to the National Park and thought would show you a portion of the trails and me being a rock wallaby..:))

Such a flattering view only a true friend would take a pic of me at that angle.......

That is me on top of the rock wall, a beautiful spot to be and could have sat there for half a day listening and watching the water

Negotiating the trail that has disappeared somewhat. The water here flows into the Cressbrook Dam which supplies the major inland city of Toowoomba. This dame has been alarmingly low over the past few years and this should give it a welcome boost.

Crows Nest Falls, 10th March, 2010

2010-03-10T18:37:00.003+11:00

Crows Nest Falls, 10th March, 2010
Originally uploaded by cnlizziebns

Went back up the falls today to record the noise...I did not do the recording sitting behind the operator as the falls seem to be calling me in with the vertigo...lol....

This water supplies one of the major inland cities of Australia and have not had the water volume for some years so this is a reason to celebrate.

Pinkies Out Walkin"' Today

2010-03-07T18:41:00.002+11:00

I have not posted for ages but am back.....have been on a reducing diet and a fitness regime.....have lost 5kilograms and am getting quite fit and have walked a lot of SE Queensland in the meantime. I have 10 kilgrams to go.....was 14 pushing a 16 and am now a comfortable 12, need to get to a comfortable 10....my weight is quite heavy still as have a lot of muscle form 30 years of riding racehorses trackwork.

Will post those walks and adventures in the intrim but today took the pinkies for a walk after the deluge .....I am so happy when it pours....reminds me of my childhood in the "wet" in the Tropics born and living in the Gulf Country in Far North Queensland.....I really think I am regressing back to childhood as throw off the clothes and shoes at every opportunity....if I am losing it really think will be a handful for my carers!!! I can just hear by boys "Mum Put Your Clothes On"...and do not even have the excuse of alcohol....lol

I went driving to my paddock which is in Somerset Shire, described as Upper Brisbane Valley but was not to be, Ivory Creek was too swollen upstream and needed to negotiate it a couple of times downstream where the volume would have been considerable at the top of the range but never the less...did get some ways towards my goal until.....

I waded in and when the current became too strong retreated...backed up what seemed like half a kilometre turned around and saw movement in the grass, stopped the beast and saw the cutest little eyes looking at me...This area is kilometres from any dwellings and it was a little black pup....now I do not allow dogs in my vehicle only the back of the ute and knew I could not leave this little creature out in the bush where he would surely die a slow and protracted death. Over the years I have come across litters of pups dumped in this area...a cowardly and inhumane thing to do. I feel if the owners felt they were not able to care for the animals , animal shelters would take them in an euthanize if need be ....but oh no too cowardly to bite the bullet and go the hard yards.....This little animal came to me after some coaxing....put him in my car and retraced my steps home as had intended trekking in a national park and anyhow he was and is too weak apart from dogs not being allowed in these parks....

This is he and he did not attempt to crawl in over the seats, just wedged his little face like so.......He is presently lying at the back door exhausted....I will advertise extensively to make sure he does not belong to anyone and somehow was lost, which I very much doubt, between two flooded creeks kilometres from any dwelling whatsoever. If he is not claimed I feel it is to be he will be my dog.

Gave up on the excursion at the bottom of the ranges and decided I would check out the National Parks after backtracking and taking the pup home...drove out and the road was closed...went around that and arrived at a crossing where vehicles were parked on one side, waded through and knew I would be ok with the beast which is an extremely heavy powerful vehicle with a 4.8 litre motor. Weight and power is what is needed when crossing flooded crossings and I know is a no no but would not do so if I had thought it was unsafe. ...just in case anyone thinks silly woman....lol after this you will not only think so but know so...

This is an unopened part of a National Park and to access this negotiate the creek through a property belonging to my brother. This would be very well utilized if opened to the public as vehicles could drive to this point giving access to the elderly frail, wheel chair bound and small children without a substantial hike....

I perched on a rock to take this and was wishing I had had a pedicure for this particular shot....oh well next time....pinkies enjoy an outing...

Now which way did I come???!!!!

You can just see pinkies pal where I left them in the middle of this pic...marking the trail...I listened carefully to Hansel and Gretel when I was a child ( really think about the fairy tales of my generations childhood...after all H & G were going to be eaten by the wicked witch, I ask you!!!) and know all about a trail....

Oops a bit sideways here leaning....now where is that trail again...this was a deep wade but was an anna branch and relatively calm water until I thought I felt something around my ankles....I was walking on top of the water then lol..had seen a lot of slithery tails disappearing into the rocks...

Thank goodness there they are the pinkies pinks....

This is the chute at the top of the waterfall....is hard to comprehend here but did not want to lean any more than I was as that is a very sharp sheer drop just here.....sat here for half an hour talking to the faces in the rocks....commuting with nature...you think I jest...nooooo

The roar was deafening and loved it sent the blood through my veins knowing I was truly living to be fortunate and fit enough to experience this....

No these are a scary set of steps but......

Will me and the pinks take the next step.....tested a couple of times but too strong and too deep.....tomorrow as need to get to the bottom of the main waterfall, the side rocks here were a little unstable as set in gravel and could not do my rock wallaby tricks here as the sides of the gully were quite unstable.

Time for the grey beast to take me home.....has been a good day as was feeling a little down earlier... as you do... nothing like nature to put everything into perspective

Thank you all for your comments and do appreciate them and apologies for the non explanation absence.

New Year Business

2010-01-01T12:30:00.001+11:00

Mountains SE Queensland, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

I am on a fitness lost weight scheme but did not anticipate the quantum leap with a fellow photographer who decided I should kick off the day before the New Year being a mountain goat. Wound down and up these beautiful mountains in SE Queensland where we have it all, truly takes the breath away. Am sure melted off another kilo.....

Happy New Year

2009-12-30T09:27:00.001+11:00

Happy New Year, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Sarah

2009-12-28T22:50:00.000+11:00

A portrait of Sarah

The kid was rescued from transport where its mother birthed en route

Princess Ellie

2009-12-26T09:13:00.001+11:00

Ellie, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Have been practicing a little low key lighting but need to get all the shadows out...

Turn It On Turn It Up

2009-12-25T08:19:00.001+11:00

Where I ride my horses I drove and took the camera yesterday and what a glorious sunset after the rain of the previous days.

Down The Mountain

2009-12-17T08:14:00.001+11:00

I live in the mountains of South East Queensland and a friend asked me to transport his horses to a polo instruction camp.

My grandson Joeseph came with me and we picked up the horses in the dark with much excitement at 3.30 am in the morning for a four year old who was feeling so important...Grandma, do you want this bridle, I will shut the gates if you help me etc etc

Off we went on a dark and gloomy morning and arriving in Toowoomba before the steep descent down the mountain the fog and rain came down. I had to use the main Range Crossing due to the large trailer I was pulling and the full load of horses. At this hour of the morning all the semi trailers are going down the mountain to beat the normal traffic. I could hardly see two feet in front of the windscreen and had the vehicle in low range gear to take the descent and a little box car came roaring down the mountain weaving through the two lanes of traffic full of semis...I had just indicated to pull out into the outer lane as the semi in front of me had a huge load and was in very low gear and this little car had gone around me into the inner lane and as I pulled out drove over in front of me...I had no option but to pull back in behind the semi or hit the sedan. I had gathered a little pace to pass the semi so had to lock up the brakes and opted to run into the back of the semi or take this little car over the cliff. My vehicle did a bit of fishtailing and squealing with all brakes locked on the trailer and the SUV and luckily for me have the safety brakes installed where the computer takes over as to the locking and unlocking and managed not to hit anything but I guess that little car sailed on its merry way in the rain and fog dodging semis oblivious, an accident waiting to happen.

In the mean time Matt whose horses I was transporting was calling me up on the two way to see how I was faring and because of all the traffic on the two way mainly truckies swearing mightily did not acknowledge and by the time I arrived at the bottom of the range at the arranged rendezvous every man and his dog was looking for me oh well.......

The grooms uniform and his grooms were young, blonde, bronzed, bare, and beautiful.

An uneventful trip down unloaded the horses and watched a few chukkas and thought I would share with you the grooms one of these polo boys employed. I asked Matt did he think I should apply for a job and he too quickly told me NO I would not make it....well....just because I am no longer, young, bronzed, blonde and beautiful!!

Joseph taking photographs and he took some good shots.

Joseph took this photo

The expert!!

Arrived back home and where I had picked up the ponies a koala had climbed the tree probably cut short his nocturnal wandering by the early loading at the yards and he was in a tree at the yards.

Go away he said.....

Life is Like That!

2009-12-17T07:49:00.001+11:00

Sometimes doing our best does not cut it and is something I have to learn to accept. After rescuing the old horses from the mountain and walking them out in the killing heat the situation was too much for the old black mare who deteriorated and suffered a major fatal heart attack.

I have for the past four years worked in a nursing home with largely high care patients and death is a constant occurrence which never is fully accepted but our time comes for people and animals and never a death occurs without regrets.

The circumstances may or may not have hastened her death. She was nineteen years of age and did have a bad start to life as I saw her in a paddock with her mother and was horrified when she was about five months of age. The grass was green and up to their knees but was an introduced African grass which in horses with their one stomach has an element that does not allow them to absorb calcium. I saw the owners and brought her home explaining why she looked like she did awful and they did not mean this to happen as was done with ignorance and all they saw was the lush green kikuyu. She always did have problems with bones and not a good start in life but lived her life out in the mountains and in the cool of the creek beds with her sister for the nineteen years of sun filled lazy days.

May she rest in peace "If suffering went out of life, courage, tenderness, pity, faith, patience and love would go out of life too".

Old Friends

2009-12-11T12:27:00.001+11:00

Is that time of year again and Christmas has been a time of year when I shut myself down and do not communicate but this year it will be turned around. Some of my oldest friends understand and those that do stand by me and am so happy this year as Matthew and his lovely wife and family have returned from working in the Northern Territory and have not completely isolated myself as usually do at this time of the year.

He is making me work with him and the young horses breaking in his polo ponies and me working on some of my animals which I have not done justice to in the past four or five years. My father and his father were friends and Mat was an impressionable young lad of ten years when he and I met. He is good for my ego as he remembers me clanking about with shiny silver spurs and jeans wrangling horses and out there doing things and with this encouragement feel I can achieve again.

So have been working at the break of dawn and off riding the young horses coming home exhausted and a nice ache in my oh so unused muscles. The lard is beginning to strip off and as it does my mood lightens. With Matt I can remember that it is one of the blessings of friends that you can afford to be stupid with them and at times I am that.

Meet Kevin...well what have we got here

Mine now ......and that was the last I saw of them for a while

Some Days Are Diamonds, Some Days are Stone

2009-12-09T21:32:00.001+11:00

Just one of those days yesterday. A long story but had to collect two mares who where up in the mountains without available water. I found out Monday afternoon and had to organize myself up the mountain. I asked a good friend would he give me a hand but unfortunately had a prior engagement and was at the coast but would come back on Tuesday night to accompany me on the Wednesday morning.

Could not sit out Tuesday in the searing heat not knowing in what condition these mares were in so decided to go on my own which involved trucking my mare to the bottom of the ranges then riding through quite rugged country and is at the moment not even four wheel driveable finding the two mares in over one thousand acres of hilly timbered country, catching them, bringing them down the mountain and loading them into my rig and driving them back up the mountain. I ran into a friend of mine Ros and told her my tale with many swear words at the horses not being shifted on the Sunday when riders were up in the mountains shifting their cattle. Ros unfortunatly was working but had resigned myself to managing as you do.

Then came the diamonds late on the Monday night received a telephone call from Ros to the effect that she had rang into work and arranged for someone else to cover her work and if I picked her and her horse up early Tuesday morning she would help me. This kind offer left a lump in my throat as is hard to find anyone willing to do anything for someone else that costs them. I then rang the manager of Eskdale Station where I would have to leave my rig and ride through their property to access the horses.
Without missing a beat the Manager said "I will saddle a horse and go with you" I then did start to cry. I had never met him before and had only spoken on the telephone and the day was promising to be of killer heat and not comfortable.

We did all of the above and put it down to my being emotional forgot to take the water and we rode for five hours climbing the mountains without a drink and I have not appreciated water so much in a long time so had a small idea of how these animals felt.

The mares were a little worse for wear and look different horses today in a huge bed of straw and unlimited water and hay. The mares are around the twenty years of age and I am so grateful that this ending is as has turned out except for the circumstances of these animals being without water for that time due to others stupidity and ignorance where I will not go at the present..

Thank you Mark you are a prince for a neighbor.and thank you Ros who said to me "What do you think friends are for?"

South Sky Storm

2009-12-07T16:22:00.002+11:00

experiencing a bad hair day. Her foal coat is dead and falling out and a beautiful rose grey color coming through.

Where I would like to be in the surf...can fantasize

Have just heard the waterholes in my top paddock are very low, the cattle were shifted yesterday and tomorrow will have to ride up there and shift two old thoroughbred mares. I will bring them home and will try and get away very early so am not riding in the heat of the day. The heat is close and humid so lets hope it brings on the rain so badly needed at the moment. As I type this the sweat is pouring down my back. Could not imagine this heat good for this computer so will switch off and go out in the cooler of the afternoon to do some of my outside physical work.

Girraween Two

2009-12-05T16:50:00.000+11:00

Rock formations everywhere

Wildflowers everywhere

The rock I did not climb but next time.

Strange creatures in the logs....

On the back roads back on to agricultural land and could see the threatening storm cells which did eventuate so was no climbing the pyramid that day.

Girraween

2009-12-05T16:36:00.004+11:00

I have decided to go and get my body back and am on a walking regime. First stop explore all the near National Parks and then the far ones and when have done that in a couple of years am doing a Forrest Gump and walk the world well that is the plan and many a slip between the cup and the lip. Life is a box of chocolates.....

First stop Girraween and what a beautiful place that is and right here on my doorstep with the most incredible diversity of wildflowers, heath, and great walks, although did not do the walk up the pyramid as I had planned due to the inclement weather and the slipperiness of granite with moisture.

Left home at 12.30 am picked up an enthusiastic photographer in Toowoomba and met the dawn near the Queensland NSW border. A wonderful spot to spend the first day of Summer.A beautiful morning with mist rising from the creek the platypus plopping in the creek wondering what she is doing sitting above my borrow and how I knew it was its burrow will explain a little further on.

Quite a mild morning but this locale is the coldest area of Queensland with snow in the winter time some years. The dew on the grass was beautiful as the first rays of the sun touched the tops. Sun rise was around the 4 o'clock time.

Nature sure turned it on and thought I would share some of the magic of the morning with the little things.

I was snapping away enjoying myself and in the background could hear a noise on the water periodically and was looking through the viewfinder of my camera and a duck was evident in the gloom. I put the zoom lens on after a few shots and could see that the duck was caught in the tree with fishing line wound around his neck. I progressed down the creek and could cross at a bridge a couple of hundred metres upstream but the other side of the river had a little anna branch of a stream and very boggy with high reeds and grasses and perhaps some joe blakes so sat and contemplated for a few minutes knowing I could not leave the duck where it was and the other photographer companion was who knows where and would be back who knows when. I went back to the car and dug around for an old shirt and took that down to the creek together with a change of clothes and left my old clothers which were muddy and sodden from trying to access the duck from the other side on the vehicle bull bar to dry out.

Collect a sharp stanley knife and reminded myself I had been a strong swimmer and if I were to continue this Gump thing had to make a start. Swam up the creek with the knife in my mouth, treading water mightily and cut the duck loose. Swam back to the shore and proceeded to put on my clean clothes feeling rather satisfied with myself. See the duck in the background tethered to the tree.

I thought I was rather good rescuing that duck.

My first morning of "Gump" is one of mixed emotions. Oh yes about the platypus burrows when trying to find an alternative to swimming up that dark water and negotiating the edges of the creek my legs went down a hole in the bank of the creek with mud nearly up to my waist. I do not think I landed on any platypii.

The sun shone on the top of the Cottontops and everything looked a little more sane.

Drove back towards Stanthorpe and some beautiful shots were taken of this most colorful parrot an Eastern Rosella which I had never seen before and he was so brightly colored he hurt the eyes. Although obviously fed in the trees was still very shy and nervous.

Then on to Girraween which will speak through the photographs such a beautiful place and well worth a visit or two.

These fellows were eastern greys and did look a little poor but not as poor as the big roos I saw in the Charters Towers area where the grasses were virtually non existent due to the lack of rain, thankfully the "wet" season in the north is not that far away.

A jewel of a beetle and a bad nail job. Ever since the mop tops I always spell beetle incorrectly and have to stop and redo EVERY time.

These bushes had every color imaginable must have had something to do with slight differences in soil to produce such a different array of color. I did not photograph the range of color which I realize I should have done.

Huge granite boulders everywhere giving the place a spiritual and eerie feel

except when there were silly buggers about and I am talking about the person taking the photograph who had to climb up a tree to get this effect.

Tripping North 3

2009-12-05T02:40:00.000+11:00

Departed Cairns early the next morning and was just starting to settle into the cabin by the river could have slept for a week with the sweet sound of the water over the rocks. Decided to make a little detour on the way and show Lynelle a little of the northern surrounds. Arrived at Kuranda a little after daylight and took a walk about this delightful village which has lost none of its charm I am pleased to say. Back when I lived in the area alternative lifestyle people, I guess Australias version of the flower children, came from all over the world and many squatted in the rainforest. They did not realize that the young locals were already flower children living the life we did!!

Kuranda Railway Station in my eyes had not changed from the days when would arrive at the station in the steam train, alight from the train rubbing the coal dust, soot, from our eyes as would lean out the windows defying gravity for most of the trip. Crossed the railway line and followed the river and through the rainforest for a delightful squiss at the locale and met some most engaging locals in the town and on the walk. Lynelle went to the toilet before we headed off on the long journey south and aware of my once on a roll no stopping!! while she was away I arranged for a beautiful snake I saw draped around the neck of an employee at the Venom collection facility. I did not think Lynelle would take the snake but she surprised me and said it was something she had always wanted to do. Walking the rainforest track the shy "freshy" crocodile was swimming along beside me. These are very docile and do not as a rule bite humans and do not grow to the savage proportions of the "salty". They are usually a lot slimmer with a more tapered snout.

I drove through Atherton where I did not stop. The area was tinder dry and brown and had never seen the Tablelands in this situation before. Driving on to Malanda and Millaa Millaa the restoration of the green and moist returned so was not disappointed in that. Stopped at the falls and unfortunatly one of the lens of the camera none of the shots turned out, a dob of butter had somehow melted into the equipment, very negligent on my part.

Down the Palmerston Highway and then headed the nose to Townsville and did not stop until I shredded a tyre somehow on the outskirts of Townsville heading towards Charters Towers. A fellow helped me change the tyre and he lived in Townsville and used to be a Dalby boy!! and knew many people I did, it is a small world. Once I married a Dalby boy how I ended up leaving the far north for the Darling Downs of Queensland but that is another story.

Unfortunately did not get the opportunity to photograph the country between Townsville and Charters Towers at sunset as had been my intention as the tyre debacle had delayed us somewhat. Arrived at Charters Towers in the dark and then headed off on the development road through Belyando Crossing where I snoozed for a couple of hours and arrived at Clermont as the sun rose. Lynelle's daughter is a school teacher at Capella so waited until a respectable hour so Lyn could visit and I could sleep for a few hours. Shannon was one of the girls who would help me with the show horses so she gave me a demonstration on her horse and showed us her block of land she had purchased so I would at a wild guess imagine she is staying in the central west of the state!!

Lindsay, Hayley and Dale

Headed off in a hurry as had to pick up a horse at Comet and another at Rockhampton. Arrived at Comet and luckily I went to the local pub which is a beauty I must say to gather information on the directions to the property. Turned out 200 ks of dirt road, "dog track" down sandy creek beds and crossing the river. Not on as would still be there with the rig I was towing so after spending too much time figuring things out and it was hot and dry headed on to Rockhampton to see some friends and pick up my old horse who I had given to another of the girls who had assisted me and she was having a baby and did not wish to risk riding and the area is experiencing severe drought.

Lindsay his ever personable hospitable self but could not stay as was on a mission and left Rockhampton just as the sun set and drove arriving back to the Darling Downs in the small hours of the morning a little tired and crashed my body to bed.

Forest Sprite

2009-12-04T20:00:00.001+11:00

Forest Sprite, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

This is another to be reproduced as a poster for the Grandmother of Teegan for Christmas.

Tripping North

2009-12-04T07:39:00.000+11:00

The horses were settled in their beautiful new home with the delightful Simone a powerhouse slip of a woman with enthusiasm and a bright shining light. My life is taking a new turn am taking a leap of faith and getting out and about meeting new people a difficult thing for me as although working in an environment with many people tend to be reclusive. I know a lot of people poke fun of us that blog but hey for me this is instead of talking to a shrink and a lot less expensive, same sort of idea getting it off ones chest talking to a sage stranger who nods wisely in the appropriate places thinking what an idiot!!!And just like talking to a shrink I can jump all over the place.

Drove about the city of Cairns looking for a place to crash as was decidedly tired as had driven through from the Darling Downs sleeping on the road here and there in the heat of the previous day which is not that restful. I needed a place that could accommodate my horse float which is rather large and that was turning out to be a tall order. Seemed to be huge vacancies but said I could park my horsefloat on the road but was not on as had a lot of equipment in there and was not willing to do that. Eventually was given the address of a caravan park at Lake Placid some ks out of town and I thought that looked promising and a little deju vu as had spent a lot of time in the Barron River in the good old summertime in Cairns when I was a teenager years ago. The place is just magic and was so tired was trying to back in the horse float and the manager spotted me and came out of the office and did so for me and then I crashed for 10 hours in the delightful air con cabin sheltered with tropical plants and shrubs. I felt I had come home. I had camped very near this spot with a bon fire on the river on the edge of the rainforest in the heat of summer way back when.

I could hear the water in the background the whole time I was at the park.

I heard on the radio it was hot down south over 40 degrees celcius and here was I on the Barron River the temperature for the day 34 degrees. Who would have thought go north to escape the searing heat but was the case on this day for which I was grateful. I woke late in the afternoon and went for a hike down the river and the photos speak for themselves.

Not a lot of people around but those who were were enjoying themselves. If I lived in this city this is where I would spend the long twilight afternoons in a canoe or just swimming.

The jarring note to me was the huge colonies of flying foxes inhabiting the city and years ago flying fox colonies inhabited the north but not in the proportions they descend on the city each day, just on observation on the short time I was in the city. The man made food readily available in the back yards would be encouraging them to multiply and breed in the city. I am a great believer in leaving nature be but flying foxes are the reservoir of the most frightening virus' known to man ebola, sars, etc, hendra through a host animal. A little furry animal in China was the host for sars and I wondered what would happen if a virus evolved from the bats into the domestic pet populations of a city. The planet does fight back with any species that overpopulates an area. ....I think I had better leave this subject alone.

Took a little drive that night to downtown Cairns and night markets were the go asian food stalls were what I enjoyed the most with a vegetarian dish of noodles vegetables and a warmish sauce was a sensation to the taste buds. The immediate area of downtown cairns and the esplanade was very nice and touristy but could have been in Surfers or any tarted up area. The old addage find paradise put up a parking lot or something like that. I am fortunate I knew this city when it was a place for people all over the world to visit which they did on yachts or with their thumbs. a city with an unique and intriguing feel and look all gone now but the stunning surrounds are still there.

Booked a quick nostalgic trip out to Green Island for the next day departing at around midday and a bus picked me up at the front gate how good of a service was that as we were some ks out of the city.

Took a little wander before the bus to the near northern beaches. Took a few photos missed out on the sunrise as slept in as was a little tired.

Viewed Double Island and Scouts Hat Island in the background and remembered when I would swim across as friends had the lease of the island and had a delightful boyfriend who would take me spear fishing to these Islands and the Outer Reef and circumnavigated this island in his canoe, lighting a fire and enjoying fish straight out of the ocean over the coals.

Off to Green Island on the Reef Rocket. A Rocket it was and only a few people on the trip with large empty spaces. Apparently the downturn in the economy has effected Cairns more than anywhere else in Australia so reliant on the overseas tourist trade. I had a friend who did have the lease on Fitzroy Island just a little south of Trinity Bay where we would take the mail boat over and camp in a hut. In fact I spent a honeymoon there. He could see Cairns gearing towards overseas tourism and always maintained that short term gain for long term pain and said if this place gears solely towards the overseas tourist it will make servants of the children and this is the case no matter how it is glossed over. I saw smiling girls and boys helping tourists off the boats and escorting around po faced overseas visitors who never even glanced at these children and from what I observed very little in the way of "thank you I enjoyed that" just huddle down in their ethnic group. On the wharves at Green Island did a glass bottom boat trip and was around the first person waiting and told "no you can not go on this boat it is for Japenese tourists only" For a start that contravenes every law of this land and to me is not acceptable. The excuse was the talk was in Japenese, so what, if I chose to go in a boat in AUSTRALIA where Japanese was spoken that is my call.

And "yes" my father died younger than he should, injuries from the war contributing to his early demise and "no" I do not resent any race because of their forefathers actions as my forefathers actions in some areas leaves a lot to be desired. I digress from the beauty of the surrounds although underwater Green Island looks a little tired but it always did in comparison to the outer reef but I still love the place with the colors of the water, the fish, rays, and green sea turtles readily observed.

I watched the wake of the cat as we powered out of Trinity Bay remembering the many many times I was in a boat heading out to sea from this point. This alone was well worth the trip and of course showing Lynelle a small part of the Tropics.

Trip North

2009-12-03T21:19:00.000+11:00

These are the two horses I took the bay on the left Rio and the beautiful Diva Fever who has won her classes at halter at A Class Shows. Unfortunately she sustained an injury to her hind fetlock and is classed as not sound and she was going to a wonderful home.

I sold two of my horses to North Queensland and decided to deliver them personally to Cairns to ensure that the horses fit the requirements of the people who purched them the delightful Simone and her supportive husband Scott.

We set off at about 8.30 pm at night as is summer and tends to get very hot and travelling the stock at night was much more comfortable for the animals.

I drove the inland route with my good friend Lynelle. I had a little stretch and walk about at Gayndah, then on to Monto where I was beginning to get a little weary and saw a sign that indicated Saleyards. Arrived at the Monto Saleyards off loaded the horses in beautiful soft yards so they could have a stretch and walk about and I crashed in the back of the float on fresh straw and slept for a few hours until the eastern sky began to lighten and then on the road again like a band of vagrant gypsies. Lynelle was very concerned someone would come along and kick us out of the saleyards and I suggested what were they going to do as I was not moving and if we were thrown in jail would at least have a rest!!Lyn gets a little worried and scandalized sometimes at my behaviour as has led a very sheltered life and am sure her husband and family can not understand why a well brought up concertative girl would be a friend to a wild and uncontrollable bolting woman, as described by my x husbands!!

On the road again and through some beautiful cattle country, somewhat dry and quite a few skinny cattle trying to survive under drought conditions. Took the wrong turning and was forced to descend to the coast down the steep range west of Rockhampton through the old gold mining town of Mt/ Morgan which was quite interesting.

The results of the raging fires three weeks before was evident just before we started to drop down the mountain into Rockhampton at about 7.30 in the morning then out on to the major Highway 1 up the coast to Cairns. I had installed a two way radio so I could listen in to certain bodies transmitting along the highway determining the best options and finding out about the road ahead and getting plenty of warnings as to where they were "flashing for cash" for old Anna Goanna. I will learn the jargon. He he

Drove until I began to come into the sugar country with the cane harvest in full swing and pulled into the Sarina Showgrounds unloaded the horses for four hours,tcrashed for a couple of hours and then on the road again, Townsville, by dark, unloaded the horses after dark and walked them for a long time stretching their legs. Had a quick snooze for about half an hour drawing the attention of the local constabulary who parked in the bushes quite near to check what we were doing, by this time I am sure Lynelle was wishing she was snug in bed with hubbie instead of cruising all over Queensland with a mad woman who was beginning to say things like I hope he arrests me then he will find a place for the horses while we are locked up for loitering or whatever. I think the two policeboys were just skiving off working and were parked doing what I was doing snoozing while Lyn stressed a lot.

On the road again and drove through to Cairns and arrived at the dawn. I had grown up in North Queensland and had been many years since last seen the place and fair dinkum it resembled lego land as compared to the tropical city with atmosphere where I used to play work and live. Swank hotels lined along the Barbary Coast which used to be wild men and tropical hotels and a few exotic houses lining the wharves of Trinity Bay a no go zone unless you were particularly looking for a stouch or trouble and if you did not want trouble you just did not go there, very clear demarkation lines in this far northern city in those days.

The physical beauty of the area is still the same except where once was jungle in some areas are housing developments which is such a shame. This is where I waited out the morning for our guides to arrive to take me to the pastures where the horses were to be unloaded.

Contd

The Rift Opens

2009-11-29T14:44:00.001+11:00

The Rift Opens, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

I had promised posters for Christmas featuring various horses in Fantasy. This is the beautiful City 2000 who died a couple of weeks after this photograph had been taken, some years ago from a twisted bowel, a particularly formidable condition afflicting some horses usually with an unwanted and sad result. He had performing extremely well in Working Hunter at major shows. I delivered him from his mother as he was such a large foal, growing into a rather huge thoroughbred measuring 16.3 with power and grace. I travelled hundreds of kilometers on his back and he haunts me still.

I lent him to a couple of young riders carrying them to Champion Riders in their classes and have been asked to do posters for them, which for a start I found a little difficult, he still lives on, in the minds of people who knew him.

Tropical Beach, Cairns FNQ.....A thousand feet.....

2009-11-23T09:18:00.001+11:00

Tropical Beach, Cairns FNQ.....A thousand feet....., originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Had to do the obligatory tropical beach scene. Means something to me though as used to swim out to Double Island and dive and spearfish around the islands...crayfish in abundance way back when!!!! Aaaah sweet memories.

When the armies, American and Australian were located in this area during the war these islands particularly Scout's Hat was the main target practice range and were shelled extensively

Malanda Falls, 2009

2009-11-22T09:02:00.001+11:00

Malanda Falls, 2009, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

I went to Cairns on Monday night, delivered two horses and had a quick drive about reminding myself of what a beautiful place this is. Ironically while Southern Australia sweltered in 40 plus temperatures a comfortable 34 degrees was the order of the day in Tropical Far North Queensland, sublime if only for the few days I was there!!

Shadow The Sheepdog

2009-11-07T14:12:00.001+11:00

Shadow The Sheepdog, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Another year has gone and is that time of year again when a carpet of purple is evident everywhere. The import from South America, the jackaranda does exceedingly well in this country so well in fact I am sure we own it now!!

Moon and Smoke Poster

2009-11-04T21:08:00.001+11:00

Moon and Smoke Poster, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Brisvegas!

2009-10-31T04:00:00.001+11:00

Brisvegas!, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

A visit to the city today to attend a funeral at the old naval chapel, St Mary's, high on the cliffs at Kangaroo Point.

Halter Training

2009-10-30T08:23:00.002+11:00

I am determined to have this fellow ready for the show season which begins in February, 2010 so his training and conditioning will officially begin on 1st November, 2009...I need a line in the sand as have been so not carrying out my plans during the past twelve months. I will have to get fitter as well as involves a lot of flat out running.

A friend took photographs of the training session with me having the occasional conference with the Stallion but he was listening as his ears were back and forth each time he was spoken to. These Arabian horses are so willing if treated a little differently from most other breeds. I just have to change my mindset when dealing with the Arabians.

Fireworks

2009-10-25T04:25:00.001+11:00

Fireworks, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Crows Nest Day 2009

2009-10-25T03:40:00.001+11:00

Crows Nest Day 2009, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Crows Nest, Queensland, a small country town on the northern rim of the Darling Downs, enjoys a celebration annually each spring.

Wheat fields among the Gum Trees

2009-10-21T21:57:00.001+11:00

Wheat fields among the Gum Trees, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Harvest ime....

Golden Grain

2009-10-21T05:47:00.001+11:00

Golden Grain, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Not black coal yet!!

Nearly ready to harvest...November is usually harvest time on the Darling Downs of Queensland.

The Queensland Government is allowing mining companies to dig into the best topsoil arguably in Australia to mine coal for export to China and others and from all accounts is short term gain for long term pain as appears the coal may be stockpiled overseas. That is not the problem as coal deposits exist in country not as valuable for food production as this precious pocket of Australia. Seems a little lacking in foresight from this a layman's view where here in Australia our topsoil is very fragile and in the most parts of the continent is only a few feet thick and here the topsoils are rich and go 60 feet down. A no brainer from where I sit. One would imagine the commodity that is going to most sought after in 30 years will be food.

The other point I can not get my head around is that the coal in the past six months is being carted on the roads instead of the rail. How stupid are our politicians as rail arguably causes 60 percent less carbon footprint than running the road trains let alone the damage to the roads and the fraught Toowoomba range crossing and hundreds of road trains negotiating the city streets of Toowoomba.

Into the Darkness

2009-10-20T21:52:00.001+11:00

Into the Darkness, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Fantasy Moon

2009-10-15T17:08:00.001+11:00

Fantasy Moon, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

I have been off with the fairies again!!

Sitting Easy

2009-10-13T08:16:00.001+11:00

Sitting Easy, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Not me, sitting in the wet and rain, rained throughout the day and I had to take the numbers as they jumped and notify if clear ie no faults or whatever.

This horse's attention appears elsewhere but negotiates the jump with ease although looks like he may clip the log but does not.

South Sky Storm

2009-10-08T19:43:00.001+11:00

South Sky Storm, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Two weeks old tomorrow afternoon.

New Born

2009-10-08T09:54:00.001+11:00

New Born, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

I have been waiting and she is so beautiful...She was born between the dust storm and the fire storm so she will be named South Sky Storm. Her mother is a beautiful thoroughbred mare and her father an Arabian so she will be a registered Anglo Arabian Horse.

She will turn grey (white) like her mother. All grey horses are born a color and turn grey over time and she will be doing it quickly as note the grey hairs around her eyes. She closed her eyes when I took the shot as had not intended to send off the flash but she is savouring her first morning on the planet in this photograph. She is now I think 10 days old.

Anduramba Fires

2009-09-30T10:30:00.001+10:00

Anduramba Fires, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

"Let the politicians and the bankers and the city look on at the glow in the sky......Let the grasslands burn let there be no pain...I'll drink my last whiskey and dance in the flames"

Not at the moment but was a sentiment expressed some years ago by one of Australia's songsmiths when the banks were turfing out farmers all over the country and the suicide rate of farmers was high

For my part in this particular instance I can not be more grateful for the help extended in the extinguishing of this particular fire. Unfortunately this was man made not done in stealth or anger but in ignorance of this country and the prevailing weather conditions.

I will not sue but would think it appropriate for a "Sorry, I did not mean to burn your pasture".

Grasslands Saved

2009-09-28T14:38:00.001+10:00

Grasslands Saved, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

I am standing on my top boundary and directly below me is burnt out country not in the photo but the horizons indicate the extent this fire could have raged and seems to be under control.

The fire fighters, aerial bombing with water, the dozer, and property owners and neighbors did a mighty job to stop this blaze in this rugged terrain. From the elevation you can imagine the difficult job stopping the fire in these ranges.

Running Gully On Fire

2009-09-28T07:47:00.003+10:00

Emergency Services

2009-09-27T21:24:00.001+10:00

Emergency Services, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

As I made back up the mountain the fire crews were in action. My legs are rubbery from fatigue and am covered in black soot and dirt.

Off to feed my horses now and then shower and to bed and back out to the paddock early in the morning. I think I will drag the horse float and ride up and down and see if the fire front from next door has swung around. Am reasonably confident this fire is under control.

Fire...At My Place Today

2009-09-27T21:17:00.002+10:00

Fire, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

My Paddock Today

2009-09-27T21:16:00.001+10:00

My Paddock Today, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

This is the base of the mountain range and you can see the fires snaking up the mountain but the fire break has held.

Back off

2009-09-27T21:13:00.001+10:00

Back off, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Mick was ahead on foot with me and the dozer and this corner we go to just as the darkness began this evening.

The Forest Floor

2009-09-27T21:11:00.003+10:00

The Forest Floor, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Follow Me.....

2009-09-27T21:11:00.001+10:00

Follow Me....., originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

The dozer negotiating the steep grade of the mountain....me in front on foot...I hope it has good stopping power....just dig in the rippers Peter.

The Red Steer

2009-09-27T21:10:00.001+10:00

The Red Steer, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

This afternoon I received a telephone call that my paddock was ablaze....I took off arriving to find the fire just starting into my land.

A dozer was brought in and I showed the way down the mountain so that a fire break could be made containing the blaze and also to allow the fire trucks and crews down the steep grade.

Hello World

2009-09-26T07:32:00.001+10:00

foal8, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

An anglo arabian foal born yesterday afternoon. It is quite unusual for foals to be born in the daylight and I missed it. If I had thought a little harder should have realized as this mare always has her foals in the daylight.

This foal will turn grey (white). Around the eyes the white hairs are already evident.

Dust Storm

2009-09-23T11:29:00.001+10:00

Dust Storm, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

The wind is roaring and the air is filled with dust. The sun has been blotted out all day and an eerie glow to the sky.

This is straight out of the camera....

Sapphire & Foal

2009-09-23T07:54:00.004+10:00

Sapphire & Foal, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Farmer

2009-09-22T08:11:00.001+10:00

Farmer, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

In Between visiting Carnival of Flowers I had to cart hay and it was hot. This is the farmer who has worked hard with his hands all his life on the farm which was his fathers before his. Who ever said inheritance is easy!!

His children are educated so they are not forced into their inheritance, one a lawyer and the other a policeman so no farm duties for them.

Toowoomba, Carnival of Flowers

2009-09-21T11:42:00.003+10:00

Have taken the Carnival slide show down as can not get rid of the music and have two lots playing at once....I took a series of photographs of Teagan and one of the photographs, not this one, made it to the finals of the photographic competition at Carnival of Flowers and is hanging off one of the big old trees in Queens Park for the duration of the Carnival.....A little bit of cringe factor my name not up in lights though "up in trees".......he he

Have reentered without the music

Pontiac

2009-09-20T12:38:00.001+10:00

Pontiac, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

A line up of the most beautifully restored cars in the park during Carnival of Flowers celebrations at Toowoomba on Saturday afternoon.

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers

2009-09-20T04:21:00.001+10:00

Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

Toowoomba situated in Queensland high in the ranges celebrates Spring each year with the beautiful flowers. Toowoomba is a sister city to Takatsuki, Japan, Paju, South Korea and Wanganui, New Zealand and those cities send a cultural contingent to celebrate with the city of Toowoomba.

A Green Thumb

2009-09-20T04:19:00.001+10:00

A Green Thumb, originally uploaded by cnlizziebns.

This week Toowoomba celebrates "Carnival of Flowers" honoring all the "green thumbs" out there.

LIZZIES INSOMNIA

Oh Deer

RED DEER

DRUMS OF TIME

Sorry Margaret

Australia

Tripping about Oz and Thinking

Let Me Touch Your Golden Sunlight

A Magic Sky

New Day, Fresh Beginnings

My 2010

Come Fly With Me

Random Thoughts

Coastal Visits

After The Floods

What Madness

Exploring SE Queensland with a camera

Beautiful Killarney

Wivenhoe Dam

Girraween Wandering

An Insomniac ....Fingal and the Giants Causeway

Foggy Day

At the Alter of the Sun

Damn, The Destroyer

Light Painting

Balance

by Tyrone Graham

The Wilderness of the Border Ranges

BORDER RANGES NATIONAL PARK

Walking The Border Ranges

Exploring

Australia's New Prime Minister

The Young Horse Whisperer

These Magic Moments

New England, NSW

lizzie

Wipe Out

Wake Up Call

Here We Go

Postcard

Your Thoughts

Refractions

COMMENTS

Construction

Thank You

A Fly Past

Glasshouse Mountains

The Pretty City

Life Can Be Like That

Me

Crows Nest Falls, 10th March, 2010

Pinkies Out Walkin"' Today

New Year Business

Happy New Year

Sarah

Princess Ellie

Turn It On Turn It Up

Down The Mountain

Life is Like That!

Old Friends

Some Days Are Diamonds, Some Days are Stone

South Sky Storm

Girraween Two

Girraween

Tripping North 3

Forest Sprite

Tripping North

Trip North

The Rift Opens

Tropical Beach, Cairns FNQ.....A thousand feet.....

Malanda Falls, 2009

Shadow The Sheepdog

Moon and Smoke Poster

Brisvegas!

Halter Training

Fireworks

Crows Nest Day 2009

Wheat fields among the Gum Trees

Golden Grain

Into the Darkness

by Tyrone Grah am