Loveheart and Letterbox Cows

Isn't she lovely ... who couldn't love her!

... and of course these next two lovelies - no pasture required, just the occasional letter :D)

Have a beaut weekend, full of happiness and good cheer.

This week: Macros, Painting, Murder and Being a Papparazzi

Hi there, 

I hope the past week has been good to everyone.  

Took another bunch of macros the other day.
I pestered the life (not literally) out of a couple of bugs....

and the next photo is of a dash of sunlight on a bowl of mixed fruit which MD has soaking in his special brew in readiness for the Christmas cake and puddings he whips up.  Mmmmmm, all nice and sparkly and full of good cheer!

Here's a picture of the easel MD has made for me, and it's a beauty too.  Easily adjustable for whatever size painting I am doing.  Oh, it's so lovely to kick back and be free with the paints.  

The murder part of my title comes in the form of my friend Vicki Tyley's newest release.  

Those of you who have known me for some time, know that I just love a good mystery thriller... and that I like to share them.

Well, at the moment, if you have .99cents and an eBook (or it can even be downloaded in PDF or text format)... pop over to Vicki's blogspot and get yourself a good deal.  I'll revise that... get yourself a fantastic deal.  It's just the sort of thing, if you're a fan of mysteries, to tuck into your "must read" list for over the Christmas holidays!!

Oh yes, I know this is blatant advertising but, put it this way, I'd be glad of the heads up - if I didn't already know about it. (More about it on my Page "My Virtual Bookshelf")

[Just click on this image and it will take you to Vicki's spot}

Now these next photos are a bit naughty but, oh dear, I just could not resist. 

We were at one of our favourite spots, Metung, and lo and behold I look over and right beside us I see that brave young lass, Jessica Watson ... who  was the youngest girl to sail solo non-stop around the world 3 years ago.           

I so admired her and, at the time, faithfully followed her blog during her extraordinary feat.  

There she was, in the flesh, and without a please or thankyou I grabbed my camera and took the liberty of snapping off quite a few shots. How rude was I !!

To her credit, she couldn't help but know I was photographing her but she didn't mind.

I really regret not going over to meet her, but felt I'd kind of intruded enough.  

Here's a couple..

Thank you everyone who kindly takes the time to browse through this post.  

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and I'll be popping over for a visit soon.

Cheers now :D)

Catchup

Hi there, I've been off having fun with paints (see sidebar for some of my dabblings), and photos of late.  

Now that I have new glasses and can actually see properly, have been indulging in some macro photography - oh my goodness, not enough hours in the day sometimes.  Of course, it would help if I got up earlier in the morning, but, there you go ;D)

Here's a little sprinkling of the macro.... 

Calistemon

Rose

Poor Fly in Cobweb

Have a bit more on another subject, so will do a second post.

Have a good week everyone. 

The Curlip {not just a pretty name}

On one of our recent visits to Metung recently,  I was busily collecting some shells to 're-locate' to my garden, when MD noticed some smoke out on the water....  

We realised it was the Paddle Steamer Curlip II.  She'd been in Lakes Entrance for some maintenance work and was taking her last trip through the lakes area before returning home to Marlo which is at the mouth of the Snowy River. 

Great excitement actually, so out came the camera.  A few shouts from the hill above from some kind fellow photographers and I climbed up to join them at a good vantage point - and so the clicking began. 

The steam just adds to the scene doesn't it.

  


It wasn't only humans who were interested to see the Curlip.....

Passing Shaving Point at Metung.  The same spot where we see dolphins and seals which I've managed to photograph occasionally.

She's turning in to Metung Jetty here...

Lots of people turned out to see her.  She created quite a stir.

Here's a bit of history of how she came to be.

The Paddle Steamer Curlip II is a replica of an historic paddle steamer of the Snowy River, in Far East Gippsland, Victoria.  
It was a community project and her construction utilised the traditional skills of wooden boat builders and thousands of hours of volunteer labour.  
Curlip II commenced operations in December 2008 and operates as a cruise vessel on the Snowy River estuary.

The original Paddle Steamer was built by Sam Richardson and his sons at their sawmill at Tabbara, a pioneering settlement on the Brodribb River, a tributary of the Snowy River.  The keel was laid on 14th October 1889 and PS Curlip was launched in 1890.  

The name "Curlip" is derived from the indigenous name for the area where Tabbara is located.
PS Curlip was registered in 1893 which entitled her to carry 25 passengers, and only 10 passengers when engaged in towage service.  Two children under 12 years of age were reckoned as one passenger.

PS Curlip towed five barges at a time, travelling up to 20km of the mouth to collect produce to be transferred to schooners near Marlo.  She towed vessels in and out through the Snowy River entrance and was also used for social functions such as Sunday School picnics.  She was the main means of transport for imports and exports on the Snowy River for almost 30 years.

The Curlip era ended abruptly on Friday 28th February 1919 when a flash flood carried her and 2 barges down river and out to sea where she washed ashore at Marlo and broke up.