Monday 13 April 2009

We stayed local

The Easter weekend didn't start well for me, what with the rain on Friday and Saturday. I made the mistake of thinking I would spend the time sorting out my web site on Friday, and subsequently spent a wasted day trying to get to grips with my OH's favoured software, big mistake. It's very male orientated and completely non user friendly. So on Saturday I downloaded a Mac trial of another web building software, this was better but didn't have a great help manual. By Saturday afternoon I was so fed up that I decided to hang the expense and reinstate my .Mac account to host my original site, only to find that's changed to the 'all singing all dancing" Mobile me, only problem is it seems to be completely incompatible with my operating system which is only 1 away from the latest one. So I'm no further forward :-( computers, don't you just hate them!!!!!

Fortunately we were having one of our GS's (Ben) over for a sleepover and a bit of magic playtime on Sunday.





We had so much fun making these ramps, (I know that's not the technical term, sorry Ben) for his mini skateboards, called Tech Decks, (hope that's right). It certainly got my ancient brain buzzing and we came up with 2 versions by the end of the day. We had such a laugh making them, sawing gluing and testing them out, I totally forgot about my irritating computer issues.

Ben also added a bit to his graffiti wall in my studio as I'd finally remembered to get the spray paints.



Thank goodness the sun came out today and we were able to leave the house at last. We decided to stay local as the traffic reports had predicted huge delays for the Easter break, so we headed for a local NT house Hatchlands park. We did the 1 1/2 mile parkland walk and were rewarded with the following treats:


Theses drifts of newly opened bluebells, I don't think I've ever seen so many.


And then we came across these beautiful anemones.



I was rather pleased with my next discovery, apparently it's called a Jew's ear fungus and when you touch it you know why. I just love the translucency of them.




And when they start to die off the get these lovely folds.

Just at the end of our walk I saw this tree with it's amazing textural growths, they look like cauliflowers.





And the last pic I took on the walk was this lovely big tree silhouetted against the fluffy clouds.



We ended the day in our usual fashion, dinner out, courtesy of Rosie by a local lake.
It would appear that the computer gremlins are still here as Blogger has decided, enough is enough, and I can't publish the lake pic.


Oh yes I can!!!

I even managed a couple of sketches today, which I'll publish later when I've reviewed them, I'm trying to do a sketch a day, starting today.

I hope everyone had a great Easter break and is refreshed for new exciting , creative adventures.

10 comments:

Heather said...

What a super post - wonderful images to delight the eye. Glad Ben was able to cheer you up - computers can be the very devil at times. Those anemones reminded me of walking through the woods with my father to visit his mother more years ago than I care to remember. I love the fungus and those gorgeous lumps on the tree bark. We have had lovely weather this weekend so I'm glad you ended up with some sunshine.

Julie said...

Thank goodness for grandsons to take your mind off grotty technology. Sounds like you had great fun! The photos are excellent, especially the tree. Hope your week gets better and the computer problem gets sorted.

hippopip said...

Lovely photos, I am glad that the weather was kind at last we have had a very sunny WE.

Aussie Jo said...

Great skate ramp making, I have two fanatical skateboarders who have switched to the surfboard over summer.(not so hard on their joints)
Lovely photos, I'm still looking into buying a camera and tossing up between the Nikon D60 and the Canon EOS 450D, can't afford a full on professional model.
Re the website, you might want to check out the Bellarine Mac users Group. If you take out remote membership you get a free website, plus Don would be able to help you set it up:
http://www.bellarinemac.org.au/BMUG/about.html
Cheers

Gina said...

Looks like you had a good weekend despite the computer problems. Love the photos of the fungus!

Shirley Anne Sherris said...

I can sympathise with the frustration re computers.
Our bluebells are still in the bud stage. They are a couple of weeks behind up here although we have had some glorious warm sunny days lately so they might speed up a bit.
Fabulous fungi.
Cheers
Shirley

Susie Campbell (Sue Smith) said...

Hi Sharon, your pics look wonderful! Wish I could see those bluebells in real life - right now! My friend Sue has very early childhood memories of bluebells in England, prior to her emmigrating to Australia. I look forward to seeing your sketches.

Françoise said...

Beautiful pictures Sharon! I'm glad you were able to post the last one. It's gorgeous.

Unknown said...

I sympatise with your computer problems, I know the feeling :-) Lovely pictures though!

Val said...

Hope your computer has got over the hump and is being nicer to you now - love the tree fungi and that lake - must have been a low sun?