POPPIES

Friday greetings!

Following on from my last post about the Great War,

I have to say how much I like the art installation 

'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red'

at the Tower of London.

888,246 ceramic poppies progressively fill the Tower's moat, each one representing a British military fatality during the war.

The installation has been created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins.

To me it is both beautiful and shocking, the blood red poppies a stark visual reminder of the reality of the war.

Unlike Kate, I won't be seeing it in person, but I would like to think it is remembered as one of the great moments in Contemporary art.

Do you know what this is?

An Australian long-nosed bandicoot, which until recently I had only seen occasionally in the bush or in a zoo.

Well, to our horror, these protected little animals have moved into the Cardinal's Garden of Neglect, and are becoming quite the nightmare.

See what they do to the lawn, every night!

Holes appear in in the lawn, and in any garden bed with soft moist soil,

helpfully provided by our sprinkler system.

We rarely see them, as bandicoots are nocturnal creatures, hiding during the day in nests in leaf matter.  I shudder to think where that might be, but under our hedges is a distinct possibility.

They feed on worms, grubs, insects, and some berries or fruits.

They move over the ground sniffling and snuffling as they go, then having detected food under the soil they quickly dig down.  The front feet have three toes with long curved claws, making a hole which is narrow and pointed at the borrom.  Their narrow snout then fits neatly into the hole to get the hapless worm or grub.

Thus far I have been unable to find a way to discourage the bandi-culture which is wrecking havoc in our garden.

Sprinkling pepper or chilli has been no deterrent whatsoever, because they can move to another spot.  

The pest-control man has no ideas either!

If you have a solution, I'd love to hear it ...

Here's an update on our two Canadian grandsons.

Little Bebe (in yellow), clearly a babe no longer, and his Big Brother are looking out at Lake Champlain in Vermont, en route to their summer holiday at Cape Cod.

Gazing across towards Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard...

Wish I was over there with them...

Oops, almost forgot to say I like the subtle poppies on Kate's hat, too.

Thank you everybody for your well wishes after my last post, when I was down and out with the flu.

I am feeling much better now, thank you, and up and about.

Just the lingering dry cough, and you all know how that hangs about...

Hope this weekend finds you In the Pink!

XXXX

AUGUST THOUGHTS

I'm still here, not off to Paris for another week or two -

but down and afflicted by the dreaded Winter Virus of the Day...

Thank goodness for My First Kindle - a gift to self, designed to reduce baggage weight by not taking several heavy books to read on the plane.

Which I never do.

Too busy watching movies or looking out the window.

My best orchid is back in bloom, so Spring, surely, is just around the corner..

 August 4 brings the Centenary since the outbreak of hostilities in

World War 1 ...

 here are a few pictures from our visit to the fields of Flanders in Belgium, where my grandfather served, along with two great-uncles of Mr C:

At Hill 62, where original trenches are still preserved:

Lots of memorabilia from the battle field:

My grandfather lived to return to Australia, marry and have a family.

Sadly, the two uncles did not, and lie in the Fields of Flanders, one here:

the other in place unknown, his name inscribed on the Menin Gate.

Has the world learnt anything from that terrible war?

In recent days, it would seem not...

Iris has its first bloom for 2014..

and today I saw a blue Fairy Wren hopping about our garden.

These tiny birds, about 4" long, are the sweetest little things, flit and fly about, off to the shelter of a hedge if I go too close.

Here is a better image from Mr Google:

Soon...

Should be doing last-minute admin and wardrobe prep and plan..

Difficult to focus when brain, arms, and legs all feel like cotton-wool!

Have a good week....XXXX

GENTLE TIMES

Our grandson, Little Aussie, has been to visit - always a delight!

On Day 1, Aussie brought up the subject of caves.

How long ago cavemen lived in caves,

And who lived in caves now?

And that Aussie has never seen a cave.

And when can we go and see a cave??

Saturday found us here, at the Tamborine Mountain Glow-worm caves,

artificial, man-made caves, created to provide a home for a declining population of these fascinating little sparklers.

Photography was not allowed, but I found these pictures on their web-site.

It was incredibly dark in there, until we got to the glow-worms, but Little Aussie was brave and did not complain.

He appeared to be most impressed by the whole experience.

Near the caves was this pretty lake with fountain and ducks..

And here are the three guys: 

Mr Cardinal, our Sydneysider Son, and Little Aussie:

Back home, we made the usual rustic cake..

and looked around our garden for caves ...

Alas, no satisfactory caves were to be had, 

but Aussie enjoyed playing with the lavender.

My new Peace rose has had its first bloom.

I hope it turns out to be symbolic.

Happy Sunday

XXXX