Having put seeds and fruit out for the local birds for years we're rewarded with the company of many feathered friends. It's lovely to have all these wonderful little visitors with their chirrups and songs. Here today there are tauhou, blackbirds, sparrows, dunnocks, green finches and chaffinches.

To see all the birds open in Youtube via link on image above :)

Clouds of the valley seep around

 Click image for time-lapse

Wrote a quick reply to my friend Mark in Novato saying that next I would be watching sitcoms with hot tea as a relaxing start to the second day of my weekend. But when I got up to feed the cat the valley was filled with cloud which I thought had the potential for a nice time-lapse. So here it is with music by Otis McDonald with the song 'Here, if you're going'. It's an hour later now and the cloud is still filling the valley but the sun is out so I think we're in for a lovely day. Have a happy Friday everyone :)

The fabulous food forest

This is so inspiring ... Thriving 23-Year-Old Permaculture Food Forest - An Invitation for Wildness

RIP you amazing talented man, thank you for deepening my experience of the world

Why we'll miss Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell singing Redemption song with his daughter

Rocking out with sunset clouds

[Click image to see movie]

More double exposures ...

Created a Behance page for these ones as I like the way they're displayed large on black Double exposure time by Jane Monaghan

The road not taken

Overlaying the vanishing point of a Palmy North street over Patons beach in Golden Bay reminded me of that wonderful poem by Robert Frost.  And here I am about to take a new road and although it's not less taken I know it will make all the difference to me.  

Link to The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Vegan noms

I've been asked a few times recently ... 'what do you eat?'  So thought it best I illustrate!  Boy what a lucky person I am to have such amazing yummy food and all with no animal products at all.    

• Nori rolls with avocado, cucumber and red pepper filling plus wasabi and tamari for dipping. Soooo good!  They're always a hit when we make them for friends.

• Fried tempeh with nutritional yeast sauce and pasta with fresh corn off the cob.

• Dahl and spinach filled pastry with Moroccan spiced couscous, beetroot salad, chutney and homemade hummus.

• Quick and easy toasted sandwich with homemade refried beans and Angel Food dairy free mozzarella filling plus a smudge of sweet chilli sauce and token watercress leaf on top!

 

• Nachos with a chilli bean and onion tomato sauce, Angel Food vegan mozzarella fresh tomatoes and Franks yummy guacamole.

If you would like recipes just let me know. 

#vegan #food #ideas #yum #plantbaseddiet #nomnoms

I make the best bed

Yup Mana decided that right on top of me would be the best place to curl up for bedtime!  He stayed there for a while and then I did the hug and roll & moved him over to a pillow.  #treatedlikeaking #cat #bed #hardtosleep

If you ever spend any time with these peaceful creatures, you will discover not only their amazing personalities, but also all the common characteristic they share with the companion animals we love and protect. Once you meet them, you can't eat them.

A post shared by A_85 (@stop_eating_friends) on Mar 13, 2017 at 5:30pm PDT

Reminder to listen to this again ...

Rude music

Luminate festival collage

Aaah Luminate you're beautiful! What an amazing vibe in a gorgeous setting with fun people.  Bare feet and music, walks in the forest with no flushing loos or wifi. So much love and goodness shared.  Great value noms as well. Here's a little glimpse of pics taken with the 'halo' filter turned on phone. 

More photos here imajane on Flickr

Return from a magical journey to Wellington 'summer'

Pencarrow lighthouses from the ferry home 

Excellent; I'm liking these ideas, thanks for the link Frank!!

How to build a simple diy photography studio

Some great reminders in here

10-more-photography-tips-take-your-work-level

People are doing really cool things out there

Blooms 2 strobe animated sculptures by John Edmark

Glowing flowers by Craig Burrows

Shapeshifter

A few photos from the wonderful outdoor biannual exhibition 2016

 

 

 

Link including artists names - Shapeshifter Sculpture Exhibition 2016

Poneke to Pauatahanui inlet

Please click on the image to see it large.

Wow what a view!  Looking south to west from Boulder Hill, Belmont Regional Park, Wellington, NZ.

Tiger eyes meets light bokeh

This was a bit of a fluke while making collages in a layout app.  I like the way the shadows partially line up drawing my eye in to the boys eye. He was standing by the side of the road at a rest stop in Rajasthan, India. I see serious sadness in his an intense gaze and I am reminded of my good fortunes.  

Te Ahumairangi Hill with Baxter [and Mike]

View over Poneke (Wellington) towards the airport in the distance

That tongue! Baxter the Irish Setter was a little warm. 

Mr Beautiful posing

 A little windswept with his new 'friend' attempting to jump on.

New games to learn!

North east towards the Hutt valley 

and the Lilliputian version!

Model dog

What a lovely afternoon catching up with Mike and enjoying the great views.

A taste of what I have been listening to this morning ...

Don't ever let life pass you by ... 

Dig - Incubus

The Last Remaining Light - Audioslave

Warning - Incubus

This Life - Fly My Pretties

Sail - AWOLNATION

Dy-Na-Mi-Tee - Ms Dynamite

"The Wish You Wish You Had" - Julia Deans

Ikarus | Ladi 6

Blackbird - Fat Freddy's Drop Blackbird Album

Everybody Knows That You're Insane - Queens of the Stone Age

Star Wars Canteen - Eddie Izzard

Mother Mother - Fat Freddy's Drop Blackbird Album



and for future reference I came across this and think it may deserve some attention #hiddentreasures ? I do look forward to listening to more ... perhaps after a wee sleep! Nu Acid Jazz Essential Grooves - 2 Hours selection

Aw this made me feel good, I received mail from Flickr HQ saying my photo "Bella Lobelia" is being used on the front page of the flowers group.  YAY!!  Another small thing to be grateful for! 

Reminder to self ...

Finish watching this video!
zenhabits.net - unbusy

I like the idea of ensuring that everyday contains 
vitality, connection & contribution.

Painting the local plants

"Life is beautiful"

toocutethings on blogspot

I signed it ... doubt it will do any good ... but

help-calves-demand-independent-voice-animals

Mixed feelings ...

Loving being vegan for my soul feels free, no longer stepping on those lives I crushed with my imbibing.  Now I'd like to live in a place where others feel the same. It's tough to see animal flesh raw and encased on a bench, smoking on a barbecue and being chopped into pieces before being chewed on. It's sad for me because I trace that piece of meat back to a poor dear little soul who was killed prematurely.

Not that I am holier than though though I did still use the bees wax insect repellent rather than get bitten by sand flies. Next time I shall take a vegan one.

https://instagram.com/p/BL4rrbCDDl-/

Having a bit of fun with Canva

Fun with Canva using a photo of a bunch of pens I had removed from the collection that congregates on the bench ... I liked the mix that came out ... there was a black and a white one too!

A Rendering

I can't remember where I made this (oops!) but found it in the archives so thought I'd share.  As you do ... as I do!