Golden Wattle, Head Colds and Distractions

Posted on by Miriam

The travel bug has left me, at least for the moment.  Unfortunately it’s been replaced by a nasty head flu bug, that seems to have hit Melbourne with a vengeance.

And we all know the only place you want to be when we’re unwell – BED.

Still, life goes on. Outside winter is slowly drawing to an end.  The cold days are still bloody cold giving way to blossoms and colorful displays and distractions of Spring.

Music is in the air and the wattles are in full bloom.

The wattle tree next door hangs over our gray fence, like a beacon, teasing me with temptations of warmer weather.

In the Main Street our “community” tree has been dressed up once again by keen artistic hands in preparation of the town’s Wattle Festival next Sunday.

wattle-tree-knitted-600x800

It seems like only yesterday this Festival was a big deal and a huge day out for my kids.

These days they’re busy pursuing their own very different interests.

It’s another reminder to me of how quickly the years are flying by, and how important it is to enjoy every fleeting minute.

Harry knows that.

Dogs have an innate way of living in the moment, even though they too can be easily distracted. He sees a rabbit and he’s off.

I’m a pretty focused person but sometimes something comes along that just grabs my attention.

Like this kookaburra.

Seriously, how cute is this guy?

Such a curious and friendly bird who let me get so close to him. I was distracted by him but be sure wasn’t fussed by me.

Then there are those sunsets that always grab our attention. Like this one on the foreshore at 1770 in Queensland.

Of course no distraction is complete without a glass of red to savor as the sun kisses the day goodbye over the horizon.

A warm campfire will always get my attention:  we enjoyed so many camp fires on our recent travels, so many golden sunsets and yes, a few glasses of red as well.

What can I say, if you’re gonna camp, you may as well do it in style!

Distracted

Ahh, memories … diversions, distractions, and delightful detours. They keep life interesting.

But I digress. What was I saying about music?

img_9509
Last week, before the flu hit me, I was inspired back to my guitar by my dear lovely friend Deb  from Once Upon a Hot Flush.

Hopefully once I’m better I’ll be back into it, as we collaborate and create more music together from her wonderful poems and songs.

 

Can’t wait to get my focus back and to share a bit of sunshine with you all.

In the meantime I wish you all a peaceful and focused week ahead.

Sharing for WPC: Ooh shiny
and a late post for Frank’s Tuesday Photo Challenge: Golden

What about you: what is guaranteed to distract you?

Bird

164 thoughts on “Golden Wattle, Head Colds and Distractions”

    1. Well, technically I’m on the couch but it’s close enough to bed. Hopefully this won’t hang around too long. Yep, poor Harry’s been neglected lately. It’s my daughter who’s been taking him on walks. Have a good week Louise. xo

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  7. I hope you get better soon…there is an outbreak of bird flu here..so people are advised to refrain from eating chicken and the like….

    And oh i am happy to hear something your adventorous dog too…i have a new dog myself…currently i have to lovely dobberman..

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        8. thanks, I’m not holding my breath .. it’s the mob I volunteered with for 2 years, their main issue is that I don’t have a mental health diagnosis … ever experienced reverse prejudice lol

          Liked by 1 person

  11. Oh you can play the guitar as well!!! Bravo!
    Please get well soon..just very timely that you posted yellow shades photos, its a bright and warm color. Hope you feel better soon.
    Over here , we are enjoying the last few weeks of Summer, but we can already feel that Fall will come soon, I even see trees starts to change colors.I am not looking forward to the cold but the thing that sure distracts me is beautiful nature. I would and will always stop to admire and yes, take a photo of any beautiful photo that I see along the way. I don’t have this when I’m inside a shopping mall..haha.

    Cheers & regards from Deutschland!

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    1. I do play the guitar Kristina, I gather you do as well. Wonderful. 🙂
      Thank you for your warm wishes. I must admit this has hit pretty hard and I haven’t been outside much in the last couple of days. Funny how I almost get withdrawal symptoms of nature.
      Enjoy your last few lovely weeks of summer. I’m so looking forward to the weather warming up here. Keep looking up. xo

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  12. Aw that tree trunk looks gorgeous. I would love such kind of distractions 😊.
    Illness is also a distraction from the health…but this too eventually teaches us to value the latter more. Take care my friend. Get well soon.

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  17. Poor you traveller extraordinaire! Re-placing travel bug with flu bug, not a good idea.
    Yet, you have taken time to send us this beautiful post. Your photos are fantastic and always awaken the wanderlust in me. So you are heading into spring as we are nearing autumn.
    Wattle bush, never met one but seeing it now I wish I would. It is glowing. We do have and favour the same spring colour in daffodils among others.

    What I do to find things to distract me? The song from ” Sound of Music” comes to mind ..My favourite things… Yes, I look for them even if I am sure no to find any cute Kookaburra.:)
    miriam

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    1. Thanks for your lovely words Miriam, yes there are plenty of bright things to look forward to in spring. Wattle is only one of them. The daffodils are poking out there heads too! Have a great week ahead. 🙂

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  18. Miriam, I am so sorry to hear you’re poorly…bed is the cosy place to be when ill! Please get better soon. Oh, I love how you camp in style, a proper roaring fire, a glass of red and picture postcard sunset – truly idyllic! I had to get my head around you coming into Spring…the wattle is glorious and the festival looks such fun! Ahh…the memories of the children enjoying these local delights. Healing hugs from fellow traveller struggling to return to normal as everything seems out of sync! ❤️

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    1. Oh, I’m hearing you Annika, it’s always hard getting back into a routine after we’ve been away for awhile. Seems mine has been kind of thrust upon me, haha, though at the moment I have no choice but to do very little. Good luck to you as you settle back in and find your sync again. ❤️

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  19. Great photographs, and your approach to the end of day when camping is just right (I’d probably have beer over wine, but whatever there is by the end of a trip!)
    Feel better soon – maybe a small glass of red would help?

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  21. I found your blog via a post on Skylarity and I decided to check out your feed. I love this post and just followed. there are some similar “scarves” on trees in my neighborhood – I live in NYC – so it’s great to see that’s it’s a universal thing.
    I hope you’re better soon.

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    1. Hi Run, so happy to meet you here via Josiah, he has a wonderful blog, and happy too that you can relate to the “tree scarves”. Thanks for your warm wishes all the way from NYC.

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  23. Wonderful post, Miriam! I hope that you’re beginning to feel better and are recovered fully in no time at all! That kookaburra is quite a cheeky bird, not appearing to be bothered by your presence one bit 🙂

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  24. Pingback: Tuesday Photo Challenge – Round Up 69 – Dutch goes the Photo!

  25. Here we still have summer (it’s feeling a lot like autumn though..) and the sunsets always get me – wherever I am, at the office, at acting class or elsewhere where there is a window – as soon as the sky changes colors by the setting sun, those beautiful shades of purple, pink, orange and red, I can’t but admire nature’s beauty. Summer sunsets are just breathtaking.

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  27. Hello dear Miriam,
    I usually say it’s a lovely post and in many ways it is, but not the fact you feel so unwell. I’m sorry to hear that. I’m sure you will rest up to recover.
    Your wattle, kookaburra and sunset images with you holding a glass of wine staring at the sunset…very emotive.
    Life certainly goes fast as you alluded to with the festival fast approaching.
    Can’t wait to hear some music again from you…enjoy creating with Deb.
    Wishing you a speedy recovery my friend. Hugs to you from me 🙋🏻💕💕

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    1. Always nice to hear from you Di. Don’t worry too much about me. I’ll be fine, hopefully it won’t take long before I’m on the mend. In the meantime I’m enjoying some quiet time indoors with my guitar. Hope your week is going well and the decluttering too! Big warm hugs back from me. xo 💕

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      1. Thank you my friend. I know you’ll be fine with the recipe you outlined in your other post…
        Quiet time in the warm, strumming your guitar sounds like a perfect tonic. All the best and thank you, the Visa approval arrived today so full steam ahead now for a mid Sept landing.
        Your big warm hugs received gratefully 🙋🏻💐💕

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        1. Mid-September? How exciting. That’s going to come around so quick. Well, let’s not wish it away, though I do look forward to catching up before then. xo 💕🌹

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        2. Yes, it will be here quickly with so much to do yet. And a lot isn’t until the last minute.
          Hope you feel a little better with this new sunny morning, dear Miriam? Yes, I’m still planning on it for sure. See how you go.
          Love and hugs from me 🦋💜🦋

          Liked by 1 person

        4. I’m glad you are Miriam. Yes, a warm sheltered spot with the sun on your back…may you add that to your recipe for today…
          😘😘🙋🏻

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  32. I hope you are feeling better soon. Just rest and take it as easy as you can. The flu is a nasty thing!
    And I didn’t know you played the guitar! How fun to have a friend to collaborate with. Hope to hear more about this when you are better!

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  33. Great post and photos Miriam 🙂
    I couldn’t help but laugh at the beginning of your post when you say about it still being “bloody cold”, the temperatures your getting at the moment are sunbathing weather up here in Scotland! Lol! 🙂

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  35. I’m the 111 like on this post!!! Loving it. Those Wattle are gorgeous and so bright. What a beautiful way to brighten a day and to encourage you that Spring really is almost here. Which means summer here is almost over… 😦
    I love Harry’s headdress, it suits him. It’s funny how they dress up those trees for the festival. Glad you are starting to perk up some and feeling better. I look forward to making more music together too!! You are so talented and I just love hearing my words put to music and you sung by your beautiful voice!! Talk soon my lovely lady!! Big healthy hugs!! xo

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    1. Aw, thanks Deb. You’re so sweet. Yes, I’m feeling quite a bit better today and the sunshine is definitely helping. I’ve just finished eating lunch, outside sitting on my deck and everything is so green and lush and the sky so blue. Kinda makes me wanna break out in song, haha. 🙂 Look forward to getting your reworked poem. Enjoy the rest of your evening there. Hugs from me xo
      P.S Love that you were the 111th on my post Amazing! ✨

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      1. Oh I’m so glad to hear that you are feeling better!! Wow sounds like you had a beautiful setting for lunch yesterday. Oh definitely sing about it…hehe Speaking of…all day long your tune has danced around in my head and I have some new words and tonight I want to work on it some more…the new words are more in line with the tone of your music…Frisky!!
        I loved that I was 111 on your post too…I was like….Vortex!!!
        Happy hugs xo
        Will send over the rewrite as soon as it’s ready.

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        1. Have to admit Deb, the tune’s been dancing round in my head too the last couple of days. Love it and can’t wait for your rewrite. I had some ideas too, wonder if they’ll be similar to yours!
          I’m coughing like a brulga today, oh well, maybe it’ll add done huskiness to the song, haha. Have fun and talk soon. Happy hugs back xo

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        2. Then we should see if we can combine our ideas…which I’m sure we can.
          Oh my not a brulga!!! What the hell is a brulga…can’t be good and it must cough a lot! hehe
          We’re back to shooting whiskey btw…it definitely fits now…Got the happy hugs and shooting more back to you!! xo

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        3. Oh yes, we’re so in sync! I was thinking of putting back in the shooting whisky again too.
          A brulga is a tall gangly bird that makes a big trumpet sound, haha. Shooting’ those hugs right back atcha. xo 🙂

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  40. Hi Miriam. I skopped to O to check out your news. Sorry to hear you are unwell. I hope you are up and about again soon. I love the Wattle. It is so very smiley. Looking forward to hearing more of you and Debs lovely music. Cheers. 🌼🌼🌼

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    1. Thanks Brigid, I’m starting to feel much better. And yes, I’m looking forward to sharing more music too. Deb’s poems and words are always so inspiring and fun. Hope you’re well and settling back in happily. x 🙂

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        1. Oh, you make me laugh. Actually we came across very few, if any, scary looking creatures out there. A few lizards but not even one snake, at least not in the wild.
          I’d love to see a pic of your Buddy. He sounds cute. 🙂

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  46. Sorry to hear you are ill due to the flu bugs. Our flu season is approaching fast. I usually don’t take flu shots, but since I got sick every year, I’ll take the flu shot this year to see if it will exempt me from agonizing for a week to 10 days. I love the Kookaburra. By watching the nature videos, I know australis has lots of beautiful birds. Get well soon!

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    1. I usually get the flu shot but this year it didn’t happen. Still, there’s been a new flu strain since then which wasn’t covered by the vaccine, so it appears that even if you do get the shots there’s no guarantees you won’t catch something. Stay well. 🙂

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