Through my Windscreen
On a blustery afternoon a couple of days ago, my car sat under the trees while I was perspiring at the gym. I don’t know what kind of trees they are, but the leaves look rather pretty when they fall.
More Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!
Advice
I had just taken the picture above, in Triangle Road, Massey, to add to my collection of good advice. As I turned around to cross the road, I saw the picture below (shot from the hip). I would have thought that the presence of a pedestrian, together with a helpful sign, would have kept cars in their space, or am I that attractive?
Unheeded
Red Car (Cliff Uepa)
It more than holds its own amidst the many posters that are on the block of shops at the corner of Avondale and Rosebank Roads. Te Atatu artist Cliff Uepa’s red car is hard to miss. But there is more on this telecommunications box: the trees and green playing fields of nearby Eastdale reserve, as well as a father and son. When I enquired at the Dairy around the corner, Samir pointed out to me that he and his son Dilan had modelled for this occasion.
More painted boxes by Cliff Uepa here.
Red Car (Cliff Uepa)
Father and Son
Dilan and Samir
Sweet As Crepes at the Coatesville Market
This cheerful team greeted us when we visited the market at Coatesville (first Sunday every month). There is something irresistible about crepes, especially when you can watch the production.
Alas, I had started the day with a good breakfast and was on my way to a luncheon, so I had to postpone the taste test to next time …
That's How You Do It
The Promenade
I was observing the oystercatchers on their roosting grounds near Ambury Farm Park, Mangere, when my eye caught sight of this lineup on a morning’s outing along the walkway. Looking across the water towards Onehunga.
For more black and white images check out Dragonstar’s Weekend in Black and White.
Pied Stilts
Lower Nihotupu Reservoir is one of the lakes in the Waitakere Ranges which contribute to Auckland’s water supply. While the lake is off limits to humans, a range of birds take full advantage of it. Here we see a small flock of pied stilts (Himantopus himantopus, poaka) which have just flown in from the Manukau Harbour at full tide. They lined up nicely for me, but I was unable to get them to smile for the camera; instead, they hide their bills under their wings. A couple of black shags in the background.
And yes, the lake is full to overflowing — that’s reassuring.
For more weekend reflections, go to James’ Weekend Reflections site.
Stick Insect
Living with all manner of creepy-crawleys. This is a stick insect on my window, backgrounded by blue sky.
More Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!
Sumac Leaves
The fine weather has given way to mist and rain. These leaves of a sumac shrub are all the brighter for the wet. Of all autumn colours, sumac must be one of the most spectacular, as the leaves change from green through yellow and orange to deep red.
Tiberius, the Titirangi Mouse (Edith Diggle)
Out with the old — in with the new! We have a big new telecommunications cabinet in our neighbourhood, connected by fiber (and causing me a lot of grief and unprintable words at the time of changeover, when broadband failed). The previous box depicted the story of Tiberius the Titirangi mouse, and was shown here. Now Edith Diggle, well-known local artist, was contracted again to supply art for the new box, thus being able to bring back Tiberius. The design incorporates quotes from the book, and those were written by local jeweller Judy Newton.
The box shows characters from the children’s book Tiberius the Titirangi Mouse by P. Ross, all embedded in the bush vegetation so typical of Titirangi.
Here is the summary of the book: “This is the story of Tiberius, a small brown field mouse who lives in the bush in an old kauri stump in Titirangi, with his companions, five hu-hu beetles. One day Tiberius meets a small white mouse who lives in the Big House, and together they enjoy some wonderful adventures.”
You can read a few pages on Google Books.
Edit 12/05/12: Signs have gone up around the neighbourhood, inviting children to a Welcome Home party for Tiberius on Sunday, 20 May, 10 a.m. at Edith and Lynton Diggle’s place, 3 Ngaio Road. Author Patricia Ross will be reading from the book. Parents a plate, please. See picture below.
Edith Diggle at Work
Judy Newton Working
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