We spent a couple of nights up at the farm where my sister and her family live. They were away so, while it was a real shame to not have time with them, it was such a treat to have the place to ourselves for a few days together before Scotto heads to Sydney for 11 weeks of study…

Acheron

Eucalyptus

River Redgum

Acacia

Grasses and gum

Reeds

Acheron river

Sneaking in between two very hot weeks, we had beautiful weather… We spent most of the daytime down by the Acheron River, which was fresh, fast and super cold! And the nights were so clear that we slept outside on the trampoline and watched the stars wheel across the sky, so much brighter and closer than they are at home.

The birds, mostly cockatoos, had the same idea and were out enjoying the gorgeous days.

Cockatoo and clouds

Cockatoo

Cockatoo

I didn’t do much but wander about with my new (old) camera, getting a feel for it and looking for small treasures in a way I haven’t for ages.

Grasses

Grasses

Dock

Brave beetle

Among the leaves of some of the eucalypts, I spotted quite a few of these delicate nests… I’ve got no idea who uses them but they are strangely beautiful and reminded me of a small child’s shoe. Anyone know what they are?

Webbed nest

Gum shedding

We hung about with the animals: they have chooks…

Settling down to roost

… a couple of Highland cows…

Wonderful colours

… and Damara sheep, who completed transfixed me with their wild horns, their ability to moult (they don’t need to be shorn), the ingenious way they store fat in their tails and their wonderful, beautiful faces.

Wee coos!

Wild boy

Beautiful girl

Beautiful colouring

Black beauty

Soft and hard

Moulting

Fatty tail

Thanks so, so much, Hen and Tim, for a magical weekend. It was just what we needed.