Happy Epiphany
It's been a turmoil of a week here. Hot and humid with strange storms passing through. Also temperatures are rising and falling (but the humidity has stayed constant.) We went from about 100 degrees to around 72 for the highs this week! Just craz!. This first image is of a dramatic sky from mid-week (1). You can see the layers of roiling clouds. Almost looks 3D!
Asad thing happened Monday; I discovered a dead parrot. It was not one of the lorikeet variety, but a larger bird not seen too much in Kellyville. It seems to have hit the large glass windows of our parish hall. They are tinted very dark to keep the sun out, but still reflect the sky and the field and so must have seemed okay to fly through. I found the poor thing already dead, thankfully. I tell myself it didn't suffer. Yet it was beautiful even though dead! So I pulled out my camera and started shooting (2-8). Actually I have been having trouble shooting closeups with my camera (I think I have a scratch on the lens). Thus, I had to use my iPhone camera. Anyways, I love the details of the feathers. You never see this except up close. Each feather is a work of art. God is so good to us! I may be blowing up some of these photos for my walls or future "Thank You" cards!
The Politos are Italian-descent parishioners who run a business selling flowers to the area florists. They had been bragging to me at Christmas about their dahlias that are blooming now. They invited me to come to their farm so here are some flower shots (9-25).
First they took me through their roses (9-12) Aren't these a lovely shade? Lilies were also starting to bloom (13). And this plant was growing all over the place (14). I'd never seen it in the States. I have seen something like it, which I used to call "monkey tail." This plant is called "amaranthus."
The rest are close ups of various dahlias. They named the plants based on the color of the bloom. These first two are a variety they named "Cafe Ole"; they are just the ever-slightest shade of pink (15-16). This flower is called "Firecracker" and they are hoping it will become popular for Chinese New Year (17). I love the variations of this red variety (18). Each petal looks like a dipped brush! Yet even just one color, like this red orthis magenta, is spectacular (19-20). This bloom is still opening, yet lovely (21) and this one is called the "Manley Bloom" (22) as it shares the colors of a rugby team from Manley. Here you can see the size of a flower next to my hand! (23). Finally, a fool in the fields of dahlias! (24)
Next week I head out for a retreat to Canberra. I may not be able to send out a blog, but let's see.
Pray for me, as there is a lot of drama in my life at the moment. Personally I am fine but have a lot on my plate at the parosh and friary. I will need to make some changes, I think. I know that with your thoughts and prayers I can do the work that I need to do. Thanks! And blessings to you and yours as we come to a way-to-short Christmas Season!