Today's Photos
Thursday, 5. November 2009, 10:06:39
Another brilliant sunset again this evening.
Posts tagged with "Narrabri"
Today's Photos
Wednesday, 4. November 2009, 10:01:40
Lately I've been finding it hard just to take out a few minutes with the camera to take photos. But the fantastic colours of this evening's sunset were too hard to resist.
I took this photo of the railway trackwork opposite the church some time ago. At one stage they had a dozen of these nifty little machines running along the tracks.
I took this photo of the railway trackwork opposite the church some time ago. At one stage they had a dozen of these nifty little machines running along the tracks.
Red Bellied Black Snake
Monday, 2. November 2009, 09:54:23
We have been seeing a few black snakes around our yard this spring, particularly as the creek has been drying up and the snakes have had t move further afield to find water and food. It's good to know that blacks aren't terribly venomous and they keep the more toxic browns away.
From Wires
From Wires
Red Bellied Black Snake
The Red Belly Black Snake ( Pseudechis porphyriacus ) is one of our best known elapid (or front fanged venomous) snakes. It is wide spread throughout the Eastern Parts of Australia, preferring to live near creeks, and fixed water sources. Their diet consists mostly of frogs, although they are known to eat the occasional lizard, and smaller snakes. Although they are venomous, and are classified as dangerously venomous, the toxicity is not considered fatally dangerous. The venom of this genus destroys muscle tissue, but does not effect the central nervous system. Few human deaths have resulted from a bite from this species, and no adults have died from a bite.
They are excessively shy creatures, who will evade humans rather then strike. Its also a fact that if you have red bellies in your yard, you are not likely to have Brown snakes! Red's actively chase Brown's away, as the Red Belly toxin kills Browns.
* Given that stat, you will be amazed to hear (according the Bureau of Statistics) that you are more likely to be struck by lightening or die of a bee sting then you are of a snake bite.
* From the same source, between 70 - 93 % of snake bites are received while trying to capture or kill a snake.
* There has only ever been one recorded death from a red bellied black snake bite, and that occurred in the 1800's on a new born infant. Their venom does not work that way.
* Red Bellied Black Snakes will actively chase and kill Eastern Brown snakes from their preferred locations. (Brown Snakes are responsible for around 65% of the deaths by snake bite in Australia) This makes Red Bellies good to have around!
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Brighter future for grain transport
Wednesday, 21. October 2009, 04:33:30
For agricultural industries, rail lines to port are an essential infrastructure that over the last few years have been treated by state governments as something of a burden rather than an essential part of our economy.
Last year the rail operators were threatening not to carry grain at all as it interferes with their main business of hauling coal- even passenger trains have to give way to King Coal, which is not a good look for whoever it is runs the rail lines these days.
Anyway it appears that at last the Government is doing something about it- perhaps it was the threat of literally thousands of extra trucks on the highways clogging the Hunter Valley towns that made them realise that sometimes governments have to look outside the Newcastle-Sydney-Wollongong focus that they seem to think NSW stands for.
From the ABC:
Most grain rail freight lines should stay open: report
A federal report into grain rail freight in New South Wales has recommended most lines remain open.
The first of 18 recommendations is that conditions on nine rail freight lines be stabilised at a level that meets the minimum requirements of industry.
That includes the North Star to Moree, Walgett to Burren Junction and Merrywinebourne to Narrabri lines.
The report says the State Government should pick up the tab for the upgrades but advises reviewing access charges along those nine lines when the work is finished.
The type of co-funding agreement reached to keep the Weemelah Line open is suggested for the Boree Creek to The Rock and the Cowra to Demondrille lines, but if an agreement cannot be reached the advice is that those lines should close.
The report also advises identifying and developing a network of roads for grain transport.
Blogged with the Flock Browser
An Interesting Day
Monday, 5. October 2009, 09:16:16
If you define a day off as one when you do what you want to do, then today was not one of my better attempts, but it was interesting nonetheless.
It started off with time to do something I love- gardening. I picked a few peas, planted some more vegetable seeds (tomato, broccoli, watermelon, lettuce and cauliflower) and moved some of those beautiful petunias that we had in tube for the wedding.
It was while I was pruning a melaleuca (I think that's what it is!) that this butterfly came to check out what I was doing to his food source:
It was at that point that Margaret's cousin Wayne and his wife Debbie dropped in for a quick cup of coffee that lasted two hours. It was lunch-time then, and after lunch I got to back to the gardening. I found time to plant out some of the bearded irises that were meant to provide much colour for the wedding but sadly failed.
After fixing some weirdness in Margaret's email software, I was about to go for my much-loved but sadly missed daily walk when our mate Lew from Moree turned up for another quick cup of coffee that went for another two hours. The peas I picked in the morning went nicely in the evening stir fry!
It is great to catch up with unexpected visitors, even when they disrupt our plans!
It started off with time to do something I love- gardening. I picked a few peas, planted some more vegetable seeds (tomato, broccoli, watermelon, lettuce and cauliflower) and moved some of those beautiful petunias that we had in tube for the wedding.
It was while I was pruning a melaleuca (I think that's what it is!) that this butterfly came to check out what I was doing to his food source:
It was at that point that Margaret's cousin Wayne and his wife Debbie dropped in for a quick cup of coffee that lasted two hours. It was lunch-time then, and after lunch I got to back to the gardening. I found time to plant out some of the bearded irises that were meant to provide much colour for the wedding but sadly failed.
After fixing some weirdness in Margaret's email software, I was about to go for my much-loved but sadly missed daily walk when our mate Lew from Moree turned up for another quick cup of coffee that went for another two hours. The peas I picked in the morning went nicely in the evening stir fry!
It is great to catch up with unexpected visitors, even when they disrupt our plans!
Today's Photos
Wednesday, 26. August 2009, 08:13:55
Today I was surprised to see a bird which at first sight seemed to be a cockatoo sitting high in a tree. It appeared in the light to be almost all white but it was lacking the comb and its face didn't look quite right. Then I thought perhaps a hawk or an owl but neither seemed appropriate.
This is, in fact, the black shouldered kite, Elanus axillaris, which is reasonably common around Narrabri. You can read more about it and see more (and better photos) here
As I walked past the railway yards I was struck by the afternoon shadows and the way the power lies were glowing in the reflected light of the sun. I've touched the photo a bit to increase the contrast. What I should have done is fiddled with the camera settings but I wasn't really thinking too much about real photography.
This is, in fact, the black shouldered kite, Elanus axillaris, which is reasonably common around Narrabri. You can read more about it and see more (and better photos) here
As I walked past the railway yards I was struck by the afternoon shadows and the way the power lies were glowing in the reflected light of the sun. I've touched the photo a bit to increase the contrast. What I should have done is fiddled with the camera settings but I wasn't really thinking too much about real photography.
Today's Photos
Friday, 21. August 2009, 07:46:43
The reeds around the lake form a feathery field with the most wonderful textures. On overcast days such as today, there is less glare so that you can appreciate them more.
Today's Photo
Wednesday, 19. August 2009, 07:33:32
What an awesome day it was today weather-wise.
The birds seemed to enjoy it also.
The birds seemed to enjoy it also.
Today's Photo
Tuesday, 18. August 2009, 10:36:53
It's amazing how something you see every day just seems to leap out at you unexpectedly.
I must have seen and not noticed this magnificent jacaranda tree hundreds of times. Today, its golden foliage just stood out.
I must have seen and not noticed this magnificent jacaranda tree hundreds of times. Today, its golden foliage just stood out.
Awesome Day
Friday, 14. August 2009, 07:31:01
The weather today was just magnificent.
Here are a couple of photos to testify to the grace of our Father. They were taken on the Newell Highway just a little way out of town.
Here are a couple of photos to testify to the grace of our Father. They were taken on the Newell Highway just a little way out of town.
Loving Spring
Monday, 10. August 2009, 02:18:12
It's not officially spring yet, but spring tends to come early in northern NSW, and with daily temperatures getting into the low 20's (C) you can hardly call it winter any more.
The pressures starting to increase with Susannah's wedding less than 6 weeks away- a somewhat daunting and exciting thought!
Alex helped me in the garden this splendid morning.
I took this photo of our wattle tree the other day. Despite all the pollen blowing around and getting up my nose, I love this time of the year with all the different types of wattles blooming everywhere.
The pressures starting to increase with Susannah's wedding less than 6 weeks away- a somewhat daunting and exciting thought!
Alex helped me in the garden this splendid morning.
I took this photo of our wattle tree the other day. Despite all the pollen blowing around and getting up my nose, I love this time of the year with all the different types of wattles blooming everywhere.
A Cold to Warm Snap on the Way!
Wednesday, 5. August 2009, 23:22:11
Looks like next Wednesday might set a few records in Narrabri, if this is right. Firstly we have not in recorded history had snow showers and also I think snow is unlikely to fall in temperatures over 6 degrees.
The same forecast at the weatherzone web-site shows Wednesday forecast as being "Showers"
The same forecast at the weatherzone web-site shows Wednesday forecast as being "Showers"
New Photos
Monday, 3. August 2009, 06:18:11
I've just uploaded some photos that Josh and I took at our recent seminar and procession.
Click here to view the album or check out my facebook page.
Click here to view the album or check out my facebook page.
Today's Photos
Saturday, 25. July 2009, 08:29:59
Late in the afternoon with the sun almost setting was a great time to photograph my favourite birds- galahs and cockatoos.
Great Morning In Church
Sunday, 19. July 2009, 06:37:14
One of the joys of being a pastor in a small church is that you can never be sure how many people will come on any particular Sunday.
If you're in a biggish church, say over about 70 people, statistical laws come into play so that while there is some variation the variations are not that large, or else are predictable.
With a small church it can only take one or two families to be away and that's a big hole in the people actually attending. While numbers aren't important as such, there are practicalities that you have to think about like how many communion cups are needed, how high to fiill the urn, whether you get the 2 litre offering bucket out or the 50 litre one
So today with Margaret & Tim away, along with the Misons and the Nashes, Gary & Tania it was starting to look like a big hole in our usual high 20's congregation was going to look decimated. The Coopers were supposed to be away, and Margaret Baxter came along with another bunch of likely absentees and it was starting to look like a bad night at cell group!
By the time we had finished the praise time we had 20 people. We had nearly all of our "likely absentees" present and the Coopers had decided that they were too crook to go to Newcastle so they came and shared their germs with the family- nice gesture guys! We also had a bunch of people there whom we weren't expecting, so it was all a pleasant surprise.
I'm sure that my sermon was hard to listen to because my voice is very scratchy right now and by the end of the sermon I thought my voice had given out completely.
We had a great time of fellowship afterwards also with people hanging around for quite some time.
On the surface it was a pretty ordinary morning. But it's often in the ordinary that God starts moving the extraordinary.
I wonder what night church holds tonight?
If you're in a biggish church, say over about 70 people, statistical laws come into play so that while there is some variation the variations are not that large, or else are predictable.
With a small church it can only take one or two families to be away and that's a big hole in the people actually attending. While numbers aren't important as such, there are practicalities that you have to think about like how many communion cups are needed, how high to fiill the urn, whether you get the 2 litre offering bucket out or the 50 litre one
So today with Margaret & Tim away, along with the Misons and the Nashes, Gary & Tania it was starting to look like a big hole in our usual high 20's congregation was going to look decimated. The Coopers were supposed to be away, and Margaret Baxter came along with another bunch of likely absentees and it was starting to look like a bad night at cell group!
By the time we had finished the praise time we had 20 people. We had nearly all of our "likely absentees" present and the Coopers had decided that they were too crook to go to Newcastle so they came and shared their germs with the family- nice gesture guys! We also had a bunch of people there whom we weren't expecting, so it was all a pleasant surprise.
I'm sure that my sermon was hard to listen to because my voice is very scratchy right now and by the end of the sermon I thought my voice had given out completely.
We had a great time of fellowship afterwards also with people hanging around for quite some time.
On the surface it was a pretty ordinary morning. But it's often in the ordinary that God starts moving the extraordinary.
I wonder what night church holds tonight?
Today's Photos
Saturday, 18. July 2009, 07:59:00
I just love our creek and the lake further downstream. There is always something new to be seen or even the same things under different light at different times of the year.
Firstly a couple I took yesterday.
Yesterday the mountains seemed so close you could almost reach out and touch them!
Today was interesting. It really felt stereotypically Australian. We had a crew of kookaburras laughing themselves silly over some joke or other. We occasionally have a lone kookaburra but rarely a collection all together. Then a cockatoo came and perched on top of the silky oak at the front of our place.
Later this afternoon I wandered down to the creek and took these photos.
The galahs were in the old gum tree across the creek, but they were joined by a huge flock of cockatoos.
I am really blessed to live where I do!
Firstly a couple I took yesterday.
Yesterday the mountains seemed so close you could almost reach out and touch them!
Today was interesting. It really felt stereotypically Australian. We had a crew of kookaburras laughing themselves silly over some joke or other. We occasionally have a lone kookaburra but rarely a collection all together. Then a cockatoo came and perched on top of the silky oak at the front of our place.
Later this afternoon I wandered down to the creek and took these photos.
The galahs were in the old gum tree across the creek, but they were joined by a huge flock of cockatoos.
I am really blessed to live where I do!
Today's Photos
Tuesday, 14. July 2009, 10:21:48
Across the road this afternoon, a multitude of cockatoos and galahs descended on the railway tracks, presumably devouring some spilt grain.
The sun broke out from behind a cloud, giving me an opportunity to capture a dash of sun flare
The sun broke out from behind a cloud, giving me an opportunity to capture a dash of sun flare
Kookaburra Photos
Sunday, 5. July 2009, 07:18:40
Yesterday afternoon a kookaburra sat on the grass for quite some time pecking at something on the ground. Kookaburras usually prefer to sit well off the ground, so there must have been something there that was interesting it. After it flew away I looked at where it had been, but I couldn't see any sign of what had so intrigued it. Life's little mysteries.
Yesterday's Photos
Thursday, 2. July 2009, 10:42:34
Yesterday, Alex had his 4th birthday 
He brought his fmaily around to our place to share the celebrations 
Yesterday, as I was walking I came across an old rusting truck. It's clearly visible from the road, but strangely I've never seen it before.
He brought his fmaily around to our place to share the celebrations Yesterday, as I was walking I came across an old rusting truck. It's clearly visible from the road, but strangely I've never seen it before.
Dandelions and Sun Flares
Monday, 29. June 2009, 03:50:06
The challenge last week in my flickr group was "Sunflare", and of course it was overcast, gloomy and drizzly from the time they announced the challenge until the time period closed yesterday.
But today is glorious. I washed the car, and may yet mow my terribly neglected lawn.
Ideal conditions for finding dandelions and sunflares in the same locality. Here are some of my favourites.
But today is glorious. I washed the car, and may yet mow my terribly neglected lawn.
Ideal conditions for finding dandelions and sunflares in the same locality. Here are some of my favourites.
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