time for a new picture

To celebrate our second wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago, Hayden and I lunched at the glorious Voyager Estate Winery in Margaret River. As you can see in the picture, it was a glorious sunny day, even though the colours of the leaves are already turning.

It turned out to be a pretty wonderful day!

sightseeing at Cape Leeuwin

Shane and Kirsten visit_0761, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

You know that kicky little tail on the bottom left-hand corner of Australia? Cape Leeuwin is on the underside of that. We drove down there while Hayden's sister Kirsten and her boyfriend were with us for a post-Christmas visit.

There is a picturesque historical lighthouse down there where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern one. It's a bit of a tourist sight to see the two oceans meet - though to me it just looked choppy.

resolutions

Beach Planting, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

I usually make one a year. And I usually keep it. This year, I'm resolving to do everything I can to make our life in Bunbury better: happier, funner and more fulfilling.

And I'm thinking that the plants in this photo might actually play a part in that. As part of getting into Bunbury life, I want to learn more about what the conditions here mean for plantlife and gardening - specifically, the Summer heat, dryness and salty wind. To date, my main inspiration is the public plantings along the dunes, the sight in these pictures being - to me - much more beautiful than the thirsty, pansy English flowers that have been planted all around our house. Those English plants are beautiful - in England. Here, we have different light - more of a harsh glare, to be frank. The mingy greens of the foliage and the flaccid pinks of the English flowers do not look great here. And they need a lot more water than what I can provide.

There must be a way to create my ideal garden - restful, beautiful and low maintenance - from plants which are well suited to the conditions here. All it will take is a bit of research, a bit of thought and a BIG change in attitude.

Visiting Voyager Estate

Voyager Estate, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

Just thinking about different sizes and shapes for photos. I think this nearly square shape works well ... but I wonder how many photos will I want to take in this shape? And what about the constant cropping? I don't know how likely it is that I'll keep that up for long ...

The Estuary

The Estuary, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

A beautiful spot for an evening walk.

The Beach

Beach flowers 4, originally uploaded by &Naomi.

So different to the beach in Townsville.

Walk along the estuary

Last night I walked along the Leschenault Inlet, commonly known around here as 'the estuary'. It's a great place for a long evening stroll - waterbirds, pelicans coming in to land, a big bunch of kangaroos lazing around on the grass. The evenings are getting longer and warmer ... many more strolls to come.

Warm Spring Weekend

Digging in my veggie garden

Riding our tandem bike along the other side of the river

A walk along the beach, hand in hand

Afternoon tennis with Marny

Weekend papers spread out in the sun

It was so good to feel warm this weekend. To be working hard in the garden, and need to strip down to a t-shirt.

I wish I had more photos, but we were too busy doing it all.

Looking out to trees and hills

I really like this outlook from our dining room, out to the northern trees and sky. It is a beautiful illusion of trees and bush (really, suburbia is tucked just out of sight). The thin frame of trees curves around with the river, and as we are up nice and high we get to see all the way out to the blue hills. I feel lucky when I glance up from breakfast and I get to see that far.