Saturday, February 24, 2007

Well, You Did Ask!





















































It is not my fault I'm trigger-happy all the time! Blame this wonderful camera. It's the reason that you are now being inundated with photographic evidence of my extra-curricular activity. This stunningly handsome camera is a whizz. It is the master. I'm completely under its spell, a mere puppet in its hands. Mr. Minolta to you who've not yet been formally introduced, (Kon to his nearest and dearest) has captured my heart. Smitten, I am. His sheer brilliance takes my breath away. I never want him to leave my side. Around my neck in repose he waits patiently, until I gently stroke him into action. This is no 'ships passing in the night' dalliance. This is an enduring, never-ending love affair. I just know this is so. It's Kismet that we met, and one can not deny Kismet!

Now on to the photographs...more of the excellent work by Mr. Minolta. My friendly kookaburras knew film-making was on the agenda as swiftly they appeared to star in the feature. The water-lily is self-explanatory. The white flowers, (I have no idea what they are other than 'white flowers) are nestled away in a shaded corner on the banks the pond, towered over by conifers of silver, green and gold. (Again, as with my previous two posts, double-click on the photos for enlargement)

Excuse me for a while, I'm going to re-charge Mr. Minolta's battery......

34 comments:

  1. lee,
    It's easy to see why you've become so enamored of Mr. Minolta. He responds like a well touched lover in giving you such visceral pleasures.
    I'm overwhelmed by the verdancy of your environs. I can see why everyday is an inspiration for you.
    rel

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  2. Ahh...he's a wonderful fellow, Rel!

    We're fortunate here on the mountain in that we're not suffering from the water shortages other parts of south-east Queensland and some other parts of Australia are. It is a lush, green area. I woke up this morning to mist hovering low over the trees. It's since lifted and dissipated, but it gives a nice, cosy atmosphere. The day is opening up surrounded by a blue sky with some fluffy clouds floating around.

    Oh! Dear...another perfect day in paradise! I guess one just has to deal with the hand dealt one! ;)

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  3. Hi Lee, Thank for the email and I love the photos you and Mr Minolta produced. 'Tis a match made in digital heaven.

    You live in a really beautiful environment, Lee. All that lovely greenery...although I must confess that things are not looking so brown in my neck of the woods, now. We've had rain and of course, with the water tanks, the garden is looking almost back to normal.

    More photos of your surrounds will be eagerly awaited.

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  4. From the angle of the picture it looks like the kookaburra let you get pretty close. Are they not afraid of people in general or is that bird used to you?

    The picture of your patio resembles my wife's patio. She has grape vines across the top and plants galore hanging and potted. It's her morning coffee sanctuary, no guys or dogs allowed before the alloted time. As for the rest of your daily view...wow. Your other commenters describe it better than can I so what they say x2.

    Kon is going to make your blog even more worth the time to visit, looking forward to it.

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  5. Good morning, Robyn...it's great that you've had some rain down your way. The restrictions must be terrible and are only going to get tougher for you if heavy falls don't soon come the way of the catchment areas and dams. I see rain is forecast towards the end of this coming week, but anything can happen between now and the...I hope it does.

    Thanks for your comments. :)

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  6. G'day, Gto...nice to see you down this neck of the woods! :)

    I was up close and personal with the kookaburra. They're tame and will eat out of my hands. I toss them end cuts of meat when I trim it or off-cuts of the cats' meat...so they know "what side their bread is buttered on". They sit on the top of the back door when it's open, looking in to see if I'm about. One flew inside the other! I love kookaburras...they're a wonderful bird. Most kookaburras around built-up areas are pretty tame and used to humans. I also encourage them to hang around wherever I'm living at any given time.

    Smart lady that wife of yours, Gto! ;)

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  7. So that's what a kookaburra looks like. ALL of the photos are stunningly gorgeous. You live in such a beautiful place, Lee. Keep up the relationship with Mr. Minolta. I see a beautiful future ahead for the two of you.:)

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  8. I'll do my best, Serena! I'll keep him wrapped in cotton-wool. He's well worth special treatment! ;)

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  9. Beautiful pictures Lee! I've never seen a kookabura before! I would have commented earlier, but the green eyed monster had "a hold" of me (Texas slang) and would not let me go! Beautiful place.

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  10. lol...Neo.. I'm glad you finally stomped on the 'green-eyed montster'and commented, and thanks for doing so. :)

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  11. Lee, I have decided I don't want to visit Brisbane.

    I want to live there!

    But wait, I have to visit first! I hope I can figure out a way!

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  12. Great pictures, Lee. I'm glad you posted them. See if you can get more pictures of those mythical Australian beasts (like the kookaburra).

    I notice not a single koala, wombat, nor kangaroo in the lot... ;)

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  13. I second what Don aid!

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  14. Although you may have to venture out of of safe zone to take those pics. ;)

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  15. Great pics Lee, the reproduction is excellent and colours are very true.

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  16. Hi Peter, I didn't notice you'd snuck in there. Yes, this camera certainly does the job its built for...with little help from me...other than TLC! :)

    Thanks for commenting. I'll have more pics for you to enjoy along the way.

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  17. Okay...Okay., Don..I know I should have said "mythical"...I was just testing to see if you really did read through my post! ;)

    That's my story...and I'm sticking to it...for now! My mind must have been on Mr. Minolta! ;)

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  19. The kangaroo just that moment hopped out of the frame as I pushed down the button, Don, therefore causing me to miss it! Drat! It was jumping across to visit the wombat and koala, which were just out of camera range! ;)

    Neo...to get to the mountain, at first you would have to go to Brisbane, unless of course, you launched your attack from the southern or western sides! ;)

    Often I've been known to venture where many fear to tread, Neo! ;)

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  20. Gidday Lee,
    I'm not hiding. I just don't get as much time to blog like yourself, Peter and others who blog more than once a week.
    I knew when you got your camera you'd go "bananas". One tends to take a lot more photos with the digital camera, knowing that you can view them immediately, delete it if unsatisfactory and retake it.
    I have a great photo of a kookaburra I took from the next doors yard. I took a few photos and then it took off and flew towards me, so I got the shot just as it took off.
    Will wait with "baited breath" for more photos.
    As you know I also have friends at Mt. Tamborine and even before they moved there I was a frequent visitor to this beautiful spot.
    Love the tropical rainforests and the coolness of living in a higher altitude.

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  21. Wazza...good to see you...thanks for popping in. Kookaburras are fascinating birds...they're true-blue Aussies...even if they want to share their territory calls first thing in the mornings!

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  22. Hi Lee ~~ Thanks for sharing those great photos. I love kookaburras and
    the blue colour on their wings.
    Thanks for your visit and glad you got a smile there. Yes, thanks to you I haven't got those enormous spaces and I am so glad about that.
    Take care, my friend, Love, Merle.

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  23. Good evening, Merle...see...now you've got all that extra space to write in! ;)

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  24. Absolutely beautiful. I will finish by saying keep the wonderful photos coming so at least we can take our trips not just in our mind but can have photos to go with that trip. ;)

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  25. absolutely fabulous pictures! Love the close up of mr kookaburra!

    so your camera is a Minolta what series or name is it so i can look up and see this magnificent beast?!

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  26. lee,
    We throw birdseed, ya'll throw meat. Everything down there seems different.

    This reminded me of two vultures that used to hang around the house. I named them Vince and Elkins after a law firm. Its a long and funny story I should write down one day.

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  27. I think you've got the hang of that camera Lee. I've been looking at, and reading your blog. The ones I've missed. Lovely place you have. In view of the near blizzard conditions we have, I found my self coveting your abode. Quite the slice of heaven you have. I hope this isn't just a dream you're having.
    I'm okay now after my scope. I took a shower and have on clean undies so I'm good to go.

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  28. Hi Sandra...there's no stopping me now!

    DesLily.. this magnificent creature is a Konica Minolta Dimage A2. Getting closer to your trip now! Count-down is well under way! :)

    Gtotracker...kookaburras are meat eaters, as are the magpies, butcher-birds and currawongs. We, as in we Aussies, feed birdseed to other varieties of birds, too. The kookaburra would turn up his noble beak, flick his tail and fly away insutlted if he was thrown birdseed! You must record that story about the vultures, Gto and then tell us about it. :)

    Hey Cliff...you're a bloody character! lol Glad to hear all is well! ;)

    It's more like the 'camera having the hang of me', Cliff...it does all the work and it's the one that produces the great pictures...I'm just its devoted disciple!

    No...this is not a dream that I'm living...at least not this one! ;)

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  29. Absolutely beautiful, Lee. Thank you for brightening my day.

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  30. You are most welcome, Welsh. :)

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  31. More Kooky-Birdie pictures! More!

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  32. Now! Now! Don! Throwing a tantrum will get you no where!

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  33. Hi Lee,

    Love the Kookaburras! I don't remember seeing any (in the wild) while we were there -- but then it's been a long time ago and I wasn't in to birding then. You've got some great pics -- I'm only just starting to explore!

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  34. Thanks for popping in, Stormy. :)

    You probably would have seen them around but as you say, you weren't into birds then. Kookaburras are pretty prevalent here.

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