It’s the first weekend of the school holidays, and the clocks went forward last night. Awake early (old-time early), I have been for a walk, enjoying my neighbours’ gardening skills.
For perhaps the first time ever, I met no-one. I saw and heard no cars. Truly a silent Sunday.
Kowhai (Sophora microphylla), a favourite of native birds like tui and kereru. Image: Su Leslie 2018
Posted to Six Word Saturday
In the beauty of a golden dawn, it is easier to believe in the good in the world. Image: Su Leslie
The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice. — Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’ve started having early morning anxiety attacks. I’m waking suddenly — fearful and distressed, gouged by fragments of terrible dreams.
The world around seems ever more chaotic, divided, unjust and while I am, for now, one of the lucky ones, who knows how long luck will last.
Once I lived in a country that believed in compassion and justice and inclusion. Now, I’m not so sure.
Just a memory now. Seen in Marine Parade Gardens, Napier. Image: Su Leslie 2018
Detail, Diminishing Returns, sculpture in bronze by Bing Dawe. Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay, NZ. Image Su Leslie 2018
Spring flowers and art.
Both of these things make me happy, but throw in good company, good food and some wine — and I’m positively beaming.
September has delivered on all of these things, almost simultaneously in the last few days while the Big T and I have been on holiday in Napier.
On the east coast, about 400km from Auckland, Napier is a city in Hawke’s Bay. In February 1931, it was at the epicentre of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake which killed 256 people, injured thousands, and devastated much of the region, including destroying most of the buildings in central Napier and the neighouring town of Hastings.
Both Napier and Hastings were rebuilt, with much of the new architecture in the Art Deco style. Today, Napier is considered one of the finest Art Deco cities in the world.
Five major rivers flow into the Hawke’s Bay region, providing huge areas of fertile land for agriculture, and more recently viticulture. Local vineyards produce award-winning wines, so naturally T and I tasted a few (along with locally brewed beers and ciders).
It would have been wrong not to.
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.
Here is what September looked like for some other bloggers
Max at Cardinal Guzman
Sarah at Art Expedition
Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind
Marilyn at Serendipity Seeking intelligent life on Earth
Mick at Mick’s Cogs
Jude at Under a Cornish Sky
Deb at The Widow Badass Blog
Joanne at My Life Lived Full
Lee at Ladyleemanila
Klara over at lessywannagohome on Blogspot
Ruth at Ruth’s Arc
Pauline at Living in Paradise
Ju Lyn at All Things Bright and Beautiful
Little Pieces of Me — who joins us for the first time.
Pier, Marine Parade, Napier, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2018
Amongst the definitions of panoply are; a suit of armour and a protective covering.
Both of these could apply to the gear worn by para-gliders, although I’m not sure how strong the armour is, and how much protection it actually affords when they are hurling themselves off really high cliffs.
Launch successful. Image: Su Leslie, 2018
Spring flowers, Auckland Wintergarden. Image: Su Leslie 2018
The moment of pupation. Monarch caterpillar transforming into a chrysalis. Image: Su Leslie 2017Macro photography truly does change the way it’s possible to see the world; focusing in on tiny details unobserved by the naked eye, and saving them as so many pixels on a computer chip.
Emerging butterfly. The fully formed Monarch butterfly breaks free. Image: Su Leslie 2017
All that remains of the Monarch’s chrysalis stage.. Image: Su Leslie 2017From the life-cycle of a monarch caterpillar to the fine hairs on a bee’s body, what seemed hidden is revealed.
Bee and blossom. Image: Su Leslie 2017Posted to Hidden | One Word Sunday, hosted by Debbie at Travel with Intent.
Zimmerbitch 