Stepping into the new year
Mr Daisy and I enjoy walking when we can. Nothing too monumental. A half an hour brisk walk in the early morning before the working day begins or a more lengthy stroll in the long luxurious summer evenings that make it feel as though there are extra hours in the day. On weekends we venture further afield to find new vistas.
Recently on the way to the supermarket we thought we'd do a quick explore of a track 5 minutes away from the shops. Caught up in it's beauty we postponed the shopping and took our time following the full track.
I took photos along the way to share.
The flower fairy in me jumped with delight when I saw these beautiful Flannel Flowers along the path. They are native to the Sydney region of Australia and get their name from the texture of their petals and leaves which do indeed feel like flannel.
From velvet softness to big tough spiky banksias. I know I'm biased but I love Australian flowers!
How could we resist following a pretty path like this.
It led us to a blue gum forest
Beautiful pale trunks reaching for the sky.
Down below, little pops of colour catch my eye.
I'm always impressed see where some plants decide to make their home.
I stop to admire leaves
and logs
and calm neutral tones of moss and lichen.
Happy heart!
As we walk we chat - quite often about how lucky we are to be walking the tracks of the Blue Mountains. Each path has it's own character. Sometimes we're led into valleys, or along ridges to breathtaking views. We like to identify the birds whose calls, sqwarks and twitterings we hear. I point out and name the flowers, Mr Daisy enjoys recognising the different trees.
Another day we did a walk that had a winding path that led us up and down valleys to see not just 1 but four different waterfalls! That was the day my camera wasn't charged so I only have one photo to share.
We even sometimes walk in the rain.
Or simply wander around our garden.
I'm happy to say "Yes I have!!"
But I'll leave those photos until the next post...
There's no rush, sometimes it's good to take one step at a time.
34 Comments
Ahhhh....feeling the calm even all the way over here. As someone famous once said...." feel the serenity", 'tis a beautiful place to be.
ReplyDeleteI am not good on the tree naming lark, but I do "twitch" a little......it's a nervous thing......lol.....no I was once a card carrying member of the Royal Gould Bird Society. Yes I can still name a spotted pardelote, black faced cuckoo shrike and blue fairy wren, possibly wouldn't know their calls but can point them out.......in a book.......from the library........hehehehehe....
Wonderful walk !
ReplyDeletethank you for this australian walk!
ReplyDeleteYou really do live in a beautiful part of Australia! I am positively envious of you....
ReplyDeleteA delightful little journey in your world. So beautiful. Loved it. Those blue gums are impressive!
ReplyDeleteHi RAchael thankyou for taking us on your walk ,such beautiful pics you got,thankyou for sharing your lovely day xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful nature, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are certainly fortunate to have such lovely surroundings. The wet winter certainly made for a nice green summer. Thanks for taking us along.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I never tire of seeing the Australian variety in the woods!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome is your 'backyard'!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, unfortunately we do need a little reminder every now and then that we DO live in the lucky country. Especially those of us in suburbia. One day I will come and visit your patch of paradise.... one day.
Ahh Ohhh !! The Australian Nature is gorgeous ! Thank you for sharing Rachael ! And no doubt, you're the Queen of Wizzbang !! :)
ReplyDeleteI wish you a happy new year to you and all your family !
Hugs !
What lovely photos. I have never heard of a Mountain Devil, but it looks f=sort of like a laurel. It is just beautiful! I think I see some of natures wonders working their way into your quilts. Enjoy the day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post, Rachael! A lovely walk, peaceful....serene....and sharing it with your honey.....doesn't get much better than that!
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely way to enjoy the beauty of Nature. Simple walks can do so much to revive the creative juices. And from the looks of it, you've got a lot gorgeous creativity going on! Can't wait to see more of your Whiz Bang creations!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos. The flannel flower looks so perfect, no wonder you wanted to photograph it. Good idea to walk every day, that's what we try to do. Now looking forward to seeing the sewing photos.
ReplyDeleteWow ... Blue Mountains region looks like a gorgeous place ! Thank you for the virtual walk.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to have such lovely walking tracks nearby, the hubs and I walk most days but because of his knee issues our walks are mainly around our neighbourhood, when I walk by myself I do a bit of exploring.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have the opportunity to stop and enjoy the calm. And then turn around and play with all those eyepoping colors and textures.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty stroll in your woods! Thank you for taking us along.
ReplyDeleteSimply beautiful! I miss walking in the woods of the northwest. It was nice to be in Blue Mountains for few minutes.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful part of Australia you live in! I was so happy to see the banksia ... it's my fav flower :)
ReplyDeletewhat interesting flora and fauna you have there and lovely paths.
ReplyDeleteYour Garden Statue is mesmerizing !
What an amazing and inspiring place to walk--beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that refreshing walk! We are so fortunate to live in such a wonderful country with amazing flora (and fauna) and you're so lucky to have it on your doorstep. xx
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a beautiful part of the world. Loved coming along on your wander and your photos were beautiful. Gorgeous project too x
ReplyDeleteI sure enjoy seeing where you get to walk. Serenity is all around you. I can hear the sounds of the falls, leaves falling and birds calling. Thanks for sharing. I am still a-waiting my diary! The so-so slow mail from you to me! It's a drag! I am so excited to start using it!
ReplyDeleteOMG a lovely walk in lovely Australia with lovely flowers and ferns and lovely Mr. and Mrs. Sigh and so relaxed. Thank you for your comment on my blog. I had so much fun at my retreat!!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have these beautiful walks on your doorstep.
ReplyDeleteI have thoroughly enjoyed your photos and feel like I am nearly there.
Loved your walk Rachael....such a nice distraction from the shops!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos of all that beauty right on your doorstep! Happy walking!
ReplyDeleteI love that you take advantage of the beautiful places around you and take some beautiful walks. As I was reading though, I kept thinking you were going to tell me that you ran into a snake LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place you live in.
ReplyDeleteThe bush is always wonderful to stroll or trudge through as the case may be. Seriously the mountains are beautiful thank you for sharing your photos. The quilts look beautiful and I'm wait anxiously for more pickies.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics, Rachel - love seeing where you live, such a gorgeous area!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving me a comment. Your kind words encourage me to keep sharing my work and stories.