Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre Part 1

Today is the last day of 2013.

I had a lovely day out with my son and his partner.

Thank you for taking me with you today.

It was an experience I won’t forget easily.

I am going to show photos of the day in a series of posts.

Part 1

Entering the reserve

We went and paid our entrance fees.  Went to the outside deck

from where one can watch the feeding of the Takahe.

Outside we met these “naughty” Kakas.

These large forest parrots are thriving in the Pukaha forest.

There are over 100 wild Kaka flying free here.

Later on we met some again in the trees.

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Awards

I want to thank

Cee at Cee’s Photography

http://ceenphotography.com/

for nominating me for

And also the

If it had not been for her blog I would never had an idea on what to blog about.

You really inspire me everyday when I see your blog and your challenge topics.

The Rules

1. Provide a link to and thank the blogger who nominated you for this award.
2. Answer ten questions.
3. Nominate 10-12 blogs that you find a joy to read.
4. Provide links to these nominated blogs and kindly let the recipients know they have been nominated.
5. Include the award logo within your blog post.

Questions

1. Your favorite color  : Red, bright colors

2. Your favorite animal  : All animals, my favorite ! DOGS

3. Your favorite non-alcoholic drink : Coca Cola

4. Facebook or Twitter  : Facebook

5. Your favorite pattern  : Flowing like water

6. Do you prefer getting or giving presents? Both

7. Your favorite number : 13

8. Your favorite day of the week : Wednesdays – companion day!

9. Your favorite flower : Orchids

10. What is your passion? Taking macro photos!

I nominate the following blogs. They are all wonderful places to visit and enjoy. I also nominate these blogs for the Most Influental Blogger award too

http://roosdoring.wordpress.com/

http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/

http://madoqua.wordpress.com/

http://madoqua.wordpress.com/

http://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/

http://wileyschmidt.com/

http://esengasvoice.wordpress.com/

http://nowathome.wordpress.com/

http://anotherday2paradise.wordpress.com/

http://toortsie.wordpress.com/

I am also going to nominate the above blogs for the next award too.

Woolly at

http://woollymuses.wordpress.com/

nominated me for this award.

Thank you very much you inspire me also to keep on blogging.

The Rules for the Most Influential Blogger Award are: 1. Display the Award on your Blog. 2. Announce your win with a post and thank the Blogger who awarded you. 3. Present 10 deserving Bloggers with the Award. 4. Link your awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded with a comment. 5. Answer each of the 11 questions that your awarder asked, and then write 11 for your awardees (or use the same ones up to you!)

1) What makes you happiest?

To know that my son is not far away from me.

2) Do you love the Oceans or Mountains more? 

Oceans. I always wanted to be near the sea.

3) What has been a special moment in 2013?  

My sister paying for my photographic course.

4) What’s your favourite quote.

Die appel val nie ver van die boom nie

5) Do you like yourself?

Yes.

6) Do you stay up till midnight on New Year?

Always

7) Something you wish could be done ASAP? 

Earn money(get work)

8)What was your favourite class when still at school?

Home economics

9) What musical instrument have you tried to play?

Organ

10) Anything you had wished to have learned earlier?

Animal behaviour

11) Do you like to do Crafts, Drawing or Painting?

This is my best question.

I love crafts, drawing and painting

If anyone feels to make use of this award , feel free to do so. Each blog and blogger is special in his or her own way.

 

Silent Sunday

 

 

REFLECT…. A word a week photography Challenge

http://suellewellyn2011.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/a-word-a-week-photograph-challenge-reflect/

 

We had a really hard rain down pour just now.

I could just save my washing which was  on my deck under the roof!

My deck was soaking wet and

there it was

lovely

REFLECTION

in the water!

Reflection of my empty flower baskets in the water

Clouds just before the down pour

This one can also do for

Sky watch Friday

http://skyley.blogspot.co.nz/

Going to the dogs: Sunday Stills

I nearly missed out on this one.

I had a lovely shoot with Trompie yesterday evening!

He was my top model again, so patience and willing.

The next two he is hearing some birds hopping on the roof!

Sunday Stills, the next Challenge: Going to the Dogs

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/2013/12/22/sunday-stills-the-next-challenge-going-to-the-dogs/

Gesegde: Elke hond kry sy dag – elke kat sy af dag!

 

Old Christmas photos!

2009 Luigi was dressed up as a

CHRISTMAS PARCEL!

Get ready for the show!

And the winner …Luigi

Show off in the ring

Interested in something…

All dressed up

Get into the box!

I just could not resist putting the photos on!

Luigi was only one year at that stage.

He was the best dressed dog !

Trompie enjoying himself: Michelle’s Pet Challenge

I showed Trompie tearing his new toy apart in B & W.

It looks much better with a bit of color!

Poor frog is begging Trompie:

Please, don’t hurt me!

I won’t hurt you!

You will feel nothing!

Here we go!!!!

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http://hopethehappyhugger.wordpress.com/2013/12/24/michelles-weekly-pet-challenge-round-up-and-start-of-new-week-7/

Kappertjie/ Nastartium : Flower power

KAPPERTJIE 

Tropaeolum /trɵˈpiːələm/,^[1] commonly known as nasturtium (/næˈstɜrʃ(i)əm/;^[2] literally “nose-twister” or “nose-tweaker”), is a genus of roughly 80 species of annual and perennial herbaceous flowering plants. It was named by Carl Linnaeus and is the only genus in the family Tropaeolaceae. The nasturtiums received their common name because they produce an oil that is similar to that of watercress(Nasturtium officinale).

The genus Tropaeolum, native to South and Central America, includes several very popular garden plants, the most commonly grown being T. majus, T. peregrinum and T. speciosum. The hardiest species is T. polyphyllum from Chile, the perennial roots of which can survive underground when air temperatures drop as low as −15°C (5°F).

Plants in this genus have showy, often intensely bright flowers, and rounded, peltate (shield-shaped) leaves with the petiole in the centre. The flowers have five petals (sometimes more), a three-carpelled ovary, and a funnel-shaped nectar tube at the back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeolum

 

Gladioli : Flower power

Gladiolus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiolus

The genus Gladiolus contains about 260 species, of which 250 are native to sub-Saharan Africa, mostly South Africa. About 10 species are native to Eurasia. There are 160 species of Gladiolus endemic in southern Africa and 76 in tropical Africa. The flowers of unmodified wild species vary from very small to perhaps 40 mm across, and inflorescences bearing anything from one to several flowers. The spectacular giant flower spikes in commerce are the products of centuries of hybridisation, selection, and perhaps more drastic manipulation.

I have some gladioli in my small back yard.

Delicate!

Just a spot of sunlight!

Gladioli are half-hardy in temperate climates. They grow from rounded, symmetrical corms, that are enveloped in several layers of brownish, fibrous tunics.

Their stems are generally unbranched, producing 1 to 9 narrow, sword-shaped, longitudinal grooved leaves, enclosed in a sheath. The lowest leaf is shortened to a cataphyll. The leaf blades can be plane or cruciform in cross section.

 

One: Weekly Photo Challenge

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/photo-challenge-one/

ONE