Autumn's last hurrah

Late last week it was a gorgeous Autumnal day - about 18C with a slight crispness to the air, so I took a drive 1.5 hrs north to the lovely Clare Valley - one of the top wine-growing regions of South Australia.

Won't you join me on a brief tour? ......

This was the view looking back towards the Mt Lofty Ranges

.... pity about the pylons !

This pub was established in 1860

There was an abundance of new lambs

Mintaro - former slate mining town with a delightful historic "feel"

Attractive entry to one of the B&B's in the town

The Teapot Inn - sadly now on the market, but a visit there a few years back with a friend for Devonshire tea was a charming experience

I bet the walls within this homestead have some stories to tell !

Stockpiling feed for possible harsh days to come

A tragic story behind this headstone no doubt...

A wide brown land indeed . . .

Linking up with 

More Forreston

 

Following on from my recent post of the Forreston horse and house-sit,

thought I'd share some more images from that experience . . .

 

The peaceful countryside !

 

 

 . . . Some pretty blooms in the garden . . .

 

 

and a characterful birdhouse/nesting box !

 



This delightful part of the property offered a relaxing settee

to unwind late afternoon and simply enjoy the sounds of birdlife 

 

The shape of this dead tree fascinated me - in it I could see a ballerina's hand

(or is that once again just my vivid imagination ?!)

 

Below is the view across the hills to the television towers situated on Mt Lofty

(some 37 kms away)

 

. . . and how's this for charming rural art?



 

 

 

One of many Jenny Wrens (I think!) that often visited the grapevine support above my head as I sat down to enjoy the view and a coffee!

And a cute Grey Fantail regularly appeared around me

Linking up once again with the fun themed blogsites

Our world Tuesday and
Wild Bird Wednesday

with thanks to the hosts

 

A Rural Retreat

Have been "off the blogging grid" for the past 2 weeks due to a delightful horse & house-sit commitment in the Adelaide Hills.  It was a beautifully peaceful semi-rural 20 acre property within a half-hour's drive of the Barossa Valley and the birdlife an absolute treat.

 

Following are some images captured during the stay which I hope will give you

"a taste" of the environment . . . .

 

 

A pretty New Holland Honeyeater

 

 

I haven't yet identified this one, but it was singing so beautifully !

 

 

Early morning mist across the countryside

 

A neighbour's horse grazing

 

 

 

One of two horses to be fed

 

..... and the other

 

An inquisitive, alert rabbit

 

....  together with other members of its family!

 

A Grey Fantail shaking off after a bird bath

 

Here it is again with another (as yet) unidentified feathered friend

 

 and here, caught mid-air

 

a creative piece of work

 

Let the sun shine !

 

A Silvereye sharing the bath with its neighbours

 

one of many Red-browed Firetails who visited each morning

 

The shape of this was fascinating - I wondered whether it was a dead Sunflower?

 

 

 

Aahhh - I could go on and on about the photographic delights this past two weeks offered,

but will exercise some unusual restraint instead and share these images with you all at

Our World Tuesday and

Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday

 

Again, with gratitude to our hosts.