Under attack and........more Thailand pics

I'm not very happy at the moment. If you've been following my blog, you will know that, due to a very wet February, we have been dealing with a backyard swamp which has been host to a gazillion tadpoles and a vast variety of insects. The stench makes you squish your nose up in distaste. The past two weeks has been fairly dry weather-wise so the ground is drying up although the stagnant stench is still quite bad. These conditions have been perfect for encouraging even more pests and, over the past few days, the lawn has been getting eaten away by what I think is Army Worms. The owner seriously needs to install proper drainage as the swamp-like conditions were also to blame for the termite infestation we are currently being treated for. I've never rented a house with so many major issues before. Anywhoo, I sat under the awning of our front entrance this morning and did a quick sketch of the front lawn damage. I did some research on the net and, apparently, I need to hit the lawn with a fast-acting fertiliser to help bring it back to its former glory. I sure hope it works.

Pigma Micron pen in A5 sketchbook

Click on image for a clearer view

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Now for more Thailand pics

Click on any image to enlarge it

One day, Reece and Sarina hired a moped and went for a ride to the Phuket zoo. Reece said that the conditions for the animals were very poor by Australian standards so it was bitter-sweet for him in some ways. He's a bit of a softie like his Mum. This is the part of Thailand I would probably have a hard time coping with although I do understand that it's a different culture and it's their livelihood. However, it doesn't stop me feeling bad for wild animals in captivity anywhere, let alone when it's under poor conditions and chained up. These poor tigers should be out roaming free. :(

Born to be wild.....hehe

A sphinx......yes......in Thailand!

To infinity....and beyond

Sarina riding a rhino

The actual entrance to the aquarium

And that's all for today, folks.

~ Love, light and peace ~

PHOTO MONDAY - Match ALL the feet with their rightful owners and....

.....go into a draw for a chance to win a small painted, or handmade, gift from me.

For the Photo Monday theme this week, Sue chose the topic - FEET.  As it's my birthday today, I thought I'd add a fun spin on the photo theme and turn it into a challenge for my readers.  As the title states, all you have to do is match ALL the feet correctly with their rightful owners and you will go into a draw.  You can list your answer in a comment on THIS post or email me at the address shown in my profile.  If your name is chosen in the draw....you win a handmade gift from me!!!  This opportunity is not limited to our Photo Group members so, if you have a blog, you can play along too.  I hope you enjoy the challenge but, as I'm not really a foot person myself, I do understand and apologise in advance if our feet gross you out.

--- click on the image to enlarge it ---

I will do the draw and post the winner on Monday, March 29th......

GOOD LUCK!

~ Love, light and peace ~

MONDAY PHOTO GROUP - Changing Seasons

The theme for this week was to photograph the season's changes. Here in sub-tropical Queensland we really don't see seasonal changes, even in winter. Our autumn season started on March 1st and, while there may be deciduous trees growing somewhere, there aren't any in my neck of the woods so I can't really meet the requirements for this week's theme.

Anywhoo, here are some other pics of nature around my pergola and backyard which, at the moment, remains a stinky, stagnant swampland due to all the rain we've had this past month.

Remember you can click any image to enlarge it.

The seeds in the pic below belong to my potted snake plant.

They remind me of teensy mandarins.

Last month, I took a cutting from Michelle's Crassula Ovata plant, commonly known as a Money Plant in this region. Mum took a cutting at the same time but her cutting didn't take. My Mum!...the person who just has to look at a plant and it flourishes overnight.Yes, I'm bragging because my plants always look anorexic compared to my Mum and Dad's plants. I was stoked that my cutting actually took and you can see the new leaf growth in the pic below.

My African Milk Tree - botanical. Euphorbia Trigona - is trying to break through the eaves! What am I to do??? Should I just cut it back? It's actually bending. This plant was gifted to me by my daughter, Michelle, close to eight years ago and then, it was under 4" tall. I have given Michelle and my Mum cuttings from it too and they are doing extremely well.

If you enlarge the next pic, you will be able to see a tadpole, which is one of hundreds swimming gleefully around the backyard. My research tells me that these are toad tadpoles...YUCK! I hate cane toads! I'll be very glad when I get my backyard back. I only hope the grass recovers from all the slime and sludge.

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I'm sick........my throat kills, I feel nauseous the majority of the time, and I'm feeling quite sorry for myself right now. I had to cancel my student coming for an art class today. I've been attempting to work on some gifties for my Pay It Forward recipients so I can't show any pics of those until they have been finished, shipped off, and received. However, here is a quick watercolour and pen EveryDayMatters sketch I did the other day before I got sick.

Watercolour and Pigma Micron pen in A5 sketchbook

I'm now off to rest in front of the telly....enjoy your week!

Love, light and peace