A wallaby is a smaller more discreet version of a kangaroo.
Anyway, this morning I headed out on to the deck to throw feed into the fish-pond. Was in usual trance /zen-like state of existence and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. One minute later hubby goes out on deck, sees pond through peripheral vision and yells "How the hell did you miss that?!" in agitated tone.
"Miss what?" I ask suspiciously picturing gigantic venomous snake hanging from rooftop or something like that.
"The f...ing dead wallaby in the pond!" yells hubby.
Cannot believe it. This makes it to my top 10 of things I have missed due to not being very observant.
We are crushed. How could this happen? Stupid, stupid pond. Want to get rid of it. Did not build it, previous owner did. What a ridiculous idea. Stupid pond.
I say to hubby "Unfortunately I can't help you. Pregnant women are not supposed to handle dead animals."
Sure have read it somewhere.
Showing posts with label Wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wildlife. Show all posts
Friday, 9 November 2012
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Dramatic Morning in Bangalow
Dog-sitting in Bangalow again - and just had very dramatic morning. Thought worthy of blog, as has been slightly neglected of late.
Anyway, is beautiful morning so had all screen-doors open running in and out watering plants etcetera. Figured would be ok to leave doors open in such a manner as dog-smell surely would repel wildlife.
Suddenly spot huuuuge lizard on verandah. Start to wonder what kind of lizard it might be and also trying to be very still so dogs will not wake up and make a run for the lizard. Then life turns to slowmotion as if in movie. See lizard head for open screen-door. Am thinking NOOOO! but am too far away and in wrong part of house to stop it. It has entered in the kitchen. Slowly I get up and go towards the kitchen to try and chase lizard out before dogs catch wind of anything going on. Plan immediately fails.
You see, any time one heads for the kitchen - dogs follow in vain hope of getting food. I arrive in kitchen closely followed by dogs; who used to be two placid golden retrievers but have now rapidly turned into mad growling bloodhounds. Knowing hubby will kill me if lizard gets injured; grab bloodhounds and shove them into closest room with door - which happens to be the bathroom. Dogs go in bathroom, door closed firmly.
Dogs very confused about their new situation and are barking. But cannot be helped - cannot allow them to devour lizard. Also, cannot swear there are no venomous lizards...
A few anxious minutes follow during which I am chasing lizard with newspaper, trying to convince it to head back outside. Eventually, it does.
Breathe sigh of relief. Close screen-doors. Go to grab dogs which are barking in bathroom.
Open door. Except. Do NOT open door. What the? Try again. Nope. Nothing. Door definitely LOCKED. Think long list of swear-words. How on earth have dogs locked door? Think-think-think.
Window! I get outside the house, through spider-infested back alley - lift screen off window - open window, which - thank god - is unlocked, and climb in through window. Am wearing pyjamas throughout all of this.
Dogs very excited to see me coming through window. We open the doors and exit...
They are still at screen-doors keeping an eye out for the lizard...
Anyway, is beautiful morning so had all screen-doors open running in and out watering plants etcetera. Figured would be ok to leave doors open in such a manner as dog-smell surely would repel wildlife.
Suddenly spot huuuuge lizard on verandah. Start to wonder what kind of lizard it might be and also trying to be very still so dogs will not wake up and make a run for the lizard. Then life turns to slowmotion as if in movie. See lizard head for open screen-door. Am thinking NOOOO! but am too far away and in wrong part of house to stop it. It has entered in the kitchen. Slowly I get up and go towards the kitchen to try and chase lizard out before dogs catch wind of anything going on. Plan immediately fails.
You see, any time one heads for the kitchen - dogs follow in vain hope of getting food. I arrive in kitchen closely followed by dogs; who used to be two placid golden retrievers but have now rapidly turned into mad growling bloodhounds. Knowing hubby will kill me if lizard gets injured; grab bloodhounds and shove them into closest room with door - which happens to be the bathroom. Dogs go in bathroom, door closed firmly.
Dogs very confused about their new situation and are barking. But cannot be helped - cannot allow them to devour lizard. Also, cannot swear there are no venomous lizards...
A few anxious minutes follow during which I am chasing lizard with newspaper, trying to convince it to head back outside. Eventually, it does.
Breathe sigh of relief. Close screen-doors. Go to grab dogs which are barking in bathroom.
Open door. Except. Do NOT open door. What the? Try again. Nope. Nothing. Door definitely LOCKED. Think long list of swear-words. How on earth have dogs locked door? Think-think-think.
Window! I get outside the house, through spider-infested back alley - lift screen off window - open window, which - thank god - is unlocked, and climb in through window. Am wearing pyjamas throughout all of this.
Dogs very excited to see me coming through window. We open the doors and exit...
They are still at screen-doors keeping an eye out for the lizard...
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Snake of the Day
A few days post previous post, have sheepishly asked hubby to escort muffins to compost bin. Let us draw a line under whole sorry episode.
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Today we have proof that snakes do come out in winter:
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Today we have proof that snakes do come out in winter:
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
OMG
WHAT are we dealing with here?
Definitely not a George... some sort of super-mouse that can eat hard plastic?
Definitely not a George... some sort of super-mouse that can eat hard plastic?
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Stage Two & a Weather Report
The enemy has launched stage two of its attack:
His strategy is to strike at night, under the cover of darkness - when everyone is asleep...
But we have launched a counter-attack. Seeing that it is now winter, as opposed to summer, we have... moved the compost bin back inside!!! Had to move it outside because of an entirely different sort of enemy (ants) over summer. Ants have probably gone into hibernation now. We do see the occasional, confused, ant in the evenings when we light the fire-place; ants come out thinking it's summer again. So stupid.
It is so beautiful here in Byron right now. Sunny, clear skies, clear turquoise water and 20-ish degrees. Until approximately 5 pm every day. Then the sun retires promptly and temperatures drop by about 10 degrees. Will never get used to it happening so quickly - can never get fire going fast enough even though might have been thinking all day that we won't be needing the fire that night.
Lesson 1 if living in a house in Australia built by Australians: You will always need the fire.
His strategy is to strike at night, under the cover of darkness - when everyone is asleep...
But we have launched a counter-attack. Seeing that it is now winter, as opposed to summer, we have... moved the compost bin back inside!!! Had to move it outside because of an entirely different sort of enemy (ants) over summer. Ants have probably gone into hibernation now. We do see the occasional, confused, ant in the evenings when we light the fire-place; ants come out thinking it's summer again. So stupid.
It is so beautiful here in Byron right now. Sunny, clear skies, clear turquoise water and 20-ish degrees. Until approximately 5 pm every day. Then the sun retires promptly and temperatures drop by about 10 degrees. Will never get used to it happening so quickly - can never get fire going fast enough even though might have been thinking all day that we won't be needing the fire that night.
Lesson 1 if living in a house in Australia built by Australians: You will always need the fire.
Friday, 18 May 2012
George is Back
Picture of compost bin on stairs, back of house.
Look closely.
Close-up of area underneath stairs.
Uh-huh. Food scraps from the now empty compost bin! The plot thickens...
The main suspect.
GEORGE IS BACK!
(George = the Bush Turkey, keep up)
So George has found and new and creative way to wreak havoc in our world.
Hubby and I are currently engaged in silent battle over who will clean up food scraps.
Not to mention what to do next, about George. Can under NO circumstances allow situation to escalate - like last year. You know - the nesting in garden debacle and the long wars which followed.
One thing is for certain ladies and gentlemen. We are facing a tough enemy. Its stupidity is of no disadvantage to it - almost the contrary. A one track mind never stops.
Look closely.
Close-up of area underneath stairs.
Uh-huh. Food scraps from the now empty compost bin! The plot thickens...
The main suspect.
GEORGE IS BACK!
(George = the Bush Turkey, keep up)
So George has found and new and creative way to wreak havoc in our world.
Hubby and I are currently engaged in silent battle over who will clean up food scraps.
Not to mention what to do next, about George. Can under NO circumstances allow situation to escalate - like last year. You know - the nesting in garden debacle and the long wars which followed.
One thing is for certain ladies and gentlemen. We are facing a tough enemy. Its stupidity is of no disadvantage to it - almost the contrary. A one track mind never stops.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Brisbane
Safely home from Brisbane.
Went to City and Colour last night, which was great. In many ways. Mainly nobody spewed on me. Long story.
Anyway... Some Brissie snaps.
New Farm park, along the river - and lastly home of diluted individual with too much money and too little taste, perhaps..? River-front littered with these.
Stayed in New Farm / Fortitude Valley area this time - in heritage house bit like cross between flash-packers and B&B. Very nice. Hate flashy hotels without personality. Because used to work at one, wonder?
Brisbane cityscape from Mount Coot-tha.
Botanical Garden at base of mountain.
Went to City and Colour last night, which was great. In many ways. Mainly nobody spewed on me. Long story.
Anyway... Some Brissie snaps.
New Farm park, along the river - and lastly home of diluted individual with too much money and too little taste, perhaps..? River-front littered with these.
Stayed in New Farm / Fortitude Valley area this time - in heritage house bit like cross between flash-packers and B&B. Very nice. Hate flashy hotels without personality. Because used to work at one, wonder?
Brisbane cityscape from Mount Coot-tha.
Botanical Garden at base of mountain.
Monday, 16 April 2012
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Dragons and Gardens
What we had lunch with a few days ago when coming back from Sydney:
Dragons... very cool.
In other news neighbour on one side is positively IN LOVE with his grass-trimmer. When might be the best time to use grass-trimmer, you ask? Well, why not at 8 am on a Saturday morning? Every freaking week!!
They probably are of the opinion that myself and hubby could invest slightly more time into our garden (the jungle), which is bordering theirs. But am not sure.
No, I hesitate. Do not want to go up there pulling weeds and manicuring things to perfection. That is where red-belly lives, refer to previous post.
It is instead time to get house ready for visitors. Going to have people here for the next three weeks.
Wait. Maybe should meditate instead..?
Dragons... very cool.
In other news neighbour on one side is positively IN LOVE with his grass-trimmer. When might be the best time to use grass-trimmer, you ask? Well, why not at 8 am on a Saturday morning? Every freaking week!!
They probably are of the opinion that myself and hubby could invest slightly more time into our garden (the jungle), which is bordering theirs. But am not sure.
No, I hesitate. Do not want to go up there pulling weeds and manicuring things to perfection. That is where red-belly lives, refer to previous post.
It is instead time to get house ready for visitors. Going to have people here for the next three weeks.
Wait. Maybe should meditate instead..?
Friday, 9 March 2012
New Snake!
Highly exiting animal spotted no less than three (3!) times around house! She has moved in. Check her out.
FYI - Red Bellied Black Snake. Venomous, but shy.
FYI - Red Bellied Black Snake. Venomous, but shy.
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Another War?
According to Wikipedia (authority on everything, which you may these days use as a source for school-essays - yes really):
"Jumper ants cause more deaths in Tasmania than spiders, snakes, wasps, and sharks combined."
Jumper Ants... Not Jumping Ants like I said.
But am assuming they are the very same species now confirmed to have atleast one nest in garden. Possibly two.
Last thing we need after whole bush-turkey debacle last year. Seems assorted wildlife feel that our garden is fair game. Sanctuary of sorts. Suppose previous resident has put out this vibe. Her opinion was
"everything goes - except cats".
We would like to modify this somewhat, to, say - something like
"everything living on property will be expected to pay rent, if failing to do so, will be violently evicted using any means necessary - also cats still not welcome".
Things Ants do not like:
- Hot Water
- Vinegar
- Lemon
- Hubby
"Jumper ants cause more deaths in Tasmania than spiders, snakes, wasps, and sharks combined."
Jumper Ants... Not Jumping Ants like I said.
But am assuming they are the very same species now confirmed to have atleast one nest in garden. Possibly two.
Last thing we need after whole bush-turkey debacle last year. Seems assorted wildlife feel that our garden is fair game. Sanctuary of sorts. Suppose previous resident has put out this vibe. Her opinion was
"everything goes - except cats".
We would like to modify this somewhat, to, say - something like
"everything living on property will be expected to pay rent, if failing to do so, will be violently evicted using any means necessary - also cats still not welcome".
Things Ants do not like:
- Hot Water
- Vinegar
- Lemon
- Hubby
Friday, 2 March 2012
Sunrise and Ant-bites
Beautiful sunrise viewed from balcony...
Hear rest of state is experiencing torrential rain and floods - for once we are spared, having beautiful weather! Decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather by doing some well needed gardening - so now covered in what hope is ant-bites (as opposed to spider bites). If was bite from poisonous spider would most likely be already dead, so am not too worried about it.
Hi mom.
Discovered ant-nest in garden. Large ants which according to Swedish Neighbour are called "Jumping Ants." This is because they are very malicious and will aggressively jump at you in order to bite you. They have been harassing us and Neighbours for months. So it's payback time. Hubby is going... hrm... sort them out.
Hear rest of state is experiencing torrential rain and floods - for once we are spared, having beautiful weather! Decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather by doing some well needed gardening - so now covered in what hope is ant-bites (as opposed to spider bites). If was bite from poisonous spider would most likely be already dead, so am not too worried about it.
Hi mom.
Discovered ant-nest in garden. Large ants which according to Swedish Neighbour are called "Jumping Ants." This is because they are very malicious and will aggressively jump at you in order to bite you. They have been harassing us and Neighbours for months. So it's payback time. Hubby is going... hrm... sort them out.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
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