This month, since #TreeSquares is over I decided to post to Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge (FOTD). Like Becky B, Cee offers us the freedom to post every day or when we feel like it. I made the mistake of classifying my trees as flowers for about half the month last month. So this month – no trees. (maybe). Cee’s FOTD challenge accepts:
- Single flowers
- Buds
- Multiple flowers
- Bouquet
- Flower fields
- Wildflowers
- Tree or bush blossoms
- Autumn leaves
- Spring leaves
- Decorative Cabbage
- Berries
- Still life
- Fake or Silk Flowers
As I swirled through my forested universe last month I came in touch again with my Australian trip. This month I’ll revisit only the flowers I photographed in Ballarat, Melbourne, Healesville Sanctuary and Queensland. Sometimes I might combine my post with another challenge I am doing, but I may just post one photo a day. I’ve never done that, so I’ll see how it goes.
August 7 Australia’s Old Sovereign Hill Florals
Old Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, Australia is the equivalent to Sutter Creek in California teaching and celebrating the Gold Rush. The town was huge and completely in character. The completeness of the town’s presentation also reminded me of Colonial Williamsburg.
Around one of the old homes was a beautiful garden. These were just a few of the gorgeous flowers in the garden.
I’m going to connect this to Natalie the Explorer’s Weekend Coffee Share. I love reading about all the fun things that she does every week. I also enjoy reading about what everyone else accomplishes during the week. I love Debbie’s word of the year.
Since I miss Squares, as you already know I’ve decided to use FOTD to take you all on a flower tour of my Australian trip four years ago. Since COVID, we haven’t traveled, but the move to Prescott, AZ has seemed like a vacation. There have been hikes and e-bike rides, and pickleball lessons and, of course, lots of blogging.
For the last two weeks, Vince and I have had a dose of learning to appreciate the little things. Two weeks ago on Friday, I fell during a walk with two friends and smashed my face. No real harm done, but it looked really bad – about 1/4 of black and blue. That kept me inside and blogging. No big47 5d8eal – that’s Nutter Butter laying on my keyboard and mouse. He does like to blog, too.
On Wednesday I felt on a mountain top after writing WQWWC and reading your responses. I went with my husband and friends to check out the public pickleball courts since ours was being repaired. I wasn’t going to play, but the empty court called us all. I played one great game. Then one of our trainers came by and played in my place. That was a good thing.
He and my friend beat our husbands. I sure wanted to do that, too. So I asked to play next. Instead of proving to everyone how wonderful I had gotten, I swung at a ball and twisted my knee. I was immediately out of the game and hobbled over to my friend standing in the shade.
Our husbands finished the game, and we went out to lunch. As you probably know, sitting with your leg down is not good therapy for an injury, but it didn’t hurt while I did it and the food was fabulous. I thought a little ice and keeping my leg up would help, but by later in the afternoon, I could barely move. An ambulance ride to the hospital and several hours later I left with assurance of no broken bones, crutches, a leg immobilizer, crutches and pain meds. I still couldn’t move without help.
For the last two days I have been getting stronger, and can get around with a walker, but it slows me down, and I can’t serve you a cup of coffee yet. Thank goodness for Vince. He’s getting a lot more out of marriage than he reckoned for 26 years ago. I’m getting him well-trained to be a carer or as we say in the US a care-giver.
The moral of this story is that I may not get as many posts published or as many of you visited as I had planned. I’m working mostly from phone, which is ok for answering you, but not great for leaving comments on your blogs.
Next time you come for coffee, I’ll serve you something really special with a great desert. Thanks for stopping by to say hi today.
Coming Up
- August Story Chat “A Dress for a Princess” by Wendy Fletcher. Hosted by Cathy Cade on her blog, Writing Wrinkles
- 10 Month Analysis of Story Chat
- #PPAC #8 Link your post about public art to Cee’s or my post each week from Friday through Thursday. Even numbers indicate Cee’s week.
- Challenge Interview Series Do you know someone who hosts a challenge or enjoys participating in challenges? Please contact me for an interview.
Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
41 responses to “FOTD #7: Old Sovereign Hill Florals”
Oh dear, Marsha, I am sorry to hear about your accidents. I hope you are doing better now.
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Thanks for your kind remarks, Roberta. I am limping, but at least now I know what it is. It’s a torn meniscus which I will have repaired in surgery in about a week and a half. Yay!
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Oh dear, surgery is a nuisance but at least you will recover quickly afterwards.
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It’s orthoscopic and takes 15-20 minutes. I’ve done much worse. Recovery time is about a week, but pain-free is instant. YAY!
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Again – the standard blog facilities limit me. I’m so sorry to hear that you are laid up by two (as if one were not enough…) accidents. To this news – somehow I’m supposed to be okay with clicking the [ LIKE ] button – seriously? How hard could it be to add a few options like: [ Damn Girl – This Sucks ] or perhaps something more general, mature and compassionate – but [ LIKE]. . .
To situations like yours, [ LIKE ] seems more like offering a tablespoon of salt with that open wound.
Anyway, I do hope to hear news soon of your quick and complete recovery.
The blogging world is a better place when you’re up and about making it one.
In the mean time, since we can’t bring you a meal (if even to give Vince a high-5 and a break) we should make a list of folks to send you stories to sit still with that knee up and whatever you need to do to let your face heal (yikes – that had to hurt). The virtual world we live in has enormous benefits, but good old hands-on compassion spoken with a fragrant bowl of stir fry veggies just is not one of them.
Sit still, find and enjoy some peace with it and get better quickly my friend.
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Awww, such a kind comment, Gary. Today I feel much better. The doctor said I should be able to walk normally in a month, but that my knee would never be the same. Therefore, no more pickle ball. My neighbor came over and we went on my first ever walker walk. I’m hoping to be done that at least inside this week. Then on to strengthening exercises and back to normal. Vince is not enjoying the nursemaid role, so the sooner the quicker! LOL I can’t promise that I am the best patient! 🙂 I hope to get caught up on my blogging a bit today. 🙂 Keep writing and blogging. It’s a great way to spend some time. 🙂
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I hope you’re starting to feel better after your disasters. Sovereign Hill is a wonderful place – we’ve been there many times over the years. It just keeps on growing and getting better every time.
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Oh dear, you have been in the wars, as we say! First your face and now your knee. I’m so glad nothing is broken, but do take it easy and make the most of all the help you are getting from Vince 🙂
As to your flowers, the mauve poppy is especially glorious – I love it!
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Thanks, Sarah, Vince may wear out before I get tired of not walking! JK. He’s not in a hurry for me to get back to playing pickleball, that’s for sure. When I made the appointment with the orthopedic doctor, and the receptionist asked if I wanted to book an appointment for Vince, just in case. 🙂
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What a beautiful place, thank you for taking us there! We still have some flowers outside, but the high summer weather is gone in Sweden. It is a little less sunny, more rain, but still warm. Fall is slowly approaching. Thank you for sharing the lovely garden. Cheers!
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Oh Maria, as a former CA girl, I’m sad for your loss of high summer. Sweden must be a beautiful place in summer but it must be hard to grow too much. The things that do grow are always to colorful, though. Sovereign Hill in AU reminded me a lot of our weather in CA. It was very hot and dry.
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Thank you. I am lucky to have about 180ft greenhouse/balcony. During the summer I had two of the windows of the balcony greenhouse completely open, to let the air flow free, I closed them this week, that way I can prolong the growing season. The weather and the different varieties of it are interesting indeed. I hope you are enjoying a great new week.
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Maria, that sounds heavenly! So you get the best of both worlds.
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Thank you! At the moment with both kids going to school in town this is the best option. I do aim to have a place in the countryside in a few years, to be able to grow more food. I so love gardening.
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That’s a great goal. We lived on an acre for 20 years and loved it!
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Yes, my ex husband and I had 80acres. I grew up in the country, and will return one day. For now this little city we live in is the best option. We do like the close proximity to amazing nature.
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We do too. Even though we moved to a condo, we have a row of conifers outside the window side of our house that makes it look like we live in a forest. It’s lovely.
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That makes a big different!
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It’s a huge change. One thing I discovered is that fires happen here, I still sniff and sneeze all the time, and it’s still hard to breathe at 5300 feet above sea level. The good news is that I’ve finally gotten treatment and some relief for allergies I didn’t know I had in CA. I just blamed it on the bad air. Nonetheless, it has changed our lives in many ways. Our move was not nearly as major as yours. What prompted you to move so far away? You can send me a link if you’ve written about it. 🙂
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I am originally from Sweden, and decided that it was time to move back home.
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That’s amazing. Your life sounds so rich and full of experiences. I enjoy sharing and reading your thoughts. I look forward to continuing to get better acquainted as the years go by! 🙂
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Likewise Marsha 🙂
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Thank you, Maria! 🙂
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Oh my goodness Marsha…hope you’re okay…was the leg injury a result of the fall or did i miss something. Those flowers are gorgeous!!!
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Not this time. Two weeks ago, I tripped on the sidewalk and my head bounced on the pavement causing a lot of bleeding and a very black eye. Then less than two weeks later, I felt well enough to play pickleball and had enough of being at home. I twisted my knee. I guess my place is at home for a while longer. I reserved a rental wheel chair for a week for my doctor’s appointment. I don’t even know what to do except stay off of it until I know what is wrong with it. It’s not broken, which is good. 🙂 Thanks for asking. Again, I’m so sorry about your dad. Were you close?
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Marsha, I’m sorry to hear about your knee injury. I hope you’re feeling better today. Your flower photos are beautiful. That garden looks impeccable. Take care and thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare.
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Thanks, Natalie. I get stronger every day. I’m having a cup of coffee and enjoying reading comments, so it’s not all bad! 🙂 Have a great week and walk for me.
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Will do, Marsha. I have a special walk to share next week. You’re a warrior to play pickleball after your trip on the sidewalk two weeks prior. Take care!
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I’ll look forward to it. Your posts are always a lot of fun.
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God will remember you
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Thanks, I agree. I’m not complaining, but sharing. We all go through things, and God gives us the strength to do it. He is doing a great job.
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Its true God gives strength because God is Good
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Amen
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beautiful!
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Thanks, Lola. 🙂
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Oh these flowers just pop off the screen 😀
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Achievements with a capital A, don’t you think?
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Most certainly 😀
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the third photo looks like the perfect flower for Halloween…
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It does, doesn’t it? Boo!
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🤓
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