We had a wonderful time with 3 of the grandchildren who lived on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland for 6 years, returning to Launceston in 2014 mid winter and the 5 of them lived with us for several months until they were able to get their own home.
On Sunday they all came for a barbecue dinner but the children arrived at 1.30pm and their parents went for a long walk up the Gorge, not far from the city.
Being a hot day we turned the sprinkler on for the children, before that the helicopter and bucket took off near home to help fight the fires.
I grabbed my old DSLR Canon Camera and put the appropriate lens on to shoot this shot.
Photo taken January 19 from a street near by. All of Launceston and surrounding areas for miles/km is like this as the smoke from some 30 fires burning on the north of the Island.
The weekend.
The weeds had been sprayed two days prior.
Miss 9, and Mister 3 - soon to be 4. He's the grandson I delivered on the side of a busy Highway on the Sunshine Coast.
Miss 8. The lawn is now dry as most are at this time of year.
All children like to have a bit of fun - so Poppy ended up with Miss 9's sunglasses.
Plumbago in the front garden in full bloom.
Good shot of the helecopter with its fire bucket - I can see how tinder dry everything is.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had fun with the grandchildren, they grow so quickly, it doesn't seem anytime since you said about the delivery of your grandson beside the highway.
Love Plumbago, it will only survive here if it is kept in a conservatory. However, the way the winters are warming up, may be it will soon be thriving here too.
Hardly anyone waters their lawn, it comes back when the rains come.
DeleteMost water their garden of course.
Time sure does fly Rosemary, only seems the other day.
In our area regarding the Plumbago it shouldn't be facing north, the heat of the sun or winds, but it is some what sheltered by the westerly winds because of the caravan.
Lets hope yours goes well in the conservatory once again.
Oh my gosh you delivered that baby?? You are awesome.
ReplyDeleteThat's unnerving about the fires. Hope that situation settles down.
Enjoy your grands:)
Yes, I did deliver but it's part of what I used to do, so natural for me :)
DeleteThe skies were dreadful this morning, so smokey but starting to clear now. I do believe some of the smoke drifted from Melbourne way too.
oh...I remember in 2001 when Tampa was surrounded by wild fires. The air was ugly for a couple months. Argh.
ReplyDeleteNot nice, all windows closed and doors.
DeleteHave opened them now to let the breeze blow through to have a breeze way and the sky is clearing and I can't smell the smoke. Still hazy.
Nothing like a sprinkler to keep kids happy in the hot weather, which Tasmania is certainly copping a lot of this summer.
ReplyDeleteThat bushfire was a bit close to the city and the smoke haze can be such a
medical threat to some people.
"Shanks" looks a cool "dude" in those glasses, ha ha.
Good photo of that emergency helicopter with the bucket in action.
Cheers
Colin
Before Christmas the heat started, and I love it as long as I have A/C above 29 deg C..
DeleteShanks is mowing the nature strip this morning.
I was pleased with the photo of helicopter. The base for emergency is not far from home here. That bucket holds more water than you think it would.
Poppy looks great in those fancy shades! The grandchildren look like they are having great fun with the sprinkler. It's wonderful you could all be together for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThey suit him Cynthia :) He gives as good as he takes.
DeleteYes, it was lovely to have everyone home for Christmas, next year might be different.
The grandchildren , they look very happy in the company of his grandparents and grandparents do not have eyes nothing more that for them .
ReplyDeleteKisses
The Grandchildren, those 3 do love being here.
DeleteOh how children love to play under the sprinkler just reading about that made me think of my own childhood. I do like the shot of the helicopter and the water bucket
ReplyDeleteAlways a good thing to cool under is the sprinkler. They are good children as they can entertain themselves, not often found these days.
DeleteI was surprised to see 'Police' on the door of the helicopter.
Good to see the sprinkler still provides much fun. I recall great times in the summer with a little water and the hose. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSuch fun times in the heat.
Deletethe fires have been shocking in most parts of the country this summer. so much suffering. you have to take your hat off to the fire fighters. they are all heroes. so lovely to see the grandies having a good time under the sprinkler. the garden has been suffering from the heat of late as have i :). poppy looks very becoming in his specks :)
ReplyDeleteThe sunny's suit :) love that pink bow!
DeleteYou have had it hotter than we have most days, it must be dreadful.
The fires, just everywhere over your way and here.
Firefighters do an excellent job, the paid ones, that's their job. The volunteer ones do a mighty job.
Yes, it is so good to be at home with your loved ones. I hope the fires stay away.
ReplyDeleteWe all hope the fires will stay away and be put out.
DeleteI do hope that the fires stay clear, and there is nothing like home sweet home. :)
ReplyDeleteAlways nice to be home..
DeleteHere's hoping the fires do stay away..
I forgot there are fires around your area and am suddenly thinking of my friend J who moved there last November, she's a few kms out from Launceston, I hope she is okay too.
ReplyDeleteNice to see kids still enjoy playing with a sprinkler, I have photos of mine doing that. Love the helicopter photos.
I think all is ok not far from Launceston....hopefully it will stay that way. Another total fire ban tomorrow. The grandchildren did have fun. Good to capture photos when you can, then they have them to remember too.
DeleteHi Margaret, the unhealthy air reminds me of the bad haze we had few months ago. We have unpredictable weather here, sunny and rainy in the same day. It is fun to watch the kids enjoying themselves. You were quick with the camera to catch the helicopter.
ReplyDeleteI heard the helicopter start to warm up and knew something was up, so took off and got the old camera.
DeleteWe still have smoke this evening...
Superb images Margaret.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bob.
DeleteGreat shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sussi
DeleteMargaret you have a great family.The landscape is perfect , Love from Poland
ReplyDeleteThanks Gosia.
DeleteHello Margaret,
ReplyDeleteVery nice pictures. Great with the grandchildren.
Funny shot with the sunglasses.
Many greetings,
Marco
Thanks Marco.
DeleteYes, a good funny photo of my husband :)
Schön wenn die Kinder und Enkelkinder zusammen kommen ist bei uns immer viel Spass wie auch bei euch. Ich hoffe kein Feuer in der nähe.
ReplyDeleteGruß
Noke
Always good to have fun with the grandchildren.
DeleteThe fires are not near where we live, the smoke is though. We have been told to keep inside and turn the air conditioning on, for the weather is about 30 degC
Good chopper photo. There is nothing like a sprinkler on a hot day for children to play under. They are really nice family photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew. We did have fun :)
DeleteSummer under the hose always good.
ReplyDeleteNice photo of grand pop in the sunglasses.
I didn't know there were so many fires burning in your neck of the woods at the moment.
Merle............
Thanks Merle.
DeleteFires still burning in the western area of our state, but the smoke is dreadful.
That must have been an interesting, to say the least, trip on the highway to the Sunshine Coast! It looks like you did a brilliant job as midwife! :)
ReplyDeleteI hope those fires have all settled down by now. I dread the smell of smoke around this time of the year. Stay safe.
No problems with the birth, the mum was excellent. She did all the work :)
DeleteSmoke is dreadful.
We are far away from the fires...and thanks.
Oh M your grandchildren are growing up so fast and Poppy sure looks cool in the glasses. I am so sorry to hear of the fires in Australia it is very scary when you can see smoke from your house. That brings it to a different place than reading about it on blogs. Take care my dear M and know I am thinking of you and your family. xoxo Hug G
ReplyDeleteThanks....Hugs M xox
DeleteSuch a joyful post and lovely photo's.
ReplyDeleteI just love spending time with the grand-children, it's always such fun.
Australia does seem to have fires at this time of year, quite scary.
Keep safe
All the best Jan