CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

So, after a midnight finish to the writing and research, yesterday, I slept until seven, and then had housework to catch up on. I think I managed a few hundred words on the novel, before heading up to Sydney on an errand. We left at 13:00, and got back at around 20:00. Needless to say, after cooking dinner, and putting the podling to bed, I am knackered. About the last thing I wanted to do in the email round-up was to get my head around yet another new app because my team had decided that was the only way all players could be kept informed for an event, regardless of how they felt about it. So, yay... I get to learn another skill... I guess. Anyway, highlight of the day was the sunset coming back from Sydney. It lifted my spirits. Let's hope it lifts yours, too. And there was rain! Made my day. Here's hoping your days ended just as well. Take care out there - and stay safe.

You will need: 2 tablespoons of butter 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper 1 teaspoon of garlic granules OR 1-2 cloves of garlic finely chopped 6-8 sausages 8-10 mushrooms 1-1 1/2 cups of frozen corn 1-1 1/2 cups of frozen peas 2 tablespoons of cornflour 1 3/4 cups of water 4-5 medium-sized potatoes sufficient butter and milk for mashing How to - Sausage Stew: 1. Cut the sausages into 2-3 cm or 1 inch pieces. 2. Finely slice the mushrooms 3. Melt butter in a pan and add garlic and ground pepper . Allow to simmer for a minute. 4. Add the sausages to pan and cook until brown, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. 5. Add the mushrooms to the sausages and cook until they darken, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. 6. Mix the cornflour and water, and add the mix to the pan, stirring until it starts to thicken. 7. Add the frozen peas and corn and allow to simmer until the mashed potatoes are ready. Ho...

The birds continue to come to my garden to visit. Here are some of the beautiful visitors who arrived stopped by to take advantage of the bird seed and garden bounty during February and March of 2015: Some were young. And some were quite surprised to see me. Others weren't going to let the presence of a camera spoil a perfectly good meal. And there was plenty on the tree for all.

On a grey morning walk, I had just about given up on finding more birds to photograph, when I noticed a little bird diving down to where a culvert let out into a larger drain. A second bird darted into the tree above, and stayed long enough for me to take a few shots of it. This was my first encounter with a striated pardalote in Canberra. To find out more information on these tiny birds, you can visit the following sites: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~BAJAN/Pardalotes/Striated%20Pardalote.htm ; http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/striated-pardalote ; http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Pardalotus-striatus .

On one of my early morning walks around the lake, I was fortunate enough to spot these beauties by in one of the tributaries. I rarely get to see the ducklings, so I was quite pleased to see these little ones with their mother.  Mum kept a close eye on me for the entire shoot.  And, in the end, I discovered the reflections in the water. You can find out more about Australian wood ducks from the following sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_wood_duck ; http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Chenonetta-jubata ; http://australianmuseum.net.au/Australian-Wood-Duck ; http://www.arkive.org/australian-wood-duck/chenonetta-jubata/ ; http://www.mdahlem.net/birds/2/austwood.php ; http://www.koala.net/australian-wood-duck.html .

This great pied cormorant was sunning itself on a riverbank on a cold spring morning in Canberra. It wasn't overly fond of the camera, but it waited until I stopped taking photos before flying away. I've seen him frequenting the local lake, so I'll try for some clearer shots as we come into summer. You can find out more about great pied cormorants from the following sites: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Phalacrocorax-varius ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_pied_cormorant ; http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/bird-profile/pied-cormorant ; http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3677 .

These native pigeons visit my backyard. They're pretty shy, even when bribed with seed, and will only tolerate the camera for short periods of time. At first it was only one,  weighing up the camera angle vs. the food.  When the camera didn't give chase,  he gave the all-clear and a few of his friends came down to join him. More information on top-knot pigeons can be found at the following sites: http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Ocyphaps-lophotes ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crested_pigeon ; birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/crested-pigeon ; http://www.climatewatch.org.au/species/birds/crested-pigeon ; http://www.arkive.org/crested-pigeon/ocyphaps-lophotes/ ; http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/09/02/2674184.htm .

I can never tell what I'll find when I head out of the house. This fine afternoon, I found a pair of eastern rosellas, but only one of them would oblige me by sitting long enough to sit still for a photograph or three. He looked very handsome in the afternoon light, even when preparing to fly. I encountered them on another walk - this one in the morning but, as soon as I turned the camera towards them, they took wing. Here's all I got. To find out more about the crimson rosella, try visiting the following sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_rosella ; http://www.birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/eastern-rosella ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAhduTGV4y4 ; http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=13581 ; http://www.mdahlem.net/birds/12/eastros.php ; http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Platycercus-eximius .