Theme Day: The Beauty of Simplicity

Strawberries &  Ice-Cream

Delicious doesn't have to mean fancy - what could be more delectable than a good old-fashioned bowl of strawberries and vanilla ice-cream?

Today's quote: It is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder


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Theme Day - Landmark

Above: Flinders Street Station

Easily the most recognisable of Melbourne's landmarks is Flinders Street Station on the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets. This grand old Edwardian baroque building of red brick and golden cream stucco was built between 1905 and 1910 after winning an architectural competition held in 1902.

When going into "Town" this was where people met up - "Meet me under the clocks" was the catchphrase of friends, lovers and sweethearts. It was everyone's favourite meeting place.

Flinders Street Station is Australia’s oldest train station and the busiest suburban railway station in the southern hemisphere. Over 1500 trains and 110,000 commuters pass through each day. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, and the 708-metre main platform is the fourth longest railway platform in the world

Today's quote: As a child I found railway stations exciting, mysterious and even beautiful, as indeed they often were ~ Paul Johnson.

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Theme Day ~ Rust and Ruin

The Lonely Chimney

Above: The ruins of a home

This is all that remained of a home burnt in a devastating bushfire - everything was gone except for the chimney which was still standing, a rusty pipe and some twisted metal.

Today's quote: People need to be cautious because anything built by man can be destroyed by Mother Nature ~ Russel L. Honoré

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Theme Day ~ Zest

Seafood & raw fish with Tobiko (Salmon roe)
Some people have a zest for living, some have a zest for life, and some have a zest for all things fishy...This is Sashimi - thinly sliced, raw food, it is one of the most famous dishes in the Japanese cuisine. The dish above is from Chiba, a local Japanese restaurant.

Sashimi Ingredients
Sashimi is comprised of Maguro (Tuna), Sake (Salmon), Tai (Sea Bream), Saba (Mackerel), Katsuo (Bonito or Skipjack Tuna), Kanpachi (Greater Yellowtail/Amberjack), Buri/Hamachi (Yellowtail or Amberjack), plus Shellfish and Mollusks: Ika (Squid), Tako (Octopus), Amaebi (Shrimp), Hotate (Scallop), Hokkigai (Surf Clam), and Roe and Millet: Ikura (Salmon Roe) and Uni (Sea Urchin).

Did you know.....
That the word sashimi means "pierced body" and dates from the Muromachi period (around 1337 to 1573)? It is thought it was possibly coined when the word "切る = kiru (cut), the culinary step, was considered too inauspicious to be used by anyone other than Samurai!

A Bit of Trivia
There's a restaurant in Tokyo called Zest which prides itself on serving American rugged U.S. Southwest style foods.

Today's quote: What hunger is in relation to food, zest is in relation to life ~ Bertrand Russell.

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Theme Days ~ Squares

The Green, Green Grass of Squares

Above: Urban Garden Amphitheatre.

This is the Urban Garden Amphitheatre;
Lie on the grass, pull up a seat,
Sit for a while, take the weight off your feet.

Surrounded by zinc-clad walls, this homey little snug is down the steps of Federation Square on the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street.

Today's quote: I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars ~ Walt Whitman.

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Theme Day - Triangles

Le Gâteau de Triangle

Once again we have Theme Day and this month it is triangles, instead of spires, wires and architecture, I give you ~ Le Gâteau de Triangle. Photo taken at a friend's party, and, btw, it tasted as good as it looked!

Above: Le Gâteau de Triangle


Today's quote: A compromise is the art of dividing a cake in such a way that everyone believes he has the biggest piece ~ Ludwig Erhard.

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Theme Day ~ People on the Street

Anyone for a Beer?

Above: Outside the Leinster Arms

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, what better than sitting outside a local pub downing the amber fluid with a few mates? Convivial conversation, relaxed atmosphere, these blokes have the right idea.

Hidden in the quiet back streets of Collingwood, the Leinster Arms is a well-loved and popular favourite with locals. Built in 1863, it's the only single storey pub ever built in that era and has an "Irish" feel to it.


Today's quote: There's nothing I value more than the closeness of friends and family, a smile as I pass someone on the street - Willie Stargell.


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Theme Day ~ Entry

Grandeur of the 1880's

Above: The Staircase

This is the entrance of the Grand Hotel, Healesville. It is an elaborate hotel designed by the famous architect, William Pitt. With fifty rooms, the large two storey solid brick hotel was built in 1888 for Mr. Edgecombe. The bricks are hand-made and came from the local brick-works of Clarke and Phillipie. It has an unusual French mansard-style roof of curved corrugated iron with protruding attic windows. Originally there was an iron-lace verandah along the front which was removed when the present large brick and concrete Bauhouse-style verandah was constructed during the World War II and the two street facades were cement rendered.

The Grand Hotel is historically significant and is registered with Heritage Victoria.

Today's quote: Look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else ~ Tom Stoppard.


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Theme Day ~ Photo of the Year

 

Above: Bird on a Rock
Photo taken mid morning at Queen's Park lake.

A bit of trivia
Early travellers heading for the goldfields met here because fresh water was available in the lagoon. Burke and Wills camped here on their fateful journey to cross Australia.


Today's quote: No matter how high a bird flies, it has to come down for water ~ Old American
proverb.

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Theme Day ~ Looking Out

 

Above: Looking out at the traffic

Coming back from brunch one Sunday afternoon across town, I took the 'tourist' drive through pastoral hills and greenery, the Chandler Highway aka Tourist Drive 2. Traffic was at a standstill - approaching this bridge, I realised why. Half the bridge was blocked due to emergency road work around an electricity pole at the other end. What was a two lane bridge was now a one lane bridge - workman holding a "Stop" sign stood to direct one way of traffic. Looking out the side mirror to see the traffic build-up behind me, I took this photo. The iron bridge crosses the Yarra River in the Kew/Alphington area.

Edit: Many thanks to Andrew of High Riser for pointing out an error. The bridge is called the Chandler Bridge and the building of it was originally completed in 1891. To avoid confusion, I have removed the incorrect data which was in the original post.


Today's quote: Where ever I am I always find myself looking out the window wishing I was somewhere else ~ Angelina Jolie.

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Theme Day ~ The Beauty of Decay

 

Above: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral
The rusty bolt and dead dragonfly were on the old timber ledge of my carport. Even in death, the dragonfly is beautiful to behold with its lacy transparent wings. This is Hemianax papuensis - Australian Emperor.

 

Above: Australian Emperor
Close up of the dragonfly. If you look carefully, you will see the front legs are reminiscent of holding one's head in one's hands.


Today's quote: I have always looked upon decay as being just as wonderful and rich an expression of life as growth ~ Henry Miller.

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Theme Day ~ Creative Artisan

 

Above: Artist at work

Walking to the St. Kilda Esplanade Market one Sunday afternoon, I was fortunate to see some of our wonderful street artists practising their craft. I love the colours and motion of this artwork and on asking the artist permission to take a photo, he answered, "Yes, but not my face" to which I dutifully complied.

Street art (or graffiti) is art, but specifically visual art - it is not something you go to a museum or gallery to look at, it just is. It is for the joy of the passerby, the flaneur taking a constitutional, for anyone and everybody. It makes you think about what you are seeing, what the artist is saying, in short, street art is an Art in itself and should be encouraged by councils and governments alike.

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Today's quote: "Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don’t come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they’re having a p-ss." ~ Banksy

Theme Day ~ Pedestrians Crossing

 

Above: Best foot forward - Crossing over to Fed Square
While in the city one weekday morning, I spotted this group of school children led by their teacher, crossing the footpath and mounting the steps of Federatioon Square. In the background is the iconic Flinders Street Station. What I find most endearing is the girls' tunics - they haven't changed since I went to school. Good to see some things are "ageless."

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Today's quote: Restore human legs as a means of travel. Pedestrians rely on food for fuel and need no special parking facilities ~ Lewis Mumford.

Theme Day ~ Cafe Chairs

 

Above: Trendy Seating
Strolling along Southbank one morning checking out the cafes, I was struck by the brilliance of these cafe chairs. A riot of colour - so colourful even on a winter's day, they add a splash of gorgeousness.

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Today's quote: There were around 64 chairs set up, and they had part of those indoors, but most of them were outside on the patio and under tents ~ Barbara Rollins

Bakery Beauties

 

Above: Goody Num-Nums at the Bakery Cafe
These delightful delicacies are all edible - the lime is not a lime and the the wee red pumpkin is not a pumpkin. These are just some of the scrumptious sweeties for the sweet-tooth to savour.

Today's quote: Because you don't live near a bakery doesn't mean you have to go without cheesecake - Hedy Lamarr

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Theme Day: Photo of the year 2011

 

Above: The Red Teapot
Photo taken December 2011 in Queen's Park. I chose this photo not because it is the best but because it represents the past (old year) and the present (new year).

The Cenotaph represents the past while the red teapot children's ride signifies the present.

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Today's quote: We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Theme Day - Under Construction

Above: Redevelopment Project
Virtually everything here was destroyed or damaged when the Black Saturday bushfires of 7 February 2009 swept through and hit the falls reserve with such ferocity. The Steavenson Falls Recovery and Redevelopment estimated to cost around $3 million, has started. It is a massive job, and the only salvageable piece of infrastructure was the hydro-electric generator that powered the lighting system that lit up the falls at night. Before the fires, the reserve attracted up to 150,000 visitors a year and was a major regional tourist attraction.

Hazardous trees impacted by the fire are being removed as part of the recovery program - many of the trees are dead but could remain standing for several years as they decompose and eventually fall and if left unmanaged, the trees and limbs present a substantial risk to visitors and workers within the reserve.

Stage one of the redevelopment included reconstruction of Falls Road to allow visitor access, a new car park and bus parking area, a new viewing platform at the base of the falls, as well as significant underground drainage and service infrastructure.

The next stage of works will involve construction of toilet and visitor facilities, walking tracks and a spectacular viewing platform of the falls and is expected to be completed by winter 2011.

Above: Steavenson Falls Before Black Saturday
I took this photo a few short weeks before the fire swept through. Note the metal object on a pole on the left hand side in the foreground.

Above: Steavenson Falls After Black Saturday
This photo was taken November, 2010 - 21 months after the fire in almost the same place as the previous photo. The Falls were re-opened to the public eight weeks earlier.

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Today's quote: Nature often holds up a mirror so we can see more clearly the ongoing processes of growth, renewal, and transformation in our lives.

Southern Cross Station, (Theme Day: Edges)

Above: Southern Cross Railway Station
I've chosen this photo because I like the wavy edges of the roofline. I was standing on the edge of the road when I took this shot. The station is in Spencer Street from the corner of Collins Street to Little Collins Street to Bourke Street - that's a lotta station and a lotta roofline.



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Today's quote: A border, the perimeter of a single massive or stretched-out use of territory forms the edge of an area of 'ordinary' city. Often borders are thought of as passive objects, or matter-of-factly just as edges. However, a border exerts an active influence ~ Jane Jacobs

Weekend Reflections - The River

Above: The Maribyrnong

Another shot of the Maribyrnong, taken at 12.30pm. Photo faces east. The left side is a popular route for walkers and cyclists which forms part of the Maribyrnong River Trail.

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Today's quote: A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself ~ Laura Gilpin

Theme Day - Fountains ~ Walker Fountain

Above: Walker Fountain
This lovely fountain is just off St Kilda Road on the corner of Lithgow Avenue next to the Royal Botanic Gardens in King's Domain. It is made of concrete and was created in 1981 by artist Mobelt, Digregorio & Associates.

The fountain was presented to the people of Victoria by former Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Ronald Walker and his wife, Barbara. There are 46 underwater lights and 144 seprate streams of water. It really is an awesome site standing here and feeling the coolness of the water as it sprays its lovely bubbles of refreshing frothiness.

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Today's quote: Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as the water from a fountain. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass the fountain ~ Lao-Tze, Ancient Chinese Philosopher.