Wooden cat ornaments

These two handsome fellas were hand-made by local people in Phuket, southern Thailand, and were brought back as a gift by our daughter Sandra after her family's holiday there - fortunately before the large tsunami hit.

Jill treasures them and they have pride of place in our lounge.

Baby Toys

While in Tauranga we walked past this shop which had these baby toys hanging in the window. I thought they would make a colourful photo, so here it is.

(Click picture to enlarge)

Picture Grafitti, Tauranga
I enjoy this type of legal grafitti which is painted on the sides of plain buildings to brighten them up and relieve the monotony.

Many of the artists who do these works are very talented. This 'mural' is on a wall down an alleyway among the shops in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty.

Moth Orchid

This beautiful Orchid was at the Hamilton Gardens hothouse last year.

Ground Leaf Mosaic
These leaves were undisrurbed last autumn. I liked their variety and colour and thought that the photo might make a good wallpaper on my computer desktop.

Piha Beach
This must be one of the most dangerous beaches in New Zealand which are used as general swimming beaches.

Piha Beach is located on the west coast, west of Auckland City. It has a very experienced team of surf life guards who are very professional and they are kept very busy during the holiday season rescuing many irresponsible swimmers who don't seem to have the intelligence to realise the dangers, and continue to take unnecessary risks.

The beach is dangerous because it has several hidden current rips as well as strong currents that can throw inexperienced boarders and swimmers against rocks beside the large rock visible here. Another danger can be large dangerous waves during heavy seas.
(Click to enlarge)

Cutlery Mosaic pathway at Hamilton Gardens

I took this photo about a year ago at one of the feature gardens entitled the Kitchen Garden. I don't know what possessed the people setting up this garden to set this cuttlery in the mosaic path but, as with some of the other gardens here, some of the things done were 'tongue-in-cheek.'  I guess as this was the 'Kitchen Garden' maybe they thought this was in keeping with the theme...?

You have to smile...

(Click photo to enlarge)

Look into my eyes!

Looking into a cats face can sometimes be mesmerising.

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Skeleton of a tree

Though still standing magnificently, this tree is no longer alive. Why did it die? I don't know. Maybe it was struck by lightning? Or perhaps, more likely, it was ringbarked by cattle in the same paddock?

(Click on picture to enlarge)