Sunday, 30 October 2011

Another Laird of Glencoe?

Good Evening All :)

Introducing the youngest members of the Clan ..........

The latest addition to our clan is young Mason James. Our little man turns one year old on Tuesday 1st November, 2011.  Must get onto http://www.highlandtitles.com/ to acquire a wee bit of land for a wee bit of a lad, to be hence known as Laird Mason , seen below with his Lordship - or as he knows him 'Pa' playing on the beach together




As you can see Mason required some shade from our harsh Australian sun and his Pa was happy to help him out. They played on the sand making little moats while the gentlest of breezes blew softly and the tide was quiet.



Mason is such a delight and brings much love and laughter into our home. Wherever he goes he is sure to get a smile on for anyone who would like one. At the moment he is getting some more teeth so can be a wee tetchy at times, but a hug and distraction of a song from his Nan or a bearhug from his Pa or tickles from his Mum and Dad can get his smile 'on' :)


I purchased a wee lot for our eldest grandson Jordan Brian from http://www.highlandtitles.com/  when I was searching for gifts for the rest of the then family members. Jordan is pictured below playing a tough game of Nerf guns with his Lordship a couple of weeks back.

Jordan has the cheekiest or cheesiest of grins :)


His Lord and his Laird prepare for battle !

So, I'll be back in the 'moro for 'tis 11:49 pm here in Australia on the last Sunday night of October 2011. I will introduce the Lady and two other Lords in moi family soon :)

Saturday, 29 October 2011

Here Be Dragons...... Lords, Lairds and Ladies

The Three Sisters



Here in the Colonies of New South Wales we have the faith of the Scots, in knowing that there be dragons all over the world. For the believer that is. In the Blue Mountains of NSW and almost at my doorstop lies some of Australia's finest National Parks and dragons lie therein.



Maybe I should re-name the National Park behind our property - to Australias Glencoe Woodlands heehee - but I reckon I would get myself into so much strife, so I'll leave it alone. I don't have that power anyway. Luckily most of the land in our National Parks haven't been violated by man's destruction. As these photos show, its a beautiful vista of how Mother Nature intended for all of us to see her in her glory.


Mountain Ash




A Few pics of the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains for you to drool over :)))




Now, here is a little info about three such 'Dragons' -  these 'beasts' that 'scour' our native parklands.








 Eastern Water Dragon
(Physignathus lesueurii )
 
 
This is the Eastern Water Dragon who lives on the Eastern Coast of Australia and its hinterland - From the top of Australia at Cape York Queensland, NSW and Victoria.  




This picture shows the dragon approximately 20" long (50cm) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Mature Water Dragons can grow up to 3 foot long (90cm). The picture is of a male - shown by his red neck which will get a little darker as he ages.


Water Dragons hibernate from late Autumn to early Spring which is now in Australia. Mostly these animals lie in wait for an insect to land nearby. Then they'll jump on their victim and grab it on their tongue...


               Mountain Dragon (Rankinia diemensis)

Then we have the Mountain Dragon which is probably the smallest of lizards that bears the name dragon. LOL. They grow to around 20cm in length.You would have to imagine a massively big lizard but alas it is but a wee one. They can be found in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Victoria as well as in Tasmania where it is the only native agamid. Mountain dragons are found in dry woodlands and heaths with access to open areas for sunning themselves giving them energy. They are oviparous and feed on ants and other small invertebrates.They are not quick footed relying instead on camouflage to evade predators.

Overall colour is grey to reddish brown, with two rows of lighter coloured paravertebral stripes or blotches running down their back. These stripes are deeply scalloped, so that they appear like two series of blotches. They have a cream coloured belly. Individuals can grow up to 20 cm in length, although the average length is somewhat smaller, with females typically growing larger than males. They have a row of enlarged spinose (spikey) scales on each side of the tail-base.  (Thanks Wikipedia for the info!)

Lying in wait in the leaf litter for tasty ants
      


Sitting on the leaves of the Isopogon
commonly known as Little Drumsticks



Isopogon anemonifolius



                         Southern Leaf Tailed Gecko
                                 (Saltaurius wyberba)

The Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko is a master of camouflage. Instead of scurrying away, it will lie perfectly still to either catch its prey or prevent it from become something else's. This Gecko grows to approximately 15cm in length. Kinda ugly little fellow but we love all our Native Fauna. There is a second Southern Leaf Tail - Saltaurius swaini - known to live in rainforests




Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko image p7160221 182KB
They are found in the Greater Sydney area up to wher I live in the North side of the Blue Mountains., and live in dark sandstone crevices and even our shed and garages, They have three defence mechanisms too - their colouring, a noise like a squeal or bark and the dropping off of their tail which is a last resort. The squeal is amazing when you first hear it - such a loud sound from such a little creature.Southern Leaf-tailed Gecko image p7160221 182KB








The tail keeps wriggling letting the Gecko get away though the regowing tail is somewhat smoother for a while. I found these two photos on the internet to show    what the tails look like.
There are many more species of Lizards with a few more being called Dragons, but these are the ones more likely to be seen here in the Blue Mountains. I must check the woodlands on http://www.lochaberhighlandestates.com/ and see what sort of 'Dragons' still remain in Laird's Wood. Only 1% of the forest remains, but, regeneration may entice back some of the wild and native fauna of the Scottish Highlands :)) One tree has been planted in our name to assist though I think quite a few more will be needed to help along the way.


Friday, 28 October 2011

A Day in the Misty Mountain

Good Afternoon to all

Today we are sitting amongst the trees, looking out to a misty drizzling day. Good for the hens, ducks, other animals and peoples who love being wet. Moi - personally I think water is great for showers, washing clothing and animals and of course my wee car. 

While sitting inside I can hear birdsong in the air, so thought I would let you all close your eyes to 'see' and let your imagination hear what I can.


Tawny Frogmouth >
 Kookaburra

Red Faced Finch                      King Parrot


Sulfur Crested Cockatoo

Crimson Parrot - known as the Mountain Parrot

The Gang Gang Cockatoo - Male

We have some beautiful parrots up here in the Blue Mountains - Black and White Cookatoos the first a wet weather warning signal the second a b++++y noisy lot who terrorise trees and wooden bits on houses. Red Tail Black Cockatoos are rare this side of Katoomba though do show themselves at times. Small yellow breasted robins dart about trying to woo a partner and make nests in the trees behind our cottage. Male Willywagtails dancing their dance of love, Mountain parrots with their blue and red plumage are stunning in the Eucalypts.

We have Satin Bower birds running around looking for mates - these are the birds that collect everything blue - bottle caps, blue string, plastic bags - grr, straws and the like, Spotted tree creepers keeping our bugs down to a minimum and beautiful Eclectus Parrots sitting in the fruit trees - pinching mouthfuls of fruit .  I have added photos for you all to drool over :)

Satin Bower Bird

My hens are the odd lot out, though they do go around the acreage scratching up bugs and turning over leaf mulch for tasty tidbits.


I was taking photos of the ironwork symbols and garden bits n bobs when my chooks decided that I should have a picture of them for all time :) Funny girls, leave the car door open and they think you'll take them for a ride. Go outside to where the fruit trees are and they follow you around in case you have food in your hands.

Makes me wonder what birds are in an about the Highlands of Scotland. I am off my blog so I can do a little web searching to see what I can come up with, then share for my Aussie Glencoeans the secrats that lay in our Woodlands of Glencoe .

For your interest check out - http://www.highlandtitles.com/, http://www.lairdoflochaber.com/  or http://www.lochaberhighlandestates.com/, I am sure you will have lots to peruse and chat about. Once you become a Lord, Lady or Laird - join us on Facebook - its a closed group and only open to Lairds, Lords and Ladies of Glencoe, Lochaber. Just click on the join icon and you will be notified of your welcome.

Thursday, 27 October 2011

Facebook - Lairds, Lords and Ladies

Sharing is Caring
so just to show you what the Aussie lot doon Facebook
LadyRenata  wrote :-
Wondering what to do with my plot of land in Scotland...Should I:
Pitch a tent?
Grow some potatoes?
Sit on it and contemplate my navel?
Dig it up and bring it back to Australia?
Let the dogs run free?
Put a picket fence around it?
Put a wind turbine on it?
Put in a cellar for my whusky!
Plant a forest?
Any suggestions
 
How could I refuse to respond?? So added the following ROFL
Di Hallam
Think I'll just stand, contemplate my navel, holding an Aussie Flag, a glass of whisky in the other hand, a tiny tree in a pot by my foot with a little fence around the edges of the pot and get one of those umbrellas that look like a hat and hang a beach towel around it for protection agin the wind - and thats just on one of the kids wee small plots - just imagine on what I can do on my Lord's and my plots - hopefully we can also see the tree planted somewhere there for us LOL
October 17 at 9:49pm

For your interest check out - http://www.highlandtitles.com/, http://www.lairdoflochaber.com/  or http://www.lochaberhighlandestates.com/, I am sure you will have lots to peruse and chat about. Once you become a Lord, Lady or Laird - join us on Facebook - its a closed group and only open to Lairds, Lords and Ladies of Glencoe, Lochaber. Just click on the join icon and you will be notified of your welcome.

The Welcome Beginning of a Lord and Lady

What a hoot! To actually own 'bare' woodland - albiet a small plot in the Highlands of Scotland and in turn help preserve a beautiful piece of heritage for all eternity, has given us much to talk about within the family.

Our forebears must have forgotten that "passing in on" is good for the soul, pffft I say - so my Lord and I are still in gainful employment, slaving away and ekeing a living from the fortunes of others. So what you say? Did I find an elusive inheritance waiting for me to discover it? Alas me laddies and lassies I did not. Hence I had to resort to a little web searching in regards to my family heritage.


Glencoe Wood

Plot Information

Luckily for me, whilst pondering my missed-fortune, Highland Titles was featured on one of our local televisions stations, which  gave me further information to take it upon myself and enrich our lives becoming Diane and Stephen -  Lady & Lord of Glencoe, Scotland. I also bought some plots for my two sons, daughter and grandson :))

After lodging my application for a little plot of land - heehee - a large envelope arrived. Secreting it away for my personal perusal at a later time - or when the family wasn't watching to ask what ya got there Mum - I was filled with abnormal glee. Can't see anyone beating my gift again this year. Probably never happen anyway as family both sides and children have a latent problem remembering important dates. Woohoo - I'm a Lady - no rude remarks warranted here :))

Glencoe Wood offered me an opportunity to purchase a pieve of Scotland and in turn help in the care and heritage It also gave us the right to call ourselves Lord and Lady Hallam of Glencoe. Knowing that when I purchased this land for my family I was making a heartfelt contribution for the environment. The woodland is owned by hundreds of different people which in turn ensures that at no time can any developer acquire it nor cause detriment of the area. I purchased one tree to begin with, to help reforest the land and help in a process I haven't heard of before but will copy down -  carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere by the process of carbon sequestration. 

More importantly, I read about the woodland being home to many species of Scottish flora and fauna, and that it can be enjoyed by people as an area of peace, quiet, and tranquillity. What a wonderful way of demonstrating my committment to this amazing turn of events.
Check out http://www.lairdoflochaber.com/

T'was our wedding anniversary number 34 looming, (or our age creeping up to bite us on the proverbial) that I first gave my Lord Steve, the gift of 100 sq ft of Scotland :) Always an enterprising woman, with gifts that would be hard to beat (family wise and more of then at a later date), I gave my Lord a wrapped gift full of Glencoe Highland gifts and a title to boot - welcome Lord Stephen :) He looked at me with awe ( or in Australia that would be called - what the?) and laughed his head off! Too rude I quoted, to which he stated to me what do I do with this? Watch the littlest DVD on record on my 'puta I said. He loved the idea once he got used to it and I let him know that I also purchased a tree to be planted in our name for all eternity (or for however long someone b****r doesn't cut it down) in the naked land of Glencoe.

My Lord stated, what about you love, to which I replied - of course I am your Lady, as always.

Click on this link for more information :)  http://www.lochaberhighlandestates.com/

Well, now off my "throne" I must adieu to all, as my stomach requires sustenance and I must away to lubricate the cogs as I do like my cuppa tea - so I must be off this wonderous contraption called my 'puta' and get on with the rest of the days work.

For your interest check out - http://www.highlandtitles.com/, http://www.lairdoflochaber.com/  or http://www.lochaberhighlandestates.com/, I am sure you will have lots to peruse and chat about.

Once you become a Lord, Lady or Laird - join us on Facebook - its a closed group and only open to Lairds, Lords and Ladies of Glencoe, Lochaber. Just click on the join icon and you will be notified of your welcome.

I got onto  http://www.highlandtitles.com/, and had a wonderful read on why Highland Titles first set itself up on the internet.