Sharon's Journey Through Life

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Photo Challenge - PATRIOTISM

I have joined Brenda's Photo Challenge. I found it while roaming through some of the blogs that I read. The patriotism challenge was issued by Karen. Have a look at the links from their sites to the other participants in the challenge.

This is my oldest daughter Tegan flying the Australian flag. It is a few years old - we actually took it during the Olympics when they were in Sydney. We managed to get tickets to the rowing, near where we live, in the ballot and we had the best time barracking for the Aussies.

This is the Sydney Opera House - a landmark everyone should recognise. This picture is when they dressed it up with gorgeous lights for a special event. It is stunning day or night, sunshine or rain.

The Twelve Apostles - one of the most amazing ocean rock formations on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. We spent a day driving along this short section of coastline, the views more and more stunning as we went. One of the best drives ever! Words cannot explain the beauty and magnificence of this natural wonder.

I Love A Sunburnt Country - by Dorothea MacKellar

The love of field and coppice,
Of green and shaded lanes,

Of ordered woods and gardens,

Is running in your veins;

Strong love of grey-blue distance,

Brown streams and soft, dim skies -

I know but cannot share it,

My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me.

The tragic ring-barked forests
Stark white beneath the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon.
Green tangle of the brushes
Where lithe lianas coil,
An orchids deck the tree-tops
And ferns the crimson soil.

Core of my heart, my country!
Her pitiless blue sky,
When sick at heart around us
We see the cattle die -
But then the grey clouds gather
And we can bless again
The drumming of an army,
The steady, soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the Rainbow Gold,
For flood and fire and famine,
She pays us back threefold;
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.

An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land -
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand -
Though Earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown Country
My homing thoughts will fly.

14 comments:

Brenda said...

Fantastic photos for the challenge! I especially love the one of your daughter waving her flag. Thank you for joining us!

Donna said...

Great photos!! And yes, I am Also a pushover for babies...Too Cute!!! Well done!!hughugs

kimberly said...

wonderful photos and poem, sharon....just came from shannon's site and she had part of the same poem on her blog and pictures also.....so we are getting a bit of a tour this morning, of your amazing country!
love the Twelve Apostles rock formation phots...amazing!
thanks for the visit!
kimberly

Sally said...

Beautiful pictures!! Love the poem, and your little one is gorgeous. You live in a wonderful country. May God bless you all!!

Joni said...

Beautiful Australia photos...my favorite is the one of your daughter...precious expression.
Thanks for sharing YOUR patriotism!

Jeanne said...

Oh nice to get more verses from such a beautiful poem and more views of your beautiful country.

Karen M said...

I want to come for a visit. Your pictures are terrific and perfect for the challenge. Thanks for sharing them!

Good job!!

~Red Tin Heart~ said...

beautiful sharon! your words are as magic as your photos..
i just love your heart.
sending you love, nita

Donna said...

Gorgeous - your photos, your words, and the poem! You have an amazing and spectacular county! God bless our Aussie friends!

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

Love your photos! The Opera house is stunning, truly stunning, as are the rock formations. And your daughter is adorable (love her name, too!).

Kari

Karen said...

Thanks for your great photos. I loved seeing and reading about your Australian patriotism. Really beautiful photos and poem.

bubbles said...

Hello mum,
i love the pichers u took there great and Tegan looks sooo cute in that picher and i think your doing fantastic work seeya mum good luck on your comp (:
shelby<3

dabrah said...

Great photos.

Cindra said...

Your daughter is beautiful and so are the rest of the photos. Someday I hope to visit Australia. It does seem to be a wonderful country.