how to draw history

 "How are cartoons used to express opinions, issues and ideas?

How do cartoons analyse different historical interpretations?"

We started in the migration museum examining cartoons there and noting their commentary on history.

Our guide,Toby, was very enthusiastic about his theme.

 Learners will explore issues that have affected South Australians from  colonisation to the present

 What is a cartoon:A simple drawing showing the features of its subjects in an exaggerated way, especially in a newspaper or magazine.

 learn how cartoons can be used as historical sources

learn how to communicate personal perspectives about an issue  via cartoons.



 We started our workshop with very gentle warm-up exercises:"draw a quick sketch of a mouse. Now add some cheese" No surprises that most cheese drawn was the holey variety and triangular in shape!!

 participate in a 60 minute  cartooning workshop run by cartoonist and illustrator, Simon Kneebone.

 I snapped a few pictures of works in progress.

Bugs Beware!

We spent the afternoon in our local Botanic Gardens.

With friends we became Bug detectives, discovering the homes of many insects,spiders etc.

The Ribbon Gum, like many other gum trees with rough or flaky bark, make excellent habitat trees for insects and spiders which hide safely under the bark. Often insects are so well hidden that they are not seen by nearby spiders that hunt them. Many animals which shelter under the bark during the day come out at night to feed and find mates. 

Look closely for bug life on the bark. Find the oval shaped holes in the trunk made by Longicorn beetle larvae. These larvae ate the dead wood and left the tree through the holes they had created after they turned into adult beetles.

We  estimated the number of holes present and looked for fresh sawdust from recently worked holes. 

Because the temperature reached at least 30C we decided as a group not to complete our investigations but to postpone it to a later date when the weather was more condusive to explorations.

While others left to catch trains and ride bikes home

 the boys and I decided to explore our large conservatory as admission is now free

 We spied out the two species of birds that have been put in it to control insect life

  Finally  we walked across the parklands to our car stopping to climb a favourite tree.

Government House Open Day

looking into the city

The first Government House, the "Government Hut" was constructed of timber slabs, wattle and daub, a thatched roof, calico ceiling, and external stone chimneys. It is believed to have been on a site between the present railway station and the River Torrens, and was destroyed by fire in 1841.

pretty roses

a door in the wall

a closer view

icecream anyone

spotted these strange people!

Did you know , Government House, Adelaide is the oldest Government House in Australia.

pepper trees have their place!

ditto!

name the flower?

Warrawong

 We obviously hadn't done enough or had enough of nature because after lunch we took our leave of our friends and headed to Warrawong. We decided to listen to the keepers talk.I remember when we looked after friends of ours spiney leaf insects and the male died. We were very concerned at having to tell our friend as they had chosen special names for their pets and obviously loved them(well as much as affection can be given to insects!)We needn't have worried because on their return our friends assured us this was the norm for this species ad they had been expectin it to happen any day.

native green tree frog

 We learned that truck drivers are given miniature aquariums so should they find they have carried one of these little creatures from their natural habitat on a bunch of bananas they can safely return it on their next trip. Supermarkets have also been given aquariums to do the same. So that species which are endangered and others that may become pests can be returned from wence they came!

stump lizard

murray carpet python

red kangaroo

 We learned from some British tourists that there are now wild wallabies in parts of England. They said they seem to have adapted fine to their colder environment. Interesting we think we are the ones with "intruders"!

native  wood ducks

help us identify this one ?

2nd koala of the day!

a great day!

The Apostles visit us!

Well not in person. But on Sunday afternoon we were privilaged to be visited by two mysterious birds.

Youngest son spotted them first through his bedroom window and was allerted by the srange noise they were making.I quickly dismissed them as starlings or blackbirds only to be assured that a more thorough investrigation would negate both these assumptions.

Two older brothers were called in plus our bird book but it was my daughter plus google that settled the matter. They were apostle birds, so named for their characteristic of flying in large flocks or groupings.



These two appeared to have had their wings clipped and we were concerned they may have escaped from a cage perhaps having been hand-reared. However no ammount of attempts to catch them bu us or some of our neighbours was successful so finally we had to thank them for sharing some time with us and leave them to continue their journey!

At the park

We had a great day at our local zoological park. We last visited in summer. A very protective dad and his young offspring greeted us first. then we made our way to the rock wallaby enclosure.

They are shy little creatures but their enclosure gives them plenty of space to avoid the most dangerous species on earth(us!)











Next we walked to the chimpanzee exhibit.

From here we decided to walk to the waterhole as it was such a beautiful day. We quickly took a picture of this bird and spotted a sleepy lizard who quickly ran for cover (well bearing in mind how quickly said named species can move!)

At the waterhole we discovered some colorful seeds,  had a rest and enjoyed watching a variety of animals.

The giraffe exhibit was good for measuring our height in giraffe measurements plus we thought this nest was pretty cool!

After lunch during which dad and his offspring were observed plus a few cheeky magpies

wanting to share some of our lunch we went on a bus tour and watched bison, cheetah.Mongolian horses, painted dogs and lions to name but a few.

Finally as we left the park this little mystery bird was spotted. Any ideas as to what variety of parrot?