The month of May

May is our favourite month in Canberra... the light, the big blue skies, the stunning Autumn colour and the invigorating cooler weather. We do the lake walk most mornings and the view changes every day depending on the sun, the cloud cover, the fog (or not) and the wind. In Autumn its often just perfect like this .... 

We climbed Mt Ainslie last week after a day of sleet and rain and snowfalls on the surrounding hills. I took this pic on the mountain, facing east, over Canberra Airport with snow on the hills in the distance, a rare sight over this way (more common over the Brindabellas to the west).

Back at our apartment precinct the Autumn colour is just stunning. The Lipstick Maples are now 6-7 years old and are just Autumn show stoppers this year. They are their own light source for the precinct!

The stunning view from our apartment's winter garden on the fourth floor ......

The month of May coincides with a birthday celebration for Wayne too - as well as shearing season in the district and the arrival of a few quiet weeks in the vineyard after the annual grape picking. Wayne and Jennie brought along a sample of their fine merino wool clip to the birthday lunch yesterday - the very best in the district (and indeed even better than the Murdoch wool from Cavan Station near Yass I'm sure). 

This pair are a real lesson in vibrant high energy senior living!

Meanwhile May is just another one of many great months for Abi, as long as there are plenty of horse-riding opportunities. Today she was doing voluntary work at Redlands Stables, helping her coach Victoria take a riding class with 8 year old beginners. Harry was pressed into service with one of the new riders, and took everything in his stride (as usual), with Abi leading the way.

Abi was pretty pleased with being able to wear her new Redlands Stables jacket - almost like one of the staff!!!

Back at Forest Park this afternoon she rode Gus the pony for her lesson. For some reason he was a bit antsy in the lesson and gave a decent buck in the middle of a right rein circle canter. Abi kept her seat luckily and didn't have a fall - no thanks to Gus! But she didn't hold a grudge against him for the disrespect shown!