© irene waters 2016
Living in the bush we spared the life of many critters. Not only the wildlife but we also saved a number of our farm pets from the knackery, such as the miniature horse with the gammy leg. Despite its rear hip being twisted Snowflake could still manage an almighty rear kick.
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
We didn’t kill anything and relocated any snake or rodent that wanted to make our house its home.
© irene waters 2016
We even examined roadkill to check that a female kangaroo was not carrying a joey in her pouch. On at least one occasion we spared a life despite the injuries of the mother. This is not the spare however that I want to concentrate on.
© irene waters 2016
Nor are my spare glasses. Luckily these were spare as Muffin managed to get seven pairs, leaving no spares, before I learnt to put my glasses out of reach.
© irene waters 2016
I want instead to talk of spare landscapes. Spare is not a word we would use in Australia to commonly describe landscape. We would more often use sparse, barren, dessert, treeless or savanna. We have many of these in Australia.These two scenes are in the Broken Hill Region of Australia.
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
Switzerland, a land of scenic beauty, also has examples of spare on the high mountains such as Rocher de Nayes.
© irene waters 2016
And in France the vast expanses in the Ardeche made me feel small and insignificant.
© irene waters 2016
Iceland is predominantly a land of grasses, heathlands and bogs. Much of this is due to natural causes such as geothermal activity and glacial events. Any trees have long been used by the human settlers as fuel for cooking and warmth. Despite the sparseness of the countryside it is incredibly beautiful.
© irene waters 2016
Greenland is even more devoid of vegetation. This was apparent from the moment we landed. We were informed prior to disembarking that due to a gale our transfer by boat to the township of Kulusuk, on an island in the Ammassalili fiord in South East Greenland was not a possibility. Those who were fit could follow a guide and walk to the township. Others would have to wait at the airport hotel until transport was again possible. I chose to do the forty minute trek which allowed me to see the barrenness of the Greenland landscape.
© irene waters 2016
The walk was rough, over predominantly rocky arctic tundra which was covered with a light layer of moss-like grass. Between the crevices arctic flowers and glacial buttercups poked their heads. We followed a track which allowed uninterrupted views of the blue water of the bay and the pristine white, occasionally blue icebergs. The rocky mountain rose steeply to the side of the track. We passed a cemetery but most of the small white crosses were dotted beside the track and up the hillside.
© irene waters 2016
“Not enough dirt to have them all in one place so we bury them where we can dig a hole” the guide told me. We began our descent into the town of blue and rust red buildings, which we could now see nestled on the bay, protected from the elements by the mountain behind. We were traversing glaciers and fording streams which gently babbled over the worn rocks which lined its base and it was not long before my shoes were wet through. I hadn’t anticipated this cross country walk and had worn ordinary sneakers with thick socks. Bones aching, I trudged on.
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
Never had I experienced cold like this and this was early summer but it was worth it for the deeper understanding I gained of the harshness of the conditions (although even colder in winter it was easier to get around as dog teams were used for transport) and the spare beauty of the landscape.
© irene waters 2016
© irene waters 2016
In response to Weekly Photo Challenge.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Your spare glasses made me chuckle and I loved your attitude to sparing all the wildlife.
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I can tell you the specs didn’t bring a smile to me and took quite a bit of cash from the wallet. The only person smiling was the optician. And I suppose Muffin.
I can’t see the point of killing willdlife – I think we all have some purpose in life.
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I’m with you on the wildlife, they all have as much right to be on earth as we do.
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I thought the first photo was a gold chain before I noticed the head, a little beauty.
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He was a pretty little thing and probably grew to the size of the one on the fence.
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Wow! I never for a moment thought it was the same kind of snake.
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I’m fairly sure that it was.
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I loved your eclectic take on this theme. Australia does have a lot of spare landscape. Great photos.
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Yes probably over a half of it could be considered spare. 🙂
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I enjoyed your post Irene a great mix of examples of ‘spare’. I agree that we wouldn’t use the word spare to describe our landscape here in Australia but would most likely use ‘sparse’, you summed it up brilliantly with your words and pictures.
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Thank you Debbie.
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At first I thought this was a gold bracelet.
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LOL. A very pretty little bracelet that is going to grow a lot bigger.
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What austere beauty in Greenland and Iceland, though they seem to be places where life challenges the inhabitants.
As for the snakes – ugh! I would have run the other way, screaming, and unlikely to try to save them. From what I’ve heard, Australia has plenty of snakes.
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Greenland and Iceland (and probably Scotland and parts of the USA) I think would be very tough to live. Australia may have plenty of snakes and spiders but in reality they don’t impact your life much. I have probably seen more snakes on cowboy and Indian movies when I was a kid than I have seen here. Your rattlers would be a snake I wouldn’t want to come across.
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One day I’ll write about my rattler encounter. Oh wait – you probably heard me screaming.
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So many different versions of spares Irene, however I particularly loved the landscape photos here.
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When we were there we were mesmerised by the landscape and it felt as though we were being sucked into it. We both thought – we have to get away from here or we will never leave. It certainly has its own beauty.
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Yes, I can well imagine.
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Beautiful photos and especially loved your take on the prompt.
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Thank you Dahlia. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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