Splendid things

I'm taking a breath

Before tomorrow begins

With work, and schedules and watching the clock

Many important things that simply can't wait

And I need a clone

To get it all done

So before I start to hyperventilate

In a panic attack

I'll reflect on why

I'm now in a pickle

It's not so much that I'm a chronic procrastinator

(And I am)

It's more that life can sometimes be so delicious

I get distracted

It's autumn

and we had some rain

and it's been cold

Then the sun shone

We took Charlie to baby gym

And went out to lunch

It wasn't all fun and games

Of course

I did the usual stuff

The cleaning, the washing, the ironing

There was the white ant inspection, and the gas delivery

That didn't warrant a photo

But after class yesterday

(French classes, so handy when we live thousands of kilometres from the nearest French speaking folk)

We went out to lunch... again

And I photographed

everything

For my blog

So when I begin to worry

about the relentless demands of life
And fret about how I squander the hours 

I'll think instead about the joy

Of time spent on splendid things

Thank you to the lovely ladies who are following my ramblings

I love having you here

And visiting you too

Opening my eyes to the world around me

One of the up sides of learning to blog is that I've finally faced my camera...from both sides of the lens. 

I've had my camera a couple of years but until now I haven't really felt the need to explore all that it can do. I did a photography course years ago. I wasn't quite using a box brownie (that was my Mother's first camera) but I must say the technology has done a few leaps and bounds since those giddy days in the dark room.

Aren't digital camera's fantastic? Without the cost restraints, that used to limit the number of photos taken, we can pose in unlimited shots until we get a photo that makes us look respectable. Better still, all those ugly photos that make family and friends look like freaks out of a horror movie can be tastefully deleted away as if they never existed.

Here's a photo of me with my two beautiful daughters.

Now if you knew me even slightly you'd be amazed to find me sharing a photo of myself. But then in most of my photos I bear an unfortunate resemblance to Jabba the Hut, and I've spent a lifetime scowling and hiding from cameras. While I think my chances of becoming a photographic model are still on the limited side, it's really rather pleasant to no longer be afraid of the camera lens.

As I've been learning all the gadgets on my camera I've learned a few useful things as well. 

Moving targets are incredibly difficult to shoot 

 and animals are particularly uncooperative.

This Tassie Tiger at the Zoo was a nightmare. 

The poor little fellow was running round and round his enclosure at the zoo. Shooting him without fuzz was quite an achievement. Mind you, there were several (dozen?) blurred attempts to go with it.

Gus and Harry (my daughter's dogs) were a little more cooperative.

And of course Kangaroos in the daytime are a doddle.

Taking photographs at night is a whole different ball game
and I have so much to learn.

Having a camera on hand is a really good way 

to capture other peoples very good ideas.

But the most exciting part of my camera
is the way it's opening my eyes to the world around me.

Graffiti-ed bamboo at the Zoo. 

Is beautiful.

Making Memories

Last night 

 my son and his new wife

my daughter-in-law

threw a party

There were flowers

and speeches

 a cake

a kiss

dancing

partying

and the inevitable morning after

With all the changes 

the modern world brings us

Some traditions 

are worth keeping.

Thank you 

J & E

for a night

of

making memories

Celebration

Well

I've come to the conclusion

What's to forgive really? 

There are worse things in the world

Than having a happy child.

And while I'm sad 

I missed their special day

I'm still incredibly blessed

Last Friday night we went out for dinner

for my youngest son's 19th birthday

 But more than that

It was a celebration

Of family

Letting Go

I'm coming to terms with it.

It's taking a while.

I blogged about it

Then I panicked a bit

And edited it out

But

The truth is

Letting go of emotions

Is not as easy

As  pressing

The delete button

It's not every day

Your baby boy

Your eldest son

 
Your pride and joy

Elopes

So many emotions

I remind myself

To keep it in perspective

Of all the worries

A mother has

For her child

Elopement

Is the least of them.

I Am in Awe

I'll try and add a link here..Jellywares
Yoo hoo! I think I made it work!

This is one of the first blog pages I found in my first tentative steps into blogworld. I was so excited. Needless to say I love both crochet and ric rac, so I thought it was one of the most delightful things I've ever seen.

Photo and crochet by Jodie at Jellywares

I promptly went and searched the cupboard for some cotton and bought a hook to get started. I think I've made about a metre of it so far. I haven't taken a photo yet, so you'll have to take my word for it! I have no idea what I'm going to use it for, but it is ric rac so its possibilities are limitless. 

 Blogging is proving to be enthralling in a way I never imagined. I'm traveling the world, gaining endless inspiration and meeting a incredible collection of  talented women, all via their blogs. I know it's a measure of my advancing age (No, I'm not sharing That information) but in the 'olden days', when my children were small..

  

And when communication across the world was a much slower exercise, this exchange of ideas, knowledge and world wide community was unimaginable.

I am in awe. It sounds a little silly when I say it. But it is nothing but the truth. I'm in awe of these (mainly) young, talented, inspirational women, and in awe of the technology that I could have only dreamed of as a child.

Watching the grass grow

Late this morning Keturah and I set off on our favourite walk

Along the bridle trail 

Where the hues of summer abound

The grass has bleached cream in the sunshine

And the creek bed still runs dry

For all its unique beauty

It's always nice to see summer say goodbye 

And to catch a glimpse of autumn

At home

New green shoots

Are smiling in the sun

And the pink and grey galahs come to pay a visit

It's the perfect time of year
To sit in the sunshine

And watch the grass grow.