Pics 'n' Poems

Our First Year in Brisbane

2011-12-08T10:34:00.005+11:00

There once was a time that our family of eight

Lived down south in Canberra, and thought it was great.

Our house and our friends and our schools were just right,

We were happy and settled from morning to night.

Then one day we found out this all was to change -

We moved north to Brisbane where things were so strange.

Pre-School is “Kindy”, and Kindy is “Prep”.

Grade Seven ends primary, Year Eight’s the next step.

The kids here play “tiggy” (what we would calls tips)

No wonder at first we made so many slips!

Here canteen is “tuck shop” and swimmers are “togs”,

And after light rain the lawns turn into bogs.

There’s geckos in our house and cane toads outside.

The heat’s so oppressive there’s no where to hide.

The sun rises early (it sets early too) and

Shines strongly and brightly the whole long day through.

In Autumn the leaves stay stuck right on the trees

And temps remain warm - not a hint of a freeze!

With June and July comes a welcome fresh breeze,

Yet locals say “winter” with greatest of ease.

Just as we’re enjoying the nice, cool air,

Heat and humidity emerge from their lair

To once again melt us to our very core,

But strangely it’s not quite as bad as before.

Is it possible we are adapting, at last,

To living in Brisbane - forgetting our past?

Whatever the reason, we’re quite pleased to say

We like living in Queensland a bit more each day.

We like geckos ’cause they eat spiders and ‘roaches.

We like that there’s seatbelts on buses and coaches.

We like frangipanis, we love the flame trees,

We’re quite getting used to the warm, moist, sea breeze.

We love Bribie Island, we like the Gold Coast,

But let us just mention the thing we like most …..

The people in Brisbane are friendly and kind,

And some of the best we were lucky to find

Right here in our town, in our neighbours and schools,

And your friendship is worth more than any rare jewels.

Great friends are just priceless (in Canberra or here)

And we’re blessed beyond measure to hold you so dear.

So we wish you a Christmas that's happy and fun,

And hope your New Year’s a most fabulous one!

Books and Tea

2011-08-17T10:31:00.000+10:00

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."
— C.S. Lewis

I know the feeling.

Often I am sipping my tea (or coffee) while reading a book. I pick up my cup to have another sip .... and it's all gone! That's the kind of cuppa that's not large enough for me.

I also know how it feels when a book captures my imagination so completely that I can't stop thinking about it and wish the story could go on and on and on. That's the kind of book that isn't long enough for me.

Evolution Quote

2011-08-10T13:12:00.002+10:00

I like this version of the big bang theory:

"The current state of knowledge can be summarized thus: In the beginning, there was nothing, which exploded."

(p7 "Lords and Ladies" by Terry Pratchett.)

Blossom

2011-08-04T13:18:00.002+10:00

Thin. Spindly. Stark.
The branches are bereft
Of vitality or spark.
It's like there's no life left.

A tiny bump, a hint,
A green leaf starts to grow.
And then a blush, a tint
Of pink begins to show.

The blush deepens and seeks
To open petals sweet.
She lifts her head and peeks.
The world she wants to greet.

But blazing up on high
The cruel sun heats and glares.
It burns the tender bud
And burdens her with cares.

Her blush grows deeper still.
She wrinkles, shrivels, fries.
The sun performs it's kill.
She droops - motionless lies.

Cooling clouds assemble.
Refreshing moisture falls.
Young leaves sway and tremble.
The dying process stalls.

Nourished by the rains,
Encouraged by the dew,
The blushing bud remains,
Despite her darkened hue.

But damage she sustained
(From sun's relentless blaze)
Her resources have drained:
Yet hope can't be erased.

With anguish, pain and tears
The shriveled petals peal.
And though she still has fears,
Her heart begins to heal.

The sun appears again,
This time to warm and calm -
As gentle as the rain,
Just like a healing balm.

At last it is the time!
Now healed, cleansed, renewed -
Bud, rosy in her prime,
Unfolds, displays, is viewed.

All who see her splendour
Are stunned, amazed, in awe,
That once a blush so tender
Blossomed to so much more.

©Pics 'n' Poems 4th August 2011

Autumn in the Capital

2010-07-17T12:46:00.006+10:00

I had to the opportunity to be out and about with my camera (and without any children) early one morning in late Autumn. I was fascinated by the sparkles on the lake - these ones look like they have been captured within the reeds.
It was a calm, clear, cool, crisp morning and the lake was a picture of serenity.
This line of pine trees were reflected very neatly in the still blue waters.The sun even enjoyed it's own reflection in the lake.
Here's the sun peeking through a branch of autumn leaves.
You may be surprised to discover where I was actually taking all these lovely nature phoographs. This tree of rich red autumn colour was right beside a very recognisable object.
And this is not something you would expect to see in Autumn - certainly not Autumn in Canberra.
These dainty little pink flowers were in an area that was bustling with movement, even this early in the morning.
Those flowers were so sweet I had to get a closer shot.
And these colourful leaves were resting on the hedge right beside the little pink flowers.
If you were judging from this particular photo of the sun rising behind this tree of beautiful yellow autumn leaves you wouldn't believe it's location, I don't think.
This picture of the sun streaming through the trees, making patterns on the concrete walls might give you a clue.
And this photo might give you more of an idea of the area in which I was taking my photographs.
It was Belconnen City Centre ... could you have guessed? Don't we have a beautiful Capital Territory? In this photo the rising sun gets it's first glimpse of itself in the office window, and puts a golden glow over the whole building.
(The first photos were Lake Ginninderra, taken from Emu Bank.)
The tree of rich red leaves was planted right beside the KFC sign.
The frangipani plant was on the balcony of an apartment by the lake.
The little pink flowers, colourful autumn leaves on the hedge and tree of yellow leaves were situated right outside Westfield Belconnen Shopping Centre.
The photo of the light dancing about on the concrete wall was the walls of the shopping centre.
The second-last photo was the window coverings from across the road at the real estate agent.
The last photo was the Benjamin Offices just behind Westfield.)

I was there so early, without children, because the car had to be in the service centre for some warranty work. I had the whole day to myself and, apart from it becoming rather tedious by mid-afternoon, it was a bit like a mini holiday.

April Sunsets

2010-05-23T11:57:00.000+10:00

A few sunsets from my back yard. The first two taken on 13th April.

And these two were taken on 22nd April. Possum came running inside this evening, breathlessly asking me to take a photo of the sunset - quick!Talk about "pie (or Pi) in the sky."The reason Possum was so excited about this Pi cloud formation is because one of her school friends is obsessed with Pi (Possum even made this friend a Pi Christmas ornament last year.)

Sunsets from March

2010-05-20T12:25:00.000+10:00

This was the sunset on March 20. Up close it was bright reddish/pink.Zoomed back out to widest angle you can see a hint of dark purple in the clouds.And zoomed right in on the tree, looking a little further north, it's a pretty pinky-mauve.
The day before there was a lot of smoke in the air from some control burns being carried out to the south east. HB and I thought it would make a beautiful sunset, but the smoke was too thick. It did turn the sun a beautiful shade of hot pink, though!The first photo was taken from the front yard, and the last two from the back yard, so the angle is slightly different.Just before the sun touched the top of the hill it started to disappear behind some thick cloud, which we couldn't even see because of the smoke haze.

February Sunrise

2010-05-17T12:47:00.003+10:00

I have fallen behind with my sunset photos. I stopped taking so many, because after a while the sunset taken from the same vantage point loses some of it's charm. It's always pretty - sometimes even stunning - but not always photo-worthy. Life has been extremely busy lately too, and the camera has been enjoying a relatively quiet period.

One morning in February, though, I was inspired to photograph the sunrise. A storm was brewing behind the hills to the west, and the rising sun illuminated the grass and tree on the hill just beautifully.

25th February 2010.

Baby Picture Sunday - Shore Thing

2010-04-25T12:26:00.002+10:00

This is all about Possum. Her first trip to the waterfront was at Budgewoi Lions Club Park (NSW Central Coast) on Boxing Day 1995 at age 6 months. Her shirt says "If you think I'm cute you should see my aunty" given to her by HB's Aunty E for Christmas.

In January 1996 we went to Sydney for a holiday. Here's Possum with her daddy at the famous Bondi Beach......

.....and the almost-as-famous Manly Beach.(HB and Great-Uncle G also in this photo.)

The next 'beach' photo we have is from Jimmy's Beach at Hawks Nest (Port Stephens). This was her first beach-combing adventure. The shells tasted good! (October 1996 - age 15 months.)

HB tried to get her interested in boogie-boarding late in November 1996 at Kingsley Beach, Anna Bay (Port Stephens.)

Lastly, our gorgeous little Possum modeling her new swimsuit at Fly Point, Nelson Bay (Port Stephens) in September 1997, 2 years old.

Check out Debi's Blog for more beach-bathing babies!

I ♥ Faces - Collage

2010-04-19T14:44:00.004+10:00

I decided to use these funny/wistful/cheeky/sweet photos of Kitcat taken down by the lake at sunset in late February. I included some of the birds, seeing as that was what I had originally intended to photograph that evening!

You Capture: Fresh

2010-04-15T13:05:00.005+10:00

Fresh from our camping trip ....

Hot Johnny Cakes straight from the campfire.
It doesn't get much fresher than that!

Playing along with You Capture at Beth's blog.

I ♥ Faces - Dessert

2010-04-12T14:46:00.002+10:00

I was pleased with the photo I took of the chocolate logs I made. I'm not very good with presentation, but I tried.

Balloon Festival 2010

2010-04-07T10:48:00.000+10:00

A giant turtle hovering in front of Parliament House is not something you see every day.Nor is an enormous kookaburra floating above The National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon). But during the annual Canberra Balloon Festival you can see these amazing sights plus many more .... like a funny face leading a flotilla of hot air balloons past the National Capital Exhibition flagpole at Regatta Point.Balloons lifted off from the lawns surrounding the reflecting pools in front of Old Parliament House.As they rose they floated above the cylindrical tower of the National Science and Technology Centre..... They drifted peacefully past the the National Library....
...and one seem about to collide with the startling orange arch of the National Museum, as a rowing crew stopped to watch from beneath Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.Another group of hot air balloons appeared further east, having surprised us by lifting off from somewhere near Fyshwick, probably the Jerrabomberra Wetlands or Dairy Flat. They decorated the sky above and around the National Carillion.This is my favourite.These balloons drifted gracefully past the National Gallery .... ... and gently set down at Old Parliament House, where the others had started.
(Canberra Balloon Festival - Saturday 13th March 2010)

I ♥ Faces - Angles

2010-03-22T18:59:00.003+11:00

The theme of angles reminded me of this cute photo of Ducky who dressed up in a hardhat decorated with a sequined bow and teamed it with a crimson cloak. She looked up at me over her shoulder as she walked away and I was lucky enough to get this gem.

Click the button to see more different angles.

I ♥ Faces - Bundled Up!

2010-03-15T11:02:00.003+11:00

We have not needed to bundle up for many months,
although the mornings are becoming a little chilly lately.
The theme of 'bundled up' reminded me of Kitcat in the snow.
Love the rosy cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes.

Baby Picture Sunday - Green

2010-03-14T13:13:00.002+11:00

We don't really "do" St Patricks Day here in Australia very much, unless you're an Irish Aussie I suppose. But I do have some photos of the babies wearing green.

Since I focused on Ducky last week I decided to look for photos of Mousie this week. When she was born I still had some little onesies left over from when Dragon was a baby, so here she is having "tummy time" in a green outfit. Her nickname at this time was fluff-head because her hair would never lay down flat.

Mousie in a green-trimmed hooded towel. Look at those chubby cheeks!

And last, Mousie in the green hospital gown - taken when she was 6 months old and had her hernia repaired. This photo brings back so many memories - she is still the only one of my children to have undergone surgery. A very worrying time. (And, of course, HB was away that month.)

For more 'green' photos click the button to go to Debi's blog.

You Capture: Quiet

2010-03-11T15:53:00.002+11:00

Over the weekend I was photographing flowers in my garden in preparation for this week's challenge. It was pretty quiet and peaceful in the garden, until my daughter yelled "Quick! Look! Wow, it's huge!!"

And it was - a very large praying mantis. It was only sightly wary of me, hardly moving when I got closer and closer to take it's photo.

Here's a collage of close-up praying mantis shots.

(click the image to enlarge)

Then I realised that a blue tongue lizard was quietly watching me from his sunny spot near the wall. He was being very quiet.
(Click image to enlarge)

After taking a few shots of the lizard I turned back to the praying mantis which had quietly moved away ....

..... goodbye!

For more quiet photos click over to Beth's Blog.

I ♥ Faces - Jump for Joy!

2010-03-08T17:46:00.002+11:00

This was pure joy - the first trip to the beach after a long winter and unseasonably cool spring. The water was clear, the sand was warm, the waves were perfect ..... why not jump for joy?

(Depot Beach, NSW South Coast, December 2009)

Click on the button for more jumping.

Baby Picture Sunday - Feels Like Spring

2010-03-07T22:22:00.004+11:00

Well it's not even close to Spring here - much warmer, actually - although we have been getting a lot of rain lately which is making it 'feel like spring'.

Since it was Ducky's birthday last Thursday I thought I would use a couple photos of her enjoying her first Spring as a toddler. Here HB caught her mid bounce on the trampoline.And here she is enjoying an early Spring trip to the beach, sitting in the castle Possum, Dragon & friend had made just for her in the sand.(Both these photos taken Spring 2003. This was the first year we had a digital camera.)

Check out Debi's blog for more ... click on the button.

You Capture: Hopeful

2010-03-05T10:35:00.004+11:00

This week's challenge was 'hopeful'. To be honest, I forgot all about it. Then when it came time to enter the challenge I went looking through my photos from the past week, hoping to find something hopeful.

And I managed to photograph 'hopeful' without even realising! We went down to the lake foreshore one evening. The girls all had a soft serve ice cream, and the birds came in the hope of getting something to eat. First the seagulls flew in and perched on the lightposts.

It was fun trying to get a good shot of them landing.

And it was funny to see how they sat in the hope that we would throw them some morsels.

Then the ducks realised there could be some food being given away and they came, with hope in their little hearts, all the way from the other side of the lake.

Suddenly the swans seemed to come from nowhere.
What could be more hopeful than this?.......

.....a pair of swans hoping desperately that Teddy (that's the tip of her yellow shoes there on the top left of this photo) would share her ice cream.

Look at the hope in those eyes!

Needless to say, the swans, ducks and seagulls didn't even get a sniff of those soft-serve cones. They are such a treat for my girls that I didn't even get a lick!

For more hopeful photos go to Beth's blog.

Baby Picture Sunday - Commando Crawling

2010-02-28T21:26:00.002+11:00

Joining in with Baby Picture Sunday again, hosted by Debi.

The theme this week is army crawling. Dragon was the only one of our children to drag himself along the ground in this way. We used to call it 'commando crawling'. Dragon crawled like this for quite a few months until he finally got up on his hands and knees. This photo was the only one I could find of Dragon moving in this way. He is at Paterson park with Possum and Uncle Wolf. (15th January 1998)

Check out Debi's blog for more commando-crawling babies!

Birds from Nano's Garden

2010-02-27T12:57:00.001+11:00

Not only does my mum grow lots of lovely flowers in her garden, but she also grows birds .... see, she waters them too. (Long Billed Corella having a shower under the sprinkler.)

"Are you looking at me?" asked the Rainbow Lorrikeet.

"Well, I suppose you can take my photograph. This is my best side."Mum said the locals think this Indian Ringneck must have escaped from a breeder or collector. It seems quite at home in the Australian bush and holds its own at the bird feeder.I was told it gets its name from the red & black ring around its neck, not because you want to ring it's neck when it starts its annoying whistling.This Galah didn't mind me taking its photo.

"Hey, I thought you were taking photos of me!" protests the Galah when I try to get a shot of the Crested Pigeon.The Crested Pigeon - dumber than a chook? Maybe ... but arguably prettier. A Honey Eater in it's nest ..... I told you Nano grows birds in her backyard.

Photos taken early January 2010.

Flowers from Nano's Garden

2010-02-26T11:41:00.003+11:00

Taken early January 2010.
Sunflower.
Tired, old gardenia. (That's how I feel a lot of the time)
I think this is some kind of native orchid?
And I think this is another, but not sure.
I know this is a marigold.
And this is one of the tiny little flowers from mum's chive plant.
Bamboo in the back yard.
And this is some kind of banksia.

You Capture: Kisses

2010-02-18T21:00:00.000+11:00

Spontaneous kisses are such a special, but fleeting, moment in time. Certainly not something very easy to capture unless you are holding the camera in your hand at that very moment ..... which I actually was when I snapped Mousie kissing her little sister Teddy, who was kissing her teddy bear Bailey.I just happened to have the camera out, turned on, and just had to pop the flash to take the photo. It's a little blurry, and Teddy looked up as I clicked, but it's still a very special moment. (Teddy was upset about something and was comforting herself with her teddy bear, and then Mousie came along to give some extra comfort.)

Then I asked Kitcat to give her big brother a kiss. She complied quite willingly ..... .... and then really got into the spirit of things!See more kissy-kissy photos at Beth's Blog.

I ♥ Faces - Dancing

2010-02-15T11:29:00.006+11:00

Ring-a-Rosy

(click photo to enlarge)

There's never any shortage of dancing around here. I had trouble choosing which one to use, but decided that this one of the three youngest girls playing ring-a-rosy at the park captured the joy of early spring.

You Capture: Work

2010-02-12T11:52:00.003+11:00

I was not going to photograph the laundry (which, it seems, is ALL I ever do!!) So instead I took a couple photos of Kitcat hard at work mixing up pancakes - from scratch!

She thinks it is hilarious to 'smash' the egg yolks with the wooden spoon.

Check out Beth's blog for more working photos.

January 2010 Sunset Photos

2010-02-08T10:07:00.004+11:00

Roses at sundown.
Roses at sunset.
Sunburnt rose.
Sunset 12th January 2010.
Sunset 16th January 2010.
Sunset 26th January 2010.
Orange sunset, 29th January 2010.
Closer, 29th January 2010.Sunset and agapanthus.
Sunset behind agapanthus.
Sunset through agapanthus.

You Capture: Faces

2010-02-05T11:22:00.004+11:00

Well it wasn't hard to capture faces this week at our house. It's Back-To-School time, which means lots of 'firsts' and lots of photo taking.

Dragon - first day of High School (Year 7/Stage 4)
Thursday 28th January 2010
Mousie - first day of Year 1 (Infants Stage 1)
Thursday 28th January 2010
Ducky - first day of Primary (Year 3/Stage 2)
Thursday 28th January 2010
Possum - first day of Year 9 (High School Stage 5)
Friday 29th January 2010
Kitcat - first day of Pre-School (Transition to School Program)
Friday 29th January 2010
Teddy - first day of Kindergarten (Infants Early Stage 1)
Monday 1st February 2010

Check out Beth's blog for more face photos.

You Capture: Colour

2010-01-29T11:42:00.003+11:00

I have been taking lots of photos this week. I have back-to-school photos, Teddy's-birthday photos, beautiful-summer-sunset photos and many more.

But I decided to use these photos for my choice of 'colour' shots this week. Teddy got some play makeup for her birthday and these were some of the results.

I particularly like Kitcat's ... one blue and one pink!
Hysterical!

Have a look at Beth's blog for more colour photography.

You Capture: Loved Items

2010-01-22T20:10:00.003+11:00

This week we were given the challenge of photographing loved items around our home, in as interesting a way as possible.

I did my best. These are some of my most cherished material possessions.

This is a painting of the Cutty Sark, which my mum did for me when I was a teenager and I had a 'thing' for tall ships. (She used to do china painting.)My late Grandma had a ginger cat called Sandy. She bought this cat teapot because it looked like her Sandy. I kept it after her death because it reminded me of her. When Possum was a little girl Aunty J would come around to our house for "Pussy Cat Tea" from Grandma's Sandy teapot.

The first time HB had to go away on an extended army assignment he brought home this little teddy bear for me, so I would have something to cuddle when he went away for long trips. It now sits on top of my jewelery box with this special fluffy-wool-weaving which Possum created for me in Year 4.

And lastly, a little trinket box which is another item of china painted for me by my mum. In it is my late Grandma's gold bracelet. Also in the trinket box is my sterling silver charm bracelet, bought for me by my mother-in-law. My mum collected most of the charms for me, many from her various travels around the world.

For more love around the house, go to I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Macro Plant Photography

2010-01-18T20:54:00.002+11:00

Some more garden photos from late November/early December 2009 using the macro and super macro functions on my camera. This is a young, unfurled fern frond.A tiny succulent flower against a backgroun of Sweet Alice.

I don't know the name of these flowers, but I call them mini triffids. (I often get the feeling they are watching me!)

Another teeny, tiny succulent flower, completely dwarfed by the mondo grass in the background.

And lastly, a microscopic ant on the end of the teeny, tiny succulent flower, which looks like it is entering a portal into another dimension courtesy of the lens flare made by the setting sun reflecting off a drop of water on the flower's tip.

Okay, truthfully, that's what I was hoping it would look like. I enhanced the water droplet and added a more exciting lens flare than I actually managed to capture.

You Capture: Winter

2010-01-14T17:10:00.002+11:00

Well it is definitely not winter here in Australia, but looking through the June/July photos for this week's challenge did make me feel a bit cooler. If only I could import some of this lovely snow into our stinkin' hot summer!

Kitcat and a snowman.

Teddy playing peek-a-boo behind the gum tree.

Kitcat playing hide-and-seek amongst the gum trees.

The biggest frost particles I have ever seen.

For more recent "Winter" photos, see the linky list at
I Should Be Folding Laundry.

A few sunsets

2010-01-12T20:59:00.000+11:00

Just two sunsets I took last month and never got around to posting, until now. I like the rainbow lens flare in this one.
I fiddled with this one a bit, changing the colour saturation and contrast. I think it almost looks abstract.

I ♥ Faces - Best Face Photo

2010-01-11T22:09:00.002+11:00

It's Birthday time at i♥faces. This week the face photo has to have been taken within the last 6 weeks, which made me think of this sweet, contemplative photo I recently took of my little Kitcat.

(click on photo to enlarge)

Kitcat, Nelson Bay Marina, 1st January 2010.

Roses

2010-01-07T20:46:00.001+11:00

Wild rosebud in my garden, just before sunset. Another wild native rose.
Miniature pink rose, from Kitcat's little rose bush.
Rose bud from our neighbour's beautiful bush.
Another from next door.
And another, close up.

And one of my favourites from our neighbour's rose bush. (They have a delightful fragrance too - the roses, that is, not the neighbours ..... which doesn't mean the neighbours smell bad, of course.)

The end.

(all taken in late November, early December 2009.)

Interesting Cloudy Sunset

2009-12-20T15:58:00.003+11:00

(Click photos to enlarge)

Early December 2009 - cloudy sunset behind some dandelion fluff.
Cloudy sunset with the neighbour's roses in the foreground.
Cloudy sunset with flowers and rocks.
Close up of the sun behind the clouds.
Sun setting behind the hill, illuminating the unusual cloud formations

I ♥ Faces - Animals

2009-12-14T19:12:00.002+11:00

Rhino says "It's the same old thing every day ... {sigh} ... people come in, look, take photos ... {sigh} ... this ain't a life. Oh well, at least the food's good."

Baby Picture Sunday - Looks Like Christmas

2009-12-13T22:31:00.004+11:00

Scrapbooking Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com

2006 was the last year one of my children experienced a "First Christmas". As with most babies, she was more interested in the wrapping paper than the gifts!

Stop by Debi's blog to see more cute Christmassy babies.

You Capture: Lines

2009-12-12T14:44:00.008+11:00

(Click photo to enlarge)

This week's theme is 'lines' and although I didn't actually go looking for 'lines' this week, I still managed to photograph some.

Ducky had her annual ballet concert this week, and I took some posed shots of her on our front driveway.

Lines = stripes on her tutu and tutu's shadow, plane trails in the sky, pattern on the driveway, on the edges of the road, in the house across the street, and of course he beautiful 'lines' of her body in this pose.

Here are some more poses from our photo session.

Front view - the serious look.

The side view. We had to get the costume and hairdo from all angles.

The back view - an attempt at an arabesque.

I ♥ Faces - Sweet Dreams

2009-12-08T13:23:00.002+11:00

This is my little Teddy, sleeping with her precious "Baby Jo".
Taken at naptime, I like the softness given by the natural light coming from the slightly open curtains.

For more sleeping beauties, click the button.

Autumn

2009-12-04T21:55:00.005+11:00

Mirrored reflection stares
At her crowning glory.
A light dusting of frost
Dulls the morning shine.

She's losing her sparkle.

Her near replica stands above.
Searching.
The chilly evidence
Presents itself.

"Here's another."

Connection broken.
Discarded. Falls.
The evidence destroyed
For now.

Soon to be reenacted.

No longer singular,
Or isolated.
The evidence increases.
Drooping, defeated,

The fall now in showers.

Baby Picture Sunday - Why I'm Thankful

2009-11-29T19:53:00.002+11:00

Naturally I am very thankful for all my children, but at the time of Mousie's birth I was especially thankful.

Late in my pregnancy, at about 33 weeks, I developed obstetric cholestasis - a condition which has potentially fatal consequences for the baby. I was induced at 37 weeks to reduce the chances that my baby would be stillborn. It was a frightening experience, and the induction was the most intensely painful labour and delivery I have had to endure.

But in the end we were so blessed, so thankful, to hold a very healthy Mousie in our arms. She did not suffer any ill effect from the condition, and I was also thankful that the dreadful itch went away a few weeks later!Mousie's big brother, and two big sisters were very thankful to welcome her to our family (after Dragon got over his initial disappointment at not getting the baby brother he had been hoping for so desperately.)

We had cause to be thankful 6 months later when Mousie had surgery to repair a supra umbilical hernia - another potentially serious condition where her intestine could have got stuck in the hernia and strangulated. Here she is in the hospital cot prior to her operation. The surgery went very well, for which we are very thankful. This is a photo of Mousie with the huge bandage they put right around her tummy afterwards.She recovered very quickly, and only someone who knew she's had a repair can tell her belly button is not 'normal'.

Head over to Debi's blog for more thankful photos.

You Capture: Food

2009-11-26T13:24:00.003+11:00

Food photographs are in abundance over at Beth's blog this week. You should really go have a look - just wait until you've eaten or you will certainly end up feeling more than a little bit hungry!!

This was dinner - nachos..

This was the makings of marbled cake - the batter.

The marbling.

The baked cake.

The very last piece!

I ♥ Faces - Sun Flare

2009-11-24T09:38:00.002+11:00

I remember this summer evening in the park very clearly. Teddy was having such a lovely time exploring and experiencing the lush green grass (probably the first time she ever crawled through green grass, due to the drought.)

Baby Picture Sunday - Pretty as a Picture

2009-11-22T10:48:00.000+11:00

Debi is hosting Baby Picture Sunday at her blog each week. This week's theme is "Pretty as a Picture."

I have so many pretty pictures of my girls, but I did my best to narrow it down to one of each. This is Kitcat, age 4 months.
Teddy wearing one of the beautiful outfits made by Nanna, age 2 months.
Mousie at Commonwealth Park by Lake Burley Griffin, age 11 months.
This is one of my favourite photos of her as a baby.
Ducky dressed as a fairy princess, eating chocolate biscuits, age 18 months.

I had to include this very recent photo of my pretty Possum.
And this is another recent photo, taken just last week before church.

Click on the button to see more pretty pictures.

You Capture: Sunset/Sunrise

2009-11-20T11:24:00.004+11:00

Even though my little girls do their best to wake me up before the sun rises, I am in no shape to be taking photos of it. Our house is much better situated for(and my brain is much more able to cope with) sunsets.

At this time of year was are spoiled for beautiful sunsets. I took so many last weekend that I ran the camera batteries out twice! This is the first one - SOOC.This is the same sunset as above, but zoomed in a bit closer and then edited with 'auto fix'. I don't mind the lighter pink and bluey purple in the sky, but I prefer the original deep reds.

Some of my lavender flowers at sunset - taken without flash and then edited to saturate the colours a bit.

Same shot as above but with flash - SOOC .
Sunset rose buds, taken with flash on macro setting - SOOC.
Another sunset SOOC.
Same sunset, zoomed in a lot - SOOC.
And the same one again, zoomed right in on the trio of trees. Edited only to sharpen the silhouettes slightly.

** SOOC = straight out of camera

I ♥ Faces - Autumn Beauty

2009-11-16T13:54:00.009+11:00

Love this photo of Ducky, Kitcat, Teddy and Mousie.

They enjoyed throwing the pretty autumn leaves up into the air and watching them float back down to the ground.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

(May 2009 - Weston Park, Yarralumla, ACT, Australia.)

Baby Picture Sunday - Mummy's Helper

2009-11-08T21:59:00.004+11:00

I just had too many photos to fit this week's theme, but I kept it down to three.

Here's Ducky helping me feed Mousie her dinner of homemade mashed vegetables.
(January 2005.)

Mummy's little helper Ducky again, this time giving baby Teddy the last of her bottle.

(March 2005)

And here's Kitcat 'helping' me do the vacuuming.
I hope she will enjoy it this much when she is old enough to actually be helpful.
(April 2008)

Click on the button to go to Debi's blog and find links to more cute "little helper" photos.

Sunset Flowers

2009-11-06T12:47:00.008+11:00

It's that time of year again when the Sunset Flowers bloom here in Canberra.
{See last year's Sunset Flowers}

Sunset Lavender.
Sunset seaside daisies.
Sunset eucalyptus tree.
Inside an iris at sunset.
Getting intimate with an iris at sunset.

Sunset Rose.
Sunset rose and rosebud.
Sunset succulents.
Sunset iris buds.
Sunset iris.
Field of Patterson's curse at sunset.
Sunset lily bud.
Fiery sunset lily.You Capture - Photographer's Choice.

I ♥ Faces - Balloons

2009-11-03T22:08:00.002+11:00

Floriade's Tulips

2009-10-21T22:03:00.006+11:00

Here's some pretty tulips with Parliament House in the background.

Change the angle a little, and now Parliament House is wearing a skirt of flowers.

Go a little lower, and the tulips are towering over the flagpole.

Now change the focus and feature the more beautiful of the two designs. (Can you see the Parliament House flagpole blurred in the background?)

Here's another exercise in focus - feature the ferris wheel with a blurry tulip in the foreground.

Then feature the tulip with a blurry ferris wheel in the background.

A photo of a gorgeous burgundy tulip. So pretty surrounded by dainty white daisies.

White and purple tulips with the old pine trees in the background.

Close up of a purple tulip.

A final photo of the flower beds with the lake (and strange sculpture) in the background.

I ♥ Faces - Pink

2009-10-19T21:59:00.002+11:00

This is my pink Kitcat. She's so cute.

Click he button for more pink shots.

You Capture: Autumn/Fall

2009-10-02T10:53:00.005+10:00

Ah, the disadvantages of living on the other side of the world. And not only that, but in the opposite hemisphere as well.

Such a disadvantage means I could not take "Fall" photos this past week - because it just does not ever happen here, in Australia, in September or October.

So I decided this was a good opportunity to record some photos taken quite a while ago - the first Autumn we spent in Canberra, in fact. This was the first time we experienced a 'real' Autumn. (Amazing the difference in weather when you drive 6 hours south and inland! )

Possum backed by Autumn colour.

Alright now, get those leaves ready to throw ....

Okay, NOW! Throw them up!

Keep going, that looks great!
Now lay back in the leaves and relax.

You too Dragon! Are you enjoying that?

Beautiful colour in the trees.

Lake Ginninderra Park
Belconnen, ACT, Australia.
3rd May 2003

Clouds

2009-10-01T21:51:00.000+10:00

I have always loved clouds ... in all their forms.

Once I was at a school holiday camp. During morning devotions the group leader suggested that we all stand in a line along the jetty and thank God, out loud, for one thing He created that we particularly loved.

I was at the end of the line listening to others give thanks for trees, the bay, birds, mountains ... When it was my turn I thanked God for the beautiful clouds which were billowing, huge, along the horizon.

The leader said "Amen" and I became aware of little titters of laughter all around me. The others thought clouds were a strange thing to thank God for, and even the leader said he was thinking of something 'more solid'.

So I was left wondering if my liking for clouds was indeed weird. Was it silly to enjoy something so transient?

I used to watch clouds for ages. I'd wonder how tall they were, admire their crisp whiteness against the deep blue sky, look for shapes, watch the shapes change so quickly on a windy day .....

I came to the conclusion that there was nothing silly about liking clouds, and I love them still.

How else could you see a giant jellyfish flying through the sky?Cotter Reserve - July 2009

I♥Faces: Blue

2009-09-28T18:56:00.004+10:00

In my opinion there is no blue more beautiful than the blue of the ocean.

Kitcat was feeling a little 'blue' so HB took her for a ride on the windsurfer board.
Click photo to enlarge.

{Long Beach, NSW South Coast, Australia}

Click the button for more blue photos.

I♥Faces: Completely Candid

2009-09-22T08:28:00.002+10:00

When I saw the theme for this week's challenge I immediately thought of the photos I took earlier this month of Kitcat watching Dragon play his GameBoy.

I think the concentration on his face and the interest on hers makes a very cute, completely candid shot! (Click on the image to enlarge)

Click on the button for more candid shots.

Tanilba Bay Sunset

2009-09-21T13:51:00.005+10:00

A collection of photos I took at Tanilba Bay during the July school holidays.HB in silhouette (no he doesn't have a huge nose, that's the camera zoom lens.)

Two sailing boats.

Two more sailing boats, through the tree trunks.

More boats between tree trunks.

The whole bay full of boats.

HB taking a photo of Teddy.

A house boat and a sailing boat.

Sailing boat on rosy waters.

Trimaran

Baby Picture Sunday - Sharing

2009-09-20T15:08:00.006+10:00

Sharing - it all started with this shirt.

My mum made this for Possum's first Christmas, and it lasted to fit her on her second Christmas too (1996 - 18 months old)

Dragon wore it for his first Christmas (1997 - 9 months old)

Ducky wore it for her first, and her second Christmas (2003 - 21 months old)
You can't see the design very well because 'Sunny Dolly' got in the way.

Mousie wore it for her first Christmas (2004 - 11 months old)

Teddy wore it for her first Christmas (2005 - 11 months old)

And finally, Kitcat wore it for her first Christmas (2006 - 8 months old)We intend to frame this shirt with photos of each of the Half-dozen wearing it .... one day!

Click on the button to go to "Who Says 8 is Enough?" to see more baby photos.

I♥Faces: Contemplative

2009-09-14T14:04:00.005+10:00

Another week when I had a surplus of photos and just couldn't choose!!
I finally settled on this shot of Possum with a dreamy, faraway look on her face.

Click on the photo to see enlarged imaged.

Click on the i♥faces button to see more contemplative photos.

Baby Picture Sunday - Twinkle Toes

2009-09-13T14:44:00.005+10:00

Time for Baby Picture Sundays again. Debi hosts this at her blog each week, and the theme this time is Twinkle Toes.

The weather has been warming up here, and this is how I found my three youngest girls girls playing outside one afternoon. They all have a different idea of appropriate Early Spring Footwear.Mousie - socks and thongs. Kitcat - just socks. Teddy - princess dress-up high heels.

But this was the one I was looking for - a photo of Possum foot and Kitcat's cute little tootsies.

Kitcat - 7 months old : Possum 11 years old.
(November 2006)

To play along, or see more cute twinkle toes, click here.

I♥Faces: Back to School

2009-09-07T14:39:00.005+10:00

It's Back To School time in USA so that's the theme of this week's challenge.
Here's Mousie wearing her new school uniform on her very first day of school back in February.

Click the button to see more!

Baby Picture Sunday - I Wanna Hold Your Hand

2009-09-06T15:27:00.004+10:00

Well this proved to be a tricky theme. I don't have many photos of my children holding hands, even as babies! I found this one of Dragon and Kitcat holding hands and dancing. This is the only other hand-holding photo I could find.But I have many more like this - hugs and cuddles. Or this ..... sisterly love at it's sweetest.

Click on the button to see more hand-holding over at "Who Says 8 is Enough?"

Baby Picture Sunday - Feeding Frenzy

2009-08-30T16:45:00.004+10:00

Baby Picture Sunday this week is featuring Feeding Frenzy photos. Debi commented last week that I should have no trouble finding some photos to fit this category, and boy was she right! After only looking for 5 minutes I found all these ..... I stopped looking. It was too embarrassing.

Lets start with something a little civilized - this is Dragon feeding baby Teddy yogurt. (I love his open mouth.) Here's another mouth open wide. Dragon was feeding Ducky his ice cream cone on the swing set out the back. He was teasing her a bit too. Now lets go from open mouths to stuffed mouths - Ducky with a mouth full of cream bun. And Ducky again, this time with a face full of chocolate lamington. Yum!And another little mouth stuffed full of cream bun - Mousie this time!A cute photo of Mousie feeding herself yogurt.Teddy was so hungry she started eating the placemat.Teddy scoffing down some cheese crackers.Teddy again, chewing on a chicken leg bone.Feeding yourself is exhausting! (Teddy asleep at lunch time.) My personal favourite - "Peanut Butter Monster Mousie."Had to include one of Christmas dinner 2003 - that bowl HB is holding is full of prawn skins. (Ewww!)Click on the button to see more feeding frenzies.

Baby Picture Sunday - Fruits and Veggies

2009-08-23T14:32:00.003+10:00

I don't have many photos of my children eating fruit and vegetables. I usually only get the camera out for messy food or birthdays. But while scrolling through our digital photos I found these two - Possum and Dragon eating a mango. This is part of our Christmas tradition - mangoes for Christmas breakfast.Yum!!
(These photos were taken in 2003)When Dragon saw this he said "Oh man, I want to eat a mango now."

For more baby photos click the button.

I♥Faces: Bubbles

2009-08-17T15:21:00.000+10:00

Teddy loves a bubble bath.

For more bubble photos, click the button.

You Capture: Motion

2009-08-13T14:58:00.003+10:00

It wasn't hard to get 'motion' shots. My Half-dozen are always on the go.

Teddy on the trampoline.

Ducky on the slide.

Kitcat on the swing.

Click here to see more MOTION.

I♥Faces: Funny Face & Pets

2009-08-10T15:09:00.002+10:00

My PET entry first - I really liked how this photo of a rainbow lorikeet turned out. These birds come to the feeder at my mum's house every day.

My FUNNY CRAZY face entry - this is Ducky clowning around when I was trying to get a nice photo of her to send to the relatives. (Her hair had been done nicely up until the point she buried her head in a pile of cushions.)

Want to see more photos? - click the button.

Baby Picture Sunday - Orange

2009-08-09T19:58:00.004+10:00

Debi is hosting Baby Picture Sundays, and this week the theme is "Orange You Glad."

First, here's Mousie (aged 14 months) playing at the Fun Factory during Dragon's 8th Birthday party (which is why she has a name tag.) My mum gave her this cute little orange outfit with little hippos printed all over the shorts.
This one was taken in July 2005, Mousie was 18 months old and Teddy was 6 months old. Which one is the baby?
Teddy is wearing another orange outfit supplied by my mum.

Here's Kitcat, aged 18 months, wearing the same orange outfit as Mousie in the first photo.

And I couldn't resist including this photo of Kitcat wearing her bright orange floatie - I laugh every time I see it because of the expression on her face.

Head over to Debi's Blog to see who else is playing along.

July Sunsets

2009-08-04T14:48:00.008+10:00

Here are my favourite sunset photos from JULY 2009.All these photos were taken in a 48 hour period.There were many more times Possum called me to "Come and see the sunset" but I was too busy (usually stirring something on the stove which couldn't be left alone for even a minute!) and I missed taking lots of sunset photos.In the Southern Hemisphere the sun will continue to move north a little each evening until the middle of September, so we will not be able to see too many spectacular displays for the next 6 weeks or so.We will very likely be moving away from Canberra next year, and who knows what the sunsets will be like in our new location.I suppose awesome sunsets happen all over the world every evening, but we seem to get more than our fair share here.But then who knows? We may find our new city has even better sunsets.Have to look on the bright side ☺

(Not sure why the centre of this sunset is green? Or is it just my monitor?)

Do You Agree?

2009-08-03T08:54:00.003+10:00

"The worst thing you can do for those you love is to do for them the things they could or should do for themselves."

~ Abraham Lincoln

You Capture: Friends (Cousins)

2009-07-30T19:00:00.004+10:00

When I saw the theme of 'friends' I couldn't resist delving into the archives to find this favourite photo of the cousins from the summer before last.But I do have a very recent photo to share too. Here they are (plus some more) just last week.I am always amazed that even though these cousins only get to see each other about twice a year, they seem to be good friends. Must be that 'Blood is thicker than water" thingo.See more "Friends" photos at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Eroded

2009-07-26T23:59:00.000+10:00

Once an arch stretched o'er the water,
Once a cave held secrets dark,
Once a tunnel burrowed deeply,
Once a stack stood silent, stark.

These were timeless, spanning centuries,
These were pillars, massive, strong,
These were monuments of ages,
These, to ancient times belong.

Then the arch grew weak and tumbled,
Then the cave walls seaward clattered,
Then the tunnel's cover crumbled,
Then the stack just simply shattered.

Once arch, now two lonely pillars.
Once cave, now cove of standard stock.
Once tunnel, now become a Blowhole.
Once stack, now just a pile of rock.

© Pics 'n' Poems 2009

{I was inspired to write this poem after I heard that Island Arch on the Port Campbell Coast lost its arch just weeks after we returned from our holiday. For background information on the coastal erosion in that area read here, here and here.}

i ♥ faces: At the Beach

2009-07-25T13:38:00.001+10:00

Here's Ducky at our favourite beach - Long Beach on the NSW south coast.

I like this photo because all the colours match well, and her stance brings a smile to my face whenever I look at it.

Click on the button for more beach photos.

June Sunsets

2009-07-20T19:47:00.002+10:00

June was a rather rainy, overcast month. Many days it was foggy in the morning, the sun shone through briefly around 2pm and then the clouds moved back in to crowd the horizon. Some days we didn't see the sun at all. I only managed to shoot 2 pretty sunsets during this month.

I love the rosy glow reflecting on the clouds.(16 June 2009)
This was taken on 26 June 2009. The sun set just before the clouds covered the horizon.
I'm feeling pretty pleased about the fact that it's only mid-July and I've caught up with this year's sunset photos.

Sunsets from May 2009

2009-07-17T20:12:00.000+10:00

May was a month of beautiful sunsets. It seemed every afternoon the sun produced another stunning farewell to our part of the earth.

2nd May 09.

5th May 09 "Eye in the Sky" (can you see it?)

9th May 2009 sunset panorama.

Same sunset (21st May 2009), but three very different characters each shot in a slightly different direction.
ENE, zoomed in.ENE, landscape shot.Due West, zoomed in on the tree.

Another three sunsets, from 30th May 2009, taken in the same direction but at three different times. Just before sunset.Just after sunset.After the sun has truly sunk, sending out it's last, longest rays.

You Capture: Shapes

2009-07-16T20:32:00.003+10:00

What do you give your toddlers for afternoon tea/snack when all they keep asking for is marshmallows?A Fruit Flower! I quickly made up this 'almost' healthy treat for my girls this afternoon, and told them the centre of the flower would taste better if they ate the petals first. They gobbled up their fruit and were (thankfully) satisfied with only one marshmallow. I though it made a pretty shape too!

Now this is the most wonderful shape in the world combined with one of the most wonderful flavours in the world - an ANZAC biscuit made in the shape of the map of Australia. Advance Australia Fair!

Click on the button for more shapely photos.

I♥Faces: Sports in Action

2009-07-13T17:10:00.002+10:00

Dragon doing a wheelie, and loving it!

Baby Picture Sunday - Sugary Love

2009-07-12T21:15:00.003+10:00

Debi is hosting Baby Picture Sunday at her blog each week. The theme this week is "Gimme Some Sugar".

Here's Dragon and Kitcat sharing a cuddle (2006).A very young Ducky loving her big sister. (2004)Big sister Possum is a huggles favourite with all the little sisters. This is a precious sunset moment with Mousie (2005)Teddy didn't get her name for no reason - she was such a cute baby everyone wanted to hold and hug her (just like a Teddy Bear!) Here she is with Possum. (2005)

For more sugary baby photos click the button.

Possum on a Sugar High

2009-07-12T10:25:00.004+10:00

Possum - about 7 years old - on a sugar high.

I♥Faces: Patriotic Edition - VP Day !!

2009-07-06T21:17:00.005+10:00

Here in Australia I think our most 'patriotic' day would have to be ANZAC Day on 25th April. I don't usually take my camera along to ANZAC Day ceremonies, but I did take my camera to the VP (Victory in Pacific) Day 60th Anniversary Celebrations when they were held on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin back in 2005.There were all sorts of wonderful displays by our armed forces, both in the sky.... ... and on the land. That's the Band of the Royal Military College Duntroon on stage and Ducky (3 years) and Mousie (18 months) dancing to their music.If the band slowed down all we had to do was look skyward for entertainment.And when the aeroplanes flew away it was time for more dancing and flag-waving.This is not something you see every day - a jeep hanging beneath a helicopter.Possum (10 years) really got into the patriotic spirit with her Australian Flag tattoo.60 Years of military aircraft flew overhead just as the sun was setting.And then we settled in for the fireworks. (That cute baby there is Teddy, 7 months.)What could stir those deep feeling of national pride more than a spectacular fireworks display over the capital city, honouring the veterans who kept our country safe all those years ago!?

Click on the button to see more patriotic photo stories.

This photo story was brought to you courtesy of hickspixoz

Baby Picture Sunday - Temper, Temper

2009-07-05T14:50:00.006+10:00

With six children I have certainly endured my fair share of temper tantrums. The problem is I didn't usually think to grab the camera for a photo. We have quite a few videos of tantrums because sometimes that was a strategy HB and I used to diffuse the situation (showing them a video of themself having a tantrum often distracted them long enough that they forgot what they were upset about. Then there were the times it just enraged them even more....)

So anyway, the only real 'baby' photo I could find of a temper tantrum was this one of Possum, aged 1 year old. She took advantage of my answering a phone call to toddle down to her bedroom and start pulling the tissues out of the box. When I discovered what she was doing, and chastised her, she kept pulling the tissues out with defiant tears rolling down her face.

Here is my favourite video of a tantrum. Dragon may not be a baby in this clip, but he certainly is acting like one! (This was one of the times taking a video worked. After this he never argued about taking his medicine.) The video is only short, and for some reason it works better the second time you play it. Dragon is nearly 6 years old in this video - taken February 2003.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

See who else is playing this week - click the button.

You Capture: Photographer's Choice

2009-07-02T10:09:00.008+10:00

Well it's been yet another busy week, but I did get a chance to photograph one of our stunning winter sunsets. (It's winter here in Australia.) I just love the colour and texture in this one.

Click on the button ↑ to see who else has been out photographing this week.

I♥Faces: Wedding Bells

2009-06-29T12:59:00.004+10:00

"I've Lost My Tiara!!"

Baby Picture Sunday - The Heat is On

2009-06-28T15:54:00.004+10:00

Debi is hosting Baby Picture Sundays on her blog each week.

This week the theme is "The Heat is On!" And I wish it were ....... we're freezing here in the middle of a Canberra winter, but it was fun to look through our photos and pick out some summery pics for this week.

For us, summer heat = visiting family during the Christmas Holidays. Here's Kitcat, 8 months, having a chitchat with my Grandma. It was a hot summer afternoon, despite what you might think from my Grandma's clothing. (She is always cold!) (Jan 07)Another summer favourite for our family is having dinner at the park. This is Teddy, 11 months, enjoying the cooler evening breezes at Commonwealth Park by Lake Burley Griffin. (Jan 06)But swimming is the best way to escape the heat. This was Mousie's first swim, 10 months old, at the Big Splash waterpark in Canberra. She was happy as long as Possum (9 years) was holding her. (Dec 04)Our absolute favourite way to take advantage of those times when The Heat is On is to go to the beach. Ducky (9 months) wasn't happy about her first beach swimming experience and needed reassurance from Daddy. (Jan 03)This has to be one of my favourite summer photos of baby Dragon (9 months) taken at the park at Gloucester, NSW. (Jan 98)

Last, Possum (6 months) with HB at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach. (Jan 96)

Click the button to see more summery baby photos.

You Capture: Um .... Summer

2009-06-25T21:41:00.003+10:00

I missed last week's challenge. Things have been completely crazy around here. The only reason I could join in this week is because it's not summer here. This photo challenge is supposed to get one out and about taking fresh photos, but there was no way I was going to capture any sort of summery photo this week. We've had fog nearly every day up to about 2pm. Top temperatures have been hovering around 8C (and that's a warm day!) Nearly all the plants in my garden were killed by the frost and ice a fortnight ago.

So ... I got to search the archives without feeling guilty. This photo of Kitcat sums up summer for our family - being at the beach. She is looking very pleased because she finally got to have a 'turn on Dragon's new boogie board!

While I was browsing that particular photo folder I came across quite a few of Teddy. This was the summer she began to become intrigued with the ocean. At the beginning of the week she did not want to go near the waves, but she became a little bolder every day. Here she is actually putting her feet in, all by herself, and obviously liking it.

And here she is simply showing her pure enjoyment of the sensation of the waves rushing over her feet and ankles, as well as reveling in her new found confidence.

Click on the button to see more photos on the 'summer' theme.

I♥Faces: Lets Hear it for the Boys!

2009-06-23T10:28:00.004+10:00

This week's theme is "Let's Hear it for the Boys!"
I thought this photo would be suitable.
That's HB playing trombone in the back, left side.
The army band was performing at a function so they were wearing their ceremonial 'whites'.
Don't they look smart? Rather dashing in my opinion.

Click on the button to see more 'boy' photos.

Baby Picture Sunday - All for Daddy.

2009-06-20T20:39:00.007+10:00

Well it's Father's Day in USA, so the theme this week is "All for Daddy." (We don't have Father's Day until the first Sunday in September.)

Once again I had fun searching through the photo folders for pictures of HB with his Half-dozen.

First - HB supervising Teddy (15 months) holding Kitcat (2 days old). I feel compelled to point out that as I was still in hospital at this time I take no responsibility whatsoever for the outfit Teddy is dressed in. April 2006

Next - HB with Mousie (8 months) on his back and Ducky (29 months) upsidedown in his arms. This was taken at Merimbula during a weekend away. (August 2004)

Last - HB with an impossibly cute Dragon (6 months) and Possum (26 months) back at our old house in Port Stephens. (September 1997)

To have a look at more baby/daddy photos - click this button.

They Couldn't Resist Her Pretty Face!

2009-06-19T17:45:00.000+10:00

My photo of Mousie was collaged on i ♥ faces.

See here!

(That's Mousie top right hand corner of collage.)

Baby Picture Sunday - Silly Smiles

2009-06-14T14:00:00.001+10:00

I had a great time trawling through our photo albums and folders to find some silly smiles. So without any further ado - here's baby Possum aged 3 months, the day after her dedication. (September 1995) Baby Dragon aged 5 months. (August 1997) This one didn't scan too well but he had a sort of half frustrated/half happy smile on his face because he was happy to see me but wanted me to put the camera down and pick him up - he was such a mummy's boy when he was little.Baby Ducky aged 8 months in her new wading pool. (November 2002)Baby Mousie aged 4 months. She is blowing bubbles with her mouth and smiling with her eyes! (May 2006)

Baby Teddy aged nearly 3 months. Look at those huge blue eyes! (April 2005)And baby Kitcat aged 4 months. She thought 'tummy time' was a bit silly! (September 2006)Don't forget to check out all the other silly smiles at Debi's blog - click the button.

Eye Spy - My Perfect Invention

2009-06-14T13:21:00.005+10:00

I have just found this blog which hosts a weekly Mr Linky based on the idea of Eye Spy. Sounds like fun. The theme this week is My Perfect Invention. Cindy, from bugandpop nominated teleportation as her perfect invention. I like that one too, but it reminded me of something I had received in an email quite a while ago; something I just wish was actually possible - the purse sized car! I dislike parking. I really dislike having to usher 6 children safely through the carpark. And I absolutely detest paying for parking. So don't you think this invention is just perfect?

Just ignore the label "Perfect car for women" - I am sure there are just as many men who would love this too! Video found here.

Sun Sparkles

2009-06-11T11:00:00.001+10:00

See the sparkles on the water?
Did a fairy pass this way?
Is she hiding in the branches,

Waiting for my gaze to stray? Will she notice if I sit down,
Motionless here by the lake?

I dare not blink or take a breath -

A fairy photo I will take. Sun reflections on the water
Change the focus of my eyes,

Then coloured leaves on autumn trees

Draw my attention to the skies.Sun is setting, moon is rising,
Magic permeates the air;

Sparkles, sunbursts, shifting shadows -
Yes, a fairy had been there.

(Click on photos to enlarge, especially the top photo with the beautiful fairy sparkles on the water!)
© Pics 'n' Poems 2008

See more nature photos at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

Micalong River

2009-06-08T04:23:00.002+10:00

We went driving through the Brindabella Mountains on 31st May, ending up at the Micalong camping ground beside the Micalong River. This stretch of the river was very photogenic. It looked to be the perfect habitat for platypus, but we didn't see any.A bit further up the gully the creek rushed around large rocks in a series of little rapids. This is the view looking up the river.This is the view looking down the river.And this is the view looking into the river.We found the swimming hole. This was taken from the narrow clifftop track, looking down at the waterhole. You'd need a swim after walking this track in hot summer weather. Thankfully it was cool enough that no one was tempted to try out the water.Once we climbed down to the river level again I took this photo of the waterhole/swimming hole. It looks like the perfect place for a bunyip. And I think it was ........ because just around the next bend in the track we found the bunyip's lair!(Actually, it's a wombat burrow............... maybe.)

Baby Picture Sunday - Jeans

2009-06-07T21:43:00.000+10:00

I have been wanting to join in with Debi's Baby Picture Sundays for a while now, but this is the first week I actually got myself organised to do it!

The theme this time is "Nothing comes between me and my Calvins." (I guess that must be off a US add?) I've found photos of my 4 youngest in their jeans.

The first one is Possum (7 years old) carrying a very young Ducky (about 12 months) away from the edge of Lake Burley Griffin, near the Carillon, because she insisted on continuing to crawl that way! Dragon (nearly 6) is in the background sitting on the bank of the lake.

Next, and this is a favourite photo of mine, is Mousie aged around 20 months having her first 'feet-in-sand' experience. This is at Pambula Beach on the NSW South Coast. I loved these cute little embroidered and fringed jeans and was sad so see the day they no longer fit any of my girls. (They were handed down from a friend to Ducky, and then the three younger girls all wore them too, so they were well used by the time I had to say goodbye to them.)
Another favourite photo - Teddy (about 18 months) in her jeans being comforted by Great-Grandad. We were trying to get a photo of all the children with HB's grandparents but Teddy was not happy (teething, I think). Great-Grandad took the time and trouble to get down on his poor, arthritic knees and cuddle her. It worked, and we got this beautiful photo plus the group shot too!

And last, here's our little Kitcat (17 months) parading through the family room in her cute little bootleg jeans. She had been walking for a few months but she still looks so pleased with herself in this photo. (I tried to darken the background to eliminate the ~~extremely untidy~~ distracting kitchen table.)

Check out Debi's blog for more cute babies in their jeans.

Autumn Reflections

2009-06-06T11:31:00.000+10:00

Golden Poplars on the other side of the lake are illuminated by the setting sun.

Our Aussie Half-dozen reflected in the pond.Autumn trees reflected in the pond.Ducky by the pond with reflected Autumn trees.Dragon on the bridge with tree trunk reflected behind him.Dragon with the tree trunk.I love this one. I waited for the man in the canoe to catch up to the swan.
It looks like they are having a leisurely paddle along the bank of the lake together.I really like how this one turned out too.
You can see the poplar trees across the other side of the lake reflected in the water.
I also like the fringing from the tree in the foreground.Here's Telstra tower on Black Mountain.
There was a tree reflected in the water when I took this photo, but now the reflection is all but gone!
The tree is brilliantly lit by the sinking sun.

Weston Park, Yarralumla, 3rd May 2009.