Nice to see you!

Three major events occurred for me last year (2010), all in the space of about 2 weeks. I turned 50. The following day I got married. Two weeks later, my oldest daughter became pregnant with her first child and my first grandchild.

Most middle-aged people will tell you that in their minds, they still feel 20 something. It's the same for me.

Wasn't it only yesterday that I was planning a night out with guys from the surf club? That gorgeous new perm. Flaired, cuffed denims and the red t-shirt with the off-the-shoulder frill. Corked platform wedgies. **sigh**

Suddenly I'm looking in the mirror and wondering how 30 years can flash by so damned quickly!

So here I am in cyberspace, sharing my genuine shock and horror with anyone who'll listen and maybe I'll even meet some other over 50s who find themselves in the same predicament!

Welcome to my dilemna!!

Friday, October 14, 2011

We're Off Tomorrow

For anybody who cares ... I may not be able to update or post anything over the weekend.  Apparently, mobile coverage is unpredictable where we are going, depending on the weather and other factors, so if you don't see or hear from me for a couple of days, don't panic.

A few more photos from the horse shoot ...






We had a blackout for a few hours today, so we are way behind with our preparations for the weekend.

I need to get some sleep so that I can be up bright and early to finish getting ready.

I am very excited about our weekend and I can't wait to meet everybody!!

Nite all.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Coffee and Horses

The lovely young lady who makes my coffee at the bakery every morning, lives on a farm about twenty minutes out of town.

She owns horses, one of which, gave birth to a foal about three weeks ago.

She invited me to the farm to take photos of the foal, because she intends putting it up for sale soon.

It's a great farm, with lots of old rusted machinery lying around the place, car and tractor bodies, a large dam teeming with birdlife and, of course, animals.

This is not a photo of the foal, but it is a lovely moment captured between her and another of her horses.



She has offered her farm for Adoring Husband and I to use for our photography, which I thought was extremely generous of her.

So, one morning soon, bright and early, I think we will make our way down there with our cameras and see what gems we can come up with.

Meanwhile, I have just over 24 hours to complete my 'to-do' list.  It ain't gunna happen!

So much to do, so little time, but tomorrow, as always, I will get my morning coffee from the girl with the horses.

Nite all.

'Stuff'

Got some 'stuff' done and checked two more things off my 'to do' list today :o)

Adoring Husband went off to golf this morning.  He sometimes plays on a Tuesday for some extra practise.  His handicap has improved by ten strokes over the past few weeks and he is really enjoying his golf.

While I was at morning tea with Kaz and Lady Lynn this morning, I received a phone call from Adoring Husband advising me that he was on his way home early.

Somebody had tee'd off and when Adoring Husband realised that the ball was heading straight towards his head, he took a dive and landed awkwardly on his shoulder.

When he felt pins and needles in his arm, he realised that he couldn't continue playing for fear of risking further injury, and had to come home.

This is a fairly straight forward tale.

I'm looking forward to bringing it up with his golfing buddy, Claudius Maximus, who I'm certain, will have a much more hilarious take on this experience!

Just so you know ... Adoring Husband cooked dinner tonight, so he is certainly not incapacitated.  He is feeling a little tender where he landed, but appears to be in one piece.

If 'stuff' is going to happen .. it's going to happen to Adoring Husband, but he always survives intact.

I spent an hour or more trying to capture the perfect foam photo today.  I am trying to decide between three ... although I may spend a little time tomorrow trying for something different, because I'm still not completely happy with the results.

Isn't it nice that I have the freedom to spend so much time concerning myself with 'stuff' so petty and frivolous?!  How lucky I am!

I had a lovely family lunch today.  Chicklet and I had a little fun with some water, while Vegan Chickie sat by giggling at us.  Precious 'stuff'.  Precious moments.

There are kittens being born in Blackwater tonight.  While I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a cat fan, it's exciting 'stuff' for Squirt and the girls.  At last report, there were 5 and I received a photo of them on my phone, as they suckled on an exhausted mother cat.

I'm thinking of the 'stuff' going on for my brother, the Convenient Greenie and his partner, Soul Mate, whose lives are not going along so smoothly at the moment.

I hope that they are either travelling safely, or have arrived safely at their destination and are feeling the love for a while.

I love you.  Take care of each other.

So, there is plenty of 'stuff' happening in the family, some good, some not so good and some heart-breaking.

That's life.

Nite all.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Time Flies

It's already Tuesday tomorrow!

I only did one thing on my 'to do' list today.  I don't think my 'to do' list is going to be completed this week.  I have extra things to put on it and less time with which to do them.

I was lucky enough to run into Kaz and Lucy's Man this morning.  They were taking their first morning walk since returning home, so we had a quick catch-up and I'll meet Kaz for morning tea tomorrow.

I spent a couple of hours pedalling around town with my camera and got a couple of good shots.

Irises growing outside the shopping centre.

Wattlebird feeding from kangaroo paw in our front garden.
Then I played with the macro lens by taking shots around the garden.

I have no idea what this is, but it was on the lemon tree.

Giant mozzie on the fig tree.
If you look hard enough, you'll find some interesting creepy crawlies in the garden.

After that I tried, again unsuccessfully, to get my 'foam' photo for the Canon photo5 competition.  I will spend a couple of hours on it again tomorrow, but I only have until 13th to submit it, so I'd best get a wriggle on!

Once again, my day has been filled with all things 'photography'.

Adoring Husband cooked me a delicious dinner tonight as well, so really, it's been a day filled with all the things that I love.  Photography and food!

Tomorrow will be an added bonus with family lunch!

After that, it will be time to panic trying to get everything done before our weekend away.

Time flies faster than you expect when you have a 'to do' list that's not getting done :o)

Nite all.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Welcome Back!

Welcome back Kaz and Lucy's man!  I'm looking forward to seeing you during the week!

My 'to do' list for this week is ...
  1. Make two white necklaces, one white bracelet and one pair of white earrings.
  2. Complete module two of the Photography Degree.
  3. Meet with 'The Artist' to get further information regarding the exhibit in September.
  4. Using the new info I got today, practise using the macro lens and see if it makes a difference.
  5. Have lunch with the family.
  6. Have morning tea with Kaz.
  7. Buy some hiking/walking boots for the weekend at Bunya Mountains.
  8. Pack for the weekend at Bunya Mountains.
I'm sure there should be more on the list!  I'll remember the rest later.

This morning as I rode to get my coffee, I was stopped by someone to make comment about my photo.  I said 'what photo?' and they replied 'the one in the Chronicle yesterday'.

My whale photo had been published in Saturday's edition and I didn't even know about it.

The information page for the competition stated that the winning photos were published in Monday's or Tuesday's edition each week!

Then I parked my trike and was stopped by another 'acquaintance' who had seen it and congratulated me.  The sales person who gave me my coffee also commented.

As I reached the Seat of Knowledge, the boys announced 'here comes the star'!

There was a message on our answering machine from Mrs Piccolo, that she'd left yesterday, congratulating me.

It seems everybody knew about it except me!

So I asked the local shop if they had any of Saturday's newspapers left and luckily, they did, so I bought two copies.  I have no idea why I bought two copies, but I just got so excited, I got a bit carried away!

My photo took a whole half of page two!  The headline read "Roz snaps whale courting ritual".

It was pretty impressive ... even if I do say so myself!

This afternoon, I spent a couple of hours at Woman of Many Talent's place with her and Mrs Bucket.

It's been a long time.  The three of us were once very close and spent a lot of time together, but life seems to have got in the way for the last 18 months or so, and our time together has suffered.

I think I have to re-establish some kind of routine of catching up with my friends again, because I have become a bit of a recluse this year and I am struggling to find the motivation to socialise.

I'll start by having morning tea with the girls on Tuesday morning to welcome Kaz back into the country ... and work on it from there!

Nite all.