Day 154 in a Year of my Life

The highlight of my day ...

I have chased this magnificent bird all around town for two years or more!

This morning I was sitting on a bench seat by the river observing all the holiday makers as they registered for the fishing competition or set themselves up to fish off the bank or launched their boat of the ramp.

Some walked their dogs and others were having a breakfast barbecue in the park.  There were kids walking around with Channel 7 balloons or scooting on their scooters, skating on their boards or chasing each other along the path.

Anyway, while I was observing all of this, I looked up and saw him coming towards me.  I had my camera in my hand and had taken a couple of practise shots earlier to get my exposure right (that's a miracle in itself, because I usually take a few bad shots before I realise that my exposure is all wrong!), so I was ready!

He flew right up to me and really low.  My emotions welled up as he got that close and I could tell that I was getting some good shots.  I was making some strange sounds and talking to the bird as I pressed the shutter ... I'm sure the tourists questioned my sanity!

Needless to say, I have posted them on Flickr and Facebook and have spent the entire day going back and staring at them and reliving the experience.

I am in awe of these birds and today I am grateful for a moment in time when I was so close I could see every feathery detail, the shine on his beak and the light in his eye and a moment that I can relive every time I glance upon these photos.

It's been a special day.

Nite all.

Day 153 in a Year of my Life

A quote that appeals to me ...

"I do not care what car you drive.  Where you live.  If you know someone, who knows someone, who knows someone.  If your clothes are this year's cutting edge.  If you are A-list, B-list or never heard of you-list.  If your trust fund is unlimited.  I only care about the words that flutter from your mind.  They are the only thing that you own.  The only thing that I will remember you by.  I will not fall in love with your bones or skin.  I will not fall in love with the places that you have been.  I will not fall in love with anything but the words that flutter from your extraordinary mind." - Unknown

I found a link to a different blog on facebook today and on it was a list of 'unusual dates'.  Here are my favourites:

1. Try to visit as many people as you can in one night, and turn as many of their things upside down in their home as you can, without them noticing.
2. Create photo evidence suggesting that you went on an adventure that never really happened.
3. If you live in a capital city, go to the airport and buy the cheapest ticket to the soonest departing flight to anywhere and stay there for the weekend.
4. Rent a movie you've never seen before, set it on mute and improvise the dialogue together.
5. Dress to the nines and test drive the most expensive vehicles at dealerships.

 As most of you know, I lost my work studio when the tornado ripped through our town and smashed our house.  So I am currently selecting the decor and furnishings for my new work area.

Here is my newly purchased floor rug and wall mirror ...

... I want colour, colour and more colour!!  Watch this space.

Today I am grateful for the most glorious day yet, since the tornado.  Today was vibrant with colour and sparkling light, with a soft breeze dancing through the leaves and birds branch hopping and singing beautifully.  There are people everywhere for the Easter Fishing Classic and everyone is happy.  Today, the town exuded happiness.

Nite all.

Day 152 in a Year of my Life

We have electricity!  I can use my oven tomorrow :)

Today I am grateful for Easter, which means four days without tradesmen all over my house.  Four days without hammering, drilling, sawing and stomping.  Four days for the psychotic dogs to feel less psychotic.

Don't get me wrong!  I love how quickly everything is progressing, but I will enjoy the peace and tranquility over Easter.

Nite all.

Day 151 in a Year of my Life

Squirt went home *sad face*

Our roof is on .. but there is much much more to do yet.

Even though the bus was 90 minutes late picking us up, we still had our lady's luncheon in The Bay.

No photos were taken.

Today I am grateful that our house is beginning to look like a house again.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Nite all.

Day 150 in a Year of my Life

The house repairs are coming along nicely ...

Today, I started a page in facebook for my photography.  It's NOT as a business or to sell my photos, but just to share them with people outside my own circle.  Here is the link to it ...

https://www.facebook.com/ImagesByRozG

I haven't put all the photos that I want there yet, but I'll get it done over the coming days.

Squirt and I watched the sun set again this afternoon ...

... tomorrow she returns home.  She has to work over Easter.  It's been nice having her here - as Adoring Husband said "A welcome distraction".

I hope that her time here was a 'welcome distraction' for her too.

Today I am grateful for Adoring Husband's vigilance in making sure that everything is right with our house - he is certainly keeping the builders and tradesmen on their toes.  He has picked up a couple of mistakes and is making sure they put it right.

Sometimes his 'Sheldon-like' attention to detail can be a blessing :D

Nite all.

Day 149 in a Year of my Life

The builders arrived unexpectedly this morning at 6.30 to commence our repairs.

Adoring Husband was at work and I was still in my pyjamas!

So tonight we are partially roof-less and the wind is whistling through the empty chasm above us and making all sorts of interesting noises.

Even the dogs are freaking out!

Hopefully, by this weekend, all of this will be behind us and our roof will be fixed and strong, so that we can get back to normal.

Squirt and I had a Deluxe Pedicure today.  It was very pleasant and relaxing.

Then we took some beverages down to the river and watched the sunset...

I also discovered the missing link!

The family will be pleased that we have another piece of the jigsaw puzzle!

Today, I am grateful for Tyler, who served us at 'Loot' in the Bay and was a fabulously friendly, efficient and helpful salesperson and made our visit there most enjoyable!

I have already visited the Loot website and sent an email regarding his excellent service and friendly manner.  Such a nice young man, and now I have some lovely replacement furnishings for my new studio.

Nite all.

Day 148 in a Year of my Life

I finally got out this afternoon with the camera.

There wasn't much about, but I did meet a very elderly man, an ex-photographer from the days of film and since his health recently deteriorated, he has taken up photography again.

His last camera before he gave photography away was a Nikon, but he has recently bought himself a DSLR (not Nikon or Cannon and I forget the brand) and he is struggling with digital photography.  He is too frail to do any type of course or workshop, so he is trying to figure out what sort of photography would suit his physical condition.

I suggested macro or portrait photography where the subject would come to him.

Anyway, I took his phone number and email address and have emailed him tonight and sent him a couple of my photos.  I hope he keeps in touch and I hope that we can learn a bit from each other.

Here are a couple of shots from today ...

I might try for some nice portrait shots of Squirt at sunset tomorrow afternoon down at the river.  If Adoring Husband accompanies us, I might even get a few of him as well!

It was nice to see my niece this afternoon, who dropped in to say hello on her way home from Brisbane.  She was accompanied by her friend Dakota, who seemed very nice.

Today, I am grateful that my niece arrived home safe n sound after a gruelling 12 hours (including breaks) on the road.  It's a big trip in one day.

Nite all.