Day 73 in a Year of my Life

I actually got out of bed at 4.10am, looked out the window to check the cloud formations, because we all know that clouds are important for a good sunrise!

There was some nice fluffy and wispy clouds forming above and toward the East, so I got ready and by 4.40am I was on my trike and pedalling toward the river.

I've decided that the light is just so beautiful at that time of day and I'd like to get out every day at that time.  Especially in Summer.

It means that I can get a couple of hours of photography in while the light is so lovely, then go grab my coffee and head to the Seat of Knowledge for an hour or so and still be home by 8.30 or 9.00am before the day gets too hot.

This, however, means earlier nights to bed!

So here I am before 9pm, already yawning, sharing my day and my photos, so that I can go to bed and begin the snore-fest.

The new flickr challenges for January are 'Sunrise or Sunset' and 'FUN'.  One should be very simple and the other might require some brain work!

Today I am grateful for Chicklet voicemails (have I been grateful for them before?).  When I don't hear my phone and later find voicemails from Chicklet, it brightens my day so much.  I love the sound of her voice :D  I had two voicemails today.

Nite all.

Nana's Pantry

NEVER go to Nana's Pantry on an empty stomach!!

https://nanaspantry.com.au/

... and make sure you have plenty of time to browse!

You will find everything from the healthiest foods to the least healthy foods - of which we bought an abundance of both.

I shopped there while Adoring Husband took the new car in for it's first service.

I had my arms full of goodies and decided that I'd best stop and go to the counter before it got out of hand.  I estimated roughly that I probably had well over $50 worth of stuff.  The lady tallied it up and I was pleasantly surprised to see the total was only $30.

So, I dumped the goods in the car and AH and I went back to Nana's and spent another $15, which again, was less than we expected.

Everything is priced per kg and even though they have scales so that you can calculate as you go, we didn't do that ... my head automatically and instinctively calculates as if I am in our usual supermarket.  So it's a pleasant surprise to find everything is so much cheaper than expected!

I got lots of gluten free stuff.  Pastry mix.  Bread mix.  Tri-coloured Quinoa.  Dried peas for our next pea and ham soup cook off.  Vegetable chips - which are just like potato chips except made with zucchini, carrot, eggplant, beans, potato etc.  Too many gluten free lollies and chocolates to mention.

Love that shop.  It'll definitely be a regular stop on shopping days.

I hope to be up bright and early for a sunrise tomorrow.  I awoke early this morning and glanced out the window to see a beautifully coloured pink sky with lots of purple and orange puffy clouds scattered about.  I was too tired to find any enthusiasm, but it's the third morning in the last week that the sky has looked pretty, so I'm going to take my chances tomorrow morning.

Which is why I'm getting this post done before 9.30pm - an early night for an early rise!

I've been trolling through heaps of other people's blogs tonight.  It's amazing how many blogs are still sitting idle that haven't been touched for more than two years.

Some of them are so interesting - I almost joined a couple of email lists, just in case the person came back to continue the blog.

Ok, I'm done with all this yawning.  See you tomorrow - hopefully with beautiful sunrise shots.

Nite all.

 

Day 71 in a Year of my Life

Well, the boys loved the photo of their belly buttons and only one of them could identify his own belly button!

More strange weather today, but I got these photos before the rain came again.

On my morning ride I ran into quite a few people who I haven't seen since a few months before Christmas, so it was nice to stop and have a chat and catch up.

Then another day of cricket.  Australia won the Test and there was another Twenty Twenty Big Bash game between the two Melbourne teams which was pretty close.  Tennis is finished for a couple of days.

An uneventful day really.

I am grateful for uneventful days because we have got quite a few appointments coming up in the next week or so and we will be 'on the go' and probably dealing with a little bit of emotional stuff.  We need days like today just to 'be'.

Nite all.

Day 70 in a Year of my Life

What a strange start to the day.

It was overcast when I left the house this morning and Adoring Husband was washing the car (that should have been a clue right there!).

I was at the Seat of Knowledge for about an hour when the first shower of rain hit.  Heavy enough for me to cover my camera bag with the plastic rain poncho

Luckily, I had already taken the series of belly button photos that I had been challenged by The Nikonian, to take!

One of the subjects in this week's mini challenge that The Nikonian set, is 'fluff'.  So I decided to take photos of the belly buttons that belong to the boys at the Seat of Knowledge ... because we all know that fluff gets trapped in belly buttons!!

I made a very attractive collage ...

Ok, so it's not THAT attractive.  The oldest belly button here is 82.  Only one of the boys declined to have his belly button photographed and the other four had already left before I arrived this morning.

I photographed the Tawnies before I headed off to the beach.

Unfortunately, a mini storm hit while I was stranded way out on the beach at almost low tide.  Strong winds and heavy rain and I couldn't move fast enough over the wet sand to get to shelter!  Here I was struggling in my thongs and wet glasses and trying to protect the camera under my clothes!

If only someone had a camera to take THAT photo!

I was heading home in the rain, when it stopped as abruptly as it began.  So I decided to go looking for the kangaroo that one of the locals had told me about.  A kangaroo with a joey in it's pouch that had apparently been hanging around on the edge of the national park that borders our town.

It didn't take long to find her, but she had two male guardians that kept me at a safe distance.  Having heard a news story recently where an elderly man had been attacked by a buck in a town about 15 minutes from here, I decided not to take any chances.

Further up the road, I went in search of the Fairy Wrens.

Then it was time to head home, later than usual.  Adoring Husband thought I had run away from hime!

Test Cricket has been on TV all day - Australia V Sri Lanka.  Twenty twenty Big Bash cricket is on tonight - Hobart Hurricanes V Adelaide Strikers.  After this is the tennis.  A deliciously full day of sports for the dedicated lounge lizards that Adoring Husband and I are.

Today I am grateful that I am able to recognise that my life is wonderful and I am happy!

Nite all.

Day 69 in a Year of my Life

Today's smoothie:

Half a small papaya, a dozen grapes, a chunk of fresh pineapple, 1 carrot, half a stalk celery including the leaves, 2 T lemon myrtle yoghurt, 1 cup water, hand full of ice cubes and 2 t Vital Greens powder.  Makes three glasses.  The colour is not pretty, but it tastes fabulous!

I went for a walk along the beach this morning.  The tide was out and I got a couple of nice beachy shots.

These blue jelly fish are thick in the water, bringing with them, lots of sea lice.

For the 'photo a day' challenge.

Possible submission for a competition themed 'Tree'.

The rest of Australia is sweltering in record breaking heat (temperatures over 40C) and there are bushfires destroying homes and properties.  There are also huge seas caused by recent cyclone activity off the East coast which are contributing to injuries and near drownings.

Today, I am grateful to be living in one of the few areas of Australia where the temperatures are reasonable and a breeze continually blows through the house.  Where there are currently no bush fires and no dangerous seas (aside from the over abundance of blue jelly fish).  We are so lucky!

Nite all.

Day 68 in a Year of my Life

This morning I made a delicious smoothie.

In a blender - 6 frozen strawberries, 1 cup watermelon, half a lime (peeled), 1 carrot (head removed), half an apple, 12 grapes, 2 T lemon myrtle yoghurt, 1 cup of cold water and a handful of ice cubes.

DELICIOUS.

All that pulpy goodness - except for the sticker that I forgot take off the apple!

Today I bought a huge range of fruits and vegetables that I can use in smoothies and I plan on making a different one every day.  Today there was enough for two big glasses, so I had one for breakfast and the other with lunch.

I just remembered that I have this to add to my smoothies ...

http://www.australianvitamins.com/products/view/874  It's been in the campervan pantry cupboard since we returned from holidays!  Must get it out tomorrow!

I'm going to experiment more with light nutritious lunches and I need to change my afternoon snacking habit from GF chocolate biscuits or potato chips, to something more beneficial to my health.

I need food that is going to give me more energy, instead of lulling me into nana naps on the couch every afternoon.  Food that will activate my brain instead of putting me in the 'zombie zone' by mid afternoon.

Today I am grateful to have found the motivation to make a start on my new year's resolution to be a little fitter and healthier this year.

It takes three weeks to create a new habit.  Watch me do it.

Nite all.

Day 67 in a Year of my Life

OH JOY! OH JOY!

It's tennis season in Australia!!

It's difficult to choose which television channel to watch!  Channel Ten has the Hopman Cup being played in Perth.  Tonight is the Serbian - Djokovic V the Aussie - Tomic.  I'm not a fan of the Aussie player but for the sake of patriotism, I am supporting him.  I do like Djokovic, so I don't mind if he wins :D

Then on Channel 7TWO we have the Brisbane International where there is a men's match in progress.

Next week, we have the Moorilla Hobart International, the Apia International Sydney, and then after that the World Tennis Challenge commences in Adelaide.

All of these tournaments lead up to the Australian Open in Melbourne which commences on 14th January and ends on 27th January.

Love my tennis and I'm looking forward to seeing the Aussies play well this year.  Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur are my favourites to watch, but I like to see any of the Aussies do well of course.

Just wanted to share a few inspirational and/or funny quotes that I have found in 'Pinterest' lately.

Today I am grateful for the Australian Tennis Season, when I can watch tennis all day and half the night and still get a good night's sleep - unlike The French Open in May/June, Wimbledon in June/July and the US Open in August/September, when, if I want to watch the tennis, I have to stay up all night - a difficult task as I get older!

Off now, for my 2nd early night in a row!  It's part of my new year's resolution - becoming a little 'healthier and fitter', includes getting plenty of good solid sleep!

Nite all.

Day 66 in a Year of my Life

Adoring Husband and I kind of 'slid' into the New Year very quietly in the comfort of our lounge room.

We started at the local club and we'd been looking forward to the night, knowing that all of our friends would be there with us to share the occasion.

The best way to bring in the new year, is surrounded by friends or loved ones... everybody knows that!

The food, hot nibbles, which were served in single cardboard chinese containers to each individual, was less than average.  The majority of the crowd were served fried curry puffs, mini spring rolls and other mini fried pastries.

There were three of us who required 'gluten free' foods and we were given some tasteless felafels, two mini gluten free party pies and some potato wedges.  Also less than average.

I had two glasses of white wine and a jug of iced water.

The music started off very slowly with country music and old time songs from my parent's era.  By 10pm it had moved up a notch, but not enough to provide much enjoyment or entertainment for Adoring Husband and I.

The weather was muggy after some heavy showers and not much ventilation was provided.  Most windows had to stay closed because of the rain.

Just after 10pm Adoring Husband and I decided to call the courtesy bus and make our way home. Eight of our friends chose to join us on the bus and there were another 9 people waiting for the bus to return to the club and take them home too.

As disappointing as it was to not spend the celebrations with all of our friends, we really loved seeing in the new year together in the comfort of our own home.  Quietly and very happily.

For the month of January, I'm once again doing the Photo a Day challenge.  Day One ...

1.  Today

and the other challenge for the year is to have a 'Happy Jar' and whenever something especially happy or wonderful happens, we write it down and place it in the jar.  The aim is to have a jar full of wonderful moments to remember on New Years Eve 2013.  Here is my happy jar...

Today, I'm grateful for new ways to be reminded of the happy times.  Aiming for a positive and happy life in the coming year.

Nite all.

Day 65 in a Year of my Life

So ... I'm thinkin' ... since it's New Year's Eve ... and since I'll be out tonight ... I should update my post right now ... just in case it's too late when I return home, or I'm too drunk!

The latter is highly unlikely.

My New Year's resolution is to become a little fitter and healthier in 2013 - so beginning the year with a hangover would definitely NOT be the way to a successful start.

So to wrap up a pretty good year.  Some of the things that I can look back on with a smile ...

• Started the facebook group '104 Things to Photograph in 404 Days' and in the process found a wonderful group of people with whom I can have a laugh every day.
• Adoring Husband gave me a fabulous Valentines Day that I will never forget.
• Experienced an amazing photography road trip with my BFF that I am still enjoying as I wade through the photos almost every day.
• Our Granddaughter Evie was born.
• Reconnecting with my brother after a long, long time.
• Two whale watching trips that I shared with some special people in my life.
• My first Photography Exhibition, which was a huge success and put the biggest smile on my face for weeks afterwards!
• An incredible holiday with Adoring Husband in the new campervan that was so relaxing and fun, with little planning and lots of spontaneity and everything that I hoped it would be.
• A three day Chicklet feast that was so exhausting and so exhilarating at the same time!

These are just a few memories off the top of my head.  There were some sad moments as well, but I won't dwell on them.

All in all, it's been a great year and I hope that 2013 will have more fun and laughter and happiness and by the end of it, a stronger, healthier and fitter me.

To all of my friends and family who read this ... thanks for caring, and being interested enough to read this self indulgent blog of mine.  You are what I am grateful for, today.

I hope that 2013 is all that you hope for, and brings you overwhelming positive energy,  the strength and willpower to follow through with your plans (whatever they may be), problem-free health so that you can be all that you want to be, and of course, love ... love from all who are important to you.

I'll see you next year!

Nite all.  

Day 64 in a Year of my Life

I've been participating in December Photo a Day.

Here are some of my favourites for the month.

4. Black and White

9. Out and About

10. Under

12. Hat

15. Outdoors

19. Something beginning with 'S'

26. Mess

30. Something that made me smile this year.

I rarely answer my phone when it rings, because I always leave it in my camera bag or in my trike basket and I always keep the phone on 'silent'.  Often I will go looking for my phone at the end of the day and find messages, hours old, on it.

Today, I am grateful for voicemails.  Especially voicemails with Chicklet's voice in them!!

Nite all.

Day 63 in a Year of my Life

It's been a hot day and the storms have skirted past us making lots of noise without touching us directly.

They did, however, drop the temperature by about 4 degrees, which we needed desperately.  Today was definitely a day for the air conditioner!

Adoring Husband spent the first half of the day in the garden, fixing the lawn mower, mowing the lawn and then fiddling about in the shed.

I have spent the day editing some old photos taken while down south on holidays last month.  Photos that I was tempted, at the time, to delete, but decided I would hold on to them 'just in case'.

Given a little time, you see your photos through different eyes and they can be salvaged.

This year, I have been paid for:

• Taking a portrait shot for a business card.
• Taking photos of a neighbour's garden.
• Taking photos inside a home for a real estate web site.
• Doing portrait shots as Christmas gifts.
• Repairing and restoring old photos for two different people.
• Approx twelve photos from the exhibition in September.
• One photo to be used as a painting on corrugated iron.
• A pelican photo from my flickr photostream.

This year I donated or gifted my time and photos for:

• An 89th birthday morning tea.
• An 80th birthday morning tea.
• A 70th birthday party.
• A 60th birthday party.
• A retirement luncheon.
• A fund raiser for a local charity.

Today, I am grateful to have had all of those opportunities above, which have added to my photography experience, and helped me to improve along the way.  I've enjoyed every second of it!

Nite all.

Day 62 in a Year of my Life

Another short post tonight.

It's storming all around us and I'm very tired after a big evening at the club.

Look what I found under the clothes line this morning!!

Freaking me out!

Now I'm afraid to let the dogs out the laundry door in case they find where this snake is hiding!

There are no markings on the skin and it looks suspiciously like a brown snake skin.

It's only small, about the length of one and a half iphones, but if it's a brown snake, the venom is just as deadly in a small one, as it is in a large one!

Makes my skin crawl.

I had a lovely talk on the phone with little Chicklet this evening.

She answered yes to every question that I asked - which is a big improvement on the silence that I usually hear on the other end of the phone when she calls me. lol.

I love it when she calls me.  Little treasure that she is :D

Enough of this frivolity!  I am off to bed.

Today I am grateful for finding a snake 'skin' under the clothes line ... and NOT a 'live' brown snake!

The skin is something that I can carry with me and show people and have interesting conversations about.

Less dangerous and less deadly than a live snake!

Whew!

Nite all.

Day 61 in a Year of my Life

The best our town has to offer ...

People have already started to dismantle their Christmas lights and it's only two days after Christmas!

We drove into The Bay today and braved the after christmas 'sale' crowds.  It was hectic and chaotic but I still got some shopping in and even managed to nab a few bargains.

My wardrobe is now pretty much complete for Summer but I'll have to cull a few more items out of my cupboards to make room for the new outfits.

Today I am shallowly (is that a word?) grateful for after Christmas sales - not so grateful for the crowds that I have to wade through to get to the sales - but grateful for the savings!

Today, we received a lovely gift in the mail from my brother and his 'non' girlfriend.  They sent us a beautiful hanging crystal with turquoise and silver beads.  I'm yet to find the perfect position for it, but I must phone tomorrow and thank her (my brother never sends gifts for any occasion, so I know it's Charlie Chuckles who I should thank).

So, Christmas is over and we are heading rapidly towards 2013.

How quickly 2012 has passed.  The older we get, the faster the years seems to speed by.  **sigh**

Nite all.

Day 60 in a Year of my Life

I'm very happy to announce that Adoring Husband's mother is doing very nicely, has no injuries and has returned to the nursing home.  She's a tough old bird!

Thanks for asking :)

Boxing Day = Test Cricket, Sydney to Hobart Yacht race and the Dr Who special to begin the new series = Happy Adoring Husband.

More Tawny Frogmouth photos = Happy ME :)

and my favourite photo that I took this year (submitted for the end of year flickr challenge) ...

Today I'm grateful for two re-runs of 'Friends' that I watch every night before I go to bed.  They send me to bed with a smile on my face.

So, I wake up every morning and spend time at the Seat of Knowledge for smiles to start my day and then watch late night episodes of Friends to end my day with a smile.

Simple but effective.

Nite all.

Crappy Christmas

2012 will be forever known as our 'crappy christmas'.

I don't mean that in a bad way because it has been a very pleasant day.

No tree, no decorations, no lights, no gifts for each other or anyone else, no family or friends.

Just Adoring Husband and I watching dvds all day, napping and enjoying this lunch ...

... and just to add a touch of extra crappiness, we got a phone call from the nursing home where Adoring Husband's Mum resides, to advise that she has had a fall this evening and has been taken to hospital.

Now we wait for the phone call after the tests.  Let's all hope that the outcome is the same as last time and she returns happy and healthy to the nursing home tomorrow.

I hope that you all lay your head on the pillow at the end of today with a smile on your dial and feeling the love.

Peace Love and Joy to all.

Nite all.

Christmas Eve - Day 58 in a Year of my Life

I've decided to recap my year, some time between Christmas and New Year, instead of tonight.  Christmas Eve just doesn't seem like the right time.

Vegan Chickie and I have a tradition.  Every Christmas Eve, no matter where we are in the world, we watch the movie 'Love Actually' together.

We set a time and then text each other when we are ready to press 'play'.

I'm not sure how long ago it started - perhaps 5 or 6 yrs ago?  She may correct me if I'm way off.

So tonight we agreed on 7.30pm as our start time.

It's been an interesting day.

It started at the usual place after I got coffee.  I had to buy two small coffees because they had run out of large take-away cups!  On Christmas Eve!!

After about an hour with my boys at the Seat of Knowledge, I pedalled down to say 'good morning' to my Tawny Frogmouth family.

While I was taking some photos, I attracted a crowd of about 8 people.  I don't like to do that, because I worry that others aren't so respectful of nature and I fear for the safety of my birds.

I took the uv filter and lens protector off my lens and discovered how much clearer my photos are without them!

I did some last minute grocery shopping and then after much difficulty, Adoring Husband got one of the printers to work and I printed out a couple of photos of Fergie to frame for his lovely wife for Christmas.

I hopped on the trike again and pedalled towards her house, but got pulled over by a lady who had bought two of my photos after my exhibition.

She pleaded for me to stop for a moment and go to look at the photos, now framed, quite beautifully, by her husband.

They did look quite fabulous!  I'm glad that I stopped.  Her two grown children will be the recipients of my photos this Christmas :D

Back on my trike and off to see Mrs Fergie.

She has 90% deafness in one ear and 75% in the other, so it is quite an ordeal getting her attention!  She always had Fergie to hear for her before.

She finally caught sight of me out of the corner of her eye and she welcomed me into her home.  She opened her present and cried.  I cried.  I knew it would be emotional, but hoped that I could stay strong.  It wasn't meant to be.  Ugh.

I stayed with her for about an hour chatting about Fergie and his final days and what she has planned for her future.

Then I left, promising to visit regularly.

Adoring Husband and I drove to the Bowls Club thinking that there would be raffles tonight, which there would have been if more than 7 of us had turned up!!  I won $300 on the pokies instead :D

We left at about 6.30pm and drove all over town in search of spectacular christmas lights.

We were very disappointed to discover that, like us, very few people have made an effort this Christmas.  Perhaps 4 homes lit up in full Christmas glory and another 6 made a small effort.

I didn't have my camera with me but we plan on going out next week with our cameras and tripods to get some photos.

We arrived home at 7.25pm, just in time to receive the text from Vegan Chickie to press 'play' for our movie.

We love this traditional viewing and text each throughout the movie when it gets to our favourite parts.

Adoring Husband made a nice easy, but healthy, dinner for us and then watched the movie with me too.

It's been a pretty good day and today I'm grateful to have found the strength to visit Mrs Fergie for the first time since Fergie passed away.  I have put this visit off for so long because I was dreading it.  It was as difficult as I'd imagined but I'm so pleased that I did it before Christmas.

She loved the photos.

Nite all.

Day 57 in a Year of my Life

It's HOT!

So early in Summer and already we are experiencing above average temperatures.

I love living in Queensland and in particular, here, but at this time of the year when it gets really hot, I struggle and question our sanity!

How nice it would be to have two homes - one in a cooler climate for the Summer months!

Perhaps a pool would help?????  :D

Today, I delivered some photos that I was commissioned to take of somebody's house and garden.  I walked under the main tree as I walked to the front door and looked up (for the first time) and saw this ...

So beautiful.  I think I would like a tree like this in my garden ... right beside the pool :D

Today I am grateful for air conditioning and cooling fans and afternoon breezes that stop me from melting and fading away in the hot Summer weather.

Tonight I am having an early night and will make a concerted effort to create a more Christmassy and detailed post tomorrow.

Nite all.

Days 55 and 56 in a Year of my Life

I've been reading over my posts for the year and working out how to recap my 2013 but it's taking me much longer than expected.

I'm falling asleep at my computer (gosh, what does that say about my writing?), so instead of rushing it, I will recap tomorrow.

I only have one thing to share with you today

I hope it rains tonight!

Nite all.

Still Here

It's right on midnight and the world has not ended.

Here is a small collection of what was doing the rounds of facebook today.

Now I can be convinced that even though the world has not ended, it is the end of hatred and anger and the beginning of love and light :D

Nite all.

Day 54 in a Year of my Life

An uneventful day.

I still haven't gone over my recap of 2012.

I thought I would wait until after tomorrow, since it's supposed to be the end of the world, according to the ancient Mayans.

It's 1am.  I'm off to bed.

Some more photos from my early flickr days ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6305638826/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6294406034/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6327049083/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6351629117/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6361061225/in/photostream/lightbox/

Today I'm grateful for lunch dates - one of which, I have tomorrow, with one of my favourite people.  Lazy lovely lunches with friends.

Nite all.

Day 53 in a Year of my Life

Just thought I'd share some of my old photos that are currently stored on flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6091087647/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6126435543/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6141614123/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6174278843/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/6260679232/in/photostream/lightbox/

I know that one of these goes all the way back to 2008!!

It was a lazy day today.  I spent my morning at the Seat of Knowledge and I got my hair done at the hairdressers after I missed last weeks appointment!

We ordered our seafood for Christmas day.

Adoring Husband and I napped on the couch this afternoon - quite uncomfortable really lol.

Today, I am grateful for lazy days that allow us to wind down, relax and rejuvenate.  It has been a busy busy year and we are now officially in hibernation - in preparation for what the new year has in store for us.

Tomorrow I will work on a post to recap 2012 I think!

Nite all.

Day 52 in a Year of my Life

I had a lovely morning, seeing my boys for the first time in a week and then morning tea with the girls and catching up.

Before I went home, I decided to go visit the tree where the Tawnies were before I left.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8283391016/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8282364145/in/photostream/lightbox/

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw three together on one branch and as I scanned the other trees looking for the fourth one, I discovered not one, but TWO in another tree!

I was so excited and talked to the birds, and all but one of the them looked right at me as I snapped and chatted away.

I'll go earlier in the morning for better light and hope that they're in clear view for some more happy snaps tomorrow!

Today I am grateful for nature's surprises - just when you least expect them!

Nite all.

Days 49, 50 and 51 of a Year in my Life

Well, what a great weekend!

Absolutely exhausting with hours of walking and photography and silly pranks and driving and eating and drinking and meeting new people and laughing and basically enjoying ourselves.

The five girls that I shared accommodation with were fantastic fun and easy to get along with.

We walked for over 5 hours on Saturday night getting our many and varied night lights shots.

Luckily, I decided to empty my clothes out of my little suitcase with wheels and put my camera bag in it.  Then I wheeled the bag all over the city.  I would NEVER have been able to carry my camera bag around for that long.  It weighs 10 kgs!

So here is the view from our motel room and a few of my night shots...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8280872002/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8279815347/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8279815953/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8279816341/in/photostream/lightbox/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rqqzy/8280874776/in/photostream/lightbox/

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We ended our night with a few glasses of champagne and some debriefing.  Some giggles.  Some D&Ms.  It was well after midnight when we all turned out the lights.

The Nikonian was a very cheeky monkey after we all went to bed, trying to steal my toes in the dark and then pretending to be a ghost in the night and THEN taking a photo of me sleeping and drooling on my pillow and posting it on Facebook!!!

She knows that she should be very afraid.  **Expect me when you least expect me**

The next morning we all ate a hearty breakfast and wandered around the markets for a little while before leaving Brisbane and heading north toward Woody Point.

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I loved the jetty there and would really like to go back for a sunrise or sunset shot with better light.  These were taken in the middle of the day.

Everybody sat under a shady tree near the shipwreck for an hour or so, killing time so that we didn't arrive at Bribie too early for our Christmas gathering.

I, for the umpteenth time, had to go searching for a toilet (I have an app for that!)

We drove to Bribie Island, headed over to the surf side, but it was quite busy and we couldn't find a place to park quickly.  Since we were responsible for finding a place to set up for the party, we returned to the other side of the island to search for a good spot.

Because it was such a beautiful day, all the tables and sheds were full of people.  Luckily, one of the newer members had already arrived and found a table.  They also found 'us' and we gathered all our gear and joined them.

Gradually, about 30 members of our group arrived in dribs and drabs.  We met lots of newbies and caught up with other more established members.  We discussed cameras and various photos that we had taken during the year.

We talked about how we discovered The Master's course and what we got out of it.  How we discovered photography and why we love it.

We wandered around and took photos of the Tawny Frogmouths in the tree, the sunset, the Glasshouse mountains across the waterway and anything else that looked interesting.

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I drank too much wine for the second time this year and both times, funnily enough, have been in The Master's presence .. I do hope he doesn't think badly of me!

We didn't leave Bribie til after 7pm and we didn't arrive home until almost 11pm.  I collapsed on top of our bed and that's where I stayed until 8.30 this morning.

Absolutely exhausted but it was so worth it.  I had a ball and I can't wait til our next gathering.

Today, I am grateful for that happy exhaustion, when you have pushed yourself to keep up with everyone and filled every minute with experiences that create happy memories to last a lifetime.

That was my weekend :D

Now I am climbing into bed at almost 1am.

Nite all.

Day 48 in a Year of my LIfe

Yet another exhausting day with the energiser bunny, Chicklet.

I got to babysit again this morning while Mama and Dadoo went grocery shopping.

Chicklet and I went for a long walk along the river path while I drank my morning coffee and then we came home and had some breakfast of yoghurt, nuts and crackers.

We watched some kids TV on the ABC - Bananas in Pyjamas and the Pig show (I am a bad grand mother and cannot remember the names of the shows).

Not long after that, Chicklet went for her morning nap before we went to lunch at my favourite eating place nearby, and I got to have my favourite Duck Quinoa salad and then a delicious dessert, of the house vanilla ice cream!

It was a good idea to walk off all that delicious food, so we headed for the park!

Oddly enough, there was less playing on the equipment and more of Boz carrying Chicklet around the park, until Mama suggested that we go to the swings!

I got to take lots of photos of Chicklet giggling and having fun, and even Mama had some fun on the swing.

Finally, in yet another state of exhaustion, we walked home and once again, collapsed on the couch.

A bit of Playschool on the telly, a good healthy feed of apple, cucumber, banana, orange and nuts.  Lots of water to drink and then Mama and Chicklet shared a chocolate icy pole.

A shower with the mother and baby ducks.

Brushing the teeth was a bit of a struggle until Boz got her toothbrush out and we all did it together :D

Bed time.

**sigh**

This is my last night here.  Tomorrow I head off for the photography night shoot in Brisbane with some friends from the flickr group, which I am looking forward to very much.

I will definitely miss my baby though.  I've had such a lot of fun with her and I'm definitely feeling very grandmotherly now - exhausted, but happy :D

Flickr seems to having trouble with the site tonight so I can't add the links to the new photos of Chicklet.

I will attempt to do that tomorrow night, if I have time.  Otherwise it will be Sunday night .. if I have time.

Don't be concerned if I don't update in the next two nights.  There is a lot happening and I may not have time.

Today I am grateful for having such an amazingly happy and full life.  I feel like I haven't had a moment to myself for months, but it's been a fabulous and satisfying year and I can't wait to recap here, after Christmas, on the year that was mine.

If the Mayan Calendar is correct in predicting the end of the world in a week's time, I will leave this earth happy and content.

Nite all.

Day 47 in a Year of my Life

We are all Zawsted!

Even Chicklet is exhausted after a very big afternoon at Underwater World.

You remember that it's my favourite place in the world, right?  Except maybe in the 'real' underwater world, which I have never been to ... never scuba dived and never snorkelled!  Can you believe that?!

Through the first door, was the 'touch pool' where Chicklet got to touch and hold a blue starfish!  What an exciting start to the day!  She wanted to touch EVERYTHING after that, and luckily was happy enough to touch the glass that protected all of the sea creatures.

She loved the fish and sharks and she loved the turtles.  We ALL loved the underwater tunnel and the Bare-chested Chef took lots of photos with his Samsung Pad.

I took my camera, but didn't take any photos.  I really should have attempted to get some photos of Chicklet in different areas, but I was too busy either playing with her or wandering through the tunnel in awe with Vegan Chickie.

Chicklet loved the room that viewed the seals underwater and spent most of the time climbing the giant 'step seats' with her teddy and then scooting back down.

She got to stand up at the glass wall and see the seals up close.  One of the seals came down under the water and put her nose against the glass really close to Vegan Chickie and Chicklet.  What a thrill!

I think Chicklet enjoyed the acoustics in there too because she was singing and laughing and talking REALLY LOUDLY!!

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It was ok because she scared all the other people away and we had the room to ourselves most of the time!

When we were leaving, out of all the stuffed toys at the gift shop - colourful sting rays, star fish, seals, sharks, crocodiles, frogs, clown fish, sea horses, eels, turtles etc etc, Chicklet fell for the fluffy brown otters,  which was quite strange because we only saw the otters for about a minute before they disappeared down their tunnels and out of sight.

We had a good three hours at Underwater World, including lunch, so I guess we have good reason to be 'zawsted'!

So Chicklet has been there, done that AND got a t-shirt.

A good time was had by all!

Today I am grateful for sharing a family day and sharing a 'first' experience with Chicklet.  Seeing everything again, as if for the first time, through her young inexperienced eyes, was amazing, and watching her Mama and Dadoo enjoying her excitement was equally enjoyable.

I love my life.

Nite all.

Day 46 in a Year of my Life

Ugh!  Motion sickness on a train... blah ... it sucks!

Twenty minutes after I sat down, the wave of nausea descended and it took every ounce of willpower to suck it up and get through the two hour journey unscathed.

I had even ordered a big gluten free breakfast before I felt sick but was unable to even take a bite, so it is in the fridge ready for tomorrow morning's breakfast.

After I recovered from that, I got to be a grandmother all on my own for a bit over four hours.

It was the most mentally and physically exhausting fun I've had for a long time!  Challenging, to find just one more burst of energy to get through each new session of play time.

I have carpet burn on my knees from playing 'doggies' - because dogs, of course, should be on four legs at all times!  They should also be walking around the room constantly and chasing other dogs and playing with balls and barking at people through the front door.

Boz must not, for even a moment, lay down on the couch to rest.

A leisurely walk to the Pirate Park was the closest I got to relaxing, so I walked REALLY slowly, to make it last lol.

At least thirty times, my arms lifted Chicklet to the top of the slippery slide, so that she could race the other kids down the slide.

We climbed the ladder.  We crossed the bridge a number of times.  We made sand castles.  We made Chicklet's feet disappear under the sand.  We made mud fish in the wet sand.  We ran through the bark under the trees.  We studied seed pods.  We watched the ducks swimming in the river.  We bounced.  We jumped.  We scooted.  We spun.

We walked back home, getting coffee and 2 chocolate tiny teddies on the way.

We changed out of our dirty clothes, got a new nappy, cleaned all the toys off the floor, played doggies again until Mama and Dadoo came home.

We all discussed our day, had dinner, washed the dishes, showered Chicklet and now have all crawled into bed exhausted.

What a day!

Today, I am grateful.  I am grateful for today.  A perfectly delightful, delicious, glorious, wondrous, happy and exhausting day with my most precious granddaughter.

May there be many more.

There will be photos tomorrow.

Nite all.

Day 45 in a Year of my Life

Been procrastinating all day!

I did make a list and I am partly packed.

It's almost 10.30pm and I have to be up at 4.30am, so I am off to finish packing.

Today, I am grateful for 'to do' lists.

I am checking everything off the list as I go, so I should be in bed by 11.30pm.

Looking forward to spending some real quality time with my little Chicklet.

Nite all.

Day 44 in a Year of my Life

Lots of uneventful things added up to fill my day.

Bought my ticket to the Sunshine Coast for Wednesday.

Had coffee with my boys at the Seat of Knowledge.

Delivered some photos.

Had lunch with Adoring Husband in The Bay.

Did some grocery shopping.

Watched a movie.

Rushed to the river for a spectacular sunset, but the clouds blew away ... again.

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That is all.

Today I'm grateful for failed sunsets ... without them, I wouldn't appreciate the GREAT ones when they come along.

Nite all.

Day 43 in a Year of my Life

I haven't slept well since we came home.

Something about our bed just doesn't do it for me and I can't even remember the last time I got a solid nights sleep in it ... unlike the bed in the camper van where I fell asleep almost immediately every time my head hit the pillow and the only time I woke during the night was when a certain piece of my anatomy required emptying!

Having said that, it almost goes without saying, I am very tired tonight, so this will be short and sweet, so that I can crawl into bed and hopefully get a few solid hours in.

This afternoon, we got to see some old friends, who moved to Tasmania from here, over two years ago, and have now moved to The Bay.

'The Sex Therapist' and 'Laughing Buddha'.

SOOOO good to see them!

They asked me to do a quick photo shoot,  so that they could give framed photos to family for Christmas.

When I say 'quick', it was the fastest photo shoot EVER and I was lucky to get 15 minutes of their time!

Quick and painless.

I haven't finished editing the photos yet, but this is one that they have selected for their grandchildren.

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I feel a bit embarrassed because I know I could have done so much better with a bit more time.

However, they are happy, and that's what counts!

Today I am grateful to have old friends living close by again.  I look forward to some girlie time with The Sex Therapist - we always have a good old belly laugh when we are together.  I'm sure there will be fun times to be had in the coming months!

Nite all.