Love/Hate

This was NOT hard:

One thing I have a love/ hate relationship is my family history research.

I love the research. I love uncovering the mystery that is my ancestors but I HATE genealogical brick walls more than anything in my life!

At present (and for the last 4 years of searching) I just cannot locate my mother's paternal grandparents. I know the names of my grandfather's parents. I know who my grandfather's paternal grandparents are. But who exactly is his father and when on earth his mother came from is a complete mystery. There are no marriage records. There are family stories, none of which can be confirmed; there are rough dates. The only certainty we have is my grandfather's birth record. I have the certificate! Grrrr!

When I finally get over this brick wall, I think I may create another blog and write down my family history. Who knows!

Well back to trawling the records on Ancestry.com, Find My Past UK and The Genealogist UK!

Near..

...and dear to my heart.

Today's topic is 'Near'. You can interpret this many ways. "Near and Far", near by, etc..

I didn't take the shot I have posted today. It was taken almost 2 years ago now at Caris and Thomas's wedding. It is the three people nearest my heart.

The men in my life.

These are the three people most important to me. My hubby Jeff, and our children, Matthew and Michael.

All three will cringe if they read this post!

Day 21- Frame

What happens when you drop an empty picture frame onto the couch while you go to get your camera for your daily photo?

This!

My beautiful boy Chi decided that inside the frame was a great place to catch a quick cat nap! One thing I can say about this is it saved me having to wonder just what I was going to do with said photo frame (why did I want to spell that "Phrame"!)

Because the picture was all orange and beige, I decided to crop and desaturate the shot and just paint back in the frame. I think it worked well.

Here is the original:

More tomorrow!

Photo a Day - Monday

Today it is "3 Things".

This is three thing I did today:

I went to quilting at Gilly's and attached the two flowers shown in the photo. We then went shopping and then Gilly gave me a manicure before I came home.

One other thing I did today was upgrade my dear old iPhone 3GS to the new iPhone5. I was going to add it in the photo but I need to do stuff with it.  So exciting! Right now, Gilly's husband Bill is giving me a hard time over the fact I decided on a white phone. The reason for this is I give him a hard time because he has a white iPad! Now, the white iPhone looks fine but the white iPad is lame! The other reason I have a white iPhone is because that is all that was available and besides, my old one was white too so why break the trend!

Gillian and I are getting very excited. Our trip to the USA is getting closer and closer!

11 more sleeps!

No Photo a Day

I missed my first day yesterday after starting this challenge on September 5. And not because I forgot! I just wasn't inspired.

The topic for Sunday Sept 23 was "Before Bedtime". What do I do before bed? Eat dinner, watch telly, shower, clean my teeth. Nothing terribly inspiring. Gilly suggested today that I should have taken a self portrait of me cleaning my teeth before bed, but I want to keep this blog G Rated! I am usually naked when I clean my teeth at night!

So. No photo for Sunday 23 September 2012!

Araluen

was today's destination for the bi-monthly outing of Northam Photography Club. A perfect oportunity to get my picture for today's theme "Up."

This photo was taken by me, today, while laying FLAT ON MY BACK in the middle of a pathway looking up at the tulips at Araluen Botanical Park.

Apparently my dear next door neighbour, Gaye, who came with me, snapped me while doing this. I look forward to see that photo - Not!

While the day started out quite windy and cloudy, it fined up beautifully and I was very happy with some of the pictures I took. There were many people out enjoying the tulip display at the garden. We watched one little girl toddle around chasing bubbles blown by her mum. It was so cute. She had little shoes on that squeaked when she ran. That along with her giggles of delight at the bubbles had every one around her smiling. Unfortunately, I did not get a good photo of her.

There was also a family group dancing in the park. The mood of the park was infectious. It was a  happy vibrant place to be!

Friday's Photo

Today the subject is 'Sometimes'.

Easy! Every time I get into my car, I think "I must wash this sometime!" So here is a lovely cobweb growing on my rear number plate!

I did plan on washing the car today. I cleaned, vacuumed and Armour-Oiled the inside but the weather today is so feral, I couldn't wash it! This is when I got the idea for today's photo!

I truly hope the weather improves tomorrow. My next door neighbour, Gaye and I are heading to Araluen for Photography Club. It is tulip season and Araluen is renowned for its tulip display this time of the year.

Photos will be forth coming of the visit. There will be tulips. Be warned!

And here is today's Photo.

Today was "Man Made."

What is more man made than a good batch of yummy scones!

Jeff requested scones last night, so they were on my agenda today. Yummo!

I had a great day today. The best part was hearing from a primary school friend I have been trying to track down for a while. Beverley and I were friends in Grade 7 and I wrote to her parents a week or so ago. It really made my day when her email popped up in my inbox today! Now, after 38 years,  I am in contact with all the other three from the foursome we had at school.

Old school friends 1974
L to R: Leanne, Beverley & Leonnie
I am behind the camera, even back then!

Underneath.

I took this yesterday. Really! I just forgot to post it!

Subject for Wednesday was Underneath. I decided I would take a picture of the underneath of the first thing I saw when I walked out the back door.

Done deal!

This is the underside of the palm tree outside my laundry door. I am quite happy with it as it is straight out of the camera. No crop, no enhancement.

Now to get out and find today's gem - "Man-made".

Later!

Nearly forgot!

I have just come home from my monthly patchwork get together and realised I hadn't taken my shot for today. The subject today is "Price."
The brief is  "Snap a price, on an ad, a tag or somewhere else. Hmmm....

It is late. I have nothing with a price on it within easy reach without disturbing the husband unit who is sleeping soundly right now. Then I turned on the computer and the first email I see is this:

Saved by the junk email! A quick snap and crop and I am saved. My record is unblemished and I can now go to bed and sleep in peace!

Night all!

It is Monday again!

And today's challenge was "In My Fridge!" What a dilemma. My fridge desperately needs cleaning and I have been in Perth all day today! Erk! How to take a picture and not let on just how bad the state of the fridge is?

Easy!

Try the trick of zooming out while the shutter is open. I am very happy with this result!

I think the top of the photo looks a bit like a supermarket aisle instead of a fridge.

I had a fun day today. I go to Perth every Monday but today I had lunch with our Exmouth friends, Bev and Darryl. They told me the good news that they are looking to move to Perth at the end of the year. That means all three of my besties will be living less than an hour away!

Nothing Strange!

Today's topic was "Strange". But I didn't see anything strange today to post, so I have added the photo below instead.

Is this strange enough for everyone! Deb and Lee are going to kill me for this!

This was taken last November at Captain Cook's Cottage in Melbourne while visiting my sister Deb along with my other sister Lee and her daughter Amy. 

Left to right it is Lee, me ( obviously channelling my younger son Michael when he was aged about 10!), Amy and Deb! We had a fun week together in Melbourne with quality girl time and lots of shopping. 

Really have to do it again sometime!

The first thing you see

This lavender is one of the plants I first see when I walk out the front of my home every day.

What a wonderful day it was here in Northam today. Expected maximum was 27C and Sunny. Right now it is 24.9 and the wind has come up. I spent some time this afternoon relaxing by the pool with Jeff and read my book. This morning, I went for my Saturday walk into town to have coffee with the gym girls. Apart from the several loads of washing it has been a very relaxing day in all!

Photo a Day for Friday.

I was wondering what to post for today and had decided on my favourite photo of my favourite pet, Chi, my cat - but! There is always a 'but!'

Today I had a reunion lunch with my grade 7 school teacher after 38 years, Mr David Ross. This was made possible by an old school friend I have been back in touch with for the last twelve months. Stan was interested in tracking down Mr Ross for an upcoming Nollamara Primary School reunion and managed to do so and arranged to have lunch with David today.

What we thought would be a couple of hours over lunch extended out to four and a bit hours. David regaled us with school tales and the trouble he and another teacher got into at school for continually pushing the expected boundaries of teaching by making their students extend themselves. David also got into trouble for allowing girls to play basket ball back in1973!

So here is a photo of my favourite primary school teacher, here is a photo him and my old friend Stan, taken by me and one of Mr Ross and me taken by Stan and also my year 7 school class photo.

David Ross and Me

Stan Hessell and David Ross

Our Year 7 Class
Stan is standing next to our Teacher, David Ross in the third row on the right
I am third from the right in the front row.

Table

was the subject of today's photo. Hmmm....very uninspired. So I waited. Do you know what the good thing about waiting is? You remember you bought a book!

"Digital SLR Settings and Shortcuts....for Dummies!" Yep that is me. A dummy!
1. For not remembering I had this wonderful book that takes all the guess work out.
2. For NOT READING IT!!!!!

So, I looked in the index for 'Candlelight', having decided to take a photo of the table in our meals area with the candle lit. The candle is the only light in this shot. I am quite happy with it as it is my third shot and the only instructions for candle lit photos was for portraits!

Today's Photo..

Together!

This was harder than I thought especially as I was by myself all day! Jeff had gone to Perth to do a bike ride with some friends. Then I realised that I had something "together"!

As I said the other day, I did a workshop with Leesa Chandler of Chandler's Cottage and here is the result, all 'together' ready to be layered and quilted and embellished.

There are two bedrunners in the picture. Gifts for some special friends of mine.

More tomorrow!

Sept 11 - My Hero. My Dad.

I was wondering about how to take a photo of today's Photo-a-day subject, My Hero. I was chatting with my younger son this afternoon as he had sent me photos of his newly arrived furniture in his flat. Michael moved to Melbourne 2 weeks ago.

I asked Michael who I should take a photo of as my Hero. He straight up said "Grandad". As I can't get to Perth today to do that, I have posted a picture not taken by me but by my brother in law Roy at my Dad's 80th birthday last year.

My dad is my hero. He has always been there for us. No conditions. We get the odd hint now and then about ringing him more often but he doesn't berate us for our neglect.  Us being me and my sisters Debbie and Lee. My dad is wonderful. I love him very much. At age 80, Dad is the full time carer for my step mother Pat who has advanced rheumatoid arthritis. He is patient and caring while looking after her.

Dad is the most gentle, loving and caring man I know apart from my gorgeous husband, Jeff. I am blessed to have 4 wonderful men in my life: my Dad, my husband and my two beautiful sons, Matthew and Michael.

Thank you all for being part of my life.

Today it is...

Black and White!

I spent today in Perth with my bestie, Gillian. Last minute, I remembered I had to take a black and white shot for today's photo. G's hubby Bill suggested I take a shot of his pride and joy - his motorbike.
Shamefully I forgot to ask the make and model! But here is a shot of the 'pipe' as suggested by Bill.
Not as sharp in places as I would have liked but the lighting wasn't too flash and I was doing it hand held.

The best thing that happened today was the collection of our tickets and itinerary for the up coming trip to Florida and California in just over three weeks time! Now I am excited!

Today's Photo Theme...

"Something you do most weekends"

Any one who knows me well won't be surprised at the photo I chose to take today!

I am a quilter. I sew most days. Either at the machine or by hand. The fact today has been mostly by hand, I wanted to post a picture of my most prized possession. No - not my camera though it comes a close second.

The project in the machine is a block for the mystery quilt class I did at the beginning of last month. Proper pictures will be posted when I have the top put together!

Photo A Day - At Night

At Night is the topic for today's photo which is why this post is going up so late. Obviously I needed to wait for night!
I don't do a lot of night photography so this was a bit of a challenge but I think I got there in the long run. I tried a couple of different things including a self portrait which was terrible! I just couldn't get the light right on my face and juggle the camera as well, so I went out side.

My final shot is Northam at night from my front verandah. There is no moon and it is pitch black out there other than the fairy lights of Northam.