Monday 30 January 2012

Dark Storm


I love, love, LOVE a good summer storm (especially listening to it from the comfort of my cozy bed).
In todays case though they've been rather sporadic and fleeting, but it makes for some great daydreams amongst the heavens.
Oscar and I stood outside watching the storm roll in before enjoying the release of fat drops of rain onto the hot earth bellow.

There's nothing quite like standing in a downpour on a steamy afternoon.

sharing the love over at Anna's blog:

Sunday 29 January 2012

How To Be Alone



I've always been a slightly introverted person.
Quiet on the outside, busy on the inside.

I've also felt that comfort in aloneness equals comfort in your own skin… although last year, after the fallout from losing my oldest friend, I found myself feeling increasingly lonely and disconnected from those around me.

This humble little poem has given me a profound reminder that while it's important to value the connections we have with one another there's no need to fear the spaces of solitude in between.

"But lonely is a freedom that breathes easy and weightless
and lonely is healing if you make it" ~ Tanya Davis

Pieces of Me… in Jan





I started this project rather reluctantly hoping to join in once a week at best or once a month at least.
Who would've thought I'd enjoy putting myself in the spotlight so much?

To see how else people are sharing themselves this month check out this months contributions over on Urban Muser ❤

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Much Loved Birthdays

Happy birthday to me…
I must attempt to make
this cake one day
.
Sorry that my contribution is a little belated but at least it's a doozy.
For on this Much Love Monday it was my birthday!
found via pinterest
(Maybe that's why I couldn't sleep on Sunday night - Oh the anticipation hehe)

The night before was full of thoughts of getting older (so very nearly 30 now), my accomplishments and the ones I never quite managed, future goals as well as the sombre thought that I would be spending my big day alone (being a Monday almost everyone else would be working or busy).
I needn't have worried since my beautiful husband is full of surprises and had his own agenda planned.

After wishing me a happy birthday and planting a kiss on my head he trundled off to work leaving me to ponder the day ahead.
Seeing no use in feeling lonely I thought I would treat myself to the best day I could.
Would I take a drive?
Take myself shopping?
Spend the day happy snapping? Do a bit of reading?… for now I settled on some napping.

Imagine my surprise when I after dozing I opened my eyes to this by my bedside:
I thought I was dreaming until he walked in and asked if I was going to eat it or sit there taking photos of it and staring at it all day. Cheeky.

If you're quick, he added, we can even get down to the beach.
What?!
I could have cried.
Best morning surprise ever!

But it didn't stop there.
While I was busy splashing in the waves, he was arranging a lovely get together of my nearest and dearest afterward at our place.
Snacks, Beers, lamb chops, King Island eye fillet steaks, sausages, salads topped off with my Mums renowned tzitziki and fried zucchini. Yummmm….

It was a feast of feasts capped by great company and the element of surprise. The best nights always seem to be unplanned.

So this has been my most loved Monday and a much better birthday than I had imagined by far.

I know I often say this but I really am a very lucky lady :)

Monday 23 January 2012

Insomnia




























For me, starts out like this…
A fluttering kaleidoscope of thoughts. Of feelings.
A distant yearning for something obscure, untouchable, unreachable.
But always there, in the back of the mind restraining the body from it's urge to sleep.

At first it's not so bad…
I scour the usual online outlets, read a few pages of an interesting book, experiment with my newest lippy or eyeshadow.
Find a way to get creative without waking those sleeping soundly.

But before too long I'm feeling more and more like the image below and less like the imaginative spark I was at the start.

I wonder how long it'll take to escape it's unrelenting grip this time?

Friday 20 January 2012

The Birds



I feel like her questions should be directed at me.
Although yesterday I was giving a similarly hysterical performance.

Why are they doing this? Why!?!

Am I some kind of things-that-flap whisperer?
(haha, considering what I do for a living, maybe.)

Ok let me re phrase that; I don't like things with wings but for some unknown reason they flock to me like flies to honey. Or more fittingly, like moths to a flame.

It took all my courage to walk calmly and not cry hysterically while in the butterfly enclosure up in Queensland.
As others stood patiently, waiting for them to land on their outstretched hands, I hot footed my way through and still managed to have a swarm of them land all over me.
When birds swoop my car I close my eyes and swerve. 
If something flies at me it's at its own risk since you can be sure I'll either flail wildly or run from the room screaming.

Right, so it's established, I'm a weird freak.
Now here's the backstory.

It all started a few months ago when the feisty little pigeons in my area decided that dog food was rather nice to munch on.

Since Oscar neither invokes fear or attempts to even try to chase them away, the birds have no qualms about helping themselves to his meals.
My little man is a sharer.

Now here's where it kind of gets messy.

We all know Oscar is a spoilt little pooch.
A day left out in the backyard is like a year in the wilderness for him.
When left outside for prolonged periods he comes bolting inside at the end of the day dishevelled and distressed barking like a mad dog for a good five minutes.
You could imagine what he would be saying in puppy speak.

Because I work from home he is predominately inside with me most of the time and because he has a lot a bit of separation anxiety he's gotten very good at holding onto his business (which couldn't be good for him surely) but when nature eventually bashes on his door screaming he very calmly scratches at my salon door alerting me that he needs to go outside. An almost perfect system.

Occasionally I don't hear him and accidents can happen, so on warm enough days I usually just leave the door to the backyard slightly ajar for easy bathroom access and initially the worst thing about this would be allowing flies into the house.


Not anymore.

Remember the pigeons with an appetite for MyDog? (the food not my actual dog)
Yea, well it must be really tasty since they've decided it would be worth the risk to creep inside the back door for a sneaky snack search and subsequently get trapped.
It seems flying in through a crack in the door is easier than flying back out again.
No biggy. Although the first time this happened I nearly cried and proceeded to hold my bladder all day (to get to the toilet you have to go through the laundry) but when this kept happening, I soon worked out that I could open the side door to the laundry pop some food just outside of it and this would usually encourage the trapped rat with wings to follow its greedy stomach to freedom.

Then there was that bird. The partridge in my Christmas tree.
I don't know what the hell possessed that one to come inside but I figured the allure of a natural bushy tree inside the shelter of a home was too good an offer to pass up.
Hence no real tree will ever feature in my house again.

I thought that would be the end of it.
You guessed it - I was wrong.

I don't know what I've done to deserve it but already in the space of a week I've been scared half out of my wits.
Firstly on Monday night by this:
No, it's not a bird. That, my friends, is a moth.
If you think I dislike butterflies, how do you reckon I feel about these ugly mo fo's…
To put it in perspective it was roughly the size of Oscars head.

Ok, so maybe it was more like the size of my palm… but still, you have to agree, that's one big assed moth!
I couldn't sleep for fear I would wake up with it down my throat a la Silence of the Lambs.

I knew it had flown into the bathroom but couldn't even muster the courage to get up and close the door on it.
I begged hubby to get up and kill it or at least shut the bathroom door before wedging a towel under it (so it wouldn't crawl out from under there) but he quickly dismissed my ridiculousness then merely rolled over and went back to sleep.
Thankfully it was dead in the morning.
(which is the only reason I could get close enough to take a photo of it for you.)

And finally I bring you to yesterdays fiasco.

So I'm getting ready for work, minding my own business when I hear a furious flapping coming from what I assume is the laundry.
No problem, I figure.
I'm seasoned now, surely I can deal with this in a breeze.
I simply closed the laundry door leading into the house and opened the one from the sideway.

Curiously I can't see the bird anywhere in the usual places.
'Hmmm, maybe it's hiding in the toilet', I think to myself.

Back to my routine and within minutes more furious flapping.
'Stupid bird' I muse, 'Just fly out the freeken side door, you idiot'

I finish applying my make up and setting up my room for the day, sit down to wait for my first client while trawling through the web and simply expect the bird to be gone by lunch time.

A half hour ticks by and I havn't heard the bird.
Hopeful and with bated breath, I walk to the laundry door and open it just a peep, just enough to peek around the room.
Ok so nothing. I breathe a sigh of relief.
As I turn to walk away, there, perched on my kitchen sink, is the one and the same goddamn pigeon!

For a second I stand frozen, caught in the dead eye stare of this brazen bird before suddenly it decides to take me on and in a flash we are a flurry of frantic flapping and blood curdling screams.

You'll be relieved to know I managed to make it out of there alive before slamming the door to my lounge, (yes I live in a fun house of a thousand doors), shutting it off from the rest of my house.

Just then my first client turns up to find me weeping into the phone. Hubby once again had to save the day though I've since discovered he's not a big fan of birds or bugs either, so is more a hindrance than a help.
His solution? To rip open the fly screen on the kitchen window in order to unhook the latch that opens it to allow it a way out...
yea, now I have a torn up fly screen in my kitchen window and more bird poop than you can poke a stick at.

I know, it's definitely time for a doggy door and you best believe it will be a magnetic one or I fear it'll be stray cats next.

I'm like that song about the woman that swallowed the fly then swallowed the bird to catch the fly then swallowed the cat to catch the bird to catch the fly etc, etc…

Oh why me dear lord? Why me?

Thursday 19 January 2012

Sleeping Softly



I've been staring at all six versions for so long I cant say I like any of them that much anymore.
The white washed ones are the ones I'm leaning towards, but I can't be sure… maybe the whole collaboration?
Which would you chose as today's selfie?

To see some real talent click here.

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Selfies

Found via Lomography
So as you know one of my goals is to join in on Urban Muser's
In The Picture project this year.
As to how committed I'l be well that remains to be seen.
I'm aiming for at least one self portrait a month… but who knows, after seeing a snippet of this amazing documentary it seems as though I may become addicted.

Prepare to be inspired:

See more of this incredible man over at: jeffharris.org

Tuesday 17 January 2012

On Forgiveness & Letting Go


Today, on a day heavy with questions and full of self doubt, I came across some beautiful and timely posts on both 

It never ceases to amaze me how I'm always lead to exactly the messages I need to hear at any given time.
Hope your week is proving to be just as profound.
xox

Monday 16 January 2012

Hearts & Shutters are Aflutter

It's a little bit obscure but can you spot the heart?
My first Much Love contribution for 2012 is a little late coming but finally here none the less:

Loving… 
#1 - That I woke up at 2am last night with the sudden revelation on where my precious Didgy was hiding. She was tucked away in my salon all along!

#2 - The anticipation of discovering what I've captured on my Superheadz.
I've been experimenting with so many different types of film and even had a go at double exposures a few weeks back!
Who knows if they even worked out but I can't wait to see what surprises lay in store for me when I finally get them developed.

#3 - Sarah of Hemenway Street.
Her work is a constant source of inspiration but the girl is even sweeter than her blog. (Namely for her constant artistic support and for leading me to my much loved #4.) Take a look around and see for yourself.

#4 - Halina over @ Moments of Libra for offering open access to a free online Photography Course.
So much of the info is way over my head, ie; apertures, lenses & shutter speeds etc but I'm hoping to pick up a few helpful hints and tips along the way.
Lord knows I need it!

#5 - My upcoming participation in Urban Muser's {In The Picture} Self Portrait project.
At first I was really apprehensive (how many photos of myself can I possibly take before they start to get boring?) but after seeing Christy's creativity on Flicker I'm excited to get started.


So mine is a photo themed kind of Monday but I can't wait to get more involved this year with my creative side.
Of coarse, if any of these places click with you too I'd love to see you there.


Meanwhile I'm off to get learning - Wish me luck!

Sunday 15 January 2012

You know what they say…

About how absence makes the heart grow fonder?
Well it's true.

On the other hand it makes for so much catching up it's almost too overwhelming to be attempted (or maybe I'm just easily overwhelmed...)

I've missed blog land so much this week but real life has been keeping me pretty sharp on my toes.
No time for cooking or cleaning, eating or breathing let alone blogging and happy snap sharing.

I can't tell you how much I hate doing the laundry and after our little escape to Lakes Entrance last week (which was picturesque and will be shared as soon as I can manage it) we have dirty clothes, dried up salt, sea and sand up the wazoo!
And since I've been working 12hr days from the minute we got back the house is in such a state I can barely stand to look at it… or stand up for that matter.
Ever wanted to burn your house down and start again?
Well that's just about where I'm at.

FYI - Remind me next Christmas to never get a real tree again.
I don't care how nice they look and smell I'd rather spray my perfect spider free low maintenance plastic one with Pine-o-clean for affect than deal with the hassle of the real thing.
You wouldn't believe the mess this one left in its wake - I fear I'll be finding pine needles for the rest of my life!
Besides that I had spiders crawling out of the wood works (white-tails I might add!) and, as the cherry on the cake, a pigeon decided to fly down our chimney and roost in the damn thing.
It was flapping around in there for a week before we could get rid of it. Pigeon poop and pine needles are the result of that wonderful idea - Yay!

p.s. I would have added a lovely picture to this post but I can't find Didge - I think I may have left her up at Lakes :(
Secondly there are no less than 7 rolls of film waiting to be developed but even if I could afford to get them processed right now my laptops disc reader has decided to pack itself in.
(So much for Macs being highly reliable, at little over a year old, this one's practically obsolete apparently.)
So this means more fun and games converting the photos from analogue to disc and then onto a USB - It's all a bit too much for this pre-menstrual lady to tackle right now.
I think I need a big drink and little lie down.
And,Yes, I think I will have some cheese with my whine thanks.

Wake me when it's 2013.


Friday 6 January 2012

Waiting For You

Apologies for the saturation of Trentemoller lately but you can blame my dear brother in-law who pointed me in this direction and has seen me lost in the magnificence ever since.

Songs like this one have me scouring his collection for more and more.



Sharing my Sunday Sessions here.

Thursday 5 January 2012

Resolutions

I generally don't do resolutions (read: Never stick to them) but today, while reading over a few other blogs and stumbling by some new ones I got to realising that I may have accidentally let a couple creep out from the recesses of my mind without even meaning to. Sneaky sneaky…

So anyway here they are (belated, like everything else so far this year).

  1. Stress less, live more.
  2. Find balance. No more doing things to excess.
  3. Get healthy - No more procrastination, it's time to move this body!
  4. Take a photography class. Even if it's just a one dayer. I happened to see some cool classes on offer over at RedBalloon that spiked my interest… 
  5. Travel to Malaysia to see my sister and her cuties in Penang.
  6. Blog with abandon (stole this one from Sarah over at Hemenway Street.
Although that last one was inspired after New Years and not by thought of my own little noggin, it's a good one to follow through on.

Lately I've realised my blog has become more of a mass of meme's rather than what it was intended to be.
My rambles have slowly disappeared and almost every day is linked to another's blog.
While I'm not likely to turn my back on link love (it's too much fun and I enjoy it way too much to boot), I do think a return to good old fashioned rambling writing may be called for.

I love linking, it brought me to all you wonderful bloggers out there…  Still there was a time, back before anyone at all (seriously I mean no one at all) read my posts, back before I even knew how to edit a photo let alone upload one. Back then the sole purpose of my blogging was to pour my heart out and share my thoughts.
Still, I was fragile and unsure of what direction to take this blog in.
I wanted to use this place as a spring board of stories and wisdom to share but I also wanted desperately to be heard.
What's the point of a blog after all if nobody reads it?

The day I figured out how to link up with other bloggers was a turning point for me.
Hooorah!
Finally I could join in on something and share myself with others while enjoying a flood of visitors and comments for the very first time. (Comments were also a privilege I rarely got to enjoy. Oh poor me, Boo Hoo, Ho-Hum.)

It became addictive. A little too addictive… So addictive in fact I turned my back on more meaningful writing and focused instead on doing my darndest to keep people visiting my blog week after week.

Now I know doing this has been an integral part of blog building, I also know I've taken it a bit too far and this year I plan to cut it out.
Or at least inject a bit more of myself and my reflections into my place in cyber-space.

Lets see how this little experiment goes. What's the worst that could happen?
Besides all of you getting bored of me and clicking the little unfollow button and breaking my poor little heart… yea, that would be pretty bad. Promise me that won't happen and I'll promise to try to not be so boring this year. Deal! xox

Monday 2 January 2012

New Year, New Sounds

Bit late getting back on the wagon, you'll have to forgive me.
(i.e. Sorry for partying)

Making up for it by sharing a few mellow tunes that have been helping me ease into the New Year:
A word of warning: If elctro or instrumental tracks aren't really your thing you may want to just skip these altogether, though I think you'll be sorely missing out.






For those of you who may have enjoyed some of these check out the rest of TrentemĂžllers work.
I promise you won't be disappointed.

Happy (belated) New Year guys xox

(Linking up with Thea & Anna today for double the )

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