Megan Harper Photography

red marmalade

2011-10-29T16:56:00.005+11:00

so things have been a little quiet

on the blog..

but it is with good reason

I have been cooking up something

BIG

have a look, its worth it

Red Marmalade

forget not....

2011-08-26T09:42:00.001+10:00

and forget not

that the earth

delights to feel your bare feet

and the wind longs

to play with your hair...

~ Kahil Gibran

i will be taking a break from blogging

to spend sometime

bare foot

in the wind

credits...

2011-08-18T20:30:00.000+10:00

ok before i start

i have to give credit where credit is due

i have not altered or boosted the colour of
these deep blue eyes
this gorgeous auburn mane
or the porcelain skin.

they are all natural
all gorgeous
all kayla

and we did get a beautiful smile
from broadie

thanks to mum,

dad

and super cow...

bond...

2011-08-16T08:00:00.001+10:00

sometimes

getting photographed

can be a little overwhelming

but photography is about

capturing a moment

a moment when a little boy

seeks out his dad

to provide comfort and safety

that bond

is always beautiful

can you ever...

2011-08-11T13:19:00.000+10:00

can you ever

really imagine

the beauty

and

wonder

that is waiting

for you?

can you ever

really anticipate

the love

and the bond

you will build

with the little

people

you will create

with the person

you love?

can you ever really

conceive

the fulfilment

and belonging

that comes with

creating your family.

hee larie ess

2011-08-07T18:43:00.000+10:00

kids crack me up

i think that's why

i like them

so much

meet kai

hee larie ess

(hilarious)

just

sneak

more later..

sweet souls

2011-07-31T19:54:00.000+10:00

have you ever met someone

and walked away thinking...

i think they could be the most pure

sweetest soul

on the planet?

i remember thinking that

when i met Laurie...

Laurie

is like something out

of a fairytale

something sweet and beautiful

that you would create

in your imagination...

but she is real

and true

and

pure

and only such a

sweet soul

could create

whimsical girls

like these....

laurie is my reminder

to try to be a little softer

a little quieter

and just a little less constant

even if it's just

some of the time

angel in the marble

2011-07-30T12:46:00.001+10:00

michelangelo is quoted as saying

i saw the angel in the marble

and carved

until

i set him free

i never had to carve...

this angel

had already been set free

more to come

boys best friend...

2011-07-24T17:14:00.003+10:00

meet mitch

handsome little devil

'devil' being the operative word

i know his mum will be surprised

to see we did actually get some

beautiful images

because this cheeky devil

was out to act the goat....

it came down to simple negotiation.....

for every goofy face i took a photo of,

he had to give me a goodie

(this is a mummy heart melter)

and what's life with mitch

without the goof?

i could have shot all day

in mitch's backyard

it has all the textures i love

add a cute kid

makes for a great morning

we also had one last, very important

member of the family

to photograph

mitch's best friend

jaffa

i believe the bond these two share

is quite evident?

cluck cluck cluck

2011-07-18T14:49:00.000+10:00

this post is not about chickens...

but it does come with a warning

if you don't know how to resist

a newborn baby

TURN AWAY NOW!

because you will want one

after setting your eyes on this one...

if you can't read baby eyes

this little glance my way

translates to

"ohh hello, i like you"

I am a self confessed lover of babies

oh i think they are the most

divine gift

from mother nature,

the Universe,

God

or the stork

where ever they come from

thank you

one look at this piece

of simple, delicate

perfection

and it makes one want to make

everything right in the

world

cure disease

eradicate poverty

create world peace

yes it is an overwhelming task

for just one person

but we can all make

small steps

for the sake of

small beings

how could we not want a

better planet

for such a beautiful

babe

kai

i'm so glad

you could join us

xxx

chocolates

2011-07-14T19:15:00.002+10:00

sometimes we get sent chocolates

and sometimes

we get sent

something

much

sweeter.

a special sneak peek

of a little sweetness

that has come our way.

congratulations

belinda, kurt, maya & koby

on the arrival of

kai

boy envy

2011-07-05T22:05:00.000+10:00

oohhh boys are very cute

a little stubborn

a bit cheeky

a fraction naughty

but mostly cute

for a mumma of 2 girls

a morning spent with these two

gives one a little

boy envy

see i grew up with brothers

two little brothers

two naughty, cheeky, slightly humorous brothers.

so i get it

i get that

there is no better co conspirator

than your brother

there is no better ally

in gang warfare

there is always a constant companion

and a willing rival

and there is nothing better

than coming out victor

there is always someone to help you find

trouble and strife

and someone to call when it finds you

boys that talk tough

and play rough

have big hearts

and are really

big soft marshmallows

that make girls hearts melt

especially their mumma's

because they are divine

sweet creatures

most of the time....

(you want to give him a squishy kiss don't you?

can't say i blame you!)

sneaky...

2011-07-04T16:56:00.000+10:00

this is how my shoot today started off

"no, i not look at you...."

stay tuned if you want to see how it ended...

p.s jayden

I still think you're cute

even when you're not looking xx

fluff

2011-06-24T11:56:00.000+10:00

“If the person you are talking to

doesn't appear to be listening,

be patient.

It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”

~ Winnie the Pooh

Anyone know where I can get myself an ear fluff remover?

warmth

2011-06-17T14:38:00.000+10:00

remember

sun kissed cheeks

and bare feet

when the sun warmed your skin

and water cooled your heels

i can't wait for winter

to leave us

and summer

rolls in again

very little

2011-06-06T19:18:00.001+10:00

today

you could possibly say

i did very little

but sometimes

just a little

means

a lot

today i spent the day

with friends around the kitchen table

i ate

i drank many a cup of tea

and i laughed

and laughed

there was very little

kitchen table wisdom

today

but there was

warmth

and

heart

how could one better spend

a cold winters day?

my little one,

of very few words

looked at me today

smiled broadly

and

said

"happy"

I am not sure

if it was a statement of her feelings

or an observation of mine

in a life where time is ever precious

a day with your friends

is never wasted

today i feel

spoilt in the richness

of friendship

thank you

girls

xxxxxx

My friend Charlie

2011-05-27T12:18:00.001+10:00

This is

My friend Charlie

This statement always causes an argument in our house

we fight over who has 'dibs' on Charlie.

you can see why though

he is beautiful

even when he curls up his lip and says

"huh"

(see below)

these are the faces a mum doesn't want to forget

when her babies are all grown.

they are the ones I love to capture

they may not be smiling on the outside

but they make a mumma smile

on the inside.

That's your baby

as you see them.

This is my friend Charlie

swift of mind and flight of foot.

Charlie is a child that gives me hope.

In the future

when Charlie is a man

he will be strong & will full

he will be intelligent and driven

perfectly balanced

with his heart

and his compassion

he will get us where we need to go

Thank you Charlie

for being my friend

This set of images are over 12 months old now but I came across them when I was

putting together a collection of images to celebrate 5 years of friendship

with our mothers group to which Charlie belongs.

I thought they were worth sharing.

mothers day

2011-05-08T21:31:00.000+10:00

i am so glad you are here....

it helps me realise

how beautiful my world is...

~ goethe

journey

2011-05-01T14:34:00.000+10:00

when your idea becomes reality

your journey begins

our new journey started over a year ago

but only started to be felt

this week.

we packed up all our belongings

and handed our home over to a new family.

every time i packed a new box

i was reminded of a moment.

as i made my way to the back of a cupboard

or the bottom of a wardrobe

hidden behind the everyday

i found them...

i found the

"remember when's"

in the back of a bookshelf

i found a tanka and a trinket

given by my mums teacher

to always keep my new born baby safe

in the back of my wardrobe

my husband handed me my first slr camera

i had saved for when i worked in a cafe

with my best friends for $6 an hour

in the back of the pantry

i found my work mug

from the place i worked

when i first met my husband

everything a reminder

of how far we've come

all the challenges

all the blessings

all the work

all the joy

but as i tenderly prepared our old home for its new owners,

in all its emptiness

was the realisation that was just a shell

a beautiful & much loved shell,

but a shell all the same.

we had packed 'us'

and taken it already

and it was there waiting for me when i got home.

the next part of our journey

we get to build our new home

and fill it again

with family, friends

love and really loud laughter

(and lots of stuff that i was too sad or too slow to throw out!)

sacrifice

2011-04-25T12:37:00.000+10:00

to all those who served

and those who continue to serve

to the families of those

lost and wounded

i say thank you

for your sacrifice

for your courage

lest we forget

the other side

2011-04-15T11:07:00.000+10:00

i am not a religious person as such

i prefer to pick and choose the

philosophies and theories that

resonate with me

and help me to make sense of this life

and what it brings us.

there is a very sweet girl i know who is grieving

and i was thinking of her and when i found this quote from Zora Neale Hurston

I have been in Sorrow's kitchen and licked out all the pots.

Then I have stood on the peaky mountain wrapped in rainbows,

with a harp and sword in my hands.

i wish you the strength and love to make it to the mountains

where you will soon be wrapped in rainbows again.

park life

2011-04-01T14:51:00.000+11:00

right from the get go

i knew i was going to get some pretty shots

because I spied this little princess

coming straight for me.

there was no disguising it,

she was keen.

so we popped her high in a tree

and i climbed straight up after her

while her brother waited patiently down below

for us both to fall.

thankfully neither of us fell,

but i must admit I came close a couple of times,

even if it was just to get a giggle from mason

down below.

with these freckles

a ding on the forehead

and a true boyish charm,

as a mother of two girls

I had boy envy.

naw cheeky boys

are too cute

i always love an image that can show the dynamic between people

that is why i love this series so much

the perfect older brother, younger sister relationship.

brother: damn i'm cool, check me out

sister: you're so not cool, oh maybe just a little bit, ok yeah you're cool...

but i'm not going to let you know i think that!

son: i love my dad, he can do anything.

dad: i love my son, i think he's everything.

(this was not posed, it was a natural instinct)

this family was so much fun to work with

and i was so happy that they loved there images

as much as i did.

this one was probably my favourite of kelsey

maybe it's the freckle thing

but it also has a depth

and stillness.

(and those sweet little hands)

and i believe Susan this was one of your favourites?

no doubt it's the sweetness of a little girl

that warms your heart with this one.

she was picking flowers for her mum.

naw little girls are just too cute.

a whole new world

2011-02-03T11:07:00.000+11:00

yesterday a whole new world opened up

yesterday my eldest started her educational journey

and as she took her first steps in her new t-bars

into her new school

I couldn't have been prouder.

I am always conscious of my baby's timid and sensitive personality

and choosing a school to support her,

I admit I felt the pressure to choose right.

I always thought starting school was going to be a biggie

but she was quietly confident and very comfortable

in her new school.

The fact she believed that she had already started school,

and didn't understand what all the fuss was about

is a credit to the schools orientation program.

It also helps to have kinder buddies to sit next to

in your new class room

and have a friend you have known your whole life long

sharing the experience with you.

so to my precious baby

and all the little preppies starting school this week

i hope your school days are

happy and light.

i hope you school days are

funny and bright

i hope your school days are

adventurous and exciting

i hope your school days are

interesting and inspiring

to my baby

i love you and you know that we think you are 'super'

to my friend jo

thank you for remembering everything

and not letting me flounder under the new pressures of being a 'school mum'

to the school

a big thank you,

you have made it easy.

to our kinder teachers

you did a marvellous job

the kids are great mates

and confident and capable schoolies.

to the kinder mums from MV

for those who haven't started yet

don't worry they are ready

and their friendship bonds will support them well.

hope floats

2011-01-24T22:45:00.001+11:00

our country has again suffered another natural disaster

ironically this summer we are dealing with floods,

and again the news reports are devastating.

when Black Saturday occurred i was heavily pregnant with

this beautiful being...

she is my constant reminder of resilience.

she arrived just after the bush fires

within a community whose people had

suffered great losses

and yet they still found it within themselves to care for us.

some of the stories of Black Saturday and the Queensland floods

will haunt me forever

as i try not to imagine

the terrifying ordeals and personal losses

people have suffered.

i don't believe there is anything else that makes us feel more venerable

than Mother Nature showing her strength.

i only hope that the people who have suffered

can find a strength to rival hers

as they rebuild their homes and their lives.

Resilience is the powerful combination of

strength and hope,

giving you the will to push on against the odds.

I found an Emily Dickinson quote last week

and i think it explains why

we all need hope

Hope is a thing with feathers

that perches on the soul;

and sings the tune without words

and never stops at all.

~ emily dickinson

greetings

2011-01-02T20:01:00.000+11:00

greetings 2011

(i keep typing 2001....

the future is hard to get used to)

i love the start of a new year

i find it really exciting

and the perfect opportunity to start afresh.

dust your hands of 2010

2011 is a wonder of opportunities

i love the optimism

that a new year brings

(as I am more cynical than optimistic at any other time of year.)

i love the cut and run effect of leaving a year behind

while running with blind enthusiasm into the next one.

i love the opportunity to stock take my life and take measures to improve myself and my lifestyle.

in years past i have made resolutions to not be so.... round..... but last year I made the change to that promise and chose to enjoy my food because I love it so dearly and life would be miserable without my total enjoyment of food. This was the first resolution i ever kept. I still love food and the enjoyment that comes from eating it!

so the pressure is on to come up with another resolution i can keep.....

oohh i love the pressure of blogging this so others can keep tabs on my failures... (where has my optimism gone? so fleeting!)

1. I am going to be more organised and time efficient. I am hoping that this will mean I am not so rushed.

2. I am going to be more patient.... (i hear my friends and family laughing at this prospect, I could re-word to "try to be more patient but i think that is shirking)

3. I am not going to freak out so much. I am hoping the combination of 1&2 will lead to 3.

But in truth i have no idea how this year will unfold as we move into a new stage. my eldest starts school this year and i believe that this will open a whole new chapter and lifestyle for us.

I think 2011 is going to be exciting!

unwrapped

2010-12-30T21:08:00.000+11:00

Christmas has come and gone for another year

and it's hard to know where 2010 went.

my girls really discovered Christmas this year

and thoroughly enjoyed it all.

The best thing we did this year was

take the girls into the city

to see the MYER windows

the city turns magical at Christmas

and we had a really beautiful day

finding all the lovely things of the city.

but always my favourite thing

is Christmas Day itself

in all its glory and mayhem.

This little guy provided us with many laughs...

When I was little Christmas was by far, the most anticipated day of the year

in my book, it's even better than your birthday

Christmas was and still is ace.

in the lead up to Christmas day

every morning isla would ask

"is this Christmas?"

I would try to explain that it is Christmas time but not yet Christmas Day.

This is was as confusing to her as the difference between your birthday

(as in the day you are born)

and birthday party,

(which you get if you're lucky but not all the time and

not always exactly on your birthday)

which is still a sticking point with her, she is very technical at times.

This year when she woke up and discovered Santas loot

I know that she will never again mistake Christmas.

She said to me

"Mum this is a great day"

Here's Tess

she is very happy

you think because she is enjoying her day and her presents

no.... this is tess...

she is happy because she has pinched her sisters present.

Christmas for us is very laid back

we like to eat, drink and be merry

so that's what we do.

i hope your day was merry

and your bellies were full

mine was

merry merry

2010-12-23T15:03:00.000+11:00

I never tire of the wonder of Christmas

I love watching children discover the joys

that always seem to change from year to year

depending on their age.

This year our baby is starting to discover the wonder in

christmas tress and all its adornments

she loves all the decorations

and it has been a battle

keeping them on the tree....

our eldest has found much joy in being able to participate

(if not completely take over)

in such things as decorating the tree

and writing Christmas cards and Christmas lists.

she is loving all the fun and fan fare

and can't believe how many christmas celebrations

she gets to go to.

This Christmas Caper is fun.

I love Christmas Day itself

when all the presents have been brought and wrapped

and sit under the tree.

and I get to spend the whole day with my family
laughing and eating.

I can't think of anything better.

This year I hold tight to the simple

and the most vulnerable of wishes

to those I hold dear

have a safe, healthy and joyous

Christmas

so for now

may your

Christmas be Merry

and your

Season be Festive

my little pony, i love my little pony

2010-12-12T14:08:00.000+11:00

before I start I have been busy

not slack....

and this is more of a boast

than a post....

these images are more snap shot

than professional

but that's life isn't it?

so this is a little of what I have been busy with

a love I share with the girls in my family

we have lovingly been busy with ponies.

Now I ask you, have you ever seen a cuter pair?

The dark haired gentleman to the left is Clyde

and he has become my girls dear companion

and she lovingly calls him "Clydie"

With the help of our dear friend and riding instructor extraordinaire, Peta

These two entered their first show together.

And they presented a very professional outfit.

I must admit I shed a tear when I first saw her in her complete riding ensemble.

She remembered everything she was taught

and did everything that was asked of her

she listened

and tried

and concentrated

and I must admit I underestimated her ability to do all those things

but did she turn up that day to compete,

and she loved every minute of it.

She didn't complain or nag once

nor did she complain or sigh once.

She just beamed upon her noble stead.

Here she is with the judge

he has awarded her first place

and the look on her face

the surprise & the joy.

The most anticipated event in her eyes was always going to be the prestigious

and highly competitive

Fancy Dress

and that was handed over to Amma and Isla to organise

and they came up with

A Princess upon a Rainbow Pony

The competition was steep

there were spidermen upon spider ponies,

gingerbread horse and rider combinations

little ladybugs on garden ponies

Ali Baba on a elephant

but no one could edge out

a mobile beach party complete with the beach boys playing

(any umbrella hat wearing pony & rider deserves a blue one in my book!)

Toby you are one very well behaved pony!

The fancy dress winners above are also our friends

and there was no prouder mother moment

than when Mitch won first prize

Isla's lip dropped in disappointment

and then she hollered out from the line

with a big smile

"CONGRATULATIONS MITCHY"

and her joy for her friend overshadowed her own disappointment.

It was such a pleasure to have a friend to compete with
and share the experience.
And to their credit in not once did Isla and Mitch
compete against each other.
They were beautifully supportive and encouraging of each other
and dead cute when they would yell out words of encouragement
and congratulations to each other.

The last congratulations of the day
went in the form of
performance of the day in the Tospy (Beginners) Ring
and after taking out three firsts and two seconds
Isla and Clyde claimed the prize.

It was a hot, dusty day and it was hard work.
I am so thankful that my girl has grit and determination
and she was not overwhelmed by the
surroundings or the newness of the situation.
She trusted in her instructor and her own knowledge and skill
and she went for it.
I am glad that she earned it
she knows you have to work hard
and when you do you're in a much better position to get it.

But it doesn't end there....

Most of Isla's drive comes from the desire to be as good as her sister.

Thankfully she works and works and works

and she is good

and getting better.

Meggy is quiet, and that is a rarity in this family.

Many underestimate her because of her quietness and her preference to stand back.

She is unassuming by nature and doesn't like to ruffle feathers

but she is a smiling assassin on horseback...

This kid has real guts

ever since she was little she was the one

who always went first at the scary things

The flying fox, water slides, toboggans, knee boarding

while everyone else is squabbling about their own fears and who's to go first

she quietly states with a shrug of the shoulders

"I'll go"

and with all that simplicity she does

and most of the time she does it will ease.

I always nag at her "come on Meggy your as slow as a wet week"
she is a perfectionist
and everything is done in its own time...
usually a very long time...
But her guts and her drive for perfection
has made her one superb little rider.

And this year at her end of year gymkhana she took out
Highest Points Winner in her group
for the second year running
(her first two years of competing)

And she earned it
I have seen her do the hard yards in her lessons
and she tries her butt off.
The synergy she had with Taff
especially the transition into the canter
was nothing short of supreme.
It was a tremendous effort Meggy
Well Done.

I had to throw in Meggys Fancy Dress outfit - Ned Kelly.
It was over 30 degrees this day
and she must've been boiling
no complaints though!

Thanks again to Pete
you are a powerhouse of pony club
and we couldn't do it without you
we are very appreciative of everything you do for our girls
on and off the arena.
You are a special gift.

sass & pride

2010-11-21T09:25:00.001+11:00

life is never straight forward

and i doubt that for many, if any

is it an always easy journey

so one must remember

that it is an experience

and it's probably best

to learn to enjoy what you can of it.

when you were little

you had the most vibrant and vivid imagination

i loved to watch you create beauty

through your pictures

and joy through your play

and dreams through your stories.

you are a natural dreamer and creator

today on your 18th birthday

here is my wish for you

may you always find the beauty in this world

may you always have joy in your heart

may you never lose the power to dream

may you create the place in this world

where you are content

happy birthday sass

xxx

Finn

2010-11-15T11:11:00.000+11:00

once upon a time

long long ago

there was a young adult trying to get her act together

and a little boy waiting to be born

although she was not carrying him within her own body

she was carrying his hopes and ambitions

within her dreams

he was always going to be a special child

he was sewn from familiar cloth

but from a pattern all of his own

he is a heart and soul child

he is as deep as the ocean

and as old as the wind

he holds beauty is his eyes

and truth in his heart

he is a wonderful creation

we are blessed you chose us

happy birthday
finn

xxx

happiness

2010-11-02T14:16:00.001+11:00

They way to happiness:

Live simply

Give much

fill your life with love

~ The Dalai Lama

ma-harishi-mumma

2010-10-21T13:40:00.000+11:00

the one thing in life

i am most thankful for is

family.

i have been brought up with a strong sense of family

i know where i come from

i know where i belong

i derive from (mostly) good stock

this is my

ma-harishi-mumma

my mum

my mum is a truly beautiful creation

she is pure of spirit

and

pure of heart

she is goodness multiplied

she is a nurturing soul

and i believe that is why she is on this planet

we were spoilt because we got her as a mum, wife & amma

but she is here to nurture others

not just us.

mum

thanks for letting us just 'be'

even if we should 'be'

a little bit better sometimes

thank you for giving us all the love we need to be better people on this planet

thank you for always demonstrating that good can over power evil

thank you for giving us the foundations and freedom

to be us

thank you for reminding us when we forget

thank you for teaching us to live by truth, trust, integrity, loyalty

and most importantly love.

we are the result of challenging combination of, at times, conflicting gene pools

sometimes its hard to find your balance

thanks for holding up one end of the see saw

when needed.

we love you mumma!

xxxxx

(we know you didn't do it on your own

we love you too dad, but this is mums blog!)

nervous & a little bit worried

2010-10-12T12:50:00.000+11:00

this afternoon we

step into prep

with our first orientation session at school.

I have been building up the excitement all this week

making it something to look forward too.

She would smile and give me a goofy

"i know mum"

I said to her, it's going to be exciting don't you think?"

she answered

"I'm a bit nervous and a little bit worried"

me too bubby,

but I think it's going to be great.

(fingers crossed)

side by side

2010-10-05T13:11:00.000+11:00

I married into collingwood

and in turn produced 2 more.

Isla is now a die hard pies girl

she sings the theme song while doing everything;

riding her bike, having a bath,

brushing her hair, cleaning her room.

She wears her jumper with pride

and takes on even those she holds dear

when they

bad mouth the magpies

I don't blame her though

if there was ever a moment to be

a loud and proud Collingwood supporter

it is now.

She is yet to pick a number for her jumper

Aunty Jills (also die hard pie) says 22 for Steele Sidebottom

Dad thinks 10 for Scott Pendlebury

and Isla quite likes that because of Uncle Scott

I think she is a Daisy Thomas kinda girl though

so it may be a 13

But

during the course for her dinner on Saturday night

she let out one almighty

"SWWAANNYY"

so it may turn out a 36

and she is partial to a tatt or two

i can honestly say that the black and white

turns them feral

scruffy

2010-09-28T10:03:00.000+10:00

meet mr scruffy

he was originally known as squeak when there was 2

but after the passing of bubble

his named transformed into scruffy

which is much more apt if you ask me.

Scruff has

old man inni pig whiskers

inni pigs have always been a family favorite

my aunty had an inni pig manor when we were little

and had the most beautiful black pig called sooty

they envy of any inni pig devotee.

We had them caged in under our water tank as kids

and would let them roam the back yard

free range innis.

they are great little snugglers

and they don't smell

(I have an aversion to smelly animals)

and they are clean little fellas

they worst they can do is wee on you

and there bladders don't tend to hold large volumes

so it is not all that terrifying.

Little scruffy brings great joy to our little girl

and he gets repaid with love, devotion

and plenty of celery.

we are the blue & gold

2010-09-18T21:57:00.000+10:00

football you could say is in my blood.

i grew up following my dad

it seemed like everywhere we went

everyone knew who he was

over many years he played for coburg amatures,

greensborough and kinglake

we went and watched every week

willing them home.

local footy is hearty and rich

and i love standing on the hill

listening to the verbal barrage coming from both sides

i love the die hards

i love the humor

and i love the passion and

the pride.

this year we got to stand on the hill

and will home scott and his team mates

for a premiership win

dad and isla broke through the pack

to make sure they were front and centre

when scotty received his premiership medal

isla couldn't wait to get a turn of the

gold necklace

she was so happy that scotty and his mates were

"The Champions"

and has been singing

"no time for losers, coz scotty and his mates are

THE CHAMPIONS....

.....OF THE WORLD"

she is pretty chuffed

and extremely proud

and so are we.

congratulations scotty dog

and the Whittlesea Football Club on your success.

pigtails

2010-09-16T12:52:00.000+10:00

my baby is growing up

this week

she has started

wearing pigtails

and with her pretty curls

they truly look like the tails of little piggies

little miss pigtails has also taken a keen interest in reading

sitting at the bottom of the bookshelf

with the biggest book off the shelf

on her lap

and and cute as pigtails and reading are

with this little one their has to be a counter balance

and that is now

tantrums

....

I have not had a tantrum throwing child before so

i am undertaking a trial and error study

so if you encounter us in the supermarket or any other public space

I apologise now in advance.

(oh and advise you to block your ears

as it can get very noisy....)

melt

2010-09-10T12:45:00.000+10:00

the thing i love most about photographs

especially children's portraits

is when they make your

heart melt

when they are true
and honest in their reflection.

this is my baby
just the was she is
always
(or mostly)
perfectly
sweet

fishy kisses

2010-09-06T16:07:00.000+10:00

I have recently discovered that both my children are show offs.

Tess has become an avid climber and dancer,

and she finds herself to be both very clever and very funny.

She is always the first to applaud her 'achievements'

and laugh at her own antics.

She has been working on this face for awhile now,

and she perfected this fine work whilst we we away.

I guess when you have big blue eyes like this

you can get away with just about anything

we are finding out...

stay with me

2010-09-03T12:12:00.000+10:00

stay with me

"teivovo, teivovo"

2010-08-31T12:51:00.000+10:00

oh fiji seems so long ago now...

we have settled back into the cold weather

and we have been germ collecting...

fingers crossed we have shaken off the sickness now

After weeks of germ riddled children, husband and self

the vitality of these children really appeals.

they really loved playing up to the camera

(and isla wasn't missing out on the action)

the fijian rugby team perform a war dance before each test match

it is called the cibi

and is similar to the All Blacks Haka

and this is the kids

giving it their best shot.

i'm not so sure how this would go down

during a warrior war cry

but any way...

"teivovo, teivovo"

(pronuounced 'thimbi')

is the opening cry

and apparently the cibi ends

somewhat like this....

ahhh kids

they crack me up!

vinaka vaka levu

2010-08-24T19:58:00.001+10:00

i simply love the fijian people

especially the little ones....

little ones like Tony here

makes me want to pinch one

but I doubt i would make it back through customs

with an extra child

their is a genuine joy in the generous sprits of the fijians

they are warm and welcoming

and we have many friends there now

who make our life all the more richer.

i love to get out into the local villages of our friends

Nisse on the far right is the grand daughter of our friend Narni

and they are sitting on Narni's back step

the little whitey is mine and the other 2 ring ins are nisse's friends

who kissed and cuddled and fussed over our kids all afternoon.

i have a deep admiration for the fijian people and their way of life

we always come home saying to each other

that they are closer to having it right than we have here

fijians have time

they have time to spend with their families and their friends

it is a priority and lifestyle

not a luxury or a scheduled appointment

they still live a village life

and contribute and care for all families

they are strong proud people

where their warmth and their joy

is shared with everyone

where caring is not a weakness

it is a given

they live a uncomplicated lifestyle

and from the outside it seems a lot less stressful or rushed

and I for one could benefit from that.

thank you to our friends

Narni and family,

Led and Family

Emmanuel and Elin

and

Lata

for, as they say in fiji

welcoming us home

again.

Photography is....

2010-08-14T12:11:00.002+10:00

Photography is a way of feeling,

of touching,

of loving.

What you have caught on film

is captured forever.

It remembers little things

long after you have forgotten

everything.

~Aaron Siskind

off and racing

2010-08-08T12:41:00.001+10:00

Horses are wonderful animals

they are incredibly powerful

but remarkably sensitive animals.

they are aware of every happening around them

every sound, every smell, every movement

every emotion

horses know your fear and your favor

your sadness and your strength

your excitement and your exhilaration

your loss and your love

your anger and your beast

there is no fooling this beast

there is only convincing them

they are well aware they are the greater force.

We have been frequenting regional race meets lately

and it is a great day out.

Country Racing provides the opportunity to get up close

and witness the power and speed of this great animal.

You can get up close enough to hear them breath and snort

and feel the power as they pound the earth beneath their feet

the earth literally shakes under you as they fly past

and in the midst of the cheering and shouting

and exhilaration of a win

you get lost in the moment

it is truly captivating.

...faves...

2010-08-02T13:39:00.004+10:00

Admission: I have tried and tried to organise some kind of "portfolio"

which I have never quite finished...

And I believe this is for 2 reasons

1. I don't like to play favourites

2. Selecting based on variety

(to demonstrate sublime versatility)

But below is my latest attempt

and these are based purely on

my personal favorites

the images that make my heart say

"oh bless their little cotton socks"

There are my fave pics from a shoot of these children

and believe they are true to the 'feel'

of my work

This type of images of our children help us to remember

that children are beautiful

divine little beings.

Photographs of our children should be appreciated in the quiet

where your heart remembers their beauty.

i'm gonna be

2010-07-30T10:58:00.000+10:00

so i am away on a girls weekend

in a beautiful small country town

and the only photograph I take for the weekend

is this one

and I still love it

and it still makes me giggle

why?

who knows?

are you humming

i would walk 500 hundred miles

and i would walk 500 hundred more

just to be the man who walked

a 1,000 miles

fall

down

your

down

at your door

da lunda !

da lunda lunda lunda la di dah

2010-07-24T12:50:00.000+10:00

A friend hears

the song in my heart

and sings it to me

when my memory fails

~ Anonymous

stacey renee

2010-07-13T16:23:00.001+10:00

this is stacey renee

with stacey comes

...strength...

...conviction...

...honesty...

...integrity...

...generosity of spirit...

she is

...truth...

...genuine...

...independent...

...loquacious...

to me she is

...significant...

...whole hearted...

...pharlap...

...kin...

and I think we can safely say

...damn fine...

if i had one wish for you stacey renee
it would be this...
recognise and harness your power within
you my friend are a powerhouse
xx

little piggies

2010-07-05T14:15:00.000+10:00

this little piggy went to market
this little piggy stayed home

these little piggies curl up

and get a little tense

when they know they are

up to no good....

these little piggies help to to stand up

.... and climb up.....

and transport me to trouble

the owner of these little piggies
is discovering the joy of climbing
at not just the objects readily available like
our kitchen chairs, high chair, steps and toys.
We have stepped it up to
bookshelves, rocking horses
and toy tubs on wheels,
oh and she also likes the shelves and draws in our television unit.

she well and truly keeps me on my toes
(pardon the pun!)

.... bbbbrrrruuuuurrrr....

2010-06-28T15:51:00.000+10:00

anyone else noticed how blinking cold it is at the moment?

anyone else feeling trapped in the confines of their ducted heating?

anyone else thinking that their most precious possession is their electric blanket?

anyone else lulled into a false sense of sunshine this morning and go for a walk?

I am not a huge fan of winter, or more so, the cold that it brings.

But I am a fan of litte'uns in beanies...

especially ones that cause flowers to grow from their heads...

my girls have a collection of woolly hats,

actually what ever the season

they end up with a collection of hats.....

mainly because unless we have a few

i can never find one when i need one.

someone people have issues with losing socks,
I very rarely lose a sock.
I am also very conscious of my car keys,
they are rarely misplaced.
Children, I am yet to misplace one of those,
unless you count that time I thought I left my 6 week old baby in the change rooms at westco....
turns out I didn't have her with me....
.... sleep deprivation...
I don't believe I have lost my dog
although he has tried to lose me, but thankfully he's not very good at it....
my car, i often experience unfounded anxiety when stepping into the lift
and needing to press correct floor on which we parked...
but yet to pick incorrectly...
I am yet to lose my marbles
but it's early days yet...

but hats....
they get me every time.

~ quick sideline from todays slightly kooky blogging to send a cheerio out to jacko who got his tonsils out today. Hope the diet of ice cream makes up for the sore throat mate!

yay teens

2010-06-22T11:14:00.001+10:00

I found a cool new website last week called iheartfaces

they run a very active weekly competition

which I am attempting to enter

(all going well on the computer technicalities front)

This weeks topic is "celebrating teens"

For me, there was only one choice for my entry...

if i heart faces this is one of my favorites

this face is my lovely Luka

and she is more than worth 'hearting.'

She is sweet and super smart.

Luka is compassionate and caring

with a slightly wicked sense of humor.

I know she will make her mark on this world,

she just has that wonderful combination

of intelligence, compassion, courage and sense of justice.

Luka is a teen worth celebrating.

xxx

ok after adding my comments to a heap of other entries
I realise everyone has one of these buttons

click on it to see all the other great photographers work.

blink...

2010-06-18T15:12:00.000+10:00

Ok for all those who think their kids haven't changed that much in the last 12 months

I dare you to find a photo from 2009

When our second baby arrived I thought our first was so grown up

now looking at her captured at the time

I realise she was only a babe.

they change in the blink of an eye

things that make you go ..... eeeewwwww!

2010-06-11T11:11:00.000+10:00

I have never been a real girlie girl.

Up until I became a mother I was always more at home with the company of boys.

I felt more comfortable with the uncomplicated ease at which boys operate.

When I was 5 my mum started family day care from home

We hosted 5 boys and 1 girl

plus myself and my brothers.

This is where I found my first companion,

my best friend was a little girl whose name was Nicole

but my companion was a little boy whose name was Daniel.

Daniel was kind, gentle, intelligent, interesting and accepting.

He was the kind of kid who always seemed to have something interesting to do

He lived on a couple of acres, they had cows, sheep and the odd looking guinea fowl.

He had a beautiful blue stone home, they played piano and had no toilet doors.

His mum was a teacher and artist, had her own gallery and pool.

Our mums became good friends.

We sat next to each other at school.

He would help me, without making me feel dumb.

He would share with me without pity.

He was never mean or nasty about anything.

He never picked sides or gave preference to people who had more, or were more popular.

We could just play.

No drama, just play.

When we moved and I changed schools

the boys were very different to Daniel.

It was the first time I ever experienced the social issues and pressures surrounding

boy girl friendships.

Where hanging out with a boy meant something more to everybody than just being friends.

The first boy I came across at my new school

stood atop the play equipment, gesturing and

yelling out that he wanted to "hump" me.

It was my first day of Grade 5

and I was mortified.

It took me a long time to find and friend boy in my new home town

but never again found the social acceptance of boys and girls

"just being friends"

I did find really good friend boys in the end

and I miss them.

As you can see, my girl is not very girlie sometimes either

and wearing a baby snail on your nose is not always

appreciated by the sisterhood

but the boys, they understand its value.

I am thankful that my girls have a friendship group that contains boys

and my girl has found a companion who shares her sense of discovery

tadpoles, mushrooms, feathers, mud, water, rocks and trouble

who play at peace and with adventure.

and I guarantee that when she is nose down, bum up

looking under a mushroom

there is the bum of her mate beside her

and do you know what his name is....

Daniel

cradles away...

2010-06-07T12:02:00.000+10:00

This weekend we said good bye to our cradle

which we swapped for a parakeet called Basil over 4 years ago.

The cradle was a family heirloom from our dear friends family

and it needed to be returned

as our last little bundle has well and truly outgrown it...

as we were loading it into the back of my friends little hatchback

we were giggling away as we thought up all the ways we could

surprise my friends other half with this new piece of furniture.

Whether to set it up in the bedroom or

ask him to get something she needed out of the boot....

It was like a game of how to give a 20 something man a heart attack in 30 seconds

and we found it very amusing...

I think I have made a young man very nervous by returning that cradle

but one man in my house is breathing a sigh of relief...

jekyll & hyde

2010-06-01T16:12:00.000+10:00

My youngest is best described this way.

Yesterday we needed to get her passport photo taken

and being the well prepared girl scout

I had my passport interview scheduled for today...

but as with anything involving my second born

even my best laid plans get hijacked.

Yesterday myself, Isla and the girl at the chemist tried for a good hour

to get just one photo that would meet the approval guidelines...

Every bribe and attention grabbing tactic was used

we even had the whole staff singing

twinkle twinkle little star

in a last ditch effort.

FAILED

I went home dejected and a tad embarrassed between that and

the wrestling and screaming efforts in the supermarket in between photographic attempts...

When my husband got home I told him he needed to do something about the behavior of 'his' children as I now can't take them into a supermarket beyond the one in our suburb

who were now immune to their bad behavior.

(I was a little dramatic and defeated at this point)

I spent the rest of the evening planning an ambush for the following day

as the photo really needs to be done or we get no holiday....

Not an option.

So this morning full of dread, I take Tess to the Post Office this time

(too embarrassed and defeated to return to the chemist)

They know of the events of yesterday as I prepared them for what may lay ahead.

I get an older gentlemen and pray to god he is patient with small, wriggly and bad tempered children...

I sit her up on the stool

he grabs his camera

FLASH!

PERFECTO!

all in approximately 3 seconds.

I rub my temples and try to work out if yesterday was in fact real and not a nightmare.

The lady at the post office tells Tess she thinks mum is a fibber (in jest)

I tell her to ring the AMCAL

they will verify my story....

I think...

oh heavens...

2010-05-25T16:46:00.000+10:00

Ever thought your babies were heaven sent?

I truly believe mine were.

We had Isla for 8 weeks before my husband lost his mum.

We thought isla would be our one and only.

Then we were sent Tess,

express post I am sure by her Nanny.

It had to be..

who else would send us a sweet replica of her daddy?

He often states though desperate laughter

that this is what his mum must've been talking about all these years.

I think she is having a good laugh,

she would find this battle of wills hilarious.

I think it is a wonderful opportunity to

learn to love yourself

for all your faults and favors.

How could you not

through those of your children?

Thank you

Betty

xxxx

dear ems...

2010-05-21T11:48:00.000+10:00

Dear Ems,

Hi...

I remembered your birthday....

on Monday

and today (Friday)

On Monday I said to myself

"Ems Birthday on Wednesday, don't forget"

On Friday I said,

"Whoops'a'daisy (or something similar),

I forgot Ems Birthday!!!

You silly sausage. (or something similar)"

Happy Belated Birthday Ems.

Ems doesn't forget birthdays,

actually Ems doesn't forget anything,

she has instant recall on the last 2 decades

and uses most of this information to make me laugh.

The 2 decades probably gives away that we're getting older

but more importantly that we have a long and lasting friendship.

I hope you had a lovely birthday Emmy Lou

xxx

....a little air....

2010-05-15T16:58:00.001+10:00

i've been waiting on these images for awhile...

near on 5 months really...

i took them on my brothers camera over Christmas

and its taken me this long

to retrieve and download them.

i don't like the water

i get anxious when i walk out on a jetty

it doesn't matter how big, or stable or long... i just don't like it.

i don't like swimming in the ocean or a river

i don't like venturing into the ocean on a vessel of any kind

water makes me feel incredibly anxious

and vulnerable

plus I hate sand and have not looked good in bathers since the age of 11

so the whole beach thing is lost on me.

but i do love being on the river in a ski boat....

although i don't ski or wake board...

a complex case of contradictions really,

but fears are irrational after all,

and hell who doesn't look good in a life jacket?

(umm everybody if you didn't catch the sarcasm)

this was cropped purposely and not a case of incredibly bad timing...

just incase you were wondering.

and don't you just love the water spray?

thanks to steve and scotty dog

for suppling the acrobatics

for this little series.

...first love....

2010-05-10T15:22:00.000+10:00

My first love was my horse.

He was the most divine animal I had ever seen.

He was big, strong and if he was human he would rival Brad Pitt in handsomeness....

He was not my first horse though,

I gave up my sweet, gentle and well mannered pony for the beautiful beast mentioned above....

Beautiful was he...

intelligent?

ummm, not so much.

He was a pure teenage delight of attitude, danger and bad manners.

He was your quit essential 'bad boy'

It will come as no surprise to any female over the age of 25

that this relationship ended badly

and I was the one who ended up hurt

but for 5 years from the age of 14 I was besotted.

I was happy.... then sad... then happy... then sad

as so it goes.

but when I am watching the girls at ponyclub

I see the girls who have the horses like mine

I can see the exhilaration and the wild eyes of both horse and rider

and I miss my horse....

and then I thank the heavens that my step daughter above

has more sense than I did

and rides much more suitable steeds!

p.s A big thanks to our instructor and friend Pete, who supplies all our steeds, knowledge and support.

We love you Pete!

greenbums...

2010-04-28T20:10:00.002+10:00

I was approached to photograph for a website called greenbums

who produce very cool and environmentally friendly cloth nappies.

The brief was for something natural, both in environment and feel

and obviously to showcase the very trendy nappy

We were blessed with the cutest

most serene little model

who was happy to strip down to his bare essentials

and play in dirt and long grass without complaint

Truth be known

I think he really enjoyed it!

It was a really positive experience for me

I learnt so much and enjoyed working with such an

easy going, trusting and supportive person in Allison.

So are you wondering which image Allison picked???

Well you'll have to visit her site and find out

http://www.greenbums.com.au/

tag

2010-04-26T10:30:00.000+10:00

OK i am new to this whole new blog world, but it appears I have been tagged by

Belinda Lee Photography,

Belinda is one of my lovely followers

and I must say I was quite flattered to be included in the game, thanks Belinda!

So I am to re post the 6th photo I ever posted to my blog.

This photo happens to be of my Cousin, Sianee Banana (formerly known as Sian)

isn't she just delightful?

and I think is only fair to tag
http://passionfruitlane.blogspot.com/
which I believe is the way Belinda found me.

Have a great day everyone as I will be doing the ironing....
boring but necessary....

lest we forget

2010-04-25T10:57:00.001+10:00

Today is ANZAC Day

a day of remembrance

of gratitude and great thanks

of goosebumps and tear swelling pride

a day where we not only remember the sacrifice made on our behalf

but the spirit, resilience and courage given by the men and women of war.

This tribute by M.Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic I have always admired

THE ANZAC MEMORIAL

Those heroes that shed their blood And lost their lives...
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.
Therefore, rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies
And the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side,
Here in this country of ours.
You, the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries...
Wipe away your tears.
Your sons are now lying in our bosom And are in peace.
After having lost their lives on this land, they have
Become our sons as well.

The ANZAC Dedication: For the Fallen
by Laurence Binyon

They shall not grow old,
As we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them.
We will remember them.

Thank you

don't fly away....

2010-04-22T16:26:00.003+10:00

my mother friends and I have often discussed the

difference we have experienced raising each of our children

and how the second time around has been so incredibly different from the first.

I have been reading a book "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

which I have found a little hard going but

I did find this little insight within its pages

"I took one deep breath for every step they took away from me. That's how it is with the first born, no matter what kind of mother you are - rich, poor, frazzled half to death or sweetly content. A first child is your own best foot forward, and how you cheer those little feet as they strike out. You examine every turn of flesh for precocity, and crow it to the world.

But the last one: the baby who trails her scent like a flag of surrender through your life when there will be no more coming after - oh, that's a love by a different name. She is the babe you hold in your arms for an hour after she's gone to sleep. If you put her down in the crib, she might wake up changed and fly away. So instead you rock by the window, drinking the light from her skin, breathing her exhaled dreams. Your heart bays to the double crescent moon of closed lashes on her cheeks."

I don't play favorites and by no means to I love either one more than the other

but I do experience them differently

and my experience with each of them has been very different.

With the first, every time she achieves something new

it is cause for sweet celebrations of her cleverness

she's so independent, brave and bright

She surprises me everyday with how fiercely she moves forward with her thinking

and I am so proud of her

I believe she could do just about anything.

With the second,

every time she conquers another first it is also our last

and the celebrations overshadow a little baby ache in my heart.

This one I know will be my lesson

she is feisty, stubborn and determined

and doesn't take no for an answer....... ever.

Yet she is all wrapped up in the sweetness of curls and cherub cheeks

finished nicely with the biggest blue eyes anyone did see

and I just want to hang on a little longer

just so I don't forget.

...edge...

2010-04-16T15:09:00.000+10:00

we are all different

and we're told from a young age

that the world would be a boring place if we were all the same

i think most people though are happy to blend in

with the status quo

because still

in this day and age

you need to be brave

to not be "normal"

"Oh my God! You're wearing that?"

As a mother of 2 girls, I feel my greatest challenge

is how do I make them believe in themselves

as much as I believe in them.

what is the right thing to say to these big brown eyes

when the mean girls tell her

they don't like her dress

or the way she wears her hair?

what do you say when not having the right things

or liking the right things

makes you a 'loser' or a 'nerd'

what do you say to a tearful face

when a girl whose name she doesn't even know

doesn't want to be her friend,

and she's heart broken?

What do you do when you know you have a sensitive soul to care for

and telling her "who cares?" will never cut it,

because I know she does.

and I know if I told her to say

"I don't care what you think"

would be a lie from her mouth

and she would worry about every word they uttered

no matter how much we love her.

why even as young children do we need others to be like us to be secure in ourselves?

maybe if someone could answer that

we would have no school yard bullying

I tried to teach my baby to be 'assertive' if she needed to be

I overheard her the other day using this technique

and I must admit she did embellish on the tone a little

but I was shocked for 2 reasons

Firstly, because she actually stood up and said it with such gusto

but secondly and more heartbreakingly was that she was already having to change herself

they weren't her words

they were mine

trying to protect her

p.s - thanks sam & sian for hanging out in alleyways with us
it was fun to be oh so cool for the day.
Sianee Banana I think you come up the perfect model in these shots.
I love them!

breathe...

2010-04-12T16:41:00.001+10:00

sometimes you just need to take time to breathe...

time moves so quickly and there is always so much to be done

that the total blissfulness of life passes by you in the rush

you see it

but it was so fast

you yearn to see it again

but it's past

and unfortunately the necessary and mundane

have again overshadowed the

most precious

and it's not on purpose, if it was we would not do it

but we get caught up in the the 'have to's'

we must do to create a life

that if we aren't careful

will simply

pass us by.

we were blessed with time with no necessities for the last 2 weeks

and I not only wanted to spend time with bliss

but I wanted to breathe it in

and capture it

in my very being

i wanted to step back from the blur of the everyday challenges
and just remember why we do it
and why it is so worthwhile

and it is

time and time again

having a loving family makes it all worthwhile

and anything possible

so again i vowed to try not to growl so much
try not to rush so much
and try to spend more time
getting to know my girls as they grown into their own little characters
and constantly working towards the best possible way to support them
as they continue to learn and grow

while desperately trying to hang on to their littleness

just a little longer.

no comment....

2010-03-30T15:42:00.000+11:00

I have a fine friend, well I actually have a number of fine friends but I have one in particular who always amazes me by how modestly clever she is. I think she is incredibly well researched in really important areas and she thinks that it is mostly facts and useless information.

I came across this fine friend many years ago now in the workplace and we have worked together on many a project, and she is always a blessing on a bad day and nearly always available for a lunch date. What more could one ask for?Now that I am not at work I drag her out for tea, force feed her Thai and let her entertain me with her knowledge and good company.

Anyway at such a dinner we were discussing business and blogging and I was expressing to her my surprise & wonder in the fact I have facebook members from the United States and blog followers who I don't know.

She told me I must watch "Julie & Julia".

So I did.

For those who have not seen it or know about it, its the one with Meryl Streep playing the cook Julia Childs. Julie a writer, decides to take on the challenge of cooking every recipe in Julia's Book, "Mastering French Cooking" and blog about it. It is a true story which I didn't know until the credits rolled.

The movie has only caused my mind to wander further and now I am even more intrigued to see and learn more about who is out there.

So people there is no need to be a silent partner, I am asking for comment and involvement.

I would love feedback and to know who is out there, so please leave me a comment, don't be shy.

I'd love to hear from you.

Feel free to comment on the content or the images, introduce yourself or let me know you are out there.

Then I may not get the feeling that I spend all this time talking to myself.....

barking mad...

2010-03-25T15:41:00.000+11:00

I am often considered a little kooky but this week I was accused of being barking mad.

This week instead of photographing kiddies I was photographing dogs.

I was photographing Ike here so he could rustle himself up a few ladies. Ike is a stud or comes from a stud... or do only horses with breeding duties use the word stud.... I know nothing about dog breeding... so maybe I was barking mad taking on this assignment...

But what is life without learning... boring...

So off I went as happy as a lark, and I learnt how to photograph show dogs looking for ladies.

I like Ike, he's big, strong and has wonderful dark features. He's obedient and kind natured, so any german shepherd ladies out there, he's quite a catch, but he's likely to move on quickly to the next lady in waiting....

He also has kind eyes, and he didn't bowl into me whacking my camera which I was looking into, into my forehead....

Points off for you Ellie....

What she lacks in maturity she makes up for in enthusiasm and ribbons. She is quite the little winner.

I did learn that this picture of Ellie is probably not the best as far as showing off etiquette goes but I like it because it shows of her personality, she's still a pup and she's sweet.

I don't know if they have a ribbon for sweetest dog in show... I suspect not.

I had a great morning any hoo, so thanks Frank and friends for the opportunity.

birthday baby

2010-03-16T16:50:00.000+11:00

It stills feels like yesterday when Isla arrived into our world... she entered our world in a hurry but with very little fuss.

She looked at me with big bright eyes and I knew from that moment, she already knew more than me.

She was alert and strong and I knew the rest of my days would spent filling this little being with knowledge, so she could grow into the specialness to which she was entitled.

I felt overwhelmed with the responsibility of being able to provide everything she needed from me as her mother. Food, shelter and warmth I could manage, but what about providing her with strength & courage, compassion & empathy, spirit & sensibility, love & loyalty, integrity & intelligence, self respect & security.... and so much more...

How could I possibly provide her with everything she needed to be safe, secure and happy?

I still get overwhelmed 4 years on, but I have learnt for all the effort we have put in trying to get it right, we have been rewarded.

I have a daughter who I am so proud of.

She is tough but tender, she is strong of mind and soft of heart, she is loud & expressive but gentle & giving, she is independent but appreciates everyone she knows just the way they are, and she is sooooo funny.

So for the time being I will keep trying and

I will continue to watch her in amazement as she teaches me some of the skills that I felt I needed to teach her.

I hope you had a beautiful 4th birthday baby.

xxx

mmm passionfruit....

2010-03-05T11:51:00.000+11:00

I have bloggers block today

I know its sounds like a symptom of IBS

but I think it has more to do with the pressure of trying to do

as any things as many things as possible

while baby is sleeping.

Stalling again...

What I did want to do today though is give you something fun

to do over this long weekend.

Check out http://passionfruitlane.blogspot.com

Samantha creator of Passionfruit Lane will be at 2 markets over the long weekend

Saturday 6th @ The Daylesford Makers Market

Sunday 7th @ The Gisborne Market

This is my girls in Passionfruit Lane Designs

If you can't make the market

pop over to her online shop @

http://www.etsy.com/shop/passionfruitlane

you will find an array of specialness

and totally cuteness

My faves are the family tree personalised childrens prints

and the paper doll tees.

(Isla has a long sleeve paper doll tee in her draw and I am desperate for a cooler day

so she can wear it!)

Great gift ideas for all the new bubbas,

burp cloths with matching face washers and

there is also darn cute baby wraps.

I had Passionfruit Lane wraps for tessie and everyone wanted to know where to get one,

so secrets out,

Passionfruit Lane is where they're at...

I am sure you will find something that makes you go "ohhhhhh cute"

anyway have a great long weekend

and

bottoms up!