Back on the Hill again....

Yesterday we took ourselves, along with Sarah, Matthew and the four kids to Sovereign Hill here in Ballarat. I've shown you photos from there before but you'll have to suffer through some more today....sorry :o) 


 The Hill is a tribute to the early gold miners of this country, the goldrush years were full of tales of hard work, tragedy, hearbreak and triumph, the life of a miner was hard and thankless for the thousands that didn't strike it rich. We were a Colony of Great Britain, well, I guess we still are, an outpost of Colonial England...! 




Anyway, these were everywhere, proof that the Colony belonged to the Mother Country, belonged to a Sovereign... The Union Jack, flying proud. Being a 10 pound Pom myself, I find that the Union Jack can still pull my heartstrings, evoke memories of my home land, land of my birth... I still have people that mean the world to me, people that I love living in the 'old country' and the sight of the Union Jack flying in the wind brings them close again... 




















Samantha was of course with us and as usual became a willing model for this grandparent to indulge my passion for both my beautiful grandchildren and taking photographs and really, how could you not want to photograph her? Oh yes, I know, totally biased, but you've got to agree with me haven't you? She's on her way to Perth tonight to spend the holidays with her Dad, so, have a great trip gorgeous girl, see you when you get home.... 


























These guys were entertaining the crowds with their music but the base player in the red shirt was even more entertaining than the rest! I was standing on the other side of the road taking these shots with a long 300mm lens and he spotted me then started winking, really, winking at me.....what a flirt..!! 


































Troopers marching down the street caused a rush of photography, very grand they looked too... 

oh and look, there I am, framed for posterity











 I liked this little vignette, inside one of the houses, just a little still life sitting in the dusty sunshine.....  

...and I couldn't have a day taking photographs without a flower in there could I? You know I can't resist a single flower shot...  

 
























 


the local goldfields constabulary, ever alert for miners without a licence...








...and finally, just because I've promised myself that I will, when I leave this world, leave photographic evidence that I did exist, which of course means appearing on the other side of the lens every now and then.....




























...here's one Samantha took with my point and shoot Olympus...me, moi, myself and I...


Hope you've all had a great week so far, stay chilled....
XXX

A little more of Spring...

Spring has really taken hold in the garden since we had that short burst of high 20s temperatures a few days ago.... 








 The first Alistair Clarke rose, this one is climbing up the willow tree and it just keeps reaching up to the sky, even in the shade..


























We've still got some daffodils in flower, especially these pink trumpet ones, they're always one of the last to flower...

  The lovely little buds on the Dogwood tree, a few weeks and it will be full of it's delicious pink flowers...



 ...and the last one for today.... 


  ..this Rhododendron is the loveliest deep pinky red when it's out.... 


 Gotta love rebirth after winter.... 


XXX

Just to prove...

...that I have been doing some sewing over the last few weeks....   

 ..not much I know, but some. One of the blocks from the Crimson Tweed quilt I finished earlier this year, totally different colourway for this one though... I'm loving the burnt oranges and aqua's.. The weather is amazing today, the sun has been out all day but with warmth to it, it's been wonderful to let the fires out and wear T shirts. Just feeling that warm sun on your arms is so uplifting after a long cold winter.

A few days ago we had the most magnificent sunset.

I'm not usually into taking sunset photos much, they always seem a bit flat really and never, ever as spectacular as the real thing, but I couldn't resist this one when it turned the trees to gold..

...and because I just can't seem to get enough of the spring blossom...

Looking forward to the school holidays next week and especially looking forward to getting together with the lovely Jen (my best of the best friend) on Wednesday for a big catch up, it's ages since we got together..

 Have a great week everyone...

 xxx

Missing in action.....

...again. 

I've been MIA, AWOL, off with the fairies, looking for my mojo, oh and yes, working. So really, I haven't just been sitting around contemplating the state of THE world, just my world in some spare moments...

I like to keep this in my kitchen just so that I can remind myself sometimes, just who lives here. It's the initial of my given name, so it serves to remind me of my mother many years ago saying my name with such meaning. You know don't you? She would always say.."Elizabeth...." with such a huge emphasis on the whole word I would know straight away...Oh Oh, trouble...   I'm sure I was a terrible trial to her in my teen years........I so wish she could remember what a terrible girl I was now. For her to say...'do you remember....?' is a thing of the past and the day when she looks at me and asks  'who are you..?' is approaching much, much too fast. 

I haven't taken any photos this week either, well the few that I took with the point and shoot out of the car window really can't be classed in the art of photography, they were a means for my computer pupils to learn how to upload digital media into their hard drives. Blurry shots of Canola in the paddocks on the way to Geelong, shame, shame on me...   ;o)

I did take some photos last week though, specifically of these young people. I told you of course that this gorgeous young lady was 14 last Thursday. I love that these kids are so full of confidence and assurance in self, that even when this doting, but persistent, grandparent takes shots of her with her fingers covered in chocolate cake and a party hat from her little sisters last party on her head she can tell me that she loves it.....








...and as for this boy...? What can I say, he towers above me, is a handsome, talented and intelligent young man...


me, biased, I don't think so...  ;o)






























This young lady is growing up too quickly too...


She's the next one to turn 14, not until November though.....




I hope they never lose their youthful exuberance, their zest for life, their joy of life I suppose...

When was the last time you threw neon hoops around the garden and jumped for the joy of it..............???



























...and I'm just about certain that it's been a while since you let anyone take a photograph of you doing this...?


Life, and memory, is too short, so go kiss your man and jump for the joy of it....!!!










I'm hoping to get some sewing done very soon, I think my motivation is due home from it's vacation shortly...


XXX