Calming Effect | Week 6

This post might not be to everyone's taste!   I guess if you're not a cat lover, I suggest you google holiday destinations right now :-)  Well even if you are a cat lover, googling holiday destinations seems like a great idea!

I have always loved animals.  Right from a little kid.  When I used to dress our Silky Terrier dog, Scamp, in dolls clothes, put her in the pram and push her around the block.  Now we have larger dogs...remember my earlier post on Deja.  And we also have a labrador, Mocha.

And cats.   I find them calming.  Meeko (pictured) is the cat I always wanted.  But never wanted to pay for!  So when our tabby looking cat had kittens and this fluffy, white, blue eyed kitten was one of the litter  I was determined to keep him.  Despite resistance from the husband.  So Meeko has been dragged up.  Thanks to my daughter...who shares my love of animals.

Stay In Touch | Week 5

Well a good friend has brought it to my attention that I am behind in my blogging!!  Nice to know someone is eagerly (?) awaiting my posts ;-)

I am h.u.g.e.l.y grateful for technology....even though some days my kids will probably cringe at my slowly declining saaviness!!   Today's mantra - 'I shall try to not publicly embarrass my childen'!  At least in regards to technology!!

The world of communication in two, or even one, device. 

Once upon a time I could not see the value of an iPhone (nor can I, right now, of an iPad - but I'm sure it will one day be revealed!)...but my phone is slowly becoming another appendage!!  Phone calls, text messages, facebook, games, entertainment for the kids!  And 12 months after getting it I finally set up emails.  Now another reason to be addicted.

Then there is my laptop.  Which has meant no more late nights downstairs on the desktop.  It has meant late nights lying in bed, connecting with my virtual world.  Bliss.

But what I love about these communication devices is spending time with those I love.  Like even.   Staying close.  Drawing thousands of kilometres of distance into my hands.  Everyone is a phone call, a message, an email, a fb status away.  Reminiscing with old school friends.  Giving vitrual hugs to my closest friends.  Connecting with like minded people.  Parents.  Photographers.  Caring for those who are hurting.  Reminding myself that I'm not alone....that there are others who have gone through things that I'm learning, feeling, creating, suffering, questioning.

Just being in contact. 
Keeping in touch.
Learning. 
Googling!

The Odd One | Week 4

Just a bit of light hearted gratefulness this week!  Odd socks.  As you can imagine in a household with 5 kids (6 if you count the one I married!), odd sock piles are very prevalent.

But I'm grateful for them all - because it means we're normal.  Either that or I forgot to buy the optional extra for the washing machine that stops the machine devouring just one of each pair. 

I'm quite sure the week I decide to just throw the odd ones out, the very next week the pair turns up.  So starts the vicious cycle of more odd socks!!

If only they had magnets in them.  Hmmmm, there could be a patent in that ;-)

The Doors | Week 3

Things I'm grateful for?  A door?  Really?

Yes really!

These are the doors that represent that we have a roof over our head.  A door.  A roof.  Four walls.  And lots of creature comforts.  They all make a home.  Our home.

I'm a bit of a homebody.  I love my days at home.  With how crazy, busy life seems to have become, I am always glad to spend the day at home.  Even if it does mean crossing jobs off the to-do list...where sometimes even cleaning the toilet seems more exciting than thinking of what to cook for the next meal!!

About that home...over the years I've discussed a point that seems to come up regularly - and it was again highlighted by a friend on FB today in relation to herself.  Luck!  How often we've been told we're 'lucky' to have the home we live in, the things we can afford. 

I guess when you haven't seen the constant stress, the long, sleepless nights, the countless times groceries have had to be returned because of not enough money - you would think it's luck.  But I am grateful for a husband who is intelligent, pragmatic and ethical.  Who listens to my advice (occasionally!) to pull back a little.  And who works hard to provide for us.  So that we can have a great home.  With gorgeous doors!

I love these quotes!
“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.“ – Thomas Jefferson
“When I work fourteen hours a day, seven days a week, I get lucky.“ – Dr. Armand Hammer

My Other Baby | Week 2

Time to update project 52!  I have put a lot of thought into this weeks 'thing' of gratitude.  A lot.  Perhaps I've overanalysed what to use for this week.  I tend to overanalyse.  A lot.  Too much.


Anyway, back to the project.  I felt that I should be posting in order of the things I'm most grateful for, to the lesser things (that I'm still grateful for).  But then I realised that it was going to to be too difficult to list 52 'things' in order of importance.  So apart from week one when I DID list my gorgeous family in number one spot, every other week will be in random order.  Just as I think of things...and am able to take photos of them!!


Well I was in the process of taking a photo for this weeks entry, when it clicked in my mind what I really wanted to do for this week.  So the other photo will have to be for next week!  And because of my impromptu thought, it really isn't the best photo I've ever taken.  Well I am in it I guess, so it will never be the best photo;-)  


So that brings me to week 2...my other baby!  My wonderful, beloved, fabulous camera.  For a long time my camera was permanently attached to my hip.  To go somewhere without it would have been like leaving a child at home alone.  However, since starting my business last year, I have found that sometimes I enjoy outings without it.  I must be growing up.  Or my baby is.  


Or maybe it's just that my iPhone has made it easy if I don't have my camera.


But like my babies of the human variety, cameras/photography are a constant learning process.  Just when you think you know something, or have something worked out, you realise how little you really know.  But there'd be no fun in knowing it all, would there?  Think about it.  How many happy, smiling teenagers do you see?!  Cos they know it all, right?!


But my camera makes ME happy!  I'm sure other photographers will agree with me, that even when you don't have your camera in hand, you view the world differently.  You see everything through a lens.  Or how it would look through a lens.  It's magic.  And when you take photos for others, the joy on their faces when they see the memories captured forever is priceless.  Like mastercard.  Haaaa.
  
One thing you will quickly learn about me (apart from the fact that I love photography!) is that I talk/write too much!  Next post, may I suggest you grab a coffee first!

Something | Week 1

I'm going to do something.  Something that is not new.  Something borrowed. Something that I was inspired by others to do.  Something that will inspire me.  Something that will challenge me.  Something to remind me of all the things I have to be grateful for.

I am going to embark on Project 52.  Where every week for a year I will take a photo of something/someone in my life that I am grateful for and share it with you all on this blog.

I considered a 365 project.  And admire those who start, proceed and conclude such a mind blowing, mammoth project.  But I know that I don't have the tenacity.  Or the commitment.  Honesty is a virtue right??

So this is Week 1.  I'm actually going to clasify last week as week 1, so that I go from July to July...and I'm going to cheat a little!  It's an old photo (taken last year).  The 'thing' I am most grateful for is my wonderful husband and my five gorgeous children.  Not just this week, but each and every day.  Yes, even when they're driving me insane!!

And this photo is my favourite of them all :-)  It shows them with all their quirks and craziness that I love to pieces!!