Monday 31 July 2017

Where would you rather be?


I'm happy to report that operation Talisman Sabre has come to a conclusion and the frequent, low flying helicopter over our house have also ceased. I did take the opportunity to get a few photos though and Justin was lucky enough to be taken for a ride in one (which I think he quietly loved) but I missed out because I went to town with my photo club outing. 



 



After a failed attempt at fixing this baby, by the lovely Dick, we offloaded her to a better place! Although now I'm starting to wish we did have a two-wheeler (not that we've used them much in ages), maybe I will start saving my pennies. 

My photography club did an outing to the famous Paradise Lagoons Campdraft, to get some sports photography shots. I was a little uninspired with the campdrafting part, but I did enjoy taking some these early morning steamy shots of horses and riders warming up.







This guy must of had his horse pretty darn warm!!


I also went out to our swamp and got some pics of these little swan babies. There are heaps of them everywhere!!!


I'm not sure what these little guys are. 

No where near so elegant as their parents. 

Brolga. 




It might not look like too much, but it's ours and I love it!



We also did out pregtesting this weekend and I'm really pleased to report that we had a great percentage that we are really happy with. So that's some good news!! After baking some scones, I even managed to get out with mum and bub to bring some in. 

My offsiders! 

Putting out hay with dad. 


What better way to end a great weekend, than with a beer and a fire, watching the sun set! 

Found this little fishy next to our dam. Might have to put a line in, but I'm scared of catching a turtle.


I was in trouble here for not bringing any toys to play in the sand with, luckily grandma can improvise! 



Someone is starting to climb on everything!!! 


Doesn't everyone go mustering in their PJ's

Couple of our little weaner heifers. 


 Spending time with G-ma




I'm also very excited to report that our beautiful girl Pirate, is also pregnant!! Can't wait for her little babe! 

Don't call child services, this cow didn't hurt him, she was just playing! 

Here's to a lovely season. 
 
Mum and I at Clare Bowen.

At the end of my last post, I mentioned that I was going to see Clare Bowen and OMG she was amazing!! I can't wait for her to put an album out. At the moment though just sitting here listening to Tim McGraw's, 'Set This Circus Down', an oldie but a goodie. 

Starting to feel the pull of tiredness that comes with the third trimester, midday bubble baths, warm winter afternoons and lazing in the afternoon sun while G-man plays. Where else would you rather be? While I am missing my ponies a wee bit, I'm trying not to wish the time away because I know that sleepless nights will be here all too soon.  


Friday 14 July 2017

Camping and Vows.


So we packed up our little family to go on an overnight camping trip! As there is one day of the year when the milky-way is over the ocean just near a friend's place and it happened to be in the middle of the week, which was a bit unfortunate, but still nice to have a little family outing. 

I recently purchased a roof-top-tent... to go on our roof rack! A process which seems fairly straight forward, until after much manoeuvring and husband-wife "discussions", it was determined that what we had was a "roof-rack", when what we needed was a "tent-rack"! So instead of camping on a nice double mattress in our new tent, we slept in my single swag, in a tent that also housed the porta-cot. Most of the night I spent on the floor as my swag isn't build for my darling husband and his pregnant wife to share. Oh well.  

I should have been a geologist with my fascination for rocks!

My darling G-man had a ball though and it left us wishing we had planned to stay for at least another night.  

Someone, had a stone that they kept dipping into the rock pool and sucking the salt water off. 


I was again in trouble for not organising my social agenda around the fishing almanac, as it was far too windy. 

Someone loves their dad!!!! More than mum I reckon! 

Loved these old fish trap poles. 



So it would seem that I'm in a bit of a photographic slump at the moment! While I'm out there taking the photos, I just can't seem to get those 'wow' shots. 
I had a cousin of mine tell me that comparison is the killer of joy and I think perhaps I've been comparing my work too much. 

I'm still enjoying it though, even if my images aren't quite where I want them to be yet. You know what they say about practise though!




This was probably my pick of them. 



This is just near our campsite with the fire illuminating the sand. 



So while I never got the milky-way over the ocean shot, that I had envisioned to be so perfect, I got a couple of 'ok' shots and once again learnt a fair bit, so I shouldn't be too downhearted. It was just a lot of effort to go camping mid-week, not to get that perfect shot I'd hoped for. 

I managed to get some nicer shots in the morning however, that I was happier with. 

The moon was behind me and I loved the way it light up the rocks. 
















 Once the sun rose, we had a beautiful campfire breaky and headed for home.



"Helping" dad cook breaky




These guys (above) have been making their presence known, well and truely this time. I'm not sure if it's a coincidence or whether it has had something to do with the recent acquisition fiasco, but we've never seen their presence so obviously, in my life. They were driving tanks up our main road and you can see their camp site from the public road. This is not their normal activity. Not to mention that their campsite is a stone throw from our house, as you could see from the drone footage in my last blog. Their choppers have been flying directly over our house, at all hours and it's generally not just once, but they would make several passes overhead before they finally land. We've already had our weaners scared through the fence twice! Last night they were flying right above our house, I'm sure they could see through the window, luckily they didn't wake bub, because hell hath no fury like a mother whose baby you've woken. Believe me, I would have let them know about it.... but he slept on oblivious and so we just put up with the noise.

Below is the dust from their choppers landing (I'm standing in my front yard). It floats directly down into our house, hence why the cleaner (ie: me) has postponed this weeks cleaning duties, until some of the traffic has subsided.


We also had a wedding a couple of weeks ago. The beautiful Erin married her loooooong time partner Matt and it was such an honour to be invited to spend their special day with them. 

Erin asked me to take some photos for her at their reception, as the photographer wasn't coming to that part of the wedding and once again I ended up being a bit disappointed with myself. Erin seemed quite happy with them though, so that's the main thing! 

The beautiful bride and her father.








These pair make such a beautiful and complimentary couple and I wish them nothing but ever lasting happiness for the rest of their lives. Oh and not to mention lots of babies.... 😜😜 here's hoping anyhow. 




The heels didn't last long! 

Jamie and I, getting our bumps acquainted again lol.  


Sandy and Jamie

Got to love a good photo bomb! 


The stunning bridesmaids 


Groom waits patiently



That afternoon we had smoko at the groom's father's place and he has some beautiful roses, I couldn't resist taking a few snaps.




Father and daughter. 

Mrs P was also our wedding celebrant and it was moving to hear some of our vows again.

Boots were much better!! 

From my Phone:

I find that when I'm lost as to what I've been up to, I just look at my phone photos! There always seem to be a few on there that show my whereabouts. 

Vegemite kid. 

Watermelon, the only way to eat it! 



Mum sent me a photo of this monster in her back yard! He'd chew your leg off I reckon! 



We also farewelled Dick, who travelled back down south and he shouted mum and I to a lovely dinner at Korte's restaurant in Rockhampton.



It would also seem that I'm officially blind now! Still can't bring myself to wear them much! Mainly for driving! Isn't getting old the pits! 

Love this one! 
My lovely sister-in-law from Melissa Cormack Photography, also came up for a couple of days to visit and we got some maternity photos. After about 5 costume changes and wrestling with all our kids for the day, I was a bit exhausted towards the end. But I'm thinking that we would have got some nice shots, so stay tuned and I will post them once I've got them off her.


A friend visited from town for a morning catch up and coffee and took this snuggly snap of bub and I. 

We went to Emerald, for their agro field day, with intentions of purchasing a dog, but it seemed as though everyone else had the same thoughts, so we went home empty handed. 


Talking to the 'cows'. 



Finally home and relaxing with a beer. 



I can't believe how quickly our calendar is filling up with this and that. I am off this weekend again to see Clare Bowen with mum, which I am really looking forward to. But I'm off now to go and clean some of the sand out of the car from our camping trip? 

I've been watching Kerwin Rae on facebook and he has some really inspirational videos, that I'm learning a lot from. 

What are you up to? Where do you find your inspiration?