Wordless Wednesday: Spring is here
A doggy day
My life is pretty quiet at the moment, when I’m not doing housework, drawing or hanging out with Bundy I am walking dogs at our local shelter and trying to get decent photos for their profiles. A good profile photo can help draw attention to shelter dogs waiting to be adopted and it helps me by allowing me to practice my skills while doing something I love.
Anyway, here are some of the beautiful kids that I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this year.
Have a great weekend!
Holly
Rodney
Simba
Cardi
Poh
Mambo
Bear
Bitty
Spot
Change
“When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait. Life does not look back. A week is more than enough time for us to decide whether or not to accept our destiny.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Devil and Miss Prym
After almost two years of uncertainty at work, the inevitable restructure and change to my role has been and gone. The decision to stay or walk away was made for me as my role was declared surplus to requirements and the options available less than appealing. The emotional rollercoaster ride was intense, feelings of rejection, anger, sadness and fear flooded through me. My confidence was already suffering and this change saw it drop through the floor as I sat and wondered how on earth was I ever going to find another job. Thankfully, my family, friends and colleagues helped me see that there would be other opportunities and that ultimately I would be happier. Saying goodbye to the people I had worked alongside for many years was hard, but knowing that I will see my friends again makes it easier and hopefully, we will all be in a happier place.
So, here I sit, on my lounge at home with Bundy by my side, and I am okay. I miss the truly wonderful people I worked with and of course the income, but this change has been a good thing for me. Taking the time to wind down and relax is doing wonders for my peace of mind and I have more time to dedicate to the things I love. It would be wonderful to find a role that will fulfil my soul and allow me to focus on my passions, or at the very least a job in an area of interest to me. In the meantime, I am setting up an art room to encourage me to paint more and developing my dog photography skills at our local shelter. Bundy seems to be enjoying the extra time he gets to spend hanging out with me and I know he loves being able to stay inside when the weather is cooler. Now that my little boy is in his senior years I definitely love to be able to spend more time with him, making sure he is happy and comfortable.
Weekly photo challenge: farewell with a favourite (or several)
Blogging has been part of my life for just over seven years and in that time I have dipped in and out of the Weekly Photo Challenge. My blogging is sporadic at best, however, the weekly challenge helped me find the motivation to hit the keyboard and share so I will be sad to see it end.
Although I will still continue to post photos and share stories I fear that I may struggle to find my feet without a bit of a push. Until then please enjoy my farewell to the Weekly Photo Challenge with a few of my favourite photos.
From the garden of the Hotel des Invalides
Pelicans napping
Traditional red phone booths on the Royal Mile
Magnolias in bloom, Versailles
Weekly photo challenge: Liquid
Liquid this week’s topic for the weekly photo challenge instantly makes me think of Venice and waking up to a high tide which flooded St Mark’s Square. On this morning we went for a stroll before breakfast to see how the piazza and surrounding areas fared after a night of rain and a high tide. We had seen photos of flooding in Venice, but they were extreme and I wasn’t prepared for how beautiful Venice looked with a layer of water covering most of the piazza.
“Venice never quite seems real, but rather an ornate film set suspended on the water.”
Frida Giannini
Weekly Photo Challenge: Place in the World
I grew up in the country, riding horses, bushwalking and swimming in creeks. My parents have lived in the same house for almost 40 years and are surrounded by a mix of farmland and bush. This scene is pretty typical of the area and it is a scene that always fills my heart with joy. As much as I love cities or walks along the beach, it is the countryside where I feel most at peace.
This is my place in the world.
Wordless Wednesday: Caption this
Life in our garden
The rain that fell on us at the end of another long and hot Queensland summer did wonders for our little garden and the park outside. Everything was lush and green, funny little funghi moved in and we had numerous creatures living among the plants, thriving on the fresh green shoots of our gardenias. My thumb isn’t that green, however I have managed to keep a few plants alive and I love it when I see creatures in the garden even if they’re actually destroying it leaf by leaf.
Bundy seemed pleased that I was not turning the lens on him for a change, instead I got as close as I could to the frogs, bees, spiders and mushrooms and started shooting away. I think I could have used a faster shutter speed on some of the shots, they’re not as sharp as I would like however it is good that these things are becoming a little clearer to me. I am learning. For some of you it is Spring time which means lots of beautiful blooms and bright colours, looking forward to seeing what lives and grows in your garden 🙂
White Admiral Butterfly
Working hard
Busy bee
Creepy but stunning spider
Breakfast time for the grasshopper
Little green frog
Little green frog
Mushrooms
Funghi family
Tiny snail
Weekly photo challenge: Rise/Set
For the last three years we’ve gotten up early on Christmas Day to head to the beach for sunrise. It has become a ritual for us, we load the car up with towels for us and the dog, fill our takeaway cups with fresh coffee and I make sure my camera is ready to go. Leading up to Christmas is always a mad rush of last minute shopping, tying up loose ends at work and preparing for visitors. The beach is relatively peaceful and quiet at sunrise, it is a beautiful and calming way to start the day.
This is my contribution to the weekly photo challenge
Cheers!
Weekly photo challenge: favourite place
To choose just one favourite place is not an easy task. My favourite place depends on my mood, the weather or what I am looking for in a favourite place at a specific time. For example, my favourite place for dark night skies, peace and quiet and the best sleep ever is my family home in rural New South Wales. If I am feeling sad and craving solitude my favourite place is curled up on the lounge with Bundy, watching old movies or reading a book. For this week’s photo challenge I have decided to go with a favourite travel destination, one I could happily return to again and again even though it is considered by many to be ‘too touristy’. I’m sure that you will recognise it without difficulty.
For me the pleasure in returning to Venice is watching the sun set over the lagoon, the golden light creates a warm glow that affects all it touches. The thousands of day trippers head back to their hotels and cruise ships, the streets are less chaotic and the soft light of glass lanterns makes everything seem so romantic. During the day I love exploring streets beyond St Mark’s Square, getting lost and finding little gems in which to enjoy an espresso or a bite to eat and a glass of wine.
Ciao! Ciao!
Two Black Dogs 