Progress

I am trying to make inroads into my 50 list. Some I already see are not going to happen. I am contemplating surreptitiously replacing these with things more achievable - I am sure no one but me will notice!
Today I made progress towards a photographic goal - doubling the number of photos on my Hall Wall. I began this project a year ago, not knowing how far I would go with it. This morning there were 18 photos up, tonight, 28. The photos are there purely for my own pleasure, and I reflect on the photos I have chosen quite often. There are certainly some I would choose not to put up there were I starting from scratch now, but they are all a reminder of my journey as an amateur photographer and I am grateful for that.



It has taken time some to get the most recent up, mainly because I had some printing issues... my advice is not to go to places like Harvey Norman when they have an offer on... I went back for 3 reprints as my prints were definitely 'green' in hue. Not what I wanted for my Hall Wall. One of the most affected photos is STILL not on the wall - I should always remember that I munt the first one I try to put on a block... this time it was my favourite pic of Miss Karissa - so that has to get done AGAIN!

Some of the new blocks before they went up

Speaking of having to go back for a 3rd time reminds me of another thing I am progressing towards on my 50 List - being more house-proud. This is not easy to achieve when the house you live in was built on the cheap, and you have 3 long haired inside dogs. Keeping the already grotty carpet clean is a perpetual battle.
I thought I had hit on a solution to avoiding vacuuming every day, when I decided to purchase an old-timey carpet sweeper. We had an orange one when we were kids, and I recall it being quite efficient for those in between times. So in January I got myself one. I loved it - perfect for brushing up the dog hair as many times a day as I liked. Until one of the small rollers fell out when I was cleaning it. So, I got it replaced. Replacement's central roller fell out on the first use! So today I have replaced it again.
A third item I am progressing towards is my reading goal. To 'make it' I must read a book per month. Having succeeded with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", I am now on to "The girl who Played with Fire". Part of succeeding here is banishing myself from playing games on the iPhone when in bed. Have to change habits to make progress sometimes!

365 Week 6

Fences.

As usual, larger images on my Flickr page, Week 6.

Enjoy!

I'm a Little in Love with Romeo

A friend of mine has a new cavalier puppy.  His name is Romeo, and I think he's Mr McDreamy.
If I ask him to be my Valentine, do you think my boys will get the pip?

We've Been Waiting to Meet You!

The Boys and I had a lunch time visitor today - our kind of second cousin Winston. His person is my Aunty Kaye. who passed by on her way back up North.
I have been longing to meet Winston (so named because of an apparent similarity to Winston Churchill) ever since puppy pics of him appeared on my Aunt's FB page some months back.

Winston is not quite a year old yet; a Lhasa Apso/Shih Tzu cross, and a cute bundle of delight he turned out to be, as predicted. He coped very well with three inquisitive cavs.  We all hope he will visit again soon!

Little China Girl

Viki's photo

The annual Auckland Lantern Festival occurs this long weekend at Albert Park in Auckland City. I went for the first time last year, trying to figure out how to take good photos of the lanterns, and at night. (I did not do especially well that night, and I still not have mastered this).
This year I was delighted to be asked to go with one of my rent-a-families, the Holleys. The timing was not good for night photography (being that we had a 4 year old to consider) but it was great for eating! Ate far too much but not enough, as there were so many things to sample. I did not have the best Pad Thai in the world, but I loved the Toffee Strawberries and shared some great rice paper spring rolls with Viki.
But attending before night fell did not mean no photos; I has my angelic little model to snap away at. I love the photos of her here amidst the flowers (though almost prefer the wide view Viki's iPhone pic captured; I did not have the right lens on for this view).

Isabella was enamoured with all the Chinese bits and bobs that were bought for her - I think her favourite was the pink umbrella.

365 Week 5

This week's theme was Water.

As my photographic week began in Whangarei, I have a couple of images from there. But I am also lucky to be living by the water here in Wattle Downs, and 3 different waterways are featured: The man made ponds, which are frequently home to miniature motorized and sail boats, the Wildlife reserve opposite these ponds, which is home to many ducks, geese and swans, and the Pahuruhure Inlet, which I walk beside several times a week with my boys. Like this morning, when I took the final photo in this sequence.

The full sized (iPhone) images can be viewed via this link.

PS one thing missing on Camera+ App - a straighten tool!

The Red Balloon

So, the photo is of The White Cross, but The Red Balloon has relevance, so bear with me.
I attended a funeral today, perhaps one of the saddest funerals I have been to. A young man I did not know terribly well, but I knew his family well, especially his aunt. Through her I spent a fair bit of time with his Mum, sister and grandparents.
A particularly tragic and sudden death that has left the family and those who knew him reeling, least of all his twin sister. What a brave woman - she shared a wonderful speech about her brother, which was both joyous and heart-wrenchingly sad.
A poem called the Red Balloon was read - I cannot for the life of me find it on the Internet (you don't often disappoint me Mr Google, but today you have). Following this a red balloon was released - particularly poignant for this occasion.
Times like these often cause reflection. Mine has not been an uncommon one; don't leave it until a sad occasion occurs to make contact with people you care about. I have not seen my friend, with whom I flatted for quite some time, for a good 3 years. I am determined not to leave it that long again. And I must act on a goal on my 50 list - Make more frequent contact with those special friends from my past who still mean an awful lot to me.
I intend to make inroads to this goal this weekend.