The Simple Things

The simple things in life are the best, hey.  Like country Christmas parades followed by fresh fruit frozen yoghurt on a hot day....little boys who would rather eat bananas.....but love watching their big sister enjoying the cold treat.....

What simple things make you smile?

what's around the corner

Savour every moment....
because we never know what is around the corner....

The holidays are coming....

I love this time of year.  We're starting to think about the holidays...decorating the house, putting up a tree, finding the Christmas Carol CD....it's a few weeks away, but holiday shopping is in full swing, (mine included, I love sites like Felt, Madeit, and Etsy for buying unique presents, and supporting handmade) and so is my holiday packaging.  All orders are now going out with my polaroid holiday star thank you note, and a little doily.  Yes I know doilies are everywhere, but it's because they are so cute.  And if you come to my house for afternoon tea, you will have a little treat served on a doily covered plate with your tea in a vintage tea cup.  Even Annabel sets the table with them - for our dinner, and for her little tea parties.  Which pleases me no end. 

Happy Friday!

Barb "JinkyArt", and corners of our home

There are little corners of our home I'd like to share over a few posts, it is definitely a work in progress....we would like to paint the walls a paler shade of white, replace some of the carpet, lift up other areas and expose the floorboards, hang vintage chandeliers, wallpaper....plus we are still hunting through second hand shops and garage sales for furniture to fill the corners that are a bit sparse....it will take time, and is oh so much fun. 

I thought I'd start in the lounge.  We've recently had a couple of the JinkyArt photos framed - and I wanted to share them with Barb.  If you haven't already come across Barb's website, you must take a look - this lady is amazing.  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  I still cannot believe we have photos of our little ones taken by Barb (more can be seen here) - I have been a fan for years and when we planned  a trip to Canberra at the start of the year, at the top of the list was to book a JinkyArt session.  When we pulled up to the location, my heart skipped a beat, and I wouldn't be surprised if Shannon told you I actually squealed.  A divine rocking chair, apples strung from the trees, vintage little horse and cart...seriously, heaven.  And the kids had a ball. 

This photo hangs above the main couch.  It is my favourite.  I had taken the butterflies with me in their little birdcage as a possible prop, and Barb's wonderful assistant Megan hung them in the branches.  The session was just for the kids, but Barb snuck this photo in, and I cannot express how much it means to me.  I am the one always behind the camera, so have only a small handful of photos with me and the kids.  I think maybe Barb knew that.  Thank you Barb!

Head over to the website to have a look at more of Barb's divine work, but be warned, you will be there for hours.....oh, and make sure you watch the video at the start, it is....well...go see for yourself....

A stranger on the ledge

In sorting out my new studio space, I flicked through the (very full) 'to scan' box of polaroids.  And found this.  It was taken on one of my final weekends in Melbourne, down a graffiti laneway.  There was a couple taking photos of each other, and as the girl sat in the ledge, the sun came out.  Normally I wouldn't take the photo - I am rather a shy person.  Maybe the thought of leaving made me brave - I asked if I could take a photo - the light looked so lovely, if a bit harsh, and I just really liked the way she was sitting.  My first 'stranger portrait'.  Although, not really a portrait, but you know what I mean.

I love Carterton

and so the 'why I love where I live' list continues...

#2.  I love that most places we need to go to are within walking distance - kindy, family, friends, supermarket, train (Shannon commutes - more on that another time), post office, parks, swimming pool - you get the idea.  And if we do need to drive, then within 5 minutes of leaving home, we are surrounded by country and quaint little towns.  So every drive feels like we are taking a 'Sunday country drive'.  And I do love a country drive....all the farm animals, the sky, the clouds, the hills, the trees, the fields...in every season it is beautiful...

I Love Carterton.

I really love where we live.  When people hear we've just moved from Melbourne, the reaction is always - wow, from Melbourne to Carterton, why??  And you know, it is a huge change, from big city to small town.  But we are LOVING it.  I honestly believe we live in one of the most beautiful regions in the world.
So I am going to do a few posts to share with you why we love it so much.

#1.  The wide open sky. 

No tall buildings.  No concrete.  No bus and tram lines overhead. 

No jungle of power lines.  Just sky. 

And in the distance, rugged mountain ranges to the west, gently rolling hills to the east,

coast to the south, and country to the north. 

In between, all this sky. 

Sky sky sky. 

I do love the sky.