Little Things {Meeting Maggie}

For a while now, we've been looking out for a cheap, old, quiet pony for the kids to learn on.
M has been riding Grandy and Grumps' horses, and Miss A loves them to bits, but wont go near anything big.
Today, we found 'Mr Magpie'. Not cheap. Not even really that old. But very quiet.

Tonight, he sleeps in our paddock - and we sleep with big smiles.

Fun times ahead....

Little Things {Deep Colour}

Week Three of Creative Processing was all about rich, deep colours. Fun huh? I'm still finding it a little bit hard to not go over the top with every new technique we learn... but I'm getting there.

My favourite part of this week though? Finding an editing style that isn't really 'my style'. Because I figure that must bring me a little bit closer to working out what my style is. 

I must admit I was a little shocked! I do like this style, and I'm sure I will use it on some of my images, but my heart is still back in week one with all the warm earthy tones. 

But for now... bring on the rich colours!

On a side note though... I am loving the difference in the SOOC's with CWB! 

And the difference in one four year old boy when a vanilla milkshake is mentioned :)

Little Things {Cross Process}

Week three's assignment for creative processing was posted today. Tuesday's are my new favourite day by the way... They will be for at least another week I'm sure ;)
So the nerd in me has been reading, re-reading, and of course practising all the techniques covered this week since the lovelies hit the hay.
And because I plan on getting better at this processing stuff, I thought it might be nice to post a very early attempt at cross processing.

That way... it might only be a couple of weeks and I will be able to see an improvement :) Technically not cheating. Is it?
I do need to get out and get some new shots for this week though... Let's hope the weather plays nice!

Little Things {Winning Big}

I'm going to rewind a little bit to June 3rd. A great day :)

I woke up and logged on for my morning dose of Clickin Moms... And within minutes I was up and jumping on the couch... Why??

Ok, let me rewind a little bit more...

June 2nd.

I entered a competition to win a place in the extremely talented Kristin Rachelle's fabulous 'Creative Processing' class. To enter, you had to come up with a photography related verse, maximum of twelve words, and every word had to start with the same letter (of your choice).

So this is what I came up with...


Clickin’ creative class creates crazy commenting chaos consequently causing copious coffee consumption…

And guess who won!?!?!?!? (I never win anything!!) 

Okay... so fast-forward a little (past all the stressing out that I wasn't read for such a class etc)... And I'm now just finishing up the second week of this class. And I LOVE it! I was totally convinced I was a Lr only girl... but now I am in a happy place with both :D

Since I joined CM in August of last year, I've taken Lighting 101, with the natural light guru, Elisabeth Ross and Shooting 101 and Shooting 201 with the amazing teacher and photographer, Lynne Rigby (borderline workshop junkie huh). 

And I'm yet to do a workshop I don't love. The video's, PDF's, questions and answers, picture plays and huge amounts of CC are just some of the things that make these workshops SO worthwhile. Not to mention the inspiring and talented friends I have made along the way.

Here are some of my before and after's from the past two weeks...

Photo by Kristin Rachelle

So excited for the next two weeks!!

Little Things {Park}

We had planned on going for a drive today, in the hopes of getting some photos of the kids at the old hospital fascade where we got our wedding photos taken.
It didn't happen.
We did manage a trip across the road to the park though. And it was fun with a capital 'F'...
We swung, we played shops, ordered skinny latte's, flew down fire poles and put out fires by the hundred...

We slid, we sang, we laughed and we swung some more...

And after the bribe of real milkshakes (instead of our bark ones)... we went home :)

Little Things {Shine}

I never really experienced the whole 'glowing' thing while pregnant with my two. I felt it, in the sense that I was bursting with pride and wonder at the miracle that is being pregnant - but I never really 'looked' it.
My sister on the other hand - oozes it. People guessed she was pregnant well before she was showing for that very reason.
Her hair is amazing. Full... glossy... wonderful.
Her skin is bright and clear, and her eyes sparkle.
And she deserves it. This girl doesn't let too many people in. But those who are privileged enough to call her their friend will know just what I mean when I say she glows from the inside out.
I'm lucky to call her my sister...

Today she took a day off to come with me to yet another Specialist appointment. 

She sat with the kids and read them books. 

And afterwards we went shopping. Real shopping. The kind that doesn't involve a list of food and cleaning items.

And on the way home she decided to make the most of the winter's sunshine by dropping into Mum and Dad's and playing 'Fireman Sam' with the kids. 

Seven weeks to go and she still digs deep and finds the energy to become one of the characters in their daily games.

We played.

We wandered.

            





                We had fun.

Little Things {Heavy Heart}

"Let a horse whisper in your ear, and breathe on your heart... You will never regret it"


Over the last few months, M has really taken an interest in riding. I always hoped my children would grow up loving animals, and be privileged enough to have them in their lives. I don't remember ever not having animals. Horses and Dogs. Always.
My sister has always had a 'hot bum'. She was the wild, uninhibited, bold one out of us. 
I was always cautious. 


And then came Daniel. I never even rode him before he came to be mine... Mum knew he was one in a million - and the deal was done before we had even heard whisper.
When I first looked in to his eyes, I knew he was perfect. Anyone who has ever ridden or been around horses will know that their eyes really are the windows to their soul... And Daniel's were two of the softest, kindest, trusting, honest eyes I have ever seen.
I will always remember the first time I rode him - I'd been riding a horse on free lease for the past two years, and was scared stiff to jump with him... he was beautiful at home but terrifying to take out to competitions... 
I climbed up onto this big chestnut, and for some reason he felt bigger than anything I had ever been on; and then I realised... his neck would give a giraffe a run for it's money!!! Although it didn't look it from the ground - his neck made him feel so much bigger.
My sister and I combined put him through a decade of Pony Club. He performed at state level just as willingly as he did mucking around in a paddock. 
While I had many falls of this big boy - he never once frightened me, or made me feel anything other than an equal... He truly was a kind hearted, gentle soul.


This afternoon on my way home from work - my sister told me that her and Mum had decided it was time to have him put down. Whilst I understand why they needed to make the decision without me, I still wish it didn't have to be...
I left the kids with Yaya and drove out to his paddock, hopeful that the vet hadn't been, and after a long barfoot walk in the warm grass... I finally spotted the tip of his winter rug in the far corner of the paddock - munching away under the big gum trees. 
Despite being in the prime of his happy retirement, instead of a sour look - he walked straight up for a cuddle. Call me silly but I'm sure this boy knows me well... I needed him. I talked, I patted - and he stood and listened. Not eating, just listening. I took off his rug and we walked together a while, until he dropped beside me to roll in the sunshine. Trusting. Right up until the end.


He walked me to the gate today. And he watched me walk to my car. I'm sure he was waiting for food - and if I had of had time to prepare for our goodbye he would of indeed had one last amazing supper - but as it was, he watched me drive away.


In my life, I have owned and ridden many horses. Out of all of these, only two have ever really touched my heart. Daniel was the first. 


Daniel my boy - May the winds of heaven blow gently between your ears; And may your soul run wild and free. Rest in Peace lovely boy.

And in the words of the great Sir Winston Churchill... "There is something about the outside of a horse, that is good for the inside of a man"...