sean @ coles

April 1st. 2012. With Laura Smith.

caught

Scrapped for last month's 'Shoot it, scrap it' Picasa challenge for Scrap Therapy.

weary

This one looks like a book cover with the blue binding ;o)

The 'chomp' out of the side of the paper was inspired by one of Karen Dutschke's LOs from long ago. It's been stuck in my mind ever since.  

Tin Pin from GG & Loui. 

showtime

Completed this one a couple of days ago. Annie loves it. Had a bit of fun flicking paint and Glimmermist on this one.

The florals came from the Mothers Days gifts that the kids made at school. (Funny how they know my favourite colour hahaha)

Since it has a banner/flags/pennants (whatever you want to call them), I'll send it over to Sue's challenge on the E2C blog

Menindee Lakes

While up in Broken Hill during April for the MIL's 70th, Kym and I had a couple of day trips to Menindee Lakes. With the New South Wales rains running down the River Darling, the Lakes were actually filling while we were there.

First trip was also with Kym's sister and her partner. They escaped the 'Dragons Lair' each day too.  ;O)
We scouted "Sunset Strip". Its a popular spot with shacks, a boat ramp and, if your standing in the wrong spot, big 3 Corner Jack prickles

We took the kids to a spot in Menindee to the Lakes' edge for a quick look. Whilst there a Vic fella kindly gave a fishing rod to the kids to catch a Carp. Carp are crap fish. They have taken over the River systems, and when you catch one, you are not allowed to return it back to the River. So this means wherever people are fishing, the banks are covered in smelly rotting fish. And lots of them. That's not so pleasant, let me tell you.

Anyway, back to this Vic fella. What a wonderful kind gesture. And the kids loved it.

There were a lot of photographic opportunities as well. And the sky was awesome that day!!!!

We headed to Copi Hollow and relaxed on the lawns of the Powerboat Club. It's a very serene spot. We lunched at the Menindee Lakes Pub, checked out one of the River's Weirs and generally rubbernecked around.

Lake Menindee Weir no 1.

Crappy Carp

The second day when Kym, the kids and I returned was to Sunset Strip at Lake Menindee. One of Kym's good shooting mates has a shack there, and had an eski of yabbies ready to tuck into.

On the way there, we stopped at Stephen's Creek for me to get some shots. It ran flood waters last month, so the sand was clean and the trees had greened up.

There was another spot I had Kym stop for a landscape shot with an awesome leading line moving thru the undulating hills. I've been told since that this spot was used to film a section of the Mad Max II  (thanks Paul!!)

We, and the mate's family set up camp at the lakes' edge for the day. The kids fished, kyaked, swam, fished, played and had an awesome time. I took some shots of them before heading out for some 'photographic time for me'.

Incidentally, this was the same day, that back at home, it was the first match of Footy and Netty. It was cold, windy, wet and miserable. It was so nice to know that the break of season was happening at home, while we were swanning around in the warm country.    ;O)

 

Long exposure. Lake Menindee

Lake Menindee's Main Weir. Long exposure.

I drove around a bit scoping a place for a sunset shoot. I came back to this spot only just in time. Broken Hill works in SA time, and Menindee works in NSW timezone, even tho they are both in NSW. So the sunset was half an hour earlier than I thought. I waded out into the water with the tripod for this shot. I even had a Carp kiss my toe while there. And I also watched the water rise above the little mud bank in front of me. Little bits of bark and leaves became lodged for a short time, and then the rising water washed the bank clean and then it disappeared under. Great to know I was at the right spot at the right time.

Just for interest's sake, I poked in a stick on the water's edge when I got there to see how fast it's rising. In 30 minutes, it was up 2 inches. That's a phenomenal amount of water making its way into the Lake, considering the size of it.

gift

Retreat LO no 8. 

Sean loves to give flowers. All sorts of flowers. So I couldn't resist a snap of him holding Canola flowers towards the camera.

memories

I traced Sean's hands when he was just 3 and half years old. And drew with pencil his name so he could go over it with texta.

bit of an awwwwwww LO this one.

;O)

chopped

The inspo behind this LO came from the round packaging that I pulled back out of the bin and repurposed it. I knew I had a lock of hair that I saved from my big 'chop' back in August 2010.

I went back into my blog and copy pasted the journaling. Here. This is why I blog. Its my go to reference and such a wonderful resource for jogging my memories. 

tooth

Sean lost his first tooth the other day at school. Apparently he wasn't at all fussed or upset by the whole business. Super proud is a better description.

So with tongue clenched between his 'remaining' teeth, he wrote a letter to Miss Tooth Fairy to ask if he may be able to keep the tooth when she came to visit so that his Mum could scrap it.

Happy Mum moment.

e2c table 10

the girls from Table 10.  Amy, Lou, Shmee, Belinda, Trish and Mel.

We all just 'clicked'!!!!

Shmee.

team netta

I scrapped this one about a week ago. I've been collecting permissions to be able to post it here on my blog and on Facebook. So thank you to each and every Mum.

 :O)

The actual photo dips in the middle and either end is raised. It happend as a result of a happy accident. In fact I was so happy with the effect I did another LO with the same effect.

And before someone points it out to me, I have a typo. The coach on the left is Abbi, not Paige. I wasn't able to check with Annie as she was fast asleep when I was pulling this one together. And Tatum's name doesn't have a 'n'.

My bad.

:O(

The layering effect.

Lake Eyre Trip in August

HI guys.

Goin' Off Safaris have contacted me to help organise a Photographic trip to Lake Eyre on August 24-26th 2012. It's not a teaching trip, more of an opportuntiy to get some great shots from both air and the ground.

see below for all the details and contact Goin' Off Safari's to book your spot. (Let me know if you're on board too)

We need a confirmed team of 10 for this trip to happen.

I'm so excited by the possibilities, esp with the lastest reports of Lake Eyre once again filling at the moment.

www.goinoffsafaris.com.au

email:  info@goinoffsafaris.com.au

respite

2009....

the back story.... Teagan stayed over last night to give the kids some company. Lets face it, being stuck at home with a gammy legged Mum is so not fun. So Teagancame to stay. And thank goodness she did.

I had a crappy day yesterday with my knee, that ended up needing xrays today. But during the night I was crook. After about 3am I managed to get some sleep. I woke up about 8am, helped the kids with their breakfasts and asked Miss T if she would very much mind if I went back to bed for a quick nap. I was really feeling like a washed out dishrag. After talking with her Mum about today's plans and getting the ok for Teagan watching the kids, I had a little snooze.

I woke up human. I felt so much better. At least the tummy had settled. The kids made me a get well message made from daises on the front lawn. I damn near cried.

posted with permission :O)

shmee knee

I'm so enjoying scrapping atm. The pressure of photography for families and landscapes has backed off a bit, so I'm making the most of that advantage.

Mind you, I've still a backlog of processing to do (Grand Canyon trip is only one of the folders needing my attention on the computer, but I'll get there).

Annie took this shot for me

ouchies

boys will be boys.

:O)