Life Lessons from a Butterfly

Trying to pick my favourite photo from the month was hard. I loved this one though, I know it's not the most technically perfect photo but I love the moment it captured, a magical moment for me. This butterfly was only the size of my thumb nail, he was on the inside of my mum's kitchen window and was struggling to find a way to the outside.
I recently read an article describing the life lessons you can learn from a butterfly struggling to get outside through a closed window. Such as that life is a struggle at times, but to look at the bigger picture and to try again if one way fails.

 I've also always loved a quote from the movie "You've Got Mail";
"Once I read a story about a butterfly in the subway, and today, I saw one! It got on at 42nd and off at 59th, where, I assume, it was going to Bloomingdales to buy a hat that will turn out to be a mistake, as almost all hats are." ~ You've Got Mail (Movie)
A bit of silliness but I was always intrigued by the thought. 

The photo was taken with my 50mm 1.8 and extension tube.
By the way I helped him outside after I took the photo. 

Linking up with I clicked it up a Notch - January Photography Contest

Scavenger Hunt - Smile, Stand Alone, Rusty or Old, Artificial & Repeating Pattern

What a boring and uninspiring week!  Rain has been pouring down all week, then my son got sick at the end of the week with a stomach bug :-( . So most of the ideas I had for this weeks SHS went out the window! But I did manage to get something together.

1. Smile

Didn't turn out exactly as planned, the Cheerio smile was hard to get to sit right and not clump together. But a happy way to start the day!

2. Stand Alone

One domino left standing.

3. Rusty or Old

My Morfar's (Swedish for maternal Grandfather) piping and decorating nozzles. He was a baker and ran his own bakery out of my mum's childhood home. These are probably too old and rusty to use, but they're a wonderful memory. Photographed on an old cookbook.

4. Artificial

An artificial bird! This bird cage is my mum's and her little artificial bird.

5. Repeating Pattern

The repeating pattern in the tea cup. And a repeating pattern throughout my week, tea or coffee, a good book or a movie, making a perfect cosy escape from the rain.

Can't wait to see everyone's interpretations!

Scavenger Hunt - Sunset, B&W, A Day in my Life, Four & Colourful

 What a strange week. Earlier in the week I found a strange viewing stat on my Flickr page, I followed the link and found a 14 year old had taken my photo (the one of me in the pink dress with the vintage camera) off  Flickr and put it on her Tumblr site, not crediting me, and it had then been reblogged over 200 times. What really annoyed me was some of these actually credited the person they'd reblogged it from. In the ten I viewed only one actually credited me as the photographer. My Flickr site actually says my photos are copyrighted and not to copy them. I read that Tumblr have developed a method to get past this copyright protection in just one click. The girl gave permission on her site for anyone to copy the photos she'd copied without permission. It's scary to think that this can go on. I've found out that you can ask Tumblr support to block your account from Tumblr users.
Just for the record, I feel different about Pinterest. Tumblr has mostly teenage users, who have no intention of visiting my blog or Flickr and following or adding comments, there was swearing on some sites and other material that I don't want to be associated with, and the issue of not giving me credit for the time and effort to produce the photo.

Anyway now for my Scavenger Hunt. :-)

1. Sunset

Processed with the CoffeeShop Blog Velvet Truffle action and Florabella Champagne texture

As you can see this isn't a sunset. The one evening I had a chance to go out and photograph the sunset we didn't get any colour, it just went from grey to dark, oh well. But I saw this Bird of Paradise flower that has the colours of the sunset.

2. Black and White

Processed with Johnna LaFaith's A Blackbird Sings and My 2econd Skin Aged Canvas Texture no.8

When I converted this photo to black and white the Beatles song Blackbird came into my mind. I couldn't stop humming and singing it all night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Black bird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
all your life
you were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.
~ The Beatles

3. A Day in my Life

Most of my days revolve around this little guy. I didn't actually take this for this prompt, he just came up to me during the week and I thought the light hitting his eyes was so gorgeous. I ran for my camera but when I went to take a shot he started to make faces. So I just went with it and asked him to be a monster and get me. He doesn't make a very convincing scary monster does he, too cute!

4. Four

Processed with Paint the Moon Silver Spoon action and Florabella Vintage and Vintage page textures applied

I made this storyboard for the 52 weeks projects I'm taking part in.  BTW I'm still doing my 365, I just wanted to play along on Flickr.

These are the tools that represent different aspects of my life
I am a Chef and Baker (whisk);
I am an educator, a life coach and a writer of lists (pencils);
I am a mender of broken things and heavy hearts, the one that holds things together (safety pin);
I am a photographer, a student, an explorer and dreamer (camera).

5. Colourful

Processed with The CoffeeShop Blog Butterscotch Vintage action and Sarah Gardner Score and my 2econd Skin Old Paper 5 textures

My son's paints are colourful, very messy but colourful nonetheless!

Can't wait to see everyone's interpretations.

Scavenger Hunt - Stacked Up, Winter Wonderland, Sweet, Hole & Frozen

So I had a very exciting start to the week! I uploaded my laundry shot from last weeks Scavenger Hunt onto Flickr, and I got "Explored"!!! (Insert screaming and happy dance here!)  Now I don't really understand how Explore works, I understand it's determined by an algorithm. The next morning I wasn't on there anymore, but for a few hours I was, and it was very exciting and very cool!
Anyway, having said that I've been in a photography funk all week, yep go figure. I've felt so uninspired and behind with things. On Friday I hardly had any prompts done and thought I'd be stressing out all weekend, then in 24 hrs I just surprised myself by getting it all done. Funny how things work out! :-)

1. Stacked Up

I couldn't decide which to put up. I took them both for the prompt.

 Coins, or

 Gelati cups!

2. Winter Wonderland

Processed with Isabelle Lafrance Baby it's Cold Outside action and Starry Night overlay

 This is from the archives but I think you'll forgive me considering it's summer here and it's actually been the hottest weather here in four years. But even in winter we don't get snow and rarely frosts.
Anyway I did this photo for Christmas 2010. It's a snowman figurine in front of a story book. Then I edited to make it look really cold and frosty. I think it makes it look like a magical winter wonderland! By the way I loved this song when I was little.

3. Sweet

 Tea party with cupcakes! My son's on school holidays so we've been having some fun!

4. Hole

I love the colours of these paper straws! You drink your yummy drink through the hole! ;-)

5. Frozen

When I saw this prompt I knew I wanted to do an ice-cream desert. It's summer here after all. I'd never photographed ice cream before though and it was pretty nerve wracking how quickly it started melting in this heat. My mum gave me these dessert bowls, she didn't use them and I've loved them since I was a girl. I usually have these lights hung around a mirror but I think it makes it look festive. And the ice-cream and raspberries tasted so yummy!! 

Can't wait to see everyone's interpretations for the week!

Journey Around the Sun - Days 180 through 192

Wow, what a crazy/exciting week I've had!  I've started a few projects this year to keep myself motivated in my 365 (I have half a year left as I started in July) and I also wanted to use my Flickr account more. I uploaded some photos at the end of last year, but Flickr scared me a bit and I didn't really know where to start, so it's been pretty quiet. Anyway I've joined two 52 project groups, My Four Hen's and Paint the Moon.
Can you believe that at the end of the first week I was featured as one of Paint the Moon's picks of the week, for my damselfly shot below.  Yay!!
Then my week got even more exciting, when I uploaded my laundry shot (from Scavenger Hunt) for week 2, theme responsibility, and I got "Explored" on Flickr!!! (Insert screaming and happy dance here!)  Now I don't really understand how Explore works, I understand it's determined by an algorithm. The next morning I wasn't on there anymore, but for a few hours I was, and it was very exciting and very cool!
By the way if anyone's on Flickr come by and say hello so I can get a link to your pages. 
Anyway, I've been so far behind with posting my 365 as we were away most of December, but I've finally caught up.

Day One Hundred and Eighty

We took a walk along the beach and I loved the light and reflections in the wet sand. 

Processed with Johnna LaFaith's Whisper action

 This is my mum, she didn't know I was taking a photo of her, I love how she's out of focus, lost in her own thoughts.

My family!

Day One Hundred and Eighty One

Day One Hundred and Eighty Two

 Loved the textures and colours on this log, washed ashore.

Day One Hundred and Eighty Three

Processed with The CoffeeShop Blog Velvet truffle action and Florabella's Worn Linen texture applied

 Seed pods

Day One Hundred and Eighty Four

New Year Eve

We played Kubb (A Scandinavian game) on the beach. And watched the sun set on 2011

Processed with The CoffeeShop Sunkissed action and Florabella's Burnished texture applied

Processed with The CoffeeShop Velvet Truffle action and Florabella's Burnished texture applied

Day One Hundred and Eighty Five

New Year Day

Processed with Oh My Goodknits Hazy B&W

 We forgot/ran out of time to do these sparklers on New Years Eve. I need to work on my low light photography.

Day One Hundred and Eighty Six

 Our last day at the beach.

Processed with Isabelle Lafrance's Soulful Everyday Vintage and Florabella's Tranquility texture applied

 Along the path to the beach there is an old Banksia tree. I love the "cones" from the tree, they are actually old flower heads. Every time I pass one on the path I remember a book from my childhood by Australian author May Gibbs, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, the link is to pictures from the book on Flickr. It was so magical and based on Australian flora and fauna.

Day One Hundred and Eighty Seven

Processed with The CoffeeShop Blog Velvet Truffle action and Florabella's Antique and Heirloom textures applied

 Taken for the Scavenger Hunt "One Dozen", they are stamped with "Ecoeggs with Love". How cute!

Day One Hundred and Eighty Eight

Processed with Paint the Moon Macchiato action and Florabella's Bombay B&W texture applied

 Taken for My Four Hens' week one of 52, theme Resolutions.  I'm not really into resolutions, but I've wanted to do a photo like this for a while and it seemed the perfect opportunity.

Day One Hundred and Eighty Nine

Processed with Johnna LaFaith's Whisper action

 A dandelion seed head

Day One Hundred and Ninety 

OK I have a confession to make, I was having a really blah day, and I didn't like my photo from this day so this is actually from the day after. Oh well! I much prefer this one!

Processed with The CoffeeShop Blog Velvet Truffle action and Florabella's Ethereal and Antique applied

Day One Hundred and Ninety One

We spent the afternoon at the Botanical Gardens. 

Processed with Paint the Moon Spoonful of Sugar action and PTM Simply Vintage frame

I was on the fence about participating as I was a bit intimidated by the talent I had seen on the Flickr page. But I took this photo at the Botanical Garden's and edited and posted it as soon as I got home. I can't believe I could get close enough with my 50mm 1.8 and extension tube without him flying away.
I love going to the gardens, there's always something interesting to take photos of. I love the texture in these flowers as they dried. Taken with my extension tube also.

Processed with Paint the Moon Spoonful of Sugar action and Florabella Platinum texture applied

I haven't finished editing the photos from that day, so I might post them separately.

Day one Hundred and Ninety Two

Processed with Isabelle Lafrance Soulful Everyday Vintage action and Florabella Heirloom texture applied

My laundry shot taken for the Scavenger Hunt and "Explored" on Flickr!

Scavenger Hunt - One Colour, Laundry, Empty, One Dozen & Soft

Yay, Scavenger Hunt time again! I realised I hadn't done a Scavenger Hunt since the first Sunday of December. We were away from home most of December and had very little access to a computer. But I'm glad to be back. I loved doing Ashley's Memories, Dreams and Reflections. And I'm so excited to be back to Scavenger Hunting!
So here are my photos for this week.

1. One Colour

 In the words of Louis Armstrong,  "I see trees of green... red roses too, I see em bloom...for me and for you.  And I think to myself... what a wonderful world."

2. Laundry

 Summer is perfect clothes drying weather!

3. Empty

  I actually took this photo on Boxing Day up at my mum's beach house. We found this empty birds nest in my mum's garden. So much work the parents must have put into building this nest, sad to think it may have come down in a storm. I hope the birds had grown and flown away before it fell out of the tree.

4. One Dozen

 One dozen eggs! I always buy free range chicken and eggs. They're stamped with "Ecoeggs with Love". I thought it was so cute!

5. Soft

I love the soft pink of these flowers. I think they're Hydrangeas.

Can't wait to see all the interpretations!

Journey Around the Sun - Days 173 Through 179

I'm slowly working my way through the last couple of weeks of photos. We got back from New Zealand, unpacked, did laundry, and then repacked to spend Christmas and New Year at my mum's beach house with the family.

Day One Hundred and Seventy Three

Processed with Isabelle Lafrance Baby It's Cold Outside action, Isabelle Lafrance Christmas Stars overlay and Shadow House Creations In the Presence of God bokeh texture

 Tying silver thread on my new baubles. I was so proud that this photo was noticed by iheartfaces in a non competition holiday bokeh linky.

Day One Hundred and Seventy Four

Life n Reflection Postcard texture and Florabella Old Handwriting texture applied

Present wrapping

Day One Hundred and Seventy Five

Processed with The CoffeeShop Blog Velvet Truffle action and Florabella's Seafoam and My 2econd Skin Old Paper 10 applied

Green thread

Day One Hundred and Seventy Six

Processed with Paint the Moon Peach Tea and Florabella Platinum and Bellisima textures applied

Day One Hundred and Seventy Seven

Christmas Eve

My son and I had fun finding snails in my mum's vegetable garden. We picked them out then watched them slither back in. We'd gotten lots of rain, otherwise it's usually too dry to find snails.

Proof of the rain, a rain drop on a vine.

We took a walk along the beach in the afternoon, before following Swedish traditions and opening our presents on Christmas Eve. I'm not showing any present photos as let's just say that you can see that the weather wasn't that flash, there was a lot of jumping and running around and I'm considering buying a speedlight. But it was heaps of fun and then we enjoyed a Swedish smorgasbord.

Day One Hundred and Seventy Eight

Christmas Day 

We spent the day down on the beach.

Processed with The CoffeeShop Blog Velvet Truffle action and Florabella Sonata texture applied

More signs of the wet weather, we don't normally get mushrooms, spotted these ones along the path to the beach.

Day One Hundred and Seventy Nine

Processed with Johnna Lafaith's Whisper action and Florabella's Bombay and My 2econd Skin Art Grunge 4 textures applied

We found this empty birds nest in my mum's garden. So much work the parents must have put into building this nest, sad to think it may have come down in a storm. I hope the birds had grown and flown away before it fell out of the tree.