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!