Flowers In My Pocket

Passion Fruit Flower

2009-04-24T16:46:00.001+10:00

I heart facebook ...

2008-06-26T17:40:00.000+10:00

I didn't used to but now I do !! In the past couple of days I have been in contact with loads of old friends. Friends from highschool and friends from my DTS. Such good fun !! I've been chatting on line with people I haven't talked to in 15 plus years ! It's wild ! People are married, have kids etc etc etc ... Wild, I tell ya !

In other news ... google reader is telling me that I have 423 posts to read ! Uh, no, I won't be reading all of them. Most of those are recipe blogs and I just scan the titles and look at the ones I'm interested in. The ones that I do read though ... my bloggy friends ... I don't want to just scan them quickly. I want to read them properly and comment. But since I've been so busy catching up with old friends on facebook I've not been paying much attention to google reader ! I was shocked when I opened it up just now !! I will be by to visit and see how you all are doing soon ...

Things have been wrapping up around here. Rory has finished footy for good. His indoor soccer is finished for a few weeks. Jono has a soccer game this week but then is off for a couple of weeks. Tomorrow is the last day of school before two weeks of school holidays ! Swimming lessons are finished too. I'm glad to have things slowing down. The holidays are packed full of fun activities already ... but fun activities don't seem as busy as day to day life !! :)

Hope you all are well ... like I said, I'll be round to visit soon !!

Forced to slow down ...

2008-06-25T09:44:00.001+10:00

On Monday morning I dropped Jono off at school and then headed up to drop the car off to get serviced. Alia and I then walked home. It took us about an hour. I always forget how much I love just walking, looking at flowers, chatting with Alia, watching her ride her scooter with abandon. Having no where to be at no particular time ...

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy life. I love the things we are involved in. But this was an unexpected surprise on a day I was forced to slow down !

Of course I had my camera with me and snapped a bunch of flower shots. I'll be posting them over the next few days !!

I've decided what to do ... maybe

2008-06-16T07:49:00.003+10:00

This whole blog situation has been driving me crazy. I love being part of the blogging community but after making my blog private, I've pretty much killed that ! I've been debating what to do. I love sharing parts of my life and having that back and forth dialog with people but after I got that creepy comment, I just didn't feel right about having the photos of the kids open to the whole world anymore. But I still want to post them for family and friends over seas because they love it and that's why I started my blog in the first place !!

In the middle of the night, ok maybe it was early this morning while I was hitting the snooze button on my mobile phone for an HOUR (!), I came up with this idea. I'll post to my flowers blog ! My photos will be mostly flowers but every now and then I'll throw in updates of my paintings, projects and organizing ideas. Then I can still participate in the various photo fun day things ... like Best Shot Monday, and Theme Thursday !

So ... go ahead and add this blog to your readers if you are interested ... if you aren't so totally irritated by this whole process that you just want to throw your hands up in the air and never read any of my blogs again !!!

I've removed everyone I don't know in real life from my other blog. Please don't be offended. I really feel the need to be cautious ! I hope this solution works for everyone !!

And now, I need to go make lunches. I'll be back later to visit all of my bloggy friends so you know where to visit from now on ... And I can't wait to get back to posting more regularly !!

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Out walking the other day ...

2008-02-19T22:17:00.000+10:00

Guest blogger ...

2008-02-03T21:03:00.001+10:00

My sister (in law, if you want to get technical) has posted some great shots below !
She has also started her own blog ... check it out here.

after the rain

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Zoo Flowers

2008-01-19T23:14:00.001+10:00

Went to Australia Zoo today
Their gardens are bursting with flowers that of course I had to take photos of !!

I know, I know ...

2008-01-11T13:05:00.001+10:00

... I take A LOT of flower pictures ! That's why I started a flower blog !!! :)

After The Rain ...

2008-01-11T12:50:00.001+10:00

It's been raining on and off for weeks ! Here's a few shots I got in the short "off" the other day !
~
This first one isn't my favorite shot but I am posting it because I want you to see how pretty these flowers are from far away ... most of my photos are so close up you can't appreciate the beauty of multiple flowers in one spot !
~

I don't know what sort of flower this is (below) or where it came from. It was on the ground. Must have blown from someone else's garden because I can't find anything similar anywhere in our yard ... or the next door neighbors yard either !

Our Flowers Are Blooming ...

2008-01-07T23:25:00.002+10:00

Let's try this again ... I'm breaking them up in to a few separate posts this time. Don't know why they didn't show up last time ...
~
I love these white flowers. They only bloom for a very short time and I don't know what they called. They were in the garden when we moved in. The short period of blooming is enough for me to not pull them out the whole rest of the year when they don't bloom ! They are just sooo pretty !!
~

Pretty Little White Flowers

2008-01-05T01:31:00.000+10:00

Hannah's Puzzle

2008-01-01T23:57:00.000+10:00

My Dad sent me these photos of my sister Hannah completing a puzzle that is full of flowers. He thought it would look nice in my virtual flower garden. I agree ....

Laura's Rose

2007-12-15T14:01:00.000+10:00

About a month ago, my friend Laura moved to another town. I went over to say goodbye the day she was leaving. On the way out to my car, I asked why she had decided not to take her big rose with her. She answered that the movers had forgotten to take it on the truck with her other plants and it was too big to fit in the back of her car. I offered to babysit it for her until they came back for a visit, at which time they would probably have more room in their car to take it back.

This week, it bloomed. Isn't it pretty ?

Beautiful Yellow

2007-12-03T23:20:00.000+10:00

Beautiful Richness

2007-11-12T18:08:00.000+10:00

Bottle Brush - A Closer Look

2007-11-05T23:17:00.000+10:00

Boulder Tulips

2007-10-30T07:24:00.000+10:00

I did not take this one ... my sister Ellie did. I love it !

Boulder, Colorado. 2007

It wouldn't be a garden without an ant or two ... or three.

2007-10-29T21:34:00.000+10:00

Saturday

2007-10-27T20:48:00.000+10:00

Today, I had some time to myself and spent some of it taking photos ... here's some of my favorites.

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Mom Quote

2007-10-22T16:25:00.000+10:00

*click on image to enlarge*

Pretty In Pink

2007-10-21T23:02:00.000+10:00

A Few of Today's Favorites

2007-10-19T11:46:00.000+10:00

Stripes

2007-10-17T18:43:00.000+10:00

The Bell

2007-10-16T15:45:00.000+10:00

I'm not sure what kind of flower this is ... I think it looks like a bell.

Purple

2007-10-15T12:31:00.000+10:00

Orange

2007-10-15T12:26:00.000+10:00

.......

Does anyone know what these are called ??

Rose

2007-10-14T14:15:00.000+10:00

Grevillea

2007-10-14T14:12:00.000+10:00

Loved

2007-10-13T10:20:00.000+10:00

It Rained Today ...

2007-10-12T20:11:00.000+10:00

AFL

2007-10-11T23:59:00.000+10:00

Rory took Jono to an AFL game last weekend. They went last year as well. Company tickets. Jono was thrilled. Uncle Eddie and Uncle Roger went too. Jono was telling me about it the next day. Part of our conversation went something like this :

Jono : Do you know that you don't have to pay for your food or drinks at the AFL ?

Me : Well, you didn't have to. Daddy's company paid for you guys to go to the game and also for all of your food and drinks.

Jono : So, did other people have to pay ?

Me : Yep. Everything had to be paid for by someone. You guys got a special treat because Daddy's boss is so generous.

Jono : Did he even pay for Uncle Eddie and Uncle Roger ?

Me : Uh huh. Isn't that kind of him?

Jono : yeah ...

... silence ...

Jono : I can't think of a kinder person than Daddy's boss !

Painting and Flowers

2007-10-11T23:58:00.000+10:00

Last week at art I didn't even touch my painting. We critiqued it and people made some suggestions and then I went away and thought about it for a week ...

So, instead of working on my painting, I did this.

We all went out into the garden ( did I tell you that some friends come with us now ? ) and picked things that we thought represented us. I won't explain why I picked the things I did but you can see them there on the table ...

We used oil pastels and were told not to think. That is what we've been working on for weeks. Not a skill I would ever have thought you'd use in painting. BUT it is a big part of the process. I must admit, it's not a skill I enjoy learning !!

But this was quite fun. I just grabbed color after color and added bits here, there. More on top of this one ... more over there. Smudge a bit. Rub a bit. Add the linseed oil ... It was fun. Karry had some really upbeat classical music playing pretty loud and all three of us adults just went nuts with the pastels ! :)

The girls had long since finished their pieces and were out playing.

Here's how my finished piece looks ...

And here's the updated shot of my painting. Can you see what's different to last time ??

Yep ... I decided I would add color to the walls and also add another building. We just roughly mapped in the new building this week. I think it looks much better. Or, I guess I should say that I can see that it will look much better when it's actually finished. I was getting a bit frustrated with it ...

Karry has got the most amazing tree in her yard. I took a whole heap of photos ... I'll be posting some more soon but I want to play with them in GIMP a bit first. I don't know what kind of three this is but I'm guessing it is in the same family as the bottle brush ... (the pink ones I posted earlier in the week are bottle brushes)

What do you think ?? Aren't they amazing ?? I just love the long white bits with the yellow tips !! The bees love them too ! This tree was covered in them today ... You'll see the bees in some of the other ones !!

We are sinking ....

2007-10-11T23:57:00.000+10:00

I will probably post again later today ... shocking, I know ! Two posts in one day ! I have my art lesson today and will hopefully do some work on my painting ... my other painting. The Spanish street scene. Anyway ... I wanted to post this little commercial for you. I have listened to it about 5 times this morning and it still makes me laugh every time !!

Thinking

2007-10-11T23:56:00.000+10:00

I've been thinking.
What good is knowledge that doesn't cause us to act ?
What is the point in learning if it doesn't push us to change the way we live ?
I'm not necessarily looking for your answers, though I'd love to hear your thoughts ...
I just wanted to share what I've been thinking.

And what I've been painting ...

Business Time

2007-10-11T23:55:00.000+10:00

This makes me laugh. and laugh. and laugh. I don't know how many times I've listened to this since Shay forwarded me the link a few months ago. I've shown it to so many people and well ... it just cracks me up. I've wondered whether or not I should put it on my blog ... and well, I just can't resist any more !!! If you need a laugh ... push play !!

I love it !

2007-10-11T23:54:00.000+10:00

A plane is on its way to Toronto, when a blond in economy class gets up and moves to the first class section and sits down. The flight attendant watches her do this, and asks to see her ticket. She tells the blond that she paid for economy class, and that she will have to sit in the back.

The blond replies, “I’m blond, I’m beautiful, I’m going to Toronto, and I’m staying right here.”

The flight attendant goes into the cockpit and tells the pilot and co-pilot that there is a blond sitting in first class, that belongs in economy, and won’t move back to her seat.

The co-pilot goes back to the blond and tries to explain that because she only paid for economy, she will have to leave and return to her seat.

The blond replies, “I’m blond, I’m beautiful, I’m going to Toronto, and I’m staying right here.”

The co-pilot tells the pilot that he probably should have the police waiting when they land to arrest this blond woman who won’t listen to reason.

The pilot says, “You say she is a blond? I’ll handle this. I’m married to a blond. I speak blond.” He goes back to the blond and whispers in her ear, and she says, “Oh, I’m sorry,” and gets up and goes back to her seat in economy.

The flight attendant and co-pilot are amazed and asked him what he said to make her move without any fuss.

“I told her, ‘First class isn’t going to Toronto.’”

Cinderella

2007-10-11T23:53:00.000+10:00

Have you heard this song ?
It's off of Steven Curtis Chapman's new album.

I heard it this morning for the first time and I couldn't control the tears.
I'm sure you've all heard about the tragedy that occurred in his family just last month.
Reading about it makes the words of this song even more powerful to me.
If you have five or ten minutes, and a box of tissues, pop over to
Steven Curtis Chapman.com and watch this video.
After the music video, Steven shares the inspiration behind the song.
I think it will speak to your heart.
It sure did to mine.

Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman.

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world.
And I'm sittin' here wearin' the weight of the world on my shoulders.
It's been a long day and there's still work to do,
She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited and I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says "Dad, the prom is just one week away,
And I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone.

Well, she came home today
With a ring on her hand
Just glowin' and tellin' us all they had planned
She says "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
but I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
(even one song)
Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Theme Thursday - Linear

2007-10-11T00:00:00.000+10:00

Thursday has well and truly been and gone so I'm late with this post. It has been a busy week ! Jono is home on two weeks school holidays. I've had him at soccer camp all morning every day this week. Alia and I spent three hours hanging out at the field each morning, most of that time in the back of the station wagon, backed in to view the field. Seats down, pillows, blankets, books, games, coloring in tow !! It was an enjoyable, slow time.

Back to Theme Thursday ... I'm not sure that this photo even fits the theme. Linear. I looked it up at dictionary.com though and I think it might fit ...

lin·e·ar – adjective

1. of, consisting of, or using lines: linear design.
2. pertaining to or represented by lines: linear dimensions.
3. extended or arranged in a line: a linear series.
4. involving measurement in one dimension only; pertaining to length: linear measure.
5. of or pertaining to the characteristics of a work of art in which forms and rhythms are defined chiefly in terms of line.
6. having the form of or resembling a line: linear nebulae.
7. Mathematics.
a. consisting of, involving, or describable by terms of the first degree.
b. having the same effect on a sum as on each of the summands: a linear operation.
8. Electronics. delivering an output that is directly proportional to the input: a linear circuit; a linear amplifier.
9. threadlike; narrow and elongated: a linear leaf.

I think that this photo has the form of or resembles a line ... not a straight one ... maybe a line made by four year olds ... you've seen it right ? They are told to line up and it is never straight !!