The Front Yard this time.

Aah, the Australian summer. Gum leaves, gum leaves, and more gum leaves. And not a koala in sight. Yeah, I should probably rake up those leaves sometime. Mm. Maybe later?

Actually I've been streamlining the housework this summer; mostly by just not doing it. The kitchen is clean but cluttered, the bathroom is acceptable, the rest of the house is dusty, but it isn't bothering me. I'd like to say I've been really creative during this spell, but I've mostly been resting, and idly dreaming of things I might do when I'm feeling like it. I suppose I know that my energy and sense of industry will return, and that the in-between times are just that, and not to be viewed with negativity. (I don't like the clumpy nature of that last bit of wording - suggestions, please?) BLW, loved your post this morning, and now I have the answer to my third option in my hot chocolate date with Amber - I would like to have learned more grammar. Unlike my friend BLW, I just write it like I say it. So, her words are the topiary and parterre gardens to my unfenced bush paddock. *sigh* But until I find a nerdy adult learning class on grammar (do they have such things?), I'm stuck with colloquial and clumpy.

On Gardens, Solitude and Photos

Baby waiting patiently for backyard picnic,
having carried the chairs out herself to get things started.

Biss, trying to evade capture,
while doing her Uni subject selections for Semester 1 this year.

The treehouse, having been restored to its correct place in the universe,
after being temporarily displaced by the Christmas tree.

I've come to the conclusion that a picture really does say a thousand words. I watched such a good documentary 6 months or so ago, on 4 photographers, speaking about their own work, how it evolved, what it meant to them. If I find the reference for the docu, I'll insert it here. But I've been musing this morning on how much I love blog posts with photos, from other people's homes, outings, kids, fashions - whatever it pleases them to post, I'm interested.
So, I thought I'd go on a photojournalism stint for a bit, and just capture some of what's going on around me.

There is a bit of a problem with putting this new idea into practice, though. I only use my phone camera. Point, shoot, plug in USB, finished. I don't crop, chop, slice or dice. Or even focus... I used to love the old Ricoh camera, back in the days when cameras used film. I didn't know the name of the things I was manipulating, but I knew how to set it up to take the pictures I wanted. When things went digital, I got left behind. Of course, I can see the wonderful innovation that digital photography is - I could barely afford to develop and print my photos in the old days. And there was that time when I thought there was a roll of film in the camera, but there wasn't...

SO - I guess I'll have to get photography lessons from my kids, and then get on with it. TBC on that.

Christmas Packing Up.

Reindeer Roadkill
(note to Amber - see crumbs on floor;
perfection in housekeeping is only
for those people who don't have better things to do :-) )

Knox, making helpful commentary on my photo composition.

Gardens. Sort of.

Surveying the seedlings by flashlight after a storm; Biss and Somer.

And on solitude. From Youtube. Like the other commenters, I just love this girl's Canadian accent.

Doings.

A quick post of piccies of the last week or so. Especially for our northern hemisphere friends, as a reminder that somewhere in the world, it is summer.
We've been doing a mix of family stuff, beach, backyard picnics and running (of course). Staying close to home, as I haven't been well, and just can't get my head around the usual camping expeditions. Maybe in a week or so. We'll see. Hope you've all had some nice family times these holidays as well.