The Sea

Bird by the ocean near Cottesloe Beach.

Recently the Yankee and I went for a Sunday Drive along the coast. One thing I love about living in the city these days is the sheer number of different places to go, without having to drive for hours on end to be somewhere completely different.

From where we live, it's about half an hour to both the hills in the east and the beach on the west coast. I love both, but there's just something about being near the water that's so magical. If we ever leave cities behind for good and make a tree-change - as I suspect we will do someday - it's the ocean that I'll miss the most. Her moods, her many colours, the sounds of waves upon the shore.

In The Garden

In the spirit of continuing to be more creative every day, I attached the macro lens to my camera yesterday and headed out into the backyard.

The backyard at our old place had two of the most magnificent fruit trees that I've ever seen, and it was a joy to take photos of them as the seasons were reflected in their physical change. But the rest of the yard did pale in comparison, just being a pad of grass with a clothesline dotted off to the side like a rather skeletal mushroom.

Now, in our new place, the backyard is a puzzle of green. When we first moved in, the very last part of the yard was filled with old dead branches a neighbor had cheerfully cut off her trees and chucked over the side of the fence (Noice one!). Luckily for us the Green Waste collection was not far off. The slope above the retaining wall was a sea of bright green weeds, which were eventually raked out by The Mister and myself some weeks later.

But the flowers. They were everywhere. And we had a herb garden. And there was just so much potential!

Our pet rabbit Jojo was unequivocally a fan. After fretting that he might not move well, he had adapted within a week. (It took him a little longer to get used to the hardwood floors inside, having always been a carpet-raised bunny.) 

So. Yesterday I tried to capture some of the beauty of the garden on a small scale. As is usual when I use the macro lens, some photos I thought beautifully in focus turned out to be blurry and just off once uploaded to the computer. But some have come out well. 

I can't wait for spring...to start planting....

Lapin

Ordinary Days

This is the latest of several blogs I've started, all with good intention. I've never managed to become a really dedicated blogger, despite having a love of writing, drawing and photography; all things that should put me in good stead to become much more creatively prolific than I am.

My husband and I recently relocated from a regional city up to a capital city. Right-o, I thought, being around all that urban creativity will inspire me to be much more creative myself. Well, nope. I spent the first two months in a kind of daze, trying to readjust. Looking for a new job with a bit more security and inner fulfillment than my current casual position (that I was still lucky to be able to continue when I moved). Being successively more and more deflated with the job search in a trying and uninspiring market. (And is there anything more depressing than the rampant fakery and oily enthusiasm that comes with job hunting? Ugh) Starting two short stories that trailed off into nothingness after the first page. Finding a few short courses that commenced a few weeks before we got here.

Wondering what on earth I was going to do with the next year, and with my life.

And as always, when faced with a large, future altering decision...I did nothing.

Well scratch that. I did the dishes. I did the laundry and went for a few walks by the river. But what I was doing wasn't enough. I mean, there's only so many times you can watch re-runs of Medium on the IQ.

So this morning, I brought out my DSLR from its neglected spot under the computer nook. It's such an awesome piece of kit and I love it so much, it really is baffling why I don't use it more. Then I turned it off Auto and put it on Manual.

And I took some astoundingly bad photos.

But I had more fun with it than I've had in ages. And I learned a lot. (The first thing being, I know diddly-squat about how my beloved camera really works.) And I took a few good photos too.

So, I've decided I'm going to update this blog at least a couple of times a week. I've changed the title and hopefully improved the energy behind it too.

Just the ordinary days.

Les jours ordinaires.

Lapin

Jojo

After purchasing a lovely new Macro lens for my Canon yesterday, this morning I was inspired to get out and follow my little bunny man in our garden to snap all those adorable moments up close. A few hundred photos later, and these are my favourites. Those whiskers!

In the Garden

Out in the winter sunshine recently with my camera and a bunch of hungry animals. I am particularly fond of this cross-eyed chicken.

At a garden party.

A new Instagram addict

Ahhh, my poor neglected blog. I haven't posted for so long, consumed with wedding planning, living arrangements, and the acquisition of my delightful new iPhone. The very first app I downloaded was the fantastic Instagram, and ever since then my dear faithful Canon DSLR has been waiting patiently for me to tire of my new and shiny apple-emblazoned friend. And I will be back to my DSLR soon enough; the appearance of autumn and a backyard full of fruit trees is too good too pass up. But in the meantime, a selection of my favourite snaps from my Instagram feed.

Country Cowbell

Around the House....

Going through a vintage country phase lately. Love the shabby, the slightly decrepit, the gloriously wonky.

Country Save the Date

Coming up with some ideas for our soon-to-be western vintage themed wedding. Have been racking my brain for cute 'Save the Date' ideas, then came across two beautiful old horseshoes at an old thrift store tucked away in town. Some chalk, inspiration and a few snaps later and I'm pretty happy with the result.

Bunnies, Clouds and Crows

Hanging out in the backyard with my bunny, my camera and a friendly neighbourhood crow. Friendly perhaps, but these crows have so far eluded near every attempt I've made to take a decent photograph of them.

Strut and Pose....

Towards the Light

Jacaranda

Le Lapin

 

My beautiful bunny at play in our back garden. Few things make me smile more than looking at photos like these.

Australiana

Microcosm

Stone and Sky

Dunsborough