in the bush

The first week of the school holidays has flown by. We have had a few morning teas with friends and Fletcher has had play dates with other school friends. The whole time I have not had my camera out, but am meant to be learning how to use lightroom.

So on Sunday the boys were getting ready for their adventure in the bush, and I decided to tag along. They have built a base camp out there (which I promised not to reveal the secret location) so off we went.

We were out our back gate, so time for some photos - you can probably start to see why they don't take me along often lol. All photos were taken in raw and I developed them in lightroom.


As long as he can have his "gun" Fletcher is happy to pose. Probably not the best angle as I can see houses behind Fletch (I need to think of the background a little more rather than whether I am standing in the mud or not).


We walked another 20 steps so time for some more photos.


I most probably should let you know that the boys are wearing their "bush clothes". Fletcher has anything that may look army-like and gumboats on while Zac has his old clothes on. I don't often take photos of them when they are dressed like this lol.


Further along the track we spotted some prints in the dried mud, we are guessing they are kangaroo.

I checked out their base camp and headed home (it is only a 5 minute walk if you take the correct track). The boys did some work on their camp and sent a few emails to me.

The first email was:

Things for backpack
No one
Blanket
Snacks
Binocculors
A new saw
String
A big backpack

From Fletcher & Daddy.



My response:

mmm where will you find all that?

Mummy



Their response:

We can't think of everything ourselves.

Plus. Now we added rope to the list.

Fletcher & Daddy.

The next email:

These are my bush band aids

Someone is coming so we have to hide now.
Fletcher





And later another email with just a photo:

Note: the above 2 photos were taken with an iphone so not great quality.


Now it's time for me to continue learning lightroom - I only have 2 weeks left to know how to use it. I will fill you in on the big event later.

Carol :-)

Wii fit

There was nothing new or unusual in the last week of term 2. We were all occupied with all the daily activities, that it kind of snuck up on us. Fletcher received an excellent report and is now looking forward to his holidays.

The big mid-year toy sales have all started and I intended on completely ignoring them until I saw a Wii fit advertised at a great price (we already have a Wii). So on Sunday we spent some time having fun with the new toy.

Zac and Fletcher love playing a ski/snowboard game, so they tried the Wii fit board with the game.

Fletcher skiing.


Fletcher skiing using just the controls and Zac snowboarding with the board. You may notice that Zac's character is me - I have no idea why they use me, considering I do not join in playing with these type things, they are of no interest to me.

Later in the afternoon we played the Wii fit game (yes, I actually joined in, it is the longest I have ever played and did enjoy myself). We all did the fit test and while all three of us were told we were in the ideal body weight range (according to BMI) we were surprised at our Wii fit age. As a result of it solely being based on balance, my Wii fit age was 6 years older than I actually am and Zac as 11 years older than he actually is. We all had a laugh at this, considering we are pretty fit. But now I am determined to show the game my real age lol. We decided to re-test in 2 weeks.

We have an extremely busy week coming up. Work still has to be done but with Fletch on holidays we have a few play dates lined up. So will check back next weekend.

Carol :-)

Where did the month go?

It has been nearly a month since the last time I updated my blog and I have no idea where the month went. We have been busy with all the routine activities.

Fletcher and I finally made it to one of Zac's soccer games. And to our amazement we thought daddy had been sent off - well he had been but only to remove his wedding ring! There was only 5 minutes left of the game and I really don't know why the ref bothered.

That is Zac with the ball.


Fletcher playing on the swings next to the soccer oval while Zac played.


Still wearing his uniform from earlier in the day.




We also celebrated bonfire night this year at a friends house. Since firecrackers were banned in Australia (except if you have a license) we haven't had a bonfire. Fletcher with a sparkler.


That is the bonfire behind Fletcher and his friends. Just an indication of Fletcher's height, the little boy next to Fletch is actually 2 days older than Fletcher!


We also went to a friends birthday party who had a huge slide. It is the last week of school before Fletcher has a 3 week mid year break. Planning lots of little activities for then.

Carol :-)

a morning out taking photos

Before starting our long weekend for the Queens birthday (which isn't really her birthday) thought I would share some photos from last weekend. As soccer was called off I thought I would get some photos - that was called off too after the rain started.

Love this falling down building for photos. I noticed it was for sale, maybe I should buy it!

We had to move inside the building as it was raining. I was a bit nervous being inside it as it looked like it would fall down at any moment.

We had enough of the rain so went out for morning tea. Zac and Fletcher keeping an eye on Zac's i phone to see if an email came through to cancel Zac's game (no such luck, even though Fletchers game was canceled, Zac still had to play).

I think we need shorter lamp posts.

Carol :-)

birthdays and carnivals

This person had a birthday last week! Yes that is me, not sure of the exact date of the photo but am guessing I am about 3 years old (if only our parents had scrapbooked so we would know the story).


The other big event was Fletcher had his school athletic carnival yesterday (Tuesday). He was really looking forward to his race.


Fletcher lining up for his race. I had the big zoom on the camera - it amazes me how quickly he found me.

The race starts. He was happy to have his buddy in the same race as him.
Here is Fletcher and his buddy after the race (it still makes me laugh seeing the height difference).

There were tabloid activities planned for the younger students to fill in the rest of the day. No carnival would be complete without a sack race.

A couple of people have also asked me if I still scrapbook. Yes I am but they have all been paper layouts (not digi) and haven't taken photos of them. I have also been making some cards - which is a first for me!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week.
See you soon
Carol :-)

working with light

Apart from the usual work etc, this week Candice Stringhams portrait photography class commenced the taking of photos section. The first thing I have learnt is that I struggle with close-up posed photos. I tend to shoot candid shots and photos that let the subject (usually Fletcher) act and pose however they want.

This is a photo from Mothers Day, in really poor lighting, if was dark and raining. I have a few strategies to deal with this now, but more on that later.


The following is another photo from Mothers Day and typical of the photos I take, where I let Fletcher pose how he wants (which at the moment is his tough boy look).

If it isn't the tough boy, it is the goofy look lol.

So back to the portrait class, we were working with indoor side lighting. Very hard to keep a child still while I figure it out. The three photos were taken with Fletcher in the same spot (just turned for the third) and the second Zac was my assistant with the reflector.

Mid-week we were given a bonus lesson on photos in harsh light and strategies to deal with it. I have used exposure compensation and exposure lock before but never had sucess using the flash - until now. It finally clicked what I needed to do.
I was so busy playing with the flash that I didn't notice all the lens flare in the photos :-(
Both are wearing their Manchester United jerseys to celebrate their win in the premier league. Apparently they have won 18 times (3 in a row) the same as Liverpool - this bit of trivia is courtesy of Zac, trust me I would not have known that.
If you click and look closely they are both very sweaty, it was half time in their game and the only time I could get the photos.

I have more I could share, but am itching to get back to the book I am currently reading, Riven. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to say hi.
Carol :-)

May

May is always a very busy month for us and this year is no exception. Lots has been happening over the last couple of weeks. In point form:

- Fletcher is back at school for term 2.

- Work has been keeping both Zac and I very busy with our new warehouse.

- On May 1 we celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary. I considered putting up a photo of our wedding but noticed the scanner is no longer next to my computer.

- Soccer season has started so most week nights see someone leaving for training and Saturdays are all about the games.

- I have started Candice Stringhams new portrait class over at JS

- Sunday was Mothers Day. While we tried a little photo shoot but the rain put an end to that.
You may notice that there is very little evidence of my accident! There is still a scar on the side of my eye, but I use my hair to hide the large scar above my eye (if you click to enlarge photo you will be able to see).

Hopefully I will have a more interesting post next time.
Carol :-)