Part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days project.

Item #83 on my list was to photograph a day in my life, from beginning to end. It was inspired by a livejournal community that I discovered a long time ago, and putting this together was pretty fun.

And you know what I learned? There is no “good angle” when it comes to that first early morning portrait.

I’m putting all my photos underneath a “more” tag, and I sincerely hope that it doesn’t mess up anyone’s RSS reader! Consider this a once-only, never to be repeated…

On with the show!

It’s morning and I’m the only one awake.  Except for sock monkey, who stares at me in my sleep.

There is to be no smiling until I have had my shower and coffee.  Otherwise, stabbings.

If it wasn’t for our terrible hot water system I would cause another drought.  Showers last no more than 5 minutes in my house.

The view from the shower.

Quick weather check: cold and overcast.  I kinda love that.

A coffee to wake up my boy…

… and one for me.

I read the news while I caffeinate myself.  The election was more than a week ago, but still no Prime Minister.

I suddenly realise that we’ve overslept, and quickly do my hair and brush my teeth.

The car is loaded, the GPS is set, and we’re off to find some snow!

Our fuzzy furchild decides to join us.

And we’re off!  This is the on-ramp to the Eastlink, which will take us out of Melbourne.

We pass a beautiful, shiny Chevy…

We pull into a little town called Healesville, which has a great zoo and a winery that sells my favourite pink muscato.

But we’re not leaving until we’ve picked up lunch from the Beechworth Bakery.  Their packaging claims that they are Australia’s Best Bakery and I, for one, believe them.

No!  None for you.  Bad dog.

Look at me navigating!  Lucky Tim brought the GPS.

The Maroondah Reservoir is full of water, which is a pretty amazing sight after such a long drought.

Driving through “Black Spur”, which is full of magical mountain ash and tree ferns.  This entire area was wiped out in the bushfires of 1939 and was completely replanted.  It’s spectacular to drive through.

I decide to stop taking so many photos from the passenger seat and just enjoy the drive.  We head to Marysville, up to Buxton and Rubicon, before heading back to Marysville towards Lake Mountain.  We can see snow at the peak, and after some windy uphill roads…

Snow!

SNOW!  You guys, it’s been almost 4 years since I’ve seen snow.  This calls for a snowman.

We’re in a National Park so can’t let Harry run around, but this is the first time he’s seen snow so we need a picture.

Several pictures.

“My butt is cold.”

“Excuse me?  Miss?  My butt is cold.”

“This is why you brought me?  To make my butt cold?”

“Can I get back in the car please?”

Harry took himself back to the warm car, but not before making his very first yellow snow.  AWW!

Meanwhile, the wardrobe department transformed our ice queen into weekend wear.

Very Fred Astaire.

Fierce!

Camera loves ya, baby.

And a topless waitress serves Tim’s drink, on ice.

Time to say goodbye to our cool little pal.  As we head back down the mountain we find a lookout, with these incredible views.

These two photographs are a little spooky.  18 months ago this part of the state was ravaged by bushfires, and the ensuing devastation became known as “Black Saturday“.  It remains Australia’s worst natural disaster and 173 people died trying to escape the flames.

There’s snow on the ground in these photos, but it looks an awful lot like the ash that settled in January 2009.

There are reminders of Black Saturday everywhere you look…

… but it’s amazing to see how much green growth has returned to the area in that short amount of time.

Still heading down Lake Mountain our little car hits a milestone

… and the sun begins to set.

I spend some of the drive looking through my photos of my little snowman.

I’m not proud of this, you guys.  We were cold and wet and had almost an hour’s drive ahead of us, so actually this was pretty perfect!

Are we there yet?

When I get home I immediately pull all my photos off my camera and start looking through them.

A quick browse of Twitter to see what I missed today…

… and a cup of tea for the boy who still feels cold!

The boys hang out together in the living room

One boy in particular is starting to get a bit sick of the photographer.

I finish my chai tea, and it’s time to wash my face and brush my teeth.  I consider giving myself 30% extra visibility by booking myself in for a haircut.

Hey!  When did that happen?  I climb into bed and annoy Tim until he wakes up enough for a cuddle.

Actually, he might be onto something.  It’s a school night.

Goodnight!

Part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days project.

Yesterday Tim and I jumped in our little car, and went in pursuit of snow. It was the first time that Tim or I had seen snow since he moved here three years ago, so we marked the occasion with a funny looking snowman (and a few costume changes!).

Next year Tim is going to teach me to snowboard, which I am anticipating with equal measures of excitement and dread. I expect to be front-page news the next day so my plan is to ring around the hospitals and make sure I won’t have any trouble securing a bed. I have a year to figure that part out.

So I can tick “see the snow” off my list – and another one too! Yesterday I recorded my day in pictures from beginning to end, and tonight I’ll be putting together an “A Day in My Life” post so that you can laugh at my bedhair. There will be plenty more snow photos to come in my next post!

In the meantime, I can’t help but think of my icy little friend up on Lake Mountain. I hope he doesn’t get too much sun today, and that his nose wasn’t nibbled by creatures overnight!

I wish weeks came with satisfaction guarantees so that I could return this one, and request a refund! I have turned to this beautiful image more than once this week…

Prints are available from vol25′s beautiful etsy shop.

(Thank you Epheriell Designs for always finding such beautiful things, and blogging them!)

Yikes, there’s only 6 weeks to go until my 1001 Days are up!

I’ve lost some of my momentum in the past couple of months, so it’s now become pretty obvious that I won’t complete all 101 Things on my list. But that’s okay, I still have time to complete a bunch more items before time runs out on 28 September.

My little grid tells me that I’ve been working pretty hard over the past 2.75 years, but there is plenty more to do. Here are the tasks I plan to complete in the time remaining:

		001. Weight loss goal #1 I don’t have time to complete all three weight-related goals, but this first one is definitely achievable during the next 6 weeks.
		008. Learn to cook a recipe from 30 different countries (22/30) Only 8 recipes to go! You can see what I’ve been cooking over here.
		011. Walk my dog 3 days/week for 1 month (0/12) We nearly crossed this off a while ago, but then he injured his little legs. We’re going to try this again this week.
		012. Go for three 2-hour bike rides (2/3) I just need to do one more! First, to put some air back in my tires. In my house, this sort of task is referred to as a "boy job".
		020. See 25 movies of Tim’s choosing (23/25) Two to go! This has been fun, and now that we have just bought a spiffy new surround sound system I’m looking forward to the next two.
		023. Build a time capsule This is mostly done – just need to add a letter of my own and seal the box!
		024. Read the dictionary from beginning to end (Now Reading: "M") I’m about halfway through. A few solid hours will put a big dent in this.
		027. Learn the names of every country, and identify them on a map Oh, Africa. You’re killing me.
		030. Learn 5 constellations (3/5) Waiting for a clear night to finish this one, although I have been loving our rainy nights.
		035. Go to Philip Island; and 035. See the snow We’re going to do both these things in early September.
		038. Visit 10 art galleries (4/10) I’ve made my list, a couple of them are interstate.
		040. Read 10 novels by local authors (9/10) Nearly finished my final book, hurrah!
		055. Visit Tasmania Tim and I are spending 5 days in and around Hobart next month, so I’ll be able to tick this off soon. Hooray!
		058. Do an anonymous favour I’m going to tick this off this week. Look out, it might be you! But probably not. Sorry.
		074. Revive my online recipe book I’ve been thinking of setting up a new blog on a free service. If so, this would be easily done in an afternoon.
		077. Make a will I suppose the time has come to take the plastic wrapper off my Will Kit! Geez, dying is a lot of work.
		079. Have the pickup in my guitar repaired I’ve chosen Betty’s transplant surgeon, now I just need to book her in.
		81. Sell some photos I’m part-way through setting up a RedBubble store to list some of my work. You should totally buy something.
		083. Photograph a day in my life, and blog it This might be fun to do when we go to the snow. Yep, that’s a plan.
		084. Participate in 100 Snapshots (82/100) I only need to take another 18 photographs to finish this one off! Naturally I’ve left the more difficult ones until last. Damn. You should check out my progress so far!
		087. Make a photography book My original plan was to create an elaborate portfolio-style book from my best photographs. However, I’ve been tinkering with it for over a year and the perfectionist in me won’t let me wrap it up. So last night I sat down and turned my 100 Snapshots project into a little coffee table book. It’s ready to submit to Blurb just as soon as I take those last 18 photos!
		089. Draw 5 hands (0/5); and 090. Draw 10 people (7/10) I think I need to set aside a few hours and tackle these in a single session. See previous notes regarding perfectionistic tendencies.

All of the above tasks are achievable during the next 6 weeks, and if I manage to cross them all off I will have completed 93 tasks out of 101.

It feels really good to know that I can still kick butt at this thing if I try my hardest over the next six weeks. I’m a little disappointed that all 101 tasks aren’t achievable in the time remaining, but have given myself a stern talking-to about letting go. I mean, when I wrote this list almost 3 years ago I didn’t know that I would be changing jobs, moving house, travelling interstate 600 times for family reasons, and paying big vet bills. I didn’t know that I would buy Tim 30 presents for his 30th birthday or that we might host about a million visitors during that time.

So I’m giving myself a break and recognising my achievements for what they are – whether I stop at 69 completed tasks or make it all the way to 93. Either way, that list is filled with stuff that I’d never have bothered to tackle if I hadn’t slapped a time-limit on them. So hooray for me!

Got any tips for getting through the next 6 weeks? Useful strategies? Irrelevant stories about Auntie Mabel’s pet Chihuahua? I’m all ears!

Borrowed from Epheriell Designs

I’m worried that I might be losing my blogging mojo.

Real life has been difficult to write about lately. Nothing terrible has happened, and there has been no earth-shattering news. Things are ticking along quite well in most areas of my life and for the most part life is good.

So why can’t I write?

I have some theories.

Once upon a time I used to write candidly (and regularly) on a fairly private blog. I had a strong readership of ‘trusted strangers’ who used to follow my little adventures and offer their thoughts. Over time a lot of real-life people started to read along, and I began to fear that damage might be done with thoughtless words. I’ve never been big on speaking to real-life people through my blog, so I think I began to choose my words more carefully.

But, real life happens and it doesn’t make sense to keep a personal blog without acknowledging the things that go on. Otherwise it would just become a catalogue of links and other peoples’ pictures. Yawn.

There’s an awful lot of unwritten Real Life from the past couple of years that I wish I could talk about now. A couple of friendships have been let go, and wasted energy restored. It would serve no purpose to re-hash it all here, but these were big decisions that have helped to shape the person I’m becoming.

I like this person way better than the old one, for what it’s worth. But that doesn’t mean that these changes haven’t left a dent or two.

So, I’ll continue to mull over these ideas and figure out some balance that will keep me blogging and engaged with you guys again. I miss this place a lot lately.

How are things with you?

Photograph by Hey rabbbit ♥

Rachel Denbow from Smile and Wave asked her readers these questions last month, and I thought it might be nice to share them here as well.

1. When do you feel happiest?

2. How do you take care of yourself?

3. Are you internally (by yourself) or externally (by others) motivated?

4. What do you do for fun?

5. What intimidates you?

6. What is something you’re proud of?

7. Finish this sentence. I never _____________.

8. Favorite vacation spot.

9. Today is a (rate from 1 – 10).

10. Finish this sentence: If you knew me really well you’d know

Share your answers in the comments! I’ll come back later and share mine too.

Dear April;
Are you sure that was thirty days? I would like to request a recount.
.

Dear readers;
I didn’t mean to neglect you for a month, and I’m sorry. Maybe you could start a support group?
.

Dear members of the Victims of Elizabeth’s Neglect Support Group;
May I nominate Exercise and Laundry for the position of Secretary?
.

Dear May;
Don’t feel the need to upstage April. You can take a backseat this year.
.

Dear Regina Spektor;
You are sweet and talented and powerful. Hearing you play last night was such a privilege.
.

Dear random St Kilda fortune teller;
Thank you for talking me into that reading, and for telling me everything I wanted to hear.
.

Dear Tim;
Last night’s date was pretty special, don’t you think?
.

Dear Harry;
I will never understand how your brain works, but you are my most favourite dog.  Also, you will be having a bath as soon as I publish this post, just a little heads up.
.

Dear Autumn;
I’m so glad you’re here. I will live in leggings, dresses and cardigans until October.
.

I really am sorry for not checking in here for the past 4 weeks. I’ve been throwing myself into other areas of my life lately, but I miss writing here. More than that, I miss your comments!

So what did I miss?

Only a couple of hours until my five-day weekend!

It would be dishonest of me to suggest that I am focused on my work today. Instead, I have decided to simply file this one under “not productive” and stop fighting it! My biggest achievement was organising morning tea for my colleagues (and toasting about 50 hot cross buns) and I don’t want to run the risk of overdoing things.

We couldn’t have that.

So instead of doing work, here are some photos of my workplace through the lens of Hipstamatic.

Lens: John S
Film: Float
Flash: Off

“Oranges (If She Only Had a Recipe for Happiness)” by MFayre

Can you believe it’s nearly the end of March?

2010 is flying, and it’s almost left me behind once or twice. Only three months ago we welcomed in the new year, and casually discussed the idea of saving more money and finding a cheaper place to rent.

Two weeks later we’d signed a new lease, packed up, moved in, bought furniture, hosted guests, calmed the overwhelmed dog, and found our feet in a brand new part of town; all the while being stretched to the max in our fulltime jobs.

It’s been very rewarding, but utterly exhausting. Last weekend was blissfully unremarkable – no appointments, no guests, no deadlines. I made bread and cupcakes in my funny little kitchen, Tim slept in and reacquainted himself with the couch, we played a board game by candlelight during Earth Hour and spent some time hanging out with the four-legged fur creature.

Those two days stretched out to four somehow, and energised me enough to finish off a few little things around the house that were previously too overwhelming to think about.

“Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s made me realise just how precious my downtime is, and how important it is to just take the phone off the hook once in a while. It gave Tim and I a chance to just enjoy each others company without watching the clock. I’m all about simple pleasures like that.

Next weekend will be 5 days long, thanks to Good Friday and a couple of extra days tacked onto the other side. I plan to schedule as little of it as possible, and cross my fingers for cold and rainy weather. All I want to do is hang out in my pretty new house, read, write and draw.

(Hey Tim, you’re invited! x)

Part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge.

I almost apologised for this image-heavy post, but it wouldn’t have been very sincere!

There is no way to describe how incredible it feels to float above the clouds in a little basket, watching the sun creep up over the mountains and seeing the world wake up. It’s so smooth and gentle, and very serene.

All I can do is show you my pictures. I hope everyone reading this has the chance to do it someday.

(This is just a small selection of the photos I took yesterday!)

Unfortunately the company we flew with placed surprise restrictions on what could be carried on board, and I found myself having to leave most of my camera gear behind. It was really disappointing to have researched my shots so well in advance, only to be told that I couldn’t take a shoulder bag. Put it on your website guys, you list every other piece of information there.

Otherwise it was a brilliant experience. If you think you might find yourself in a similar situation I recommend asking plenty of questions ahead of time and consider getting it in writing. It’s a lot of money, and if photography is your thing you really want to get it right. 5am isn’t the time to be working on your Plan B!

It wasn’t a great way to begin the morning, but I managed to put it behind me and focus on enjoying the experience. Balloon Sunrise ticked every other box, and the Yarra Valley is truly beautiful from the sky.

Thank you Tim for organising this for my birthday!