Team up mobile challenge ... Close up

Playing catch up :-) And good going even if I do say so myself, this has been one unexpected week! And for all you naturally pessimistic people out there "unexpected" doesn't always mean it is a bad thing, good things also happen unexpectedly, and even if it doesn't go according to plan, doesn't mean it didn't go better than planned :-) ... LoL ... it's a glass half full or half empty thing, a matter of perception. Anyway that has nothing to do with CLOSE UP

Superhero chose the topic, I warned him, I remember doing this one with my sister and it was challenging enough with zoom lens. With a phone ... eish!!!! (to non SAFFERs that means eish ...LoL) Anyway I never shy away from a challenge so off we went to get into people and things personal space ... yeee-haaa

So Superhero first, I am naughty and did this to his pic:

What is it? it looks like roots of something don't you think?
Well I have turned the pic upside down so it is not upwards growing roots. Ok ok stop twisting your head like a geek to look at the pic properly this is his pic for the topic close up:

He really had me with this, looks like some sort of sprout vegetables or something, maybe something I put in my salad or you feed a bunny ... this is what it really is:

That is one interesting plant, very pretty ... close up can really change your perspective on something. Good job old chap ... nice one :-) I know you say you will never choose this topic again but bet you look back now and think you actually enjoyed it!

Ok here is my take on it:

This is our fireplace, no zoom lens ... nope ... this is CLOSE UP ... charred knuckles, singed eyebrows and all :-)

No-one will approve of my next pic, but hey, I like controversy :-) here is another version of close up:

This is Pepper ... at first glance he looks like a ghost cat, then you look again at you think you looking through frosted glass, but if you look CLOSE UP you will see it is rain on the window ... yes I am that evil that I left the cat in the rain and then took photo's of it from my nice dry warm lounge (while crouching in front of the fire place)

Please note: Pepper was not harmed in the making of this blog :-)

I am grateful for ...

One can never consent to creep, when one feels the impulse to soar ...
- Helen Keller

This is one of my all time favourite inspirational quotes! And today and this week I will be drawing on it (not with a crayon, but for inspiration)

The last few weeks have been trying to say the least, I have been sick and then Leah had a turn, never nice when ones littlies are not well! That, though, I can deal with. But more than that I have been having a "situation" which has been pulling me down, Friday was "the straw that broke the camels back"!!! There just comes a time when you need to step back and assess a situation and weigh up what you put in and what you get out and what it drains out of you and then ask is it worth it?

So yet again I am sitting on the eve of another biggie for me, once again I feel like I am standing on the cliffs edge about to take a leap of faith ... jump high ... jump far ... then spread your wings :-)

So with the future uncertain, and change being the only constant in my life I will yet again do the only thing I know, embrace it, go with it, see where it takes me. And at times like this there is one thing I am absolutely without a doubt grateful for, and that is I am not threatened by change, I almost think I thrive on it!

You may ask why the picture of a Pukeko, why not and eagle or an albatross ... well for a number of reasons, firstly Pukeko's are one of my favourite birds, and it is my blog so why not. Secondly I don't have a photo of an eagle or albatross but will put it on my bucket list somewhere after the blue thunder and northern lights, and thirdly I geniusly left my camera in my office with my external hardrive and there this is the only picture I have :-)

Team up mobile challenge - Simple

We are a bit late with this one, but I think it is well worth the wait! This weeks topic was "SIMPLE" not as simple as you would think. But it has inspired me for a "I am grateful" blog when I have time to take the pic I want.

Anyway it was my topic so me first ...

This beautiful winter leaf with the product of much amusement for my poppets during our recent visit to the park, we debated where such a huge leaf could have come from, what it could be used for, we created a whole story around "just a leaf" ... sometimes we so busy looking for amazing things that we forget the value of simple things.

Another one of mine ...

It's a fluffy, all our local cafe's serve them, a mini cup and saucer with warm frothy milk beautifully decorated, each barrister has their own signature look ... because of these pretty little cups of cuteness it is possible for us parents to go sit in coffee shops and enjoy a cup of "pick me up" with very little interruption from the sprouts ... it's a mini cup packed full of peace and pleasure (and they only cost a $1) ... never underestimate the value of a simple mini cup of warm frothed milk.

Next up it is Superhero, I have to say this is one of my favourite pics he has produced in this challenge, I love it! Pics can speak 1000 words!!

Meet Dash, isn't he a hunni!!! The simple things in life. A dogs life is so blissful ... well at least this dogs life, well it is now, wasn't always ... aw he is sweet!

Ok so that simple ... now Superhero you owe me a topic!

Once again you are reminded that all pics in this challenge have to and are taken with our mobile phones ... and not the fancy ones either!

I am grateful for ... Free Range Children

I love that phrase: Free Range Children, and that is something my children are.

Saturday the sun was peeking it's smile upon us, I had chores a plenty that had been somewhat neglected and in need of a catch up, I enlisted the assistance of the beautiful Zoe to keep the girls entertained while I set to work but the sun was calling us to make the most of the day,  the chores would be there when we got back so we headed to a local park. After a decent play around while walking back to the car the kids spontaneously sprouted "lets roll down the hill" and proceeded to do just that :-)

They rolled and ran back and rolled and ran back and rolled and then run the rest of the way down ...

They gave me a brief performance on the stage of the bowl.

Then on the walk back discovered a scatter of winter leaves on floor ...

And so the the sunny afternoon rolled by and the so did the fun!

And nothing can recharge ones soul like hanging yourself out to dry in the sun ... even when you are only little ...

I can not think of time that is more wisely spent than with free range children it is food for the soul ... I AM GRATEFUL FOR FREE RANGE CHILDREN!

You can hear one of Zoe's new songs here: http://soundcloud.com/search?q[fulltext]=Zoe+Fern+To+Shine

Team up Mobile Challenge - Single

Trying to pace my self and catch up at the same time, not always the best recipe, but I reckon (or at least hope) by next week I will be back on track to my original posting days ...or not :-)

This week was Superhero's topic, I have said it to him and I will say it to you, it is not like it is obvious where he is in his life, and what is on the fore front of his mind ... LoL.
Single was not exactly the easiest topic to interpret, it can go so many ways ... I think ... maybe ... or maybe not. Having said that we both managed more than 1 so it couldn't have been that bad ... LoL
First up is Superhero:

A single little sprout coming into life ... very fitting for what is on his mind I think

Standing on it's own but standing tall and standing strong!

Next up is mine, I thought about landscape photo's and how no matter how different each one is a single landmark can tell exactly where it is.

This is the view from my lunch table on Friday during a business meeting ... yes real hard to be me! Lovely isn't it, and where is it? Well look in the background ... Auckland Skytower :-)

This was after a hard days work, dinner with some colleagues ... I know, I know, life can be so tough ... same day different time different point of view ... but still the Auckland Skytower.

The last pic was my original pic, the first one I took after being told the topic, it's our cat, Pepper, rather a handsome fella, he is Single, and he is also our only single pet (besides husband and kids).

Do I need to remind you these pics are taken with ye trusty mobile phone devices and for the record nether are an iPhone :-) No we both need people to pay for our photo's before we can afford one of them ... LoL

Tune in next week, we'll keep it a little more simple.
Until then I am off to look for something to be grateful for ... LoL

I am grateful for ... beautiful distractions!

This blog is late I know, as has been my last few, but I do have valid reason (or excuses - however you look at it) this week it is because I was sent up to Auckland early on friday morning for work, only to return late Sunday night. Monday is just a no go zone for me, not because it is Monday but because not only is it Monday after work I collect the girls from school and spend the rest of the afternoon literally driving between Leah's jazz class, Rachel's netball practice, Leah's Jazz class, Rachel's jazz class only to return home just in the nick of time for the dinner bath bed ... Monday nights and Tuesday morning I always feel like I need another weekend, when it is straight off the bat of a working weekend I feel like I need a tropical island holiday!!!!

Anyway ... enough ramblings!

Now most people would whinge about catching the crack of dawn early morning flight for work ... not me ... no soreeee ... I was thrilled, I got to watch the sunrise from the plane window, worth the 4.45am start!! We can't all go flying around at sunrise to see something like this :

This photo was taken out of my plane window, those in NZ will recognise this landmark immediately .. Mt Ruapehu, so the fact that it was taken on route from Taranaki to Auckland one will really appreciate it grand splendor!!

This next one was moments later as the sun peeked it's head over the horizon, also taken from the plane window:

This almost took me back to my days in SA when I travelled more for work, I always loved the early morning flights, and not for the sunrises, there is just something peaceful about the world so early in the day.

The next part of this was the drive home on Sunday night, most people would whinge about enduring a 5 and a half drive home after a long working weekend ... with the Boss! BUT had we not driven home, leaving late in the afternoon we would not have seen the Sunday night moon rising, it was a sight to behold, bright and huge. It was the closest the moon had been to the earth in several years.

Just think any other Sunday night I would have missed the whole thing, i would have been cooking (or the likes), and that aside I can honestly say I don't think I have ever actually watched a moon rise ... beautiful!

So there is a lesson here and it is not drive around late at night with your boss, no it is the situation may not be ideal, but there is good in it  ... or in the least a beautiful distractions.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR BEAUTIFUL DISTRACTIONS :-)

(please note no bosses were harmed in the making of this blog)