So different...just a day later

I enjoyed doing something different on Christmas Day this year. My daughters and I had a lovely lunch at home and then we headed into the city to see Into the Woods. It was a preview session so we feel lucky to have seen it before it officially begins showing here on January 8th. All three of us enjoyed it too. 

Adelaide was very quiet on Christmas Day. I haven't seen it so quiet in a very long time. Rundle Mall was especially quiet given that no shops were open. I took a photo of the Malls Balls. 

How different the mall was just a day later. We decided to head in to the Boxing Day Sales in Rundle Mall. It's the first time we've been to Rundle Mall on Boxing Day and I expected it to be busy but was surprised by just how busy it was! Here's a photo taken in approximately the same spot. 

So different...just a day later

We had a successful day shopping (well, a couple of hours) and bought what we planned to. Can't say I'm keen for those crowds again anytime soon though. Part of the reason for being able to visit the city on Christmas Day and to do some shopping on Boxing Day was that our family Christmas get together was held belatedly due to various family member's commitments. We've just got home after a very enjoyable picnic in the park. Now, after a great day in the sunshine today, I'm looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow (and some reading). 

The front of a card made by my niece Teya, 7

See how others describe their week or part thereof in six words at www.showmyface.com

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 21st, 2014

Three quite different ones for Shadow Shot Sunday today. 

Me and some thistles

On a palm tree. 

A curly shadow from an old chair

To see other people's shadow shots go to www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com. 

I have some reading to do!

I plan to read these five books in the very near future. I have started The Signature of All Things and have been enjoying it but may switch to Colorless Tsukuri Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as they are from the library. 

These five will join the other books I've enjoyed this year - 

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

The Sea of Tranquility - Katja Millay

Madness, a Memoir - Kate Richards

The Night Guest - Fiona McFarlane

Apple Tree Yard - Louise Doughty

Mazin' Grace - Dylan Coleman

The Rosie Project - Graeme G. Simsion

The Pure Gold Baby - Margaret Drabble

We are all completely beside ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler

I'm looking forward to discovering more great books in 2015.

What's on your reading list?

See how others describe their week or part thereof at www.showmyface.com. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 14th, 2014

I've been busier today than is usual for me on a Sunday so the shadows are later in the day ones. These ones were on the back of the house. Perhaps it is time to pull those weeds out but they make such great shadows!

See other people's shadow shots at www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com. 

Apricots, apricots, apricots...and more apricots

I've been a little obsessed with apricots this week. Even the word appears four times in my six word description this week for Six Word Saturday. 

Apricots, apricots, apricots...and more apricots.

I have an apricot tree in the backyard and it's a bumper crop this year! I have probably picked 20 kilograms already, mostly this week, and there are still more on the tree. The tree is a bit wild and some of the apricots are too hard to reach. It's nice to share some with the parrots and wattle birds too! My intention is to prune the tree (or have someone help me prune the tree) before next season. 

I'm very glad to have been able to pick many this year before the birds got them all and have shared some with friends. Last year most of them got eaten or dried on the tree before I had a chance to get them. 

The plan is to stew some and freeze. I love apricot crumble! I have also made jam for the first time. It tastes super yummy but is a bit thick (as in almost solid!) so may experiment a bit more and try another recipe. 

Some of the apricots I picked yesterday

The bowl of apricots I took to poetry group this morning

The tree in all its wildness

A branch full of apricots

Some for the birds

Initial attempt at making jam

Alysha has decorated a jar.
If we manage to make some jam that is possible to spread
we plan to give some away decorated like this.

To see how other people describe their week or part thereof in six words go to www.showmyface.com. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 7th, 2014

Lots of shadows this afternoon! I particularly like the one that looks like a whale but was from a pair of work pants that had twisted around the washing line. 

late afternoon washing line shadows

a close up of the 'whale'

apricot shadows

some shadowy gum leaves

great thistle shadows

and a close up of some whispy shadows

To see great shadow shots from others go to www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com

Shadow Shot Sunday - November 30th, 2014

Lots of shadows to choose from today. With the trees around the washing line recently cut down, there are great washing line shadows once again.

 A close up of the spiky shadow. 

I love shadows of branches. 

and x marks the spot. These are from wires near the back door, now casting shadows since the trees have gone.

To see other people's shadow shots go to www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com. 

A month worth of small stones

A month worth of small stones

I've been meaning to write about this week's six words for a while. Specifically they refer to October but are also relevant to this week in that I continue to write small stones. 

A few years ago I came across a blogger, Satya (previously Fiona) Robyn and the concept of small stones. As she explains, "A small stone is a very short piece of writing that precisely captures a fully-engaged moment". I post small stones I have written at my other blog www.pausingforsmallstones.blogspot.com. I don't spend a lot of time on them. Just a few moments capturing a moment most of the time. Sometimes they turn into a longer piece of writing. I participated in a couple of river of stones, started by Satya and her husband, Kaspalita, along with people all over the world in 2011 and kept writing small stones for quite a while after that. In fact I posted one every day in 2011 (with just a few posted a little late). I really enjoyed doing so at that time but stopped during 2012. I began slowly again a couple of months ago and then before I knew it had posted a week's worth so decided to keep going and made it to a month! I'm still going although not on a daily basis. I've missed a few November days and that's okay. 

To compliment my small stone writing I think I might participate in a photo challenge I found out about for December. There are no real rules. Just take a photo every day during December. There are prompt suggestions if you want and a hashtag to share on instagram. I love how easy it is to share photos with others using instagram! If you want to read more go to http://www.susannahconway.com/december/

Now to decide whether to use my phone or camera, Hipstamatic or not? So many decisions! 

Looking forward to another week of noticing and enjoying many small moments! 

To see how other people describe their week (or moment of) in six words go here. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - November 23rd, 2014

Weeds make great shadows!

Most Sundays I post a shadow from somewhere around my house and yard. To participate and/or see other people's shadow shots go here. 

Thunder, rain, sunshine, noisy birds - repeat

My six words this week describe very well what today has been like here - 

Thunder, rain, sunshine, noisy birds - repeat 

The sky has been rumbling on and off all day. In between the rumbles there has been just a little rain and then sunshine and many very chatty birds. I wasn't quick enough to get a photo of the crow sitting on the very top of a tall tree and calling out or the one on top of the stobie pole doing the same thing. The parrots and wattle birds in the trees out the front and in the backyard have also been making quite a racket. 

This week I've been enjoying seeing parrots sometimes when I look out the kitchen window. Since the large tree was removed on Tuesday it's a very different view and I've caught a glimpse of the green parrots in the tree across the road a few times. 

What I see from the kitchen now

I did get a photo of a crow about to land in the tree, along with the dark clouds.

To see how other people describe their week or part of in six words, go here.