She's a gypsy

I think this will be one of the most memorable portraits I'll ever take.


The Kushti Bok and it's wares hanging out.

Some Kushti Bok love


Back in January while spending a few days in Kingscliff my path crossed with a 74 Kombi named the Kushti Bok (meaning good luck/ good fortune) and it's owners Max and Gypsy. Had I gone swimming at the beach that day instead of deciding to venture up to the creek I would have missed them.
So I was making my way to the creek and noticed their set up a little ways over in the grassy area. Curiosity got the better of me, I wandered over to have a closer look. I saw that they held workshops and did readings of various kinds. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love a good reading and for the past 6 months I'd been craving one. Gypsy did the readings (she was down on the shore collecting washed up jasper for her trinket making) so I sat chatting to Max while I waited for her return.
I learnt the Kombi was their home and they travelled around the East of Australia selling their trinkets and charms and work at markets, fairs and festivals, much like traditional gypsies. Gypsy came back and she chose to do some 'chakra' work and 'colour interpretation therapy' with me (which is a tool for assessing what ails the spirit body, recognising energy needs and how to block others from taking your energy unwillingly). It was an unforgettable experience for me, this lady had such a warm energy and incredible gift. I stayed for the next couple of hours and she taught me about capturing 'orbs' in my photographs (orbs look like little circles of light that are actually spirit guides surrounding us) and showed me photos taken by herself and others where orbs have been captured. Amazing.

The other part of 'a little walk down the street'- the bad mother part

Me: "Oh look, there's some baby tomatoes growing on that plant."



Maggie needed no encouragement, she was all over it.


Errr... you say these are tomatoes? Well if you're sure then.




I'll just have a little taste


But no, it doesn't reach her mouth because another one that could be better has caught her eye.

Then it became a pick fest

And at this moment when she actually sunk her teeth into one, I saw her face and realised that what I had thought to be tomatoes were actually chillies!. What kind of a mother doesn't know a tomato from a chilli?

I did in fact put down the camera and go to her aid, just in case it doesn't look that way ;)
I just know that I'm going to cop a huge scolding from her protective Auntie Selina over this :)

A little walk down the street

Bedtime stories

Yes, I know, her again! I can't help myself, I just had to blog this picture of Maggie that I took yesterday. I had laid her down in her own bed for her day sleep, walked out and closed the main door behind me (Maggie's room is a sleepout off our bedroom that has a door and the main door is from ours to the rest of the house). A while later I went into our room to put away some folding and saw that little snoring goldilocks (yes snoring, she takes after her dad) had snuck out of her bed and tucked herself into ours. And had nodded off to sleep while reading the stash of books she'd dragged with her! Classic!

Free

Gorgeous golden sunlight



Over easter we spent some time at Isabella's grandparents property in Marburg, Maggie ran and laughed the whole time we were there. The property is so green and pretty and they have so many beautiful horses... it's really quite breathtaking. I have loads more to blog about this day (I could gush forever - I've really fallen in love with this 'farm'). Stay tuned =)

Wide open spaces

Have I mentioned that I'm in love with this place? We had such a wonderful time here, the green hills seemed to roll forever into the distance (Isabella's Papa keeps it like the Taj Mahal) and the ever changing colourful sky had us yearning for our own wide open space. What got to me the most was the intense colour of the sky and the magnificent sunset strewn across it.It was amazing to see how it changed in colour and to watch the sun finally disappear below far away mountains. Is it old age that turns an urban girl into a country girl? Now if you'll just excuse me, I'm off to look for some cowgirl boots on ebay...seriously :]

"howdy horsies"

the stare off

the yunginz checking out the yunginz

sharing a special moment with the foal her Papa let her name 'Beauty'

love those lashes

mumma horse and her baby who so kindly let us share their paddock.

going for a bit of an 'old west' kinda look here

one of my faves. I love Bel's small hand holding Uncle Peter's big hand and how she is so comfortable with him. And oh, the splendour of the sun!


Just before we said our goodbye's and were about to leave, I turned around to see this sky.

Saturday morning...

these two emerged from the bedroom looking like this, fashions care of Isabella (she often dresses Maggie up in various states of dress ups). Then they run through the house, arms out in front, Bel calling out to maggie "come on Maggie....let's zooooom!". And off they go to find the bad guys. I really love seeing them play together like this, Isabella in her prime over being in charge and Maggie happily playing the dutiful sidekick.

First day of fit

Today I got my butt moving. I mean really moving...as in sweating and heart rate pumping so high I thought I was gonna die. The most physical activity (besides the bedroom kind) that I've done in years! My fitness level is so bad that even during the warm up I was thinking "I'm tired, my legs are hurtin". But it felt really really good afterwards to know I got through it. This all took place at Pure Health Club, I love that they focus on the mind/ body/ spirit connection there. I was so relieved that Maggie was happy to go into the creche room, I get to work out while she gets social interaction, everybody wins! I'm going to be one sore girl tomorrow.

Of course this picture has nothing at all to do with anything I've been writing about but a post is always better with a photo right? Taken this afternoon while I was practising shooting in manual. Isabella agreed to be my guinea pig on two conditions (there are always conditions with her).#1 She's allowed to wear her new beanie for it (duh, as if I would say no to that! I mean how cute is it?) and #2 I have to help her to do this 'what's your style' quiz in a magazine- turns out she's 'sassy' but she was really going for 'artsy'...oh well.

Maggie-isms

As you grow from day to day,
What parts of you will always stay?
Of what stuff do you consist?
And of this stuff what will persist?

-Tiffany Poirier

On the hunt

I cannot believe I'm saying this but I am so sick of chocolate!
For today anyway...let's not be too hasty, I may (and most likely will) feel differently about it tomorrow. Ever wondered why the shops display their easter goodies months before easter? Because of suckers like me who have absolutely zero willpower and who fall victim to the charms of these foil wrapped delicasies. Cadbury's mini solid eggs have been a permanent fixture in our fridge for months already, no wonder I'm sick of chocolate! Selina has requested pics to be blogged of the girls doing their egg hunt, taken with an "I don't care about beautiful background blur" attitude (must be intoxicated from chocolate because I always care about beautiful background blur). Here are some pictures for your entertainment.



And they're off


Evident concern over where to look first

Sharp intake of breath at sight of an egg

There are times when there is reaching for the same egg

The passing of eggs into anothers basket when ones own is overfloweth



Happiness only an easter egg hunt can bring

Foil wrapping must be torn off immediately upon finding the big ones

It's not so easy without your front teeth


I'm going to stop at halfway mum... really I am

Fifties beach babes

We came across this car parked at the Kingscliff Bowls Club back in January. We were on our way to breakfast and I desperately wanted to grab a photo of this car and hoped it would still be there when we were finished. It was! (god bless that lawn bowling lady / man's heart). So I raced back to our caravan, got my camera and dragged Isabella and her bestie Claudia with me. The sun was so bright the poor things were squinting like crazy. I decided it was only fitting to play around to give it a faded kind of 50's? look (although thanks to the station wagon in the background I could never trick anyone into thinking this could be a photo from back then). I can't remember how it got to this point though (lots of tweaking here and there) which really sucks because I think I like it and want to do it again!

Little Miss E

Warning - this little girl is mesmerising!

Miss E's big brother goes to school with Isabella so last August Mrs H was over for a playdate when these were taken (shamefully it's taken me this long to attempt to edit them). While the kids were running amok we had our own fun with Miss E. How lucky am I to have had this little doll on tap for awhile to photograph? She is just so lovely, each time I see her I want to cuddle her to bits! Of course she is not such a baby anymore, Mrs H must need some new pics of her now that she's up and about???

She would give any Anne Geddes baby a run for their money.

Is there any a cuter turned up nose than this?