Ruby Tuesday and a new preset

For my Ruby Tuesday post today I tried out a new preset for Lightroom that I found. It's called 'Redlight District' - LOL! Let's hope Emma doesn't end up in the Redlight District someday!

This picture was taken in Cape Town when Emma was 13 months old.

If only I could make this foot walk to that water...


This one I shot a few weeks ago while she was busy with the play dough.

I'm not too sure that I like the feel of this...


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Practicing landscapes

I'm really not good at landscape photography - I feel as though I simply don't have an eye for it. For this reason I mostly avoid shooting landscapes. And even when I do, I end up being very disappointed. But the Golden Gate National Park is a place of such awesome beauty that it would be a crime to leave without at least trying to capture some of its magnificence. So I tried. I am not altogether disappointed, but have also lost all objectivity when it comes to my own attempts. These are my four favourite pics (out of many).

Mushroom rock


Sandstone formation


Brilliant blue sky over the mountains


Typical landscape

Weekly Winners: 21 - 27 September

I have so many images this week, that I had great difficulty choosing for today's post! I had a blast with my camera on the camping trip - the weather was beautiful and the sky such a perfect blue that I simply could not get enough. I almost took no photos of the children though! After all the craziness on Friday, I miraculously remembered to pack everything (except matches and the ice for the cooler, but who's counting). Apart from the fact that we almost froze to death, we had a great time, and the kids were in seventh heaven, which makes it absolutely worth it.
The first few are some more pics I took at the Montecasino Bird Garden.

What are you looking at?


Bird's nest


Single white flower


Meerkat


These are a just a few of the images I took over the weekend. We pitched our tent at the Golden Gate National Park in the Free State and the scenery is absolutely breath-taking. I'll share some more pics in future posts.

Moss on bark of a tree

Big beautiful tree


Black branches against blue sky


Joubert running in the mountains


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Silly old fool

I am shaking my head in disbelief. After all that stress and bother I manage to publish a post on my PHOTO BLOG without an actual photo. LOL! Well, thanks to all who visited and commented even after finding a big nothing. This is the image I was trying (and failing) to post.

Photostory Friday: I ran out of time!!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Right OK so, right now I am stressed out of my mind. We are going camping this weekend, Henk just phoned to tell me that he's on his way (30 minutes early) and I haven't FINISHED PACKING!! Aaaah! So now I don't have time for a proper PFS, but here is a photo of my dearest Emma, taken this week, where she sat daydreaming while the rest of us were watching the show at the bird gardens. I love that little face to pieces!
So now I'm off to do some mad packing (OMW, I MUST NOT FORGET MY CAMERA!).

Love Thursday: Flamingo dancing

We took the kids to the Montecasino Bird Gardens yesterday. Can you see the heart-shape forming between these two flamingo's?



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Wordless Wednesday: Is anybody hiding up there?

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Ruby Tuesday: Building towards red

The idea for today's Ruby Tuesday is to post a photo with just a little bit of red in it. I think I aimed for a little less than I got. Actually wish Joubert was awake when I took this a few minutes ago, I'm sure he would have come up with a more elaborate construction!





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Sweet defense against the Monday blues

I have a lot of sweets left over from the weekend's festivities. Joubert looses interest in sweets fairly quickly, especially if there is such an abundance of it. Emma is another story altogether. No matter where I hide it or how many times I change the hiding place, as soon as I turn my back she manages to raid the supplies. Her small plastic chair is permanently glued to her hand because she drags it with her wherever she goes. When she is unable to reach what she wants, she simply gets onto the chair - and you can be sure that when she is standing on that chair, mischief is in the air. So here is to left over sweets that kept the Monday blues at bay - at least for Emma...

Weekly Winners: 14 - 20 September

Cycad


Friend at school


Beautiful sunset


Joubert had his birthday party on Saturday at Boot Camp, as venue that hosts army theme parties for children as well as team building sessions for adults. The kids had such fun!

Private Joubert


Fallen comrade


Climbing


Can you see from under there?


Emma with flower in her hair


I've planted some sunflower seeds a while ago and have been anxiously awaiting the first signs of progress. As you can see they are coming along nicely!

Sunflower seedlings


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Photohunt #128: Road

Why go outside if you have a perfectly good indoor road? Joubert's play mat with roads for his little cars presented the perfect shot for today's photohunt theme - road.



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Photostory Friday: The surrogate family

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Firstly, I'm a bit preoccupied with Joubert this week, since it was his birthday, hence all the big boy related posts.
When we first moved to Johannesburg in 2004, I was not able to join my husband right away as I was studying at the university in Bloemfontein and still had to attend classes for five months. Joubert was eight months old at the time and me separated from his father and living alone for five months posed quite a problem (especially for a sissy like me!). To my rescue came Henk's fantastic sister, who mercifully also lives in Bloemfontein with her husband and three kids. She offered to take me in for the remainder of my course. At first I found it awkward - I am a bit of an introvert and the idea of living in someone else's house was a little intimidating. But my awkwardness soon disappeared as Joubert and I was completely made part of the family and treated like we had always been there. Even though I missed my husband terribly, I remember this time as one of the happiest of my life and I felt very loved.
Joubert off course thrived in their household. His cousins are much older than him, but treated him like their little brother and never tired of playing with him. He and my sister-in-law formed an incredible bond and she will always be like his second mother.
When we finally left for Joburg it was heartbreaking. Joubert became a fourth child in their house and they were incredibly sad to see him go. He was 13 months old by the time we left and they had witnessed so many of his important milestones.
I was worried that Joubert would eventually forget how important they had been to him, but fortunately, he is still very close to them. I was watching his face light up last night when they called him to wish him a happy birthday and was once again reminded of what wonderful people they are.
Anyway, the soft toy was a gift to Joubert from my sister-in-law. He was never attached to a soft toy before he got this one and I know it's only because of who gave it to him. When he first received it, he called it his Michimatian - could not get his tongue around Dalmatian! Even though he now has no problem with his speech, we all still refer to it as the Michimatian!