Wedding day

It was my youngest nephew's wedding last Friday. His new bride was a vision in a "30s film star" style wedding gown with a pink ruffle going over one shoulder and white rose bouquet. Stunning. 

When I have permission from the happy couple of show you some photos that actually show their faces, I hope to bring you some more images from what was a beautiful day. But I will have to wait for them to return from their honeymoon.

I have usually done my mosaics through Picasa - but this "story-board" template comes from Kim's "Beyond Layers" e-class. "Beyond Layers" promises to be 52 weeks of inspiration and learning. Thanks Kim - check her classes out here -Kim Klassen Cafe

 This is the church where they were married - St Mary's Anglican Church in Busselton. Built in 1844-45 - it is the oldest stone church in Western Australian. Many of the area's earliest pioneers are buried in the small church yard.

It would have been nice to have blue sky in this image, but it was a cloudy day - and clouds are wonderful for photographing people. It really evens out the light.

And an image from the wedding reception - the bride and groom in a slow dance. This was a very dimly lit image so I've rescued it by adjusting levels etc in Photoshop Elements and then converting to black and white. Yes, it is grainy, but I rather like the effect - and the 1930's look.

I am linking to Mosaic Monday at Little Red House. Click on the link to see the wonderful work of Mary and other photographers. Mosaic Monday

And wishing you all a beautiful Valentine's Day.

Sadly we lost an amazing singer yesterday - Whitney Houston -  her beautiful voice sadly silenced too soon. I have added a tribute to my play list.  If you would like music when you scroll through my blog, please go to the Playlist icon on the RHS, and click on the "play" arrow. (I haven't worked out how to have it play automatically yet!).

give, love, inspire............

Give - love - inspire

With loving thanks to my dear friends for their love, and support. 

Where would we be without our friends.  They support us, give to us freely of their love and time, and inspire and encourage us to greater things. 

I have just started learning about textures - One of Kim's textures which I have used on this image is called "empty page" - fitting I think because doesn't every day of our life start as an "empty page"?

I have been doing a couple of texture classes with Kim Klassen - click on the link to check them out - there are several e-classes if you want to learn about textures -
www.kimklassencafe.com/photoshopecourses/

I have booked into Kim's 52 week - Beyond Layers - but pressing aging parent matters have sapped my energy and inspiration....hence.....  give - love - inspire.

I have just learnt this neat little trick where you can pick the colour of your text from somewhere on your image - ie as in this case purple from the lavender. 

 Lavender is one of my favourite garden flowers.  Below, I thought I would show you the textured version - on the left - and the unedited original -straight out of camera - on the right.
I wonder which one you prefer?

Mother love

My dear mother is sick in hospital at the moment, and I am not sure what the future holds for her......so I send her this rose with love.......
And my heart to my father and embrace them with my love during the days ahead for them both......

I am linking up to Texture Tuesday at Kim's Cafe. I have just started doing a couple of texture and layers classes with Kim at Kim's Cafe - please go to her site and visit Kim and the other talented contributors - you might like to take a class too - Kim's Cafe

To this image I have applied a levels adjustment, two of Kim's textures called "providence" and "embrace", and adjusted the words with a "soft light" adjustment.  Basic I know, but I have only just started learning.

I wish you enough

Someone sent this to me today and I thought it was beautiful, so I wanted to share  it with you..........

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how grey the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them. 

And here are some beautiful yellow daisies full of sunshine which I capture in my front garden on Monday. 

sharing a special post - Every Time I Fall Back

I just wanted to share with you this very beautiful post from Markus - one of my on-line blog contacts - Tea Cup In the Garden - click on the link to go to "Every Time I Fall Back" -   Teacup in the Garden

You will probably need to click on the translate button to read Markus' beautiful poem. Then take a little time to scroll through his posts about the beautiful country home they are restoring.

Every Time I Fall Back by Markus

Laughing, I walk through rustling leaves and know that this too will pass away someday laugh. But not now.

I sit on a bench and know that someday I'll sit there anymore. But not now.

I breathe the scent of lavender and verblühtem know that I will someday no longer smell. But not now.

Amazed, I look at the colors of the world and know that someday everything will be black and white. But not now.

With an open heart, I love a friend and know that our path will separate at some point. But not now.

With all the strength I cling to life and know that I will release it sometime. But not now.


So I go the routes that are before me and stay in the places of my heart a little longer. Eventually everything will be remembered. But not now. Now it is reality. Take Care, Mark

Light the Night

On Wednesday we joined my son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons as part of Jen's team for Light the Night in Bunbury, which is an initive of the The Leukaemia Foundation to raise awareness of Leukaemia and raise funds for the wonderful work they do supporting families. We went along to support Jen and to remember Jen's mother, Dora, who died on 26 February 2008, suddenly and unexpectedly from acute promyelocytic leukaemia. 

As part of the night, the people attending walk with coloured balloons, remembering those they have lost, celebrating those that have survived, and thanking supporters. 

I didn't take many photos, but two that I did take I share with you here, of my grandson's Jamie and Owen - Jamie who only knew his grandmother for 2 years and Owen who never knew her. I know she watches over them. They are such a special part of my life.

These photos were taken in low light, and I didn't want to use the flash, so I used a high ISO to get this shot. I know it has a bit of blur, but I rather like the effect - and these snapshots of a slice of time in their young lives. 

This is the greatest love of all  xxx

You can see a poem and photos about Dora and our grandchildren here -  
For Dora - our beautiful boys 

For Jeanie

My dear mother-in-law is very sick in hospital at the moment, so I send her these flowers with love.

Last blooms of autumn

The last blooms of my roses are hanging onto the bushes, and giving me colour in my garden that is bedding down for the winter.  Soon the blooms and leaves will fall and it will be time for pruning again, but until then I can enjoy these last rays of autumn sunshine.

I hope over the weekend you find time to spend with those you love, and doing what you love to do.

and remember.........

You will find as you look back upon your life 

that the moments when you have truly lived 

are the moments when you have done things 

in the spirit of love.

                                                                                                                      Henry Drummond

 As is illustrated in the first photo above, even as the petals fade and fall there is still beauty.

 I love this white rose - it is the Iceberg variety - I never tire of photographing its beauty.

 You can also see other photos of this white rose in a previous post by clicking here - For the Love of Roses

You can now follow me on Flickr also - hope you have time to drop by and visit! Click on the link here -  Life Images by Jill on Flickr

with love on mother's day

I am sending a special mothers days wish and love to my dear mother, mother-in-law, my sister,
And to my daughter-in-law and her sister, who lost their mother a few years ago.
And to our dear friend who lost her mother recently.
And to all our friends who are mothers.

Every precious moment with our families should be treasured, as time and the years slip by so quickly. May the love and joy of family always be yours.

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day with my family, including having a mother's day lunch with three generations of mothers, and our fathers, husbands, sons, grandsons and great-grandsons.

My sister was staying with us for the weekend, and last night we watched the "Mamma Mia" movie on DVD. It is a wonderful feel good movie.

One song in particular always makes me cry and I want to share some words with you - it is particularly relevant to me at the moment, and it is a reminder to savour every moment, and to not let these precious moments "slip through our fingers"....

Slipping Through my Fingers - by Benny and Bjorn

.....Slipping through my fingers all the time, I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time......
I let precious time go by........
Whatever happened to those wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't
And why I just don't know.
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers.......


Thank you for visiting my post which is my contribution this week to Mosaic Monday. Please join Mary and the other wonderful contributors at Mosaic Monday - by clicking on the link - http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Mosaic%20Monday

I look forward to hearing from you. Take care.

We have this moment sparkling like a star

Wishing you all the joy of Easter and the love of being with family and friends.

In the words of Marie Beyon Ray -

Begin doing what you want to do now. 

We have only this moment, 

sparkling like a star in our hand - 

and melting like a snowflake.

Here are some beautiful frangipani flowers, which I sent to you all with love.

Every new day

The end of another busy week - so going into the weekend I send you a few words written by Eleanor Roosevelt -

With the new day ahead comes new strength and new thoughts.

  I am fairly sure this is a Swan River Myrtle - a beautiful wildflower which I found in the Crooked Brook Nature Reserve near Dardanup - about half an hour from where I live. It is a wonderful place to go for a walk during spring when the wildflowers are out, but any time of year you will find something flowering in the Australian bush. I find walking in the bush is so calming and rejuvenating - peace descends as worries slip away. I hope you have a piece of "bush" or forest near you where you can escape to and enjoy being out in God's amazing creation.

Have a lovely weekend in the company of those you love, and give yourself time to do the things you want to do.

Love and marriage

My nephew and his beautiful new bride have consented that I can share a few photos of them from their wedding last Saturday. I have put together a few of my favourite photos in this collage to share with you.
The wedding was held on the lawns of Kings Park in Perth overlooking the Swan River. What a magnificent backdrop it was. It was a wonderful day, the bride looked stunningly beautiful and they are both very happy. I wish them every happiness, and thank them for allowing me to share some of their special day with you.

 Sharing a quiet personal moment........

This has been my contribution to Mosaic. Monday. To see the work of Mary and other photographers please click on the link -  Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

When two people meet and fall in love

On Friday we spent a wonderful day with family and friends for the occasion of the wedding of my eldest nephew and his beautiful new bride.  They had an official photographer, but I was asked to take photos of the groom and grooms-men leading up to the wedding ceremony. I also took my own set of photos at the the wedding (of course!). I put on my big lens and captured some lovely shots of the happy couple, some closer shots showing detail and some more intimate shots conveying the love between them. They are a wonderful couple and I wish them love and happiness and all they dream for in their future lives together.

The wedding ceremony was held in Kings Park in Perth with the wonderful backdrop of the city. Here is a collage of some of the photos I took.

and with sepia added

 The flowers included frangipani from the bride's grandmother's house.

The reception was held at the Indiana Teahouse on the Cottesloe beachfront. It is a glorious old building with views over the Indian Ocean. Here is the cupcake wedding cake with a view looking out to the beach.

I hope you have enjoyed this selection of photos. I hope to be able to bring some photos of the couple once I have their permission to share with you.

This has been my contribution this week to Mosaic Monday. To see the work of Mary and other wonderful photographers, please click on the link - Mosaic Monday at Little Red House

You are never fully dressed without a smile...........

Tonight I am sending these yellow daisies to a dear friend who is going through a difficult time at the moment. I send her my love, thoughts and prayers. And remind her to take time for herself, and to remember her motto - you are never fully dressed without a smile.....

Sending my prayers across the oceans.......

The images of the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan I know have sent shock waves around the world. Images of homes and villages being swept away, little children not knowing where their parents are, the look of absolute despair on the faces of the people of Japan, people searching in vain, loss of hope. My prayers and tears of grief go out to them, and also to the victims of the earthquake in New Zealand, the cyclone and floods in Queensland, the floods in the mid west of Western Australia, fires near Perth (West Australia) and to all those other people around the world that are suffering from natural disasters, famine or war.

I am wishing that the wings of a seagull can rise them above the sorrow and return them safely to shore and  into the arms of their loved ones. 

Roses for the day of love

It is Saint Valentines Day, 14 February, and the day that lovers everywhere tell their loved ones what they mean to them. So for my post today I send all those in love a red rose for love. The rose has come from my garden and the Champagne cork is from a bottle of Champagne we drank with friends in Paris - a trip we gave to ourselves to celebrate our wedding anniversary in 2005 - beautiful Paris! the city of love!

You said "I love you"

      and time stopped

And your words hung  suspended 

      in the air –

A magic whisper.

You see in the mosaic below a bunch of dried red and yellow roses which hangs on the wall outside my bedroom door. No-one probably knows where they came from or why they hang there. In 1996 I was involved in a boating accident, suffered two crushed vertebrae in my back, was in hospital for 4 weeks, and in a back brace for another 2 months after that. I was extremely lucky to still be walking. I had visitors every day  during that 4 weeks, friends and family who came to visit me, and my room almost looked like of florist shop. I saved these few rose blooms, and hung and dried them, and brought them home and they have hung on the wall ever since. They remind me of the special love that enveloped me during that time. 

As I lay in that hospital bed I had a long time to think about the preciousness of life and what is important to me, and the resolve that you must do and experience all that you can while you can. Life is precious but all too short, and we should make every special day count in our words and actions and spread love and caring around us.   So here is a mosaic of roses. Yes they are faded, and they are edged with tiny spider webs, and a few petals fall off if I touch them, but they are very special and beautiful to me.

And so I send my special valentine to my husband and my beautiful family, all those people who showed me their love in those long days. Thank you.

I played around with different mosaic arrangements through Picasa, and came up this this shuffled look which I thought suited the photos. For isn't life like a deck of cards - you never know what hand you are going to be dealt next - and what is important is what you do with it.

This is my contribution to Mosaic Monday - to see the beautiful work of Mary and other wonderful contributors on Mosaic Monday, please click on the link -  http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

For the love of roses

 Photographing roses is one of my favourite past-times...this is one of the iceberg variety from my garden. It has quite a small flower. I love the way the light comes through the petals in this photo.

The rose is the enduring symbol of love and friendship. It is also like the circle of life. It starts as a tiny bud that gradually unfolds, grows, changes, evolves, and then blooms to display its full potential and radiance. Just like our lives - as we grow and are nurtured, we gently unfold and reach the potential of our full bloom. Each step is precious and beautiful. As we look at the rose we can see on the outside the petals that have already evolved but in the centre is the richness of life that is still to come to us if we open up our hearts and minds. When I photograph the rose I seek to capture its perfection and the inner beauty and promise of what is to come. 

I have been experimenting with some collages of this beautiful rose through Picasa. I don't always get the boxes the size I want them, as the program does it for you, but it is interesting to move the pictures around to achieve the final result. I hope you enjoy them. Thankyou for visiting. 

This post is part of Mosaic Monday. Please visit the work of Mary and other contributors, on Mosaic Monday at Little Red House - click here to visit - 

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Mosaic%20Monday

Christmas is forever...........

 A dear friend wrote this beautiful quote in her Christmas letter, and I share it with you, and wish you all a wonderful 2011.

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,

For living, sharing and giving are not to put away

Like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.

For the good you do to others is the good you do for yourself.

Be grateful for life’s many gifts, live life to the full and give love away each day, through good deeds, kind words, gentle touch and an open heart.

The joy of spring , love and life - Mosaic Monday

The joy of spring has come to my garden and the promise of summer days.

As I wander about my garden today, taking photos of the beauty I find there, I think of the preciousness of life, the joy of living, the importance of accepting every precious moment as a gift and doing the very best we can with our lives and treasuring those we love.

I am sending special thoughts to my several of my dear friends who have recently lost a loved one. I hope they will treasure and hold close to their hearts the special memories they have, and know that their loved one is till with them.

Yesterday is history,

tomorrow is a mystery, 
and today is a gift; 
that’s why they call it the present.

Eleanor Roosevelt

This selection has been presented for your enjoyment as part of Mosaic Monday. Please click on the link to visit Mosaic Monday at Little Red House and see the work of other wonderful contributors. Mosaic Monday at Little Red House