Life's path

A lot of changes have been going on in our lives lately, and we were talking today about how we plan the path we would like to take in life, but life doesn't always go to our plan. Sometimes our plan and path changes, and we either fight against the change or adapt to it. 

We all have challenges that we are given. And I am often reminded of something I read somewhere once -

"it is not the challenges that life throws in front of you that are important but how you deal with them".

In the process we meet and are inspired and helped by new people that come into our lives at that particular time. 

Then today I saw on the wall in a health worker's office this saying -

The Will of God will never send you to a place where the Grace of God will not protect you.

May you all have the strength to face the challenges that are set before you.

For Jeanie

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

Memories in old things....

During a project on Fllickr last week, and inspired by fellow photographer Lindyannajones, I went around my house photographing old things. Each of them holds memories from the past -

Clockwise from top right -
 pair of candle holders mounted on my wall, handles of salad servers from my mother-in-law, the basket weave of my grandmother's sewing basket, ribbon spool from old manual Imperial typewriter (I learnt to type on one of these at school), detail from a kerosene lamp, an iron stand, my grandmother's silk iron, keys from the Imperial typewriter, and in the centre my grandmother's silver thimble. The thimble dates from the late 1800 - early 1900s. The detail is exquisite - I treasure it.

If you wonder about the coppery tones on some of the objects, these photos were taken in low light so I upped the ISO so I could hand hold, ans this was the result!  I think the colouring suited the age of the objects.

and the handle of a silver serving spoon

 

I'm linking up with Mary and other wonderful photographers at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday - please click on the link to see their beautiful work -  Mosaic Monday - Little Red House

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

A walk around Bunbury's history, Western Australia

I took a walk around Bunbury the other day taking photos of architectural detail for an assignment on Flickr.
It really highlighted to me the many different eras of architecture we have in Bunbury.

The history of Bunbury and Australind began in 1803 when the first registered sighting was recorded by French Captain Louis Freycinet. The Leschenault Estuary was named after the expedition’s botanist, Leschenault de la Tour, and Geographe Bay after one of the fleet’s ships.

British interest dates from 1829 when a survey party from the Swan River Colony sailed down the coast and explored the area around Koombana and Vittoria Bays.  A military post was established at Port Leschenault in 1830. It was renamed Bunbury by Governor Stirling in 1836 in honour of Lieutenant HW Bunbury, who explored the area on his expedition from Pinjarra to Vasse. In 1838 Stirling leased part of his land in Bunbury to John Scott whose family became the first settlers. The Bunbury townsite was gazetted in 1841.

There are two Bunbury Heritage Trails which feature 58 sites of historical and natural interest. In the collage you will see some of the different styles of architecture -

Bunbury’s original post office, constructed with convict labour in the early 1850s.from limestone with a shingled roof (see detail of the roof second from the right bottom)

The Regional Art Galleries in Wittenoom Street is housed in the former Sisters of Mercy Convent and Chapel built in 1897 in Federal Free Medieval style, a blend of Gothic and Southern European architectural characteristics.(middle left)

An attractive part of the city’s streetscape is the Rose Hotel in Victoria Street built in 1865 and although extended several times, the two storey wrought iron verandah reflects Bunbury’s prosperity during the goldrush era. (middle right)

The building on the opposite corner was constructed in 1937.  Its symmetrical facade is typical of American art deco styling. (middle top)

The Grand Central Hotel built in 1900 is now part of the busy cappuccino strip and houses speciality shops.(center pic). And some decorative scroll work from the 1890's (bottom left hand corner)


The old railway station which features a bent-rail supported platform roof, now houses the Visitor Information Cenre (bottom right)   The building was constructed in the early 1900s following a fire that destroyed its predecessor.

The checkerboard lighthouse built in 1971 (top left corner)

The Bunbury Tower (bottom left), often called the "Milk Carton" for its distinctive shape and blue-and-white colours, is the major feature of the city centre's skyline. It was built in 1983 by businessman Alan Bond (who won the America's Cup from the American's in 1983.

Thankyou for looking. I look forward to hearing from you.

This is my contribution to Mosaic Monday at Little Red House - to see the wonderful work of Mary and other contributors across the world, please click on the link - Dear Little Red House

Close up filter magic

My dear friends gave me an arrangement of gorgeous gerberas on the weekend, so what could I do but photograph them!

ps - want to take a photo like this and don't have a macro lens - don't worry! - I don't have a macro lens either - instead use a close up filter. Taken with my 18-55mm lens with a close up filter, Aperture priority, indoors natural light, hand held.


Enjoy and have a wonderful week.

Cappuccino at the Grand....

The Cappuccino strip in Bunbury where I live is lined by old buildings and flowering trees. This is the old Grand Central Hotel built in 1900. This glorious old lady now houses speciality shops - boutiques, jewellery, handbags shops etc, and of course a cafe.
In the background of the third pic you can see a modern highrise. Old and new blending together....

and a cappuccino
and pear and blue cheese tart..........


I hope you all have a wonderful weekend with time for cappuccino with good company.

Corella pears - sweet & crunchy with every bite!

This is a delicious new pear variety, Corella, (well new to us) that we discovered at the Bunbury Farmers Market recently. I am going back to buy more. It is absolutely delicious, sweet and crisp. And such a gorgeous colour! I just had to take it out and photograph it before we ate them!

There are some new varieties of pears principally come from crosses between Corella, Guyot, Rogue Red and Butirra Precoce Morettini.

You should try them if you see them in your market.

This has been my contribution this week to Mosaic Monday at Little Red House. To see the beautiful work of Mary and other contributors please click on the link here - http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Thank you for looking. I look forward to hearing from you.

Umbrellas of sunshine

Joanna, a Flickr friend from New Zealand, described this photo of Chrysanthemun as "The Chrysanths look like umbrellas of sunshine" - so I wish you all happy sunshine days over the weekend.


Do you ever have a day where the whole day disappears while you "play around" with your camera? On Wednesday I had a day off work, and before I knew it the end of the day had come and my husband was walking in the door. I had spent the whole day taking photos and updating my blog! At least I had put the washing on the line!

This is one of my photos I took - a chrysanthemun. They always flower this time of year in time for Mother's Day. I have a big bunch picked from my garden in the house. I took this one with the light coming through the windows through the petals.

Wish I had a macro lens! This is taken with a "close up" filter on my lens.

Food photography in my garden

I have had a day off work today, and so have been playing around with some food photography. Here are some of the results all taken in natural light - the only additional light being from a silver reflector to throw some additional light into the picture.

I have been trying to learn as much as I can about food photography and have been inspired by the work of several food photographers and their web sites.

Here are Cardamon pods in an old food scoop given to me by my mother-in-law

Eggs in an old serviette embroidered by me when I was a young girl - note the cross stitch!

I like the morning glow on the eggs.

Snow peas in two old enamel mugs - the green one at the front is an old mug that my mother always used to put gravy in and kept hot on the wood stove while the roast was being sliced. Or to keep a left-over in the fridge.

Star anise - these sure did smell devine when I was photographing them!

Thanks for looking everyone. If you would like to comment I would love to hear from you and would really appreciate your feedback. Thank you.