Hello Bloggy friends!
Happy 2011 
I hope you all have had a restful time over the break ( though holidays are not so conducive to rest, are they?) We generally school straight through this time of year, but so far we’ve been.. too busy!
We enjoyed a farm stay on the Clarence River. It was great, despite flooding and window-licking cows, and is definitely somewhere I would go again.
It was full of pretty places,
and did I mention… cows?
We battled home through flooded roads, landslides, and traffic backed up for miles – an adventure I’m not in a hurry to repeat.
I know it’s blurry, but after nine hours in the car – and then only being half way home – my brain was blurry, too.
We made it through in time to attended our first ever Regency Ball. It was a LOT of fun! (But more on that later… 
)
This morning our first ever Wanderer/Monarch butterfly emerged. The three previous had all been stung, so we were extra pleased to see this one survive.
In a short while one of my dear internet friends and two of her children are coming to stay at the Bluestocking abode, and we are all looking forward to that event. It’s an especial bonus that there is an entomology student in their number! :D
That sums up our holiday activities, and then it’s plunging back to school in earnest. But that can wait for just a bit longer… we’ve too many things to do to have time for serious study just now! ;)
Jan 05, 2011 @ 15:05:58
Hi BB
You certainly make the most of your holidays!
Can’t wait to hear more about the Regency Ball…Miss BB looks sooooo beautiful! xx
We attempted to observe the emergence of a *ahem* moth over the holidays…it didn’t quite work poor thing
but now I have a whole lot of…oh, wait a minute… might not be allowed… will tell you later 
Looking forward to delving into 2011 with you!
Blessings xx
Jan 05, 2011 @ 15:17:56
but now I have a whole lot of…oh, wait a minute… might not be allowed… will tell you later
Oh! You big tease!!
Email me.
Quick!
xx
Jan 05, 2011 @ 15:24:15
LOL! Ok…
Jan 05, 2011 @ 15:56:29
Oh. how beautiful your daughter looks!
Hope you’re not too affected by the flooding, Mrs BB.
We’re trying to do school too, and are finding the same difficulty you’re having. Too Busy!! How do we ever fit lessons in?!!
Jan 05, 2011 @ 20:02:20
Jeanne, thank you!
We had a shocking time getting home – first stranded in Warwick; then stuck between Warwick and Cunningham’s Gap; made it through to find the way impassable at Aratula; finally braving a LOT of flooded roads/bridges – some we would never have attempted had not there been a few cars ahead of us to gauge the depth – the end of it all being that the last desperate leg of the race was only just in time; the road home was completely impassable 2o mins after we had been through. The whole experience made me grateful for the CB radio (which I may have been guilty of mocking Mr BB for buying in the past – but those days are gone!) and the 4WD. And my Calvinist theology
As for school – I seriously wonder how we will start again! Perhaps I will have to institute a natural learning phase for a while…. (innocent whistle…
)
Jan 05, 2011 @ 18:52:13
*breathing again*
Not having heard from you in such a looooooong time and then hearing that Queensland has been flooded (here in Germany they say: the flooding takes up an area as large as France and Germany combined… that is a lot of water…), we go to wondering and then to worrying!
So glad to read you are doing well and what lovely pictures to show for it! Should have known you were off with your camera enjoying life and avoiding the muck of the flood.
Blessings to you and your precious family for 2011. May God prepare you for all the challenges and surprises he has set out for you!
Jan 05, 2011 @ 20:13:52
Andrea, thank you for such a lovely comment!
While we had our dramas travelling (even the river we were staying by was in flood – but that only meant no canoeing and no fishing, but lots of staying indoors reading by the fire, or adventuring out in very slushy conditions), here at home, while much of our city floods, our house is very high and I doubt it has flooded since Noah’s day.
Not all are so well situated, and in the towns we drove through, there had been quite a few houses evacuated. It’s amazing to see the damage water can do. You expect to see mud and refuse after the incredible amount of water passes through, but to see what it can do to a road – it’s quite a source of destruction.
Thanks again for your kind words, and may God bless you and keep you in this new year xx
Jan 05, 2011 @ 19:59:26
All the best for 2011 BB. All of your pics are gorgeous as usual!
How are you fairing as far as the rain flooding goes. More rain forecasted for tomorrow.
To Andrea,
Plenty of floodwaters in my part of this big country.
Jan 05, 2011 @ 20:28:50
Hello dear Ruby
Although we are wet, wet, wet! we are fairing well. My biggest concern, and yes, I confess this is shallow in light of what others are suffering, is that a new possum has moved into my roof! You can’t imagine how I am praying for his long life and good health – until I can get someone to remove him!
No softhearted, nature sensitive response to this nocturnal invader – I want him out – before he dies like his predecessor, and stinks so bad I’m in danger of entering my own eternal rest.
I hope you are safe and sound, Ruby. I shall wander over and check to see if you have posted a report, as you say it is soggy where you are..
May 2011 be full of delight in Him and the blessing He has bestowed upon you! xx
Jan 06, 2011 @ 03:25:38
BB,
Did you have a nice hike near the creek you too that shot at? It looks very inviting. I can’t really tell how many tree are behind there to forage through though. Glad you had a nice time.
- Eric
Jan 06, 2011 @ 21:31:45
Thanks, Eric.
I’d have to call it a scramble, more than a hike. Much of the creek bank was precipitous, and with the rain, quite slippery. There were plenty of open spaces for rambling along the river, though, so I enjoyed being out exploring.
Hope your break was as fun as mine!
Jan 06, 2011 @ 07:48:37
Hello there Mrs BB – what magnificent fun you’ve been having! Your Miss Bluestocking looks most beautiful. Stunning.
xo
Jan 06, 2011 @ 21:36:53
I’ll have to send you a pic of Mr BB – I dare not post one here. He looked quite dashing, but he certainly did grumble about dressing up, and flatly refused to get out of the car when we stopped for coffee in Oakey.
I hope you’re surviving the whirlwind that is your current lot! (and wish that I could hug your dear selfy in real time!)
Jan 06, 2011 @ 11:57:20
As usual, your photos are STUNNING! Can we talk cameras for a moment? What sort do you have? I have a camera. It’s not new but taking photo’s is a new hobby of mine. I’m not too good at it and I don’t have a steady hand but I want to get better. Any tips or links?
What is the Regency Ball? Miss BB’s hair looks *gorgeous*!
Natural learning phase… for awhile? Cough cough, splutter… there is no such thing, m’dear!! Not for awhile… but for life!
This is the first year in 7 years that we have NOT gone away for a softball tournament… and I feel lost.
Don’t quite know what to do with myself. And whilst going away is hard work I quite like it. 
Loved hearing about your happenings.
Jan 06, 2011 @ 22:23:55
Hello Our Susan,
I have a Canon 1000D and I quite like it, but that’s no real recommendation because before that I had a little pocket point and shoot, so don’t have much experience to compare it to. From a technical perspective, I’m quite hopeless. You know what I’m like with my computer – this poor baby doesn’t even begin to have it’s capacity challenged – and my camera is the same. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble picking up that side of things, being of a technical turn of mind as you are!
In general you apply many of the same elements and principles of design that you use in other areas to compose your pics, and I imagine you will do quite well on that score, too, having plenty of design experience.
If I had to pick one tip only, it would be… Really, really look to see what will be in the frame. I know it sounds simple, but you know how in sport people tell you to watch the ball, and don’t take your eyes from it? Well, even though it sounds as basic as the advice about the ball, it makes that much difference to your picture, if you remember it. Just as you would re-arrange a platter of food, or a webpage, or your lounge room furniture, to achieve balance, harmony, a focal point, etc, so you must re-arrange your picture to achieve the same things, and if you can’t move your subject, look for a way to move yourself to get a different point of view in order to achieve those things.
Oh, who seriously expects that I am capable of saying just one thing? I know you know better!
So… second thing I have to say is watch the light. Very early morning or late afternoon the light can make the most ordinary things look beautiful, while full sunlight can make a beautiful girl look like a dog, and make it hard to capture detail in scenery.
If you join the Australian Photography Forum, there are lots of friendly people there who will help you out when you get stuck with something, and they have also posted useful and simple tutorials for beginners.
Digital Photo School have truckloads of good articles, too.
If you want a reason to practice, join one of the photography ’rounds’ kind of blog games such as Sunday Stills, or Photo Hunt, or the Digital Photo School have a theme you can work at and everyone posts the results.
What kind of photography are you most interested in?
Glad you like the wee one’s hair – I will post some more pics showing the ‘how to’ of this style and the Chicklette’s, when things slow down here.
The ball was held by friends we met at the Jondaryan Woolshed back in August. Each year they have an historically themed costume ball, all candle lit and pretty, and.. it was quite an experience! They chose the Regency period for summer because it lends itself to cooler costumes, and I am glad for a gentle introduction to historical balls, because it was a bit of a scramble to get everything ready before going on hols. It was a wonderful night, and the girls were in raptures
Natural learning phase… for awhile? Cough cough, splutter… there is no such thing, m’dear!! Not for awhile… but for life!
Heheehee.. knew I’d draw someone with that remark
No softball!?!
(must be a story behind that.. are you sharing?)
x
Jan 07, 2011 @ 09:19:00
@ BB it sounds like you had a good break away . We have had hot and humid windy weather with the odd aftershock thrown in from last September 7.1 earthquake.
Jan 07, 2011 @ 21:44:02
Luke, I did have a great break, thank you.
I missed hearing about the earthquake – had to google it after reading your comment. Did you suffer any damage as a result?
Jan 08, 2011 @ 03:03:32
nice pics
that Monarch… what colors!
Jan 08, 2011 @ 10:18:30
Hi BB,
I have a Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd and I do not know what on earth I am doing. I am learning- teaching myself something new! And yes, I am having trouble with the technical side of things. I know you said I probably wouldn’t but I am!
I practice a few times per week, whenever I can really. I just don’t have that natural knack of being able to naturally ‘frame’ my shots or get the best angles… I’m hoping that will come with practice.
I’m also having difficulty in getting clear pictures… I need to learn more about the manual settings rather than the auto function.
And yes, lighting- I can see how it is so important but I need more practice. I’m really enjoying the Digital Photography School articles and getting a lot out of them.
This interest started really because I am so tired of web design and I want to get outside more. Plus, I want to take some lovely photo’s of my children and their, ahem, *friends*.
(And yes, there is a story to be told there) So whilst I am practicing on nature and flowers and animals I really want to be able to take (eventually) beautiful family shots that will save my children a small fortune one day.
Do you have your children pose for the above shots or did you just happen to be fortunate with the click timing? Do you use a tripod? I am very shaky- I’m reading and learning heaps about how to get steadier but the fact is, I have a shaky hand.
Jan 09, 2011 @ 00:55:27
Happy New Year Mrs BB. Commiserations on another potential possum intruder in the roof. I hope you managed to have him evicted?
Glad to hear you are OK with the current weather conditions over your way. Very weird weather over this way also with flooding in Carnarvon, north of us.
Susan, you might like to look at The Pioneer Woman’s Photography site. She did an excellent series of articles on aperture which I found very helpful.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2008/05/what-the-heck-is-an-aperture-part-one/
Photography is a lot of fun … but also can be very frustrating if things don’t seem to be going quite right!
Looking forward to more pics and details about the Regency Ball Mrs BB. I can imagine it would have been enchanting.
Fee x
Jan 09, 2011 @ 09:02:18
Thanks Fee!
Jan 10, 2011 @ 09:16:21
@ BB my Caravan is fine I didn’t even lose a dinner plate to the Earthquake . Below is a link to some pics I took of the damage in my area I hope that it opens for you .
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=71889&id=1652917473&l=e760275f4b
Jan 11, 2011 @ 10:28:51
Hey BB,
Are you ok… are floods headed your way?
Jan 11, 2011 @ 13:36:03
Hello lovely friends!
Thanks for your comments, and sorry for the time it’s taken me to get back to you all. I was stranded at my mother’s for a bit (girls, you can only imagine what a hardship it was find that I was going to have to chill out at Mum’s, with my little sister, while Mr BB stayed home looking after the knee-hi’s. Yes, it was a trial…
)
Of course, I am glad to be home now, as last night was quite devastating in the area where Mum lives. There were people floating down the river on top of their houses, and more calls for help than the emergency services were able to deal with. There’s been a lot of cows floating past, too, poor things.
Today, safely home, we’ve done the panic buying thing. The queue at the servo for fuel has cars lined up down the street, and it’s a mad house at the supermarket. And still it keeps pouring rain!
But to your comments…
Vimal, thank you. We have some more butterflies here that I hope will hatch safely.
Susan, you’ll be up with the techy stuff in no time. I know it
While you are practicing, by all means experiment. If you are actually wanting something to turn out that you won’t get a second chance at, you could try using the auto settings and put it on to “sport”, as this will take the picture faster, reducing the blur. You could also be sure to use your flash in low light (if your camera is set to auto flash, it will probably pop up each time you are in a situation that needs it) and this will also reduce the blur.
As for framing shots, you will get better with practice. Be sure to look critically at pictures you like: browse photoblogs, old calendars, anything with good photos, and decide what makes them good. When you have time to experiment, fill the frame, then take it back by degrees. You will soon get a feel for how much space will set off your subject – until then, hedge your bets and get close, then move away. Try some high (especially if you are shooting girls) and try some down low (great for shooting toddlers) and if you are doing portraits, try to get as much distance between your subject and the background as you can.
None of the shots above were taken with a tripod, though I do use one sometimes. If the subject is going to sit still for me (and is easily accessible, which the waterfall was not particularly) then a tripod is a great help. If I want the freedom to move around (shooting toddlers, birding, at a party) then I don’t bother with one. If I am doing macro stuff, I really need it as the camera is too heavy and the depth of field too shallow to allow for the shakes. I also use one when doing group shots or family shots, as you can use a remote and so interact with the group and see if any duffers are blinking.
Fee, I might yet revise my “we’re all o.k with the flooding thing”! As for the possum…. with roads cut everywhere and disaster becoming the norm, there is not a trades person or possum remover to be had for any amount of money. Please pray with me for this possum’s long, long and healthy life!!!!
Luke, after seeing your pics, it’s amazing that you came out of it so well. I’m guessing the water everywhere is from burst pipes? or is it underground water released? (No experience with earthquakes here, thankfully).
Thanks for your patience everyone, and hope you all stay well and safe while the weather continues it’s crazy play.
xx
Jan 12, 2011 @ 16:46:07
@ BB the water you saw in the pics is from liquefaction . The wet winter we had didn’t help matters at all .
Jan 12, 2011 @ 20:33:40
Luke, thanks for clarifying. I’ve been reading up about it (the liquifaction) and have to confess I’m learning about it for the first time. Thanks for sharing with me!