Hello Sweetest Bloggy friends in existence!
Happy New Year!! 
I hope you have all enjoyed time with people you love over the holiday period.
We spent the Christmas week at Baldersleigh - on an eight thousand, (yes! 8000!!) acre property, with 6 km of creek frontage, all by ourselves. Delight!
At 4330 feet above sea level, it was sumptuously cool for mid summer days, and just plain cold at night.
We like to sing, and found we need to make a family song book. It was surprising how often we thought we all knew a song, only to find at least one or two members didn’t know some of the verses.
We listened to One of the Twenty-Eighth by Henty as our read aloud. Next holidays I will choose the read aloud in advance and record it using Garage Band or Audacity, so I can still see the country flying by as we travel in the car, and taking the hard copy, can continue evenings around the fire.
We explored the creek (a vital, vital part of summer holidays!!)
We shot targets. :)
My camera, tripod, and I spent a lot of time in the creek. With Mr BB there to ensure no one drowned, or was run over by a stray cow, or any other such catastrophe, I took my own sweet time to experiment. Luxury!
We drove the six hours home only to face a two-hour drive to the Chess Ball the following day. This, friends, is insanity, and will never happen again. To get home from hols in the evening, wash the 13 tonne of clothing that is the inevitable result of a week away, get the house into “overnight guest respectability” (Did I mention we also had overnight guests?!) deal with hair for the chicklettes, and be out the door at midday the following day meant I rather felt like crying (or at the very least sleeping! Actually.. no, I really did feel like crying!!) by the time we made it to the ball.
We live and learn.
Thank you, friends, for your encouragement and friendship over the past year. It is my privilege to have the dearest of bloggy friends!
I wish a joyful year to all for 2012!
Jan 01, 2012 @ 14:11:15
Good times! Good times! Gorgeous pics of both the creek etc and the ball. You are obviously a pretty organised mum!
We have not been away but are enjoying the holidays as well.
Jan 01, 2012 @ 14:12:42
OOps…Ruby
All the best for the New Year!
Jan 01, 2012 @ 20:11:16
Thank you, Ruby. I have become more organised with each child, but holidays, and the ball, and guests to stay, was actually too much for me. I can’t imagine what I was thinking!!
Holidays at home sound wonderful. We’ve just come in from spending the morning in a rainforest, and the afternoon at the beach. Very, Very soon I will be looking for some serious “home” time.
Thanks for your visit!
Jan 01, 2012 @ 19:18:29
Happy New Year to you Mrs BB, and your lovely family. I LOVE the creek shot … just glorious. Is that the Irish Chicklette in the last photo, or your second eldest daughter? Either way, my goodness – growing up so fast, and so beautiful! Sigh … how I wish we had balls in our little neck of the woods. Maybe I will have to plan one myself some day.
I hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you all, full of adventures aplenty.
Love, Fee x
Jan 01, 2012 @ 20:20:16
Thank you, Fee!
The ball shot is Miss 13, my second daughter. Yes.. growing up. I have lots of mixed feelings about that whole losing my babies thing. Though, I did chat to Mr BB today about what kind of car I would like when I can drive something that doesn’t have to accommodate six… there are compensations to every phase of life, I guess. (I suggested a WRX STI would be just the ticket.
)
I think you should try planning a regency garden party first, Fee. That would be a little less stressful than a whole ball, but still give you an opportunity to play ladies with the costumes and pretty china and such, and mean you don’t have to find someone who can teach the dances. A spot of croquet instead, perhaps?
xx
Jan 02, 2012 @ 00:40:30
Mrs BB,
Beautiful photography as usual. Hmm…somewhere cool during summer? That sounds like my place to holiday!
How on earth does one begin to organise a regency garden party? We’ve hosted “Boxing Day Cricket Matches” in the horse paddock, Baptism BBQ’s in the backyard (yes I know, infant Baptism…we live and learn), and a 30th in the Shed, all of which are at least two life times ago. Maybe, just maybe, I might start to research the idea… 2012 is a brave new year!
Miss Fee..if you have any tips, please share!
From our household to yours, may you have a safe, blessed, and photographically sensational 2012.
Bye for now,
Heidi
Jan 03, 2012 @ 20:30:49
(yes I know, infant Baptism…we live and learn)
You make me laugh, Heidi, you do. You’re a treasure!
Maybe, just maybe, I might start to research the idea… 2012 is a brave new year!
Give me notice, (you know, the whole two weeks in writing!) and I’d come help you!
Jan 06, 2012 @ 01:25:53
Given that my little Miss in only 7, I’m thinking it might be a few years off yet. Her next BIG birthday party will be in 2014 – when she turns 10 – so perhaps a garden party might be possible then. Can you wait that long??!! Fee
Jan 02, 2012 @ 09:06:11
So much to comment on… but I can’t stop looking at the 4th photo – the creek water. I love how you’ve managed to capture the moving water. You are very clever. Shutter speed?
Hehee, forgive me? On your photo blog I commented about books and now here I am commenting about photography.
Jan 03, 2012 @ 20:39:39
Thanks, Our Susan. I had a such a luxurious time playing with my camera without the usual pressure to hurry, or only have half a mind for it while watching the little ones.
Here’s the technical details:
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/14.0
ISO speed: 100
You can also try this out by using the TV function on your camera. Well worth a play.
I have to confess that I can only make this work when it’s overcast. I haven’t been able to work out how to do it when the sun is shining brightly, without completely blowing the whites.
Hehee, forgive me? On your photo blog I commented about books
Yes, I am about to go over there and make my, ahem, confession.
Jan 03, 2012 @ 21:13:11
Oh wow, thanks so much for that. And thanks for the tip about the TV function. Never heard of it yet and never used it.
Jan 03, 2012 @ 21:33:42
Have a hunt for that function, and a read through your manual. It’s a quick way to learn something fun and new that you won’t ever get shooting on auto.
I’ll be watching my in box for some waterfall/fountain shots!
Jan 03, 2012 @ 19:46:49
I had a quiet New Years Eve. New Years Eve proved to be a brief respite from Aftershocks. I am looking forward to what 2012 has to offer. Unrelated there is a interesting series Godfree Bloggers.
http://adventuresofholly.com/category/godfree-bloggers/
I invite you to have a read if you wish. My guest entry in the series will go up in a couple of days time.
Jan 03, 2012 @ 20:43:27
Hello Luke!
I’m glad to hear New Years brought you some reprieve. You really seem to be having a time of it over there.
I will pop over to Holly’s and have a look.
Jan 04, 2012 @ 18:45:11
Mrs BB, I just reallized it is almost a year since the floods and my would-be (or is that would-have?) visit to you! how time marches on…
Love your photos; getting better all the time. DS20 has just got himself a Canon 60D with several accessories, including a ring flash. Takes awesome pics of …… bugs…..oh well…Anyway, I’m gunning to get him to read the user manual and then teach me. I’m thinking I’m pretty blessed to have a son who will let his mother have a go at his latest toy. Will let you know if anything worthwhile eventuates.
Bless you dear Mrs BB, and your family, in the coming year. Will try to stay in closer contact in this one.
elle xxx
p.s. if you really are feeling brave, you might want to check into covenant baptism, as opposed to infant baptism
Jan 05, 2012 @ 11:36:19
Hello dear Elle,
Yes, couldn’t help thinking of your almost visit as the new year came around again.
A 60D – nice! (no, cough! camera envy here, or anything..)
p.s. if you really are feeling brave, you might want to check into covenant baptism, as opposed to infant baptism
Mrs BB runs, screaming, with her hands over her ears and wearing a look of mortal terror…..
laughing!
Maybe when the year calms back to regular duties. Just maybe.
You’re a treasure!
xx
Jan 04, 2012 @ 18:47:05
Oh dear, that lexrex21 should read ‘elle’. Are you able to fix it, lol?
Jan 05, 2012 @ 11:40:17
Done! (You must have caught that from Ruby!)
Jan 05, 2012 @ 13:03:48
thank-you
x