Photography

Stripes – a photo challenge with Hugh

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This is for Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge #9.

Stripes

This stripey ‘thing’ is crucial to my existence. Seriously. For one who is wary of the ‘elements’, this has come to my aid on many occasions. I agree that it is a little old-fashioned, but the old faithful remains alive and well, I don’t have the heart to be rid of it. So it’ll stay until it outlived its usefulness. 🙂

What is it?
[Updated: it’s an oil-filled heater or column heater as it is known here in Australia ☺]
 

– FlorenceT

 

© 2016 FlorenceT Copyright reserved. The author asserts her moral and legal rights over this work.

A tree from Australia…

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Here’s my Christmas tree… all the way from Down Under to be part of Colleen at Silver Threading’s Christmas Trees Around the World.

First, here’s the story:

It began with a colour theme, lovingly selected by my little star. “Red, white and silver”, she said. And so we did, retrieving the boxes from storage and sorting out the decorations. (There are baubles on the tree with names of each member of the family. They go on the tree no matter the colour theme.)

Having put the tree together, he who is now a young man highly attuned to what is trendy and/or unique, decided hanging the lights vertically or around the outer edge of the tree was passé.  And so with adoring sister, they came up with this.

“Let’s wrap the lights, all of them, around the tree trunk, so the lights would shine from within…”

And here is the result.

XmasTree

I am still not convinced… 🙂  Think a new trend will catch on?

– FlorenceT

 

© 2015 FlorenceT Copyright reserved. The author asserts her moral and legal rights over this work.

My little star – Hugh’s Charity Christmas Tree Topper Challenge.

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Things will be different this Christmas, and my intention is to not judge how it unfolds nor what it will be.

Yet much will be the same, like this star on our tree.

Tree

We took turns placing the star on our Christmas tree each year.  My little star, who is no longer little, is finally tall enough to do this without assistance. And I am officially the shortest in our family, for that I have to ‘thank’ my genes! 🙂

This Christmas is a time to reflect on the year past and to be grateful for the ease of transitions, for the lessons in strength and courage, for the acceptance of pain and hurt, for the discovery of gifts, for the wonder of emerging talents, for persisting wellbeing. Most importantly, gratitude for grace in being.

What will remain as they have always been, unchanging this Christmas, is the spirit of family, of togetherness and the bonds of love, sometimes unspoken but always felt.

This post is an entry to Hugh’s charity Christmas tree topper photo challenge on Hugh’s Views and News. This year Hugh has elected to give to the Dog’s Trust – a worthy cause indeed. So if you wish to participate and cheer Hugh on, click on the link above for information.

– FlorenceT

 

© 2015 FlorenceT Copyright reserved. The author asserts her moral and legal rights over this work.

In creativity…love.

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For as long as I have known her, she has been imaginative, she has creative flair and a way of about her which exudes confidence, a knowing beyond her age, and a discerning nature.

Sian's flowerThis is her love – creating a handmade thank-you flower.

Sian's painting Feb 15This is her joy – creating a painting to adorn her space.

Sian's blanket Feb 15This is her determination – creating a ‘no-sew’ blanket for personal comfort.

And I am blessed to be her Mum! 🙂

 – FlorenceT

 

© 2015 Copyright reserved. The author asserts her moral and legal rights over this work.

A perspective – there is no normal

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On a door in a house…

Door

Close up of some of the quotes:

Door 1

Door 2

Door 3

Door 4

Door 5

Door 6

So, what’s your initial reaction to the quotes?

Stop and then, what do you think of the messages?

What impression does the person who stuck these on the wall leave with you?

Wishing you good fun and joy,

– FlorenceT

 

© 2015 Copyright reserved. The author asserts her moral and legal rights over this work.

© 2015 Photography by FlorenceT

Writer’s Quote Wednesday – Solitude

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Silver Threading’s Writer’s Quote Wednesday 

Solitude & I

Guided by Silver Threading’s quote about the self of a writer, this one by Rainer Maria Rilke (an Austrian poet and novelist) caught my eye… and my heart and soul.

Solitude, something which I need and long for.  Without it, I suffocate.  I need my escape to a world of silence and being alone – where I let my mind wander, where my so-called inattention is not brought to my attention, where I play whimsy, where my imagination takes hold.

Solitude sustains me.

And so it is that I took this photograph (yes, that’s my shadow :-)) during one of my long walks on the beach during a recent family holiday.  Waking up early while the house is quiet, I tiptoed out the front door and headed to the beach.  Feeling the cold wet sand as I took brisk steps along the long stretch of sand, what bliss! Wandering barefooted into the surf, letting the sea water gently caressed as it came to shore.  I had a small window of opportunity – an hour before families headed down to the beach and the squeals and laughter of children were heard. Some yoga and meditation did not go astray.

So, solitude – my dearest friend. Do not stay away too long 🙂

– FlorenceT

© 2015 Photography by FlorenceT.  Copyright reserved.

© 2015 Copyright reserved. The author asserts her moral and legal rights over this work.

Here’s what’s on Top of my Christmas Tree – what’s on Yours?

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This is what is on top of my Christmas tree this year.  It’s a family tradition to have a star, to shine the way for the year ahead.  It is of course crucial to the nativity story, right? 🙂

And by posting this, I am helping Angela and Hugh raise up to £250 for charity.

Christmas star

I have a similar gold star. Depending on the colour theme for the year (yes, I do a colour theme each year!), either a gold or silver is placed on top of the tree.  My daughter decided the colour theme for this year: silver baubles and all colours for the other decorations.  A good time to let our traditional decorations out of the box!

Here is my tree for 2014:

Christmas tree 2014

Now, why not show what is on top of your Christmas tree? Post on your blog and help Angela and Hugh at Hugh’s Views & News to contribute to charity.  To find out what to do, go to Angela and Hugh’s post.

 

– FlorenceT

 

© 2014 Copyright reserved. The author asserts her moral and legal rights over this work.