New camera

I got a new point and shoot camera and I am in love with it.  It's a Canon G15.  I was jazzed on getting the g12, but am very happy with this one.  The only difference is that the g12 has an articulating lcd screen and I probably would have broken it, so it was a better choice in the long run.  I'm hoping to have more free time to snap photos over the holidays.  I can't wait.  That is all I have to report.  Much love, Becky

20 Week Photography Challenge

In an attempt to nurture my creative side, I have decided to embark on the 20 week Photography challenge that I found at the following website...

http://www.astepinthejourney.com

(Image taken from http://www.astepinthejourney.com)

Eventually I will get around to getting my photography blog together, but for now, here's week one's product.  I have more, but it's a bit daunting to put such a close up picture onto the internet biosphere.  Let me know what you think about the colouring and execution, and please give ideas for improvement. x

Life

'Life isn't measured by the number of breaths that we take, but by the moments that take our breath away'- Someone profound.

I've always been a sucker for cool quotes...but I am not about to go pasting them all over my walls or my binder like I did in high school (maybe I should do that again, but then again no, I hate clutter).  I do like to paste a few in my brain for retrieval on specific days, months or years that I have had.  After an unbearable explanation, I'll get to the point, I love this quote...and have been feeling many of these moments of breathlessness lately (but in a good way of course).  Part of it is because, well, I love this man...he goes unnamed because he doesn't like the internet publicity (and I don't blame him, he is silently amazing). He makes me smile.  Here are two pics of us at the beach, our favourite place.  I hope you are all well and experiencing amazing moments that take your breath away daily.  Much love.

A Piece of Dirt

It's OFFICIAL!  We now own a piece of dirt...

Here is a photo of us and our 'SOLD' sign (I put my hand up on my hip...)

It may have lots of beautiful green grass and lots of Kangaroo Poo on it, but I am going to call it our piece of dirt.  Our very own piece of dirt.  We bought the open lot behind my parent's house here in Coff's Harbour.  When I say we bought it, I mean that we watched the real estate agent put the sign up and we were on the phone an hour later trying to make a deal...and within three days it was off the market.  As the official stuff is now over, the fun begins.  We have paced the lot, hammered a few stakes here and there and are dreaming of what we will create.  We get giddy just thinking about it all, yet overwhelmed because it's just a bit, well, overwhelming.  But most of all we are very EXCITED.  I will post more pictures as the project gains momentum, but for now I just want to say Yay!  

Fire Engine Red!

Since I got a new board, Janu had to get one too.  Except he had to get a flashy, fire engine red longboard!  I took 34582 photos of the event.  Enjoy!

 Look at that smile

 Before wax

 It was a team effort to wax it up.

 The sunrise was spectacular this morning, perfect to highlight the redness

 First ride!

 Second ride sequence 1

2

3

Sitting in Lake Michigan in Mullaway

Water shot, squinty but fun!

 Me! On a longboard, yay!

Beautiful Fall/Winter (more like chilly summer) day!

 Grant Newby is the legend that crafted this board. 

Although the summer has come and gone, the weather has been incredible.  We are still enjoying the luxury of warm water and soaking in the sun (with a hat on of course).  I hope this finds you all well and happy.  All the best. x

Surfboard!

 For the first time in about 4 years, I ordered a custom shaped board.  Yesterday, when I went to pick it up, I felt like a little kid in a candy store...giddy with excitement.  The board is an exact replica (or so close I hope I don't notice the difference) of a Neil Purchase Jr. board I picked up at a garage sale about 3 years ago.  I surfed the life out of that old board and it is hands down the best board I have EVER ridden.  All those times I claimed that a board was a magic board, well, I lied.  So I am hoping that this board is just as special.  

 How could you not love a new board...with blue fins (my favourite colour)

 I am sure you can see how excited I am by all the pictures I have posted.  I couldn't decide which angle showed off the pure beauty of the board.  I think all the photos are essential, and clearly you need to see a photo or two of me with my wave craft ;-)  Hopefully the next post will be of me surfing my new board.  x

Some wonderful tunes

Triple J (for my American friends, this is a national radio station here in Australia) has a weekly time slot called "Like a Version", where artists go into the studio and play a version of another artists' song.  Recently I discovered (well, figured out the band that belonged to a song I've been singing for a while) a great Australian band, Busby Marou.  Their version of Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna have fun" is awesome, so I thought I would share.  

Also, here is Xavier Rudd's version of Aloe Blacc's "I Need A Dollar".  I think both artists have similar voices..both very talented.  Enjoy!

What I've been up to

For the past two weeks, the semi-tranquil beaches of the Gold Coast were inundated with surfers, sponsors, a mini city of brand power consumer products and a whole lot of surf.  Now, when I say semi-tranquil, I mean a place that is usually relatively crowded became mind blowingly crowded beyond my comfort zone and possible the comfort zone of people who actually don't mind a small crowd. We braved the crowds to check out all that the Quicksilver Pro had to offer...namely the surfing.  I hadn't been to a contest since I attended the same contest about 8 years before and to say I was overwhelmed is an understatement.  It was too much for me, so we found a shady spot (somewhat away from the crowds) with an average view of the surf.  We were able to see the first and second turns / cutbacks / ripping manoeuvres (tried spelling that eight times before looking it up), but that was about it.  After filling out a 20 minute survey that had prize incentives, we had enough of it all.  We became wise and decided to go in the water and get a closer look.  There aren't many places that you can stand in the water with the surfers 100 metres from where you stand sinking in the sand. I enjoyed the view and found it to be an interesting and enjoyable experience.  My goal for this year is to follow the ASP tour and actually know who the surfers are.  I love playing / participating in sports,  but I am hopeless at following them :)

Shady Spot

Our view from the sand (if you zoom in with a microscope you will see Taylor Knox surfing)

Oh Yeah...I've been surfing too.  My dad took these photos from the beach with a point and shoot camera..go Juano!  Maybe next time you will get my super stellar cut backs...only jokes!

An Update

Hello...long time no see.  I have been busy reading other interesting blogs, but not finding any motivation in updating mine.  I don't have kids, I am not doing any travelling, I can't think of any house cleaning/decorating ideas to post for pinterest, my photos haven't been turning out the way I envision and I just don't have anything that exciting to say.  Okay...no more excuses.  I feel extremely lucky to say that I have no complaints.  I am healthy and plugging away at life.  Being the organised person that I am....I am three quarters of the way through the process of transferring all of my photos from my pc (that is sputtering and coughing through each start up) to my mac.  Both have treated me so well.  Thank you technological devices, I appreciate all your hard work.  Here are a few of the photos I have recently transferred.  Enjoy.

Sunset, Byron Bay, NSW

Sunrise, Broken Head, NSW

Sunrise, Broken Head NSW

Clouds, Wooli, NSW

Storm over Mullaway

Sunrise, Mt. Warning with a view of Cape Byron, NSW

Mt. Warning

Mt. Warning

Sunset...accidental crazy setting :-)