Lost Aussie on the loose

A Wet and Wild July 4th

After a little research, DH and I decided to venture off to the US National Whitewater Center to celebrate 4th of July and take in the local color and watch/photograph the fireworks.

All augured well to start, clear sunny skies and the usual thunderstorms of late, thankfully absent.

The Center showcases a man-made course of Class 1 and 2 white water rapids and I garnered quite a few fun images of the rafters and solo canoeists.

There were live bands, good food and locally brewed beer and the wait for nightfall was by no means tedious.

However with dusk along came the clouds and the sharp crackle of lightening and thunder.  Shortly thereafter, the heavens opened and down came the rain.... Cameras and tripods were hurriedly drawn to shelter and we scooched under the eaves attempting to stay dry - without success I might add.

Out came the trusty iPhone  to record the moment....

Eventually the rain stopped and we dashed back out, cameras and tripods at the ready, only to be thwarted yet again as the rain came back.

Eventually the fireworks started, amidst the pouring rain and us left enjoying the show through a veil of water.

And one barely snaggable shot, which looked like this .... UGH!!

So I might not have got the fireworks shots that I wanted and lost a favourite pair of shoes (as they were totally sodden and trashed getting back throught the mud to the car) .... but it was a pretty fine day regardless.... and I hope your July 4th was full of sparkle and delight!

A Little Blast From The Past

Fossicking  through old photo albums, as one is wont to do when family are about, for a little show and tell (and embarassment!)... and came across one filled with pix of me when I was VERY much younger.  I must have been 7 or 8 when this photo was taken and my sister about 4.  We were living in Bunbury, Western Australia at the time and as far as I can recall, the first and last time I sat on Santa's knee.

Not sure what I wished for way back then, I think it might have been a second hand bicycle, but this year it's all about Fish's Eyes....and not the wet smelly sort!

In Search of Santa

Apparently 52% of the population believe in Santa, and if you were in any doubt that he exists, we found him in many guises last weekend traipsing around New York during Santacon ... and...in many shapes and sizes, so I guess you could just take your pick...

He even appeared on a skateboard ... along with another curious creature caught out in red....

A Little Seasonal Fun

I'm oh so busy with the Family at the moment and feel a little sad that I have so few moments to post to the Blog or to take pics....

but while my 'glory boys' are here, well, I have to make the most of it, as I am sure you understand...

So for those faithful followers who do keep peeking back now and then, here's a little video experiment....crafted with some photos that I have taken recently....

 

 

Music Credit http://www.jamendo.com/en/artist/427932/ccmixter-jamendo

Enjoy.....

And Then There Was Seven...

Our merry band of two sons and two girlfriends have been added to by way of another "mum"  from Australia joining the band to become a semi-permanent member of our Christmas gaggle! Tripping around NYC today we could have made for a grand photo-walk group, and probably did.

We started our day by heading down to Union Square Christmas Markets where I snapped some images and moments that caught my eye.....

and then one or two that were a little more "usual"

and then some that I just had to "wreck" in Photoshop.....starting with a Pop-Up-Shop window decoration...

and ending with....

A grand day out by all accounts and a few nice snaps to add to the collection! :-)

Getting Decorated

Our Christmas Tree is finally UP!  Some years, the years when the boys are not here I can barely drag a box of Christmas decorations out and feel all surly and sour about the whole "thing" .... but the times they are here I love to get our tree out and see it primped in all it's glory!!

A labour of love and a certain amount of pedantic perfection required.... so many strands of white lights in the middle, so many coloured ones on the outer branches.... I'm picky (ask David!)

But when it's up and done I savour it so.
Quite the hotch potch of ornaments as they all have a meaning and a memory attached.  Garnered from Kindergarten years to present day, and each year we add a new one.  This year it's a glassy whale from Anthropologie - to symbolise the shape of Long Island (a la Greenport Brewing Company).
Definitely not your average Home and Garden cover material, but I love it anyway.

Then there are 4 boxes of "decorations" for the house.  A collection of Santas (for him) and a collection of Snowmen (for her).

A little over the top perhaps, but when I first came to America I was mesmerised at all the wonderful and (inexpensive) decorations and quickly amassed and rather large collection.

Fortunately these days I limit myself to the one new ornament a year but I still enjoy unpacking the different bits that have been garnered over time and perphaps even more so this year as I have in my mind's eye a little photographic whooppee to make with the tableaus that I create....

Somehow I think the Snowmen will win and feature on the Christmas Card this year.... or perhaps the Santa......

What do you think?

Catching Up

Since #2 son and his girlfriend arrived on Wednesday, we have enjoyed Thanksgiving with a fabulous and festive feast with  friends, done the grocery and laundry thing, walked Caumsett Park, peeked in at the Mall, had Brew Pub dinner and caught the latest Bond episode at the Movies, AND completed some leaf blowing, window washing chores around the house.

Tomorrow we are going into NYC to check out some of the Holiday sights and do the 'tourist' thing with our guests.

These snaps are from a recent visit to Bryant Park where the Winter markets and Ice Rink are in their full seasonal glory.

Even a week or so later since I took the pictures, it's much chillier and we are having to sift through the collection of gloves, coats and hats to kit out our less than "winterized" antipodean visitors!

North Eastern Chill is a whole new language as far as they are concerned!!

Be interesting to see if we can get them up on skates and who wobbles and who falls....

The "Holidays" Are Here ...

Like clockwork, my neighbours across the street have their house adorned and ready for the Holiday season.  And you know you have a serious camera addiction when you are stepping down the driveway at 11:30pm at night in Ugg slippered feet, clutching your tripod and camera - to catch a shot of the lights!

I've a mind to print a copy and put it in their mailbox and see if they'd like to use it for their Christmas Card!!

Anyway, to all my American friends, here's wishing you a festive start to the Holiday Season with Thanksgiving today.  We are going to be spending the day with friends, tasting a little turkey no doubt and toasting with a little red wine for sure. 

Wishing for peace (everywhere), harmony (particularly in Washington DC), and health (for all) ...and being thankful for friends, family (near and far) and for the sturdy roof over our heads.

 

Happy 4th of July

(stock image credits: stock.xchng.com)

To all my American Friends and Family ..... here's wishing you a Happy 4th of July! 

May your day be filled with sunshine, laughter and love and your night sky filled with explosions of color and wonder!

oxooxxo

 

Welcome 2012