week twenty three // escape to the beach

The most relaxing little coastal escape together for a long weekend - our first time travelling since March.

The coast is slowly reopening after going through so much over the past few months (from fires to corona) and it felt like glimmers of normalcy were returning, with being able to travel and eat out and explore again! We have gained new appreciation for these simple pleasures and it was lovely to see so many other families enjoying the same.

Grateful for more family time, in a new location! Vitamin Sea does wonders for the soul :)

#project52 #coronadiaries #beachlife

week sixteen // one month in

A month of home isolation. And counting.

Family time getting more and more creative. Cutting loose with fun and crazy ideas, because why not!? Staying home except for the occasional trip to the supermarket (always eerie) and daily 'essential exercise'. So thankful for Canberra's wide open spaces at this strange time.

After diving into learning from home for three weeks, school holidays is upon us and we can relax a bit more and let the kids unwind while we keep finding our way with working from home and juggling all the associated guilt and intricacies of doing several big jobs at once, in whole new ways.

I think I am discovering what an introvert and homebody I really am as the staying home/not seeing anyone hasn't really bothered me at all, in fact it's been kinda lovely. But still, my heart and prayers go out to those more deeply affected and the fact is that we are all dealing with change and different challenges and rollercoaster emotions. Who can compare?

But there is light and love and joy to be found in every day (even the hard ones) and the silver lining is the slowing down and the grounding in good, quiet, simple things. God is good and I am thankful for an abundance of family time and getting to know each other in different ways, in strange times. But some things are still faithful and true!

#project52 #coronadiaries #thewaywewere

Sixty Days of Summer / Photography Challenge / Part One

I used my DSLR so little last year (2018, that is!) that I didn't even download the images between July and December - six whole months! (gasp). And I had only taken a few dozen in that time (barely anything compared to what I used to). So I decided to pick up my (BULKY!!) DSLR again for a self-imposed 'Sixty Days of Summer' Challenge - a photo a day through December and January. It is such a wonderful time of year (with plenty of light and plenty of activity and memory making) I knew it was a season worth capturing well.

And so I have! And the photos have often been dodgy and grainy but I continued anyway (I think my camera and lens are pretty old and need a service or upgrade. Well, I am half blaming my equipment when I am sure it is mostly my rusty skills!!!). I love using my iPhone these days and have faced the fact it is always going to be my primary mode of photography from here on in because let's face it - soooooo convenient! And I am too lazy to haul my big camera around anymore. But I just don't 'see' my children and take photographs in the same way with a phone as I do with my DSLR. Hence, my challenge to myself. Because this childhood is fleeting and precious and I have realised lately how much this documentation is for them as well as me - the kids look through our annual photo books almost every day! And now they say to me 'Can you take a photo for the phooto book!' haha. I realised belately I would have hardly any images to include this year. 

So, here is a daily photo (or two..or three)... starting in early December. I will post in batches as I get them edited. I knew that daily editing/posting at this time of year would just be an extra level of pressure I didn't need. So I committed to myself to take the photos, even if I wouldn't be editing until later!

It starts with Christmas Tree decorating...(I think this was actually late November but let's be flexible!)

Christmas carols....

Trampoline evenings...

(to be continued)....