… you were still a few weeks away. Instead I met and photographed your family and quickly came to understand that you were going to be adored. Treasured. Loved. Your family is one of the most ‘together’ families I have photographed. They laughed, played and sang together. They had fun. They genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. You will love being part of that…

Your biggest sister…

…big sister…

…mama and papa… They are so sweet to each other…
loving on you…

lots of fun and laughing…

there is a train of thought in the photography industry that says that you should show only the best of a series of images. I, however, cannot bring myself to apply that to my work 100% of the time. How can I decide between these three images? If they were mine I would want all three, hung side by side…

and these two…

my favourite image of this session…

and one that makes me smile… here your papa looks how my papa does when surrounded by the all the women in his life. Totally bemused, but loving every second…

In a few short months you will be heading home to the US where more of your family are waiting eagerly to meet you. I am sure your friends in Townsville will be sad to see you go. I, for one, am grateful to have had the opportunity, even just for a moment, to see how sweet, gentle and loving your family is.  

I can see that you are a beautifully sweet little thing from the images your mama has sent to me. I do hope that I get to meet you before you head home!

Fran x

Another simple wandering…

DJ: I love you Poppy.
Poppy: I guess so…

Last week you got sick. I wasn’t surprised because both children had been down with the sniffles and temperatures and general grumpiness. You didn’t look well, but you didn’t look too bad either. You still went to work, still cooked dinner, still tidied and parented. So despite the little complaints you issued forth and your general ‘quietness’ (and the little bit of grumpiness too) I simply thought you had a little cold – nothing too serious, nothing too debilitating (that’s for you Lee).

Well let me just say right here, right now – I am very, very, very, very sorry. Yesterday it hit me. I have not been this knocked out by sickness since the early weeks of Leo’s pregnancy when I got a cold and it took me three weeks to recover. Everything aches. It is hard to move. Holding the baby feels like I am trying to hold up the Story Bridge while 100 semi-trailers cross it. My throat feels like someone fed me razor blades. My head is exploding.

You, however, have managed to continue to care for me and your two still slightly grumpy children, function at work and then come home and also function here while you feel like this. You deserve a HUGE medal. Even now you have taken Poppy to get the shopping so I can sleep while Leo sleeps. You are a good man DJ. A very good man.

Love you,

Fran x

p.s. you have just come home with a coffee for me. Thank you!

Another simple wandering – some iphone photo love:

On Saturday Leo and I went to visit my Dad. We had been to a client meeting and on our way home we dropped in for a coffee and a chat. Leo got a bit restless and Dad (Pa) took him outside for a tour of the ‘pretties’. Known to most of us as the flowers in his garden,  to Pa and his grandchildren they have always been, and will continue to be, the ‘pretties’. 

This little ritual has never failed to calm and entertain my children. Something about being in the arms of their Pa, hearing his voice and being outside soothes them.  It is such a beautifully simple act and I (quite simply) want to make room for more of these moments in my life.

The life I want to enjoy includes simple solutions and enjoyments such as Pa’s ’pretties’ tour – small moments of being. More jumping on the trampoline; walking the dog; pottering in the garden. Less time here in front of the computer. Yes, I do recognise the irony of this moment!

It would be insane for me to think that my life could be simple in every sense. I may strive for that, but the truth is I would fail miserably. I do love my crazy, beautiful world. I would just like for it to include more simple, less rush.

Simple (to me) = time to soak up my children and their little ways
                     = contentment with this time, unclouded with thoughts of the jobs I am not getting done
                     = time to really understand who my children are and to give them the time to really know and understand who I am
                     = time for me, unclouded with the guilt that often assaults mothers who dare to take time out from work AND their children
                     = time for DJ and I to just be together
                     = time to think about family and friends, call family and friends, send small gifts to family and friends
                     = time to dream – big and small

Is it a surprise to me that simple = time?   Not really. I do feel like I never have enough of it, but as my lovely friend Suz reminded me – not many people do. Being busy and rushed and pushed is not mine alone.  It is also not a surprise that I feel like my life was much more simple before children, but that life also included a time when I lived in a community where most things were only five minutes away, when I didn’t spend two hours of my day driving, when I didn’t run my own business, when I had one job.

So to remind myself of what I long for, every post here is going to include a little gift to myself. A moment; a story; a memory. A simple wandering.  If you want to be part of this indulgence you will find them at the bottom of every post.

As I left my Dad on Saturday I took with me a bunch of gardenia ‘pretties’ from his garden. I have always loved gardenias; their perfume; their delicacy and the very pretty and complex manner in which they unfold. I would love to have gardenias beside my bed always. 

Then, on our way to the car I saw his little field of mini daisies. They looked so happy and pretty and simple. I grabbed a hand full. Daisies may seem simple – when children (and I)  draw daisies they have a round centre and petals – but when you get in close you can see their complexity and beauty. They are rarely perfect, but they are full of hidden treasures – you just have to look for them.

I might want gardenias by my bedside but I want my life to be a daisy.

Fran x
 

Today’s Simple Wandering: A scottish folk song, sung by Poppy

poppy sings ally bally 

Ally bally, ally bally bee,
Sittin’ on yer mammy’s knee,
Greetin’ for a wee bawbee, (crying) (a halfpenny)
Tae buy mair Coulter’s candy. (to) (more)

… be sure to check out Three Little Trees’  latest collection. It is fun and fresh and oh so summery.  The collection also happens to have been photographed by me and I am so happy to say has featured on the cover of both CWB magazine in the UK and the Bambini Pronto catalogue here in Australia… 

Some of my favs from this collection:

And just because I love her so and can’t help myself, here is an out-take of my girl. Not much of the clothing visible here but plenty of her beauty!

… to us you are happy, funny and very affectionate. To the outside world you can appear quiet and reserved. You have your moments of carefree abandon, but you are also a beautifully sensitive soul observing your way through life; wanting to make all things better. I love you ‘very so much’ monkey…

p.s. one thing you will need to know – see the little tag that says ‘pull’? Simply click on that and it will open up a whole realm of new opportunities. Don’t actually ‘pull’ it. Nothing will happen – one of the little works of progress. Fran x

…my gorgeous Leo, last night when we put you to bed you were happy and smiley and very awake. I was sure you would not sleep. We laughed outside your bedroom door as you cooed and ahhed and chatted away into the night-time… not 10 minutes later I kissed your sleeping face goodnight…

My blog will very soon be getting a face lift… YAY!

Until then I want my images BIGGER! So now that I am a flickr user (thanks Miss Sheye!) I thought I would give this a go. Let’s see if it works.

This is my Poppy and HER ‘Baby Ellah’. Ellah is HER cousin, NOT my niece apparently, even though her mummy is definitely my sister. This is the world of an almost three year old…

And because I have already had a few questions about the chair… The chair belongs to my Mum and Dad, or Poppy’s Granny and Pa actually (because we all know it is ALL about her). They have had this setting for as long as I can remember and talk regularly about replacing it, but it continues to sit loyally in the front lounge of their house. As kids we jumped on it, dove off it and made cubby houses with sheets around it… As teens we lazed and watched TV on it and hung out with friends on it… As adults we drink tea and chat on it and as a pregnant adult I occasionally have a wee snooze on it while Poppy is off in cahoots with HER Granny.

This setting isn’t as comfortable as it once was… The seat cushions are propped up with cushions underneath and the lumpiness is becoming more apparent with each visit – and each snooze. It could, however, tell a LOT of stories and is a bit like a favourite jumper that no longer keeps you warm because it is so threadbare – I love it anyway.
I plan to snaffle it when they do eventually replace it ( I can hear my husband’s shudder already – ‘where WILL we put it Fran?’). I do have three other siblings who may want a look in, but with two arm chairs, one three seater and two gorgeous ‘little people’ chairs I am sure we can come to an agreement

Have a great weekend.

Fran x

Yes, this wee man’s eyes really are that blue! His skin really is that soft, clear and pale! He really does smile ALL the time. This was one young man I didn’t have to work too hard to capture. He was a dream

As always, to see the images better click on them and they will appear in correct resolution…

You can see where he gets his beautiful smile from

Have a great weekend everyone

xoxo

Poppy is getting on in months… By the time we have our second bub she will be around three weeks off being three. This age has been such an eye opener for us. She is pretty much toilet trained, can tell us where she is sore, what she wants and how she wants it. She MUST wear a party dress EVERYDAY, MUST help us to butter the toast and MUST brush her own teeth. Most of the time she is a complete joy to behold and we love exploring this new territory with her.

On Valentine’s Day last week in honour of her new found interest in all things of the ‘big girl’kind, DJ pulled the bathroom stool into the kitchen and together they set about making pizza. Not just any pizza – but a heart shaped, dough and tomato sauce made from real ingredients, pizza. Poppy was in heaven.

I made the most of the opporunity and slunk away to the office to get some work done, but it wasn’t long before the aroma and squeals of delight drew me back. These are some of the scenes I came upon:

Oh the joy of mashing tomatoes through a sieve:

I love the little trace of tomato sauce on the corner of her mouth – in true chef style she tasted her creation as she went:

The concentration – making tomato sauce is important work

Finishing up the dough and saving some for next time (yum):

And the result:

It was delicious and didn’t last long, but I think for Poppy the real joy was spending a couple of hours in the company of her daddy. I don’t think it was a chore for him either. They a make a good pair

Hope your Valentine’s Day was just as lovely, heart warming and delicious.

Fran
xoxo