1104

In Warburton there is a deserted building adjacent to, and I believe part of, the Signs Publishing House.  We've driven past the site a number of times and on each occasion it's filled me with a sense of not so much forboding, but given me a feeling of weight, of mystery I guess and if time is frozen in that space.

On this trip we stopped and I jumped the fence and took a few photos.  I love the architecture, I find it utterly appealing.  These may appear tenuous references but for me it reminds me of the supermarket scenes in Fantastic Mr Fox and also for the large scale works, particularly in supermarkets, of Andreas Gursky.

The contrast of the classic 70's bricks with the blue metal framed windows, the clock that stopped, everything about it is utterly bewitching.  I love that it's there, but it's empty, suspended.

1103

Cup Day meant a drive into Warburton and walking the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail.  Whilst it was a lovely outing, feel it's a walk better suited to bikes as the scenery a little monotonous for walkers. There were some very intriguing routes up the hillside, but with the wet weather we weren't dressed to deal with deep very squelchy mud.

A gorgeous part of Melbourne.

1102

Lunch with the foges at ours, the weekend just past.  No reason is a good reason to get together. Should always find a reason though, really, to enjoy being together.

1101

11 years old, another birthday, they seem to roll around super fast these... years.  The 10th , the 9th , the 8th, the 7th, the 6th , the 5th and 4th.   All those years on this blog, 8 years of birthdays, that's one of the things that makes it worth coming back to this space, if only irregularly these days.

The effort of getting her what she asks for, which is never too much, is worth it for the absolute pleasure she can't hide when it appears on the birthday morning.

So pretty and poised, every year growing more so as she grows into herself with confidence and grace.

Her dearest friends, so special every one of them and so important to her.  Girls I've watched grow up from kindergarten alongside Ella.  This year I noticed their conversation was turning a little, talk of boys, not emotionally but they were in the conversation, a subtle shift.  Mostly it was how stupid they were, but they were still given air time.  I can't imagine a time when these girls won't be friends, but who knows what the future will hold.

My oh my, so grateful for you Ella.  You came out midway through your party to me prepping something in the kitchen, looking a little sad and forlorn.  When I asked what was wrong you said you felt you were neglecting me, that you weren't paying me enough attention or including me enough.  Darling girl, so kind, always.  I am so lucky to wake up to you every day and go to sleep knowing you're safe in your room, that's everything I ever dreamt of and so much more.

1100

Love me, know I love clouds.

1099

Northern NSW, how gorgeous you are.

1098

Every holiday is different, mostly through the girls you realise how things are changing and recognise how to mix it up for the next trip.  This time we realised that wifi is important, that the girls do not currently enjoy sharing a bedroom, and that one bathroom is not ideal.

We were also reminded that we prefer the company of each others and our daughters over all others.  That's not to say we don't enjoy friends, family, as we do very much, but we're so lucky that our children are such a pleasure to us, so interested and interesting, so appreciative and increasingly adaptable.

1097

A Tuesday.

Cake for a dear friend helping out in a challenging time.
Everyday luxuries.
Mike's pomegranate coming into leaf.
Sisters.

1096

My darling Dad's 70th birthday celebrated with family this weekend.  There were pictures on display from the whole of his life, from him as a small boy, through the 60's and 70's with much longer very dark curly hair, to now.  I don't think either of my parents change much, they don't look any older/different to me, just themselves, but I concede that they have changed, although I feel only for the better.

We gather with my side of the family only a few times a year.  My eldest brother lives in the NE, as does one of his daughters and her family - the gorgeous mother of the two youngest in these shots, my great niece Aurelia and my great nephew newly arrived, Dristan.

It's lovely to get together, maybe because we don't do it so often it feels a real treat.  So lovely to see our girls with the chance to take care of little ones, something they both enjoy so very much.  Time seems to have gone so fast, I love where we are in our lives with our children but it so amazes me how quickly we seemed to leave that phase and get to this one, with children approaching young women.  I can only imagine how my parents must feel to have three generations in front of them!  I don't know that either of my parents expected to be a great anything, but we all are!

Happy Birthday Dad, it was a wonderful celebration of a wonderful man.

1095

A long absence I know.  Some declare that they're giving up their blogs, having mistreated and neglected them for so long.  I can't give mine away though, not completely, even if my habits suggest otherwise.  This space has meant so much to me, I should put more time into it, as much to prompt myself to keep taking photos of our gorgeous girls.

A weekend to Bendigo over the Queen's Birthday, a short trip, but such fun.  The girls outside the Chinese Museum, us in a doorway and my favourite Charles Blackman painting, so beautiful.