Mini Humans and Ducks - 12 June 2011

Gosh, where do I begin. What an amazing week end. This time not so much through my looking glass! I took so few photo's this week end because I decided to interact without a camera in front of me. It was a week end of Mini Humans, soon to be Mini Humans, Get-together's and random meetings at parks. 

I never considered myself to be a "child person". For sure I have my own, and until him, I looked at small people and wondered why some people would actually pay to have them. Not like there is anything wrong with them, I just could not understand why people would willingly put up with poo, puke and tantrums, nevermind pay to put up with it. But I get it now. With all the Poo, Puke and Tantrums, there are smiles, sillyness and unconditional love that cannot be matched with anything - it is that unconditional. 

Tamara and some of her gifts for her Baby Girl on the way

Madison and her Balloons

I was privileged enough to watch 2 girls interact with one another yesterday. Very different to what I am used to. (I say this with the sounds of explosions coming from the lounge as Kelso makes one robot kill the other one.) Where was I? Oh Yes, Girls - Cat fight... love... cat fight... love... dolls... bags... cat fight... love.... Girls seem to have this love hate relationship with each other, I found that incredibly amusing because I never realized it started so early. Women love to hate each other. We are Best friends and worst enemies, often at the same time, all through life and can never get enough of the drama. I enjoyed them immensely, I got to nurse a sick doll back to health, wipe it's nose and build a puzzle out of piece of a broken polystyrene cup. And all this at a baby shower, hanging out with only women. It was bliss. Such a change from the normal routine.

Skye-Ann and her Doll - the one that was sick

Today I held someone else's baby, also out of my normal routine, but just couldn't resist (What is happening to me?) - Thanks Kate, for not freaking out when I held your 4 month old in the air just to get him to smile at me - hahaha. I forget that babies aren't as study as 3 year olds and you actually shouldn't toss them in the air. But what a delightful little guy. And his brother is such a darling. Kelso really enjoyed having someone to show off his skills to. His climbing skills, sword-fighting skills, his list is endless. And of course I would say that, my child the most talented genius!

William and Alex (in that order)

My Super Robot Love bug

Jack Frost at Sunrise - Through My looking glass - 04 June 2011

Welcome to this insert of "Through My looking Glass". I would say it is "this week's exciting episode", but it seems something called work has been consuming my life of late and getting in the way of things I really want to be doing. So weekly blogging seems to be close to impossible. It is, however, a necessary evil, without which, I wouldn't be able to support my habit that is photography. And I say habit because it is  like a fix of fun, it calms the nerves and if I don't do it often enough, I suffer some serious withdrawals.

This morning, 04 June 2011, I did the unthinkable. I woke up at 5am on a Saturday morning, got out of a warm bed, layered the clothes, remembered I owned leg warmers - High Five (Who the hell owns leg warmers though? - but RARA warm legs) and headed out the door at 5:30am into a 2 degree draft outside all in aid of meeting some fellow photographers at 6am at Emmerentia Dam.

Being Blind on a good day, it was dark and I had no idea who was actually there. I was happy to hear a familiar voice that I had heard on a previous photowalk and it was a lovely surprise. it is so wonderful when you meet nice people and then you get to see them again and connect a little more! I was also fortunate enough to meet some other nice people and I hope to be seeing them again soon. It is amazing how a common habit can make you feel like you went to different schools together. Usually a shy introvert, I never imagined I would volunteer to hang out with people I don't know and I am so happy I do these days. I would like to thank the intarwebz for making my world a little smaller.

My highlight was running after ducks to get them to fly in the water with Leanne and trying to figure out the impossible - how the hell do you avoid a shadow when the sun is rising behind you. If anyone has the answer to this question, please get in contact with me! :-)

And after some frost, slushy mud, good conversation and a few images.... We parted ways and I met my Alien and his Dad for a late breakfast at Clear water mall. The plans to go to Maropeng today cancelled due to lack of interest - save that for another time.

I wish everyone a wonderful week end further, stay warm and happy sync-ing with the greater cosmic harmony. This is Candice Peetz Signing off!

Ps. For anyone interested - check out http://photocomment.net/ - interesting reads - support the movement, support the habit!

 

Bow-Ties and Dragons - Chinatown - Through My Looking Glass - 21 May 2011

Welcome to another exciting episode of 'Through My Looking Glass'. It is a little cold this evening, so be sure to warm yourselves up with something warm to drink and some comforting food. I believe winter is fat free, so go wild. Where was I? Yes, Chinatown. Another wonderful day spent with the joburg photowalkers. An afternoon of history of what once was the 1st 'Chinatown' in Joburg.

The walk was was lead by Ufrieda Ho, author of Paper Sons & Daughters, a memoir of her childhood growing up as the child of an immigrant during the years of apartheid. She shared a few pieces from her book and I am so excited to get myself a copy. What she did mention, that I did find strange is that FaFi is still played. R2 means something to some. A reality hit home there. To me, R2 is what I make sure I have for a car guard, R5 if I have. To someone that makes a difference. Think again before you complain about coins in your purses. Perhaps make that donation. To those who don't know what FaFi is - Read this - too much to type: FaFi. It is also still Illegal.

We met at Sci-Bono - what a super place - if you have kids, boys in particular, it makes for a super outing. And a seller for me - they sell Cuppachino! First stop was "Swallows Inn" for the most amazing lunch. Swallows in is apparently the oldest restaurant in the area and the food was awesome and the people who worked there so friendly. You cannot take photographers anywhere.... Food was photographed before it was eaten and it is the only time people are considerate and willing to wait while you get the perfect angle of the crispy beef. After I was ready to be rolled out of there from over eating, we explored the area a little. It is quite sad that there is not much left of place. Just a quiet street with a few shops.

Miss Josephine also joined the walk, but I will let her tell her own story.

I want to end this with a few words from Petula Clark, she has been singing to me all evening, but her words are awesome:

Don't hang around
And let your problems surround you
There are movie shows downtown
Maybe you know
Some little places to go to
Where they never close downtown

Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossanova
You'll be dancing with 'em too before the night is overHappy again 

Hope you are all happy and in sync with the greater cosmic harmony. This is Candice Peetz signing off, till next time, be good, be safe, be loved!

THE FOOOOOOD. Not what is hanging in the window.

Must photograph food before eating it

The Love of My Life - Kelso Reese - Part 2 (And the lens)

Kelso is again blog worthy, as always, but I thought I should share the new shots of my blog worthy son taken with my new blog worthy 50mm lens. 

In Kelso’s life, every day there is something different and every day he is in character. He has been Sam Flynn from 'Tron' for the past few weeks and the soundtrack has worked its way into his playtime.  He has now even taken a liking to being photographed and everytime he hears the click sound, he runs to me, shouting, “Let me see”.  

Sometimes when I feel like I am being thrown a curve ball and of late, it seems to be one after the next, I am constantly finding myself searching for the reset button. And in all this madness, sadness and frustration, I take one look at a photo's I have of Kelso and know that home time always comes and my little Alien Robot will put a big smile on my face before the sun hides itself. And there I find my reset button. As someone once told me, the rest is just “white noise”. A statement I think I will carry around with me to remind myself of the important things that make my world an awesome place.

So here a few shots taken with my new lens and my new willing and most beautiful person to photograph. The images feature his disk, his helmet and his light-cycle!

Could not exclude the stokies. Favourite shoes ever ever.