It's the crazy time of year. Christmas, holidays, family. I've been to Far North Queensland and caught up with Miss Betty and, while I've been away, my aprons have been starting the revolution in Newcastle. It's apron mania in the coal city just to my north.

Not long now until the red-coated-bearded-one arrives. The everyday goes on, but excitement mounts. Life is busy, very busy. Gathering in outdoor cushions as the storms threaten. Sewing. Cooking. Snapping photos. Life's good.

Newcastle, just under three hours north of Sydney, was the destination. A city, I had heard, with a funky vibe and a rejuvenated heart. 

A weekend away. The ocean. Oh, how I miss the Pacific. 

Summer has started. The countdown to Christmas has begun. The afternoon storms are rolling and rumbling in. And life goes on in my little piece of this world.

Instagram is the place where imagination and creativity lives, breathes, grows. Everyday I am inspired by people eager to share their talent. At the moment, Christmas ideas abound … food, gifts, crafts. 

A few random shots from this week in my world. Plus I learnt a new trick … how to capture lightning. MLP gave me some advice. Mr Google told me more. 

Some other Christmas things happening. No, they're not cookies.

If you've been following me, stalking me maybe, on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, then you'll know I've been in a bit of a crocheting frenzy. Little Christmas garlands have been zooming off my hook and through the post to family and friends. 

Why little crocheted Christmas garlands? 

Why not?

I continue to keep snapping away to see how this camera really works. This week I've been using my new set up, which you can read about here, and trying to learn what I can do in this mode. So, here are my happy snaps and an interesting photography link from this week.

Toulouse, on the Garonne in southern France, was not on our must-visit list. We ventured there to spend some time with our canal-boat-owning friends and I'm so glad we did. Of course the hospitality was superb and the canal boating sublime, but Toulouse, the city, is quietly beautiful.

Learning the ins and outs of my DSLR is a bit of a roller coaster ride. I don't want to be a professional photographer, but I do want to understand what I'm doing and I do want to be able to take better photos. So, when an email pinged last week from my brother with an idea to try, I thought … why not?

If you've watched any of Sir David Attenborough's documentaries (Is there anyone with access to technology who hasn't?), then a visit to the Natural History Museum while in London is a must, not only are the exhibits mind boggling, but also the building itself is fantastical.

Everything I read about improving photography, and I've been reading a fair bit, says just keep on shooting. Take photos of anything and everything. So that's what I'm doing. Trying to get to know my Canon a little better.

So here's a few shots from this week.

Geraldton wax on my kitchen bench. Keeping up the New Year's resolution to have flowers in the house each week. I've been good too, only missed a couple of weeks.

MLP was excited about London. He'd never been before and he had things on his must-see list: The Royal Airforce Museum, Hendon and Prime Meridian, Greenwich. Luckily, my brother was with us and was keen to do boys' days. So, while they did their Boys' Own Adventures, I was able to go off doing girly things for a couple of days. 

2014 is going to go down in the annals of time as Libby's Year of Luck. Admittedly, I have been entering competitions, which previously I have not had the time nor the desire to do. And 2014 has proved to be my year. 

A $50 Masters voucher earlier in the year from tlifecreative on Instagram for making the suggestion to turn an old cable drum into a drinks' trolley. A nice little surprise.

$100 of vouchers from my local shopping centre for filling in a form and dropping it in the barrel. We've dined through a number of Saturday breakfasts on those lovelies.

And then, two tickets to Grand Designs Live, Sydney, because I took the time to write a comment on The Life Creative blog.

Yay! I'm on a roll. Who knows what I'll win next?!? But while the luck is happening, I'm going to keep entering.

So, Grand Designs Live Sydney.

My sister-in-law was one of those people who was always making something. For her girls. For her family. For her friends. And, at times, for herself. I have many things which she made me which I use and treasure. One is my much-loved and much-used jewellery pouch. 

As we cruised down the road in the direction of the Sackville ferry, my sister and her man cried excitedly, "A little deer! Oh, but it's gone." And then there were more. Cute, timid deer. Staring at us. 

Who can not love Paris? This was not my first trip to this wondrous city and I am determined to return, yet this time I found some beauty I had not explored before. Yes, we did the icons. MLP's first trip to Europe, you see.

It's spring. My herbs are flowering. My Ralphter is enjoying the sunshine and I'm trying to green up the lawn. 

Basil

So we'd been travelling for just over 24 hours and it was time to collect our luggage at Charles de Gaulle and begin our first adventure, joining our canal-boat-owning friends for a few days of leisure and camaraderie. Food, wine, friendship. Just what we needed to alleviate jet lag.

A short bush walk in Scheyville Nature Reserve around the Longneck Lagoon surrounded us in the ping of Bell Miners and the whoo-iiiit of Whip Birds. We came across a small red-bellied black snake, but he sensed us first and all I glimpsed was his tail slithering into the reeds.

It was the day before we headed to the Airport Hotel. The house-Ralph sitters had arrived. All was going smoothly … till I decided I should get a last bit of Australian cash to cover our final home-soil expenses.

What does one do on a Sunday morning in bed with the Ralphter? (MLP is out making my cup of tea. Good man.) Check emails, of course, and become inspired.  And this is how it all began …

Today marks seven days to go. Well, six in reality, as this time next week we'll be in the air. That means next Friday, no blog post. In fact, probably no blog post for a wee while. I do hope to do some posting while I'm away, but … well … given the choice of exploring a foreign city, sipping wine, nibbling on tasty morsels, seeing splendid sights or sitting at a computer, I know which will win. So, keep watching Instagram and Facebook for snippets when I do have internet and my regular blog posts will resume when I am home again.

I'm trying to learn how to use Aperture Priority, Av, on my camera. So, in this batch of photos, I've set the Aperture as low as the camera would allow me and used manual focus to see what I could produce.

My first subject was relatively co-operative.

These are all shot with ISO 100 F/5.6

I have a disorder which sends me into a frenzy each time I have to pack for a trip. I'm sure it's not a medically recognised disorder. There's probably no such thing as SIPA, Suitcase Induced Panic Attacks. But, if there were such a diagnosis, I'm sure I have it. At the most severe end of its scale. 

I love black and white photographs. I think it's something to do with the effect looking a little vintage-y. I like the contrasts created. The play of light and dark. And I think black and white photography makes great wall art.

… but not skipping.

Of late, in my travels, I've noticed little rope vessels popping up in the most amazing stores. And, as is my habit, I kept thinking they would be fun to make. 

When you tour a Japanese garden led by a wonderful 20 year old dog, your wanderings are slow and considered, but that's how the Japanese would want it, I think. Slow, considered, restful, quiet, peaceful, relaxing. Yes, definitely the right way to wander.

St Albans, a tiny village on the edge of the Macdonald River west of Sydney, is charming and steeped in history.

Overlooking the Coral Sea resides a colony of highly dedicated koalas scanning the seas for foreign invaders. Ever watchful. Ever vigilant. Well, maybe not. They sleep around 22 hours a day ... but, in those two waking hours, they have an important job.

Snuggled in the trees on the Forts Walk on Magnetic Island, they have usurped the role of  guardians of Australia's northern waters from those who spent their time here during World War 11.

Today, tourists, our birthday celebration crew, families and European backpackers included, walk, climb, trudge, puff, sweat their way to the Forts to take in the view the soldiers surveyed and to hopefully meet at least one elusive koala. 

On a recent trip to the Blue Mountains with one of my nieces, affectionately known as Number 3, we shared being tourists with a group of Buddhist monks. It was an unusual sight to see these quiet men, clothed in shades of orange, casually lining up for a ride on the 52 degree sloped Scenic Railway to the base of the valley.

It was an autumn day and their orange attire did not appear to provide them with much warmth. They, however, seemed unaware of the chill in the air.

I find Buddhism an intriguing faith and the apparent peace that it provides something to be admired.

I took some happy snaps to record our chance encounter and did some playing with effects.

My original shot.

When your special-trusted-school-friend turns 60 AND she decides to celebrate on her favourite island AND that happens to be in North Queensland, thousands of kilometres north AND many degrees warmer than winter at home, you have to go. It's a definite. Magnetic Island, Maggie to those who love her, here we come.

I have a fascination with the patterns made by trees, branches and leaves, especially in the tropics, in the rainforest and on the beach front . So, taking "looking up" photos has been going on for much longer than my "looking down" obsession. 

It's winter and it's sunny and there's a special friend in the house who hasn't been into "town" for nigh on 30 years, so it's time for a trip to town, to the city, the harbour city … Sydney.

It never ceases to amaze me how much I learn from reading blogs. Just recently, this Thistlewood Farms' post made my day.

Prior to moving to Sydney, my connection to Surry Hills was limited to Ruth Park's A Harp in the South, the sad, post World War 11 story of the Darcy family and their daughter, Dolour (a name I had not met before … or since). So, for me, Surry Hills strolling involved slums and poverty and hardship and alcohol and street brawling … not the most salubrious stroll. 

But, my recent venture to the Brett Whiteley Gallery, hidden in a small suburban back-street, changed those conceptions of Surry Hills strolling … dramatically.

Since becoming addicted to Instagram recently, I've started taking "looking down" style photos just for fun and because, well, I find them intriguing and I'd never really thought of recording life like this before. It's fascinating how many different and beautiful surfaces can be walked on in one day. How many patterns and patinas. So, here are my gaggle of my current "looking down" photos … just for fun.

There are lots of advantages to holidaying at home. Packing is easy. Well … non-existent, in fact. Great tea and coffee making facilities. Your own bed … yay! Your own pillow … double YAY! You get to stock the mini-bar with goodies of your choice and at the right price … triple YAY!! No need for Ralphie boarding ...

I'm learning to use my DSLR camera, as you know, but I'm also trying to learn about editing at the same time. I've been playing around with Picmonkey because … well ... most of it is free and I find it easy to use. Free and easy, what more could I ask for?

When my artist cousin, Maria, comes to visit, where would we find ourselves but at the galleries. The local Penrith Regional Gallery and the State Gallery of NSW, two places which could not be more different. Each beautiful in its own way. Each inspiring. 

Yes, I know. You're jealous. Green, green, green with envy. I know it's your dream and I can hear you saying, "No, you haven't!" But, I have. I really truly have.

Last week I lost a wonderful friend. A friend who taught me a lot about life. A friend who was old enough to be my mother. She was the mother of the most amazing woman who was later to become my nearest and dearest friend. It's strange how life takes unexpected turns.

Yes, even though it's autumn and the rains should have finished over Easter, it's STILL the wet tropics. Raining on and off. Drizzly bits, then sunshine, then heavy downpours. The air is damp, but not that summery-humid-claustrophobic-wet, just damp. You know the towel's-never-dry type damp.

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous romance,

Or to take arms against a sea of love stories,

And by opposing end them? To read, to sleep-

Last week I reached the end of my tether with my glossy black recycling bin. We have shared a friendship since the end of January … of late, a tenuous friendship … which finally hit crunch point on last bin day.

Despite the beautiful sunset in the west.

Not so long ago I had never heard of Washi tape. I had never crossed its path. I had never known its pleasure. But, being retired, and venturing into the realm of blogs, there was Washi tape. Everyone was using it and I felt hopelessly inadequate. Washi tape!?! I had no idea.

MLP's and my musings last week about town names certainly created some profound thought.
The neurons and synapses were all aflutter.
"Emerald," people said, "a town named after a colour."
Ha! Yes!
"What about Blacktown and Violet Town?" murmured others.
MLP didn't think these made the cut because they had "town" attached. But sadly no further fruit towns emerged.

As we cruised along in PT, MLP mused, "Are there any other towns in Australia named after a fruit?" Then my mind started to wander. Is there a town called Apple ... or Pear ... or Grapefruit? Ah-ha, there is a town called Banana! I know. I've driven through it many times.