123 Challenge Blog - December

The 123 Challenge Blog has a slightly Christmas feel to it this month so I decided to do anything but Christmas! The metallic is represented by the gold ribbon, flourish and corner accent, the word joy is in the title and because I am not a girly girl I struggled with the bow but it is tucked in there under one of the ribbon roses!
I have told the story of this wedding previously here but wanted to complete a double page for my 'weddings' album. Not all the family were able to make the trek to Sydney but those of us that were able to make it were greeted by this beautiful bride; she arrived first and was able to welcome her guests and spend a few minutes with us prior to entering the wedding venue where the groom was pacing nervously. The day was a little warmer than expected and the happy couple accepted ice cold drinks after the ceremony. I just happened to catch this moment with their drinks in hand. It is not one of the 'official photos but I think it reflects their joy.
Thank you for looking and any comments you may leave, best wishes.

Once Upon a Sketch - My Favourite Month

I really struggled with this months journaling theme from Once Upon a Sketch; choosing a favourite month is very difficult. I have children's and grandchildren's birthdays and wedding anniversaries in so many months of the year and to pick a favourite would be so wrong! Living in Australia is a little different to the northern hemisphere and our seasons are opposite. I love the cooling months of April and May, the colder months of June to August although we never get snow in my state, and the beautiful spring of September and October when the Australian wildflowers are at their best. I love Christmas in December but the heat of the Aussie summer can be a little overwhelming. I decided to choose one month in the last year. November 2012.

I have a sister and two nephews living in the USA and all of them have birthdays in November so that is often the month I choose to visit them there. In 2012 I had the pleasure of showing my husband some of the USA for the first time and, as the trip was planned around things I thought he would enjoy, we went to Colorado Springs among other places. My husband loves trains and we booked tickets to take the Cog Rail to Pikes Peak. Regular visitors may have realised by now that my favourite colour is blue and although I am not much of a bird fan, I love the elusive Blue Wren that lives in the south of our state. You can imagine my delight when we stopped at a view point and disembarked to walk in the snow and survey the surrounds to spot a Blue Jay. He was the most brilliant blue and quite close but very quick so I was not able to take a photograph of anything except the branch he had just left! I have to thank Google Images for this beautiful photograph. I have a white Christmas on my bucket list; perhaps one day!

Thank you for looking and any comments you may leave, best wishes.