This morning, sunrise. Soft colours.

A wreath of rosemary, oregano and daisies from our garden. I'm going to make more of these, it was surprisingly therapeutic.

Collections.

Japanese Anemone.
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I am really, really enjoying this blog. Anna is a hugely talented illustrator, writer and photographer. The photos of Iceland make me want to pack my bags and go.

Unguarded moments.

I confess. 

I have an unlikely obsession with weddings. Not the buying-wedding-magazines-and-cutting-out-your-dream-dress-when-you're-twelve-years-old kind of obsession but more of a curiosity, an amazement, an interest. 

It's unlikely because I'm not too keen on ceremony, awkward family situations, speeches or big puffy white dresses. And I shudder at the thought of people paying huge amounts of money on a flashy wedding while putting in way less effort into working for a good, strong relationship.

BUT..

 Despite all that,  I love weddings (and photos of weddings) for the same reason I like watching people on trains or watching families together at the park, or people reuniting at an airport terminal.

It's the pure emotion, the lack of self-consciousness, the faces and body language that emanate love, celebration, anticipation and uncertainty. I love looking at the intensity of emotions that colour the faces: of the grandparents, the parents, the couples and their friends.

And I think the simpler the wedding, the more beautiful- because it allows all these things to come through.

(My sentimental rant has concluded. This amazing wedding below made me think of a scene from Everything Is Illuminated, or some gypsy celebration. I think it is incredibly beautiful and simple. It looks like it was a lovely day. From oncewed.) 

Today.

Watched massive dark clouds roll over the hill and the sea. They were so beautiful.

 Found a small bird skull on the sand, bleached clean by the sun.

Picked some pretty weeds from our garden to put in a glass bottle.

Found a cookbook and The Boy in Striped Pyjamas for a couple of dollars at the op-shop on my work break.

Ate pasta and pea soup with my family. Then we all watched Coast and marvelled at these beautiful places in Normandy (Mont Saint Michel and Etretat).

thursday morning.

These pictures make me think of

early mornings : faces that have been hardened by the sun : the side by side rush and calm of travelling in an unfamiliar place : the breathlessness, tired ache in the legs and elation of finally getting to the top of a mountain : new smells and new sounds in new streets : a hot cup of tea at the end of a long day : the movement, rustling and faded blue colour of swirling waves : warm sun on the nape of your neck, like a steady hand : the quiet stillness that descends on some places, in that golden window of time as the sun is coming up or going down.

(All pictures from the incredible eye of Randy Martin.)

"..And I will not weep from despair, but simply because I will be happy in my shed tears. I will be drunk with my own tenderness. Sticky spring leaves, the blue sky- I love them all, that's all. Such things you love not with your mind, not with logic, but with your insides, your guts, you love your first young strength..Do you understand any of this blather, Alyoshka, or not?" Ivan suddenly laughed.

"I understand it all too well, Ivan: to want to love with your insides, your guts- you said it beautifully, and I'm terribly glad that you want so much to live," Alyosha exclaimed. "I think that everyone should love life before everything else in the world."

"Love life more than its meaning?"

"Certainly, love it before logic, as you say, certainly before logic, and only then will I also understand its meaning. That is how I've long imagined it. Half your work is done and acquired , Ivan: you love life. Now you need only apply yourself to the second half, and you are saved."

- The Brothers Karamazov.

images by Prokudin-Gorskii. Ostrechina River, 1909.

Tassie.

Diptychs I put together from some of our Tasmania photos. It is such a beautiful place.
(the colours always seem to dull once I upload them to the blog, but ah well.)