Tania McCartney's Riley & the Jumpy Kangaroo - a Journey Around Canberra INSTAGRAM book GIVEAWAY

Greetings all,

Welcome to the first ever Tania McCartney Instagram book GIVEAWAY!! 

The much anticipated & exciting release of a new Riley journey with Ford Street Publishing is another fantastic adventure with my local gal pal author Tania's creative mind & Kieron Pratt's delightful illustrations.  

POSIE REVIEW: Riley the Aviator takes his famous red bi-plane & animal friends on a journey around Canberra, to discover who is making all that thumping raucous & action packed commotion??  Your children will love this cleverly photographed & beautifully illustrated journey all over Canberra, as the Jumpy Kangaroo pings, pongs, bounds, zigs, zags & catapults around  the landmark sites of Australia's capital city.  Will Riley catch up to the Jumpy Roo??  What is she in such a hurry for anyway??  Luckily Jumpy stops long enough to smell the tulips at the magnificent Spring Floriade flower festival 

. . . to find "exactly what she'd been looking for."

 Tania concludes her stories with a heart felt ending & writes about cities she has lived.  They are a mix of street-smart & tourist must-see items for any adventure.  As a fitting tribute, Canberra is celebrating its Centenary in 2013!!

Recent journeys have included A Grumpy Wombat in Melbourne; A Curious Koala in Sydney; A Dancing Lion in Hong Kong: & the original . . . A Sleeping Dragon in Beijing.  Collect them all, my children absolutely adore this series of books.  More information & order details at TaniaMcCartney.com.      

 For your chance to . . .

win a copy of Tania McCartney's 

Riley & the Jumpy Kangaroo 

A Journey Around Canberra

 . . . head over to my Instagram feed Posie Shoots & leave a comment at the 'Tuesday 30th July Riley & the Jumpy Kangaroo post' to enter!!  You will need an Instagram account, please follow Posie Shoots & enter between Tuesday 30th July & midnight Sunday 4th August 2013.

The full Jumpy Roo tour schedule is here, for more reviews, news & chances to win copies of this fabulous book.   

Good luck everyone, thank you Tania for asking me to host, it was such fun, as always - a pleasure working with you!!  Love Posie

Want more Tania McCartney magic in your children's book shelves . . . here's a sneak peek at her next book . . . to be released with Exisle Publishing in the coming months, illustrated by the divine Tina Snerling . . . the perfect gift this Christmas!!

Comments have been closed on this post to ensure you do not place your entry here!!

social commentary Sunday . . . 'knowing when to take a break from blogging'

Greetings all, 

My blogging journey has come to a stop-start-halt lately, i've just lost the passion, enjoyment & time for it.  While i started my blog 6 years ago & blogged regularly during 2010 to 2012 while my husband lived interstate, sharing 'our life' with him . . . i'm finding less & less time to post about craft, lifestyle, animals, baking, children, my husband & our happiness.  

My studio is only working on large commissions, not pretty blog-worthy-craft; i'm spending many more hours in the garden, tending to animals, exercising & preparing healthy meals, less blog-worthy-cakes; the children are growing fast, i am not missing a minute & considering next year we'll have three teenagers - it's incredibly busy with sports, academics & their social engagements, i'm not comfortable posting lots of images of teenagers, especially as they are not allowed their own social media; my husband is here & being a wife takes up a lot of time, i'd prefer his company than reading blogs . . . as for our happiness, we've never been happier, with exciting dreams.  Spending less time on the computer is a good example to our children too.  

I've been using my non-blogging-time making more calls to my elderly parents, catching up with people who bring me joy & soaking in the lucky life i have as a housewife.  I refuse to be 'busy' as it implies i don't have time for the things i love.  I still adore the idea of a blog & the blogging community is lovely; trolls - their loss, i click delete & refuse to engage with them, absolutely not worth a second thought; stalkers - go get a life, especially the ones who know me personally, it's creepy you read my posts (& pretend you don't) yet don't communicate with me directly!!

So it's for positive reasons that i am taking a break from blogging.  I want to offer the world quality or nothing, i won't blog for the sake of blogging.  I'll be hanging around on Instagram, which is so much fun, friendly, engaging & fast . . . i find it like mini-speed-blogging.  While blogging has been a wonderful adventure with 700 posts, 15000 comments & 2000 hits per day, if i was paid to blog - i'd reconsider taking a break, i just can't maintain 'free' work - yes, 'work' . . . i put great consideration/ thought/ ideas/ effort into my posts: an extension of my business & the personality behind it . . . i'm closing down the on line store & no longer attend markets, as i'm starting a new chapter in my creative life.  Stay tuned. 

 I'd love to be invited to blog conferences . . . i have great ideas & lots of inspiration to offer; i'd love to be given freebies & opportunities . . . i do fantastic & thoughtful reviews; i'd love to sit in a particular niche . . . but i don't . . . no babies (our youngest is 9) or live in the cities where the events take place, so i'll hum along doing my own thing.  While i've always been popular & social, i really enjoy my own company & avoid cliques at all costs.  Blogging has changed a lot over the years with awards, sponsorship & obvious circles, a lot is self-congratulatory & below average quality.  It wasn't my end-game to make money from blogging - i started as i had my own home-design-studio business to promote & make money from - i was never 'discovered' (even with 10000 social media followers) & that's Ok.  Maybe, one day??

Just to wrap up a few things, like my last giveaway & ensuring i organise all pervious giveaway winners receive their prizes (apologies for the delay) the lucky people who won the LEGO Hero Factory packs are:

Claire Hewitt of Clairey Hewitt blog,

Sash of Indigo Elephant blog &

Beck from Baby Laila blog.

Congratulations.  Please email me your delivery (street address for courier) for delivery. 

 Thanks everyone - it has truly been a wonderful experience, i appreciate all your comments & connections.  This isn't good bye or farewell, just a see you later for now.  I feel it's really important if you know your blogging journey is stalling, that you take a break.  It might be Christmas time before i blog again, but i will be back, renewed & thoroughly reinspired, love Posie

PS all images are recent snap shots from my Instagram account Posie Shoots with lots of stories & gorgeous engagement, you'll see why i completely adore this social media platform!!

the week that got away . . .

 Greetings all,

Phew, the week totally got away from me.  Last weekend we went to a family wedding in Sydney, which was an amazing experience - i'd never been to a Macedonian wedding before.  It was so vibrant, full of love & energy, really fun with lots of dancing & fantastic food.  We only had to purchase one new outfit - a dress for our eldest daughter, who would rather be in running shorts & spikes - so when she agreed to a patterned, layered, pink Alannah Hill frock, we were shocked & thrilled.  Needless to say she looked lovely & received lots of comments from family . . . she's quite statuesque & carried herself very well in heels. 

 The children were so well behaved, it was a very long day (midday wedding, 5p.m. reception) but by 10p.m. they were exhausted. We booked a suite at the Shangri-La in advance, so we were able to enjoy the room in the break between wedding & reception, relaxing in the complimentary lounge with cold drinks & afternoon tea . . . it was also a quick escape after a huge Sunday night event.  Amazing views of course!! 

We drove home to Canberra on Monday; the children went to school Tuesday, however my eldest had a moderation day - she stayed home to work on assignments while i ran errands (instead of shopping, crazy right??)  I picked up Sarah Wilson's I Quit Sugar & am reading it thoroughly before i too, quit sugar.  I volunteered as a time keeper at the primary school swimming carnival Wednesday & came home with a cracking migraine, spending Thursday in a heap . . . all the while watching a debate carrying on my Instagram feed - after posting this image!!  How can decreasing sugar & being educated about fructose hidden in food, be a bad thing??!!  This book is thorough, fact, interesting . . . & so far i haven't seen a negative remark which Sarah hasn't already addressed in the book - so read the book before saying ridiculous things like "Sarah says never ever eat another banana" as she doesn't, she simply explains the fructose levels in fruit & to reduce, be aware.  Sugar is sugar, not good (because it comes in fruit wrapped in fibre) or bad (because it is dressed up in a lolly) . . . your body doesn't care, it just senses sugar.  I'll be sure to write extensively on this topic as i start the detox in a couple of months.  Don't worry, Sarah even requests you don't become "a sugar bore" just clued in & enjoy your own personal journey.

So i spent the rest of the week sipping iced tea (FYI i never sweeten it, or drink caffeine, it's basically pretty water) curled up on the lounge.  Sigh.  

 Have gorgeous weekends everyone, it's my adopted city of Canberra's 100th birthday, so lots of parties, events & fun going on here + a long weekend, so i'm finishing off my studio & shock horror, might even sew a stitch.  I shock myself, it's been 18 months!!  Love Posie

Daily Posie updates are on Instagram, check them out at PosieShoots!!  We now have bunnies.

debunking instagram . . . with Stephanie_Somebody

Greetings all,

I was lucky enough to attend the Instagram Debunked by Stephanie_Somebody class at The School on Saturday.  Well i say "lucky". . . i'm pretty sure my enthusiastic registration moments after the class was announced had me guaranteed a spot.  Along with many errands, an unexpected dinner with a new friend & a business meeting i tied into a whirlwind 26 hours in Sydney . . . i was here, iPhone ready, eyes wide open.  

 We were welcomed by lovely The School Principal, Megan Morton, with an informal speech about the pretty world of Instragram, then introduced to Stephanie_Somebody.  While Stephanie remains anonymous on social media, i hope she doesn't mind this little sneak picture of herself here.  She didn't say 'no photos', however, this is her first class series & perhaps didn't think request we not publish her full face.    

 

The class included Stephanie's journey to Instagram fame, with discussion on how she goes about her photography, methods & a print out listing suggested application filters.  She was honest about how her followers went from 2000 in her first year . . . to 135 000+ after being featured on the Instagram 'who to follow' page.  While gracious with her success & literally quitting her day job to make good use of her audience & pursue a career in selling beautiful images (i can imagine future contracts with big brands as she sees things very differently to the average person, in particular, corporate clients) . . . her following is for good reason - she puts a lot time, effort, skill, filters, editing & thought into her images, they are deliberate, patiently uploaded & carefully considered.  I love that she even admitted she contemplates how the image will flow with her 'grid' & never posts similar photos (colour, subject, theme) in a row.  Me too, unless i'm doing a colour/ subject/ theme series. 

 Personally i found the class was for those who want to make their Instagram feed more beautiful, with quality & considered images.  Stephanie might have won 'Instagram Idol' however, she knows her stuff & even if she was presenting the class with her original 2000 followers, i would have been impressed, paid my $180 to attend the class & soaked up her knowledge, methods & experience.  As i've only been on Instagram for 4 months & i'm also new to smart phones . . . i found this experience & Stephanie's knowledge was precisely what i was after.  There were new Instagrammers in the class, many still fumbling with filters & those who are not posting to build a brand, reputation or business profile . . . i heard some ladies saying they were now horrified about their current account (after seeing Stephanie's stunning, harmonious & balanced images) they want to delete & start again.  No doubt Stephanie has inspired them to do better, but not to delete their past - especially as you learn from experience!!  I believe that not everyone has an eye for photography, natural style or even capturing good content, like not everyone can write a blog, cook a roast, run a marathon or become a doctor - not all social media, just because it's free & available to anyone, is for everyone to do well, or at a semi/ professional level which will attract thousands of followers.  Stephanie posts about 5 times a week, extremely restrained & disciplined . . . i completely understand why, especially as she had a very demanding job in interior design, Instagram was her little hobby, instead of television.  She's equally choosey about who she follows, for her it's all about inspiration.

 The top Instagram suggestions from Stephanie, which i was already doing (thanks to being a seasoned blogger) so i'm not stealing her Intellectual Property include:

use the same profile picture/ image/ logo across all your social media

your bio should include a relevant description & include a link to your website

add a story with your photos (mini blog) & name the place/ event - for community building

use hashtags '#' so people can see others doing the same thing, but ensure they are relevant  

don't over do #, they might gain you followers, however, it's quantity not quality, possibly spam 

be active in your community, leave engaging comments

continually look at your visual style, does your feed flow harmoniously 

post frequency - try to stick to a rhythm (i post about 3 times a day, 8 hours apart)

always have your phone/ camera ready, looking for something special, unique, interesting

pureists insist it's all done with smart phones & uploaded 'insta-ntly' or tagged #latergram (i'm late to the party so the rules have already been broken, however, i do reference #NikonD70SLR if it's not a genuine iPhone photo & i rarely post images while i'm at an event, for privacy, so almost everything i post is a #latergram)

keep your smart phone software up to date

constantly hone your skills & try new styles, stay fresh

be confident to take photos in public places or practise stealth

consider symmetry, horizons, natural light, subject, blank spaces & composition

use the camera phone app first, contrast brightness, crop, edit, then upload to Instagram with filters, or save & edit more, add another filter, keep playing

really consider what your Instagram account is for - personal/ business, a suitable blend of both or have separate accounts!!

Finally some beautiful quotes from Stephanie . . .

"represent your own beauty" 

while i enjoyed Stephanie_Somebody's photos, her life is completely different to mine - eating out to cafes with her boyfriend in Melbourne, finding interesting angles to shoot & starting a new business . . . i hope her words ran deep in everyone, that we all see things differently & seek our own beauty, with a variety of skills to deliver them to the world.  Right now for me, it's country properties, shacks, flowers, baking, chickens, vignettes & my family.  Ladies at the class said i had a lovely balance on my Instagram feed, content & rate of posting, which was lovely unsolicited honest feedback.  All i know is that i'm maintaining my 1% "selfies rate" & i've always mixed up my feed so you're not bombarded with 10 of the same image in a row, i respect the time anyone takes to look at my images/ social media, hold their attention & hope to take them on a little adventure, they might even choose to follow me to discover more, against millions of others doing similar things.

"Instagram is about being lovely" 

that is precisely how i feel about it.  Light hearted snippets of loveliness.  Stephanie did say she's had a lot of spam from her 'who to follow' exposure, including negative comments, to which she responded with 'hey, i'm a real person here, you found me' . . . personally at my age & life experience, i'd just hit the delete & scrap them, they're clearly not real fans, genuine followers or people i wish to learn anything more about.  Love Posie

social commentary Sunday . . . 'hopes & dreams for 2013??'

Greetings all,

Well hello 2013 & happy new year!!  I didn't meant to leave a 2 week gap between posts, we're just back from a wonderful Canberra-Sydney-Brisbane 3000km beach holiday, which was too dreamy & busy to blog!!  

I have a mix of plans for this year . . . some personal, private & pure; others public - to play out on social media.  I want to get back into creating on a daily basis, i miss it . . . i want to earn the time to do it though - family, housework, exercise & health comes first, or i'll end up over doing it again (FYI 11 months ago i had surgery on both wrists/ 18 months ago i completely burnt out physically, mentally & emotionally from sewing non stop professionally for a dozen years!!)  Always seek balance . . . tick.

Publicly, i am only going to commit to light & pressure-free social media links, like #lifeflashes for Donate Life week.  I just can't keep up with daily/ repeat/ multiple memes.  Only commit to really special causes . . . tick.

This was our view of sunrise on the first of January 2013 - heading out of Brisbane back to Canberra, about 4a.m. by the time we hit the NSW boarder.  The roads were empty & we took our time doing the 1201km journey, with 4 active children & a German Shepherd!!  Lots of beach stops down the coast. I love waking early, i achieve so much more in my day & sleep more soundly.  Wake at sunrise, even in chilly Winter . . . tick.

Walking on a treadmill is one thing, going to the gym is another, however, walking in nature is incredible.  To do it with my husband each morning while he's on leave, is magic.  We see things each other doesn't notice.  So i'm not going to renew my gym membership, instead, commit to yoga,  running & cycling from home.  Workout - outdoors . . . tick.

 We haven't taken a family holiday at Christmas before.  Sure we've stayed with family interstate & had 'holidays' exploring new cities we're posted to with the Army, so this was a really big deal (expensive) but so so fabulous!!  We don't need a break from our lives, or our children . . . our holidays are not an escape, they are just a change of backdrop.  As we live inland & want to purchase a farm this year, we can't afford a full on serviced apartment beach stay again, however, we can take beach trips on weekends, it's only 90 minutes to the coast from Canberra.  Visit the beach more often . . . tick.

 In the meantime, this view will stay with me for a very long time.  Spend more time daydreaming . . . tick. 

 Do you have grand plans for 2013 or will you just make small changes & soak it up like me??  I turn 38 this year, sounds so grown up & sensible.  It's a big year for our family as our eldest daughter starts year 9, apparently the 'dreaded' year of school, but she's too beautiful to turn evil quickly.  Our twins are in year 6 & will rule their school, then this time next year, will be trying on sack sized dresses for high school!!  Our gorgeous boy, my baby, is 9 & in year 4, like a flash, he's a young man.  They each got stellar school reports, fantastic grades, wonderful comments & best of all, they show plenty of personality.  They are truly, the people i hoped & dreamed them to be, only so much better!!  

Wishing you well for 2013 & if you're keen on Instagram, check me out at Posie Shoots where i post a few photos each day.  I'm loving this smart phone caper.  Love Posie

my month with Instagram

Greetings all,

I have just celebrated my first month of playing with Instagram.  What a delightful social media platform that is - just seems lighter, natural, happy & engaging - with just a snap shot, apply an amazing filter effect & a comment.  I was thrilled to discover by day 30 i had taken 150 photos & attracted 415 followers too, so friendly & supportive of a new player like me.  

I have had one of the busiest days of the year today - half hour run, Farmer's Market, Little Athletics, Book Reading (with Mem Fox no less, more on that later, with an autographed giveaway), Puppy Shampoo & Blow Dry, taking twins to a Halloween party, hardware & grocery shopping . . . you can see why we had to skip an Engagement Party!!  Now it's time to cuddle up with my husband & enjoy a movie.  

Here are some of my favourite Instagram shots so far . . . ok, they are Instagram cliches . . . 

 the cute playful puppy . . .

 what i ate for dinner. . . 

 a contented child . . .

 market flowers . . .

 pineapple themed decor . . .

 the good/ simple/ natural/ good/ healthy life . . . my love for our chickens, their eggs & quirks.  Like Trombone here, our Australian x Indian Game bird, who looks like a scary pterodactyl yet is the sweetest chicken ever!!  Often my outdoors shots in full sun, i can't see what i'm shooting, so i hope for the best & check them indoors.  I was so happy with this action shot while hand feeding her.    

So there you go, i've had a smart phone & have been playing with Instagram for a whole month & i really love it, especially the cliche shots.  Oh i didn't include any of the sky, shoes, cakes, car window, pedicure or fashion shopping cliche images here, but they're all on Instagram.  It's such a fun place.  So many great restaurant, shopping & hair tips too.  I've found nieces & nephews on there, cousins, clients & celebrities too.  Check out Posie Shoots, love Posie

snap it 'breakfast'

 Greetings all,

Oh hello, breakfast!!  With hens laying fresh eggs daily & a bountiful herb garden, we enjoy this kind of breakfast frequently.  

 How lucky are we to have this bounty.  

I'm eating this well, following the Michelle Bridges 12WBT programme, 10kg ladies, gone.

Check out what others are eating for breakfast over at Faith Hope & a Whole Lotta Love.  I love blowing up my Instagram images - you see the crumbs, texture & butter on the knife, love Posie

ever say "no thank you" to an affirmation??

Greetings all,

Now i am a huge fan of the Brave Girls, who send these incredible affirmations to my InBox each day, they so often nail my emotions about life, love & relationships (scarily so) but today i read this one & said "no thank you."  

When your life is fantastic, you have to seize that feeling.  You never know what is around the corner: health scare, child dilemma, car accident, tax audit, husband's work, holiday cancelation!!

I have a truly blessed life . . . a wonderful childhood with a large family, travel crazy parents & the best education in Australia's greatest city, Sydney (don't even try to argue with me!!)  I got into all the sports teams, friendship circles & University courses i desired, then met & married my teen love - avoiding relationship baggage . . . had four dream children - i truly have zero complaints.  My husband says i have way more than my fair share of self esteem & confidence, so i share it - with meaningful compliments & fun with friends.  I don't have a self sabotage tendency either (no drinking, gambling, cheating, debt) other than clothes shopping & weight gain from stress.  Those have both been nailed recently by slowly closing down my business (income) & losing 9kg on Michelle Bridges 12WBT in the first 5 weeks so far.  The stress is dripping off me too!!   

I have issues, my mother with Alzheimer's, my father just took a spill & my husband might have to go back to war next year.  I'm realistic . . . these are not things i can control, so i process & accept them.  I have always believed that only i can stuff up my own life, i am responsible & can blame no one for any choices which go askew.  That doesn't mean crap people don't cross my path, i've learned to trust my senses & walk away, quickly.  

See why i shunned this Brave Girl's message, very happily so.  I have managed to switch my business acumen & determination to focussing on myself, finally.  My husband kept saying "be selfish, go to the gym at night, i'll supervise dinner & homework" but i actually love that part of my life - in touch with what the children are learning - then i realised that HE wanted to spend time alone with the children, so i do that 6p.m. Spin Class & freaking enjoy it!!  

The funny thing is, right now, i could not be more ill, i have a throaty cough, a runny nose & it's day 3 of a migraine, ick.  So to read that 'pain is a gift' & nod knowingly, i've been there, however, the fact i can't relate to their message today . . . that is an affirmation unto itself.  Plus it's the middle of school holidays, i've always adored the extra time with my children . . . i have four happy beings who don't fight, they argue from time to time but never nasty fisty cuffs or horrible words, they play happily for hours on end.  I work hard for harmony, i spend months raising them solo, i don't do drama or unhealthy sibling conflict.  They are not spoilt with toys, but company & they know - only boring people get bored - so find fun or solitude.   

While i get many migraines each year, this has been a cracker, yet to remain connected to the world from my pillow, i've discovered low-lit-non-blinding Instagram & the lovely community there.  It's light, happy & stress free, just what i needed if i was going to add another social media to my collection.  Here are some of my images, between naps, i'm Posie Shoots if you're keen.

I'll work out a few Instagram collage apps, i'm still a learner on the iPhone 5.  Any suggestions are appreciated.  Now, go take hold of your life, dust off the clutter & embrace the day.  Or like the Brave Girls suggest, deal with your pain, sort it right out - of your life!!  Love Posie

My Week With Marilyn, i mean my week with the iPhone 5

Greetings all,

This is my first smart phone ever, the iPhone 5, so i'm loving my new toy.  I have signed up to Instagram, i've actually let out some Tweets & had all sorts of things linked to Pinterest & Facebook automatically.  I have downloaded Apps, APPS!!  No games, i loathe children playing with screens, they should be kicking a ball or climbing a tree!!

Unlike the 7000 people who queued at Apple Canberra last Friday, my husband wandered in on Saturday morning, straight to the counter . . . to drag me into the 21st century of technology.  We bought it for a few reasons, mainly the video camera & my enthusiasm for social media.  My children enjoy leaving me notes & quirky reminders.  It's on my existing $20 plan, with zero data allowance outside the home WiFi, so far that's fine, i really do use the phone as . . . a phone!!  I'd rather email from the Mac desktop, with a life size keyboard, i just fixed my wrists with surgery, poking at a tiny phone pad is ridiculous!!

All accessories sold out immediately, so i was a nervous wreck taking the phone out & about, until i popped along mid week to buy him a leather jacket & screen shade, cool yo?? 

This week i really did hire the My Week With Marilyn movie, oh what a messed up gal she was.  So glamorous & popular, yet insecure & lonely.  A beautifully shot film, especially loved the English countryside & Eton School.  I wonder what mischief & trouble Marilyn Monroe would have created on social media??  Sigh, i digress . . .

so now there are a zillion other ways to get images & snippets of my world . . .

Follow @posieshoots 

  Follow @posietweets

OMG, i've even gone & got myself a Quick Response bar code, i Robot.  Tania McCartney is a new smart phone girl too, she understands technology & social media ten times better & faster than me, so does the research & just links me to what i need to know.  Everyone needs a guru girlfriend who explains in motherly terms what you want, not geek speak.  Seriously folks, scan me . . .

Did you get the new iPhone 5 or can you still love last year's model??  I'm still laughing at the iPhone 5 launch - talking about the camera "the sea is bluer & children look happier!!"  I admit the camera is marvellous.  How much technology & social media can one person handle??  I'm a tad freaked about the price but i've never lost a mobile phone - i've had one stolen in Italy, now living at the bottom of a canal in Venice i guess.  I will be very happy with this phone for a long long time.  Love Posie

a proud mother hen moment

 Greetings all,

A big day in the chicken coop . . . we discovered our first blue egg in the nesting boxes.

 The novelty of chickens has not worn off over the past 6 months, the children spend every spare moment in the run, cuddling Piccolo (our bantam cockerel with the broken leg) & hand feeding every happy chicken. 

 Harp, our beautiful Araucana chicken, laid her first egg, ever.  Hardly ground breaking to the uninitiated - a hen laying an egg, whoopee - alas, Araucanas are from Chile & known as the Easter chicken, as they lay coloured eggs.

 We take a little basket to collect eggs from the nesting boxes, genuinely thrilled each time we are blessed with an egg or six . . .

we've become such experts on our chickens & can identify which hen has laid each egg, it's a fun game . . . who to thank each day.

Honestly, i felt like a proud mother hen, i can't wait to find more & compare the colours, she should lay a range from blue to green, lavender to khaki.  Another colour delight from Mother Nature & new addiction - i want to breed Araucanas!!  I popped a photo of the eggs on Instagram (posieshoots), still learning how to use my iPhone 5, i really love it.  Love Posie