FAMILY

DO YOU KNOW I REALLY CAN’T STAND TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS, WHY ARE THE ROADS ALWAYS CLOSED WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING LATE? LAST MONTH DIVERSIONS IN OUR VILLAGE TOOK ME OUT A ROAD LESS TRAVELLED, AND WHAT DID I SPOT? A SIGN FOR THE FOREST SERVICE, WAY OFF THE BEATEN TRACK. I MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO GET THE FAMILY BACK TO IT SOON FOR A WANDER …

WE WANDERED UPHILL, STOPPING TO GATHER SOME BLACKBERRIES FOR CRUMBLE…

WHEN KIDS STEP AWAY FROM THEIR TABLETS AND XBOXES THERE ARE INCREDIBLE SPOTS MERE MILES AWAY TO EXPLORE, ENGAGE WITH NATURE, RUN FREE AND LET OFF STEAM!

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS PRINCESS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN AN OLD STICK?

TIME IS REALLY FLYING BY, AND AS THE DAYS GET COLDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR DOCUMENTING THEIR LIVES WILL GET FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

I LIKE TO TAKE PHOTOS OUTSIDE, AND WORK WITH THE NATURAL LIGHT FOR THE MOST FLATTERING EFFECT.

NATURAL LIGHT GETS PRETTY SCARCE THOUGH IN OUR WINTER MONTHS, SO THESE COULD BE THE LAST OUTDOOR PICS FOR QUITE A WHILE!

IT LOOKED LIKE THE PERFECT SETTING FOR A DARK FAIRYTALE, VERY HANSEL AND GRETEL, OR LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD … AND YET THERE WAS NOTHING FRIGHTENING ABOUT IT, IT WAS MAGICAL.

I THINK IT’S EASY TO SEE GEORGIA IS DADDY’S GIRL, FOREVER AND ALWAYS …

AND DADDY EVEN CAUGHT A RARE SNAP OF MUMMY, WHO IS ALWAYS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAMERA.

THE MAGIC IS TRULY IN THE LITTLE MOMENTS, DON’T YOU THINK?

HER EXPRESSION AS SHE WHIRLS ROUND AND SEES ME LOOKING AT HER, THEY BOTH LOVE TO PLAY UP TO THE CAMERA ON DAYS LIKE THIS.

WHY DO LITTLE BOYS LOVE THESE STICKS SO MUCH!!

DEEP IN THE FOREST WE CAME ACROSS A LITTLE ABANDONED HOUSE, OF COURSE WE ARE EXPLORERS, SO IN MUCK AND GLAR TO THE ANKLES WE TRAIPSED AROUND THE BACK TO PEER IN THE WINDOWS. AND LOOK WHO WE FOUND!

BLACK BEAUTY IS ALIVE AND WELL IN GARRY WOOD. AND SHE WAS WELL WORTH THE MUCKY BOOTS AND JEANS – WHAT A FIND!!

THIS LOVELY GIRL WAS SOMEWHAT CAMERA SHY, SO WE GAVE HER NOSE A STROKE OR TWO AND WENT ON OUR WAY, STOPPING TO CAPTURE A QUICK PORTRAIT ON OUR WAY PAST THE PORCH OF OUR GINGERBREAD HOUSE.

MY BLUE EYED GIRL, PURE PERFECTION IN MY EYES.

STRIKE A POSE! NOT SURE THIS IS WHAT MADGE MEANT.

AND SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE END, WE’RE HOMEWARD BOUND FOR SATURDAY NIGHT SNUGGLES ON THE SOFA, AND SOME WINTER TV WILL BE TONIGHTS TREAT.

AS VAN THE MAN SANG, “MY MOMMA ALWAYS TOLD ME, THERE’D BE DAYS LIKE THIS”.