Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Chicken & egg




January was taken up with constructing an abode for some chickens we wanted.
I liked the idea of modeling it on a long drop style dunnie. I'm not a great fan of building plans so I just designed it as I went. By the time it was finished and our chickens spat out the first eggs, my dear wife Helen, estimated if I was charging my time, that first egg cost about a $4000!
A couple of our hens were rumoured to lay blue eggs. Eventually we have blue eggs. They are almost jewel like and small. I haven't been able to bring my self to eat one, the are so beautiful.

Pegs





My fascination and appreciation with things domestic seems to be increasing since I become a house husband. My dear friend Kirstin on her return from Napier and Gisborne where she and her children were escaping the hundreds of aftershooks, very generously gifted me a large collection of used wooden clothes pegs. I was instantly attracted to them. I rushed off into my natural light studio and took portraits of each one. I like the way no two are exactly the same. The years of use has burnished some, other look like a toddler has used them for chewing practice. I'm keen to put all the portraits in a series and publish it as a book.
I also did a group portrait. I enjoy the simplicity, elegance and colour of the vintage enamel bowl.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

succulants


This snap was taken on an evening stroll a few days after the 22 Feb quake that destroyed so much of Christchurch and our people. The sadness is intense.
My brother Russell and his wife Rosemary generously gave us a reprieve from the aftershocks and lack of power and water for a few days. It was great to spend this time with family.