"In My Daughter's Eyes..."

Do you have a very favourite photo of your child or children..??

You know, one that just is "them" all over, that when you look at it, it brings tears to your eyes for the sheer clarity with which it represents your son or daughter.

This is my favourite photo of Matilda (besides to the very first ultrasound pic that showed she was still in there at 8.5 weeks gestation and her heart was beating as it should be. I'd had a bleed and didn't realise how very attached I was to this baby until that moment, but that's another post altogether...and I'll share it one day.)


It was taken in September 2005. I was on a month's sick leave, (I had not long had my gall bladder removed), when we decided to go for a walk & picnic up on Mount Alexander (not far from where we used to live in Castlemaine, Central Victoria. We had had our picnic and were waiting for the hot chocolate (that we had carried in the thermos) to cool down. She snuggled up behind me and we had a "Thelma & Louise" moment with my camera.

With just a little cropping, this was the result. I have this photo in a number of places at home, framed & scrapbooked, colour & black & white. I scrapbooked it with the lyrics to this song,

"In My Daughter's Eyes..."
By Martina McBride

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I want to be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes
Everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light
And the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me
Gives me strength when I'm weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
Is had enough
It's givin' more when you feel like givin' up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes
I can see the future
A reflection of who I am
And what we'll be
And though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone
I hope you'll see
How happy she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

I'd love to see all of your favourite photos...post them on your blogs, along with what makes them so special to you.
Leave a comment or link back here if you like.

BTW...this makes post number 100 !!!

Tom & Flo...a love story...

After chatting with friends about those close to us who have died I thought it was time to mention my maternal Grandparents Thomas Arthur & Florence Joyce Anderson, Tom & Flo to their many friends.

They were married almost 60 years and I don't recall them having a seriously cross word with each other, they would bicker often but in that way you do when you have loved someone for so long. I used to stay with them on school holidays and every morning I would climb into bed with Nan and Pop would bring us in a hot drink before breakfast. Always hot chocolate for me and hot tea for Nan with a glass of hot water and a squeeze of lemon in. He would pull back their curtains so we could see out of the window into their garden...Nan adored her garden, after we got up we would often walk around it so she could point out the new overnight happenings in it.

After Pop retired they moved interstate to a warmer climate...they were quite some way away but stayed in touch regularly. Their 50th wedding anniversary was quite an occasion...about 40 friends and family gathered to celebrate, they were so happy and obviously very much in love still...we used to joke that they were joined at the hip. They loved their lifestyle, played bowls seven days a week between them and usually lived within sight of the Pacific Ocean, they loved the beach and until ill health prevented used to walk on it most days hand in hand.

As they aged ill health plagued them and our family were very concerned as to how Nan would manage if Pop died first...she had an aortic aneurysm and had become quite dependent on Pop for just about everything. She didn't drive and refused to use a scooter to get around, she really dropped her bundle, it kind of suited her to be dependent. We were very worried about who would care for her if Pop died first.

In May 1996, we received the call than Nan had died, her aneurysm had ruptured, she had lapsed into unconsciousness and died peacefully. It was incredibly sad however there was some comfort in that she had been the one to go first.

As family were preparing to leave for the airport to fly interstate to support Pop there was an early morning call from a neighbour, Pop hadn't felt at all well overnight and am ambulance had been called in the early hours of the morning. He was in hospital on life support. Family were able to go straight to the hospital from the airport to say their goodbyes and arrange to turn off his life support. Astonishingly, he too had an aortic aneurysm that had ruptured...the doctors made all kinds of excuses and noises about how the stress of Nan dying would have pushed his blood pressure up and caused it to rupture. I like to take a more romantic perspective and think that he could not live without his beloved "Darl".

They were cremated and had their ashes scattered together...always together...RIP.

Manic Monday...reminiscing a little...

Was going through some photos last night and found some little gems...

The first one taken with my Mum around my 1st Birthday at my grandparents home...we lived close by and although I don't have any "real" memories of that time we spent a lot of time there. As an older child I spent so much time there, every school holidays I would stay for at least a week. They had a gorgeous lush fernery in the back yard with a winding fish pond and water feature...something you would pay a fortune to have landscaped today. I don't know for sure but I imagine Pa did all the landscaping. They also had an amazing Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) in the centre of the yard...in full flower at sunset it looked like it was on fire.


This one was also taken at Nana & Pa's home...I was about three and that dress was my absolute favourite...it had little pink kittens appliquéd peeping out of the pockets. I could almost guarantee I had white sandals on with that dress.

But look at that car...look at the shine on it. It was an FE Holden...first manufactured in 1956 and Pa's pride and joy...even now I can still smell the interior, it had a smell all of it's own. He also bought a brand new EH in 1964 and had both cars for some time. About 10 years ago he gave me the EH...it's the same model as me (1964) so he thought I should have it. Pa's name was Robert, Robert Rutherford Elliot...what a name...!!! He was known as Bert and in Pa's honour we named the EH "Bert".

I loved driving that car, it felt like a tank...almost invincible when cruising in it. My mechanic loved working on it. As Derek said..."If you can't get a part for these cars, you just make one..." such was the simplicity of the engine. Sadly though, eventually I needed a car that had some real creature comforts...(air con, a CD player, reliable heating). I would have loved to have kept Bert but the registration and insurance for two cars was quite prohibitive. I sold it to a young man who had grown up with EH Holdens, his Dad and Grandfather had had them and were members of Holden Car Clubs. He was beside himself to find one in such good nick for himself. I sold it to him at a very reasonable price because I knew it was going to a good home...I even let him pay it in four installments as he was so passionate about it.

I saw Bert around the streets of the town we lived in from time to time...it had been resprayed and meticulously restored.

Pa would have approved wholeheartedly.