Relaxing in a cafe after a great half-marathon around Lake Taupo and good soak in thermal springs!

Self-portraits are a little easier to digest with water.  I had an idea of being viewed through water - a bit fiddly with my phone, but I got there in the end with the help of a mirror, tripod and using my headphones as a remote shutter.

I am very fortunate to live by the ocean.  Some days flat and serene, and other days ferociously powerful.  Whichever it is, it is a place I visit for presence and connection.  I am grateful for today's prompt which took me down there - today a storm is brewing down south - the winds are starting to blow, and the light is wonderfully rich.  

And this photo was awarded a favourite of the week in the CY365 Gallery! "This photo by MichelleNZ is stunning.  The ocean waves, the driftwood, the dark sand, the terrain, the sky.  Love it.  What a blessing to live close to the ocean!"  

Looking down the stairs at the end of my run on the beach this morning. I love the little doggy paw print in the corner.

This pooch is so difficult to get to stand still and he hates having the camera (the phone) pointed at him.  This is him saying "Yes - here is my happy foot!  Where is my treat??" ... all executed in about half-a-second!  Even though the focus is out, he has such smiley eyes here, so thought he deserved the spot of my POTD.

A hodge podge of kids!

Trees wrapped up in red for winter in the Gold Coast, Australia.  (It's for the winter festival I think)

One of my most favourite t-shirts.

A little hand immersed in homework - the old fashioned way.

My view today at the airport while waiting to catch our plane back home.

Stripey red ....

Hardy blossom against the winter sky.

This little guy got stuck in the carpet inside, so Dad rescued him and kept him company until I came home so I could photograph him (so cute of him to do that for me).  The contrast of his tiny feet against Dad's hand really captivated me.  He posed very patiently for me, then he was gently placed in the garden to warm up in the sun .

An alternate way of looking at crayons .... 

I liked the idea but just needed a bit more time to execute it a little better ...

Signs of spring ... As luck would have it I bought a piece of black velvet yesterday for a backdrop! Couldn't quite get the sharpness of focus I was after with my phone ... needed a little more playing around with the light, but still love these delicate blooms.

I enjoyed the challenge today of taking something very ordinary and trying to make it into something a little bit striking; something you might just take a second glance at.  And, as usual, taken with my phone .

 I was gifted with a wonderfully foggy, albeit very cold, morning.  If I can, the first thing I look for on a foggy morning is spider webs - I just love them and could photograph them for hours.  They are so fragile, prone to catching any air slight movement, and usually not in very convenient places , so I have yet to capture my 'perfect shot' .  I love trying though.

This shot fit today's prompt - the tiniest of water droplets reflecting the tall trees above the web.  A tiny web sparkling with the jewels of nature - a place I can find my bliss.

And to top it off, this photo was awarded CY365 Photo of the Day!

"Such sharp little orbs - like tiny snow globes.  You captured the droplets and their web so crisply and processed it nicely in black and white.  I also can see your love of the subject and am so glad you shared your story.  Very nice!"

What a great prompt! Am really enjoying the way in which this particular prompt consciously asked me to 'see' in a very different way.  I took a few different shots - from cute dogs, to wild beaches, but settled on this one.  There was something about the sharpness of lines from these fronds peeking through and over the fence that appealed to me, particularly from this point of view. I am loving seeing the diverse range of images for this prompt.

Capturing the intensity of the purple bloom contrasted with the blackness of the background.

Although long, lazy summer days are still a few months off for us and it's the thought of hot soup rather than cold, icy bevarages that brings a smile, the beach is still a wonderful place to be.

It was pouring with rain all day today ... this is a sad little pizza oven in the garden ... waiting for summer to arrive ...

Part of the prompt was 'outside' ... that's the part this photo fits!   What actually caught my eye was the green spaceship house which sits just up from the beach.  I was a little too far away with my phone but you still get the general idea ...

It's not summer here, but it was a lovely spring day.  As usual my pooch looks like he is experiencing some sort of tortureby having to endure his photo being taken!  It's quite funny how some dogs absolutely love having their photo taken, and then there are those who look at you sideways every time you have your phone (or camera) with you.

And much to my surprise this photo was awarded CY365POTD! 

"Such a dignified and stately gentleman, and the frame adds the perfect touch.  Great pet portrait!"

And my response was:

"What a big surprise. Thank you so much! I told Maia that his photo got POTD and he said "well that's nice, but I still don't like getting my photo taken and it would be good if you didn't make me do this again" ... secretly I think he was quite proud though, especially of being called dignified and stately"

I have been wanting to capture this gorgeous magnolia for a while.  Taken with my iphone, using the camera+  app and purposefully overexposed to get the high key, my eyes are really drawn to the simplicity of the blooms against the white - simple signs of spring.

Okay ... so Maia did tell me that he would prefer not to be my subject but he was the only one I could find for this prompt!

I had no luck sneaking up on my pooch while he was asleep.  And I no longer have the queen of snoozers - my kitty cat - so this is the best I could do - I got the ground level part though!

All ready for an adventure! Am just waiting for my visa to come through!