Then and now
I’ve been busy with the kids here and we’re having an absolute ball. I just thought I’d post these two photos.
The first photo was taken 22 years ago and the second was taken yesterday.
How my family have grown!
The only problem we encountered was that the sugar cane hasn’t been cut yet so we had to stand in a different spot.
Dianne Gray author 
Oh, Dianne, how special!! Thanks so much for sharing. Am glad your Christmas is going good.
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It’s wonderful, Ly! Thanks so much for stopping by 😀
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And in 22 years you’ll do this again, and then the family will have grown even further, right? Very evocative!
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There may even be other little ones in 22 years, Anna – I hope! 😉
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That is AWESOME.
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Thanks, Wry! It was done in bit of a rush because my youngest son had to catch a plane and they’d all just got back from fishing – LOL 😀
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Great photos!!
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Thank you, my dear! 😀
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Awww, Dianne. Those are such lovely pictures! I love now and then combos, and this one is just too special. I’m glad you’re having fun with your kids! 😀
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We’re having a great time, Zen – I’ll have a lot of catching up to do on the blogging when they’ve all gone home 😉
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Time flies! So glad that you had the chance to recreate the memory . . . all together again.
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It’s really hard to get them all in the same place at the same time when they grow up – but we’re really going to make an effort to make it a regular occurrence now, Nancy 😀
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This is incredibly profound–both visually and in meaning. Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
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Thank you, Gina 😉 I love that original photo so much and thought we should try and recreate it. I think it worked 😀
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build it and they will come. I assume that’s you 2nd from the right, or are you hiding in the fields?
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That’s me! The hair is shorter, but we have to do that as we age 😉
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must be all that aussie sunshine…looking good!
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Love both pictures, and the black and white. So evocotive and artistic. 🙂
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Evocative, lol.
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I didn’t notice – lol 😉
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Thank you, Janna. I’ve got the original on my wall and it’s one of my favourites. It was actually taken to highlight a newspaper article about the price of sugar cane and how farmers were losing their land and I think that’s why it’s so poignant. But we still have the land (thank goodness!) 😉
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These are the coolest then and now pics I’ve seen 🙂 A great way to celebrate family and home.
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Thank you, Ella! My hubby has always joked that it’s his favourite picture because he has his back to the camera – LOL 😀
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Wonderful comparison. Except for the baby, y’all look pretty much the same. 🙂
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We were joking that hubby should hold him again – but he wouldn’t be in it 😉
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That was my first thought! Your husband should have held “the baby.” 😉 So cool that you thought to do this. You will cherish these pictures even more in years to come.
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GENIUS!
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Thank you! 😀
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I’m so happy you are having such a special time with your children who are no longer children to anyone but you.! Those two pictures are priceless!! How is the RUC holding up?? 🙂
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The RUC is going well, Sheila, and the kids absolutely love it! We had about 30 people on the front veranda on Saturday night and it held up very well 😀
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Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!!
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LOL! 😀
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This is such a sweet and wonderful photo set! My how time changes us all…
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It’s interesting to see the baby is no longer a baby (but he’ll always be my baby!) 😉
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Great family mom! Be well 🙂
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Love the photos — doesn’t time just seem to go by fast when you look back? Glad you’re having fun with your family, but I must say, I miss hearing from you. Barb
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It’s been so hectic here, Barb (wonderfully hectic) – but I’ll be back on-line soon and will catch-up will all the posts as soon as I can 😀
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That’s just awesome! :-)))))
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So glad you like it, Rick 😀
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Now that’s pretty darn cute. They have grown just a tad huh? 😉
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Just a tad – LOL! My daughter is much taller than I am now, but you can’t really see this in the picture 😀
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What a fantastic idea and a magnificent photo! I love it, Dianne!
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Thank you, Jill! I really wanted to get this one done while they were all in one place. I think it’s been about 10 years since we we’re all at the farm at the same time 😀
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I’m so happy you did this. 🙂
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Awwwwwww! That made me teary. Wonderful and how time flies byyyyy
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Awwww! You’re so sweet 😀
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Love these recreated moments caught on camera! Your son didn’t want to be held for the photo, huh? That actually would have been REALLY funny!
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We suggested he be held, Melissa, but he wouldn’t be in on it! LOL 😀
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Wowee zoweee. 🙂
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It was a wowee zoweee moment, Tim 😀
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I always wondered who those people were. 🙂 Great photos.
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YAY – it’s us! 😀 It was really good to do the second pic and I’m really happy we could all be together to get it done. Hopefully we’ll be able to do one every few years from now on (now that I’m back permanently) 😀
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Very special! Can visualize the pictures in sepia tone… ‘Then and Now’ reminds me so much of ‘then.’
Thanks, lovely lady, for sharing these precious moments…
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Thank you, Billy Ray – it really was a special moment for us 😀
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Beautiful, thanks for sharing Dianne. And it answers my question about whether that gorgeous photo was a stock image or not! How special.
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It really is a lovely picture and was originally taken of us for a newspaper article. I just love it and have wanted to do the re-enactment for some time. I’m so glad you like it, Jenny 😀
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Had to stop by and tell you how much I enjoyed ‘Wolf Pear.’ Really engaging read, Dianne. Great description, great characters, great story. Difficult to put down. I was excited to leave my reviews on the main sites to spread the word. 🙂
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YAY – I’ll have to go and have a look. Thank you so much, Carrie, this means so much to me – you’ve made my day! 😀
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And you made my lunch hours! (That’s when I do most of my fiction reading. 🙂 )
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I just went over and checked – absolutely fantastic! I’m thrilled 😀
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It was my pleasure!
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I’ve loved that photo for quite a while, how very cool that you re-enacted it.
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It really is a lovely picture and I’ve been looking forward to getting us all together in the same spot for quite some time to do a re-enactment. I haven’t lived here for about 12 years so now I’ve moved back I’m hoping to get more of the same 😀
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I love the pictures where you can see the growth of the family. I need to remember to do this if I ever have kids!
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It’s a great idea. If you find a nice scene that you know you’re going to be able to get back to later in life, I say go for it! 😀
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Oh chookas – I adored the before/after shots – time indeed flies, both of these now can be hung in the RUC and then the next…and the next… to be passed down throughout the family..throughout the years. Ok I’m getting worked up as I love the concept, so I shall take my mushy self away. xx
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LOL – I love the mushy you! 😉 Hopefully there will be grand-kids to add in the next few years! 😀
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OK, that is amazing. Your family must have gotten a kick out of reproducing that early photo.
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We did, Jacqui 😉 It was great but very hurried because the boys had been out fishing and one of them had to catch a plane so we didn’t have a lot of time, but I think it worked 😀
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That’s very nice! 🙂 Always sweet to do a ‘then and now’ photo. I happen to have one with my parents and siblings in the exact same position, unplanned! 🙂
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That’s great – and because yours was unplanned, that’s even greater! 😉
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Dianne, what a breathtaking photos!!! I was just thinking to myself, 22y, as in 22 Tarot Major Arcanum… How absolutely synchronistic, magical and beautiful is that?! G-d Bless you and your family!
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Thank you so much, Lena – you’re a gem! 😀
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Awww! This is just beautiful, Dianne. 😀 Stuff like this always makes me want to cry happy tears. I’m such a big mushpot. 😛
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I love you being a mushpot! 😉 It was so great to get us all back there in the same place and there will be more of it now that I’ve moved back permanently 😀
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That must feel so wonderful and cozy!
You should do it all again many years down the road when there are little gran’babies! 😀
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YAY – I hope so 😉
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Oh, how cool is that? Dianne! What a great idea to recreate a picture. Time sure does fly, doesn’t it?! I love the photos. I’m glad you’re having a great time with your family.
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It’s so nice, Amy 😀 I can’t believe how the time has gone in the blink of an eye 😯
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Lovely photos! Glad to know that you have some time to enjoy time together to treasure the memories!
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These are great memories, Allen. We’ve had a wonderful time together 😀
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LOVE it, thanks so much for sharing 🙂 x
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Thank you so much for coming by – I’ve been very remiss in my blogging lately 😉
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Ah the blogging will always be here Dianne 🙂
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The more things change, the more they stay the same. Pre-internet, Post-internet, the love, the Nature, the family is still the same. {{{hugs}}} kozo
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So very true, Kozo! 😀
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Wow, what photos you have there! You are living in a gorgeous environment, too.
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It’s just beautiful, Maarit. Thanks so much for coming by today 😀
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So beautiful Dianne, thank you for sharing these and I’m so glad you’ve all had a great time. You truly are calling a very beautiful part of the world home:-)
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Thank you, Harula. It is really beautiful and it’s wonderful having this time with the children 😀
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What a great idea! Love your two family photos. My word, how your little baby has grown. 🙂 Happy Christmas to you all. xx
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Thank you so much, Sylvia – it’s just glorious when we can all get together! (Yes – my baby has grown!) 😀
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What a lovely idea to do that same line-up again after so many years. I hope you can do the same in 22 years from now. It’s a beautiful picture Dianne.
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I’m hoping to get another picture in the near future (maybe when I have grandchildren) 😉 I’m really glad you like the pictures 😀
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🙂
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Glad you like the pic, Peter 😉
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Really wonderful – fantastic that the continuity for your family is still there on that place
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So true, Chas! 😀
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Awesome… now you must do it again when all the Grand kids come… looks like a few years yet but it will happen…
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I’m hoping for some soon, Bulldog – I really need to add to that picture 😉
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If a picture says a thousand words…
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Fantastic, Sherry! and SO true 😀
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Awww – I love it! Can’t wait to hear your stories from hanging out. 🙂
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It’s been great, Elisa. We’ve had an absolute ball. I’ve got some other pics that I’l post soon (when I catch my breath) 😉
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Yay!!
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That is fantastic Dianne! I love these sorts of then and now pictures. So great to see that everyone still looks just as healthy and happy as they did the in the first pic 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Rohan.
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It was wonderful to get this, Rohan (considering hubby nearly died last year) – it was so great to all be together in the same place. I’ll be taking more of these now that we’re living here permanently now 😉
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Okay, add another voice to the “I love then and now pictures like this” group. 🙂 I’m glad you’re having a great time with the all-grown-up family!
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It’s been fabulous, JM. We’ve done some great things and had a brilliant time – I’ll be sad when they all go home and I think they will be too 😦
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I love the attention to detail you took to recreate this shot; the ball cap, the tank top and shorts, both you and your daughter in dresses (and your hair is the same length). The only thing is that your hubby is not holding your youngest son! Bahahahaha! 🙂
This is great! What a fantastic idea! I wish I had a shot like this of our family, but I avoided being photographed like the plague. I wished I hadn’t. 😦
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I usually avoid being photographed, Darla, but I just HAD to be in this one and now I’m glad. I sent you the original, thank you so much for offering to fix it for me – you’re an absolute gem 😀
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Beautiful!!! So glad your all together and loving every minute!
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It’s just fantastic! 😀
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That is sooooo cool, Dianne!
I love this! 😉
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Thank you, Denise! It was done in a bit of a rush, but I think it worked out well! 😀
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Dianne! I realize we do not know each other in real life “so to speak” but, these photo’s touch my heart deeply. It’s a continuous full circle of love. I can’t articulate this any better (sorry). I hope you frame both of those photos next to each other and as time continues this growth, love and peace is not only captured in time in a photo but a continuity. Thank you for sharing, my friend!!!!
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This is such a beautiful comment! The first one is framed on my wall and the second one will go next to it 😀 It really is a continuous circle of love (and that is a beautiful way to put it!) 😀
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OH yes, it fit’s this month’s CBBH Photo theme of “Same Subject, Different Time” perfectly, Dianne. Did you see the link to the photos taken in a similar way to yours, on my blog? It’s an absolutely delightful and very precious family photograph. Thank you so much for sharing it with us 🙂
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I did see them, Marianne – absolutely brilliant 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting 😀
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Lovely.
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Thank you! 😀
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Your youngest refused to be picked up then? Each on its own is very nice but together they are priceless Dianne, thanks for posting.
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We were trying to get the youngest to be carried, but he wouldn’t be in on it! I just love these pictures, Roy – so glad you stopped by to see them 😀
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Happy family times. I bet they love your house! 🙂
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They absolutely adore it, Jo. I was even surprised at their reactions to it! 😀
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This is WONDERFUL! I’ve been looking forward to seeing how it would turn out ever since you first mentioned the idea of recreating the photo … and it was worth the wait! So, so, SO cool 😀
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Thanks, Amb! It was a big rush, but I think it worked out okay. I’m hoping there’ll be grandchildren in the next one 😉
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Awww! I am now, too!! Can you imagine?!? Such cuteness!!!
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How absolutely fantastic Dianne!
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Thank you so much! 😀
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Oh my gosh! I am so happy I’m back just so I can comment and like this post. I was just sifting through my emails and remembered.
So gorgeous. I love then and now pix, and taking that concept to show the physical transformations of loved ones is very powerful. Just lovely, Miss Dianne.
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Thank you so much, Britt! And it’s great to have you back 😀
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These are two lovely photos, and what a great idea. I am going to copy it and look through to find an old photo of the four of us that we can recreate. I see your children are all taller than you now…isn’t that the way!
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I’m so glad you like this and the idea of doing it yourself – very exciting! If you do, please post it so I can see 😀
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Dianne what great photos. I so love pictures. All three of my daughters also love pictures. One of my favorites is a picture of my girls when they were 3, 6, & 9 playing outside in the heat of summer with 3 5 gallon buckets of water. In the picture I snapped, they are sitting in their buckets, legs hanging over the rim, grinning at me while I snapped the picture. The funniest part was watching them try and get out of it. For the youngest it was easy, she just upset the bucket and sort of slid out, I think the two older girls were afraid they’d get hurt, but they finally did the same thing because I wouldn’t help them. I wonder if I could get them to recreate that photo. They’re only 35, 38, & 42 now. That’s not too old to sit in a bucket of water and have your picture taken, is it?
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That’s a wonderful idea. Donna Jean! If they love pictures I’m sure they would be in on it. It’s always fun to set up a project like that and the results are priceless. If you ever get to do it, please post the pictures we I can see them! 😀
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Aw, Dianne, this was lovely! I am glad I made it back from my online vacation to catch it. I hope you’ve been well. I am rested and re-energised – sometimes we need to take a step back from life and all the effort we are putting in so that we can re-group. 😉
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I’m thinking of taking that break soon, Gabriela 😉 Welcome back, it’s lovely to see you again 😀
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This is amazing Dianne. What a wonderful way to capture your family. Beautiful.
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Thank you, Rebecca, it was a great idea and loads of fun 😀
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Dianne, how fun that you were able to do this update on the original photograph. And yes, they have grown!
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They certainly have, Lynda! It was so much fun doing this – I want to do it again in the near future 😀
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I love the photos! I’m glad you’re having a great time with your family. So, does this mean we get to see pictures of the RUC progress, now that there’s no cat to let out of the bag? (Selfish of me, I know…but I am curious!)
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I’m so glad you like the photos 😀 The RUC is still coming along slowly, but we’re getting there! I’m going to take some more shots when I get the tiles in the kitchen and bathroom (the handrails haven’t been painted yet but I’m really looking forward to that!) 😉
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What a stunning original and then recapture… great photos xxx
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Thanks so much Lisa, we had a lot of fun trying to recreate this 😀
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Both photos have so much feeling in them. That’s a great idea to show the passage of time and how some things change while the love remains. I still can’t believe kids can grow and change so much while we don’t change at all. 🙂 I’m glad you’re having a great time with the kids!
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I love your words “how some things change while the love remains” what a beautiful thought, Sheila! Thank you 😀
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As I said on Facebook, these pictures are awesome, Diane!
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Thank you so much, Maggie! 😀
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What a beautiful pair of photos. You’ve really captured time here. Blessings to you and your family.
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Thank you so much, Kathy – and thanks so much for stopping by to say hello 😀
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What an absolutely beautiful thing. I’m so touched by these two photos of your history.
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Thank you, my darling 😀
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BEAUTIFUL 🙂
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Thank you – it was great getting them all together again 😀
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