151/365 String theory

Not that kind of string...! I have a rather beautiful string dispenser, it came with a huge ball of string which is now more than half gone. I wonder how hard it'll be to find a new ball that fits the dispenser?

150/365 Ponyville dans la salle de bain

Isn't it always the way when you set up something (quick and easy in this case) for the daily blog shot, then you turn around and find your offspring doing something, you shoot and that's it, The Blog Shot?! I spent most of today getting stuff listed on ebay as it was too hot to be in the garden, but I wasn't going to use a 'product shot' for my blog. And late this afternoon when it was cooler we popped to Toys R Us (which I dislike intensely, but needs must) to choose a gift for a birthday party coming up and I took a handful of 'pink aisle' shots while we were there, but none of them shouted 'pick me! pick me!' So, while Jodie was in the bath I set up a cosmetics shot on the opposite windowsill in the bathroom, but Jodie's Ponyville car/ice cream van or whatever it is wins today's shot.

149/365 Singing in the rain?

Not quite singing in the rain, more giggling under the sprinkler! Today was hot and sunny so perfect for water play. Jodie ran around dodging (or not!) the sprinkler jets with her Pooh Bear brolly.

148/365 Carsington Water

I spent a lovely couple of hours with EP at Carsington Water this afternoon. It was very warm, very busy and very bright - too much light! It has been very hard to choose today's shot, and a collage is essential, there was so much to photograph. Picasa album to follow, but after some post-processing I think. Click here for info about Carsington. I'll be visiting again on a less busy day.

147/365 Neigh there...

Jodie got up close and personal with a beautiful horse today. Bayleaf belongs to the family of one of Jodie's classmates and they invited us to come along and meet him as Jodie loves horses, ponies and unicorns so. He is very calm and friendly - they look like they're eye to eye here, but not quite nose to nose! Jodie sat on him for a few moments, but wasn't confident enough to be led around the menage on him, it was a very long way down from where she was, and this was only her second time sitting on a pony. Tomorrow we're meeting up at soft play - with the friend, not the horse!

146/365 French Fancies

These are Jodie's favourite treat at the moment. She always eats a pink one first. The yellow ones are lemony. We rather like them too ;0)

145/365 Boing!

Jodie bounced a little today.

144/365 Hussar

We visited Leeds Royal Armouries today, this man is dressed as an English Hussar and taking part in a riding display. He's just sliced the top off a cabbage mounted an top of a pole with his sword! We had a brilliant day and I took nearly 400 photos - I have had a very hard time choosing, but was particularly pleased with this shot - I had the chance to practice panning and got some great results. There will be an album on Picasa! But not tonight! See here for details and click on Leeds - admission was free, there's parking right next door and so much to see, we'll be going again later in the year.

There are five floors of exhibits and they often stage events such as jousting. This week they are having a Wild West Week to co-incide with half term, but the Hussar was included in the riding display. Outside is a canal and warehouses have been converted into posh flats (apartments) and restaurants.

And finally... here's a chip off the old block - Jodie adopts a stable stance, confident enough to move away from us to frame her shot:

143/365 Jodie was the Breeze

Jodie pretended to be the breeze. I had been experimenting with slow shutter speeds to catch the door-curtain streamers moving in the wind, but had to wait for the next gust. She asked what I was doing, and then said "I'll move them for you!" So this is my favourite, with the Tigger gazillion bubbles bottle on the corner of the sand table just behind her. She's also wearing a new summer dress. All the colours work for me on this one. The only thing I can't share with you is the 'clat clat' noise the plastic strips make when they hit against each other.

142/365 Heads

This is part of a sculpture on Friargate in Derby. I have driven past these heads so many times and finally went to photograph them today and find out via the wonderful www who put them there and why:

"This is the reform bill heads sculpture, by Timothy Clapcott, and was installed in 2000 as part of the Sustrans development of the National Cycle Network. Derby City Council and Sustrans contributed equally to the commission, to help give the route identity and help cyclists and pedestrians orientate themselves. The heads are crowded together, jostling and jeering, reminiscent of the 1821 Reform Bill riots."
(From http://www.picturesofderby.co.uk/)

We visited Roland & Suzanne (see 102/365) this afternoon, well, actually, we only went down to see the new kittens ;0) More kitten-fest pics here.

141/365 Cul-de-sac

On reflection, I think a new sign is required. I spotted this shot this morning on my way home from the school run with RK. I came back later with camera and caught it during a brief sunny spell. We're having a lot of rain showers though, hence the puddle.

140/365 Easy Listening

I had to pack up some of my Dad's records today. He loved music and I have inherited that love and also almost 300 vinyl LPs - remember those?? We need to move some furniture so the records went into a box, but now I need to move the box, its too heavy!

139/365 LEGO

Here is a new way to play with LEGO. Above the yellow trough is a red lego board to fix lego bricks to. There are 2 of them now fixed to the outside wall of Jodie's class for outdoor play. Right before the afternoon school run there was a downpour followed by brilliant sunshine. I hope there are some holes in the bottom for the rain to drain away.

138/365 About this tall

I wish I could remember what it was she was telling me was about this tall. I just can't remember, and it was only this afternoon.

This extra shot is an 'honourable mention' as it earned me 16/20, a personal best, in this evening's club competition, Liquid.
Not bad for my third competition.

After heavy rain overnight, the dew formed almost perfect droplets on all the leaf points - you can't fake this effect with a sprayer folks! I'd have been pleased with 15, so quite chuffed with 16, :0)

137/365 Cloud

After heavy showers most of the day, we had blinding sunshine and colossal cotton wool clouds this evening. This image doesn't do justice to either the cloud, or indeed to the tamarisk tree with the clematis montana growing through it. I had expected today's blog image to be equestrian, but the event was cancelled due to ... heavy rain! Jodie was very disappointed. We stayed home doing rainy day activities, all horse-related.

136/365 Orchid

I was given this beautiful orchid plant at around 1.30am this morning as I came away from last night's adventure. It was a thank you gift for agreeing to photograph the May Ball held to raise funds for Curzon School in Quarndon, and also to mark the 150th anniversary of it's founding. Although my kids don't go there, I know several parents whose kids do, and they know I'm game to photograph anything, so they asked me would I? Luckily, I had a cunning plan. Well, actually that's not strictly true, I had a plan which was bettered by Paul, an event photographer who was willing to help me, so we did it together, although almost all the shots taken were taken by me, and almost all the shots purchased were taken by me. It was great fun, but exhausting! You can see some of the photos here; the few with a plain backdrop are Paul's. Thanks Paul :0)

135/365 Dripping wet

We have had steady rain overnight and most of the day, everything in the garden is dripping wet. There's no breeze at all, so everything is also very still, with intermittant dripping sounds all around the garden.

134/365 Sweetie dreams

Doesn't Sweetie look comfy curled up on the spare bed? Notice its the cat, the whole cat and nothing but the cat? Well, was running out of body parts... ;0)

133/365 Tamarisk (Tamarix pentandra)

Our tamarisk tree is covered in a deep pink haze of tiny tight buds. This is Mark's favourite tree in the garden and its usually at its best late May/early June. When the buds open out the tree looks fluffy. I'll post another when its in full bloom.

132/365 Oliver's birthday

Oliver turned 11 years old today and we surprised him with his very own deactivated bolt action Mosin Nagant 1938 carbine. Its the genuine article, the real deal, from Russia, via The Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House (where it was deactivated) and the arms dealer we bought it from. He was thrilled! So he's got all kitted out for his re-enactment hobby rather swiftly (see 108/365) with help from MC & co from The Russians who have been brilliant. The next event is on the 24th May at Whittington, near Lichfield and Oliver can't wait. С Днем Рождения (Happy Birthday)