181/365 Going up or going down?

Can you tell what it is yet? Answers on a postcard please to... ;0) Hey - a milestone has been reached - six months down, six to go! Halfway there already, wow... ...so which of you thought I wouldn't get this far??

180/365 Neon mousey

Running out of time and no image in cam yet - quick think of something ... Gotcha!

On the way to my usual photo-club night (http://www.derbycitypc.co.uk/) I realised I hadn't even picked up the camera today - have been pretty busy, and its been too hot to be out and about, and with Mark off work poorly my day was thrown from the start. So I took it with me but nothing transpired. Then, on my return the dining room was in darkness apart from the glow of the neon mouse. Timer mode, corner of desk, long exposure, that'll do nicely. Thank you and goodnight!

179/365 Proud Dad

I had the chance to photograph a beautiful littly lady this morning with her Mum, Dad and 2 big brothers. She's about 10 days old and such a beauty. Here she is with proud Dad. Many thanks to J & J for letting me spend time with them this morning, I can't wait to get the pictures to you in a few days.

178/365 Gone to seed

Clematis Montana seeds hang on a twig of the tamarisk tree. It makes me think of floaty ball gowns hanging out to dry. I just had ten minutes in the garden with cam today, while recovering from a migraine. Had to cancel tonight's plans, had a babysitter booked and everything :0(

This is an image of next door's bean poles which I had a play with in PSE7.

177/365 The boys are back

They had a long journey, they're all very tired but pleased to be home after their adventures. Oliver's first priority was to play on his PS2 for a while, followed by some TV, then shower and bed.

176/365 Pink flower (hardy geranium)

I admit to having to grab quick shots the past couple of days, I have been so busy processing photos, having a bit of a training session with RB, helping JW with a NW newsletter and rediscovering my loft room carpet! (With Oliver away, I have had a chance to tidy the loft room, which was strewn with his toy soldiers!) Also, with the current hot spell, I have to be careful not to get too hot and too tired or I'll be struck down with heatstroke and no good to anybody. So, Summer Fair pictures ordered online to collect tomorrow, loft room tidy enough for a photo session with AE tomorrow, album design software ready to go for J&S's wedding album... if I didn't have to eat and sleep I'd get so much more done! Oh, and tomorrow Oliver comes home from Devon with a mountian of hideous laundry, and I should get to see my May Ball pics in July's Derbyshire Life :0))) Its all happening folks!!

175/365 Lavender with alchemilla mollis

The lavender has to compete with the alchemilla and the alchemilla wins, but the contrast with the acid green flowers on the latter is pleasing.

174/365 Hello deer

Jodie re-aquainted herself with a deer this afternoon. After school we went to see Pollyanna Pickering's summer exhibition at her home near Matlock. Last year Jodie made friends with this little deer statue in Pollyanna's garden (see below) and enjoyed saying hello again today! Click here to see PP's site - awesome paintings - and currently displayed top right on her home page is my favourite that I saw today, "Monsoon", of a tiger in the rain.

173/365 Watch out Devon, here they come!

Here's Oliver waiting to stash his huge bag in the coach, he was more excited than nervous I'm pleased to say, off on a big adventure.

172/365 Oliver's first PGL trip

We have been packing all Oliver's kit today ready for 5 days at a PGl centre in Devon called Beam House. He's nervous but excited and will get the chance to try out things like abseiling, high ropes, zip-wire, body-boarding, archery, rifle-shooting, and also try some new grub as well. The coach leaves at 9.30 in the morning and he wants me to wave him off. It'll be a big adventure for him!

171/365 Remembering Nursery School Days

Oliver & Jodie both attended Whitecross Nursery School. They are pictured here with their folders of work. The Headteacher is retiring, so we thought we'd make a card to send, hence photo-call!

170/365 Fully loaded

This is what those weird water-retentive beads look like today, all smooth and glassy looking, but very slippery and slightly squishy to the touch. Fab colour.

169/365 Trick of the Light

The light caught them. But what are they exactly? They are water retentive gel spheres for plants/flowers to be planted/arranged in. They are like tiny beads in the packet, then you soak them in a certain volume of water for 8 hours. At this point they had been in for a couple of hours and this is the shadow they cast.

168/365 Suzanne

My lovely new sister-in-law came to see us today. It wasn't a very long visit, but great to see her & my brother nonetheless. Short blog entry, very tired, too many late nights.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

167/365 Feline vantage point

Sweetie likes to sit on next door's garage roof and watch the birds. She daintily jumps from deck to chair to fence to garage roof. (Actually she's not that dainty.) From here she has a view up and down the road and can watch the martins swoop to and from their nests under the eaves. She also likes to chase frogs, which is a major pain if she brings one into the house through the cat-flap in the back door! She was watching this one on the deck this morning, but I sent her scurrying by tossing water at her from last night's rain, then the frog hopped off.

166/365 Wedding Day Memories II

Putting my wedding dress back on its proper hanger today took me back to my own wedding day once again. The hanger is trimmed with matching satin and lace, perfect for a wedding dress shot, hanging from the four poster bed on Saturday afternoon. Here you see my veil trimmed with that same lace, the satin sash and the lace skirt of the dress behind. Saturday's bride had chosen off-white, whereas mine was much more of a cream/ivory, so perhaps if I get to do another wedding it'd be a good idea to get a less creamy coloured hanger. I'll keep an eye out for one. (See 53/365 for the first Wedding Day Memories post.)

165/365 Foxtrot-3-5-Xray-Oscar-Hotel

My first car was a little red Ford Fiesta, reg number F35 XOH. I was working in a Ford dealership at the time (88-89) and gained a nickname "The Dragon Lady" (who - me??!) and so when I bought the car I called it Dragonfly and had TP in the Parts dept make me a set of plates with the name on. When the car was traded in for our Peugeot I kept the rear plate, putting the original "Skyway Ford Birmingham" one back on. This has come to light today as we've been clearing out the garage before demolition later this year.

Meanwhile, Jodie set up pretend horse jumps in the garden today and insisted knocking the mop off the upturned bowl was not 4 faults. That'll be a clear round then!

164/365 Lying down on the job?

I undertook my first official wedding assignment this afternoon. Here we have BT lying down to photograph a rather beautiful ceiling at the venue (Shottle Hall) and PM with a lens almost as long as he is tall. Between us we must have taken several hundred shots, I think its going to be quite a task to whittle them down to a manageable choice. I have no doubt that the newlywed couple, J & S, will have a long & happy marriage, and I was thrilled to share part of their beautiful day.

163/365 Helen's Lavender

I visited a beautiful courtyard garden this morning. A little pocket of paradise in Swarkestone, home to H & G who are expecting a new addition to their family very soon, it is full of interesting features, in particular a church pew and a fantastic mosaic table and chairs. I hope to visit again and coo over the new baby :0)

162/365 Drawers

These drawers were being thrown out by Jodie's school, so I asked if they could be thrown in my direction. Once they've been done up, they'll look great in our new study which is being built later this year. Jodie helped carry all the drawers, 2 at a time, from the car. I've said that she can have some of the drawers for her craft and art things.

161/365 Poppies near Weston-Upon-Trent

I was late for coffee with my Photoshop Guru today because I had to stop and take these poppies on the way. And when I got back later, waiting for me in the post were the proof pages from Derbyshire Life & Countryside for the May Ball photos. Reserve your copy at your local newsagent now! ;0)

160/365 Kodak Junior II

I came across this fabulous vintage camera the other day when clearing out some boxes. It may have been Dad's or Uncle Edwin's, not sure as I don't remember it from when I was little - by the time I remember Dad taking pictures he had Praktica slrs. It's in reasonable condition, although a gromit fell out of it this evening when I was showing it to a couple of members of the camera club. (I have the gromit). It has a distinctive smell, like a Dansette record player has a distinctive smell! (I'm only just old enough to remember Dansettes.) It was made from 1954-1959, so its older than I am.