Sunday 18 April 2010

Fritillary Sunday

I was reminded this morning that it was Fritillary Sunday. This is a celebration in the village of Ducklington, Oxfordshire. Next to the church there is a field of Snakehead Fritillaries. This was the only field that was not ploughed up to plant vegetables during WW2. It is a lovely sight to see
their purple heads bobbing in the breeze.




There is nothing more English than the village green.

Saturday 17 April 2010

New York, New York!

New York was fantastic. We went for my friend Carol's 40th birthday and also to celebrate her loss of 10 stone!!!!!! We have returned with aching feet from all the walking and aching jaws from all the laughing. I will gradually put up my photographs over the next few days. I took 600 pictures - a lot of editing required.


We stayed at the Carlton Hotel on Madison Avenue. It was just round the corner from The Flat Iron building. There was a fabulous square with a Shake Shack and we were surrounded by the Anthony Gormley exhibition of people standing on the top of high buildings.

The Empire State building is a must. On a clear day you can see for miles. It was quite quiet when we went up and we were able to spend ages taking photos. I was able to test out my new zoom lens.
My favourite building is the Chrysler Building. I think I have a picture of it from every angle possible.

The shape at the top is just so gorgeous. I love the way it glints in the sunlight.

Close up from below. I came back with a stiff neck from all the looking up. I will add more each day.
Joy

Tuesday 6 April 2010

The kitchen arrives

It has been a busy day in the extension. The kitchen arrived - all 193 items and the tiles started to go down. They will be grouting tomorrow. Duncan has been watching very carefully. The tiler drives an BMW sports convertible, so Duncan thinks this is the job for him!


This is the dining room end.


The cats have been chasing spacers all over the floor.

There are a lot of boxes. I am looking forward to seeing it built.

Good old IKEA.

Sunday 4 April 2010

Taking Pictures

I have been very busy working hard to hone my photography skills. I have now done 2 terms of the class and I am happy to report that I have switched from the auto setting to the manual setting. Here are a few examples of the photographs I showed at my end of term exhibitions.


A natural still life on Porthgwidden beach, St. Ives, Cornwall.

My gorgeous daughter, Rosie.

A fantastic chandelier in a cafe at Borough Market.

Some lovely pencils at school.

Jake's size 11 army boot. He wasn't best pleased when I showed him what I had done with it!

Another portrait of Rosie with her rock chick look.
I love this one.

My gorgeous nieces.

My baby boy - Duncan.


A little bit of nature.
I can't wait to turn my camera on the sights of New York. I fly out on Friday and I can't wait.

Easter Weekend

Happy Easter to all of you. I have decided that I need to get my blog up and going again. So I will be posting photographs, scrapbooking layouts and other craft projects that I have been working on. I hope that you will enjoy looking at it.