Fashion Show

If you have been following this blog this year you may remember me talking about a charity group that I have become involved with called People and Gardens.  Initially a friend asked if I would like to help photograph a fundraising fashion show they were putting on. Well it took place on the 22nd November and it was a brilliant evening. The guys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and performed on the cat walk with such confidence it put me to shame.

So here is a selection of photos taken on the night.

 

Julie wearing a dress especially made for her by the designer.

 

 Sorry to say I cannot remember this chap's name - he is extremely shy and this was such an amazing achievement for him - he was so pleased with himself as we all were.

 

 

Timmy

James - just loving it and danced his way down the cat walk and back

 

 

Matthew

 

Shaun

 

Phyllis lapping up the atmosphere.

 

It was a great evening, it took a lot to get on the catwalk. I did it as well and I don't have the issues the guys do - they are a true inspiration. Feel very honoured to know them.

 

Amanda also took part, she was being made up hair and make up and then went on the catwalk on her own.

 

 

So that is all done now and I am now going to concentrate on Christmas preps and two Christmas Scavenger hunts one on Lucky 7's  and one Joy is doing on facebook and her blog.  Please feel free to join in with both or either.

 

Have a good weekend. xx

 

 

 

 

 

The cake

I took the Christmas decorations down today - for the first time ever I was really reluctant to do it, no idea why but I was.  Anyway they are all packed away in the loft for another year.

 

Last night's meal went very well, I am almost disappointed to say that granny said nothing  - I think she was more nervous than Aaran was lol. The meal was very nice and a good evening had by all. 
As for the birthday cake, well......................it was amazing even though I say it myself.  So light and fluffy, I couldn't believe it.  To look at, it was probably the worse cake I have ever done.  It was browner than I would of liked, my chocolate covered orange segment didn't look as pretty as they could have and the chocolate drizzling had a lot to be desired, but apart from all that, it was good.  It was orange and poppy seed.  It should have been vanilla but I had run out - hence the orange!! It was a combination of two recipes one from the net and the other from the flour bag lol

The birthday girl about to blow her candles out.

A birthday in the house

Well today our little girl turns 19 where did the time go. I am not ashamed to say I love both my girls to bits they are so very different but at the same time very much alike.  It was lovely having them at home together, seeing them sat on the settee or curled up in a bed together chatting and giggling.  They do fall out, just like all siblings do but it has never been long lasting or turned physically - thank goodness.  They can drive me to distraction at times as they are not perfect but then neither am I - we all have our faults and that is what makes us who we are.  Plus I know I drive them round the twist at time with my poor memory and scattiness. They put up with a lot lol.  We are going out for a meal tonight, it will be the first time the grand parents meet her boyfriend!!!!  After a year granny still finds it odd that our two are going out with two brothers, so goodness knows what comments she may come out with - she is an expert at inappropriate comments lol

 

Whilst outside taking my daily photo I took one of the sky as well - what animal do you see?? I'm not sure if it is a dog or a pig!!

 

Linking with Skywatch Friday

Nothing special today

Yesterday I blogged about my beetroot smoothie  Eileen asked me what was in it, so here you go

1 small beetroot, 1 large banana, 1.5 cups of water, juice of half a lemon, 1 mandarin, 1 small apple, then zapped in the blender. 

 

Today I made my first gluten free cake, for Amanda as her birthday cake ready for tomorrow, I can't believe my little girl will be 19 - where does the time go.  It looks OK but guess we won't know until it is cut and tried, fingers crossed.

It has been horrid outside all day so I have not ventured out other then to take my daily photo and I will go out later to work.  So having baked the cake, I cleared out another two kitchen cupboards and washed the floors.  Then I have been over on my photo blog writing this post all about finding your motivation again. Please pop over and have a read if you fancy. 
 

Here are some bulbs starting to poke their heads through the water logged ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another chapter closes.

Well yesterday saw us all packed squashed into the car to take Amanda off to Pershore and drop Bernadette back in Bristol.  Thankfully traffic wasn't too bad and we arrived at Pershore around 10.30am (we left at 7am).  Her room is lovely and the other girls who are in her 'flat' seemed really nice as well, likewise the parents.  One mum had even made a cupcake for each of the girls and written them all a card wishing them all luck.  I was really touched by that and felt awful for not having thought of such a gesture. We moved all Amanda's stuff in then trundled off to Asda to do some food shopping for her.  Then after a cuppa we made a move and with lots of tears (from me) and several hugs later we left her to start a new chapter in her life.  It would appear signal for the old mobile phone isn't too great there, but I did receive a text at 9.22pm last night saying "Playing darts in the bar with my roomies. All so nice and funny. Skype you tomorrow"  So I guess you could say she is happy and settled so far :)  Mind you the thought of Amanda playing darts does not bare thinking about!!!!  We then headed down to Bristol and dropped Bernadette back at her place and had a cuppa with her before Mick and I got back into the car once more to drive home alone :(  At the moment it just seems fairly normal as if Amanda was at her boyfriends or out with her friends,  I think it will be this time next week that it really starts to sink in with me that she won't be home til Christmas!! 

 

My not so little girl.  Since starting this post we have skyped and she is really happy, great bunch of girls and they all appear to be getting on really well.  Such a relief.

Scrapping at long last!

Last May - as in 2011 May - Amanda had her May Ball and as with her sister before I started making her a book, well due to me not doing much scrapping these days it has taken awhile for me to complete it but complete it is and thankfully she is delighted with it. So as I promised Louise I would blog it here it is, warning though VERY PHOTO HEAVY.

 

  Kept it simple and there are a few names that we need to add.  The last page consists of a note book I made for Amanda to write down her own memories and for her friends to add to it if she or they want to.

 

 

26wk challenge - faces

Hands up I am doing a bit of a cheat on this one as I haven't managed to do much this last fortnight with camera or faces, well certainly not what I had in mind!!  So using some that were taken early this month.  The first one was taken on holiday in the evening sun hence the warm glow to the skin.  I just love the colouring and the look on Amanda's face even though the hair is blown across most of her face!!

 AV mode, ss 1/50, f5.6, ISO 100, ex comp +1 1/3, 50mm lens.

She has a new hat so it has to be worn and photographed.  I want to revisit this pose as I know what I want in my head but it didn't quite come off first time round, too much cheek showing.

 AV mode, ss 1/400, f2.5, ISO 200, ex comp +1/3, 50mm lens.

Just a different angle.

AV mode, ss 1/400, f 2.5, ISO 200,  ex comp +2/3 50mm lens.

Thank you to Louise and Eileen who have also joined in.

Time to stop being lazy

Last December I decided to take on a photo a day project and started off really well and keen, well lately I have become very lazy when it comes to taking a photo and just snap anything and make that do - which is not what I intended to do when I started it, so today I have given myself a good kick up the backside and need to make more of an effort.  So today Amanda agreed to play model for me (she wanted new fb photos!! - still works two ways) and this is a few of the ones we like the most.
The first one was taken indoors, the rest outside.

I think the thrid one is my favourite - shows more character, but the fourth may be my POTD.

Last two of Amanda being herself - well almost!

That's our girlie xx

Holiday entertainment for teenagers....

...what do you do with bored teenagers in the middle of the school holidays???  Give them some props and sit them in front of the camera and DON'T say "smile" .....

The first - not too impressed!!

 The handle came off - literally!

 Strong stuff in that drink!

Getting serious now!

We had great fun and it gave me a chance to really have a play with my lights.  We are now planning our next 'session' - hopefully moving outdoors this time.

Weekly photo - shadows

Here I am a day late - basically I just ran out of time yesterday - or maybe I was just trying to fit too much into a 24hr slot!!  Anyway shadows was last week's theme and I have really enjoyed looking for them even if I haven't photographed all of them, but I can see it is a theme I shall carry on with.  So here are my offerings, they vary from patterns on the ground like the two below....

to obvious shadows with the cause of them being shown as well......

to an unflattering shadow of me - that is a shoulder bag sticking out of my back!!

to Amanda playing around as usual during an evening stroll on the beach to collect seaweed for work

Kathi joined us this week as well, her photos can be see here 

Weekly photo - candid

This week's theme was candid.  Sam is on the ball tonight and has uploaded her's from last week and this week's already, they can be seen here and I am sure Louise will be posting her's soon.  As for me well, I managed a couple, the first was taken during an evening in Truro on Thurs with some of the others from camera club.  We had a stroll around the cathedral and I saw this girl sat on the grass busy chatting on the phone.

The second is of Amanda, she had one of her guinea pigs out and she was busy talking to it, as I went to take the picture she looked up and had to pull a face!! Taken via the window.

Where did the time go??

Sixteen years seems so long ago, but it seems like only yesterday our little Amanda entered ours lives but last night brought it home to Mick and I (and a lot of other parents) that our little one's are not little any more. She has gone from this

to this

in such a short time and is growing up and away rapidly - just like her big sister :(

Thought I would share a comparison photo with you - I'm sure they will thank me ..one day!!

Affectionately known as our Town Mouse and Country Mouse

(err.. yes that is BIG sister on the left!!)

Am I proud?  Oh yes - very :)

By the way, I think my photography is starting to show signs of improvment !