Location, Location, Location

Not the property programme on T.V. but Tollymore and Castlewellan Forest Park. We spent a beautiful day in both these places yesterday, the sun shone and the girls loved the opportunity to explore, run wildly and practise their "pretend falling." With hardly a soul about it felt like the huge areas of grass and forest belonged only to us!
I got the photos I was after and arrived home a very happy bunny - this course has really opened my eyes and helped me to steer away from my previous method of photography, "point and shoot" or is that "point and hope"?

Amy got some new shoes today, lovely girly pink trainers....with lights!! She has been showing them off to everyone we meet, regardless of whether she knows them or not!! She also got her hair trimmed today so it is looking a little less wild than normal, but not much!!

Here are the 3 photos I submitted for Module 3 - "Frame in a Frame"


Tollymore Arch


Arch and Spire at Tollymore


McKee Clock

Some more photos of the girls having fun!!

Net Doctor

Unfortunately during the week I became the victim of several computer viruses, thankfully nothing too malicious just plain annoying. Anyway, despite my best efforts and the help of my Dad to get everything removed I had to take my poor computer to an "expert." Without internet connection I felt like my right arm had been cut off - sad or what? There is so much anti-virus stuff on my system now I reckon it will be near impossible for a second attack!!

On Thursday night we went to see Roy (a.k.a Captain America) in his annual BB display. Unfortunately I have no photos to share as Amy decided to throw her cup of water on the floor at a crucial moment only for the lid to fly off and the water to go everywhere!! - thinking she may be thirsty I had brought her large cup, imagine the mess...and the colour of my face!!
She also wanted to bounce on the trampette the boys were using for their box work and when restrained she decided to sound off...loudly!! Altogether a very trying night!!
Lauren on the other hand was totally enthralled from start to finish. I hope she is excited this Saturday night when she partakes in her first GB display!!

Yesterday we went to see Disney on Ice featuring the "Incredibles go to Disney World". The look on Lauren's face when she saw Cinderella, her favourite princess was totally priceless. It's hard not to get caught up in the whole "Disney Magic" as anyone who has been to Disney will understand. I found myself singing along and chanting "MICKEY", "MINNIE" with the rest of the crowd.

My photogaphy course is going well, thanks to everyone who gave me their opinion in the post below (I did submit the leaf photo in the end). I think this weeks module is going to require me to go on location and so I have convinced Roy to take some time off on Wed to accompany me.

Hope you all have a good week!! (P.S. got my brain age down to 28, just a few more years to go!!)

Decisions, Decisions

Just a quick post to share my latest photography offerings for Module 2. Again, like the last module I took way too many photographs to count and deleted the equivalent number. Anyway, I have 4 shortlisted and 3 to submit. Let me know what ones you think I should go for. The theme is Texture.

This is a definite:

Golf

And another definite:

Rusty Railings

The choice is between the following 2:

Begonia Leaf

or


Trees at Castle Park

Thanks!!

Cockels and Mussels....

alive, alive-O....we have just returned from Dublin with good friends, simply relaxing, drinking coffee and a serious amount of Fat Face shopping!
Lauren & Amy stayed with grand-parents and from what I can gather had a whale of a time.

Module 2 of the photography course has been set and I have taken loads of photos tonight, all of which are rubbish and have been deleted - (thank goodness for digital!)
I have a few more ideas to try out tomorrow when Amy is in bed so, fingers crossed.

By the way - did you know that my brain age is in its 70's? (according to Dr Kawashima). How shocking is that?

Have a good week.

Done and Dusted

Today I headed off to the local park in search of some daffodils to photograph. Armed with a couple of bin bags on which to lie, my Mum and the girls for moral support, I got my final photograph....yeah!
Such a giggle we all had the sight of me on the ground in amongst the daffodils. I am glad I had company beacuse I dread to think what some people would have thought at the sight of this body poking out of the daffodils!!

After literally hundreds of shots, here are the ones I settled on:







I didn't submit this last photo below as I wanted a variety of styles but I do love the contrast of the white blossom against the blue sky. Thanks Mum for pointing it out!



Now a chance to relax before Module 2 on Friday, can't wait!

All change....

...the weather that is, sun, wind, snow showers and rain, all in the one day and all in the space of a few hours!!

My photography course has begun in earnest and I have been snapping furiously in the hope of getting 3 shots decent enough to submit. Lauren and I headed to the beach yesterday afternoon in the hope of geeting some interesting shots but the wind was so strong that we had major difficulty getting close enough to the shore. It's amazing where the sand gets to when it is windy, we found ourselves munching on some on the way home - nice!!



My quest will continue tomorrow and hopefully some of my subjects will be a little more willing to be photographed!!

The budding ballerina continues to be enthusiastic after her latest ballet lesson yesterday morning and she is looking forward to her swimming lessons starting on Thursday.

After several months of waiting we received our letter from Kilmaine Primary School offering Lauren a place in Year 1 in September. It seems no time since she was a tiny baby and I know that once in school she will grow up even quicker. Part of me wants to hold on to and protect her and yet I look forward to watching her grow and develop and become what God has planned for her.

I sent Jen a parcel last week and included a picture of Lauren. I didn't have an up to date one of Amy, so this one is for you Jen:



And with that I bid you all good-night and Ihope you have an enjoyable week.

Sugar Plum Fairy

Move over Darcey Bussell....Lauren the Ballerina has arrived in town!! Lauren started ballet classes today and loved every second of it!! She looked so cute in her little ballerina outfit, which, fortunately is pink!!

The weather continues to be quite miserable and although the weather on Thursday was positively spring-like, it didn't hang around.
Both of the girls received money from great grandparents for Easter and with it I bought Amy a trike that I can push and more importantly steer. I thought she would enjoy taking taking Lauren to school on this. Pictures of this when we finally get outside with it!! Lauren's money hasn't burnt a hole in her pocket....yet.

I leave you with some pictures of the budding ballerina.