49 of 365 - 18 February 2011

Today hubby and I had a couple of hours free while the twins were in nursery. We had some light relief from the stresses of life by going to see Gnomeo and Juliet... an entertaining and cute film. Afterwards we had some time to spare so I could go and get my picture for the day! As it was a reasonable day (although somewhat hazy, at least it was dry and you could see some blue above the haze!) I decided to try and capture this local(ish) landmark... the old gatehouse to a country mansion. I have given it the HDR treatment!

48 of 365 - 17 February 2011

I saw this tree in the grounds of the hospital when visiting Dad the other day, but was unable to take a picture because of the rain! Today, the weather was a bit better... though Dad wasn't :-( and I was able to get a picture. There is lots of this fungus all up the tree. I love crocuses... and these ones are especially beautiful!

47 of 365 - 16 February 2011

Today we had a little bit of sunshine!! Hurrah. We went to visit my Mum this afternoon and were able to wheel her down to the seafront. Near where we sat there are some fabulous gardens to flats and I took this photo through a cast iron fence.

46 of 365 - 15 February 2011

Today was ANOTHER horrid rainy day. Even though I took my camera out with me wherever I went, it was too wet to even get it out. I saw a lovely tree with some amazing fungi on it at the hospital when visiting Dad, but it was raining too much. Maybe one day when its not raining I'll get a picture of it. Tonight I went round photographing things around the house and noticed my key hooks, which have gradually got fuller and fuller over the last couple of years. Not even sure I know what they are all for. Think I'd better go through them some time soon!

45 of 365 - 14 February 2011

I had week five of my photography course today and learnt all about HDR (High Dynamic Range). We went out and took pictures in the local graveyard(!), and then came back and made them HDR... so exciting... I LOVE the effect!!! This is my first ever go! You will probably be seeing more!!! (For probably, read definately!!!)

44 of 365 - 13 February 2011

The twins brought hubby and I some Valentines flowers (with the help of their Auntie) and this is them... played about with a bit! I love Tulips!

(I am finding it hard to find time and places for good photos at the moment... with so much time spent at the hospital visiting my father.)

43 of 365 - 12 February 2011

We went to an old friends for dinner ... it was lovely as there were also a couple of friends there who we had not seen for many years. It was lovely to catch up.

They had, in the centre of the table a red rose they had purchased in town during the day and I took a picture of it with my beloved in the background!

42 of 365 - 11 February 2011

Today was pretty much sleeping and hospital visiting my father.... so tonight I decided I better think about taking a picture!! I settled on a picture of a picture(!) I bought on my recent trip to my sister's. In fact... there's two pictures... and there's a story here.

I saw the original of the top Picture in a gallery, (it was larger than this print), a few months back when visiting my sister. I absolutely loved it, but there was no way I could afford it!

When I went back to the gallery this time I found a print of the same picture and just had to have it because it reminded me of the beautiful original I had seen! I asked if they had any more by that particular artist ... Eddie Mallon. They produced quite a few originals for me to view and I fell in love with the bottom one - it reminded me of the first picture in it's style and feel... though it was much smaller!

S0..... here they hang...... on my wall..... the bottom one is nicely framed and hanging on a hook... and the top print rests on the original painting, waiting for me to find an appropriate matching frame and hang on a hook!

(NB: Though I tried a few effects out, I decided not to really anything to this picture, because I did not want to change the pictures I love so much!)

41 of 365 - 10 February 2011

Another day spent mainly at the hospital..... Dad is doing a little better. My sister and I had a break tonight in order to go get something to eat, and I got this picture of the Cathedral between a couple of buildings when walking back to the car. (The second i-phone picture in two days!)

40 of 465 - 9 February 2011

Most of this day was spent at hospital with my father... he is really ill. I was there from 0430 and left at 0700 the next morning. It was a very exhausting and stressful 24+ hours. This picture of the alcohol lotion for cleaning hands sums up my day!

39 of 365 - 8 February 2011

Today was a beautiful sun-shiney day... for a change... so after dropping the twins to nursery we went for a little drive so I could get pictures... and this is one of the ones I got. Have played around with it a bit and used some textures I got from someone on Flickr called SkeletalMess. He has some amazing free textures for anyone to use.

38 of 365 - 7 February 2011

Today was my photography class! It was meant to be a photo shoot in the woods... but it was raining (surprise, surprise!) so we ended up back in the classroom. It turned out to be a great lesson... we just asked questions that had come up and learnt particularly how to do layers and textures.... as demonstrated in today's picture. (Taken in the grounds of the Adult Education Centre - the lock on a lichen covered old shed!. The texture is from a pile of old leaves and sticks on the ground).

Check out Sazzles shot of the same lock from the other side HERE.

37 of 365 - 6 February 2011

Today has been such a busy day, and I have hardly had a moment to breathe (well that's a slight exaggeration, but you know what I mean!). I have had many e-mails and things to do on the computer... so, in the absence of anything else exciting to take a picture of, and because of the late hour, I took a picture of all the windows open on my computer!!!

36 of 365 - 5 February 2011

Today I met with a friend and her daughter to go wedding dress shopping! Whilst waiting for them, I saw a shop which reminded me of my Mother. She grew up in this town and this is where she used to like to come to buy her shoes.... I remember going shopping there with her when a child. I love the big golden boot outside the, and it still shines there today!

35 of 365 - 4 February 2011

More car shopping! Tonight we had friends for dinner! I'd intended to take a picture of the new recipe I cooked, but forget, then I though I'd get dessert, which I forgot!! But one of my guests had seconds, so I made him wait until I was able to take a picture of his seconds!!! Have played around to make it a little more 'interesting'!

34 of 365 - 3 February 2011

Today was spent car shopping with my sister! What fun!!!???!!! This is one we took on a test drive! (Another i-phone picture which I've played around a bit with this in Photoshop!)

33 of 365 - 2 February 2011

We went to visit Dad today and I took some pictures of him. He was in good form today and was quite cheeky and amusing. His eyes are so like his mothers, especially the older he gets!

32 of 365 - 1 February 2011

Today my sister arrived home... with copious amounts of baggage. The twins were very excited to come to the airport with me to meet her. They gave her a balloon and flowers, and also cards. They are very happy to have their Auntie home! I love the rainbow in the holographic balloon!