Monday, 31 March 2008

March 31st

"The greatest gift that you give yourself is a little bit of your own attention."
Anthony J. D'Angelo Do something for you today.
********
Sorry folks but it had to be done,
this face mask has been in my bathroom cabinet
for months.
Today was the day to use it. LOL
********“
"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”
Kahlil Gibran

Sunday, 30 March 2008

March 30th

"Spread your love everywhere you go."
Mother Teresa

How did you spread your love today?
********
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8

Saturday, 29 March 2008

March 29th

"Right now is a good time."
Tote Yamada
Right now is a good time,
to start something new,
to hug someone in need,
to take time to relax.
What will you do right now!
********
I need a hug,
but Colin is away.
So I have put on my
new scarf and relaxed
in front of the camera!

Photography prompt 3

"My theory of composition? Simple: do not release the shutter until everything in the viewfinder feels just right." Ernst Haas
Shutter Speed
This month we are going to look at our shutter speed. For those of us using a camera with some manul settings, you can set the shutter speed to "S" for shutter speed priority. this allows you to alter your shutter speed and your camera will set the aperture setting for you.
Our shutter speed is important when photograhing in low light conditions and when photographing motion shots.
A faster shutter speed will freeze action whereas a slower shutter speed can create a blurred effect (or can just be downright blurry.) When you set your shutter speed on your camera, you’ll see numbers like 60, 120, 250, 1000 and so on. These actually represent 1/60th of a second, 1/120th of a second and so on. So the higher the bottom number on the fraction, the faster the shutter speed. The smaller the number, the slower the shutter speed. You will also see shutter speeds for seconds, indicated by inch marks ("). For example, if the display says 1"5, that indicates a shutter speed of 1½ seconds. If the display says 30", the shutter will be open for 30 seconds.
A general rule of thumb is not to set your shutter speed less than 1/60 when taking a photo without a tripod. A shutter speed less than this, will cause camera shake and you should use your tripod, or a firm static surface, ie a wall, or table.
Shutter Challenge (taken from 2 peas)4. Now set your shutter really high (around 1/1000 of a second or higher) and take the photo again.
1. Find your kitchen sink (that shouldn’t be too hard.)
2. Now locate an object that is going to obstruct the water flowing from the faucet. Basically, you want something that will interrupt the flow of water, causing the water to "splash" around it (similar to what a child’s boots do when tromping through a rain puddle.)
3. Set your shutter speed to 1/80th of a second (indicated by the number 80.) Turn on the water and take the picture.
*********




Friday, 28 March 2008

March 28th

“Creativity is a natural extension of our enthusiasm.”
Earl Nightingale entrepreneur, motivational authorShow creativity in your space today.
********
I just love creating portraits of
my beautiful Granddaughter.

Thursday, 27 March 2008

March 27th

“A habit cannot be tossed out the window; it must be coaxed down the stairs a step at a time.”
Mark Twain - humorist, lecturer, author.
Lets look at our habits, the good and the and the bad!
********
I know I have many bad habits!
One stupid one that I have is getting
onto the bathroom scales every morning.
I know I need to lose weight,
I do not need the scales to tell me that.
What am I hoping for?
Maybe an overnight miracle!!!!!
********
“Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of"

Wednesday, 26 March 2008

March 26th

“Any necessary work that pays an honest wage carries its own honor and dignity.”
W. Kelly Griffith

What is your job, your day to day job, your working life?

********
My day to day job is unpaid and has
been for a long time!
I have taught and I have done a lot of
fundraising over the years.
However, this month I am being PAID
for doing a scrapbook layout.
I was asked to submit a lay out
by a magazine.
The layout is to be in the magazines
May issue.
At least it will enable me to keep my
Bazzill cardstock topped up;-)


Tuesday, 25 March 2008

March 25th

"Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.”
Anne Sexton - poet, writer

********
Take time out today to listen to your heart, listen to your family and loved ones.

********
“While I know myself as a creation of God,
I am also obligated to realize and remember
that everyone else and everything else
are also God's creation.”
Maya Angelou

Monday, 24 March 2008

March 24th

"Red and yellow and pink and green,
Purple and orange and blue,
I can sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow,
Sing a rainbow too!"
Artist Delta Goodrum
There are somethings I can live without
but
my 'rainbow' of Bazzill cardstock
is not one of them!

Sunday, 23 March 2008

March 23rd Easter Sunday

"Pink- its my new obsession
Pink its not even a question,
Pink, on the lips of your lover, cause
Pink is the love you discover"
Aerosmith
********
Happy Easter
********
THINK PINK
On a more serious note, here is a site
I click on everyday to help with funding
Mammograms for women in need.

Saturday, 22 March 2008

March 22nd

"Gold Always believe in your soul
You've got the power to know You're indestructable
Always believe in,because you are Gold"
Spandau Ballet
My digital layout.
The album cover that I used for inspiration
********
Today I am using images from a challenge I did
on UKScrappers.
It is a digital scrapbook layout.
The fingers are mine covered in gold paint.
Very often after a good inking and painting session
they look like this!
********
The Challenge was to take a design from
an album cover and using a film title,
and playing cards along with the colours
black and red, create a layout.

.

Friday, 21 March 2008

March 21st

The Emerald City
from The Wizard of OZ
The grass is not always greener on the other side!

Thursday, 20 March 2008

March 20th

"She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet was the night
Softer than satin was the light
From the stars
She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet were her eyes
Warmer than May her tender sighs"
Bernie Wayne/Lee Morris
It is the first day of Spring today
and
my garden is coming alive with colour.
These colours are mainly yellow
but
this blue hyacinth was a gift from a friend
many years ago and flowers every spring
without fail.
Lovely memories of a great day with friends.

Wednesday, 19 March 2008

March 19th

"Ebony and ivory live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard,
oh lord, why dont we?
We all know that people are the same where ever we go
There is good and bad in everyone,
We learn to live, we learn to give
Each other what we need to survive together alive."
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
I could not let this prompt go by
with out using this 'old' photo of me.
By the look of that Easter egg,
it was taken at the same time of year,
in 1961.
I loved chocolate even then!

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

March 18th

"Look at the stars, Look how they shine for you, And everything you do, Yeah they were all
"yellow"
ColdPlay
This week Anna's going to give us colour prompts!
********
If I can not get to the pink playing token first
I always grab the "yellow" one !

Monday, 17 March 2008

March 17th

When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse?
*
When the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
*
Lights will guide you home,
And ignite your bones,
And I will try to fix you,"
*
Fix You - Cold Play
These are some of the physical things
that I use to fix all sorts of problems.
A tool kit to mend and measure.
A cuppa with a friend.
A plaster for a cut.
or
even just chocolate for a sugar fix.
*
Fixing things is not always about these
physical things, sometimes we need
to spend time just being together and
fixing our mental well being to.


Sunday, 16 March 2008

March 16th

"I like what I see when I'm looking at me, when I'm walking pass the mirror"
Mary J Blige
Happiness is looking in the mirror and liking what I see.
Although some days I may be happier than others!

Saturday, 15 March 2008

March 15th

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), pastor, theologian, German Resistance fighter in World War II
Athough my responsiblities have changed over the years,
some have remained constant:
I have responsibilities to my family and myself but I also
have social responsibilties.
********
Recycling just 1 glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 15 watt low energy efficient bulb (equivalent to 100 watt normal bulb) for 24 hours!
********
The 8 major benefits of recycling are that it;
Saves natural resources
Saves energy
Reduces pollution
Reduces the need for landfill
Reduces imports
Generates an income
Creates jobs
Helps reduce littering
********
"Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestor"
Jonas Salk

Friday, 14 March 2008

March 14th

"The highlight of my childhood was making my brother laugh so hard that food came out his nose."
Garrison Keillor

Feeling run down? Try laughing more. Some researchers think laughter just might be the best medicine, helping you feel better and putting that spring back in your step.

Thursday, 13 March 2008

March 13th

"Beauty, truth, friendship, love, creation---these are the great values of life. We can't prove them, or explain them, yet they are the most stable things in our lives."
Jesse Herman Holmes What are your great values in life?
********
Family, truth and friendship.
These are my core values.
I also greatly value good health so that
I can enjoy all of the others.
******
“Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals"
Author ….Dreamzzzzz

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

March 12th

Howard Thurman "Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
Howard Thurman
Anna's question for today is :
What makes you come alive? Is it your work, your family, your hobby or just being here?
********
Many things make me come alive.
My family, my friends and my hobbies
However, today I came alive when I picked up my camera.
Just viewing nature through a lens is magical
and
makes me glad to be alive
********
Photography
Author: Unknown
***
A photograph is more than just
A gift to bring or send
.And more than just the likeness of
A relative or friend.
*
It is a kindly greeting and
A memory to hold.
Of happy times and pleasant things.
However new or old.
*
It is a mirror that reflects
Companionship and cheer.
And now and then the wistfulness
That turns into a tear.
*
A photograph is something to
Adorn a desk or wall.
Or carry in a pocket and
Display to one and all.
*
It is a faithful portrait
The smile that friendship shares
To add its sunshine and to show
That someone really cares.

********

Tuesday, 11 March 2008

March 11th

“First thing every morning before you arise say out loud, 'I believe,' three times. ”
Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993), author, preacher .

Anna asked today:
What is your "mantra"? Start today, believing in you. Take time to write down your thoughts, and your beliefs. What is important to you? What do you "believe" in?

********
To understand who I am and what I believe in
I need to take time to get to know me!

Monday, 10 March 2008

March 10th

"Balance"
We all know that we should be eating a balanced diet
and eat our 5 a day.
However, I think a balanced diet should always
contain Chocolate .
Recent research has confirmed that chocolate is
not always bad for you.
Like the research HERE says
everything in moderation.

Sunday, 9 March 2008

March 9th

"Comfort"
This is me viewing a much used page of a recipe book.
These Crepes au Chocolat are so delicious and quick to make.
They are my perfect comfort food.
This dessert is a great hit with everyone who has tasted it.
I am sure some of my friends who will be reading this will no
doubt remember the the flavours as they read this!!!!!
The other bit of comfort I needed today was a plaster.
I do not usually wear Winnie the Pooh plasters
but when I cut myself doing a scrapbook layout
for my 365 album, it was the only one of the
right size I could find!
Mind you Winnie the Pooh has been giving comfort
to children at bed time for many years, my daughters
and grandaughter loved to hear about the antics
that went on in 100 Acre woods!


Saturday, 8 March 2008

March 8th

"Patience"********
One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life. ~Chinese Proverb

Friday, 7 March 2008

March 7th

"Sweet"
How cruel! He had ......
such a sweet smile too!

Thursday, 6 March 2008

March 6th

"Soft"
A yummy soft boiled egg for breakfast is a great
start any the day.

Wednesday, 5 March 2008

March 5th

"Explore"

I have been exploring two ways today:
A beautiful walk in the sunshine
and
using the Remote control for my Camera!
Be prepared to see to see more shots
of me from now on.
********
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!

Tuesday, 4 March 2008

March 4th

"Shine"

Eric, a shiney nosed friend, who always enjoys a fuss when he visits!

Monday, 3 March 2008

March 3rd

"One day at a time, this is enough. Live in the present and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering"
Ida Scott Taylor
********
Anna said:
"Record with a photo the memory of one thing that bought Joy to your day. Journal why this memory was so precious"
********
Today's post contained the Helen and Douglas House Newsletter
and with it copies of their 2008 'What's On' guide.
Inside that is a photo of Kay, Kathy and myself, when we took part in the
London 10K run, advertising next years Reading Half Marathon!
So this way certainly a joy to see.
Also last Friday Fiona from
contacted me to say that they are going to use the photo
on a poster.
Maybe we will all be billboard babes yet!!!!!
The whole ethos of life to me is
ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Sunday, 2 March 2008

March 2nd

"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child."
Sophia Loren
Mum

Aunty Glad

Nan
A Mothering Sunday photo taken today.
********
A bit of a different one from me today.
Mother's Day has always been a day of mixed feelings for me.
My Mum died when I was 5 years old and I was sent to live
with an Aunt and Uncle in Devon leaving my brother and
sister to live in London with my Mum's mum.
Although she was not my Mum, I certainly came to love
my aunt like a mum, even secretly calling her Mum when
no one could hear me just to see how the word
sounded coming from my lips.
Unfortunately she died of breast cancer
when I was 10 years old. I was totally devastated.
My other Nan, who was a widow, lived nearby so I went to live with her.
She was a wonderful lady and when I think back she
was very brave to take on the responsibilty of a 10 year old girl.
I know that at times I gave her grief especially as teenage
girl growing up in the 60's.
However, when I was 16 she died and I went through many
months of total depression. Another aunt who had her own family
allowed me to stay with them, nonetheless, she was my cousin's mum and not mine.
How sweet life was when I met and married Colin when I was 19.
We had our darling daughter Susannah 2 years later followed by
her adorable sister Julie just over 2 years later.
Mothering Sunday became something totally different to me.
I could say the word Mum or Mummy as often as I liked and
it was not strange or odd to do so!
How lucky am I now to still have two daughters who love me
to bits and a son in law who I think of as my own son.
Not to mention the light of all our lives my darling granddaughter
Abbie.

Saturday, 1 March 2008

March 1st

" March is the month of expectation"
Emily Dickinson
My expectation for the month of March is to complete
some of my outstanding projects.
Maybe I will hide away here!