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.
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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
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"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”
Kahlil Gibran

March 30th

"Spread your love everywhere you go."
Mother Teresa

How did you spread your love today?

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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

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!
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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.

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March 28th

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

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!

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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!!!!!
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“Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of"

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?

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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;-)

March 25th

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

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

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“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

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!

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

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Happy Easter

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THINK PINK

On a more serious note, here is a site

I click on everyday to help with funding

Mammograms for women in need.

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

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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!
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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.

.

March 21st

The Emerald City

from The Wizard of OZ

The grass is not always greener on the other side!

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.

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!

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!

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If I can not get to the pink playing token first

I always grab the "yellow" one !

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.

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!

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.

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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!

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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

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"Our greatest responsibility is to be good ancestor"

Jonas Salk

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.

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?

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Family, truth and friendship.

These are my core values.

I also greatly value good health so that

I can enjoy all of the others.

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“Life's up and downs provide windows of opportunity to determine your values and goals"
Author ….Dreamzzzzz

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?

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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

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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.

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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?

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

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.

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!

March 8th

"Patience"********

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

March 7th

"Sweet"

How cruel! He had ......

such a sweet smile too!

March 6th

"Soft"

A yummy soft boiled egg for breakfast is a great

start any the day.

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.

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YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!

March 4th

"Shine"

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

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

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Anna said:
"Record with a photo the memory of one thing that bought Joy to your day. Journal why this memory was so precious"

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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

Helen and Douglas House

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.

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.

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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.

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!