{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!



You can see more {moments} here.

Skywatch Friday

Season 4, Episode 3.

Contrails in a perfectly blue sky - taken from the Cal Mac ferry to the Western Isles last weekend.

52 Walks With My Camera - Week 29

Traigh na Beirigh Beach at Cnip on the Isle of Lewis.

We thought we were in the back of beyond when we drove out to our campsite (single track roads with grass growing in the middle of them!!) but when we rounded the corner and saw this beach we were delighted.

Pale white sand and the clearest sea I have ever seen - all you needed was some heat and it could have been the Caribbean.

























Not our sand castle!























Cal enjoyed paddling - even if the water wasn't very warm.


























A friend we met along the way!























A perfect place to sit, relax and take in the view.









And you can see exactly where our campsite was right on this beautiful beach.

52 Walks With My Camera - Week 28

I am trying to play catch up with this photography project - I have no problems with the walks themselves - it's just finding the time to blog them!

Callum and I went for a walk along Findhorn Beach the other weekend - Andy wanted to be dropped off in the village so he could cycle home again so we were out bright and early and had the beach almost to ourselves.























I took some photos for Shimelles latest class - a group of 3 objects and to have a go at shooting from ground level. Really pleased with the results.













Plenty of boats out on the water - I think there might have been a race on or something.










Not sure what species of bug this is.
























Then we had a wander around the harbour area - with plenty more boats to photograph.

52 Walks With My Camera - Week 30

A walk was well and truly needed yesterday afternoon after our visit to Baxters (you have guessed it - e have visitors as it is the only time we venture near the place) to walk off some of the calories we had consumed!!

We had a stroll around Millbuies with Nanny and Clive admiring the flora and fauna.
























The heron sat on his perch in the middle of the loch the whole time we were there - we did begin to wonder if it was a plastic one as it didn't move a muscle.























Mrs Duck was out and about with her family.























This, I am reliably informed is a mock orange and it smelled lovely.



























I will be back to blog the weeks that I have missed.

Island Hopping

We are back from a long weekend on the Isle of Lewis - my camera has been playing up so I only managed to take 180 photos!!

Not had much time to look at them all yet but thought I would share this one with you - it was taken early on Friday morning while we were waiting for the ferry at Ullapool. It has to be one of my favourite shots from the weekend.

I love the reflections of the clouds in the clear water.

Skywatch Friday

Season 4, Episode 2

This is a photo I took for Shimelles Love Your Pictures, Love Your Pages prompts of the sky from my back garden.

Just love the shapes of the clouds.

You can see more Skywatch Friday photos here.

Create 10 - Class 2

More scrap - this time long thin pieces of patterned papers. I even dug from the depths a couple of pairs of decorative scissors (you know the sort - you bought them when you first started crafting then they were put away as to be honest they were pretty naff!)

I used Sassafras Lass Robotics papers - some of the strips were the decorative ones from the bottom of the papers. And one strip was concertinaed up to use across the bottom of the photo.

The photo is of Callum after he received his trophy for coaches player of the year back in May.

Create 10 - Class 1

I signed up again for the latest Create 10 class which is run by the very talented Leo over at Crafty Templates.

This time around the classes focus on using up the leftovers of our stash - with plenty of opportunities to use up what we have got instead of buying anything new.

The first class only called for a sheet of white card and one of kraft cardstock. The rest was made from scraps of patterned papers which we could punch or die cut into an assortment of shapes. It actually meant I dusted off some of my larger punches which haven't seen the light of day for some time.

I used up some pieces of October Afternoon Weathervane papers with assorted circle and scalloped circle punches - along with some punched flowers and butterflies for good measure. The borders were made using a Martha Stewart punch.

I am really pleased with the result - and for using up some of the smaller bits of papers.

WOYWW

Afraid it's a bit of a mess - but the weather is so wet and miserable my desk is the best place to be.

This is the first Create 10 class I have managed to do this time round - and can hopefully post a finished piccy later. But I am having fun using up scraps and dusting off some punches.

Carry on camping

But hopefully it will be nothing like the 1969 film!!

We are off to the Western Isles at the weekend for a spot of camping. And seeing as how the tent hasn't been out since our trip to the Isle of Skye last year a trial run was needed to make sure everything is in working order.

As you can see it is quite a large tent but goes up surprisingly quickly (fingers crossed for no gale force winds!!) It has 3 bedrooms and is high enough to stand up in.






Our campsite is right on the beach and and I am hoping for ample time to practice my photography skills.

All we need now is the weather (but looking outside now it doesn't bode well!) and a keep read of this little guide book - although thankfully no digging of toilets will be required!!

More PYO pics

Here are a few more photos from today.

I don't think he actually ate too many strawberries - not!!!!!
























You could have actually stood in just one spot and not moved to half fill a basket - and they are absolutely delicious.























Picked a few raspberries too.





















We only picked enough fruit for a few puddings as we are away at the weekend - but I will be going back as this year I fancy having a go at making some strawberry jam.

Love Your Pictures, Love Your Pages - Prompt 9

I have a little confession to make: it is only in the last few months that I have started to use
an actual tripod -- and I mostly only use it for shooting video! I don’t like the idea of
carrying my tripod as well as my camera when I’m foot all day, and as a result I tend to look
for whatever natural tripod is available. My favourite option is always available -- the ground!
Embrace the idea of shooting from the ground and all the earth will be your tripod! Today
we’ll put the ground through its paces as a photography assistant.

This afternoon we went strawberry picking - the first of many no doubt. I took Shimelles advice and held the camera down low for some of my photos and am pleased with how some of them turned out.

Love Your Pictures, Love Your Pages - Prompt 8

Back to a photography prompt from Shimelle - and today she asked us to point our cameras skywards.

This is something I do regularly as I play along with the Skywatch Friday blog.

Here are a few that I took in the back garden this week.

The bird feeder (empty - must refill it.)





















The sweet peas - although with all the wind and rain we have had towards the end of this week they all started to fall down. So some quick action and a ball of twine was needed to get them looking somewhere near their former glory!






















My craft room window.





















A stormy looking sky - probably just before the heavens opened!