181/365+1 : Silhouette

Really didn't know what to take a photo of today and thought I would have to resort to an old one. That was until we went for a drive this afternoon to pick up some stones for the garden and I saw this sign. I made hubby turn the car around so I could go back and take a photo!

The I spotted this mother and foal in the adjacent field - I don't think he/she was very old but so very cute.

Skywatch Friday

The trig point overlooking  beautiful Nairn beach.

Pop over to the blog and see more skies from around the world.

180/365+1 : Free Choice - and another milestone reached

Today was Callums last day at St Sylvester's Primary School - where have the years gone as it doesn't seem 5 minutes since he started - and here are the photos to prove it!! He was a month short of his 5th birthday here starting in Primary 1 and Sam was just going into Primary 3.

This was Callum before he headed off for school - packed in his bag were a selection of Sharpie pens and a water pistol.

And here he is after school with the obligatory decorated shirt.

There were both parents and children in tears in the playground at 3pm (I was one!!) and the kids have all been chatting on Facebook tonight and making plans to meet up over the holidays.

These were the cupcakes that Callum gave to his teachers - they were gorgeous and handmade (not by me) and they seemed to be well received.

WOYWW 27th June

Today  received a parcel of loveliness from Gottacraft - Sandra is sadly shutting the shop down which is a real shame but I can understand why - I have had some lovely kits from her over the past few years.

Tomorrow is the last day of term up here in Scotland (and for my "baby" it is his last day at primary School) so nothing like leaving making the thank you cards for the teachers till the last minute!! I have used a 6x6 pad of Kraft Funday Happy Days papers by My Minds Eye which I thought were suitably schooly enough.

i have dipped out of making any teachers presents though - a lovely lady in town makes cupcakes and I have ordered some thank you teacher  ones - must remember to take a photo before I pack them off to school in the morning.

Pop over and see Julia and find out what everyone else has been up to today.

179/365+1 : Weathered

An older photo from me today as I haven't been anywhere to spot anything suitably weathered. This is a statue which sits beside the sunken pond in the walled garden at Croft Castle which I visited at Easter.

Scrapbook Sketch Of The Week

Here is Shimelles most recent sketch - and my second attempt at turning it into a page.

My first attempt was way too plain and I really didn't like my handwriting - so I salvaged as much as I could and re did it. This is my 3rd page using this months Scrapagogo kit - have only bits and pieces left now.

You can see Shimelles page on her blog here.

178/365+1 : Still Life

It was a gorgeous morning today - nice enough to eat my breakfast out in the garden. So my still life is my toast and marmalade and orange juice.

Finally some new scrapbook pages.

I don't seem to scrap very often anymore - not sure if it is lack of time or inspiration. About the only time I put paper to card is my local crop once a month. This Sunday it was a wet miserable day - perfect for an afternoon with the girls - drinking tea and eating carrot cake - it was a real tonic.

Luckily my new Scrapagogo kit arrived on Saturday and so far I have managed to produce 3 pages from it (one I took it all back off the page and started again as I really didn't like it)

I love this photo of Callum - totally engrossed in some rubbish on the telly! A very plain page (and naughty me putting flowers on a boys page!!)

Another one of Callum from last years holiday. I love this paper but I was torn as the reverse was gorgeous too with clouds all over it. Another very simple page - maybe that is the way forward?

177/365+1 : Sizzling

Our tea was a total coincidence with today's prompt - honest. I had got the sausages out before I even look at Suzie's blog.

It's Monday. What Are You Reading?

Welcome to It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading!  This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

I had read so many great reviews for The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas I had to give it a go. This is the first book by Rosie Thomas but I am thoroughly enjoying it. It had a bit of an uninspiring start with the 3 siblings clearing their late fathers house after his death - but this opened up into a wonderful story about Mair travelling to India to discover the origins of her great grandmothers shawl. Intertwined with Mairs journey is the story of Nerys her great grandmother and her life in India.

An epic story of wartime, family secrets and forbidden love, set against the stunning exotic backdrop of 1940s Kashmir. Within one exotic land lie the secrets of a lifetime...Newlywed Nerys Watkins leaves rural Wales for the first time to accompany her husband on a missionary posting to India. Deep in the exquisite heart of Kashmir lies the lakeside city of Srinagar, where the British live on carved wooden houseboats and dance, flirt and gossip as if there is no war. But the battles draw closer, and life in Srinagar becomes less frivolous when the men are sent away to fight. Nerys is caught up in a dangerous friendship, and by the time she is reunited with her husband, the innocent Welsh bride has become a different woman. Years later, when Mair Ellis clears out her father,s house, she finds an exquisite antique shawl, a lock of child,s hair wrapped within its folds. Tracing her grandparents, roots back to Kashmir, Mair embarks on a quest that will change her life forever.

It is beautifully written and I feel like I am transported back in time to India in the war years. I ould recommend this book to everyone and I will be reading more by this author..

Pop over to The Book Journey and see what everyone else is reading today.

176/365+1 : Pleasure

Today's pleasure was a bit of me time at my local crop - and please consisted of tea, cake and crafting with the girls. And what a laugh we had - mainly reliving times from our youth - a fab tonic.

Another one of our conversations was about guilty pleasures - and here is mine. The gorgeous Mr Brand - there is something about a man wearing eyeliner and I know he can be very rude but I love his use of the English language!!

Blog Giveaway.

I found this brand new blog while blog hopping this morning - and to celebrate her new blog she is having a giveaway - pop over and have a look at My Scrap Cabin by Erin Blegen. At there moment there are 4 different giveaways - but this number might rise - worth a go!

175/365+1 : Nature

I have been at a football tournament for most of the day in Burghead with Callum so not much time to take any nature photos - not unless you count plenty of rather grubby 12 year olds running around a pitch as nature??

Here is a photo hubby took out of the sunroom window the other day. We have loads of starlings that visit our garden and they are right greedy little critters and are straight in the food dish.

Day 1 of Photoshop Top 5

This is a free class which has been running this week with Jessica Sprague but only now I have I managed to find the time to look at the first class.

We have learnt all about colour correction and I have found out lots of brilliant tools on Photoshop Elements to help you enhance the look of your photos. here is my before and after shot of Callum taken last year while we were on holiday in the States (boo hiss - this time last year we were in The Smoky Mountains.) I have learnt how to use the colour cast tool to change the tone of the skin in a portrait shot and how to change the blacks, whites and greys true to life.

Jessica explains everything really simply with wonderful video tutorials - my problem is just remebering all the details.

Before:

After:

174/365+1 : Sunshine

Ok, so back to normal prompts ... but I think you'll all still hate me today!  When the prompts were planned, I imagined we'd be in the depths of a glorious summer by now, and today's word is ...

sunshine

So if you can't manage actual sunshine today (tis raining here - what's new!) take a snap of something that brings sunshine into your life!

Happy Friday!

When I saw today's prompt this morning it was pouring down with rain and I has no clue what to take a photo of. Roll forward to this afternoon and by the time we got home from school/work the sun had come out, the birds were singing and there were plenty of bees buzzing around the clematis (which is smelling wonderful at the moment.)

We even had some blue skies.

An because I am missing taking photos of Kermit - here is is enjoying that Friday feeling!!

Skywatch Friday

Bunting over Union Street in Aberdeen this week. Like the blue skies against the old granite buildings.

Pop over to the Skywatch blog to see more skies from around the world.

173/365+1 : same ... But Different # 7

After yesterdays fun and games at the football tournament I put Kermit to work.

He loaded the washing machine - lots of lovely dirty football kit.

A new broom and all that - well a dustpan and brush!

Naughty Kermit thought the hoover was some sort of ride on toy.

So we had to teach him a lesson!

For   an amphibious creature Kermit didn't really like getting his hands wet - but there were no marigolds to fit him!

Finally - the ironing.

Today was the last day in photos for Kermit - not sure who enjoyed it more - me or him!! All I know is that I have had some very strange looks from folk when I have taken Kermit out in public - and have embarrassed Callum on more than one occasion!!

172/365+1 : Same ... But Different # 6

A morning cuddle with Callum before he set off for his transition day at high school - don't know who was more nervous - me or Callum!

Chilling out after school by watching some telly.

Then it was off to a small local village called Dallas for a football tournament with Callum. We had to be at school by 5pm and didn't get home till 10pm.

Well done to the C team for getting through to the quarter finals and so chuffed Callum scored 2 goals - and boo hiss to all the midgies who ate me alive. Kermit watched the action from the touchline.

He enjoyed a burger at half time.

Had a go on the climbing wall in the school playground.

Introduced himself to the chickens in a neighbouring field!!