365 #56

Today the house really does look like an explosion in a toy factory. Every room I go in, with the exception of my bedroom by some miracle, there are a string of toys that are "being played with". This small group currently sits waiting for me to stumble on them and fall down the stairs as they have lovingly been left for me at the top of the stairs.

I'm really not sure why the kids have decided to spread themselves around the house so much today, but as they go to bed at 7, we'd better start clearing up now!

365 #55

Would you just look at that.... It unwrapped itself and found it's way to my mouth! How shocking!! It may not be a pancake, but they are for later. A girl has to have an afternoon treat while the kids aren't looking.

365 #54

I was about to take a photo of something else today when I noticed that one of our cacti had some flowers just starting to come up.

Remember that award!

A few weeks ago Chrissy (aka Kikimama) gave me my first award. Being the (un)organised person that I am I have yet to pass it, which is why I haven't had the award on my blog. So today I have created my list of five people who I see as giving me encouragement to keep up with my 365 and my scrapping. Unfortunately I can't give it back to Chrissy, who always leaves me lovely comments, either on here or flickr.

Lots of people have left me some great comments so it was hard to shortlist just five, so, without further a do, my nominations, with blog links in the names, are:

Joan always ready with kind comments on my work.

Jane witty and supportive, can't be bad!

Karen with words of support and kindness towards my photo's.

Jo who's photo's are just wonderful.

and finally

Emma without whom I probably wouldn't be taking part in 365.

If you don't wish to pass the award on, that's fine by me, but here are the instructions that came with the award -
1). Post a link of the person who gave you this award, thank profusely the love shown.
2). Nominate 5 other fabulous people and give a link to their wonderful sites. Those persons deserve their coolness and gentleness to be recognized all over the world.
3). Let your nominees know that they got an award from you. Shower them with appreciation.
4). Put a logo of the award on the side bar. Grin like a lunatic. Ask everybody in your household to have a look and celebrate together. Phone somebody you care about and tell them the news. Keep celebrating.

Vote Earth!

A post with a difference, or one that could make a difference. We're WWF members, and I thought I'd spread the word about a campaign that everyone can easily join in without having to go out of your way to do it.

On Saturday 28 March 2009 at 8.30pm, people, businesses and iconic buildings around the world will switch off their lights for an hour – WWF’s Earth Hour.

The WWF wants a billion people around the world to sign up and join in to show that you care about people, wildlife and the planet, and that you want the world’s leaders to take action to tackle climate change.

Some 538 cities from 75 countries have already signed up. In addition, many iconic landmarks will be plunged into darkness, including the Forth Bridge, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff; Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town and Sydney Opera House.
Please join us, and help us make this the biggest mass participation event ever!

There are Earth Hour communities on the main social sites on the web: Flickr, YouTube, Facebook,Twitter.

365 #53

This afternoon we went for a walk to Wharram Percy Deserted Medieval Village, which is just a few miles from where we live. The path, which is steep in parts and uneven, was quite muddy but Rosie & Jamie walked the 3/4 mile there from the car park, and Rosie made is half way back as well before requesting a "carry". Not bad for her little legs.

The photo for today is of St Martins Church on site.

365 #52

Every Saturday morning we go for a walk to the bakers but this time I remembered my camera. It's only taken me 52 days, I class that as good. This is our local Church, the tower of which I can see from the childrens bedrooms. The clock dial, which as you can see if bright blue, is really easy to read from our house as well, and I just love hearing the bells being rung.

365 #51

Spring flowers, not from my garden - no sign of any flower heads there yet, but these bunches of daffodils are courtesy of M&S. I have them in a half glazed jug on my kitchen windowsill and can't wait for them to open. I always buy bunches of them when they are available, such a cheerful flower and I feel in need of a little cheer this week.

365 #50

The lily has finally opened! Oh the scent when I go near it is wonderful. Not a great photo but I was so busy yesterday that I had to take it without daylight.

365 #49

Potato peelings. What does that tell you about my day?!

365 #48

I love lilies, and as strange as this may sound, I have a single lily at the moment living in a wine bottle. The flower isn't open yet, but I loved the view looking down the stem where a small cluster of leaves comes off.

365 #47

Jamie has had me taking photo's of his trains this afternoon, so please meet the other Rosie in our house. Rosie the train.

Painting With Light

Although the course doesn't officially start until the 27th February, we now have our first assignment. Last night I sat down and started to read my camera manual. 365 was supposed to make me do that, PWL is making sure I do.

There is also a private forum for the course, where our other assignment is - a portfolio. We have to choose 3 good, 3 bad photo's and a self portrait. I am not looking forward to the latter and I think I'll have to attempt it when Rosie is asleep and Jamie is at nursery so that I can have some uninterrupted time to do it. Like many of you I'm more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it.

365 #46

The second Sunday lunch to make a feature in my 365. This is what I baked today, Pizza Rustica All' Inglese, a recipe from Nigella Lawson's How To Be A Domestic Goddess. This has to be my favourite pie, whats more its amazing cold.

365 #45

I had a planned to take a photo of one of my favourite meals - meatballs and spaghetti. It wasn't until after dinner, when every last morsel had been devoured, I remembered I was taking a photo of the meatballs. So, today's photo is now of dessert - instant chocolate mousse. Not instant as in packet, but instant as is uses marsh mallows....yum. Unfortunately we had also eaten dessert, so here are a pile of the dirty dishes. As you can see it was enjoyed by all as the dishes were almost licked clean.

365 #44

The sun shines brightly today and Merrell, one of my cats, was sunning herself on my bedroom windowsill. As you may note by her expression, she wasn't that pleased to see me.

Same girl, different day

The second LO I did yesterday. This one is all about when Rosie had chicken pox last month. Some of you may recognise the photo's I've used from my blog. Again, I have used a Scrapagogo kit, this time from November 08.

Thanks for looking!

The cakes live on...

Yesterday, for the first time in absolutely ages, I scrapped! I am really please with how this LO of the cake baking went. I've used the Scrapagogo January '09 kit which is full of bright colours, something I usually steer well clear of, so this LO is a bit of a leap of faith for me.

365 #43

My photo's this week seem to following a pattern all about stimulating the senses. Back to smell again today and some pot pourri in fresh cotton.

365 #42

Rosie hasn't been feeling the best today, so I have spent most of the day with her insisting that she has cuddles. As you can imagine, this limits what you can do with a camera. So, today's photo is of my beloved cream leather DAB radio that sits in the kitchen.

Iced cakes

After our baking session yesterday we did get round to icing them. The photo above is Rosie's handiwork in progress, and as you can see you stab it with the icing pen. Much easier than squeezing it out. Below is a finished one by Jamie. Guessing he liked the idea of chocolate beans on his.

Dancing Queens CJ & Painting With Light

This card arrived in the post today from "Flo", the host of the Dancing Queens newbie CJ on UK Scrappers. The photo doesn't do it justice, and it was lovely to get, so thank you Sarah!

I've also signed up this week for "Painting With Light IV", a six week online creative photography course from Cheryl Johnson. I just need to get the manual out for my camera now. Taking part in the Project 365 has seriously given me the bug for photography, so much so I'm investigating buying a DSLR.

365 #41

Today is baking day with Jamie. He carried all the ingredients to the table, weighed them out and mixed everything up. The only help he had from me was in the way of a little guidance and measuring out the vanilla extract. He certainly takes after his Mum though - he asked if he could lick out the bowl. Well - you've got to haven't you.

If he doesn't eat them first (it takes a loooong time for them to cool down you know...) we will hopefully get to ice them later. I love the fact that they are all different sizes. They got smaller towards the end as Jamie was getting more desperate to lick the spoon.

365 #40

I love scented candles. This is my new one, Yankee candle in Water Garden scent. It makes the house feel like summer is on its way.

365 #39

Sunday lunch leftovers.

Not the traditional Sunday roast as it's not something I am a big fan of. Sunday lunch this week was linguine with pancetta and this, garlic ciabatta. Makes my mouth water just looking at it.

365 #38

New sunglasses. They were on sale, so I had to. I do suffer with photophobia so it is a fully justified purchase as I currently only have one pair of sunglasses which sends me into a panic if I can't find them.

365 #37

Taken from the car as we were driving back over the A66, which just five days earlier was closed due to the snow.

365 #36

The trees just at dusk.

365 #35

Although Penrith didn't get any extra snow while we were away, it did get mighty cold. This is part of the lake where the reed beds were. The water had frozen solid.

365 #34

As some of you will know, the next few 365 pictures are all courtesy of our short break to Winfell Center Parcs. This first photo is from one of the conifer saplings outside our villa.

365 #33

With all the snow that landed overnight on last Sunday, I ventured out into the garden for something to photograph on Monday morning. This is the leaf bud to my climbing hydrangea with the snow delicately sitting on it.

365 #32

Day 32 of 365. Hasn't the first month gone quickly? If nothing else this project is marking the days of the year off,at what feels like an extraordinary rate. To mark that, today's photo is my watch, counting down the days.