Incy wincy spider...

This beauty has taken up residence between a pyracantha I've got growing in a pot and the sitting room window ledge. I decided to try to photograph him so got the macro lens and my lovely new tripod. It was a bit too windy for perfect sharpness and I was shaking from fear he'd actually TOUCH me (eeek) so not as sharp as I'd hoped but I'm posting it anyway because I enjoyed taking photos again - have not used the Nikon since I came back from the US.

I am at work, on my lunch break, and not feeling at all well! Roll on 7.30 and home time!

Oh dear, oh dear, where did my morning go? I was awake early enough but decided to have a little lie in and a read in bed as I'd stayed up late last night to phone K. Shea settled in for a cuddle and I got absorbed in my Ruth Rendell mystery...I actually got up at 9 and still in my jammies got a curry ready for the slow cooker. Then I decided to check my email...comment on a few blogs...do a little work on the Corner...so far, so good. THEN..big mistake - I decided to look at the photos on my remaining SD card from the California trip. That was when time ceased to have any meaning and I suddenly realised it was gone 12 and I still wasn't dressed!

The photo above was taken on 17 Mile Drive, CA. I didn't notice the girl in the red top at the time but I think she adds something to the photo. It's another one taken (mistakenly) at too high an ISO - what an idiot I was, I'm still cursing myself for that!

Well, must get dressed as it's almost time to leave for RDA. Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!

I glanced up whilst wandering along a street in Sonoma and saw this sign; took a quick picture. When I came to look at it I was intrigued by how it almost looks as if I'd used selective colour on it...but I hadn't (indeed not sure if I could!)

I felt rotten most of yesterday - I have IBS which isn't of course an actual illness but a condition...it's not life threatening but just unpleasant and uncomfortable. I then read a post on Mrs Nesbitt's blog in which Denise is rightly thrilled to get good news after recent medical tests. She designed this logo to celebrate Health & Happiness and I'm pleased to display it - because it is lovely to get good news about someone's health for once instead of the opposite!

We made a flying visit to my sister in law's home in Cherry Burton, Yorkshire, this weekend. It's her daughter's weddding I'm photographing in October. We had a really lovely time, and this morning some of us went to church to hear the banns read before a wonderful pub lunch and a short drive around the area.

The church above is in South Molton and has an exceptionally tall spire - 208 feet! It can be seen for miles. Inside it's very lovely. I only had the compact with me so the interior shot is very grainy but I liked the way the light slanted across the tiled floor of the central aisle...


The second church is the one where my niece is getting married amd it's really pretty. I am just hoping I can do a good job for her. She and her fiance are a really great couple and they deserve decent photos.

Anyway, has been a long and busy weekend so I'm off to bed.

Two more B&W abstract shots from San Francisco. I am really happy with the way the top one turned out. I'm working today and this evening we are off to visit my sister in law in Beverley. Her daughter is getting married in October and I'm taking the photos. She's visiting for a dress fitting and to hear the banns being read so it's a good chance for me to chat to her about the sorts of pictures she wants as well as see the church and meet the vicar. All in all it's going to be a really busy weekend.

Shea had a narrow escape yesterday; he jumped out of our bedroom window. As we have a converted attic bedroom, he found himself VERY high up on a steeply pitched roof. P heard him crying for help and looking out of the window saw a poor moggy literally shaking with fear! P was just about able to reach down and haul him in. I think he used up one of his nine lives!!

After Thursday's monochrome, I thought I'd inject some colour. These two pictures were taken in Sonoma. One is just a house that appealed to me and another is a detail of the Sonoma Mission roof. I would love to go back to Sonoma and explore it more fully. It's a really charming and colourful place, full of wonderful little shops and residences.

Today is our weekly Get Into Reading Book Group; one of the highlights of my week.For that hour I wouldn't change my job for anyone else's!

I am very worried. K is back in hospital and the doctors want her transferred to Edmonton as soon as possible. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She's one of the bravest people I know and so very special...Thanks.

Thanks also to Jo-ann who has given me a "Power of Schmooze" award...you are so kind, Jo, get well soon!!

Two abstract shots of buildings in San Francisco which I converted to B&W. I'm still in a sort of monochrome frame of mind I think...Another glorious sunny day here - funny how often that happens as soon as the children return to school.

It's that time of year when the big house spiders suddenly appear - looking for a mate, I'm told. S and I are in a constant state of twitchy fear ...are those legs I can feel on my neck or just a stray hair??? I left a monster on the sitting room wall this morning, hoping P will remove him before I get home this evening...

Todays two photos are both shots of the interior of the State Capital Building cupola - as with the previous one, hand-held in low light but they turned out quite pleasingly I think.



The last day of the school holidays (yesterday) was lovely and sunny: S and I went for two bike rides. Today the girls were both back at school and I really missed them. I felt very lonely and the day was damp and grey. After a visit to the hairdresser, a long and very pleasant phone call with a friend and some lunch the sun came out and I washed the car. Before I'd finished S was home and we went for another bike ride:) roll on the half-term holidays is all I can say.

A took K and I into Sacramento to visit the State Capital Building. It was an incredibly hot day and the air conditioned interior was most welcome. We enjoyed our tour around the building but many of my photos were unsuccessful due to low light levels. however, I like the way this one of the Great Seal turned out. My only previous visit to Sacramento (three years ago) had been when we came off the freeway on the way back from Yosemite looking for something to eat and got hopelessly lost! We did not see Arnie; he was not working that day.

Yesterday I read a post on Mrs Nesbitt's Blog which really moved me; so much I had to go back and re-read it several times. Mrs N is writing about happiness and she talks so eloquently and from the heart about the simple pleasures in life - I can honestly say I've never read anything quite like it before! I'm often guilty of getting bogged down in worries and anxieties and gloom but this post made me really THINK about all the little everyday things in my life that make me happy. Thanks for writing this, Denise. For anyone reading this who doesn't know Mrs Nesbitt, I'd urge you to read the post for 3rd September.

Over on The Photographers Corner we have a thread on "10 books to read before you die" - here are my suggestions:

1. King Cotton by Thomas Armstrong

2. The Diary of Anne Frank

3. Far from the Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

4. The glass Lake - Maeve Binchy

5. The Mill on the Floss - George Elliott

6. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

7. High Adventure by Sir Edmund Hillary

8. The Hornblower Series by C S Forester

9. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

10 The keys of the Kingdom by A J Cronin

There is, I think, a melancholy feel to this image, which suits my mood perfectly today. End of summer, end of school holidays...too many endings.

Brunch with the Wildcat yesterday was great, and she surprised us later on with an invitation to join them all at TGI Fridays. We had a great time!

I have a real "thing" for Airstream Trailers. I'm not sure why but I do remember reading a novel years ago in which one featured and it was so well-desrcibed I at once wanted to buy one. Some years ago Phil bought me a beautiful teapot from The Teapottery in the shape of an Airstream and it's design was authenticated by the company. One of my dreams is to travel across America with one of these beautful trailers.

I was thrilled to see TWO of them outside In & Out Burger on our way back from LA. I was sorely tempted to go and confess my obsession to the guy who owned one of them but the girls said he'd think I was some weird English nutcase.

Yesterday I was off to Chester Races with C. Almost ready; I suddenly heard a commotion downstairs. I rushed down to find P wrestling with Basil; who had a mouse clenched in his teeth. He'd brought it inside the house. He wouldn't drop it!He'd already clawed P pretty badly but we didn't want him eating the mouse in case it had been poisoned. Eventually, I stuck my finger in the corner of his mouth and attempted to prise open his jaws - very hard to do! When they opened a little, Sian pulled out the mouse with a bit of kitchen paper. UGH! I think S deserves full marks for courage for actually pulling out the mouse...which I was too chicken to do! Basil was really upset with us, of course.

Mouse incident aside, it was a great day. I didn't win anything at the Races but it was lovely spending time with C. She came back for a BBQ and the rest of the evening too. This morning I've been invited to the Wildcat's for brunch. Must go and find a suitable brunch outfit...!

Thanks to Mrs Nesbitt for this award. I really appreciate Mrs N. I'm passing it on to the most creative blogger I know, picperfic Visit her blog and feast your eyes on all the gorgeous craft things she makes as well as her stunning photography.



I took this photo just off Hollywood Boulevard. From this Mall we got a view of the famous Hollywood sign.

Today I'm off to the Chester races with C, then she's coming back for a BBQ afterwards; P is cooking ribs again - yum. Hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday. It's hard to believe it's already September! Here's wishing for an Indian summer!!

I hope all my American friends have a happy and restful Labor Day weekend.

I was so thrilled when Ruth gave me this award! Thanks so much, Ruth. I'm going to pass it on to Lori and to John. I really love Lori's blog because firstly it's full of horse photos and horse stories but also because Lori just a really special person. John's photos are spectacular and he writes so well too. It's always a pleasure to visit him.

It's catblogging Friday and i do actually have a cat photo! This is Basil, who is now allowed outdoors. He's really enjoying peering in the pond...Basil was really excited to receive his first ever postcard yesterday, from P's friend G who is visiting Colorado! He struggled to read it though, as G has terrible handwriting!!

Thank you for your kind comments on my post yesterday. I wasn't at all sure I should say anything about how I was feeling - I often have this internal struggle about how frank and open my blog should be: I tend to keep a lot of stuff OUT of my daily postings in case it's misunderstood or misinterpreted or just comes over "wrong". In fact, shortly after I'd posted yesterday I went back to remove the post having had second thoughts but some people had already commented so I left it there.

I am a very "up and down" person emotionally - and right now I'm struggling with the "down" feelings. There are a few things that are really worrying me right now but my blog isn't the right place to discuss them. It just helps sometimes to say "I'm sad" as well as at other times wanting to be able to share all the happy times... One of the reasons I started my blog was to try to cope with my often out of control fears and worries. And to a large extent that's happened. I cope better now, thanks to my blog and the support and example of this blogging community.

There are people out there (and you may be one of them!) dealing with huge problems, pressing sadness, ill health...coping with courage and spirit and grace. I'm trying to deal with my own worries as well as you do.

I'm trying to be honest and I'm trying to do the right things. I fail, far too often. I have to keep trying.

I am so grateful for your comments. Thank you. Thank you!

I don't have anything to say today. I'm heartsick.

Joann has given me a lovely award for support and friendship to her blog...I'm really honoured! Joann has a wonderful blog that has really grown in popularity so if you've not yet checked her out why not pay her a visit today? Thanks again, Joann, for my award :)

We had a lovely day yesterday. We went to see the Red Arrows display at Hoylake with the Wildcat and family, then back to their home for a delicious BBQ and lots of good conversation. They are such special people and I feel lucky to know them! it wasn't a very nice day; it was positively ARCTIC by the coast. But now the Bank Holiday is over, I stop hoping for summer and any nice days are just a bonus.


Sorry, I'm not done uploading holiday photos yet!

This busker jumps out at unsuspecting tourists on Fishermans Wharf, just opposite Joe's Crab Shack. He gets some brilliant reactions! This time we saw a woman kick him...poor guy! It's the most novel busker I've ever seen.

Today I'm off to a garden centre to buy some stuff. Hope everyone has a good day.

Welcome to San Francisco! This is the view you get from the Larkspur Ferry as it comes into harbour.

In Japan Town, SF. What a wonderful name for a restaurant!

This machine was featured in The Princess Diaries with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews...



I was tagged by Crows Feet Annonymous for the "Eight things you shouldn't say" meme. Leanne's "eight things" are phrases you should never use to your kids and well worth a read..anyway, here are mine.
1. "Actually, your bum DOES look big in that".
2. "It's not you, it's me....I just need a little space"
3. "Do as I say and not as I do!"
4. "Are you pregnant again or have you just put on weight?"
5. "I think we need to talk about our relationship..." (especially not at bedtime!)
6. "Did you keep the receipt?" (when someone gives you a present)
7. "Have you just farted?"
8. "Size matters..."

I'm not tagging anyone but feel free to take part!

This is a photo from the Sonoma County Fair. I loved this figure...and there was such a good background behind her. It was one of the few shots I took that day that wasn't in brilliant sunshine and I think it's one of my favourite pictures of the trip.

We had good luck at the craft fair yesterday; despite truly terrible weather P sold 4 photos making over £120 and loads of people expressed an interest in the website so he may get more sales through that...he did last time.
This ride was such a jumble of colours, shapes and textures...I liked it a lot. I had the day almost to myself as S and D were busy going on rides and P, K and W had gone to the races; so it was just me and the Nikon.
Can you see all the Scooby-Doos hanging up for prizes? The people on these stalls were VERY persistant. I had to laugh when I walked past one stall and the guy said "Pay for the kids and I'll give YOU one for free"...very suggestively! I enjoyed my ride on the Big Wheel in the background. The song playing was Rhianna's "Umberella" and we all sang along to it the whole ride. Apparently as soon as that song ceased to be No 1 in the UK the heavy rain/flooding eased. Coincidence or what?

I like the line of canopies leading into the centre of the frame here and there are such well-placed members of the public too. It was such a glorious hot day. The sort of cloudless deep blue skies you so seldom see here in England. The colours were so riotous in the brilliant sunshine; I felt drunk on them.

I so wanted to buy an ice-cold dill pickle but somehow the time wasn't quite right!

These globe sculptures were all along the waterfront in Chicago. I wish I'd had more time to photograph all of them but these are a few of my favourites. They are all on a conservation type theme. I kept getting left behind as I stopped to study each one.

P had a meeting about the Westminster commission. The good news is they have insisted he come to S's wedding in October so I won't have to do the wedding photos on my own. Hooray! Now I can sleep again at night; it will be fun if it's a joint rather than a solo effort.

I have been busy ironing and doing housework today as tomorrow afternoon S and I are off to visit Talj in Leeds for a couple of days. I'm trying to forget I have a job evaluation interview tomorrow morning :(

I also managed to download and edit most of the photos from my Olympus compact and they are on Flickr now. I'm always so pleasantly surprised by the quality of pictures this little camera produces and the editing of them is much easier as they aren't RAW images.

Next weekend is a long one and I'm hoping to sort out the garden - it's looking terrible. Very overgrown and over-saturated.

The first parasol was taken in Japan Town, San Franciso. we had a lovely visit there with my friend's son as our guide. The second one I saw at the Sonoma County Fair. The shade was very welcome while I was waiting for the girls on the various rides!

I have been a bad blogger this week!I have been so busy re-adjusting to my "real" life and catching up on laundry etc, I've not had time to blog or edit any more photos from the holiday. The above pic is a shot of the big wheel at Navy Pier, Chicago, and the one below is the view from the wheel. We really enjoyed the ride and the sights from up here.
The last picture shows the contrast between old and new style architecture in Chicago. I hope to revisit this interesting city one day as we really barely scratched the surface. And we'd love to visit Mafia Wife and Family in Grande Rapids, Michigan, too!


Today we popped into Chester and met up with our lovely friend CH from the Corner for coffee. P had decided to cook American-style ribs and so we went to Lakeland for "Bone Sucking Sauce". This evening, after S's riding lesson, P's parents came round. P grilled in the garage as it was RAINING but the ribs turned out great; thanks Will for the instructions.
We have a craft fair in Hoylake tomorrow so I'm going to bed early.

I really enjoyed visiting Chicago! The weather was so good while we were there. There are some very striking buildings. The middle one here reminds me of the Chrysler Building, my all-time favourite slyscraper.
There were lots of flags flying on Navy Pier. We had a wonderful time when Mafia Wife and her family came to see us. We visited the aquarium, had lunch (with MW's incredible chocolate fudge for desert!) and then took a free trolley bus to Navy Pier. we just strolled along enjoying the sites. And of course taking photos! here is one of MW and Phil with their cameras.

I am slowly getting unpacked and laundry done. The cats are really thrilled to be home and want lots of attention. I'm getting gradually back into my old routine but missing my friends in the US so much.
I haven't had lots of time to look through my photos yet but will hopefully get a few more edited later today. But first...lunch!

We arrived home in the early hours of yesterday morning and I'm now in my usual post USA condition of severe jetlag and functioning at about half my normal capacity...which puts me about on a par with your average cabbage or similar vegetable! Our luggage decided it wasn't ready to return with us and spent an extra night in Chicago - who can blame it, it's an amazing city! It's only just returned home after taking a later flight. I'm supposed to be unpacking but just had to have a quick peak at my photos....

These are three views of a sculpture in Millenium Park, Chicago, I called it The Bean and as you can see I was fascinated by it. These were taken on our second day, it was wonderfully hot and sunny. We spent the afternoon at Wrigley Field watching the Cubbies play Arizona Diamondbacks. Not the most exciting game but good to see that historic ballpark.


It's hard to believe the holiday is over. I'm missing my Californian friends so much. On this trip I was also lucky enough to meet Mafia Wife and her lovely family who drove to Chicago to see us. We had a ball and she has two of the custest, funniest, most adorable little boys you could imagine.

I really MUST get some more washing on...back to the unpacking!