Following on from Composite Workshop

Life is still all fairies in our household. Like her mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Sadie's favourite book is Cecily Mary Barker's Flower Fairies. She decided to pose as the Forget-me-not Fairy and mimicked the pose. The composite elements were all shot on the same day - flowers against a blue sky, a bank of forget-me nots (screen mode), fairy wings from an obliging Common Blue Butterfly (no insects were harmed in the making of this image) and some grunge from a slab of concrete. The back drop was a white sheet embossed with butterflies. Now to do Meredith!

Young Mycologists at Work in Thetford Forest

There are still lots of toadstools in Thetford forest to keep budding Mycologists happy. And before Mum and Dad get worried, Russula atropurpurea that M is holding is an edible species. The Russlua claroflava below is also edible but they were not allowed to touch the fly Agarics. Also identified Egg stage of the Phallus impudicus, Mycena rosea, Macrolepiota mastoidea and Sulphur Tuft. Not sure of last species

Sadie at Bourn Ballet

I had the task on Saturday of photographing the Bourn School of  Ballet classes. These are of my grandaughter who very much enjoys the classes and gets into the role of ballerina.

Damsels Down the Garden

 Azure and Large Red Damselflies on on the wing at last after a late start and is surprising what else lurks in the foliage.

John Lewis Project Part 2

Another shoot at John Lewis today - took Sadie and Meredith in as models for interaction with the children's department staff.

Butterfly Count

As it was a lovely sunny morning,  Sadie, I and Millie took the opportunity to complete our Butterfly count in Toft Wood. We recorded 15 Marbled Whites, 10 Meadow Browns, 2 common Blues and 2 Ringlets. The other common species, Small Skipper, Small Heath (above) and Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet (above) are not on their list. Do take part if you have 15 mins to spare  ( http://www.bigbutterflycount.org/).
Sadie then decided it was time to go and tried to put Mille's lead back on. We now only have Millie as we had to let Ruby go about a month ago as she had too many uncomfortable lumps. Four of her six siblings have died already this year. They were 11and a half so not a bad age for large pedigree dogs. We hope Millie will be around a bit longer (11 in September)

Easton Lodge Garden

 We visited Easton lodge Gardens on their July Open day and enjoyed the 23 acres. The gardens date back over 400 years. Their most renowned owner was the Countess of Warwick, mistress of Edward VII. In 1902 she commissioned leading designer Harold Peto to create stunning formal gardens. Abandoned in 1950 after the demolition of the house the gardens were forgotten for nearly 45 years. In 1993 an ambitious restoration programme was started and is still progressing though very slowly. Today some areas were cordonned off because of Giant hogweed. There is a photocompetition for images taken today in the categories Hidden Treasures, Famil and Fun and Flowers and Flora. Above some Hidden Treasures. Below a flower or two and some family fun - took our own model!!

Simple Pleasures of Life

Sadie enjoying our Clematis montana, which is especially full of flowers this year, and helping to feed and supervise Millie and Ruby's breakfast.

Sadie and Meredith

I haven't done as much photography as usual at this time of year, partly because of the cold wet weather but also because of my two granddaughters - Sadie looking angelic as always and Meredith unusually quietly asleep. They keep me pretty well entertained for much of the day (with occasional spells on night calming duties)

Meredith Comes Home

Meredith had to stay in intensive care for a few days because of jaundice but came home on Sunday afternonn  and yesterday she had her first bath helped by Sadie.

Sadie in the sunshine

I have been on child-minding duty this weekend so a couple of images of Sadie on a sunny Sunday in the garden. Being the daughter and grandaughter of photographers, she is very relaxed and will pose when asked. Don't suppose this will last.