Beaker Button Blog

Off to Portland I played hooky and visited my Dad today on Portland.  I took the camera of course, so I'll post some of the photos later.  We took a walk, after a fabulous pizza in Weymouth, round the bird reserve and I'm hoping I got some nice shots of ducks and heron, as well as some atmospheric shots, courtesy of the mist.  Unfortunately I was later picking up Alex from the childcare centre so I have to pay a fine.  What's so annoying is its his last day tomorrow before my Mum takes over the childcare.  Never mind, its only money.  Quote of the day: You can't expect to wield supreme authority just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.

I am staying at a friends, house sitting while she's away, so I can look after her chickens and Shim Shae the cat.  The chickens are a little scarey, especially if you get up 2 minutes late to let them out.  Ruth was pecking at the hatch door when I went down this morning.  I opened the hatch and let them onto the garden, forgetting that I'd left the kitchen door open.  When I went to get the seed and pellets for them Ruth was in the house pecking away at the cat's bowl.  I tried not to panic and calmly went back outside with the seed and scattered it in the usual places.  Luckily Ruth heard and dashed outside.  I slammed the door shut and locked it for good measure.  I'm not sure if chickens can turn door handles but I wouldn't put anything past this lot.  What freaks me out the most is the way they stand at the back door, just staring.  Question of the day: Why did the chicken cross the road? To terrorise the chicken sitter.

I took my son to Legoland Windsor today and we had a stonking time.  We queued, obviously, but that didn't bother us.  We got soaking wet on various rides, screamed loads and ate lots and lots of crap.  All in all a thoroughly good day out.  I spent a very nice half hour in a queue talking to a lady from the U.S.A but living in England with her husband.  She thinks it was me who let her into the shop at Stonehenge last year.  Small world, hey.  I'm off to eat something green (leafy green , not gummy green!). Wisdom of the day: if filling your child with sugar, e numbers and crap, make sure to dump them on Grandma afterwards.

Mum and I went to Stourhead yesterday.  The daffodils were exceptional and I ended up taking 375 photos.  I've included some here, and some of the modelling shoot from Wednesday.  Quote of the day: when is the 3 o'clock parade?                                   Cassie in my blanket coat Lounging in the green crochet jacket Pretty in pink  The famous view of the bridge  Daffodils The tallness of trees

Today I turned my photographic skills to the fine art of modelling.  My friend Cassie very kindly agreed to model some of the clothes I've knitted so I can put them on my etsy shop.  We had glorious weather, really bright, with a cloudless sky.  I've yet to sort through the photos but I have high hopes of them being fabulous.  On the subject of fabulous photos you should check out www.etsy.com/shop/judemcconkey  as she creates the most amazing images.  I had the first newsletter from her today and her new photos and wearable art are breathtaking. Wisdom of the day.  Don't listen to Shakira's new album in the car!  The latin beats are very distracting.

 Highclere Castle The sky from my horses field

Hi I guess I'll start with what I did today.  My Mum and I had an invitation to visit Highclere Castle in Hampshire for a Hollister stoma day.  I have a stoma and was really looking forward to seeing what new products were available and I wanted to take my new camera lens, an early Mothers Day present, and have a play.  The stoma event was very interesting and I have lots of samples on the way.  I very much looking forward to trying the new body (underwear).  It looks like the perfect thing to flatten out Mavis (the stoma) and the lumpy belly I have, a legacy from my surgery.  I had lots of fun experimenting with my camera.  I even managed to photograph the helicopter which flew over and for the first time it is more than a mere dot in the sky.  My husband is forever teasing me that all my aircraft photos are dots in the sky.  I've been reading lots and getting some great advice from people about how to use my camera and its opened up a whol...