Day 243: Hiya Uncle Ali

Enjoying a lovely evening of dinner and a movie at the Morrison residence. Mmmm pretzels!!

Day 242: Britains Got Talent, Here I Come!

It's been a while since I tried something new for my 365 project...

I think it's pretty impressive really...took a few attempts to get it right in time with my camera timer...that was a lol. And it's a slightly embarrassing photo to be honest...since I resemble a tubby lumberjack, but all in all it's just pretty excellent huh? Ha.

Are you impressed Skedders?? Well...probably not, because as you can see at the top of the image, my legs are already making their way down again after about a millisecond of being in the air...most definitely not straight.

Day 241: Super Quick Bench Monday

Not one of my most exciting Bench Mondays, but I didn't have time to cruise through the countryside for a bench today. Too much work to do! So I just grabbed my largest mug, filled it with tea and climbed up on to the bench in my garden (which can now be accessed since the hedge has been trimmed back...well...partially...that cup of tea actually had to be poured out because of the amount of hedge bits that fell in to it as I climbed up...sad times).

Happy Monday!

Day 240: Happy Birthday Coinneach!

Eating was definitely a running theme today...that and the hilarious moment Coinneach insults me, thinking he's actually paying me a compliment. I made him a print of one of my Lewis photos, you see, but he didn't realise it was one of my photos (despite having seen the photo and 'Like'd it on bookface!). After looking at the photo he turns to me and claims that the photograph would've been better if I'd taken it...good one Coinneach!

Haha. He's gonna hate me for posting that on here. But it's too funny not too! I love the photograph, and will be printing out another copy for myself!

Happy Birthday Cuz! Hope you had a good day, and liked your pressies ;) Lolsies.

Day 239: Cracking Moment!

You know, the sad thing about the title of today's blog post is...I didn't even realise the pun till after I'd typed it. Ha! This is our Minister's wife, taking part in the egg toss competition at our Church BBQ, along with her husband...who I'm pretty sure did it on purpose because I was there ready with my camera!

It was a wonderful day! There was delicious food, games, an adult bouncycastle...which was filled with kids most of the afternoon unfortunately, and just generally lots of fun and laughter.

Day 238: I Can Still Smell It...

Well...that was an interesting Friday night! We're holding a Parenting course at church every Friday night for the next 6 weeks, and while the parents are off learning, their children are left in the creche with a few helpers, or babysat in their own home. Tonight was the first night, and from here on, hopefully, things can only get better! Haha. It was totally fine really, the only downside was a pretty epic nappy change! I planned on going to Tesco on the way home to buy some nibbles...but I'm pretty sure I still smell like baby poop, so tea and biscuits it is! Oh, and I have some Chinese takeaway left from earlier, so it's all good!

This photo was taken before the poop incident. Pretty sure Sam wouldn't have let me anywhere near him afterwards...Isn't he a cutie!? It wasn't his nappy I changed by the way. I'd have a different opinion if it was.

Right...now for tea, biscuits, Chinese, and the final 4 episodes of 24 Season 6! Helloooo Jack Bauer. Sorry about the smell.

Day 237: I Love A Good Door Shot!

This afternoon Rebecca and I enjoyed a wee spot of lunch while gazing upon her fantastic Exhibition prints. The first two images you see as you walk in have BLUE DOORS in them!! She totally did that especially for me. Then at the end of the exhibit there are some small prints of her recent trip to Roma. Beautiful! Definitely worth having a look at, while enjoying a cuppa, of course.

We went for a stroll afterwards, punched a tree, caught up on eachothers banterous stories, and I took a few photos of this beautiful door. Yum.

Day 236: Before and After Self Portrait

Just had a wee play around with this photo I took earlier this evening, adding a texture of some plant 'bokeh' I took too, with my baking tray texture on top also. I'm discovering that I dislike using my laptop to edit photos...but it's the only thing I have. I realised I had been leaning on the table, looking down over my laptop while editing the photo, and then I sat back and it looked quite a bit different. Risky business! So what I need to do is correct my posture, and make sure the screen is slanted at the same position every time I edit.

I'm also discovering the white balance in some of my photos with Sam have really not been to my liking. I usually leave it on Auto...I'll need to get out of that habit! I like my images to look a lot warmer than the cold Scottish blues.

Happy Wednesday!! I'm off to Crathes tomorrow to check out Becky's Exhibition! Yay :D Might take a few snaps while we're there...she doesn't know that though...

Day 235: Exciting New Piece of Equipment!

Some of you will be thinking "Ooh, she's got a new lens, that's nice", others will be thinking "OH MY LIFE?! You're JOKING?!"...and the people who come under the first category will soon think the same thing if they google said lens.

I am of course joking. Well, partially. It is a Canon 70-200mm f1.4 lens...shape, which holds my tea. Lolsies. It was given to me this morning as a gift, and I was informed that I didn't need to actually use it...HA. As if I'm too cool to do that! I am most definitely using it.

Hope you're all having a good week so far, and you've recovered from the shock of me having posted TWO 365 images pre 10pm this week.

Day 234: Oh Arr, Bench Monday On The Farm

Trying to get a chicken to stay in view of a camera after a 10 second timer is NOT EASY. But highly hilarious to attempt. If someone had been taking photos of us dancing in front of the chickens, it would've provided great hilarity for you all. But, thankfully, no one was.

Joining me on the bench tonight I have Coinneach and Sarah. I went round so that Coinneach would wash my car, which got unbelievably muddy during my drive home over the Lecht last Thursday. I'm happy to say JD is now super squeeky clean!! Yay. And my only payment was two bags of Percy Pigs...slave labour ahoy!

Oh, and thanks to the Maclean family for their pretty bench. I promise it's not collapsed from the weight of us all!

Day 233: New Business Logo!

I am super pleased to introduce my amazing new business logo! Made by Marie from Autumns Creek Designs. She's even put a teacup on the doorstep for me, isn't it perfect!

Sarah and I had a rather hilarious time running back and forth from the camera, picking up the sheet and trying to do something interesting within 10 seconds...I might post the bloopers up on Facebook some time. I really should just get myself a remote control!

Day 232: Happy Birthday Mum!

My present to you, is a new Facebook profile picture. Don't say I never treat you. Ho ho ho. Don't worry, I also got her some flowers, because I love her. I really do! She's pretty incredible, managing to put up with 4 big kids all these years, and doing a wonderful job raising us. And now, she's got her first grandchild, and she's settled in to the role of Super Loving Granny rather nicely.

Happy Birthday Mumsy! Can't believe we didn't have any cake...

Day 231: Photographer Fail

Having not been out and about doing anything fun today, I took Sam along to the Teens club at Church that I was helping out with this evening. There was a hilarious moment of blow football going on, and I snapped a couple pictures...only to realise that there wasn't a memory card in my camera! They were all at sprawled out at home, after taking all the wedding photos from them yesterday. Fail.

Day 230: I Love My Daddy

It's been 10 years today since my Dad passed away, so I wanted today's blog photo to be dedicated to him. I'm not going to say much on the matter, just that he was a wonderful man, loving husband, great father, and he is oh so incredibly missed! But I take great comfort knowing that he's now with the Lord.

"Christ died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him"
1 Thessalonians 5 vs 10.

Now, if you can, please go tell your Dad you love him!

Day 229: Mr and Mrs Jack!

As promised; the Bride and Groom!! I want to say a massive Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Jack, it was an absolutely wonderful day, and I felt completely relaxed amongst your family and friends. It was a complete joy to be your Wedding Photographer! But now, I need to sleep. Haha.

Hope you have an Amazing Honeymoon, where ever that may be! ;)

Day 228: Look Who Started School Today!

I went round to the Lipp residence this morning to photograph Joanna's first day of Primary 1, and arrived in perfect time to get some breakfast first too! She was incredibly excited, which was lovely to see, hopefully that'll continue for the next 13 years!

After that I went home to load the car, ready for my journey to Inverness with Hannah and Mairi, in preparation for Catherine and Matthew's Wedding TOMORROW! We picked Katherine up from the train station when we arrived in Inverness, then went and checked out the Hotel, found my locations for the family photos. We then headed out to Munlochy for Hannah and I to offload our stuff at my aunt and uncles, stayed for dinner and headed back in to town for the rehearsal. Eeeek.

Very excited!! Definitely need some sleep first though. Check back tomorrow for a photo from the Wedding...probably after midnight...if I'm still awake. Maybe Thursday morning!

Day 227: Stonehaven Bench Monday

It's far too late to talk! I don't know why I do this to myself. Here's tonight's Bench Monday, taken down at Stonehaven with the lovely Cassia, John, and Iain. John didn't have a clue what Bench Monday was...obviously doesn't look at my blog!

Here are a couple more just for fun! I'm practically asleep already so I'm gonna go now.

Day 226: Where's The Baby?! There He Is!

I had planned to bake the Giant Cupcake this afternoon and get photos of Fin, but I was in that lazy Sunday afternoon mood, so it never happened! It will one day though. Soon, hopefully. Instead I hijacked the whole family and plonked them beside the window for a few windows! It was Sam's first Family Shoot :) How exciting!

I love these guys.


*Beside the window for a few PHOTOS* Thanks Ginger x

Day 225: Scottish Summer Countryside

I went out for a drive in the sunshine with JD and Sam this afternoon, and as I came up to this field I thought "Another wonderful open field of wheat/barley with blue skies above it and no where to park...oh wait, a farm track!! Perfect!". I parked the car in at the side, pulled Sam out the bag and strolled in to the open field and took a few snaps. I may be a lover of the seaside, but I definitely appreciate a beautiful bit of countryside. Especially if it's sunny.

We're about to watch Becoming Jane...I have a love/hate relationship with this movie. It's beautiful, but incredibly stupid at the same time. Why couldn't they just get married?! I have a feeling I might cry when I watch it tonight, I'm in that sort of mood. Ha. Tea and popcorn are a must!

Oh, I've began the process of getting a new business logo, eek! I'll be sad to say goodbye to the one I have just now, but the fact that someone who saw it the other day asked if the "D" was a fish, made me even more certain it was necessary for a pro to get involved. Hopefully I'll be showcasing a colourful and fun new logo in a week or two!! (You won't be surprised that I've gone to an American logo designer...I think my love for Americans is really becoming an obsession)

Day 224: Mummy and Daddy Who?

Can't stop to chat, Mumsy and I have put a film on, just had to post this photo cause it makes me chuckle. Now, off to watch hot men in roman outfits!

Day 223: Look Who Granny Trapped In The Cupboard...

She had been out putting his seat in the car, and she closed the cupboard door while passing when she came back inside to get him...Ha. He was only in there fore like 30 seconds...and was totally fine when we opened the door again...he'd chosen the Battlestar Galactica boxset. Smart lad.

Now, it's incredibly late, I'm not long in after a lovely evening at Holiday Club, and then banter with a few friends from Church, and there is currently a gorgeous boy asleep in my bedroom. So I better go get some sleep, since I'll no doubt have to get up at 6am!

Day 222: One Week To Go!!

 As if I wasn't excited enough already, look what arrived in the post today! This is Matthew and Catherine's signing book, which will go out at their Evening Reception, for all their wonderful friends and family to write a wee message for them at the start of their new life together :) I love it!! I am so so pleased with the way it's turned out. And it's made me even more excited for photographing their special day!

Sam's pretty psyched too!

Day 221: Holiday Club Night 1...Involving Cupcakes!

It's Holiday Club week! Due to having to work, I signed up for the high school age group, which was meeting this evening, and then again on Thursday evening. We weren't sure how many kids would turn up, but we got about 20 or so, which was great! We played some ball games, which were new to me, and I LOVED. Ha. And then there was a 10 minute talk for the kids, telling them about the wonderful gift of life that God has given us, thanks to his Son dying on the cross for all our sins! Then there was tuck shop, woop woop! And then the guys went off to play more ball games, and the girls...might possibly have decorated cupcakes. Totally not my idea...

Iain's lovely wife, Fiona, decorated that cupcake for him...with barbie sprinkles n' everything! He loved it. But what he loves more, is getting to be on my blog!! Amazing. He's going up in the world.

Now...I'm gonna get really geeky here and just say...I LOVE MY NEW CAMERA!!! This photo was taken at 6400 ISO, at f2.5 1/320sec with my 50mm lens, no flash, at 9pm, in a room lit with a few spotlights...how good does it look!! It's so sharp! And bright. And only a little bit grainy. Ugh. I'm in love.

Day 220: Sam's Debut Bench Monday

We were out for dinner tonight, as my brother Richard is moving to Bristol tomorrow night/Wednesday morning, so it was a sort of Fairwell meal. We went to Wagamamas. Yum! Sam came too. Sam being my beautiful new camera, purchased on my lunch break today! But anyway, back to the meal, or after the meal even...As we were heading back to the multi storey car park the fire alarm starts ringing through the whole of Union Sq. and so we're directed outside...in the opposite direction of my escape vehicle. We had to wait as the fire engines rushed in...well, pulled up to the barrier, a fireman jumped out to push the button to get a ticket, then waited for the barrier to go up so they could get through, and then they ran inside.

We were outside for about half an hour while they did their thaaaaang...so it was quite dark by the time we got back inside and up to the car, and then drove down to the beach for Bench Monday. But, that was no problem at all, thanks to Sam. He doesn't mind the dark, and thoroughly enjoyed his first Bench Monday experience, despite the spitting rain and winds. He kept cover in JD's protective arms (behind the passenger door).

Sarah, Dave and Fin didn't join us for dinner as Fin is stuffed up with the cold :(

This was us waiting outside during the fire alarm incident. Party central! Bunch of weirdos. I was never able to fit 4 people in to the frame with my 50mm on my 400d, fitting 2 was a struggle! So when I discovered what I was missing out on with the full frame sensor on my new baby I was in awe. I'm so excited!! But...I felt really harsh taking the 400d out of my hand bag and leaving him at home...poor guy. He'll still get used...occassionally...if Sam gets ill.

So, I know today's photos aren't exactly masterpieces, but just you wait till Sam's settled in!

Day 219: Sunday Lunch With The Ladies

We had a few lovely ladies from Church out for lunch today, and I meant to sit them all down for a blog photo before they left, but I totally forgot! So, here's a photo of our tea/coffee mugs, and some biscuits, instead. Good substitute I'd say...ha. Apologies ladies for not getting your moment of fame on the blog post!

Day 218: I Love Boat Trips!

I had such an incredibly wonderful time during my 19 hour overnight trip to Lewis! Haha. A fantastic surprise party for the lovely Laura, and then a morning out on the Zulu in the sunshine, with tea, biscuits and nutella, jeally beans, and some fishing rods! Claire rather impressively caught 3 mackerel in her first ever fishing attempt, and then Eilidh caught 3 bigger beasts that I've forgotten the name of. Ha.
We then went to feed Sammy the seal, and his ginormous mates, a couple of the fishies, in Stornoway Harbour. He almost jumped in to to the boat! And then he splashed us all as he dove back to get the fish that Claire was teasing him with!
AND, we spotted a few dolphin fins popping out the water, but they weren't in the mood to play unfortunately.

So, really, a rather spiffing weekend I'd say! We won't dwell on the fact that I wasn't even on the island for a day, because I'll hopefully be back again soon.

Day 217: Secret Mission

I'm on a secret mission today, and won't be able to post up the photo until tomorrow...

Mission Complete! I successfully joined the girls in Lewis to surprise Laura at her Surprise 21st Birthday Party :) Hooray!

Day 216: College Chiccas Catch up!

Firstly I'd like to say, Andrea, we miss you! We're looking forward to seeing you SOON.

Had a lovely evening with these girlies tonight, catching up on all the latest life stories. I kind of love this photo! Haha. We were in Starbucks after our yummy meal at Wagamamas. I casually got my camera out and rested it on my new GIANT CUPCAKE CAKE MOULD box on the table, while Rebecca was talking...they all knew exactly what was happening. I took one photo, it hadn't focused right, so I took another...and it was perfect!! Haha.

We certainly need to have these catch ups way more often! But, I'll be seeing them next week at Rebecca's exhibition out at Crathes castle! SO excited!! I love her, and I love Crathes, what a combination!!

Ok, I think tomorrow's looking to be a long day...so I better get some sleep!

Day 215: I Love Me Some Green and Purple!

I was saying to Rachael last night that I dislike how much time I spend on one image sometimes. It was in reference to last night's blog photo; I kept tweaking it, and trying different textures etc. When I spend so much time on something, I end up looking at the it and thinking "I don't like it...this is rubbish.". And, sometimes that's the case! Ha. But a lot of the time I just need to take a break and go back to it after a while.

Well, anyway, tonight was a whole different story! At about 9 o'clock, as I was clearing my dinner plate, I realised that I had forgotten all about doing a blog photo! Eeeek. How bad would that have been, after 215 days...So, I grabbed my camera and ran out to the garden...lay on the ground, no doubt picking up a few beasties on the way, and photographed this beautiful green and purple bush. The butterflies love it...I can't remember what it's called. And 15 minutes later, with the help of a texture or two, I had my completed blog photo.

I.Love.It. Green and purple is just so yummy!

Day 214: Photo Shoots Make Me Happy!

I wasn't feeling great this afternoon at work, despite a lovely lunch at Subway with Dave, playing Monopoly on his iPad, while JD got a nail removed from one of his tyres. My head was feeling pretty heavy, so I was a little fed up, and the moment the clock struck 5, JD and I started the smooth journey home.

While stuck in traffic, I decided I wanted to do something fun for tonight's blog post, out in the rain that we've been blessed with most of the day. I was thinking about what a woman on Etsy had said to me. I'd linked her to my website and blog, as I'm considering getting her to design a new logo for the business, and she was congratulating me on passing the half way mark for the 365 project. She had done one a couple years back with her kids, and agreed it was challenging, but great, as it made you photograph in all conditions. So, having a fear that it's going to rain on Matthew and Catherine's Wedding day (Sorry guys! Ha), and not being able to postpone it like their Pre Wedding Shoot! I decided I'd take advantage of the current weather conditions and try out another self portrait. That sentence was rather long...should probably learn some proper English...

So...guess where I went to take the photo...my new favourite place!! Haha. I had visions of a big open field with long grass, and I'd remembered there were a few perfect, accessible, spots at Castle Fraser. Hoping that there wouldn't be anyone else there due to the time and the weather, I put on my other Topshop bargain from the other week, grabbed my camera gear, and headed out the door, pinching one of Mum's roses as I went out).

There was one other car in the carpark, but the owners weren't in sight, so off I went to the field beside the overflow carpark. In my wellies, cream dress, and blue coat, with rose and tripod in hand, and camera over my head. There may not have been a human audience, but there Was an audience of cows...basically in the same field I was in. And as I was setting up the tripod and heard pretty much a stampeed not too far behind me, I began to panic that the flimsy fence that was set up between us wasn't infact electric, and I would soon be the first victim of "Planet of the Cows". But no, they stopped, and stared...

It was slightly off putting...but also hugely hilarious. I took about 7 or 8 photos, and then noticed a car coming along the road towards the Castle, and freaked out! What if it was the farmer who owned the field, and the cows, and he was gonna come over and ask me what on earth I'm doing with a camera, in his field, in a cream dress with a rose and his cows. Good story. So I quickly threw on my wellies (Yes, I'd taken them off. And the photo I chose for today's blog photo is the one when I noticed the massive pile of cow poop about a foot away from my foot)...

...not caring when I realised they were on the wrong feet! Climbed the fence, and nonchalant-ly walked back towards my car...as did the cows (minus the fence climbing thing)...

It wasn't the farmer.

Wowsers. It's been a while since I told you all a good long story like that, hasn't it! I hope you enjoyed it. I was certainly feeling a lot better after my adventure!

Day 213: LogBench Monday

Yes, you are correct, that is technically not a bench. But since nothing else was available in our time of need, and Iain really really can't make benches out of sand, it had to do! There were people sitting at the bench, and after waiting for over an hour, we realised they weren't going anywhere soon. So instead, we had a hilarious time trying to balance all three of us on this logbench!

I had been looking forward to today's Bench Monday all day, it's what was keeping me going through my Monday Blues; Mum, Aunt Anne, and myself on a bench in Stonehaven with fish suppers by our feet. But after arriving home, entering the kitchen, and seeing Mum chopping up vegetables and pans waiting on the cooker, I realised my vision wasn't going to take place. I was gutted.

But, I decided a trip to Balmedie would save the day! So I asked Iain and Alexander if they would join me. I asked Cassia too, but she's deserted me for her dissertation. So, off I went with the lads. It was a highly amusing even; discovering a surprising amount of lonely shoes on the beach/in the car park, talking about the Pope's Twitter account, rolling a massive logbench across the sand towards the sea, the lads falling over, and stopping off at McDonald's, in my bare feet, before heading home.

Thank you for joining me this evening guys! Definitely up there with my most enjoyable Bench Monday quests.