Focus on Pooches...

Some of you may know I have a pet photography business (Focus on Pets Photography).  With that hat on (well actually it's a tee-shirt) I did a photo shoot with three adorable whippets last Saturday.  Their owner is writing a book about them and wanted some shots for publicity purposes.  One of the whippets is called Scout and he's blind, and what a character!  He actually ran into my head and then down my back when I was taking pics lying on the ground, it was hilarious.  The same day I did some pics for the local animal rescue centre (Leicester & Leicestershire Animal Aid) at their Family Fun Day along with David and our fellow photographer friend Corrie, it was a busy day!  

Izzy...

Scout...

These three shots were taken at the dog show...

Song-ography...

Born to Run...

Well this title was just made for some pet pics!

Click here for more Song-ography pics.

What I Ate Wednesday...

Well I've just discovered this meme and it looks a bit different and a bit of a challenge so I thought I'd give it a go!  Whether I have the discipline to do it again is a different kettle of fish.  Anyway here goes...
Pre-Breakfast... I start the day with tea - Twinings Lapsang Souchong.  There are some things that are totally necessary if I'm expected to be on the way to being a civilised person by the time I have to talk to anyone.

Breakfast... My favourite - tahini and banana on gluten-free toast.  Nommmmmmmmmmm...

Lunch... This was a case of 'I have to use the stuff in the fridge before a vegetable swamp starts growing in the salad drawer!'.  It consisted of quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber, rocket, tender-stem broccoli, spring onion, a splodge of houmous, some smoked soya cheese, and some avocado.  Very nice too.

Dinner... One of our favourites - Mushroom and Potato Curry.  You can find the recipe here.

Other stuff...

Song-ography...

Lean on Me...

One from the archives...

David and Charlie - best of mates (sometimes).

Link up with Kathy's Song-ography every Sunday at her blog (click here for link).

Cats on Tuesday...

In which Charlie takes centre stage.

We bought a chaise longue on Friday (and there's something I never thought I'd find myself typing).  Ostensibly to fill the empty part of the living room, we also thought it would make a good prop for photo shoots.  However, that was before Charlie saw it, liked it, and decided to own it.  Good job I decided to put an old throw over it as soon as it arrived...

For more kitties visit Gattina's Cats on Tuesday.

Song-ography

Here Comes the Sun...

... and when that happens you really have to go a bit vintage and hang out with a friend.

Alternatively,  you could stay home and water the plants...

... or if you're like me you can find somewhere shady and refuse to come out until it's autumn :O)

The fab models in the vintage shoot pics are Lizzie and Eva
Pretty frocks provided by Sally Sweetlove
Vintage Planes courtesy of Beech Restorations

The church is All Saints' Church at Billesly in Warwickshire (allegedly where Shakespeare got married).


For more Song-ography pics click here

The Summer of Living Dangerously...

Only a few more days of my two week break to go, and I'm actually feeling quite proud of myself -because I have faced the summer!  Summer has always been my least favourite season; I don't like the heat, I have to put on sunblock whenever I leave the house, colours are too bright and garish, clothes are boring, and everywhere is packed to the rafters because the schools are off.  I usually end up not doing a great deal, definitely not taking any holidays during this time, and generally trying to ignore it and hope it goes away soon.  

I'd let the thought of the awfulness of summer grow out of all proportion to its reality in my addled mind, so I decided that decisive action was called for.

Guess what?  This year has been different.  OK when it's been REALLY hot I've still not done a lot (apart from watching the Tour de France - go Chris Froome and Team Sky!), but on other days I've pottered in the garden, had time to go into town and browse second-hand bookshops, and generally been out and about and actually managed to enjoy it.  It's been a revelation to visit places I don't normally go to in summer, such as Batsford Arboretum and Calke Abbey, and see the lush greenery and summer blooms. I've enjoyed hunting for poppy fields (with little success) and flax (slightly more success), have done shoots on a summer's evening in golden light, and on a bright sunny morning when we overcame the light by moving under a handy weeping willow. 

Whilst I'm on the subject of feeling the fear and doing it anyway, can I just mention that I TOOK SOME BABY PICTURES THIS WEEK! This for me is a major achievement.  I've never had ambitions to take pictures of babies, I just don't feel a connection to them.  However I promised my friend Helen that I'd take some of her granddaughter and so met up with young Laily and her mum in a local park.  Amazingly all went well -  Laily and I seemed to develop a mutual respect for each other, I avoided the mushy biscuit she was waving about, and I actually got some pics we were all pleased with.  

Yay me!  (And it's only fourteen weeks until Halloween)...