roll up, roll up!

roll up, roll up!, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

My boy had a week at Barracudas' Summer Camp and the last day was circus-themed. I didn't want him to look like a prat all day so we agreed that he would dress up as a ringmaster. I blinged up a red jacket and gave him his magician's top hat (which usually fits because he hides a rabbit inside for magic tricks).

fence Friday: the "blackberry picking" expedition

fence Friday: the "blackberry picking" expedition, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

We went blackberry picking and had to clamber over this rusty old fence to trespass in a farmer's field (slaped wrist, Cat!) to get to the juiciest berries. The crumble was yumalicious and I still have enough in the fridge for more yummy puds :)

SOOC

I wanna be like you

I wanna be like you, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Oh, oobee doo

Blooming puppy has discovered toys that so do not belong to him! Caught him eating monkey earlier, and now he's moved on to Mr Tumble.

Nathaniel and Harrison

Nathaniel and Harrison, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

dog and sprog

.raw

.raw, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

First, I should tell you why I'm posting a semi-pornographic image of James. It all stems from the RAW debate of last week, where I did a snappy snap but shot it in RAW by mistake. Boy, that opened up a whole can of worms! So, having dicussed our plans for today, James suggested we do this shot of him in the raw.

So there you have it, my husband in the raw, never to be seen this way again on the web! Enjoy (or not).

and they call it puppy love

and they call it puppy love, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Donny Osmond

The boys look pretty happy with the new pup, all three are besotted with each other.

As an aside, I totally loved Donny Osmond when I was about my boy's age. No accounting for taste :)

fetch!

fetch!, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

I guess it's official, I am a dog bore with the photos of our new pet, Harrison. Never taken pictures of mutts before so this is a huge learning curve for me.

Chinese lanterns and jasmine fence Friday

Chinese lanterns and jasmine fence Friday, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

The fence in my back yard, I'm real glad the jasmine is flowering, it's so pretty.

Harrison

Harrison, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Our new puppy, Harrison. Had just got home home after a very long journey from Wales and on his first visit to the garden he decided to eat a gardening toy. Methinks some doggie training is needed. Apologies for the rubbish shot, the old P&S doesn't really have the speed to keep up with this labradoodle!

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Essential reading when one is facing one's own imminent demise.

ultraviolet

ultraviolet, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

It's amazing what you can do when you accidentally shoot in RAW!

And even more amazing what a stink it caused, with a couple of folks patronising me for not shooting in RAW all the time, precious buggers!

the gloaming

the gloaming, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

Been having a bit of a rough day thanks to the meds I'm on. Luckily I don't usually suffer all that much so one off day every few weeks isn't too bad. Dragged James down to one of our favourite spots this evening and requested that he lie down on a jetty to get the sunset. he refused, and probably quite rightly since it was covered in bird poo, so we opted for a picnic table instead.

Harrison

Harrison, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

This is our new puppy, Harrison. We drove to Wales yesterday to look at him and it was instant love at first puppy dog kiss for my boy. Harrison is a petite F1 Labradoodle and he is so cute. He was very excited yesterday and was near impossible to photograph but I'm sure when he moves in with us next week he will calm down :)

We have struggled with names and thought of loads, but have finally gotten down to two: Dante or Harrison. In the end we have decided to go with Harrison (for Harrison Ford) because he was in our favourite movie, Blade Runner and it works well with our cat's name which is Ridley.

ponds + osiers, witches houses

ponds + osiers, witches houses, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

We went to a birthday party last week and there were so many cute fences, good witches' houses, pony rides and so on, I was really spoiled for choice with the pictures I made.

Maddie

Maddie, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

for Penny, my favourite little girl :)

I'm like a bird

I'm like a bird, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hggt :)

Nelly Furtado

Happy Birthday, Staci Lee

I gotta feeling: that tonight's gonna be a good night, the "third wedding anniversary" edition

I gotta feeling: that tonight's gonna be a good night, the "third wedding anniversary" edition, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

Black Eyed Peas

James and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary by having a barbie at our house with some really good friends. Lots of my boy's school friends came along so it had a real family atmosphere, with fun and games. I have to say, these guys are ace! When asked to lie down on the floor, down they went, which is perhaps why it looks like a Stockholm syndrome hostage situation. Seriously, they all lay down willingly.

I love my friends beyond words, they are fabulous, and I wish that I'd been able to extend the invitation to people who live further away from us, and of course to my Flickr friends.

Maddison

Maddison, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

I love photographing Maddie, she is so incredibly photogenic and a delight to work with.

haiku (with hollyhocks and the merest suggestion of a fence)

haiku (with hollyhocks and the merest suggestion of a fence), originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

a hollyhock shot up to meet the summer solstice ~ Masaoka Shiki

I am feeling very Zen today.

Higham Colts Summer Holiday Football Academy

Higham Colts Summer Holiday Football Academy, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

We aren't a football family, but my lad's friends play football so who am I to deny him this? So, this week he's been attending a course for kids his age. He was pretty darned rubbish at the start of the week, tentatively kicking the ball, feeling nervous, generally not quite getting it. But today after completing the three day course, he was awarded a special Higham Colts drinks bottle for being the most improved player on the course. We are so proud of him. I think (and hope, because as I say, we aren't a football family), that he will be an avearge player, handy in a kickaround with his mates, but I am so happy that he won something for trying hard and giving his all.

here it goes again

here it goes again, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

OK Go

I am a very broke mommie. Why, oh why, did I think it would be a good idea to get my boy on to a football (or soccer for my overseas friends) course this Summer, it's costing a small fortune.

We are not a football family, oh dear me, no! James is a rugby man, I am more athletics and swimming. But little guys like to do the same as other little guys, so I dutifully sent him on a vacation training academy course. And he loves it! Cool. But...and here's the rub, all the other kids are really into football and turn up in full strip, skin pads, football boots, the lot, and my boy is feeling left out. So today after the academy we went to a sports shop to purchase one set of shin pads and a pair of socks. Then we discovered the socks were so chunky that his trainers didn't fit, so we had to buy proper boots. Then I felt bad that he didn't have a fancy kit in which to run around, so more money...

My compensation for all thiis money spent? A facedown tribute to OK Go's seminal video. If you haven't seen it, check it out, it's fun. I just wish I had the boys re-enact a few of the moves standing up. Maybe next time...:)

bench Monday: a whoosh of hollyhocks

bench Monday: a whoosh of hollyhocks, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hbm :)

My mom has been visiting with me this weekend and this afternoon we drove her home. My boy immediately jumped on to this old wall that my dad built roughly 40 years ago when I was the same age as my lad. I used to go up and down on it pretending to be a Russian gymnast on the beam, and I came off a lot. I still have the scars to prove it. My boy stayed still long enough for two or three shots, and then he was off pretending it was the vault. Not sure he was being a Russian gymnast, he was probably vaulting for England.