'Rain and Sun' by luigig75

Rain and Sun, a photo by luigig75 on Flickr.

Rain, rain, rain, rain, rain. That's all the weather seems to have been doing this week. I am actually starting to think I would rather it snowed. Well just a little bit anyway as I am just so fed up of coming home from the school run all soggy!

I love this rainy photo. The beauty of it is in the glorious sunshine that is emerging from behind the clouds. It may be raining but it's also a rather positive photo. I also love that this was taken on an iPhone with hardly any editing. I am still loving iPhoneography.

Happy weekend everyone. Stay dry!

'A tiny little hand' by Me

A tiny little hand, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

I don't think I have posted this photo here before but even if I have it's the kind of photo that can be shared lots of times and still get a smile. The reason I am posting this is because we were in Kiddiecare today (a big shop full of things for babies and toddlers in case anyone doesn't know what I'm on about). We had a lovely time. We had lunch, the kids played and I got some nice clothes for them. However it did make me feel a little sad. Looking round the shop I realised that we don't really have much need to be in there any more. My daughter is a grown up school girl and my son is hurtling towards two years old. Whilst I definitely think our family is complete now and there are no plans for more babies it's kind of a weird feeling knowing that the baby years are over now. But I got over it pretty quickly when I thought of all the fun we can have as a family of four in the future.

By the way, just in case you didn't realise this is a photo of my son'a newborn hand. Aren't hands this small just the cutest thing ever?

'0001-wine-5' by guzi4real

0001-wine-5, a photo by guzi4real on Flickr.

Tonight I have been mostly sitting in my bed eating chocolate and drinking white wine. I want to say it's been one of those weeks but it hasn't really I'm just rather tired. I probably should be sleeping but I am enjoying chilling out a little with some naughty food and drink and some trashy Friday night telly.

I thought it would be nice to show a wine related photo but in searching for one I came across this image. I must be honest and say I have no idea what it has to do with wine but it is beautiful. I can just feel the sunshine and the warmth. And the light is wonderful.

Anyway, hope you manage a little bit of chilling out over the next few days. Happy weekend everyone.

'tulips by the window' by lucia and mapp

tulips by the window, a photo by lucia and mapp on Flickr.

I've not been blogging much over the past week or so simply because I've not got much to say. So instead of rambling on about nothing I though I would just share a really pretty photo which made me smile. I think this is lovely. I love the pastel colours and I really love the floppy tulips. It reminds me that spring isn't far away and it's nearly tulip season again.

'Colourful knitting' by Me

Colourful knitting, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

I have realised that most of the photos I take these days seem to be on my iPhone. This is obviously not a huge problem as the quality is actually rather good and you can also achieve some great effect. However, I think I need to stop neglecting my DSLR as it is rather fabulous. I want to get creative and get back to photographing everyday things from around the house. And by this I don't just mean my knitting as I realise I have been doing this a lot! As you can see I am still enjoying knitting multi-coloured stripes.

'130122-0903.jpg' by liamgrantfoto

130122-0903.jpg, a photo by liamgrantfoto on Flickr.

It's half way through January and as yet there has been no snow this winter. I am starting to wonder whether it'll come at all. I am not overly fussed I must admit. I do love that first day of snow when it's all exciting but after that it just frustrates me. However, I think I would like it to snow just a little, firstly because I have been super organised this winter and bought appropriate snow boots for the kids. And secondly I can't wait to see what my little boy makes of snow as he was too young last year to really play in it. And of course there are snow photos to be taken. I love this beach hut one because it's so interesting seeing something that is usually photographed in the sun in a completely different environment. Also I love that the image is basically white with just a little bit of pastel colour.

'3/365 : Hot Chocolate' by Lisa-Mari

3/365 : Hot Chocolate, a photo by Lisa-Mari on Flickr.

How has your weekend been so far? Mine has actually been a little bit on the relaxing side. I dropped my daughter off at a birthday party today and as I didn't need to stay I headed off into town on my own. I stopped at a coffee shop for some lunch and had an hour to myself with a brie and bacon panini, a large hot chocolate and a new book. It was bliss. After that I went for a browse in the wool section of a local craft shop. Simple pleasures. I then went and picked my daughter up and watched her happily playing through the window before I went in. I love watching her when she doesn't know I am there. She is such a happy and popular little girl.

Anyway, enough about my day. I shall leave you with this beautiful photo of a hot chocolate. You wouldn't think there was much to photograph in a hot drink but I love how the photographer has captured the detail in the cream and chocolate sprinkled on top.

'Shell Shadows' by Dan Horton-Szar

Shell Shadows, a photo by Dan Horton-Szar on Flickr.

Don't you just love this photo? I do. The shadows are so perfect. I wonder whether it was carefully planned or whether the photographer spotted the gorgeous shadows and took the opportunity to take a lovely picture. Also when I think about it this actually looks more like a beautiful pencil drawing than a photograph. Amazing work.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend whatever you have planned.

'Zingy Orange Ginger Carrot Cake with White Chocolate Icing 3' by Sweetapolita

Zingy Orange Ginger Carrot Cake with White Chocolate Icing 3, a photo by Sweetapolita on Flickr.

Today is a very special day. Today is my little blog's birthday. Yes, that's right this blog is four years old today. I can hardly believe it. I thought I would have been bored of blogging by now but nope, I am still here. Still loving brilliant photography and still waffling on about me - and my family - as well.

I thought I would celebrate with a really lovely cake photograph as you've got to have a cake on your birthday. The trouble is this carrot cake looks so delicious I really want one for real now. Good job it's made with carrots because that counts as one of your five-a-day right?

'Stripes' by Me

Stripes, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

Today was a good day for my new year's resolutions. I didn't spend any money, the kids and I did fun stuff at home, I ate lots of fruit and vegetables and I did something new in knitting. I tried out knitting stripes in three colours as I've never done more than two colour stripes before. It went very well! I need to work on neatening the edges a little but apart from that it was all good. It also gave me the opportunity to combine my knitting hobby with my photography hobby. I do rather like taking knitting photos. I enjoy the challenge of making a piece of work look really interesting. I think it's all about the colours and I love knitting with bright colours such as the ones here.

'Hamburger with Cheese and Bacon' by b80399

Hamburger with Cheese and Bacon, a photo by b80399 on Flickr.

I am showing you an example of great food photography tonight as it demonstrates the struggle I am going to have with one of my new year's resolutions. During the week I have lovely healthy meals planned and am actually pretty much able to get my five-a-day but it's the weekend where it's going to go all wrong. We're always busy and seem to be having meals out, with friends or just on the run. For example yesterday we so busy we only had the chance to stop for a McDonald's and today we went out for a meal to celebrate a friend's birthday and I couldn't resist a big juicy burger. My philosophy is that if you are treating yourself to a meal out then you don't want to be pushing a lettuce leaf around a plate. As a side resolution perhaps I need to make weekends healthier too. Although I can't see myself not having a few juicy burgers like this once in a while.

Now I will sit back and look at this fabulous photo as pictures don't have any calories. Mmm, just look at those perfectly done onions.

'Siblings' by Me

Siblings, a photo by PhotoPuddle on Flickr.

I took this today whilst walking through the park. We didn't have much planned for the day but as the sun was shining I decided we had to get out and enjoy the weather. It will no doubt go all cold and wet again tomorrow. I love this photograph quite simply because it's of my two beautiful babies. They make me so happy and it makes me extra smiley that they get on with each other so well. My daughter does a brilliant job of looking after her little brother and he looks up to her so much. Even though there's three and a half years between them they still play really well together and it's lovely to watch. So far there is no sibling jealousy of any kind and they are never mean to each other. Long may it continue. I really hope they stay the best of friends forever.

'London's Fireworks 2014' by AureLondon

London's Fireworks 2014, a photo by AureLondon on Flickr.

I hope 2014 has started well for you. So far it's been a good year for us. We started the new year at home with some nice food, champagne and the usual New Year's Eve programmes on the telly. Then just before midnight we woke our daughter up as she wanted to watch the fireworks. This morning after the kids let us lie-in for an hour (thank you children, we were so tired) we set about taking down the Christmas decorations and giving the house a good spring clean. This evening we decided to celebrate the new year with a meal out at Pizza Express. It was lovely. Fingers crossed that rest of the year goes just as well.

Here is a photograph I found and loved of the fireworks in London last night. I love pictures of Big Ben with fireworks behind it as it's such a great New Year image. This is great because the fireworks have been captured brilliantly. I love how Big Ben is standing pride of place with the other buildings making a really interesting silhouette.

Happy New Year everyone!!