365 ~ 11th ~ 17th July

Coming up to 200 days tomorrow, and I’ve hit the time when I wish I hadn’t started. This has happened in every 365 I’ve done, so it’s not a big deal, but it does affect my creativity for a while, with it being hard to get enthused, and AFAC’s (arty farty abstract concepts) and silly prompts don’t help. But onwards ever onwards, we shall prevail. When I say we, I really mean me, but I like to be inclusive with y’all. Anyway consequently this week was a bit of a damp squib so the cats came to the rescue.

Let’s begin. This week is a composition week and the overall theme is ‘points of view’.

Day 192 ~ Delicious.~ Summertime brings us so many fresh fruits and vegetables to be savoured!  Is there something delicious growing in your garden? I particularly like the fresh berries available during the summer months.  I also love my morning yogurt so I tend to combine them for a delicious breakfast that reminds me of dessert. It is also Point of View Week so chose an interesting way to showcase something delicious.  I chose a high key flat lay.

Long term followers of this blog will remember my traumatic experiences with growing cauliflowers- we will never speak of it again, no need to open old wounds, but no I have no delicious somethings growing in my garden. Yogurt and fresh berries is not breakfast fodder for the average Geordie, nor even above-average immigrants to the North East such as moi. Average Geordies have fried bacon/egg/sausage (or all three) butties, and I have toast and paté because I’m wierd apparently. Anyway I cooked fillet steak bites in parmesan butter for our Sunday dinner with tomato and basil rice, and it was delicious indeed.

delicious

Day 193 ~ Border. ~ It’s Macro Monday and you know what that means…get in close! Also, consider trying different points of views to see which angle works best with your subject.  Overhead? From behind? From the side? Underneath? Border can mean edge or boundary of something, a decorative band or trim, or a line separating two areas. Be as literal or as creative as you like! From underneath the petals look like a decorative trim. What type of border details will you highlight? 

It was a day of rain here and also a full day at work, so photography a bit limited, but I do have a border between my wildflower patch and the lawn, just a little fence really but I thought it might suffice. And yes, I know the grass needed mowing, but Phil’s since done that!

border

Day 194 ~ Happiness. ~ I can always count on true happiness while spending time with my babies – especially when we are camping and exploring new places.  This was the fifth time they went down this steep hill. It reminds me of what it was like when I was a kid; sledding on the snow, climbing for what felt like forever only to take a few second ride back down.  It was worth all the work for all of that happiness.   Let’s see how you capture happiness today.  And while you’re at it, see if you can capture your subject from below.

Her ‘babies’ look at least 11 years old if not more, they’re riding bikes for heavens sakes. Babies. Pfft. And happiness is an AFAC, this lady’s prompts are usually annoying and this one is no different. (not Mrs. Cocktail Dress, this one I like to think of as Mrs. Hypaethral). This is where my 365 ennui began, so when all else fails, shoot the cat. A picture of happiness? Maybe contented awareness really on Winnie’s part. At least I shot her from below and happiness is being home from work. So job done!

happiness

Day 195 ~ Landscape. ~This is a great time of year to capture a beautiful landscape.  Shooting landscapes forces you to get outside and find the beauty around you. We all see the world through different eyes.  If we were all to take a photo from the same spot I bet each photo would be different as we all would be taking it from our own point of view. I don’t catch many sunrises but I did this day and I love the light in this photo.  I wanted to catch the reflection of the shoreline in the water.  When I got home and looked at it on the computer, from my point of view, it looked like a guitar standing on it’s side.  Do you see it?  Take a landscape photo from your point of view and show us a part of the world you live in.

Thank you Mrs. Straightforward! I took a drive out to Whitley Bay in the evening, and to St.Mary’s Lighthouse and Island. The history of it is in that link if you’re curious.

landscape

Day 196 ~ Prompt Free Day. ~ Prompt Free Days often bring to mind the saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side.”  Some days, we feel restricted by the prompt, but on other days, no specific prompt makes us feel lost by having no point of departure. Think about these prompt free days as a check-in as to how this project is changing you. What do you notice that you would have overlooked previously? What small moments in you day now feel bigger and call to be documented? Today is a blank canvas for which all of the other prompts have prepared you. Keep your eyes open and have fun!

Work then another dental appointment this afternoon, and it was hot today, we are having a heat wave according to the weather forecast. Of course 23°C (73.4°F) is quite normal for lots of countries, but here we spend most of the year between 0 & 15 (32 & 59) so a big leap like this in the space of a couple of days means heatwave to us. Back in the jurassic era I used to love being out in the sun, bikini, sarong, book, radio, wasp splatterer, ambre solair suntan oil (factor nil) all day long on a lounger in the garden, but now not so much, actually not at all. Is this a getting old thing do you think? The cats are lethargic, and Phil and I are sitting next to fans at full blast. I love sunshine, but at about 19° (66) for optimum comfort. Anyway, I shot Winnie again from below again, because she had spotted Woody the pigeon on the shed roof, and that’s her territory.

pigeon alert

Day 197 ~ Snack. ~ For me, my favorite snacks carry with them many fond memories of people and places.  My college roommate and I had a thing for PopTarts; and even now, 40 years later (Yikes!), every time I see Pop Tarts, I think of her and the many memories that we made together.  Now, one of my favorite snacks is Cheetos.  My BFF gave me the Cheetos t-shirt I am wearing in this photo right before the pandemic started.  Little did I know then how much yarn, silly memes, and Cheetos it would take to carry me through this last year.  Though parts of the year were tough, Cheetos make me think of her and that brings a smile.  I look forward to the next time my friend and I can sit together eating Cheetos and knitting – perhaps with orange yarn to keep the adventure stress free! What snacks spark good memories for you?

Sigh. I don’t do snacks with attached memories. I snack on rice cakes at work as I don’t have time for lunch but that’s about it, and anyway I leave them there in my cupboard. Breakfast and dinner seems enough with a light lunch or just brunch on days off. What’s annoying is I actually had a packet of cheetos that were shaped like footballs for the Euro cup thing. I didn’t buy them but won them on a free scratch card our Londis gives out if you spend a tenner or more. Anyway Phil had them the night before the challenge which was a shame, I should have been more forward thinking but well, ennui. Winnie likes snacks. 😊

snack

Day 198 ~ Achievement. ~Sometimes it is an achievement to get into the right position to get the “right” photo.  Here I was on holiday in Greece.  We were staying in a place where the sunset was blocked by the mountain.  So, one day we ventured around to the other side of the mountain and waited for the sun to set.  Then the clouds came and finally, in the last few minutes of the day, it all worked out.  My daughter is standing on the edge of an infinity pool and I positioned myself lying down on the far side of the pool so that the sun was in the correct place for her pose. Have some fun today, think about using different angles to achieve your photo.

It is SO hot today, even with a fair breeze, we’re at 27C (80F) in our garden and really just want not to move or do much at all. I thought it a bit unfair that Winnie got all the limelight so far. I take more of her because Lord Vincent goes hiding under bushes out the front all day so don’t see him so much, but today he settled down under the jasmine in the garden to get some shade and take advantage of the wind tunnel that occurs in the path from front to back. It was an achievement to get up off the floor after taking the photo. I’m winning at point of view!

achievement

And that’s the end of point of view week. I would say let’s hope my ennui resolves itself now, but next week is sodding selfie week. Sigh. Also next week I’ll be travelling down south to visit my son and grandson so doing selfies will not be high on my list of priorities, but I will still take pictures every day and that’ll have to do. My Sunday post will be later than usual as I’m coming back up on Saturday and won’t get home until late. Stay tooned for then!

67 thoughts on “365 ~ 11th ~ 17th July”

  1. Enjoy family! I’m desperately hoping my son gets here next Sunday. It’s been a full year now! Heat? Yes, 35C here today is far too much. You have to be careful what you wish for, but the sun is ripening my figs. Had my first home grown one the other day. Loving the photos of your uncut grass and St. Mary’s!

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  2. 23-degree heat wave! Well, 23 can be pretty miserable if it’s humid, I’ll grant you that. Otherwise, that’s pretty comfy.
    Rice cakes aren’t a snack! They’re more like what a doctor prescribes. I actually had some Pop Tarts yesterday. And I love Cheetos. Though I’m trying to eat less of both.
    You posted a big tease picture this week showing part of your bookshelf. I love looking at people’s bookshelves. And yes, I judge people on the books they read. Let’s see more!

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    1. It’s the first time I’ve come across cheetos here, I didn’t think we had them, and there are no more in Londis. The bookshelves are Phil’s and I have posted them before, I’ll have a look for it when I’m on the BigMac. Cheers Alex.

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      1. There’s nothing like eating Cheetos in sweatpants while you watch a movie, and wiping your hands on your pants the whole time until they’re turned into a pair of orange boards . . .
        I was thinking of Phil with the D-Day book.

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  4. Snack memories, who’d have thought that was a thing? Although … I no longer eat salt and vinegar crisps because I was eating a packet one day when my Granddad was stripping paint with one of those little burners that they used back in the 60s. It smelt dreadful and the taste of the crips became associated with the smell of the burning paint.

    Winnie and Lord Vincent came up trumps, as usual.

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  5. Sorry to hear that you’ve hit “the wall”. I am also sorry that you’re going to have to deal with selfie week on top of that. Hope the visit is a good time though. Maybe you could take selfies of them instead of yourself?

    I did have to laugh though when you were talking about how hot it was and it was only 80. This past week, and a couple before, it’s regularly gotten into the 90’s (32 and above for you). Of course, then I talk to my sister who lives “down south” and it’s regularly over 100 there (38+) and she laughs at me and my “oh, it’s so hot here”. It’s all what we’re used to 😀

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  7. Great as usual, Fraggle. The cats were taking this week by storm. And a lovely landscape as well. But Cheetos? Pop Tarts? Rice cakes? That sounds like food hell. Where’s the tofu, damn it!

    And you’re right – it’s boiling. I think the world’s either going to end in a big ball of fire or mass insanity. Both have already begun, most likely.

    And I definitely want to hear the cabbage story! The only way we can overcome grief is by confronting it…

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  8. Congrats on the 200th! I know the burden of long challenges, but it is worth at the end. Your photos are so inspiring, I’m learning a lot with your composition. Our kids will always be our babies, no matter their age. 🙂

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  9. Well done, you! I love all your photos as usual and your descriptions (& rants) make me smile. The cats rule! They are both gorgeous creatures & you’ve captured them exquisitely! The lighthouse is beautiful and thanks for the history link, it was extremely interesting! Your dinner photo is magazine worthy, and looks scrumptious!

    Have a great trip! Enjoy your family! Good luck with the selfies! xoxo

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  11. You’re definitely winning at point of view!! Always enjoy reading and seeing your posts.
    Had to smile at the Cheetos; at some yesterday – because my sister handed them to me – for the first in who knows how long! Messy. But now I’ll think of her when I see a bag. Memories.
    Enjoy your time with family!

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  12. Winnie and Lord Vincent are stars! I enjoyed all the photos (especially Landscape) but… cats, you know? You just can’t go wrong with them, and they’re equally cute and superior at the same time.
    I’m sorry to hear you’re hitting a wall, but it doesn’t show in your wonderful photography. I always look forward to your Sunday shares.
    Have a wonderful time with family and enjoy your trip away!

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  14. The pictures are wonderful, as usual. I love reading your intro’s of the photograps, they always make me laugh. Onwards, ever onwards… That is, among many other things, what I like about Britons. Cheerfully plodding through puddles of despair. 🙂

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  20. Off topic, but your blogging style is clearly influencing Hollywood….

    Jordan Peele Announces New Film Nope, Starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steven Yeun

    Jordan Peele has officially announced his next film. It’s called Nope,

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