# 85: Stairway to Heaven?

Pulpit stairs, York Minster

# 84: Repetition

My favourite Thorntons Chocolates, but only three of them because I'm trying to lose some weight.  How considerate of my wonderful husband to pander to my whims with such consideration ;0) Happy Birthday to me!

# 83: Going over

They're beautiful while they last, but even when they're going over, past their best, they are still of interest.

# 82: Birthday Girl

Enjoying her chocolate birthday cake ;0)

Happy 7th Birthday to my Golden Child.

# 81: Preparations

I spent this afternoon wrapping gifts for my beautiful daughter Jodie. I also call her Golden Child (GC), a phrase coined by my brother when she was a baby. Tomorrow she will be 7 years old. She was born at 7 am after an easy labour - though what went before was hard: a stillbirth and three miscarriages, an emotional roller-coaster, uncertaintly, waiting, hope and hopelessness, but perseverence paid off, in spades :0)
Can't wait for tomorrow ;0)

# 80: Cats sleep anywhere

This is Geordie curled up asleep in a crumpled dustsheet. I remember learning a poem by Eleanor Farjeon when I was at junior school called Cats Sleep Anywhere.

Cats sleep anywhere, any table, any chair.

Top of piano, window-ledge, in the middle, on the edge.

Open draw, empty shoe, anybody's lap will do.

Fitted in a cardboard box, in the cupboard with your frocks.

Anywhere! They don't care! Cats sleep anywhere.

# 79: Red and ripe

Tomatoes.

# 78: Look to the sun

Spring is finally come.

Crocus, Darley Park.

# 77: The grass is always greener...

...on the other side.

I spent a few minutes in the garden and noticed next door's lawn through two holes in the fence.

Shot with the 70-200mm, manual focus because it only wanted to focus on the fence.

# 76: Flower detail

This tiny bloom snapped off its stem in transit so I placed it in an eggcup of water. I love the delicate touches of dark pink, and the texture of the petals.Time for a macro shot ;0)

# 75: More interesting than...

...watching paint dry? Paint stripper makes old lead-based gloss paint bubble on the handrail. It'll be stripped, sanded, stained and oiled. I really wish Ronseal still made their brilliant paint-stripper, it was fantastic, and Nitromors is a very poor substitute. Ronseal's product worked with a single application, Nitromors takes at least three applications and buckets more elbow grease. I could have taken it outside and used the heat gun, but I don't want to risk singeing any of the wood.

# 74: Bud

Its daffodil season, I love daffodils, I have them in an old-fashioned cream jug on my kitchen windowsill as much as possible while they're available at this time of year. Its like having my own personal ray of sunshine and they lift my spirits as the weather shows promise of improving. Taken with the 105 macro, enhanced in Ps with Topaz plugin.

# 73: Cup Cake Cases

Pastel pink, yellow, green and blue, though the sun made the colours more vibrant than the pastel shades they really are. Stacked to dry, we haven't tried them out yet... oooh the anticipation!? And I found a better recipe the other day too.

# 72: One of my life's essentials

I can't do without these: I've worn glasses since my early 20s and had a phase of wearing contact lenses for several years, but got out of the habit when I couldn't wear them whilst expecting Oliver (- not enough tears in the eye to support them apparently, hormones eh?) I am acutely aware of changes in my vision and invariably return to the optician for a test before I am due to do so because I've noticed a change. Taking this photograph was odd as I couldn't be sure I was focussing correctly - but then a little red dot blinked at me so I pressed the shutter!
Edited with Topaz in Ps.

# 71: Supercharged

It won't be very long and my first born will be a teenager. He's growing fast, already taller than me (a fact about which he is very proud, and vocal!) and stocky with it - see he fills the frame ;0)

# 70: Casserole Kitchen II

A reprise of an earlier blog shot, from my original 365, which ties in nicely with the 52 Fridays project. This week's theme is before and after. This is the after shot! We are loving our new kitchen, worth the wait. I shall collage the two images for the 52 Fridays image.

# 69: Spring is on its way

I visited Darley Park briefly this afternoon, the sunshine held the promise of spring, crocuses (crocii?) were in full bloom and the sky was beautiful in blue.

# 68: Cafe catch-up

I made time on Wednesday to meet with some friends for a quick catch-up over coffee etc. It was great to see them and well worth the flying visit. I hope I can stay longer to chat more next time.

# 67: Ladybird

Can you see it?

Enhanced in Ps with Topaz Adjust Vibrance filter.

# 66: Walk this way

This image was taken at the NEC near Birmingham, venue for the Focus on Imaging show which has become an annual pilgrimage for me in recent years. Its like being a kid in a sweet shop, looking at cameras, lenses, gadgets, accessories, studio lighting, wedding albums, frames... its just amazing. Last year was a fact finding mission, looking into software, insurance and a few other things. This year I was on a different mission - I was submitting a panel of ten mounted images for assessment by the RPS for a Licentiateship distinction. Tense just doesn't describe it! Waiting for my panel to be put up in front of 6 judges for scrutiny... But it was worth it. I passed :0)
I am now Nicky Heppenstall LRPS, and I await my certificate in the post shortly!

The successful panel for LRPS.

More NEC interiors.

# 65: 1-2-3 Whoosh!

This is my niece Nathalie - my daughter Jodie showed her how to do the whoosh thing. See 46/52

It works better with longer hair I think, but we had a laugh with it - even Suzanne had a go, but trying to capture two beautiful girls whooshing at the same time is a major challenge!

# 64: Twisted Bamboo Satinwood

Goodbye magnolia forever... your days are numbered!