Day 59 - February 28th

Another month over.

Today's photo is just a snap (taken on my phone) of the supermarket we shopped at. But this is a supermarket with a bit of history.

The building was built in 1919 and was formerly the location of a film processing factory which folded before the company could move in. The building was then bought by the 'Full-Fashioned Hosiery Company' from Halifax, later becoming the Kayser Bondor ladies stocking factory (which temporarily produced parachutes during World War II) until it closed in the 1970s. It was converted to a Tesco supermarket in the late 1980s and its Art Deco frontage which is part of the now listed building still stands. In the 1960s the Rolling Stones played in part of the building which was used at a ballroom.

Day 58 - February 27th

My Dad is a orchid grower. He has won several prizes at shows. He has hundreds of orchids but so far I have resisted taking photos of them because I was keeping them 'in reserve' for a day when I was stuck for something else to photograph. Well today was that day! Couldn't decided what to take a photo of and with a sick son at home I couldn't go far. So, todays photo is .... an orchid... well part of an orchid. LOL. It is beautiful but after taking so many similar photos in the past I'd rather have taken a photo of something else today.

Day 57 - February 26th

I was busy putting some washing in the washing machine when out of the window I caught a glimpse of half a dozen daffodils in the back garden already in bloom. They are tucked away behind the trampoline. Hidden from sight most of the time. I wonder how long they have been in bloom? Spring is most definitely coming. Traditionally spring is said to start on the night of 20/21 March but apparently the Met Office classes the first day of spring as 1st March. I think I'll go with the 1st March. The sooner the better! LOL

Day 56 - 25th February (Ash Wednesday/Donut Day)

I can't believe that three of my last four days photos have been of food! What does that say about me???

In our house Ash Wednesday is also known as 'Donut Day' and we eat 'Bedfordshire Donuts'. I'm not sure where this tradition came from and it seems kind of strange to be eating these sweet treats given that Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent and a period of abstinence. I think some countries eat a type of donut on Shrove Tuesday, But in our home it's on Ash Wednesday and our home is not the only home in Bedfordshire that I know does this. The tradition seems to go back many, many years. My Nan used to make the donuts for the family, then when she passed away my Mum took on the role. I guess one day it will be my job. The donuts are actually very similar to Welsh Griddle Cakes made with currants and cooked in a pan on the hob. They are delicious and looked forward to every year.

Day 55 - 24th February (Shrove Tuesday)

It's Shrove Tuesday today so I really felt I had no option but to take a photo of ....... a pancake. Eaten with sugar and lemon of course.

We did a taste test - Auntie Bessie's frozen v home made. You'll be pleased to hear that home made won hands down. My photo is of the home made version.

Day 54 - February 23rd

We bought some primroses at the weekend to try and cheer up the front of the house so today I planted them up in some planters. The plant in the photo looks a bit poor - dead leaves and all root bound, but after removing those dead leaves and replanting in some nice new compost they all looked a treat.

Day 53 - February 22nd

Today is my Dad's birthday. I made him a cake.

Day 52 - February 21st

Today we took our youngest two children to the cinema to see Hotel for Dogs. Originally we were going to see Bolt but this morning we changed our minds. The film was good even though I did embarrass myself by crying at the sad bits. LOL

This was one of the signs outside the cinema advertising the film. I could kick myself for not taking more photos of the cinema building because it is very different to the modern out of town multiplexes. It is a 1930s building with original art deco features. Unfortunately being Saturday there were lots of people around and I wouldn't have been able to get decent photos. Next time I'll have to try.

Day 51 - February 20th

I never thought I would take so many photos this week of the bouquet of flowers Wayne gave me on Valentine's Day but they really are gorgeous and so photo worthy. The Stargazer Lilies in the bouquet have finally come out. It's only taken a week! LOL. They are stunning. Just looking at them fools me into thinking its summer.

Day 50 - February 19th

Today's photo is of one of my sons ammonites. He has quite a collection of fossils, rocks and semi-precious gems. This is probably the largest one he has and one of his favourites.

Day 49 - February 18th

With BT having now repaired the fault on our line, I decided to take the children into town today to the library. I thought it would also be a good opportunity to take a photo of something different. Only problem was, I forgot to take my camera! I did however take some photos on my mobile phone which after a bit of editing on the PC didn't turn out too bad. I would have liked to have taken more but the children were impatient and so I had to just take a few snaps and move on.

This picture of the history frieze on the wall outside the library (at Hitchin) was the best. I love the old spelling of Hitchin.

Day 48 - February 17th

I wanted to go out today and take some photos but instead I'm am tied to the house because we've got a problem with our telephone line and BT are supposed to be coming sometime today to hopefully repair it. So I have to stay in and wait for them.

So, I took a photo of one of the spray carnations in the bouquet that I received the other day. They really are the most gorgeous shade of pink. There are some lilies in the bouquet too which have still to come out so they may feature another day.

Day 47 - February 16th

I love kiwis! Just recently Tesco have had them on offer so they have been a regular on the weekly shopping list.

They look so pretty when cut in half too. LOL

Day 46 - February 15th

I received these flowers from my husband yesterday for Valentine's Day but by the time they were delivered I had already chosen and posted my photo for the day. So the flowers are todays subject.

Day 45 - February 14th (Valentine's Day)

Last night Lara and I made cookies for Valentine's Day and this morning we decorated them. She really enjoys helping in the kitchen and especially baking so loved decorating the cookies. She had trouble getting to grips with the piping bag but made up for it by liberally adding silver and pink balls and mini smarties (but only the red ones LOL). I hope the rest of the family have a sweet tooth.

Day 44 - February 13th

It was only a matter of time before I scrapped some of the snowy photos so todays photo is of a layout I completed today for the MojoHolder DT.

The photograph doesn't show just how much this layout sparkles. I used loads of Doodlebug sugar coating glitter on the layout. In an attempt to try and get the best photo possible I took the layout outside to photograph it in natural light. I thought it would be fun to have a snowy background so I plonked my mini easel in the snow and took the photo there.

Day 43 - February 12th

As I drove past this field in our village yesterday out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw water. I went back today to have a look and to take some pictures. This poor tree, and several others in the field, having stood in snow for the last week and a half is now standing surrounded by water. The snow has melted and the field is water logged. Who'd be a tree? I know it probably won't do the tree any harm but you've gotta feel sorry for it.

Day 42 - February 11th

These four little guys sit on the bedside table next to our bed. They were put there about 6-7 years ago when one of our kids started waking up very early in the morning, in an attempt to encourage him to come in our room and just play quietly with the teddies instead of waking everyone up. And there they have stayed ever since! Not sure why, because none of the children ever play with them now apart for my daughter occasionally.

The three on the left all came free with magazines (can't resist magazine freebies) whilst the grey cat on the right (Pussy Cat Willum) was my very first toy given to me by a distant uncle when I was born.

Day 41 - February 10th

Nothing really inspired me today so I just took a photo of my lunch - soup and a roll.

Day 40 - February 9th

I struggled to find something interesting to photograph today. The snow is still lying on the ground but it's melting now and doesn't look so pretty. It's also been raining on and off today so I didn't feel like venturing too far to take my photograph.

I noticed two little birds sitting in the tree that's on land behind our house and thought they should be the stars of todays photo. After taking the photo I thought it looked a bit dull so I manually adjusted the colour balance to give the photo a blue filter and quite liked the result.

Day 39 - February 8th

No more snow today and the snow that is laying around is finally starting to very slowly melt. This photo is of the snow on the roof of the greenhouse.

Day 38 - February 7th

We didn't get any more snow falling today but there is still plenty on the ground from the last five days.

We took the children sledging. We went to the same hill that I used to sledge down when I was a little girl and my Mum when she was a little girl too. They had a whale of a time - so did Wayne and I when we had a go.

Lots of photos were taken so there were loads to choose from. I chose this one.

Day 37 - February 6th

More snow fell overnight and it continued snowed all this morning, then stopped for an hour or so and has just started again!!!! grrrrrrrr

The children and Wayne built this snowman yesterday afternoon but by the time they finished it the light was fading so I couldn't get a good shot then. The house in the background is my parents house. Their garden and my garden are joined, and a fence with a 6ft gap separates them. The children and Wayne thought it would be good fun to build the snowman right in the gap!!!

My daughter's school finally gave in and didn't open today so I've had all three at home.

Day 36 - February 5th

OK so I have to confess I am now bored with the snow! I'm fed up of taking snowy photos but as this is the most snow we have had for years and years.... and years I feel obliged to take photos as it really is dominating our lives at the moment. Yes, it does look pretty but it is beginning to irritate me!

The snowfall last night was far heavier than the snow we had at the beginning of the week. For the first time in 15+ years Wayne was unable to go to work. He couldn't get even get his car to the top of our drive. The boys schools were closed (yet again) but my daughters little village lower school was open. It has been one of the only (parhaps even the one and only) school in the county that has been open every day this week and today was visited by the BBC who filmed the children playing outside on the school field in the snow. What they filmed was shown on our local news programme this evening - you could just see my daughter peeping out from behind a snowman. LOL

So here is today's photo and with more heavy snow forecast for tonight I can't promise that tomorrows photo won't be just as snowy.

Day 35 - February 4th

The children are all back at school now although the snow is still hanging around.

My photo for today was inspired by a photo posted on Flickr by *karlotta*.

I'm going to try and remember to take a photo of my feet in winter, spring, summer and autumn (think it would make for an interesting scrapbook LO) and this is obviously the winter one. This is the first day this week that I've been able to put something on my feet other that wellies before going out. My old boots. Well worn but oh so comfy and most importantly they keep my feet cosy and dry.

I've been playing around with digital photo frames in PSP so for February I'm posting my photos in these rather lovely gilt frames.

Day 34 - February 3rd

No snow fell today but what we had yesterday stuck around despite the sun shining most of the day. This was part of the front garden at about 9.30am. It looked so pretty with the sun shining. By afternoon some of it had started to melt but forecasters have warned that more heavy snow may be on its way and the South East could be affected again by major showers on Thursday.

Day 33 - February 2nd

Today the heaviest snowfall to hit the UK in 18 years brought a large part of the country to a standstill. Many schools were closed. My children eagerly sat by the radio waiting to hear whether their schools were closed - they were not! So off they all went. My sons caught their school buses and I walked my daughter to her school. By 11.30am my eldest sons school had been closed and he was bused back home, and by 1pm my other son's school had been closed and he was also bused home. Only my daughter's school managed to stay open for the whole day. When they got home the boys both disappeared with their friends to have fun and after collecting my daughter she and I built the obligatory snowman. Later when they were finally all home together they all enjoyed playing in the garden throwing snowballs and the boys dragging their sister round the garden in the sledge. We so rarely get any serious amount of snow and it was so lovely to see them enjoying themselves.

Day 32 - February 1st

This morning I went to the Stamperama Papercraft and Rubber Stamp show at Stevenage. It's not a huge show but quite local to me so I usually pay it a visit. Here's some of my purchases. I was rather naughty and spent quite a lot although having said that I did stick to my budget - just. LOL