In the blink of an eye!

~ The beautiful seaside ~

2011-05-09T06:35:00.000-07:00

~ Shield bug ~

2011-04-24T12:34:00.000-07:00

~ Bee-fly ~

2011-04-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

Recognised by its hairy, bee like body and long proboscis. In flight, even more bee-like and produces high-pitched hum. Flies April-May. Visits flowers to feed on nectar. Larva feeds on grubs of solitary bees. (From one of my favorite wildlife identification books, Complete British Wildlife Photoguide by Paul Sterry) I think they are amazing insects and fascinating to watch. They seem to like forget-me-nots. I love solitary bees though... I wish their lava didn't eat their grubs!

I like the shadow in this photo... it was a lovely sunny day when I took it.

~ Flowers and leaves ~

2011-04-07T10:49:00.001-07:00

I hope you like my photos, I enjoyed taking them :)

~ Leopard slug ~

2011-04-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

~ Tiger ~

2011-04-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

~ My beautiful cat! ~

~ Little Snail ~

2011-03-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

My Grandads hands :)

2010-12-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

This is a special photo I took a little while ago of my wonderful Grandads hands. He died on the 9th and I'm missing him already :'( These are magical gardeners hands, they have taken many gardens and turned them into something really magnificent. His hands are holding one of my cousins hands. All of my cousins and my Brother will hold our fantastic Grandad in our hearts forever xxx

The fog froze...

2010-12-06T03:58:00.000-08:00

... and left a beautiful sprinkling of fluffy fine ice everywhere!

~ Nature photos ~

2010-09-01T05:39:00.000-07:00

Hello :) Most of these photos were taken in my garden. I've been very busy over the summer so I haven't posted any photos (sorry!). Here are some of the best photos I took through Spring and Summer (and some I edited resently but they were taken last year) enjoy...

Flowers to take your breath away :)

This is a onion plant we let flower, I had no idea they were so beautiful!

Can you see the Mummy and Baby aphids in this photo?

These magical toadstools came up in the lawn one morning, so tiny and delicate.

This photo and the one below were taken last year when me and Mum were messing around LOL! I only edited them resently though and I thought I'd put them in with the others :)

My beautiful alert cat!

I've had a go at leaving only some colour in photos and converting the rest to black and white, I like the way it turns out :)

Another very wet bumble bee! I saved this one from drowning in our garden pond.

An incredible insect I found at the bottom of the garden.

Just like magic!

Spring photographs!

2010-04-22T01:49:00.000-07:00

A magnificent Bee-fly on a Cowslip.

Its wings wouldn't stop beating! Its legs are very long. Tiger's eye peeking through the fence.

A Drone-fly landed on my hand.

We have started feeding the birds again now that the cats are getting older and lazier. I think they needed the food, many difforent types of bird came to feast! I have even seen a empty egg shell on the floor, chicks!

I put a bit of apple out for the ants and within a short time they had covered it!

We lifted up a stone and under it was a colony of ants with their young.

A Horse-chestnut bud.

Tulip.

Forget-me-not!

Fossil.

~ Spring is in the air! ~

2010-03-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

~ Ones lonely ~

~ Two's company ~

~ Threes a crowd! ~

Our full pond!

Full of frogs and jelly like frogspawn!

We raised some in a tank in the house which have grown fast in the warmth. Until next year, Riiiibit!

~ Beautiful Witch Hazel ~

Magnificent leaf buds coming into life!

Out of the gooey mouth comes the lush green of spring!

A weed is a plant growing in the wrong place.

Me and Mum... lol!

close up on pepper seeds.

Potato sprout.

WWT photographs.

2010-03-25T04:24:00.000-07:00

~ Subtle ~

~ Old ~

~ Vibrant red on blue ~

~ Splash! ~

~ Wide open ~ ~ Bottoms up! ~ ~ ~ ~ Some black and whites - ~ Enchanted castle ~

~ Perfection ~

~ Dive ~

~ eyeing up ~

~ Simple understanding ~

Valentines day sweets!

2010-03-02T00:50:00.000-08:00

On Valentines day my Mum and Dad shared sweets (see on my main blog 'Follow your dreams') and they looked great for some interesting close ups! Enjoy... I did! ;p

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Penarth beauty!

2010-02-03T02:39:00.000-08:00

We went to Penarth the other day and I took it as a good opportunity to take some photos, I hope you like them :)

The low winter sun made wonderful shadows across the pier. It was beautiful :)

This is the underneath of the pier, it is covered in tiny barnacles. You can see where someone had scraped them of to write the letter T. It just shows how high the sea gets sometimes!

Somebody dared to walk in the muddy sand and made slushy foot prints! This was taken above from on top of the pier.

Zoomed in. I love the zoom on my new camera, it means I can take photos up close that I never would have been able to take before.

I was REALLY pleased when this bird flew and landed right next to me! I took a quick snap and then tried to identify it at home. I think it's a Rock Pipit but if anyone knows otherwise please let me know! This is info about Rock pipits and its a good website: http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/Explore-wildlife/Animals/Birds/Rock-Pipit

A pretty Pidgeon.

Seagull's foot prints.

On the pier, it was quite photogenic with the benches, shadows and the boards that draw you in.

Ripples in the sand :)

Beautiful water and a drop of magic!

2010-01-29T06:08:00.000-08:00

The sap from my brothers apple tree went down in a water drop and made it look magic! I hope you like it :)

I experimented with water too see what sort of photo I could get, it turned out lovely!

* Ice cold *

2010-01-29T03:50:00.000-08:00

The snow may have melted but its still cold. This was the edge of ice that I took out of a tub of water in the garden, the patterns were beautiful!

this is the frozen condensation on our slide. I melted it with my warm hand!

Even the lawn and the leaves on it had been touched by Jack frosts cold, yet stunning breath!

* Crystals *

2010-01-27T07:51:00.000-08:00

To find out how I got these beautiful crystals look on my main blog :)

http://followyourdreamsmylife.blogspot.com/

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

2010-01-14T02:41:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos I've taken in this cold weather. It's very photogenic, I hope you like them :)

The snow started to melt and then froze giving this lovely frozen water drop effect everywhere!

This is a tiled roof with a layer if snow on top

Some of my best photos 2009!

2009-12-08T05:18:00.000-08:00

Now that winter is here and its harder to take photos out doors without being caught out by a shower or getting very cold... I looked back through my photos and here are some of my best ones from when the weather was that bit warmer and dryer! First up are the lovely, graceful swans that I have been honored enough to photograph.

A gaggle of bullying geese!

Feeding the black headed seagulls was a great thrill, we held out our hands with a piece of bread and they silently swooped down and took it with there sharp pointed beaks.

I love ducks, they have so much character!

A bit of scenery.

A glorious damson-fly!

A pretty Herb Robbert.

A flower like the sun!

Wonderful sunset.

And lots of grazing cows.

Farm Holiday Photography!

2009-10-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

While on holiday I took lots of photos, lots of which I think are suitable for my blog. I hope you like them :) This one (above) is one of my favourites!

Two heads are better than one!

( in this case it needs two! Hee, hee ;) )

A late Foxglove in the woods.

Fairy toadstools.

Giddy-Up Daddy... I want to go home for dinner!

Right or Left? Hint, try the next field!

Down the slope...

Wonderful views!

And sky's!

And green, green clover!

Barrrrrrr!

Getting ready for winter.

Ewe forgot the marrrrsh-mallows!

Amazing sunsets!

Mouth watering blackberries!

An enchanted swing!

You choose the path you take in life.

Pheasant!

A very wet little Bumble bee!

2009-05-27T13:54:00.001-07:00

I just went outside because it had stopped raining at last! I went to the poly tunnel and noticed outside the door on the broad beans was a very wet Bumble bee... bless his little soul! I ran back in and got my camera and took a photo (see above), I think it is very sweet :) I hope he managed to dry himself OK.

Wildlife is wonderful!

2009-05-26T04:10:00.000-07:00

Hello! As promised here are some tester photos I have taken with my new camera! I am ecstatic with the way they have turned out... I have mainly been taking photos of one of my favourite subjects... wildlife! Over this Spring to Summer time there has been plenty of commotion in the bird world so I peeked inside and took some photos!

I stood in the garden and waited for a bird to come in front of me to take a photo... then I spotted this baby house sparrow on our fence, I took a photo quick before its little brain realised that it should fly away!

The starlings were showing off on our roof and singing with zest!

This handsome fella is surveying his landscape :)

Ruffle my feathers!

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Now lets take a step into the creepy crawly world, first onto the bug-walk is a wonderful hover fly! I am so pleased with this photo! Also note the wonderful flowers they are drinking from!

Next is another hover fly on a beautiful forget-me-not!

A Bumble bee.

I'm not sure what this little fly thing is, but its intriguing all the same!

He can't, quite... reach!

I love this Herb Robert. So pretty :)

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If you look close at these ants then you can see them carrying tiny boulders out of their tunnel!

Click on the photo to see it closer!

I love the pattern on this flies back, its like a mini chess board!

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Moving on to a bit of greenery, a world of chloroform and leaves!

I love the photo of this fern, it almost sucks you in....

I'm a little tomato plant!

This little fella looks like those future huge bug things from the series 'Primeval'!

I hope you like my photographs, please comment :oD

~ Elephant Hawk Moth ~

2009-05-23T13:01:00.000-07:00

Last year I found an Elephant Hawk Moth Caterpillar in the garden, it was very close to pupating and looked a bit lost so I put it in a container with a bit of soil and sure enough it pupated! The pupa over wintered and hatched yesterday... the result is beautiful a marvel of nature! The photo above is my favourite with a small bug on its head! :oD

The patterning on its back was like a shield... I must do some art with that pattern!

These photos are taken with my new camera... I will show you some more shortly!

I have tried to save a Elephant Hawk Moth before but when it hatched out its wings were all wrinkled :(

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This photo can give you scale as to how big it was!

We let it go in our garden at night so the cats didn't catch it! (The cats stay in the house at night)

Cefn Onn Country Park!

2009-05-20T05:26:00.000-07:00

We went to Cefn Onn Country Park and there it was a wonderful opportunity to take some photos! You can see some general photos on my other blog (The Joy of living) by clicking here - http://freedomlearning.blogspot.com/2009/05/cefn-onn-country-park.html

I love this photo above that I took :oD (These are not taken with my new camera)

There was lots of wood garlic...

... and blue bells :)

I saw large exotic looking flowers there too.

Plus some fabulous ferns...

... and trees covered in moss!

The trees were beautiful and when you looked up into them you feel well and truly alive!

And a little small :)

I'm not sure what this bug is but thought it was amazing so took a photo.

I love the angle of this photo... it makes you want to be there!

It is when you go to places like this that you are really happy to be on planet Earth. So please, PLEASE look after the world so we can enjoy it for so much longer!!!!!!

Old camera..... NEW CAMERA!

2009-05-19T04:06:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been fancying a new camera because I had a go at my Dads the other day and it was amazing so I fancied one that could do stuff like Dads could (before I accidentally broke it!). Then I saw a really good one on eBay so I asked Dad to get it for me if I payed... he payed half for me so I got it half prise, thank you so much Dad! This is my old camera... it is very good for beginners and people who want a good simple camera that they can take places with them for good photos.

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And this is my new camera! It arrived in the post the other day and I love it!

These photos are not really crisp because I didn't want to flash into the lens in case I broke it like I did my Dads :(

You will be seeing some photos I have taken with my new camera soon :o)

~ ~ ~ Shadow fun! ~ ~ ~

2009-05-13T02:43:00.000-07:00

I have been messing around with shadows and have come out with some funky photography!

Its monster mayhem!

Forget me not! Please don't forget me.

I've found a shell Mummy!

~ Fern Frond! ~

2009-05-05T09:11:00.001-07:00

Hello, today I am posting about another photo I have taken after being inspired by Ash (I hope you don't mind Ash but every photo you take I want to have a go at my self!) it is a Hart's-tongue fern frond that I have made black and white... this is Ash's photo that gave me the idea -

http://astonishingsplashesofcolour.blogspot.com/2009/05/flora.html

Thanks again Ash!

* The Royal Dandelion! *

2009-05-03T02:11:00.000-07:00

Dandelion!

Here comes a puff of wind for tiny seeds to fly on....

to spread the king of weeds,

the regal dandelion!

From nodding clock to golden crown,

swaying to and fro,

the royal dandelion doffs

his cap of fleecy snow!

By Freddie McKeown.

The Latin name for Dandelion is 'Taraxacum Officinale'

I hope you like my photos :o)

~ 1st of May Flowers! ~

2009-05-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

I went out side in the garden and as soon as you step out of the back door you can smell the beautiful may blossom!

I got up close to some forget-me-nots ... I'm sure I won't forget them!

Down in a corner was a very pretty Herb Robert (Geranium Robertianum) that I just had to take a photo of!

This is one of my favourites, I just love the whole feeling of it!

What a pretty daisy (Bellis Perennis)!

This is another one of my favourites, a perfect dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale) just sitting there shouting "take a photo of me!" and so I did and I am very pleased with how it has come out... so jolly and happy :)

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You may have seen the willow a while back in this post on my other blog - http://freedomlearning.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-wildlife-photography.html - and this is it now, letting off loads of fluffy seeds all over the garden and beyond!

This, believe it or not is a teasels (Dipsacus Fullonum) spikes on the under side of it's leaf!

This is a close up of a blanket of Duckweed (Lemna Minor) that looks like you could stand on it! But don't try this or you would get very wet as it is found on the surface of ponds!

~ What is it? ~

2009-05-01T12:16:00.001-07:00

'What on earth is this photo above!?' Is that what you are thinking? Well it's something that you use quite often if you want a tidy garden... have you guessed yet? Well keep the thought in your mind and scroll down...

~ And down... ~

~ And downnnn!... ~

~ Getting tired yet? ~

~ I am ~

And finally here is a clue! -

Please tell me you guessed what it is now... ok if not then look below! I bet your thinking 'Oh no here we go again, I'm going to go back onto you-tube' but think again or you will be wondering all day 'What was that orange hairy thing, I must know!' and get up at midnight to find out! So carry on going down... not far to go now!

It is...

A hedgehog... no!

Orange grass... NO!

Its a....

BRUSH!

Now if you didn't guess right second time I bet you are kicking yourself so you had better go and find some plasters in the cupboard because that could hurt... no... don't kick... ME!!!! AAAAAAH!

A day of creepy crawly photography!

2009-05-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hello! This is my first post on this blog (as you can probably see) and I have been out side getting down on my knees and taking some creepy crawly photos! See above and below a banded snail taking a ride on a Garden snail!

I love snails, lots of people think they are horrid and slimy but I think they are amazing and just a little bit cute! hehe, mind I wouldn't kiss them... ewww! lol

I love this photograph, I was very pleased when I first saw it!

Tickle his tummy!

The flying snail!!!!!! lol!

~ * ~

There was a lot of commotion in the ant colony, mind I'm not quite sure why... they were not swarming. Who knows what was going around their little heads! They were very hard to photograph because they are so small and they move around a lot!

~ * ~

A blue bottle, for once it is not in my dinner!

~ * ~

I love the black and white colours on this spider and I tried to show them in the photo. I don't know what it is called... anyone else know?

~ * ~

I took some cool photos of some Wolf spiders (Pardosa lugubris) ... gives you shudders down your spine seeing them up so close! Good thing they're only little.

~ * ~

These baby Garden spiders are TINY! I love the yellow and black patterns on their backs!

If you want to see some more of my creepy crawly photography that I have put on my other blog (The joy of living) then click here - http://freedomlearning.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-wildlife-photography.html - and it will send you right to them!