Devoted

Lewis has always been very demonstrative of his affection towards Miranda, but it's one of those things that very difficult to photograph. He gives her big cuddles several times a day, but it's there and then it's over. I have photographed it before but it just doesn't look like a good image, you can see what's going on but it's just a snap.

Fortunately here I had my camera to hand just as they unlocked, and I managed top grab their attention...

Radio 4 News

There was an article on the news this morning about the environmental impact of farming and the advantages of vegan and vegetarian diets. The man from the NFU was questioning the wisdom, and suggested there was no edivence to support the view we have as balanced and nutritionally varied diet.

Well today, the kids being on half term Greg helped make lunch (lentil and carrot soup with savoury scones) and Lewis' contribution followed (cinnamon and chocolate swirls)

Make your own mind up....

Dr Seuss!

Not only can he do puzzles with Miranda, keeping both skillfully on his lap - but he can take photos of it all unfolding. The limitless talents of Mr Brown, oh the wonderful things he can do...

.....One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish!

The Art Competition

This is Greg drawing a picture of me for the for Father's Day competition in the Daily Echo! Not sure what he was looking at but it wasn't me - I was only the inspiration for the picture it seems! Still it's a lovely coloured pencil illustration of him and me playing football - keep your eyes peeled closer to the day to see if he wins!!

Come On Dad, it's football time!

Miranda's ball control skills may not quite be up to Greg's level yet, but she certainly knows how to give the ball a good workout. Here she is reminding me of my duties, before disappearing off to find another likely suspect...

Scholarly

Lewis is reading all about trucks and diggers - it's just possible that he may discover something new, although I doubt it! Greg, Miranda and I were playing Rollerball on the pergola and Lewis was busy in his own world.

Leaping at Lepe

My back is giving me gyp at the moment, so whilst I was laying on the spider's web at Lepe I managed to capture Greg scampering across the playground. Just goes to show lazy and creative can both go in the same sentence!

Digging for nuggets

As I've been down in Cardiff for the past two days I am loading a picture from the recent archive - Greg in safety glasses or diving goggles, not sure which!

My Champion!

Today there was a Fun Run at Waterside Primary School to raise money for the children. We were particularly proud of Gregory who came first in his race, and now has a superb medal to prove it!

Jabberwocky

Like most small kids the thrill of communication comes before the ability to talk, and here Mrs Mippy is caught playing walky talkies with Greg. She also uses it as a telephone device for imaginary conversations with her friends...Publish Post

Barbeque Sunday!

After a near back breaking weekend getting the ground ready for our new shed, and Sunday spent erecting it, this is the close of play barbeque in the sunshine. It's been a gorgeous day otherwise, toasty warm with some real evidence of work having been done!

Reflective

Although we like to give the impression that it's all easy, the reality is it's like pushing a big stone uphill all too often - so here's a moment of light after a weary session.

Sore Tummy...

Caroline doesn't get around to emtying the bins very often in our house, but she had a bit of a surprise today when she lifted the lid... There was a mouse inside who had become very hungry, and unable to get back out again. Not sure if we have biodegradable bin bags here ..??

Mippy and her lunchbox

For some time now Miranda has had a thing about Gregory's lunchbox, she has to carry it out to the garage, and on to school for him.... Well now she has her own, and she like to take it everywhere she goes - you should see her getting on and off the jetski with it!

Not really!

Just in case you think we've been dipping our toes in th water midweek, you'd be wrong - I've been in London until late so this one's just a nice thought!!!

Rise to the Challenge...

Looking much like something from a Georg Baselitz painting, the boys are actually heckling Miranda who's on the swing behind me. This is just a snapshot from the topsy turvy world of the Brown's!

The bigger picture...

This one's part of a "joiner" which I created at Calshot earlier today. There were 39 frames altogether which I bonded together. It was very windy but the light was good! See the full picture here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonbrown/496516385/

Big Shot

We took Domino out for a walk today to see if he could hack it without Jennifer - he was very slow but he made the circuit. He really gave Eyeore a meaningful character, with his doleful and lazy plodding! Half way round we met a small boy who wanted to say hello and Domino started bellowing very loudly - something I've never known him do before with company.

We also rode bikes, and played football which came to a rather painful end when Greg tripped over the ball and fell head first into a big hole with a concrete base in Barry and Helen's garden. One of those Laurel and Hardy moments that has left him with pretty major grazes over his head and face - not a pretty sight!

Jump for joy!

End of another week, so better get ready for some fun... Greg is looking very bouncy here, just for a change!

Hello Sunshine!

I'm posting this to cheer me up, and remind me that only a few days ago the sun was shining bright! It's very been dull and I did not even lift my camera today, so this one left on my desktop but unused presented itself at the right moment - she was sitting on my chest as I lay on the grass when I took this.... Poor little Mipp has another tooth coming through today and she's been a bit unhappy, although she can go from howling with tears to jumping for joy in no time at all - and vice versa!

Oh nearly forgot, ...today it was chocolate brownies - they were delicious Lewis!

The Master Baker

We've had a variety of fantastic cakes this week, all made by Lewis. I'm not sure which was the best but they all disappered within a day of being made which I guess says it all! The Danish apple cake, the flapjacks with raisins, the lemon cheescake all baked to perfection - what will we be having next I wonder?

So long Jenny...

We had some really sad news last night, and today we are mourning the loss of Jennifer, our friend the donkey. Since we moved to Frost Lane we have made particular friends of the animals at "Barry and Janis' " and both Lewis and Greg have had a ride on her back so many times now. Sadly Miranda won't know what she missed in Jennifer, our loyal friend. We shall miss you Jenny...

Silent Night

That's what we're hoping for tonight, having toiled in the garden again today and now in need of a good night's sleep. The weather forecast was promising rain this weekend but it's been very dry again - and having been digging in the garden I can testify that the ground is 'driazabone'

Raggamuffins

A good name for a nightclub, but an even better one to describe this ragged lot seen here soaking up the sun at the playground. Greg and I have been canoeing today, and he was very taken with the experience - conditions were perfect, and we watched the windsurfers and dinghy sailors from Pirate Island.

Wind down for the weekend

Friday night, so it's Lepe - a nice contrast to Croydon where I've been all day. Greg looked the part tonight in his football strip which he's recently acquired from the Burke Bros. I love Greg's shadow in this picture...

Iron Man

As a consequence of the local elections, the kids have been off school today - and the unusually seasonal weather turned our attention to barbeques! This is our champion firestarter Lewis strategically positioning the coals... I also took a fine portrait of Lewis with the apple cake that he made today, all on his own. We ate it for supper, and it was delicious.

Is this really May?

We went for a stroll at lunchtime down Shore Road to watch the boats. The sun was beating down and the wind was fairly blustery. Miranda loves this sort of thing - a little walk, throw some stones in the sea, feed the chickens, and then back for an afternoon snooze.... I often think about joining her!

The Garden Contractors

This one from the weekend was too good to leave behind - Lewis has just helped fell a rather gangly ornamental fir tree, and Greg is joining the action with his circular saw!

Lewis and I had a bike ride out onto the forest tonight as the light was fantastic - so we stopped at Ferny Crofts to take in the quiet by the pond.