Thursday, May 31, 2007

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...

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

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....

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

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!

Monday, May 28, 2007

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!!

Sunday, May 27, 2007

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...

Saturday, May 26, 2007

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.

Friday, May 25, 2007

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!

Thursday, May 24, 2007

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!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

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!

Monday, May 21, 2007

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

Sunday, May 20, 2007

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!

Saturday, May 19, 2007

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.

Friday, May 18, 2007

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 ..??

Thursday, May 17, 2007

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!

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

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!!!

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

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!

Sunday, May 13, 2007

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/

Saturday, May 12, 2007

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!

Friday, May 11, 2007

Jump for joy!


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

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

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!

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

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?

Monday, May 07, 2007

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...

Sunday, May 06, 2007

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'

Saturday, May 05, 2007

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.

Friday, May 04, 2007

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...

Thursday, May 03, 2007

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.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

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!

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

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.