a matter of life and death

bananas!

2011-09-12T10:22:00.001-07:00

bananas!, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Harrison likes bananas. Weird puppy.

fence Friday: an homage to Claude Monet

2011-09-12T10:21:00.003-07:00

fence Friday: an homage to Claude Monet, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

caged

2011-09-12T10:21:00.001-07:00

caged, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hbw :)

No! It's not child cruelty! It's my daft lad pretending to be a puppy. He's gone into the pup's crate for a pretend snooze. I wish he would snooze for real, this is a child who never sleeps if he can help it!

carrot cake cupcakes with lemony cream cheese frosting

2011-09-12T10:20:00.001-07:00

carrot cake cupcakes with lemony cream cheese frosting, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

I finally got around to making carrotcake cupcakes for myself. I was waiting for a week to feel well enough to do them, so when they were finally made, I just dolloped the frosting on with no ceremony whatsoever so I could scoff one. Unfortunately, my puppy reached up and woofed four down while they were cooling, had another one when I was doing the frosting, and finally climbed up to the counter and stretched his very long leg and paw up and had another one which he consumed complete with the green paper case. It might not look like much, but it makes me very content. Here's the recipe taken from Vegan Cupcakes take over the World:

Carrot cake cupcakes
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup soy yogurt (plain or vanilla)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup finely grated carrots
¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
¼ cup raisins (optional)

For decorating:
Cream cheese frosting

1.Preheat oven to 170°C. Line muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.
2.In a medium mixing bowl, mix together sugar, vegetable oil, yogurt, and vanilla. Sift in the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, spices), and mix until smooth, fold in carrots, and walnuts and raisins if using.
3.Spray the cupcake liners with non-stick baking spray. Fill the liners two-thirds full. Bake for 26 to 28 minutes until a toothpick inserted through the centre of one comes out clean.
4.Once fully cooled, top generously with cream cheese frosting.

Vegan cream cheese frosting

¼ cup nonhydrogenated margarine, softened
¼ cup vegan cream cheese, softened
2 cups icing sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1.Cream together margarine and cream cheese until just combined. Sift in icing sugar a bit at a time and beat with the margarine/cheese mixture. When all the icing sugar is combined, whip with a handheld mixer. Mix until smooth and creamy, then mix in the vanilla. For a lemon tang, add fresh lemon juice and freshly grated lemon zest.

bench Monday: the "I can do tae kwon do anywhere" edition

2011-09-05T07:03:00.003-07:00

bench Monday: the "I can do tae kwon do anywhere" edition, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

We went on a walk. With the dawg (he is so not in my good books, he keeps stealing my cupcakes by jumping up high to the work counter, five cupcakes in one go!!!). Anyways....we went on a walk to one of our favourite places, which, incidentally, is a bit of a dog walkers' paradise, and we found our favourite picnic table and had a picnic. Afterwards the boys jumped up on to it (don't you just love the Pavlov-like response; if they see something to stand on, they stand on it), and now thief-puppy is climbing up to, and my boy decided that it was as good a place as any to practice Tae Kwon Do. He loves TKD so much, and trains four times a week. He's begging to up this to five times a week but we've decided to say no, he needs a life, he's only five.

pretty in pink

2011-09-05T07:03:00.001-07:00

pretty in pink, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

The Psychedelic Furs

SOOC

circus puppy

2011-09-05T07:02:00.005-07:00

circus puppy, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

I have to wonder which idiot male taught the puppy to climb up on to the trampoline. Whichever it was, and I suspect collusion between Brunner the Elder and Brunner the Younger, he is daft because this could hurt Harrison. I hope the puppy quits climbing up by himself very soon.

autumn

2011-09-05T07:02:00.003-07:00

autumn, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

now you see me, now you don't

2011-09-05T07:02:00.001-07:00

now you see me, now you don't, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

I think Harrison hasn't quite figured out that we can still see him when he closes his eyes. Cute puppy, but very, very stinky!

Aladdin's Magic Carpet

2011-09-05T07:01:00.003-07:00

Aladdin's Magic Carpet, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hbw :)

I did this shot for Marneta Viegas, the creator of the wonderful RelaxKids/. We really love the CDs, story books, and Star Cards Marneta has created, they help get my boy (and his daddy) to fall asleep nicely.

a murder is announced

2011-09-05T07:01:00.001-07:00

a murder is announced, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

Can you guess whodunnit?

Our local librarian was quite happy for us to do this shot. She pretty much left us to it, unlike the other library users who had a jolly good gander at our antics.

cupcake love

2011-09-05T07:00:00.003-07:00

cupcake love, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

My boy decided he wanted to do some baking today so we made star-shaped cupcakes. I helped him weigh the ingredients, then he mixed the cake batter himself and spooned the mixture into the silicone moulds (aren't they the best!). We baked them, allowed them to cool, then made buttercream icing. We divided it into four batches and coloured them blue, green, pink, and yellow. He then decorated the cakes and just couldn't wait to tuck in!

autumnal

2011-09-05T07:00:00.001-07:00

autumnal, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

roll up, roll up!

2011-08-28T00:41:00.001-07:00

roll up, roll up!, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

My boy had a week at Barracudas' Summer Camp and the last day was circus-themed. I didn't want him to look like a prat all day so we agreed that he would dress up as a ringmaster. I blinged up a red jacket and gave him his magician's top hat (which usually fits because he hides a rabbit inside for magic tricks).

fence Friday: the "blackberry picking" expedition

2011-08-26T23:12:00.001-07:00

fence Friday: the "blackberry picking" expedition, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

We went blackberry picking and had to clamber over this rusty old fence to trespass in a farmer's field (slaped wrist, Cat!) to get to the juiciest berries. The crumble was yumalicious and I still have enough in the fridge for more yummy puds :)

SOOC

I wanna be like you

2011-08-25T05:04:00.001-07:00

I wanna be like you, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Oh, oobee doo

Blooming puppy has discovered toys that so do not belong to him! Caught him eating monkey earlier, and now he's moved on to Mr Tumble.

Nathaniel and Harrison

2011-08-25T05:03:00.001-07:00

Nathaniel and Harrison, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

dog and sprog

.raw

2011-08-24T03:59:00.003-07:00

.raw, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

First, I should tell you why I'm posting a semi-pornographic image of James. It all stems from the RAW debate of last week, where I did a snappy snap but shot it in RAW by mistake. Boy, that opened up a whole can of worms! So, having dicussed our plans for today, James suggested we do this shot of him in the raw.

So there you have it, my husband in the raw, never to be seen this way again on the web! Enjoy (or not).

and they call it puppy love

2011-08-24T03:59:00.001-07:00

and they call it puppy love, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Donny Osmond

The boys look pretty happy with the new pup, all three are besotted with each other.

As an aside, I totally loved Donny Osmond when I was about my boy's age. No accounting for taste :)

fetch!

2011-08-19T23:38:00.001-07:00

fetch!, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

I guess it's official, I am a dog bore with the photos of our new pet, Harrison. Never taken pictures of mutts before so this is a huge learning curve for me.

Chinese lanterns and jasmine fence Friday

2011-08-19T05:29:00.003-07:00

Chinese lanterns and jasmine fence Friday, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

The fence in my back yard, I'm real glad the jasmine is flowering, it's so pretty.

Harrison

2011-08-19T05:29:00.001-07:00

Harrison, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Our new puppy, Harrison. Had just got home home after a very long journey from Wales and on his first visit to the garden he decided to eat a gardening toy. Methinks some doggie training is needed. Apologies for the rubbish shot, the old P&S doesn't really have the speed to keep up with this labradoodle!

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

2011-08-19T05:28:00.003-07:00

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Essential reading when one is facing one's own imminent demise.

ultraviolet

2011-08-19T05:28:00.001-07:00

ultraviolet, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

It's amazing what you can do when you accidentally shoot in RAW!

And even more amazing what a stink it caused, with a couple of folks patronising me for not shooting in RAW all the time, precious buggers!

the gloaming

2011-08-17T02:06:00.001-07:00

the gloaming, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

Been having a bit of a rough day thanks to the meds I'm on. Luckily I don't usually suffer all that much so one off day every few weeks isn't too bad. Dragged James down to one of our favourite spots this evening and requested that he lie down on a jetty to get the sunset. he refused, and probably quite rightly since it was covered in bird poo, so we opted for a picnic table instead.

Harrison

2011-08-14T03:26:00.001-07:00

Harrison, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

This is our new puppy, Harrison. We drove to Wales yesterday to look at him and it was instant love at first puppy dog kiss for my boy. Harrison is a petite F1 Labradoodle and he is so cute. He was very excited yesterday and was near impossible to photograph but I'm sure when he moves in with us next week he will calm down :)

We have struggled with names and thought of loads, but have finally gotten down to two: Dante or Harrison. In the end we have decided to go with Harrison (for Harrison Ford) because he was in our favourite movie, Blade Runner and it works well with our cat's name which is Ridley.

ponds + osiers, witches houses

2011-08-12T04:51:00.001-07:00

ponds + osiers, witches houses, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

We went to a birthday party last week and there were so many cute fences, good witches' houses, pony rides and so on, I was really spoiled for choice with the pictures I made.

Maddie

2011-08-11T05:12:00.003-07:00

Maddie, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

for Penny, my favourite little girl :)

I'm like a bird

2011-08-11T05:12:00.001-07:00

I'm like a bird, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hggt :)

Nelly Furtado

Happy Birthday, Staci Lee

I gotta feeling: that tonight's gonna be a good night, the "third wedding anniversary" edition

2011-08-11T05:11:00.003-07:00

I gotta feeling: that tonight's gonna be a good night, the "third wedding anniversary" edition, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

Black Eyed Peas

James and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary by having a barbie at our house with some really good friends. Lots of my boy's school friends came along so it had a real family atmosphere, with fun and games. I have to say, these guys are ace! When asked to lie down on the floor, down they went, which is perhaps why it looks like a Stockholm syndrome hostage situation. Seriously, they all lay down willingly.

I love my friends beyond words, they are fabulous, and I wish that I'd been able to extend the invitation to people who live further away from us, and of course to my Flickr friends.

Maddison

2011-08-11T05:11:00.001-07:00

Maddison, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

I love photographing Maddie, she is so incredibly photogenic and a delight to work with.

haiku (with hollyhocks and the merest suggestion of a fence)

2011-08-05T18:36:00.001-07:00

haiku (with hollyhocks and the merest suggestion of a fence), originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

a hollyhock shot up to meet the summer solstice ~ Masaoka Shiki

I am feeling very Zen today.

Higham Colts Summer Holiday Football Academy

2011-08-03T05:46:00.001-07:00

Higham Colts Summer Holiday Football Academy, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

We aren't a football family, but my lad's friends play football so who am I to deny him this? So, this week he's been attending a course for kids his age. He was pretty darned rubbish at the start of the week, tentatively kicking the ball, feeling nervous, generally not quite getting it. But today after completing the three day course, he was awarded a special Higham Colts drinks bottle for being the most improved player on the course. We are so proud of him. I think (and hope, because as I say, we aren't a football family), that he will be an avearge player, handy in a kickaround with his mates, but I am so happy that he won something for trying hard and giving his all.

here it goes again

2011-08-02T08:46:00.001-07:00

here it goes again, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

OK Go

I am a very broke mommie. Why, oh why, did I think it would be a good idea to get my boy on to a football (or soccer for my overseas friends) course this Summer, it's costing a small fortune.

We are not a football family, oh dear me, no! James is a rugby man, I am more athletics and swimming. But little guys like to do the same as other little guys, so I dutifully sent him on a vacation training academy course. And he loves it! Cool. But...and here's the rub, all the other kids are really into football and turn up in full strip, skin pads, football boots, the lot, and my boy is feeling left out. So today after the academy we went to a sports shop to purchase one set of shin pads and a pair of socks. Then we discovered the socks were so chunky that his trainers didn't fit, so we had to buy proper boots. Then I felt bad that he didn't have a fancy kit in which to run around, so more money...

My compensation for all thiis money spent? A facedown tribute to OK Go's seminal video. If you haven't seen it, check it out, it's fun. I just wish I had the boys re-enact a few of the moves standing up. Maybe next time...:)

bench Monday: a whoosh of hollyhocks

2011-08-01T11:17:00.001-07:00

bench Monday: a whoosh of hollyhocks, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hbm :)

My mom has been visiting with me this weekend and this afternoon we drove her home. My boy immediately jumped on to this old wall that my dad built roughly 40 years ago when I was the same age as my lad. I used to go up and down on it pretending to be a Russian gymnast on the beam, and I came off a lot. I still have the scars to prove it. My boy stayed still long enough for two or three shots, and then he was off pretending it was the vault. Not sure he was being a Russian gymnast, he was probably vaulting for England.

birthday girl

2011-07-31T04:26:00.003-07:00

birthday girl, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

This little cutie-pie had her 5th birthday party and this is just one of the hundreds of shots I made. For some reason she adores my boy, so much so that she tells everyone they are getting married. My boy has other ideas, although I would be happy for them to pair up when they're older because Miss M is delightful. Howver, my boy says he will wait until they get all the presents, then cancel the wedding, mercenary little monkey! Expect more posts from the party, we had so much fun!

the spider plant and the spider

2011-07-31T04:26:00.001-07:00

the spider plant and the spider, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

This beautiful spider plant was a gift from my good friend Susan. She learned that I had grown a spider plant many years ago but that James had thrown it away when we moved house; naughty James! And lo, upon learning this sad tale, a beautiful spider plant arrived as a gift. I took it into the garden today to photograph it and found Mr A R Achnid sitting there looking pleased with himself. I love spider plants but am not so fond of spiders!

the road to nowhere

2011-07-29T07:21:00.001-07:00

the road to nowhere, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Had a meeting with my oncologist this morning, not good news. The lesions are increasing, we are out of treatment options.

the frog prince

2011-07-28T10:41:00.001-07:00

the frog prince, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

My boy found a teeny weeny frog in the garden today. He put it in his bucket and brought it indoors to show me and his Daddy. He then asked if the frog could live with us. I said no, perhaps the frog would like it better outside in his own house and near his family. I was assured that he was a very clean frog, would be no bother, and could eat any bugs and flies that came into the house. Eventually, we asked the frog what he would like to do and he croaked, and it's quite remarkable how they can speak when they want to, that he would like to be in the garden with his family. We let him go and he hopped off to frolic with the other frogs.

here comes the sun

2011-07-28T10:40:00.001-07:00

here comes the sun, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

The Beatles

There's nothing quite like the sun to bring out the desire for a water fight for my boy :)

arthuractive

2011-07-25T02:32:00.001-07:00

arthuractive, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Snappy snap time, car battery has conked out so had to content myself with the back garden to try and exhaust my boy who has described himself as arthuractive.

head over heels

abracadabra

2011-07-20T02:53:00.003-07:00

abracadabra, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

Steve Miller Band

my beloved monster

2011-07-20T02:53:00.001-07:00

my beloved monster, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Eels

Infants and Juniors at my boy's school had sports day today. This is my beloved monster warming up for the races. Surprisingly, he came third in his running race (reviewing the shots, I think he may have come second but it was awarded to someone else), and he came first in the sack race. I'm a proud mommie because he didn't have a meltdown when he didn't win, and was a gracious winner.

I'm extra proud of him because his sports day poster was chosen by the school council to be the program cover for the Infant School. A few people thought I had done it for him, but if it had been my work, it would have been very different.

war and peas

2011-07-20T02:52:00.001-07:00

war and peas, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

...but not quite the epic that Tolstoy imagined!

How much do we love Toy Story toys in my house. Lots! I think what I want, what I really, really want...is a toy Bullseye, now that horse is fine.

spiral dominos, an homage to Robert Smithson

2011-07-13T05:26:00.001-07:00

spiral dominos, an homage to Robert Smithson, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Explored, 12 July 2011 #169

hfdt :)

aka the domino effect

aka the OMG, I am up a high ladder to get this perspective!!! edition

chain reaction

I have long been an admirer of the creative and provocative work of Robert Smithson. This is my small homage to his amazing earthwork spiral jetty, although it goes nowhere near his genius or creativity.

I use the dominos to help my son learn addition and subtraction, a fun way to make basic maths a bit more fun.

sports day

2011-07-11T09:33:00.005-07:00

sports day, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Infants and Juniors at my son's school are having sports day this coming Thursday. My boy and his friend are both rotten bad losers and serious bad sports, so my friend Penny and I decided to try to be good mommies and have a sports day practice at the weekend. For me, it backfired big time. My boy had a major meltdown because he didn't win a race, and things went from bad to worse, with him forgetting all the things I'd been practising with him about how to be magnanimous in victory, gracious in defeat. He stomped off far away from us, refused to join in, and had a huge paddy. When we finally persuaded him to do a running race (he is very fast, he won but refused to accept his medal. Boy, did he sprint away from his friend at that point. It all ended in tears when his friend marched over and told him he was a bad loser. Technically correct, but my lad chucked a complete mental of stratospheric proportions all the way home. Unfortunately, his chum reminded him in the queue at school this morning that he's a bad loser.

The picture on the right is my boy's entry for the school council's design a poster for sports day. The writing is all his own and he copied some of the photos I shot for the sack and running races.

I scream, you scream, everyone loves ice cream.

2011-07-11T09:33:00.003-07:00

I scream, you scream, everyone loves ice cream., originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Stag night Ken-wannabee

2011-07-11T09:33:00.001-07:00

Stag night Ken-wannabee, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

James is off out to drunk to excess and eat hot curry with one of our friends who is getting married soon. The reference to Barbie's boyfriend, Ken, is a mickey take because we call our son's teacher Ken, he is such a Ken doll with all his little co-ordinated outfits. I told James to look as vacant and crazy as possible, I think he did a good job :)

I am a pirate

2011-07-09T02:18:00.003-07:00

I am a pirate, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

about a boy

My son is growing up! He and his classmates all dressed up as pirates for school because it was transfer day. So all the kids from Reception moved up to Year One, and boy, they all looked so proud. In assembly when the head teacher welcomed them as Year One, they all sat up straight and tall, bursting with pride and excitement at not being the youngest in the school any more. They're all great kids and have achieved so much over the past academic year, all down to their mommies and daddies investing time in them.

daisies, with a hint of fence

2011-07-09T02:18:00.001-07:00

daisies, with a hint of fence, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Explored, 8 July 2011, #128

hff :)

Eels

Take heart my little friend
And push back your seat
Soon we'll be far away
Far from the street
Where you learned how to be
Not what you are

My boy and his Nana

2011-07-06T00:02:00.001-07:00

My boy and his Nana, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

A bit of bribery had to take place to persuade my boy to pose with his equally-reluctant Nana for this photo. Got there in the end.

fence Friday: the 'over the fence' edition

2011-07-06T00:01:00.003-07:00

fence Friday: the 'over the fence' edition, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

My boy, having a chat over the garden fence with one of his favourite friends. He was inviting his buddy over for a water fight in the garden. A water fight in my boy's mind is getting the garden hose out and soaking everyone.

interdit

2011-07-06T00:01:00.001-07:00

interdit, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

facedown mosaic

2011-07-05T23:55:00.001-07:00

facedown mosaic, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

a sselection of facedowns from Disneyland Paris

hanging around

2011-07-05T23:54:00.001-07:00

hanging around, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Explored, 28 June 2011 #474
(I have to say I am truly surprised that this shot Explored, it's not a great shot, it's not clever, it's just my kid hanging around for a facedown Tuesday. Wonders will never cease. Thanks for getting it to Explore, guys.)

hfdt :)

No one will come out to play today because it is raining and they are dull and boring. So, here's one from the archives, saved up for just such an occasion.

Hanging Around (this is a live version from 1977, boy do I feel old!

bench Monday: the unbearable lightness of being

2011-07-05T23:53:00.005-07:00

bench Monday: the unbearable lightness of being, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hbm :)

Eels

Sometimes I feel that my life is just floating away from me, that things move faster than I want and that my feet are swept out from under me.

fun in the sun

2011-07-05T23:53:00.003-07:00

fun in the sun, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

It's been stonkingly hot today :) My boy is obsessed with water fights and has been nagging for one all day, so a while ago we put the sprinkler on in the garden and he and I ran around getting soaked. Of course, he had his bathers on and I had denim cut-offs and a t-shirt, so I came off badly. Can't really think of a better way to play.

fence Friday: the "feeling fairly fab" edition

2011-07-05T23:53:00.001-07:00

fence Friday: the "feeling fairly fab" edition, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff :)

So, I was at hospital for my routine check-up (I go to see my oncologist every six weeks, my clinical pharmacist every three weeks, bloods, every couple of weeks, yuk), and for the first time ever, my oncologist saw me as a person, not a disease to be treated. It was really nice! I think showing him photographs from the recent French vacation did the trick, the vacation which he tried to stop me from having. On top of that, for the first time in nearly a year, he didn't tell me that the end for me was near, nor did he say it would be swift and painful. He was pleased with my recent blood results, and didn't moan about the tumours growing for a change. So, all-in-all, a positive result!!! I am going to have a mini-celebration by going out to dinner with James and my good friend Dee

acer and husband

2011-07-05T23:52:00.001-07:00

acer and husband, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

James is making himself useful and sorting out the tip that our front garden has become :)

John Wayne is big leggy

2011-06-21T09:31:00.001-07:00

John Wayne is big leggy, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

Haysi Fantayzee

I have been feeling the end-of-a-chemo-cycle grottiness and wasn't going to bother doing a facedown shot today. So many thanks to my good friend Tanya for giving me the inspiration to get off my lazy ass to do a quick shot. The others have been snapped as aide-memoires over the weekend.

reflection

2011-06-20T09:49:00.005-07:00

reflection, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them ~ Thomas Merton (American and Trappist Monk, Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Trappist, Kentucky)

We went on a steam train yesterday to celebrate Father's Day. It was a very slow train indeed, and there were lots of anoraks on it talking about trains. My boy admitted at the top of his voice that he is a trainspotter!!! I'm sure he'll regret it in the future ;-)

hidden

2011-06-20T09:49:00.003-07:00

hidden, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

remembering: for Karen

2011-06-20T09:49:00.001-07:00

remembering: for Karen, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Explored, 17 June 2011, #183

hff

if you take one thing away from looking at this image, it should be to check your boobies

I found out in the early hours of this morning that one of my friends had died. She had secondary breast cancer. She was doing pretty well up until mid-May, then she went quiet and was admitted to a hospice. I feel bad because I was going through my own cancer traumas at the time and wasn't the friend I should have been. She died on 30 May. I am a rubbish friend because I hadn't made the effort to make contact. She was an Internet friend that I met on a forum for men and women with breast cancer and she was always such a delight, a bubbly, caring lady. She was 45.

geek boy

2011-06-20T09:48:00.005-07:00

geek boy, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hggt :)

My boy wearing dress-up specs :)

j&n

2011-06-20T09:48:00.003-07:00

j&n, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

c&n

2011-06-20T09:48:00.001-07:00

c&n, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

you spin me right round, baby

2011-06-20T09:47:00.003-07:00

you spin me right round, baby, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

black swan

2011-06-20T09:47:00.001-07:00

black swan, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

black swan

2011-06-20T09:46:00.001-07:00

black swan, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

weathered

2011-06-20T09:45:00.005-07:00

weathered, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Nothing is more beautiful than the love that has weathered the storms of life. The love of the young for the young, that is the beginning of life. But the love of the old for the old, that is the beginning of things longer. ~ Jerome K. Jerome

Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers

2011-06-20T09:45:00.003-07:00

Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Robert Green Ingersoll

impression: late afternoon

2011-06-20T09:45:00.001-07:00

impression: late afternoon, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Explored, 10 June 2011 #213

hff :)

The vacation has finally caught up with me and I have spent most of today asleep, so this is one I shot last Friday.

the meaning of life

2011-06-20T09:44:00.007-07:00

the meaning of life, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hggt :)

My boy, contemplating the meaning of life, at Giverny.

remembrance

2011-06-20T09:44:00.005-07:00

remembrance, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Flowers at one of the many hundreds of Commonwealth War Cemeteries situated on the Somme.

there's a little McDonald's in everyone

2011-06-20T09:44:00.003-07:00

there's a little McDonald's in everyone, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

We nipped into MaccyD's on the way home from my hospital appointment this morning, James has been missing his fast food fix, and it was kinda empty so we just had to do a facedown shot. The staff were all hiding around the corner, pissing themselves laughing.

evolution orange

2011-06-20T09:44:00.001-07:00

evolution orange, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Giverny

2011-06-20T09:43:00.007-07:00

Giverny, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Saint Etienne sous Bailleul

2011-06-20T09:43:00.005-07:00

Saint Etienne sous Bailleul, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hff from sunny France :)

Last day of our vacation in France. Today we have visited the beautiful Giverny, then driven to a rural gite in the village of Saint Etienne sous Bailleul. It's baking hot, but the village is tranquil, the perfect place to unwind after our busy week.

modern art installation at the Louvre

2011-06-20T09:43:00.003-07:00

modern art installation at the Louvre, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Blimey, feels like a heatwave in Paris. We have walked our feet off, are sunburned, tired, fractious, but we did get a fun shot, I think.

James should really learn to speak less loudly. Today on The Metro we saw a poor kid with a bad 80s rats' tail haircut and James yelled out "Mullet!" really loudly. Shame they were an English family! Ha ha ha!!

beanstalk

2011-06-20T09:43:00.001-07:00

beanstalk, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

should have kept the cow

2011-06-20T09:42:00.005-07:00

should have kept the cow, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

cos those beans are bloody useless!

how excited am I!

2011-06-20T09:42:00.003-07:00

how excited am I!, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

My boy, fit to bust with excitement, waiting to watch the Disney Dreamland Parade. We are having such a fun time here at Disney;and Paris, I'm glad that I pushed against the advice of my oncologist and came on vacation with my family. The only thing wrong with me here is my oh-so-sore and tired feet!!!

this way or that?

2011-06-20T09:42:00.001-07:00

this way or that?, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

this way or that, the Disneyland way

2011-06-20T09:41:00.005-07:00

this way or that, the Disneyland way, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

We are having way too much fun at Disneyland Paris, especially getting James to lie facedown in random places. Some of the comments have included: "is he dead?", "wtf is he doing", and "why is that man lying on the floor?" Might post a few more later :)

facedown on the rocks

2011-06-20T09:41:00.003-07:00

facedown on the rocks, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

facedown: adventureland

2011-06-20T09:41:00.001-07:00

facedown: adventureland, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

We just can't help ourselves!!!!! We had a few funny looks and one knowing smile :) We are having a lot of fun. I like that James and our son both have the Pavlovian response to anything that presents itself that you can lie on.

bench Monday: King Arthur

2011-06-20T09:40:00.005-07:00

bench Monday: King Arthur, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hbm :)

Here's my boy, confused beyond words about why he just can't get that sword out of the stone. We are at Disneyland Paris and my boy is having the time of his life. He was so surprised when he found out our destination and hasn't stopped being excited all day/ He's finally gone to sleep at 10:30pm!!!

their name liveth forever more

2011-06-20T09:40:00.003-07:00

their name liveth forever more, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

We have spent the day exploring the Commonweath War Graves on the Somme. James' great-uncle lost his life to a large artillery shell in 1916, and although his body was never found, he is commemorated at Theipval. We made our pilgrimage today and I thought these poppies were appropriate as a tribute to great-uncle Henry and to all those who have lost their lives in senseless wars.

The Burghers of Calais (plus one)

2011-06-20T09:40:00.001-07:00

The Burghers of Calais (plus one), originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Le Shuttle

2011-06-20T09:39:00.001-07:00

Le Shuttle, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

field fence Friday

2011-06-20T09:38:00.005-07:00

field fence Friday, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

dodgy old family snap

2011-06-20T09:38:00.003-07:00

dodgy old family snap, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

My cousin mailed this shot to my mom, who sent it on to me. We are clearly the family from the land which fashion forgot. Can you spot me?

I love the smell of rubber in the morning

2011-06-20T09:38:00.001-07:00

I love the smell of rubber in the morning, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

So, we got two punctures last week thanks to some crazy who threw nails on to the road. Today we went to pick up four brand new tyres. The photo op was just too good to miss.

Euclidian space

2011-06-20T09:37:00.001-07:00

Euclidian space, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

hfdt :)

here comes the sun

James and I felt in need of some space and tranquility today so we went to visit the 13th century church of St Michael and All Angels at Wadenhoe. There is a beautiful sundial there, erected in 2000, and we felt it was a good idea to take time out of our stressful everyday lives and reflect on the beauty of nature.

Or we just figured the sundial would be a great place for a facedown shot :)

love you

2011-05-22T09:28:00.003-07:00

love you, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

My boy built me a love you out of Lego. He's a sweet kid.

rapture

2011-05-22T09:28:00.001-07:00

rapture, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

aka "It's the end of the world as we know it"

Damn, we didn't get the super-fast ticket to Heaven at 6pm. Here are two snappy snaps of the boys off out at 6pm for a bike ride to make up for not being the chosen ones for Rapture.

awards assembly

2011-05-22T09:27:00.005-07:00

awards assembly, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

My boy and his best buddy both got awards at school assembly. My boy was awarded his yellow belt and certificate for tae kwon do, and his buddy got a WOW award for doing excellent writing about a school trip they went on. Well deserved, both boys.

yellow

2011-05-22T09:27:00.003-07:00

yellow, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

I grabbed five shots on the side of the road this arvo...we were on our way to a lovely place to make pictures, but got a puncture. So thanks to whatever kind person it was who put nails in our front and back tyres, cheers for that.

facedown: return to sender

2011-05-22T09:27:00.001-07:00

facedown: return to sender, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Continuing with the Royal Mail theme, this one was a real struggle to do. I got James all packaged up in the bubble wrap but then he couldn't move! And then, after hauling him around to get him nicely positioned, we almost got caught by a couple of posties who looked rather less than impressed with us. We ran before we got a telling off :)

Mildred

2011-05-22T09:26:00.003-07:00

Mildred, originally uploaded by Cat Johnson.

Mildred going in to her nest to feed her babies