Nine

Happy birthday to my chic little cutie.

A little bit of horsey magic

My big girl recently had a birthday and as she gets older it is proving to be tricky to find that “perfect” gift.  Her interests are narrowing as is the gift choice.  Horses are IT at the moment and there seems to be a complete gap in the market for young horse lovers.  Who knew it would be so hard to find horse movies, clothing, stationery, posters, craft, furnishings, ornaments, etc.

So I decided to get crafty and make some things. She has done a bit of riding and I have taken a few photos, but no great daughter and horse portraits.  So I chose the best of the most recent snaps and harnessed the power of Photoshop to transform an average snap into something frame-able and gift-able.

A few people who saw the final product (right)asked to see the before shot, so here it is.

She was thrilled with the framed enlargement which now hangs proudly in her bedroom.  She is already wearing her favourite colour, so thank goodness I didn’t have to change that.   Whew!!!

All content is the copyright of Louise Fletcher Photography.

52 Portraits Project – 4/52

Week four of my 52 Portraits Project.  If you have missed the earlier weeks start at week 1 here, which includes more information about the project.

 

4/52. Seven.  My big girl is 7, let’s all jump for joy. Somehow 7 seems like a real shift, an unexpected milestone, a new level of maturity, development, sensitivity and expression. Happy Birthday beautiful girl xx

All content is the copyright of Louise Fletcher Photography.

Ugh, my Dad is fitter than I am!

This is something I’ve suspected for awhile, but only really admitted to myself recently and seriously, it’s a little tragic!  And no, he was not a teenage father!  Today is his birthday – Happy Birthday Dad – and although it is not a significant one, he recently passed a milestone.  He is currently trying to convince me that counting backwards is the new hip thing.

He is a fit and dedicated man.  His weekly fitness regime includes 3 visits to the gym, walks, cycles and golf (lots of it).  I mean LOTS of golf, and both national and international competitions to keep the handicap very low – 3 or is it 2 now?  And he eats well, although he does have a sweet tooth.  Wish he’d passed on the exercise, rather than the sweet tooth gene to me.  Thanks Dad!

The only reason I am happy that he lives thousands of miles away in the English countryside, is that I don’t have to openly demonstrate the fitness void between us.  And really, I’m not unfit – I do Pilates once a week, walk 4 times a week and… hmmm… eat reasonably well.  But I am blessed with being tall – thanks Dad (I mean it this time) so overindulgence is more easily distributed and hidden.  But apparently from the age of 40, we women put on a kilogram a year.  So I really do need to up the exercise regime.

I really am grateful that he takes his health seriously, because it has not been without its setbacks.  He is already young at heart and his wonderful partner of nearly 20 years, Susan, inspires him to keep young in body too.  And that is fabulous for me, my brother and sister, and for his 4 gorgeous grandchildren.

With my girls

With his four gorgeous Grandkids

With my eldest daughter

Happy Birthday Dad, I love you.

 

All content is the copyright of Louise Fletcher Photography.