Getting the right camera angle

So....
A long time ago I was invited to spend a morning at the Durban Botanic Gardens. The guy who suggested we go said he usually took his camera along so of course I said that he should do what he usually does.
When he unpacked (yes, unpacked) his camera I realised that this was a serious hobby. I had been expecting an SLR camera but not the large selection of lenses.
One of the things that impressed me was his attention to detail while taking photographs. I now have pics of him from various trips on his knees and elbows getting just the right angle.
A few weeks ago we went away together, and here, side-by-side, are two photos that we took, both with our phone cameras.

I love that his seriousness and attention to detail has resulted in effortless brilliance.

Life is full of surprises

This one is somewhat sentimental. Last year I had a tonsillectomy and because my sister was given a kaleidoscope when she had her tonsils out (she was four), my mother went to quite some trouble to find me a kaleidoscope as well.

Kaleidoscope making kit

It really is quite fascinating how simple the design is. It's very easy to make, just three reflective plates arranged inside the tube and when you look through the eyepiece, whatever you're looking at is reflected again and again and again.

View through the kaleidoscope

More from Dear Rae Jewellery. Lucky me!

Some time ago (it was October 2010) I ordered a ring from Dear Rae and received a beautiful, charming silver and brass ring and the friendliest service imaginable. I was really smitten. So when I started following Dear Rae on Facebook and saw that they were making gold heart earrings, I just couldn't believe the coincidence. I had been looking for gold heart earrings for months and these fitted the bill perfectly. I wasted no time in placing an order and again I received the friendliest service and the fastest delivery ever. And, as it happens, they were having a promotion, so I also received a linen shopping bag with my earrings. The earrings had their own box and came with care instructions and even a cleaning cloth.

Dear Rae Jewellery

Lush, now in Durban!

Last month I was thrilled to see this at Gateway Theatre of Shopping

And yesterday, I followed my nose (the store smells amazing due to all the different essential oils in their product range) and bought a huge chunk of yummy honey soap.

What I love about the Lush brand is that the products are handmade, against animal testing and, directly from their website: "effective products from fresh*, organic* fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics"

Update

I've just found the asterisk after "fresh" and "organic" above is for: "We also believe words like "fresh" and "organic" have an honest meaning beyond marketing"

Tea and happiness

Following a trip to the UK where I became converted to drinking tea (preferably loose-leaf tea which tastes the greatest), my best friend bought me a special tea pot for my birthday. It has a built-in tea strainer so I can use my loose-leaf tea and it makes at least three mugs of tea. Perfect!

Teatime is anytime.

because

DIY on the weekends

Lately, we have been DIY-ing quite a bit. I have to confess that Builders Warehouse is my new Waltons.

My better half made lampshades out of old cups and saucers. I really love that this was an "up-cycle" of old, crazed teacups that we weren't using. I provided moral support and inaccurate advice.

Grumpy Cat is adorable

Just say "awww"