I don't enjoy drinking beer (don't judge me!), but I do love cooking with it.  I've used it in stews, mustards, cooking seafood, but this Beer Bread is the best!  I got it from a food magazine years ago.


This Beer Bread is one of my favourite things because....

• Tastes like beer.  I know I'm a hypocrite.  I like the beer flavour in food.
• It's easy peasey to make.
• It toasts great.
• It keeps well.
• It has a nice eating texture (a bit like crumpets).
• If I wasn't photographing on weekends and could go to bbq's and dinners, this would be a definite take along.

Here is the recipe:

Beer Bread
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons salt
1 can beer (not low alcohol)
some grated cheese


Preheat oven to 200 degrees celcius
Mix flour, baking powder, salt and beer in a large bowl.  Will be a batter like consistency. 
Tip into a well greased loaf tin (mine is 21x12cm in size).  
Sprinkle with grated cheese.
Bake for about 50 minutes until golden.


Yummo!


Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz

We are very excited to announce $50 photo sitting and Cd packages for the month of May.  This deal won't be offered again, so the limited spaces won't last long.  Start booking in now!
The package will include up to 30 minutes photo sitting with photographers, Jo or Synta, a Cd of at least 10 high resolution images .... but there is a twist!

CONDITIONS
Limited to 2 per day (first in, first booked)
Each day in May will have it's own family photo sitting theme which must be used.
The photo sittings can be done either in our studio or a location shoot in Rotorua.
The photo sitting themes and dates cannot be changed, so if you have booked and can't make it please let us know so others may claim the deal.
$50 to be paid at the time of photo sitting.  Cd's will be posted out to you.
You choose the time of day, after hours can also be done.
Book online (form below), or email: calicojoni@gmail.com




Here are the themes:

MAY 1ST WEDNESDAY: In Daddy's / Mummy's Shoes
For the Kiddies.  Bring Daddy's and Mummy's work uniforms / clothes or just any adult clothing for your kiddies to wear.  

MAY 2ND THURSDAY: Bubbles Sorry this theme in now all booked out.
We have a supply, but you can also bring your own. 

MAY 3RD FRIDAY: Nursery Rhymes Only one space left for this theme!
Basing a photo shoot on a nursery rhyme of your choice.  Please contact us to see if we can help with props and ideas.

MAY 4TH SATURDAY: Pets Sorry this theme is now all booked out
Photo sitting with the family pets.

MAY 5TH SUNDAY: Family on the Couch Sorry this theme is now all booked out
These photos sittings are really fun and the bigger the family, the more fun it is.  Everybody has to fit onto one 3 seater couch, all in different positions, each holding/wearing/using something that represents them.  Singles can also be done at the photo sitting.

MAY 6TH MONDAY:  Wallpaper Paste
Yep we'll provide you a bucket of wallpaper paste and we have lots of things you can stick on each other, or you may have your own things or a spare roll of wallpaper you want to wrap around yourselves.

MAY 7TH TUESDAY: Flower Power
Brings petals, artificial flowers, wear them in your hair, daisy chains, wild flowers.  Plenty of scope here.

MAY 8TH WEDNESDAY: Dots
Everybody has to wear something dotty.

MAY 9TH THURSDAY: A few of my favourite things
A photo sitting based on individuals and their interests, can also be done as a family group.

MAY 10TH FRIDAY: Vintage Only one space left for this theme!
Dress up!!  Would really suit a location shoot.  Old suitcases, railway tracks, old cars, by the museum.  We will be doing some vintage tinting and black and whites to your photos.

MAY 11TH SATURDAY: 1970'S
We have the record player, what can you bring?  A fun fancy dress photo shoot. Only one space left for this theme!

MAY 12TH SUNDAY: 1980'S
Fluros, nets, teased hair, cassette tapes, walkmans.  Get dressed up and bring it on!

MAY 13TH MONDAY: Fairy Lights
We can provide the fairy lights for this one.  Would be a cutesy couple photo shoot or with the kiddies.
SORRY THIS THEME IS ALL NOW BOOKED OUT

MAY 14TH TUESDAY: Teddy Bears Picnic One spot left for this theme
For the kiddies and their favourite toys.

MAY 15TH WEDNESDAY: Stripes
Everyone wearing stripes.

MAY 16TH THURSDAY: ACTING OUT YOUR THEME SONG
You know you have one!  Can be for singles, duos, friends or family groups.

MAY 17TH FRIDAY: Grease Lightning!!
Dress up like the movie.  Hair gel, rock in roll.  If you have a vintage car, Bonus!!

MAY 18TH SATURDAY: Generations  SORRY THIS THEME IS NOW BOOKED OUT
Get the whole extended family together.  If that's not possible, bring along their photos.

MAY 19TH SUNDAY: Living the Dream
If you could be whatever you wanted, what would it be.  Dress up time!!

MAY 20TH MONDAY: Pillow Fight!! Only one space left for this theme!
We have a mattress you can jump around on, and pillows, and we can throw some feathers in there.  Or we can come and trash your bedroom!

MAY 21ST TUESDAY: Cardboard Boxes
Kiddies and cardboard boxes are so cute.  We can supply them.

MAY 22ND WEDNESDAY: Confetti
Rose petals, steamers, what ever you want to bring to the party! 

MAY 23RD THURSDAY: Let's Dance
For all you hip hoppers, ballerinas, rock n rollers.  Let's capture you and your dance moves.

MAY 24TH FRIDAY: Paint
Facepaint, bucket of paint, easels and berets, lots of scope here.

MAY 25TH SATURDAY: Wuv SORRY THIS THEME IS BOOKED OUT
For couples old and new.

MAY 26TH SUNDAY: My Wheels SORRY THIS THEME IS BOOKED OUT
Cars, skateboards, bikes, a photo sitting with your wheels.

MAY 27TH MONDAY: Framed SORRY THIS THEME IS BOOKED OUT
We have a variety of wooden frames that can be used to capture your family in some fun portraits.

MAY 28TH TUESDAY: Bubblegum
Everybody's blowing bubbles!

MAY 29TH WEDNESDAY: Balloons SORRY THIS THEME IS BOOKED OUT
Bring some balloons, we can help blow them up.  We will have some available too at the studio. 

MAY 30TH THURSDAY: Photo Booth, Funny Faces
We have plenty of dress up goofy costumes for a fun family photo sitting.

MAY 31ST FRIDAY: Music Jam
A photo shoot for the musical families.

So those are the themes.  We can start taking bookings now.  I'll let you know if a theme day is booked out. I'm going to see if a costume hire place will come on board to give some discounts if you want to hire a costume.

Our usual family photo sittings are also available during May at our normal prices.

Bookings will also be taken at this years Women's Lifestyle Expo in March.

Here a online form to book, or phone 0274506593, email: calicojoni@gmail.com

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Location

 

The Marriage Ceremony and Reception were at Charlemagne Lodge in Tauranga. 
Loved the venue!  Really pretty venue with many photo settings. The host was friendly and helpful, and the food was yummy. 
This is their website: http://www.charlemagne.co.nz/


Here is a link to their MILK photo book of their wedding day.

http://www.milkbooks.com/flip-book/default.aspx?ProjectId=5d2fef15-f443-47b9-83ac-fd0d79159be3&OId=28757&OLId=211447

Finishing Quote:  A thing of beauty is a joy forever.  It's loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness.
- John Keats

Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz
Posted 11th December 2012 by Calico Jo's Photography

My love of mysteries began in my late teens when I spotted a Sherlock Holmes volume when browsing through my Uncles bookcase, and thought I'd give it a go..... or maybe it was earlier with Enid Blytons 'Secret Seven' series...
Anyway, I LOVE reading and watching a good old 'Who Dunnit' because.......

• Agatha Christie
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• In my head when I'm reading them, I have a posh British accent.
• Jeremy Brett acting as Sherlock Holmes.
• David Suchet acting as Poirot.
• An elderly old busy body being a heroin, (Miss Marple).
• The 'Murder Rooms' series of mysteries, very loosly based on the actual friendship/working relationship between Dr Joseph Bell and Arthur Conan Doyle.  Doyle did get his inspiration for Sherlock Holmes from Dr Joseph Bell and his crime observations.  Urban legend has it that: "According to Dr Ely Liebow, Bell correctly identified Jack the Ripper. "Bell and a friend analyzed the Ripper killings and put the name of the killer in an envelope. They gave the envelope to the Edinburgh police, who sent it to London, where the crimes occurred. The contents were never divulged, but there were no more murders..."
  
• Midsomer Murders.
• Villages, train carriages, telegrams, letter writing, horses, butlers and cooks, houses with their own libraries, inheritances and family feuds, poisons, scandalous behaviour, shocking twists.

We did the usual type photo sitting to start and then I had some playtime.  I based photos on the book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.  These photos were highly textured and experimental.  Some work better than others, but I really enjoyed it.  

Here are some of the normal photos and a slideshow of 'The Hungry Caterpillar' photos.

I have some wonderful clients that allow me to play at their photo sittings.  A BIG THANKS to you all!!  XOXX

Calico Jo

Baby Jeriah lives by the beach.  It was a scorcher of a day and we didn't want baby to get sunburnt, so we brought the nautical  theme inside.

Can't wait until I can get photos of him surfin' the waves.

Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz

Popped in to see the National Geographic Photo Exhibition and found out you are allowed to take photos inside the museum.  Had a great time.  

Beautiful building, lovely surroundings, well worth a visit.... and take your camera!
AUCKLAND MUSEUM LINK

Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz

I have just spent a long weekend down in Christchurch and took in the sights of the city and it surrounds.  My brother said he'd be the tour guide.  He didn't want to pay for premium parking at the airport, so my first experience in Christchurch was to walk 10,000 miles to the car parked by the Antartic Centre. 

The Antartic Centre has a 4D experience.
Heres the blurb: 4D is a theatrical term for the fourth dimension.  The 4D EXTREME Theatre features an exciting 3D movie with the special 4D effects added.  These include  falling snow, water spray, wind, lighting, snow, bubbles and unexpected seat movement.
....... kind of wished I'd done it now.......

Tom is fairly new to Christchurch, and both of us are useless with directions and have an extreme talent for getting lost and going down one way streets the wrong way.  But even though there was lots of U turns and searching maps, it did make for an exciting adventure and we did accomplish heaps!

First of course we had to look at the earthquake damage in the city.  You don't have to get right ino the city centre to see it.  It was really sad to see the beautiful old brick character buildings, just crumbled.

I would have loved to explore the Arts Centre, but the buildings have really been damaged.  According to an article on www.stuff.co.nz, it's rebuilding costs are going to be an estimated $100 million.

"All the buildings are red-stickered, except for the 1960s registry building, but Arts Centre director Ken Franklin has vowed to rebuild the most valuable heritage buildings.
"There is no question about backing away from this task," he said.
The Observatory building in the North Quadrant has collapsed, the Clock Tower has a large crack and a tower above the Coffee Corner cafe was destroyed. Stone gables have collapsed, facades are tilting and thick cracks run through many walls."

There was a cool series of photographs to view along the sidewalk, across the road.  They were based on impacts on the world's environment. 

We then went and viewed the Botanic Gardens.  I really liked the un-manicured parts. 

We then visited the Museum.  There was the photo exhibition by Brian Brake called "Lens on the World".  It was a retrospective exhibition of his photos spanning his forty-year career.

My favourite part of the museum visit was visiting Paua Shell House, the replica of Fred and Myrtle Flutey's, Paua clad home.  As well as the walk through exhibit, there was a small movie theatre showing a short film about Fred and Myrtle.  They were such a gorgeous couple!

It was now after 5, so we hit a mall for something to eat...... If you have never had a rice ball at a sushi bar, you must try it!  On the outside it looks like a big boring ball of rice, but on the inside it's full of all sorts of yummies!
Finished the day by watching the new 'Planet of the Apes' movie at Hoyts.  Good Movie.

Friday night, felt 3 small earthquakes.

Saturday was a road trip from Christchurch to Kaikoura.  I wanted to see seals and Maori Leap Cave.

We  started off with a couple of garage sales on the way.  I got me some free skeechers, and Tom got a whole lot of other rubbish to fill the already overflowing back seat, (think filing system, bar, pantry, rubbish bin, closet, all rolled into one car back seat).

I especially burnt some road travelling music on Cds for this road trip, but Tom's car didn't have a Cd player, only a usb plug in.... sigh, had to listen to his songs over and over and over and over and over...

The road trip is stunning.  We stopped for lunch at this lake.  I don't know what it is was called, but it was very pretty.

Tom had made us some sandwiches with  2 day old dinner leftovers for the filling. 
But  with the view and the quiet, I was able to munch away and forget
about what I was actually putting in my mouth..... and into my stomach..........shudder..




Kaikoura Coastline!!
You know when you have a surfie brother, when he can stick his head out the car window while driving along, and smells seals.

I think we woke it up.  We were really close, but it was more curious about the paua diver in the water. With all the beach views, Tom couldn't handle it any longer and had to go for a swim.  Too cold for me so I took photos.

It was at this point in the trip Tom asks me if I have something more classy to wear (I'm just casual as, in khakis, cap.)  We are apparently going to a very nice roof party, with wine and platters, at a place in the mountains (with its very own air strip, plane shed, stunning views all around, doubled storey house with a place for a jacuzzi).  He was part of the building team. AAAAAAAAA!

So a mad dash in Kaikoura township to try and find something to wear, to come out with nothing because they are all surfie clothes shops which didn't have the look, or I couldn't afford the prices.  To top if off, all the clothes shopping made me miss the Maori Leap Cave tour! " ...mutter mutter.. brothers.... mutter mutter... all right for them....can just change a shirt and ruffle hair and look ok.... mutter mutter...  need at least an  hours prep for this... mutter mutter... You get the picture.

Me after rummaging through my bag and coming out with a bush dress and tights... put a scarf around it, she'll be right :-P

The views from the house were awesome.  They were doing clay bird shooting next to the house.

You think this would have been our day, but no!  A cousin wants us to attend  his "After Shock" party  back in Christchurch, with the theme " Colour ".  I start the drive back and we stop at the 'Frog Rock' silhouette and climb up to see the views of darkness ... and then I fall on my butt on the way down.  We are both tired and grumpy by this stage and the rest of the journey back is arguing, getting lost, and attempts to take over the driver seat.  But this party is no problem to get dressed to.  I'm a photographer who does kooky photo shoots with stripey stockings and tutus.  Colour I can do!  I just stick coloured flower stickers all over Tom's shirt.... 

Saturday night, felt 3 small earthquakes, also Tom is so tired he backs the car into something and now the boot won't shut.

Sunday...... I'm sooooo tired......
First a stop off at Riccarton Markets, I buy a cheap cardy, because I'm Freezin!  But I am in love with that cardy because its big and baggy and warm.

On the way to Hamner Springs we stop at a winery?  (can't quite remember), and Tom buys me these gorgeous soaps, one has hunks of lavender in it.

The boot of the car is causing stress.

We go to Hamner Springs!!! ...... There is now a big gap in the time slot and photography, as I'm too relaxed and too weak to pick up a camera.  Except we did try out the water slides a few times.  Just pushed those little kids aside.

Hamner Springs has a sweet shop!  I bought a lollipop, a bag of sweet fishies, a bag of sweet penguins, a bag of sweet snails, a bag of Kahlua marshmellows, a bag of Peanut Butter M&Ms, and a chocolate covered Russian Fudge bar.

On the way back from Hamner Springs, the clouds looked like they were mimicking  the hills.

Ended the day at the Oak and Ferry bar and restaurant.  The food was awesome!  A highly recommended from me.  The boot of the car will never close again and keeps laughing at us every time we go over a bump.

Sunday night I feel no earthquakes - I could have slept through anything.

Early Flight Monday morning back to Rotorua.  We had a fabulous pilot who took us over all the pretty places and tilted the plane to make sure we got good views and camera shots.  I was seated right by the propeller, but at least it was a window seat.

Finishing Quote:
  
BIG hugs and thanks to Noddy, for driving me here, there and everywhere.  For my lovely soaps and white headphones. For putting up with me losing my mobile phone and lip glosses many times over the trip, for sacrificing your car boot and sanity for your older sister. 

Thanks Bruce and the Boys for letting me go and play in Christchurch.

Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz
Posted 28th September 2011 by Calico Jo's Photography
  

Wedding Photos for Drew and Synta, married 20th August 2011

You may remember Drew and Synta from their engagement photos :Drew and Synta's Engagement Photos

Rotorua put on a stunning and warm winters day on the wedding day.

Getting ready photos:

Drew and Synta had their wedding portraits before the ceremony.  They were done at the Rotorua Hedge Maze.

This was a fun wedding to photograph!!

Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz

Jaxon and I had a blast at the wedding of Troy and Anna.  The location was great with the preperations, ceremony, wedding portraits, and reception all in the same area.
Here are some of the my favourite photos.

Here is the wedding photo highlights slideshow if you wish to see more.

Thank you Troy and Anna for letting me share your wedding day!!

Calico Jo
www.calicojo.co.nz