Hunt done!

I spent today traveling in the car with a buddy.
(Long story, no need to bore you with the details)

Our 6 hour round trip somehow turned into a most of the day excursion, which means I am getting to my Sunday post...almost on Monday.

I spent the whole day hunting for 3 pesky scavenger hunt items which you may or may not go for!

Loosely interpreted...and here we go.






"Music To My Ears"

My phone rang today, and it was my son who is away at camp.
I truly did not think he would call and he did.
I smiled for hours.
Actually I am still smiling.



"Hat"

Okay, I know YOU don't SEE a hat there in that image BUT the fellow driving that truck was wearing a hat. I thought I might just be able to get him in the reflection of the mirror as we were racing down the highway. Uhhh I was not driving btw!
I didn't want to just straight up aim the camera out the window at him...you know, so I tried and failed on this attempt.
OH well it sent my buddy and I into fits of laughter, whatever.

For those of you who are sticklers...here is a more literal interpretation.


ha ha ha, kind of!


"Clear"



"Out Of This World"

Took that one Saturday night...caught myself when scrolling through them and remembered this weeks hunt! HA!


"Sprinkles"

on the windshield

AND

this kind too!!


Off to bed, so tired!

This kid...

and his family, came for lasagna and a nerf war at my house tonight.

He ran around pointing his weapon at everyone, but never quite figuring out how to shoot.

It was really adorable.

Just take in those big eyes! What a cutie.

Photos taken

I put my long lens on my new camera and headed to the park.

The lady there seemed to hustle off her children pretty quickly even though I was very specific not to aim my camera at them.
Sigh, I bet I should have just taken my kids along, but they were not available.

Perhaps I am too sensitive.
Yeah, they had probably been there for hours and needed a break.

We call this the gorilla park.





Here are a few more shots from yesterday.









I think I need a nap!
See ya tomorrow!

Another rushed blog post!

It is Thursday!
That means my link up to our SOOC to Wow edit day!

Here is my original.





And here is my edit.


Not a whole lot of difference, but it is as hard as I could push it.


I went out to my friend Rachel's house today.
She let me take pictures of just whatever my little eye could find.
I don't have time to share all that with you today, but will post a few.

I just wanted to say...did I get the catch lites on this cat or what???

ha haha!!
Easy right?

Rachel's daughter (like mine) is used to the camera being out often and was more than willing to pose for me today!
This is my fave!!!


Her kids both have the most stunning eyes!

Oh and before I forget, you need to head over HERE to read this lovely article.
(notice anything exciting for me there???)
I know I have told you about Laura Kurk and her superb book Glass Girl.
If you haven't taken the time to read it, well then you must!
No really you must.
The sequel is coming and you don't want to be behind.
In this post on Mara's blog, you will read an interview Laura did with her amazing artist friend!

It is a lovely thing between friends and artists, and though they work in different mediums their goal is basically the same.
I find myself agreeing right along with them and am so proud to mingle among those who love God and want to please him with the talents he has blessed us with.
It makes you want to do more and better and find ways to bring the beauty of Christ right along into it somehow!
OHhhhh I must get, once again!
See ya tomorrow!
(no editing of this post will occur)

just some camera practice

It rained again today!
I headed out into the post rain humidity to give the camera a whirl while the sunshine was out.

My lens fogged up!


This is what the summer has done to my beautiful angel earring plant.

Perhaps I should remove the pot???
I am still holding some hope that it will return!


ahhhhh raindrops


raindrops on roses....


....and whiskers on...
uhhhhh,
no kittens around here, all we have is the Shelbster.

...and whiskers on Shelby.


Oh, what would that make the next line have to say?
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen ________?
What rhymes with Shelby that could go there?
I am not willing to take the brain power to figure that out today!

Next up a lizard friend,


and my son's friend!


I am continuing with summer fun around here, and I hope you are too!

We have been needing rain soooo badly here, so I am super thankful that God has blessed us with a day full of it.


At the same time I am a bit bummed that I couldn't take my new camera out to play!!

Every time I went to the door, there were more drops.

I ended up laying on the floor practicing on Shelby some.
She didn't like it and was not very cooperative today under my learning curve.



I feel like I have begun all over again and am hitting wall after wall in taking good shots!
I can't do what I used to do to make it work; even the on switch is in a new and different place.

However, when I do get a good image...it is really good.
I am so pleased at the increased clarity and precision of this new beast!
I didn't think the transition would be quite so drastic, and I am missing my kid today.

Whoa that came out of nowhere didn't it.
My oldest is at camp this week....for the first time...for 11 days.
I miss his grouchy smelly teenage boy self.
Obviously he has other traits, but these are the ones that show themselves most often lately.
Oh, speaking of...this is my image for the SOOC challenge which I didn't get posted here yesterday.

The theme: Summer!
This is my growing up too fast big boy who is witty and technical and super cute.
Ugghhhh I really miss him.

Okay moving on.

I turned my practice to xbox playing boys!


I honestly don't see how one can work both thumbs at once for all those buttons and controls.




I have played, but spend the whole time running around looking at the sky shooting people accidentally.
I don't get invited very often.
ha ha.

Supper is in need of fixin'
again!

My big announcement!

I am giddy like a school girl.

I spent most of my day with my nose pressed firmly against the window awaiting the tell tale vroom of the UPS truck.

I saw him drive past and my heart just sank!!

I went ahead and ran downstairs anyway, unless he had a change of heart.

I even went so far as to put the Shelbster in the backyard because she was already barking having caught on to the excited energy I was projecting with just hope!!

Dog out, door bell rings!!

You know the UPS guys must love people like me who open their door jumping up and down, thrilled to take a package out of their hands. I tried to keep the squealing to a minimum as I signed the nice brown electronic pad he presented me!!

And just what did he deliver me???

A NEW (to me) Canon 50D!!!!

Here let me show you!

I know, not a great picture...forgive me I am caught up in the excitement of it all.

People who don't really get camera's or understand the jargon are just not going to be able to appreciate the hugeness of this change for me.

I did find this website which does a straight up comparison of the Rebel XS to the 50D.

It basically gives me double the capability!

I tried to take some comparison shots to give you a feeling of the change, but don't think I succeeded very well.
Again...rushing with the arrival of suppertime quickly approaching!
I will try to do better tomorrow.
All of these images are SOOC.
All of the spider webs, well they belong to me as well.

Old


New



Old



New



The color is truer, the detail finer, the light sparklier, the love stronger.

I am in enamored!!!

So, that is my big news!
I wish I could have taken time to share in a more precise way but...

(rubbing hands together) looking forward to tomorrow!!!