365: Pets and Snow.

I don’t get inspiring shots every day and so rather than take goofy shots I am participating in Project 365 rather loosely. For me, this is ok. It still inspires me to get my camera out and look for those great shots.

I am still playing with settings in manual mode but that is more than I did all last year so I am moving right along and learning what my camera can do.

The first few puppy shots were made with the baby mode on my camera. It definitely gives the depth and softness that I am looking for. I imagine the shutter speed is faster also.

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So, I am already 10 behind. How did that happen?

Using the Macro feature for 365

Hello blog world. Here are my daily photos for Project 365. I played with the Macro scene feature this week and chose a few of the shots for my dailies. I love using macro. I think the photos have a certain charm about them that can be attained with ease.

It was interesting to see how the Macro feature responded to light and proximity. I am hoping this experience will prepare me for when I am ready to go ‘cold turkey’ and USE MANUAL SETTINGS.

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Freebies From Photo Lovers

Love, love, love, this Christmas photobrush from Pixelberrypie and it is free! Will certainly be using it this Christmas.

I also came across this blog post at Persnickitey Prints and thought I’d share. How to photography your holiday meal/free idea list. Its good to plan ahead.

My 365 catch up tomorrow!

365: Autumn and Playtime

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Autumn

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Playtime

365 Update

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I have been experimenting with the scene selection on my Nikon D5100. There are not many. I chose the baby setting as I assume it would also cover the movement on pets. Love how this turned out. I can rarely capture Lilly on film so this is a rare shot.

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I could just go gah, gah over these colors!

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Tried the portrait mode and wow! Look how my honey stands out from the background.

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I have yet to capture the beauty of a Virginia sunset but this came pretty close. I finally learned how to turn of the flash. Duh!

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I almost never enjoy pictures of myself so a selfie is a rarity. This is definitely an untouched early morning shot of me. However, look how I pop against the background. I thought it had character.

Trees With Character

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I’ve always loved the lines on these trees. They have so much character they could be the walking talking trees from the Lord of the Rings. Still not out of manual mode yet but I did use the scenic setting. Nikon D5100

Brilliance at Dusk

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This picture was captured at dusk and was even more brilliant earlier in the day but I was without a camera. I took the opportunity to get my owners manual out for the first time today and actually moved the auto dial to a landscape scene. There was definitely more depth to the shot. Now if I can just Photoshop those signs!

Project 365

Joining in with 200+ and taking a photo a day for 365 days. If you are visiting from Click It Up A Notch, WELCOME!

I am doing this because;-

1. I want to learn how to use my DSLR in manual mode.

2. I want to restore this blog to it’s intended use and keep a photo Journal.

3. I am looking forward to learning from others who know how to, ‘rock the shot’.

4. Life is too beautiful to let it slip by.

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Virginia is never more beautiful than when the leaves change

 

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Longing.

We Took The Road Called Back of The Dragon

When dealing with medical insurance in the USA you have to go with a medical provider that accepts your insurance policy. Unfortunately in SW Virginia most local medical providers do not accept our brand of insurance so for specialized treatment we have to travel. For my yearly well women’s check up I had to travel an hour and 20 minutes over the mountain. Jim very gallantly drove me and I am thankful he did. We took the road called Back of the Dragon through Hungry Mother Park. Those roads twist and curve like no other I have seen!

What A Lady Indeed

I thought I would miss the seasonal flowers in The UK. They announce each season with their beautiful blooms. And if I am honest, I do miss the late winter Crocus and Snowdrop, and the early Spring bluebell! I have been amazed by the parade of flowers in Virginia though. It’s like they pass the baton in a glorious marathon of bloom. This beauty is called Naked Lady because it is all flower and no leaf. What a Lady in deed.

Surrounded by trees I am always concerned about falling limbs and not without good cause. This aged cherry fell across the back of the green lane. Thankfully no one was around to get hurt.

This is a welcomed sight. One of my fave soft fruits. Great in apple and blackberry crumble.

This is our vegie garden. Lot’s going on here!

Strawberry Preserves Are Like Summer In a Jar.

We picked the first batch of strawberries from the garden and after a few servings of strawberry shortcake the rest were cooked up into wonderful sweet strawberry preserves.  

Nothing in these preserves but sugar, strawberries, gel and a whole lotta love.

Cook it to a frothy boil and fill those jars.

Strawberry Summer in a jar!  My son suggested we sell the jam to which we responded, ‘no way it’s too valuable!’

Off To Church Camp

New jeans, sneakers, shorts, t-shirts, travel containers, water bottle, snacks. Several trips to Wal-Mart. Long days and short nights. Meals prepared and frozen, wash all caught up.  James and I are off to Church camp and we are thrilled.  This is a first for both of us and we are super excited. James will be involved in the teen program and I will be with 2nd and 3rd grade girls.

There will be lots of activities and time in the word. I will be a dorm monitor and help with the crafts every afternoon as well as listen to memory verses and just generally be available.  James will stay with the teens and we probably won’t see each other all week which will be nice for him!  Please pray for us.

Gut Wrenching Work…I Love It!

I desperately need exercise and being stuck indoors all winter has not helped. In London the best way to get around was your legs and public transport. This kept me pretty fit. I used to walk 1.5 miles to school every morning and got to where I didn’t want to travel in any other way.
This is not possible in the rural areas of SW Virginia. There are no side walks and no public transport that I am aware of. Having a car is a must even to pop to the local store. So I have become very unfit. I had successfully avoided Bronchitis for the last five years due to my new fit lifestyle only to break that record this year. SO, I have no alternative than to get busy.
I have discovered there are lots of practical things that can be done around the farm and so I have been jumping in. I am hoping to put off going to the Gym, not only because I am too pragmatic to spend hours working on fitness, but also because I don’t want to spend the money!


Here is our potatoe and corn field. If it looks long that’s because it is. These potatoes now need earthing up. This is a process of mounding up the dirt around the plant so that when it puts out side shoots the potatoes will not go green. Pa did two rows and James and I struggled to do one. Let me tell you, besides the heat and humidity, this is gut wrenching work. There were more than a few moments of nausea and dizziness!
The back growth is corn coming through and we are staggering the plantings so that we can keep the corn coming at the end of the summer months. We have planted extra this year so that we can feed the chickens. I was amused to see that they color the corn this florescent pink. A very wise idea as the ground dries at such a rate in the heat it is easy to lose where you have put it before you can go back and cover it over.
 

 Fresh air, fresh food and good health, I love it.

‘Lord, Change Me!’ by Evelyn Christenson

I am not sure what drew me to this book. Like so many of my books it was suggested to me a long time ago. I have no regrets about not reading it as I trust that timing is everything.

I haven’t read far in yet but the Lord has already gone to work. It’s not the book that did the work as I was not particularly impressed by her first chapter but rather it is the Spirit of the Lord going to work on my heart. 

I find myself in situations that have driven me to my knees lately and I am convinced that if things are this bad then I am the one in the melting pot and God must be working on ME. Thus my hearts cry, “Lord, please change me!” Have you found yourself in the this place lately. Has it occurred to you that rather than pray for the circumstances you should pray for yourself? Leave a word in the comments and we can pray for each other.

I came across this video and thought it to be a good start.

Lord, Change Me

Peonies Are In Bloom

Looking Forward To That Honey

It’s been so rainy that Lilly and I have not been down the green lane for a few weeks.  It has completely transformed. The hedgerows are teaming with white flowers from the Blackberry briars and everything looks like it is on steroids. The growth that occurs as a result of the sun and rain is phenomenal. Grass has to be mowed every 5 days or you have a serious problem.

As Lilly and I walked along I was very aware of the bees. There was a continual and almost overwhelming hum coming from all the nectar producing blossom. I actually found myself checking for a swarm because the noise was so intense. I got a thrill knowing they were most likely to be Jim’s bees at work. Looking forward to that honey!