Irene's 65th Birthday

We went out for a nice lunch while the guys ate soup at home! :-)

Then we went for a pedicure.

Irene got a pretty flower put on her toe.
Then they were off to Mexico!

How blessed we are!
Our lives are so different than our Mom's.
I've been thinking about her: at our age she'd been in a wheelchair for years and didn't go out much, yet she always had a cheerful attitude.
We have so much to be thankful for!

Photo Contest

Woohoo, I won fifty bucks!
Our town had a Photo Contest in which they asked for pictures which they could use in the future for promotion purposes. It was supposed to depict why I like living here.

I got second prize.

This was my entry- a moose in front of our new school.

I don't think it was one of my best moose pictures, but I assume they chose it because it had to promote something in our town.

This was a picture that I took last summer of my sunflowers in the back yard.
It has nothing to do with the contest - just a picture I haven't posted before.

Before and After Pics

This is a "before" surgery picture.
His right eye is barely open.

Right eye done and looking better than the left now!

Left eye done. Now you can see the pupils of both eyes.
Quite a difference from the pre-op picture!

We saw Kaleb and Luke last weekend and enjoyed seeing little Luke crawl!

I took pictures from the car as we were travelling as I often do,
but because we're moving I end up deleting most.
I tried a faster shutter speed on my new camera
and thought this fence came out pretty clear.

Happy Birthday Magan!

Doesn't she look cute?
This picture was taken in '94 at Jon's church grad party.

Magan was in Grade 11. Were you 16 or 17 Magan?

Anyway, hope you have a great day today!

Playing Around!

I've had fun practising focusing with my new camera. On my old one I didn't feel I had the control I wanted, but this one has several helpful options for focusing on what you want.
Here I focused on several perfume bottles and the mirrored reflections are out of focus.

In this picture I focused on the mirrored images and the real bottles are out of focus.

I've been reading the manual and actually find it understandable! And there are helpful you-tube videos. I guess there's hope I'll get out of auto mode!

Blogger didn't seem to want to upload more than 3 pics at a time, so there are more below.

Focusing fun

More fun practising focusing.

Looks yummy, eh?

Irene gave me the frame, and the picture is from an anniversary card from Laurna , Juanita's mom. I thought they fit well together!

Let the Bells Ring...

Our church actually has a real bell tower.
On Christmas Eve someone pulls on the rope in the entrance to make the bell ring.
I love it!

I've been singing one of my favorite Christmas Carols. I love it because of the second and third verses:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
their old familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet the words repeat of
peace on earth, goodwill toward men.

Then in despair I bowed my head,
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song of
peace on earth, goodwill toward men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
"God is not dead, nor doeth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with
peace on earth, goodwill toward men!"

God is not dead...Let the bells ring!
Merry Christmas.