November 22, Heavenly Relm

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

In watching the contentiousness in the political news now-a-days, I’m reminded that our differences should be with policy and not with the person.

Have a happy and blessed Sunday.

November 20, Making Hay

I know it’s a silly title. I love the lines in the stall door and barn. And the horse is cute too.

Chasing Sunflare, A Tutorial

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/250
aperture: f/25
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

Last weekend was the girl’s second meet of the year and we settled down to it like old pros. Or at least she did. I continued to wonder what a lead change was.

“Did you see that flying lead change?”

Sure I did.

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/250
aperture: f/25
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

And I was looking for great shots of my little girl and her little teammates. I read a tutorial in iHeartfaces about sunflare and I was determined to find some. Unfortuntely, the day’s events were slightly overwhelming for me. I was tasked to also keep score for the team. I couldn’t remember anything in the tutorial except for this, have your kit lens and a narrow aperture (a big number on your aperture setting).

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/50
aperture: f/25
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

But it was still dark so I slowed the shutter speed. Little Alexandra came in to help the girl tack up Chocolate. I love her little braids.

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/25
aperture: f/25
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

I slowed the shutter speed even more. It’s better. Notice I should have changed my ISO but she was going to be done any second.

focal length: 23 mm
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

I had just enough time to fiddle with it one more time. Slower shutter speed still, quick adjustment on the aperture. And there’s Little Alexandra again. She’s so little and so cute.

focal length: 18 mm
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

A little more fumbling and the sun started to go away.

focal length: 18 mm
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

By the time Little Madison came to help, the sun was gone. I guess I could have helped also.

focal length: 18 mm
shutter speed: 1/8
aperture: f/22
ISO: 200
flash: not fired

I could have done something with the ISO. I always forget the ISO! But tacking up Chocolate took just minutes and I would have missed it if I hadn’t been there with my camera.

All of these photos are straight out of camera (SOOC).

Hugs all around.

November 19, A Vigil

For Love Thursday and November in Black and White.

Corner View ~ Cell Phone Madness

This week, Jane at Spain Daily asked that we take photos when we are making a call with our cell phones and post five of them. I think. Anyway, the only time anyone calls me on my cell phone is if there is a network problem or they need a ride.

So instead, I’m going to post random photos from my life in the last 48 hours. Or try to. Because I don’t like to break a promise even if I can’t fully fulfill it.

I took this photo of Tuk Tuk and then, my camera broke. Rather it was my lens. I was devastated. My camera is like my right arm. Now I don’t have a right arm. How do I function?

You could say he broke the lens?

But the husband came to the rescue. He had another shipped out, overnight. He’s too good for me.

And on with my life I happily went.

The proprietor of the Thai restaurant where we took the sister for lunch yesterday. She was an extremely nice and friendly lady. And the food was delicious.

Then we came back and tucked her comfortably back in her hospital bed. My mother sits watch. Our responsibilities to our children never end do they? I hope to never have to watch the boy or the girl suffer from an incurable, debilitating disease that robs them of a normal daily life.

Then this morning there was this happy note on my desk. I almost wept.

I didn’t know, but I felt it.

Then I came home and watched the girl jump – not her horse – but the dog.

The day is not over yet. Cooking dinner now and then off to small groups tonight.

My life is not exciting. But it is my life and no matter what happens, I’m going to live it to the max. Thanks for listening!

As Jane says, “Besos!” Not really sure what that means.

November 18, Inverse

My Sweet Tiffiany

My good friend Tiff is one of several people with whom I don’t like to be in a photo.

And this is why. She’s a hard body.

She teaches body combat.

And it’s as painful as it sounds.

B-O-D-Y COMBAT. Yes, it’s painful.

She’s one tough woman.

And body combat is a class that makes you reach into your most primitive instincts to smash someone’s head in. It’s not at all civilized.

I used to teach kickbox. And long ago, I was a student of Tang So Do, a Korean self-defense discipline. That was so long ago that I can barely remember the lactic acid in my muscles.

Until I started taking Tiff’s class.

After what happened to me last year, I want to get my survival instincts back.

And now I can’t move. I’m not kidding. See Danny in the corner? He says he goes to the class and pretends he’s in a bar fight.

You either have to do body combat more than once a week or not at all. It makes you that sore. But it’s fun.

However, if anyone ever came up to take my purse, I’d say, “Hey! I got that on sale!”

Then I’d kick their butt. Thankyouverymuch.

Drop what you are doing, and go punch something. Right now.

November 17, Tenacity

The Great Noreaster of Last Week took many of the gorgeous leaves off of the trees. Our yard was a cacophony of displaced foliage.

But these hung on.

I want this fall to last as long as possible. It was a regal display. We are in the midst of my favorite season, the seasons of giving thanks.

Hang on leaves, hang on.

Saphron

After almost two weeks of suffering from the flu, the husband wanted to get out of the house as he is now recovered. Friday night, we had a date to a restaurant owned by an acquaintance. The reviews and talk around town were good so I was very much looking forward to it.

And I was not disappointed.

The food was out of this world. It was low country South Carolina fare and the best collard greens I’ve ever had.

The atmosphere was calming and sophisticated. I felt like I was somewhere other than my little town. I loved the French Bistro chairs.

The proprietor came out to see us and told me that he and I have actually met. That I had taken his photo on many occasions. I was embarrassed to say that I didn’t remember…possibly because he was out of context on those occasions where we had met. And he had on a tie.

Even though the husband stood in extended conversation with some friends who were dining at another table, I rathered enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant. By myself.

He eventually came back to me. He was confined to the house for a long time so I wasn’t upset.

I enjoyed it so much that we went back with my visiting mother and our reluctant and tired kids the next night. However since they served the best crab dip and mac & cheese in town, the kids came around. This plum wine came with the girl’s crab dip, which I drank rather than risk having giving her the first sip of alcohol at 13. And the reading glasses were a great touch at each table.

I obviously needed them to take this shot since the boy is out of focus. And the glasses don’t do anything for him.

Bravo on a wonderful restaurant. I hope they continue to do well.

Visit Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday.

November 16, Here Comes The Sun

Update: And so it really is the theme this week. See more sun flare at iHeartfaces.com.

The weekend was spent entertaining Nana who made the trip to watch the girl ride. As it turns out, she was a good luck charm if you believe in those things.

I thought this week’s iHeartfaces contest theme was sunflare so aside from cheering, writing down the scores and avoiding horse apples, I was chasing sunflare. Only to find out today that it’s not the theme.

So next week, I’ll post another photo for the contest – at least I think it’s next week. Hurray for the sun! So grateful for the beautiful weather today.

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