Birds of a Feather

We've been iced in the past couple of days. The freezing rain, sleet, and snow arrived Monday night and continued most of the day Tuesday. It has shut virtually everything down. I will be able to go to work Thursday. Since I had some time on my hands, I decided to grab the new telephoto lens on my camera and practice a little bit. Our lot borders on common property in the subdivision and there is a ravine there. Deer run behind the house all of the time. I keep a couple of bird feeders stocked and that gives me the opportunity to photograph a variety of birds. The first shot was taken over 100 feet from the subject, so it's not quite as sharp as I would like. I really need to hone my skills before my grand daughter's soccer season starts in March. Enjoy.

Wordless Wednesday

The Ice Storm of 2009

Ruby Tuesday

Do you remember this photo of Nandina berries that Posted a few months back? Well, we are in the middle of an ice storm and the berries are still hanging in there. They're ice covered this time, but it still makes for an interesting photo.

The Ice Man Cometh

We are having our first major winter event tonight, and it is ice! That's right a light mist, drizzle, what ever you want to call it has been falling for several hours now. With the air temperature at 25 degrees, everything is frozen. There is probably about 0.25" of ice covering the streets and sidewalks right now. It is supposed to accumulate between 0.50"-1.5" of pure ice by late Tuesday.
1.5" of ice will begin to break tree limbs and take down some power lines. Needless to say, I will not be going to work in the morning. That's not an altogether bad thing. It's like a snow day, except that it is truly too dangerous to get out and drive around. I suspect that some people will be without power before this storm passes. All of that pink you see in the Rogers/Fayetteville area is freezing rain.

Little Lady Hoops

Friday night we kept the three youngest grandcrew. The two girls had basketball games Saturday morning. They are playing in the Upward league at church. That brings me to the reason for this post. I took my camera along just in case there was an opportunity for a good photo. I just couldn't resist this shoe comparison.

Old School vs. New Wave

As you may have already guessed by now, "Old School" belongs to the youngest grand daughter.
They're her everyday sneakers. She had to wear them because she has out grown her real basketball shoes. But, she loves those shoes and thinks nothing of having to wear them in competition. Still, I thought the pink Converse All Stars were priceless.

And don't they just go well with that green uniform?

Friday Thoughts

Nothing much to post. We have made plans for one week of our vacation this year. We will be going to the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY. this September. It will feature some to the best groups in Southern Gospel music. I'll put up a more complete post when we get a little closer to the event. Although not a quartet, unless you count when their mother sings, The Issacs will be there and they are one of my favorites.
And now for the inspirational song this week. Blessed Assurance is also one of my favorite hymns.
Enjoy.


For those of you who like a little more contemporary arrangement, here is Third Day's version.

Ruby Tuesday

This photo was taken with my new toy, that 50-500 mm telephoto lens. I can't wait until soccer season gets here and I can get action shots of the oldest grand daughter from across the field.

Friday Thoughts

It's been a long week. Last Friday I attended the funeral of a friends mother who lost the battle with pancreatic cancer. Monday a co-worker's sister-in-law was killed in a house fire and another friend's nineteen year old son passed away suddenly. It brought home the fact that there are no guarantees in this life. No one knows when they will step out into eternity. The only question is, are you prepared?
While we live in a pluralistic society and many believe that there are literally thousands of ways to get into heaven (assuming that one believes in life after death and that heaven does exist) and to believe otherwise is being narrow minded and intolerant, the truth of the matter is this, if the Bible is the basis for one's belief then there is only one way to heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me." John 14:6 While we may not like the truth and we have the freedom to reject the truth, it is still the truth.
This week I have mourned with Christian brothers and sisters who have lost loved ones from 19-69. While they will miss the fellowship of those who are gone, they can rest and take comfort in the fact that each of these that have passed are safe in the arms of the Savior and we will see them again one day. One day Christ is coming again. On that day, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we will always be with the Lord." I Thessalonians 4:16-17. On that day, there will be a "Shoutin' Time!"Thank you Lord for salvation. Thank you for your mercy, comfort and grace.

Shoutin' Time - The Hoppers

Fun With PhotoShop Elements

Yesterday I posted a photo for Wordless Wednesday. Here is how I did it. First I took this photo on Christmas day, just before dusk, at my brother-in-law's farm.Next, I applied Auto Smart Fix to brighten it up just a bit. Then I applied Adjust Color/ColorCurves/Increase Contrast just to give it some pop.
Finally, I applied the Solarize filter in the Adjust Color/Color Curves box. That's when the magic happens. It's very simple, very straight forward. Believe me, if I can do this, anyone can.

Wordless Wednesday

Solar Horse

Click to enlarge. It's pretty spectacular when it fills your screen with color.

I Got Nuthin'!

I can't really explain it. I don't know how it happened but I do know when it happened. I only know that since December 22, my last real post, I haven't felt like posting anything. I haven't bothered to take any photos to share. I haven't recalled any events with the grandcrew. I haven't made any effort to post anything worth your time and effort to stop by here. I've even quit commenting on some of my other favorite blogs. It's like, "What's the point?" My opinion doesn't really matter that much anyway and it's not like lives are being changed, so why bother with this blogging and commenting thing anyway? I've been doing this for almost two years now, so maybe it's time to take an extended break. Maybe it's time find another interest and to just move on, or maybe it's time to just get back in the saddle and blog.
In all honesty, I was hoping that just blogging about this situation might help. Maybe it would jump start me into posting again, but, so far, I'm not feeling anything. Well, at least I tried. Maybe later.

All is Well

Just in case you were wondering, all is well. I just haven't been in a blogging mood lately. It will all come back to me soon, I'm sure. Until then, have a great new year and visit among yourselves.