It's Been Almost a Year...

Almost a year ago, I bought my new Nikon, and began a new hobby. I posted about my new hobby and what it meant to me last January. I have learned so much about aperture, shutter-speed, lighting, composition. Mostly, I have learned a lot about myself. I love being outdoors, I love being around my kids and grandkids, I love hanging out with my husband, and while enjoying these other loves of mine, I love preserving a moment or two. I love capturing an image, finding a new way to shoot something I've shot before. I love challenging myself, I love exploring new places and discovering new ways to use my camera. Bottom line, I enjoy taking pictures. Yes, this hobby is just what I needed, and yes, it is still just for me.

In addition to the many photos I have taken of my yummy grandkids, these are of few of my favorite photographs taken over the last year, from June 2010 to June 2011.

MK Challenge ~ Lines

Unlike the sweet ladies hosting this challenge, who posted wonderful photos of lines going somewhere; Melissa's photo showed a beautiful wood fence that she passed taking her son to school, and Kristi's that showed the dividing lines on a road and likening it to going forward in our lives. I chose a different take on the challenge.

To me, these lines show a life-time of devotion. A life-time of loving me and his children. I see struggles, I see joy, I see lines of caring. I see a man enjoying being outdoors with his children, working in the yard, building a fence, planting a garden, hunting a deer, riding a four-wheeler. I see a grandpa, laughing with his grandchildren, rocking them to sleep. I see a husband, sneaking up on me to see me laugh, watching me open a surprise gift, holding me at night.

These lines are a map of a life well spent.

Spring in my yard ...

Spring finally arrived this week in my yard. I have white, yellow, pink, green. and purple. The rain stopped for a moment. Today it is beautiful. Blue skies and sunshine. A good day to be outside. I hope you are finding spring in your yards, too.

And of course, with the Spring flowers, come the weeds...



Toys...

Toys are meant to keep us busy, occupy our time, and bring us enjoyment. The thing about toys, the more we use them, the better we get at them. We find our own enjoyment in sharing our "toys" with others. We often find and develop talents as we play with our toys. These are some photos of my youngest son, Chase. He loves playing his guitar, which is his most favorite toy. He plays, writes songs, and entertains us. He enjoys sharing this talent with others. That's the thing about toys.

Spring in Rural America...

I blog often about our rural community. It is small. I went to the grocery store, and they were out of bread. It happens all the time. But, the good out weighs the bad. On Friday night, I was home alone, Jerry being out of town. I was really tired, and left my car unlocked, my house unlocked and the garage door up. I left a $20 bill and three $1 bills on the front seat of my car. All still there in the morning! A good, safe community! More Spring Rural Pics...

MK Challenge ~ Five Senses

It was hard for me to choose which of my five senses to focus on for this challenge. We take them all for granted. Each day we go about our business, not even realizing what we are seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling or touching. So many blessings, unrecognized.

One of the most comforting things is a warm, chocolate chip cookie. It seems to wash the stresses of the day away. Seeing them bake in the oven, hearing the timer buzz, smelling the warm chocolate, tasting the melty, warm, gooy, crunchy cookie. What else goes with a glass filled with cold milk? To me, a perfect end to a day. It is something to share with your family and friends. It is something you can do, just for you.

Do you need a cookie? Come on over!