More new camera pictures

 

I am trying to get to know my camera before we get to Portland in a few weeks and so today I played with it a little using some of the different built in filters. I love how it can pick out one color by using the built in filters.  I tried some of the same items (african violet, quilt and tiled tray) with different colors and it made them look so different.
Jake is such a ham, he kept posing for the camera. 

We are the proud owners of a Sony Cybershot DSC HX200V camera. Apparently Sony is discontinuing it as you can see from their sight, but we are sure happy that we got it at the current price. One of my long term cameras was a Sony that still works, but being an early digital, it just doesn't compete any more.  My Nikon Coolpix which has been repaired once, is broken again and I just didn't want to pay anymore to fix it. So with baby Xavi needing MORE pictures than he already gets, and our upcoming trip to Italy, we figured it was time to find a camera we could enjoy and to replace the Nikon.
To get the size we wanted with the functions we (mostly Linda, who wanted all the bells and whistles her old camera came with), and affordable, we settled on this camera. 
And it really has amazing functions.
So I played around last night and took a few pictures. I would have had to photoshop the bad hair (hey, it was windy all day and I had walked the dogs 4.5 miles), but for a quick picture it did a nice job. And one of the cute little functions is a 'food' shot, and this was a picture of our pulled pork over homemade cornbread.  Now I can bore all of you with dozens of food pictures.  JK
But maybe I'll blog more now. --Mama Linda

Dad and I had a beautiful night out in the hot tub the other night. This is with his camera, but my next post will be with pictures from my new Sony Cybershot.

STROLLING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY

Our driveway is not typical. Long, steep, two switchbacks, and made of gravel and clayish dirt. It compacts and hardens over time, and with use. It is a beautiful driveway, down to earth, literally. Pines and junipers adorn the way up to our home. I recently added a rustic wooden structure to mark the entrance to our property. A plaque identifies our street address, and most recently I added a solar powered spotlight that gives it life in the dark. Last night we took a stroll down our driveway, enjoying the peace and quiet of this wonderful place we call home. It was nine o'clock, and dusk had just descended upon us. A beautiful driveway indeed. JIR  

THE HANDYMAN STRIKES AGAIN

I have always enjoyed accomplishing home improvement projects. It seems, over the years, I have gotten better at it, saving us a bundle of hard earned cash. Of course, now You Tube, makes it even easier for the handyman. Fortunately, I have also not caused any major disasters, which can ruin the impetus of the neophyte handyman, not to mention wiping out any potential savings.
They say that when one installs a new kitchen sink, one should consider installing a new faucet at the same time. Well, in our case, I assumed the reverse also applies. After purchasing a beautiful high arch kitchen faucet, I decided it should be complemented by a new sink.

 Old sink and faucet, which don't look so bad, right? The handyman knows when the project is completed, it will look better

Plumbing can look intimidating, but after dealing with it a few times, it's a no-brainer

 Old sink is ready to come off

 Is he taking a nap down there?

 The "whole" ready to be filled with the new sink

 New sink upside down after installing the necessary drain hardware

 Clipping the new sink to the countertop

 WAALLAA!!! New sink and faucet, in place and plumbed. The handyman feels accomplished, and his wife is thrilled with another update to our humble abode  JIR

PILEATED WOODPECKER

Some of us are fortunate enough to experience Nature, face to face on a daily basis, sometimes more often. In the bird world, pileated means crested. This afternoon we had a visit from the largest and most spectacular woodpecker in North America. Males are slightly larger than females, but the plumage and beautiful color contrasts, particularly around the head, are very similar. This one decided to snack on our suet for a while, rather than eat the species favorite food, carpenter ants. JIR

SPRING SNOW IN THE NORTHERN ROCKIES, NO PROBLEM!

There has been significant consternation from some of our southern and western friends regarding the status of our most recent snow storm and it's effect on our well-being. First, let me reassure everyone that we are well. Secondly, let it be known we enjoy snow, particularly when it is not accompanied by long periods of below-zero temperatures. This most recent minuscule storm was nothing other than welcomed  moisture for us, our flora and fauna. It refreshed our souls and showered us with renewed energy, and the reminder that spring is here. The following day after this photo was shot earlier this week, the crystallized moisture had melted and the temperature had climbed into the 50's.
A patient gave me an old T-shirt before we left Florida in 1993. The writing on the front of the shirt read: "If I'm good, say my prayers and go to church, when I die I will to go to Montana". I heard he had died not long after we left Florida. I'm sure he is among us, right here in our neighborhood. JIR