July 26, 2010 Ready for Harvest

Ready for Harvest, originally uploaded by pictureapromise.

Most of the small grain I see in the fields in this area is wheat. When I saw the 2 fields of oats I had to stop and get some photos. This looks to be nearly ready for the harvest. As a farmer daughter, a field of beautiful grain ready for harvest is a thrilling sight!

Blessing~

April 8, 2010 Next Time....

Driving home from Fargo, I took a country road I don't often drive on. Some one told me there may be an eagles nest, they had seen eagles.... Well, I didn't see any sign of eagles but I did see this beautiful goose flying toward the water. I stopped, got my camera and got a shot of him in flight, beautiful, graceful, trouble is, I forgot to slow down the shutter speed and the photo was just white snow. So I have to settle for this goose wading in the water instead of flying thru the sky. That's something I'm learning the hard way when I shoot in manual. I need to remember to check my shutter speed and my aperture. Maybe next time....
Blessings~

Winter Field February 22, 2010

Winter Field, originally uploaded by pictureapromise.

Yep, nearing the end of February and fields of corn are still standing. This is not an uncommon sight in our area. We got a lot of snow this year so the farmers couldn't get in the field to finish their corn. Soon the spring thaw will start. I don't know if they will be able to finish their harvest or not. This field is on the bank of the Red River of the North. Last spring it was completely underwater. Most of the county was actually. We are praying for a slow melt and minimal rain til the river is flowing all the way to Canada.

Whatever happens this year, even if it is flooding like last year~I know that my Father God is in control, that whatever happens He has a purpose in it, for my good and His Glory. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I give my worries, cares and concerns to Him, I trust Him.

Blessings~

The End December 31, 2009

The End, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Here it is, the very last sunset of 2009. The last sunset I will see, experience, enjoy, and photograph this year. It represents so much more. Not only is this the end of the day, it is the end of the year, the end of a decade, maybe the end of an era. In our ever changing world we can count on one thing; change. Two things actually, change and an unchanging God. I'm glad that no matter what tomorrow holds or what the year ahead holds, My Father God who has loved me these 52 years with an unending, unchanging and unconditional love will continue to Hold me safely yet tenderly in the palm of his mighty hand.
Welcome 2010!
Blessings~

Somethings Missing December 29, 2009

Late December Day, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

After a Christmas Blizzard we were finally able to drive to northern MN to celebrate Christmas with my mom, dad, sister and her family. We arrived before lunch and that afternoon I needed to go for a little walk. (Mom always feeds us very well!) It was cold, but a beautiful afternoon. A couple years ago I took a similar photo but this year there were a couple things missing. The beautiful barn that had been there finally lost it's battle with gravity. Here is a shot taken on a blustery day. http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2144179488/in/set-72157603198719734/ and this is a closer look http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2162139649/in/set-72157603198719734/. Also missing is this wonderful old pickup http://www.flickr.com/photos/9199449@N08/2039768268/in/set-72157603212215570/.

Looking towards a new year you may notice some things that just aren't there anymore. Children off to college, a job no longer yours. Broken relationships or loved ones passed on. Our stuff gets old or we have too much so we sell it, throw it or give it away. Sometimes it can be a good thing to remove "clutter", sometimes loss is just plain painful. When I look at this scene, I know what is missing and there is sadness for what's been lost but I also see beauty and potential for the future. Sometimes we can work to restore what's missing, like a broken relationship. Sometimes we have to accept the reality of loss and move forward. It is my prayer for you that as you let the past year slip away you'll find beauty and potential in the year to come.
Blessings~

After....December 28, 2009

After...., originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

I took a few photos today just before sunset. That is my favorite time of day, my favorite light to shoot by. Much of the landscape in this area is flat, flat, flat. No hills, mountains, buttes, waterfalls or lakes. Lots of land as far as the eye can see. In the summertime this field may be filled with wheat or beans or beets or corn. We watch the little plants pop thru the soil in rows. They grow and grow and soon we have the beautiful colors of fall when the crops are ready for harvest. Then comes the winter. Sky and snow. But if you look for it you can find the beauty. I have two shots like this on flickr. One of them is right out of the camera. Nice...
This one I enhanced using picasa. I hit the auto contrast button and the auto color button. I liked what I saw. Sometimes it's ok to add a little color, a little drama to the ordinary of living.
Blessings~

Note: if you click on the photo, it will take you to my flickr account, you can compare the two photos.