Bowl full of Sugar January 4, 2010

Bowl full of Sugar, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

Here in ND we had another cloudy dreary day. That makes shooting outdoors hard. The snow looks gray, the sky is gray, trees, roads even houses are gray. So what to find to shoot inside without the wonderful sunlight I had yesterday. I don't like to use my flash so how do I get enough light? I wanted a little more than the ceiling lights will give me and I don't have a soft box. However, I do have an Ott-Light.. I have not tried this before but I think it worked ok. I set the bowl of leftover candy under the light and used the manual setting on my camera. I like the result. That's the point of this project. To learn, learn, learn!

It is the middle of winter, there will be plenty of dreary days, I will probably do this again!
Blessings~

Carmel Corn is Calling January 3, 2010

Roses Remember January 2, 2010

Roses Remember, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

I am a collector of things. Pretty things, old things, new things, special things, funny things and even a few strange things! These things have special homes within my home. Many of my favorite things are in the hutch I bought my first year of marriage nearly 30 years ago. These scented wax balls in their pretty dish have been in the hutch since I got it and they still smell like roses. The roses have not been there quite as long but they have all accompanied me on this journey of life, love, and family. As the years pass, I will add more treasures to my collections. My treasures are really reminders of the blessings God has bestowed on me. Life, love and family. Gifts, talents and abilities. Freedom, peace, joy, eternal life. The roses remember......

Something New! January 1, 2010

Squiggles, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

I have so enjoyed getting acquainted with my new camera the past several months. Shooting with a DSLR is so very different from shooting with my little point and shoot. I use the Auto setting most of the time but venture out every now and then to the M setting. In Colorado, I tried to get the smooth looking water, some of them turned out fine. Today we celebrated Christmas with my oldest son and his new wife. I found the "bulb" setting and we had fun playing!

It's good to step outside one's comfort zone, to try something new, to learn something new. We have a brand new year ahead and it's like a field of freshly fallen snow. Each day we can leave a footprint in the snow. Where shall we step today and what new things will we experience? I want to explore the entire field, leave my prints all over the place. I don't intend to miss a thing.
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~

Open it! December 30, 2009

Open it!, originally uploaded by picturethepromises.

The new year is fast approaching. The old will soon be gone and the new will have arrived. Sometimes it's good to shut the door on the past, to leave it behind. But it can be scary to move into the future. The door to tomorrow may not look like one we want to open. Is it safe? Will I like what's behind that door? Am I going thru alone? New years and new doors often mean change. I choose not to fear the change but to embrace it. Behind that beat up old door I will find challenges and change, the familiar and new adventures. I can't wait to open the door. How about You?
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~