Some days are just a 'bottoms-up' kind of day!!

Jun 30, 2007

Texture III


Another shot from the cottage. This is my braided rug. I had it hanging over the picnic table to dry! This 50mm lens amazes me with it's DOF. I can't wait to get the Auto Focus lens though because I just don't trust my eyes!

Jun 29, 2007

Texture II




Just a bit of our aging hammock at the cottage. I don't feel quite as safe in it anymore because it's really starting to unravel and there's so many holes!!! It looks great between the trees though!

Jun 28, 2007

Texture I


This weeks theme for Picture of the Day is intriguing. I have found myself looking at things in a new way to find texture in it! At the cottage the other day I found oodles of things! However, being the ever lazy person I can so often be, I didn't always have my camera with me. And even then I much preferred to soak up the sun on my floating island!!

I did manage to find a few neat things! This is Gracie's fur after a swim and a roll in the dirt!
What is it about dogs that makes them want to roll in the dirt if they smell too clean!? She loves to swim, 20-30 minutes at a time. Afterwards, she gets all goofy and rolls and rolls and rolls in the dirtiest place she can find! But on the other hand, she loves pretty smelling things too! If we have lotion on or have just had a shower she loves to rub up against us and even wants to rub her head in our hair! She especially loves the smell of Noxema!! Goofy dog.

Jun 25, 2007

Neon Waves


We were at the cottage for a few days. I was practicing some Macro work with a set of extension tubes I borrowed from a friend. I do not like them so far.... too much of a learning curve. I'll try again this week and see what I think.

Anyhoo, the cottage was wonderful and peaceful and tranquil as ever. Hated to leave, but we had some chores to do in town. I snapped this shot of the waves on the lake and jazzed it up somewhat in PS. I like it!

Jun 21, 2007

Randomness

It's been awhile since I've posted. No inspiration lately I guess. I'm itching for a new lens, but I can't decide what I want to get. I really like the 50mm I have, but it's not automatic, so I find I'm missing some focus on some candid shots. Perhaps I should get a 50mm Automatic? Or a Macro 100mm? I'm going to borrow a friend's extension tubes to see if I'm happy with those. If so, then I think I'll likely buy the 50mm 1.4. Oh, so many decision.
It's the first day of summer. What a cool night. After the heatwave the last few weeks, the cool breeze is a bit of a relief - especially at night. I actually had to get another blanket for the bed.
Poor Dougie had to go back to work this week after 4 weeks off. And to add insult to injury, he's catching a cold. However, we'll be heading back to camp on the weekend and I'm hoping this great weather holds up. I'm planning on taking some of my lenses and practicing some technique.
Here's a few random shots I thought I'd share.

These girls are our cousin's kids. Their first time learning how to paddle a canoe!



This shot overlooks Lake Ramsey from the Lakehouse restaurant. The boat is the Cortina. There are a few tours a day on the Cortina.




I really like this one of L. Taken with my 50-200 zoom. She was planting some perennials for me.



Just had to include a pic of our Gracie. I was actually just practicing my focus and was pleasantly pleased with the colour, composition and look of this one!

Jun 9, 2007

Graduation Day

We went to North Bay yesterday for Meg's Graduation from Nipissing University! At first, Meg didn't even want to attend the convocation, but I think now she's glad she did. I goofed up [as usual] and forgot to reset my ISO once going outside, but good thing I caught it before taking too many shots. Will I ever learn??
We met Jay's mom Karen and his sisters Kaitlyn and Mallorie. We all enjoyed a great lunch at Casey's afterwards. Then it was back home. We ended up driving through a wicked rain storm. High winds and crazy rain. Whew.
Here's a few of my favourite shots taken with my 50mm M 1.7 lens. I'm loving this lens! It was full sun, but I'm pretty pleased with the results. I didn't do much editing, but what I did was on my laptop, so I hope the colours look okay.

Meg and Jay



Me, Meg, Doug!!

Jun 7, 2007

My Health Update

Some of you have been so kind to tell me that my presence has been missed and some of you have sent support and well wishes and have asked me how things are.
I'll try to keep the update short. THANK YOU. Your support is appreciated more than you know!

Since I have been diagnosed with the suspicion of Crohn's Disease I am STILL waiting to see the specialist. I finally have an appointment booked for July 12. In the meantime the doc prescribed both Pentasa and Prednisone. After reading the side effects of the steroid Prednisone, I totally freaked out and refused to take it. I have been taking the Pentasa for a week now. My pharmacist assured me that for the short time of 8 weeks with a minimum dosage of the Prednisone I should not be worried about the side effects -- but I am. Do any of you have an experience with it? Can you share any success stories? I am really torn as to whether I should take it or not. I understand that it will really help the inflammation and I'll feel normal again soon, but I am SO dreading the possible weight gain, face puffiness, bulging eyes, acne or rashes, etc. etc.
I am a little better these days but still experiencing the occasional stomach cramping and pain. I've lost a total of 11 pounds and I am looking a little ragged and drawn, but my appetite is returning somewhat. I am tired a lot, and I imagine that I am likely lacking some nutrients and vitamins. I'm self dosing with Omega-3s, Garlic, C, Calcium, Multi, MSM and Acidophilus. The Omega-3s seem to be helping somewhat.
Anyhoo, that's about it in a nutshell. I am truly anxious to feel like myself again. I'm not worried too much because I know that this disease can be managed. Looking back over all the ailments I've had since I was a child it's all tying in together with these new symptoms. It's possible I've had Crohn's for years, but just never showed any painful symptoms.
More than anything I have lost my spunk, my creativity and energy. I look forward to getting back to enjoying the things I love to do.

Thanks again for asking about me. You know who you are!! I am so lucky to have an extended group of friends through my favourite forums. You're great!

Jun 3, 2007

Fun at the Cottage

Doug's been on holiday the last two weeks. We haven't spent as much time at the cottage as we would have liked [lots of other errands to do and places to be]. There were some great days that we spent there with the girls and some where it was just Doug and I and Gracie. We had saunas and dips in the lake. We had a campfire. Sipping coffee on the dock at 8am in our PJs. Fun in the kayak and canoe. Saw a big Heron. Meg caught a fish. Gracie did lots of swimming and chasing squirrels. Delicious Bar-B-Qs. Games of Zuma and Rummy-Q inside. Eating junk food. One night at 3am we had a raccoon visit our deck. It was scratching the sugar water that had dripped from the hummingbird feeder. Some watch-dog we have - Gracie just yawned and rolled over!
It is absolute paradise at our camp. It doesn't get any better than this!

Here's a few pics from the last few days. I've been trying real hard to capture good pics straight out of the camera. I think I'm getting better!! All these are just cropped and NO PPing!!

THE THREE STOOGES


FIRST DIP IN THE LAKE [after the sauna]


WATCHING THE ANTS CARRY AWAY A DEAD BEETLE


DOUG OUT FISHING IN THE KAYAK


ME AND MY GRACIE


MEG IN THE KAYAK



MY GIRLS

My Visitors

My Own Karma

kar·ma (kär'me) -- [from the root kri, "to do" "to make"] - is the means by which you become the architect of your own destiny....actions set in motion.....