Oh! My EasyShare isn't just an automatic!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I have been so envious of all my blog friends with the great cameras that take the most amazing photos. I have been using a Kodak EasyShare Z730 and basically turning it on auto and shooting. Last week during our road trip I began messing with the camera and discovered a few new to me settings. I was happy with the way this little camera performed.

So, today for Photo Story Friday, I have a few photos to submit. No chuckling allowed! :)

This is Jed Zimmerman and Mike Addington, singer/songwriter musicians who performed last week at the Red River Music Festival. In this photo they are performing in "The Lodge" during an early morning breakfast concert. This is a very small bar with only a few tables. The full sun was shining in the window and my cool "backlight" setting completely blocked out the rays.

This is most obviously the "self-portrait" setting. I took this while riding in a moving car. You might notice how my life of abundance has had its effect, this would be one of the few personal photos I have shared.

Abundance is...47 and still learning something new every day!

Photo Story Friday: A New Beginning

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A few months ago the pet of some very good friends died after 15 years. Bo was not just a pet. Bo was the ears of my friend who is hearing impaired. He was the company for many years in a primarily silent world. Then my friend received a cochlear implant and with the ability to hear came so many blessings. Bo remained a faithful companion. He was the "people" walker. He was the first one in the car ready to go to Starbucks. He had the back seat to himself on vacations and he was around to cheer the many friends who visited my friends' home. Bo's death was a great loss. He will always be the special in their hearts.

For this family who loved and provided such a great life for their animal, the story does not end there. You see, when you are able to make a dog's life that special you simply cannot let that be the final word. And they didn't.

This is Coach. My friends got a new puppy this week. I have not seen him yet but this is the picture they sent me. He is already spreading his puppy spirit around my friends' home and in their hearts. I feel certain that this too is a "lucky dog"!!! He has no idea what is in store for him living with these loving friends. Oh! The places he will go! And...they have no idea the blessings he will bring. I would like to think Bo's spirit lives on in this little coach!

Abundance is...celebrating the loss of a life well lived...and beginning again to love and to cherish!

Photo Story Friday - Downhome Bluegrass

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I do love music. I have liked many types of music. I played the clarinet, I was in school and church choir, and I listened to my "record player" for hours on end. I listened to the top 40, did not miss Casey Kasem's Countdown every week, and I liked rock and pop mostly with a little country thrown in.

I have never experienced of a whole other genre of music like I have since moving to the central part of Oklahoma two years ago. In this part of the world we host the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival. Bluegrass itself is not defined by one kind of speed or intensity. There is a range of music that qualifies. Last weekend we attended the festival and heard musicians from Ireland, Italy, Canada and across the U.S.A.

This kind of music requires amazing musical ability. The picture I took at the festival this year is of Byron Berline (middle) who is famous in Bluegrass circles and resides here in Oklahoma. If you have not experienced this type of music in a while or ever you might consider taking some time and visiting the website of the bands listed below. On each website there is a sample of their music or a music video so you can listen to the different types of music. Enjoy!

David Munnelly
Rockin Acoustic Circus

Edgar Cruz

Byron Berline Band

"Abundance is ... listening to good music out on the lawn".

COMMENT TO SUPPORT CHILDHOOD CANCER!
I am working to help raise money for the Leukemia Society. My blogger friend JenX67 will give a dollar for every comment posted to this week's Tuesday Tales post. Please to click on the Tuesday Tales button below, scroll to the bottom of the post to read the paragraph about Mitchell Whitaker and leave a comment. A comment is the least we can do to raise money for this worthy cause!!!

Photo Story Friday

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Last May my husband and I took our first vacation as "empty nesters". We spent 10 wonderful days in Wyoming and Colorado. One of our "rest stops" was the Manitou Springs Zoo. This is an amazing zoo with a plethora of different types of animals that are not typical for a zoo. The layout is nice and the animals are "up close and personal". My favorite animal is the giraffe so you can imagine my surprise when I saw this animal. It is an Okapi (O-KAH-pee) from the rain forests of central Africa.

This is a fun one to show children and have them guess what they think it is! This makes for great conversation!

This is the sign at the exhibit.

Deer legs, Zebra stripes, Giraffe head!! Definitely an animal with SPARE PARTS!!!

Abundance is...a couple only vacation and celebrating differences in God's creatures.

Friday Night Lights!!!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Every small town in the US enjoys a Fall Friday night tradition!! The big home football game. In our town the team won the state 5A championship last year and it was quite an exciting season. This year they are slated to do equally as well. All of the fans come to the games dressed in their Royal Blue and something else.... Last Friday I paid particular attention to the little ones..the future players, cheerleaders, flag corp and band members. Here as some views from my side of the bleachers!

Future cheerleaders!!

I think future drag racer...this little one played with his cars behind us and never looked up! He was perfectly content!!!

This little Phantom of the Game intently watched the game with his dad with the mask on the top of his head. He only put it on when I convinced him I had to have a picture!

The team won 35 to 7, their third straight win of the season! And a good time was had by all!!

Abundance is....a first and 10, a 30 yard run, a touchdown pass, fans who cheer for the kids for playing hard, and okay...beating the socks off of the opponent!!

You will want to come back next Monday and check out my post for "Three Sites To See" where I give you three amazing sites to explore!!!

Photo Story Friday

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A few weeks ago I noticed "Photostory Friday". Since I am new to blogging I have had to get the hang of carrying my camera around with me and keeping my mind open to the idea of capturing experiences as they happen. Since I do not have little ones hanging around and I had at first thought that "nothing interesting ever happens to me anymore". I had a few pity parties over not being a cool stay at home mom with the world by the tail and her kids around her knees. ( I missed it!)

However, it happened this week at work. My first "Photo Friday" opportunity! In our busy clinic where children and parents come in and out of our doors the latest virus, cold or germ is likely to hang around. Since the kids get it and their parents get it, many of the therapists get it too. Those who have 5 years or less experience seem to get it first and add points if you have 5 years or less AND you have children under 5! I do not want to assume I am safe with 20+ years on me!

This week we had snot balls blowing out noses on the carpet, sweet wet fingers grabbing our faces, soaked diapers sitting in seats, and an endless faucet of drainage dripping down noses. So I was ready...camera ready!!! Not to capture the faces and noses but to show you the kind of preparation it takes to be a really good, capable, competent and totally blase' about snot speech therapist....I was armed and ready for a great week of therapy!!!!

Abundance is...a sweet wet open mouthed bunch of sugars on a day when snot isn't flowing.