Open up your heart - let the Son shine in

When the cares of the world weigh you down, it's hard to be optimistic. But listen to the song in the link below the last photo - it's a little video I put together - and imagine the 5th Dimension singing about the Son (as found in Revelation 7:9-17, and especially v.15-17). And join me on my stroll continued from last week through a little part of creation, when the sun came out.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Country evening

Although it missed Florida, we got out of Irene's path and made it back to a more temperate climate this week. Our hopes are that at worst Irene's fury will be spent at sea and that the eastern seaboard will be spared significant damage.

In contrast to the wild images coming out of the Bahamas, Sasha and I went out for a short ride last evening in the tranquility of the countryside near our home.

(all shots made with a 10-22mm lens, at either f11 or f14, ISO200, and shutter speeds ranging from 1/2 to 6 seconds)

The added benefit of rain

We actually had a break from the rain today - the first since last Saturday I think - and I used the opportunity to bring our refuse to the dump this morning (yes, friends, when you live on the edge of paradise they don't come and pick that up for you, hence I use my 'dump truck' to bring it there). On the return leg, my roving eye (remember, the other one stays firmly focused on the road) caught this reflection in the ditch. Technically speaking, I violated the ABC rule, however, since I was only 1 minute from home, I'm claiming a mulligan. I was back in a few minutes with the camera.

After lunch, we took advantage of the sun to cut the grass - it had almost grown to a height where Sasha might have got lost on the front lawn. And a good thing we did, too, because the skies opened up again at 4:00 p.m. I think there will be a bumper crop of mosquitoes, and reflections.

btw - can one of you blogger experts out there explain to me why, when I upload a photo that's 1200 x 900 it ends up at around 800 x 600 ? Is there anything I can do to keep it at the original upload size ?

(18-55mm  f10  1/40 sec  ISO100)

(Day 293) Out in the country

Some of you may remember a song by Three Dog Night from 1970 by this name. I think it pretty much sums up what I feel about living in the country. Now I realize it`s not for everyone, and not everyone is able to, for many reasons. But I think almost everyone enjoys a drive or a walk or a  picnic out in the country.

We put many kilometres on our legs just walking along the country road by our place, the scene of today`s photo. And even our dog Sasha, who has 77 acres to roam around on, gets all excited when we say the word `walk`(we have to spell it if we`re not ready). She would rather be on a leash walking along the road than running freely on our land - go figure.

If you haven`t been able to get your fix of country today, maybe the song and photo will help. Enjoy.

(10-22mm  f7.1  1é30 sec  ISO200)

(Day 284) (Not) just another sunset

No, I'm not doing a repeat of Sunset Sunday. I was walking through the field on the west side of our property while on a little photo shoot, with Sasha as company (she never complains when I dawdle). I had already captured some brilliant red sumacs in the setting sun when I walked over to the split cedar rail fence that surrounds our land to watch the sun disappear beyond the neighbour's field. As I approached it I thought it might make a suitable subject in the late day glow. This fence has certainly seen many decades of sunsets !

(10-22mm  f5  1/100 sec  ISO200)