Buffalo Portrait

I went out to visit these bad boys today, and they're just as wary of me this winter as they were last winter. I think it's really funny the way they seem to post a few sentries, while the rest all "subtly" make haste away from me. The "softness" in front of the sentries are their steamy breathe in the cold.

Day 336: Looking at the Loved One

Used the flash, but didn't want to miss this expression. I think I really, really need (want) an external flash!

Day 335: Moving the Lamp because he Loves Me

Just relaxing after the Turkey dinner.

But wait! Isn't that the dreaded "insertion?" A lamp growing out of my beloved's head?

Sweet husband, moving the lamp. He's probably just glad that this time the photo didn't involve sitting on a cold cement sidewalk, or coaxing the dog to eat.

Day 334: Poor Tom

Just a little pause in the chaos to take a photo of the bird. I have a cookbook, Thanksgiving 101, that makes this whole, huge, production, much simpler, because it spells out, step-by-step how to do things, like make mash potatoes and gravy.

The platter under the turkey is Franciscan Ware, Desert Rose. This was my mother's platter, and we always used these dishes on holidays. I'm thankful for the memories I have of my mom, and all the things she did for us seven kids.

Thanksgiving is wonderful, but. . . . I sure am tired right now!

Day 333: Happy Thanksgiving!

MMMMmmmm, pie. . . . . . I hope everyone is having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. And I'm thankful for even this, for the chance to be a place on earth where I can use a computer, learn things like photography, and do things like create a blog. Just a few of the many, many, many things there are in my life for which I'm thankful. And certainly not the most important things; the most important would be my faith, my family,getting to live in a democratic country. . . . . and then there's pie. . . . MMmmmmm. . . . pie!. . . . . . .

Day 331: Gratitude for Those who Brave the Cold!

. . . for us. Our city has added new lights to its Christmas decorations this year! Strangely, I'm really, really excited about this! It's dark when I go to work, dark when I come home. But Light in the world is such a sign of hope. . . and cheer! True, I worry about global warming, and I'll annoy even more people by turning out lights when I leave rooms these days to try and compensate for this luxury of city lights.



I get the pleasure of the lights, but I'm also very grateful that I don't have to be the one to sit in that little cherry-picker vehicle (or whatever it's called), with extra exposure to the wind-chill. When he was done with this lamp-post, the worker turned and waved at me, and sometimes, I think regular, hard-working people just kind of like the attention of getting their photo taken.

Day 329: Starbucks was Closed; This will Do; Life is Good

Wind Chill 24 degrees. Sitting on the cement. Reading the paper, hot cup of coffee. . . Life is Good.

Day 328: Tag and a View out My Window

This is a photo taken outside my office window, a little after 5pm, yesterday. I love the line of trees leading to the county building, and am so happy that there are Christmas lights on the evergreens this year. (Would you consider this photo to be using "leading lines" in terms of composition? I'm thinking about using it for my photography class.) Last year, the city didn't put up the lights, and I so missed them!

Raw, Manual, ISO 200
F/22~25"
Nikon 105mm 2.8

I was tagged by Pat and Amy M to play along with the 4th month of my blog, the 4th photo. Ironically, I had been looking at this set of photos just the other day, thinking I'd like to drive down to Fargo again and take another photo of the Viking Ships at the Hjemkost Center, now that I now a little more about photography. I'm not very good at figuring out who has not been tagged. It's strains my organizational/attentional abilities, right up there with trying to collate pages in a copy machine! (I always botch this!) Today, I'm tagging Heather, Becky, Nessa, and Liz. You know, the talent on this POTD thread is pretty phenomenal!

Day 327: Some Book Club, Huh?

This was the dessert that my friend made for our book club. Pretty fantastic looking, isn't it? It was delicious! Especially with the pumpkin ice cream, and little red candy balls from Harry & David. We read these nice, socially conscious books (sometimes), and then totally indulge ourselves.

Sadly, my desserts and house are not nearly as pretty. Not even close.

Next, we're reading The Autobiography of Santa Claus, by Jeff Guinn. I'll let you know what I think of it. . .

Day 326: Give Me Hand

Another rerun from January. Last January, though, there was snow on the ground. And this time, I used a tripod. Amazing how much more sharpness you can get when you use a tripod! I noticed that behind this hand are some Christmas lights. . . I may have to head back to this area when the lights are on, although it may creep me out a bit to be in this alley in the dark. Just to the right of the photo is a sign which proclaims this to be the "alley of love."



Tonight in my book club, we're discussing one of the most disturbing books I've ever read: A Long Way Gone:Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, by Ishmael Beah. This is the true story of Ishmael, a boy caught in the civil war of Sierra Leone at the age of 12. He becomes an involuntary soldier in the army and recounts details of his desperation, hunger, and violence in the war.