Clarify~No not a post about Mr. Hygiene

Because of a few phone calls last night and today I need to clarify. I covet anything to do with photography. I have a Nikon D50 with 18-55 mm & 55-200 mm Lenses.

They are most likely all I will ever need, but on the rare occasion that I need that extra mile I cringe and feel inadequate as the family's visual recorder. Here is a photo of the two lenses I have, note the camera in the photo is a D40 not a D50 like mine. There are a few things I feel I still need; a Macro lens~Minimum Focus Distance: 8 3/4 inch and a Nikon Zoom Telephoto AF VR Zoom Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED. This christmas I was very very lucky to get a Nikon SB-600 Speedlight i-TTL Shoe Mount Flash. Best gift since last year's gift of my camera.

Here is a photo using my 18-55 mm lens; great shot and nice crisp photos.

Now here is a photo using my 55-200 mm lens; same distance just taken a few seconds after the above photo. Once again, great photo nice and crisp.

But once again these guys show up with these lovely things....

Lust & Envy

We went to a Football game today in Tampa, (Once again we were given free football tickets) some team played some other team. One team won and the fans were happy and a lot of other fans were not. I however had other things on my mind, how could you not? They were everywhere, popping out at you, lurking everywhere. Spot a red vest and you would see one and then the other one. Have they no shame?

They were right there on the side lines so close you could almost touch them. Yep, I wanted to reach out and grab a pair of those bad boys for myself. I mean come on, they are spectacular. They must have cost a fortune, those were not included with the body.

They were so huge you could see them all the way across the field. The set I got are not even close to that size.

You could see them waiting at the end-zone all lined together sporting the NFL approved red vest, ready to jump into action when the team scored. I know that envy is one of the seven deadly sins and all, but I can't help it. I think you can get them now using financing...Yes I am thinking about it. Mine are just not adequate.

I mean can you belive that they can even carry those around with those little bodies. They must have a backache by the end of the day.

You know I was talking about the lenses right?

Paige and KT even think I could use a bigger set of lenses...

Click!

Okay, so this past week or so has not been the best for photo taking for me. I usually am the one snapping away doing what I do, take photos. For some reason I have left my camera battery at home once and on a different day my memory card. I really don't want to admit the day I totally left my camera bag sitting on the washer ready to go for a great day of photos on the beach. What is up with that? I will admit I did have a great time all of those days actually getting in the action and yes even in a photo taken by my sister in-law Lisa. Stacy was blown away that I actually let someone take my photo let alone pose for it. It shows how much I love my nieces and enjoyed every second with them, teasing them and hearing them say "that is what dad does". It could also say a lot of how much l Love my sister in-law. She is one of the nicest people on the planet.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Day

Stacy was excited that Alex plays Basket ball, so we had to have a little time on the court today and let the old man show her how it is done. We think Alex's asthma helped Stacy keep his point spread ahead and since he was huffing and puffing because he is old and not at his athletic best we called it even. A special thanks goes out to Lindsey for keeping the court nice and clear of twigs and dirt!


Air Stacy. (Notice the media tent to the left)


It goes Up.


It goes in. Stacys got game!

Christmas Eve Day ~ Ponce Inlet

Busy day!

Paige, Alex, Lindsey at SeaWorld.
Mmmmm! Funnel cake.
Lisa, Floyd, Alex & Lindsey

Getting ready for retirement

The girls were returning these to the store. They were left in the parking lot and we took it upon ourselves to return them, not because we wanted to drive them just because we wanted to be good citizens.

Pearl's New Friend

Pearl has a new friend: Floyd, my brother, and Pearl have bonded. I think she is ready to move in with him.

Peanut butter cup cookies

We made these cookies and we have none left. We did give half of them away...really, we did. We also made rice crispy treats and triple chocolate chip brownies we also gave half of them away...really we did!

The girls

Paige, ALex and Lindsey.

Wii vs. Atari

Mr. Hygiene taking a few swings inside the house. My Brother Floyd and his family are here from Wisconsin for a little over a week and they brought their Wii with them. Mr. Hygiene was not sharing very well last night, but grinning ear to ear. Poor man our Atari does not have golf game like this. I think he wants to upgrade. I don't know about that, our 26 year old Atari still works great. We don't need that fancy smancy stuff.

They are coming for you KC Tom

I heard it on the wire they know where you live. The skinny Florida Squirrels heard about all the nuts in your back yard, not to mention the big crazy one living in your house, they are planning to "summer" in KC.

Epcot

Today was Stacy's annual office party. They have a nice big breakfast at Disney and then you get a choice of what park you want to go to. We went to Epcot. Here is a photo of Paige when a gust of wind hit her. The temp was 70°F and the clouds cleared up by noon. Not a bad day.

I love that Paige is a good sport about photos. This one made me laugh. Thats my girl hamming it up for the camera.

This little guy let Paige pet him. Look at her eyebrow she was so excited. The chatter that came out of Paige after this was amazing. Talked a mile a minute.

He did not seem to be bothered at all. Just kept chomping away.

Okay, after looking at the little guy I have decided is a girl.

Christmas Palm Tree

Tomorrow we will put the christmas balls on the tree.

Christmas kitties

Crusty and Tulip napping.

To post or not to post

I have been busy making dolls for a swap I signed up for. They are called Icicle Dolls. While I love to share the crafts I do some are a little different than the run of the mill cute crafts that we all know and love. I really like how these have come out so I will share them with you before I send them off to the Swap in Luxembourg.

Pearl and the tree...

I know this is a lot of posting about our dog. I have been busy with making christmas gifts and can't really post about what I am doing lately. Pearl takes great photos and is always doing something cute. I love how she sits under the tree.

Pearl sums it up!

Pearl and my allergies are at their peak. I thought this photo said it all.

Christmas Pearl

When we brought Pearl home 4 years ago she would sit under the christmas tree. She still likes to look at the lights and sit under the tree. Her eyes even seem to have the Christmas spirt.
As you can see by the messed up tree skirt, Crusty has been playing with the buttons on the skirt. Nice Kitty.

Do you need some more sugar?

Sugar?


Caffeine?


Both?


Can you say


"My mom works at Starbucks?"


God bless you Christina!


Thanks for sending the photos!