Manual

While at the boys soccer game last night,
I took some pictures.


In Manual Mode.



I want to learn how,
and I didn’t NEED pictures of soccer.

I brought my camera for purely educational reasons.

So I am going to show them to you.



Tell me what you think,
what I did right,
what I could have done better…..



I can take it.






Oh.




 I was informed by the blog Queen that I am NOT allowed to do pictures only posts.

All posts must have words.



So I will intersperse random thoughts amongst the pictures.






Here we go.





( I don’t need any words here because the
lengthy explanation above should cover it.)

Post-it notes are not the best invention ever.

Shocking, I know.




Paper towel is.




I heart paper towel.

To clean up dog accidents, kid accidents, wipe noses, clean up vomit, wipe up raw meat juice
(which is actually blood), clean glasses, clean windows, wipe pasty chicken butt…


the uses I have for paper towels are endless.

I never used to buy them.

Because they are unnecessary.  Cloths can do the same thing.

I was trying to be extremely frugal.

But honestly? 


I would throw out the cloth.

Some things are just too gross to try and wash out.

So, now I buy paper towels.


They make me happy.

I broke my favourite mug tonight.

My favourite, ‘cause it’s the perfect colour blue, the perfect size, fit’s wonderfully in my hand, and I love it.

It’s big but not too big your coffee get’s cold before you finish,
and not so thick that you dribble coffee all down the front of you.
(Or is that just me?)

It was the handle, and I hope that I can crazy-glue it back on.

I was grocery shopping with my kids today,
and an older gentleman was watching us, smiling.

As I went to go by him he asked me,
'”Are all those kids yours?  Or are you babysitting?”


I said, “No, they’re all mine.  Every last one of ‘em.”


He broke into a huge grin, stuck both thumbs up in the air and said,
” Good for you!  GOOD for YOU!”


I smiled and continued shopping.

I never think that having four kids is a lot.

I think I have a small family.

But, my perception is skewed, I guess.


Anyway, it was nice.
Support from a stranger.

I like this one.

But I don’t like the shadow on her face.

These Special Dual Purpose meat chicks I have are
incredibly hardy and healthy. 
And active.

The escaped their pen very early this morning, at 3 days old,
and I found a bunch of them outside when I went to do chores.


3 were dead.


Something had ripped their stomachs open,
and their entrails were now their extrails.

Know what would do that?

They weren’t eaten.
Just ripped open.

Good news is I still have 80 chicks.

That God for miscounts,
or throwing in a few extra;)

I know technically this is overexposed…
but I kinda liked the effect.

Backlit again, but face still shadowy.

What can I do?
Remember, my flash doesn’t work.
I still like it though.

An overexposed, heavenly soccer net.

I did get some pictures of soccer,
in case you were wondering.

Check the clenched fists, and look on his face…

he takes sports very seriously.

And that’s it!

What do ya think?

In times of trouble

I got this in my inbox this morning,

and it encouraged me.

So, I am reposting it here, in hope that it may encourage you.

In Times Of Trouble

Posted by jerrywhite on Jun 16, 2010

God’s trusting child may say in times of trouble:

FIRST: He brought me here; it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that will I rest.

NEXT: He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.

THEN: He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

LAST: In His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows.

Say: I am here—

(1) By God’s appointment.

(2) In His keeping.

(3) Under His training.

(4) For His time.

Andrew Murray (1828-1917)

~~~

And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you; and you shall glorify me.

Psalm 50:15 (ESV)

~~~

“Little daily worries are heaven-sent messengers to help you on the way home. What would you think of a sailor complaining of the wind that bears him homeward? A day spent among these worries is a day in God’s school. One might say that the way to make the best of them is to make the least of them.”

Andrew Bonar (1810-1892)

Small Dead Animals

This past week I’ve been experiencing an interesting phenomenon every time I sweep my floor.

Small dead animals….

This is the kitchen floor….

And the Great Room.
I left the fork in there for reference.

Now, contrary to how it might look,
I sweep my floors twice a day.



This was the first sweeping
after breakfast, from last evening.

Huston, we have a problem.

So, I went outside to try and remedy the situation.







This is the first location.
(See the blue dog brush?)

The second location.

With some girls for reference…
(they wanted to stuff a pillow with the fluff.)

I was covered in this at the end.

But he wasn’t.


Feel better, Cy?

Why yes, yes I do.

Anyone know how to weave?

Wordless Wednesday

 

 

My day in pictures.

 

I heart Faces : Babies!

Well.



I like babies.




And I’ve had my fair share of them.



But, my baby just turned three.

So she’s no longer a baby:(




I still have babies in my life, though.



My gorgeous niece….

My handsome nephew….

And one more nephew, and very tiny niece.




That’s what happens when you have eleven siblings.






But.




I’m not posting a picture of any of my relatives.



Nope.




I’m posting this picture.




I took it on my amazing trip to Mexico with my wonderful friend.

We visited a Mayan village, and these sisters just stood out to me.



I love how the older one, who’s not that old, is caring for her baby sister, and the baby is perfectly content among all the strangers wrapped in her big sisters arms.







I love it.

If you like babies, (and really, who doesn't?)
go look at all the other gorgeous pictures.


Only, you better wear a bib.


To catch all the drool....

One of those days….

You know.



When you have big plans, and don’t accomplish them.





That was me today.

Big plans.



Accomplished maybe half.

Maybe.





And you know what the stinky thing is?





I haven’t stopped till now.

And it’s ten o’clock.




Well, I visited with my Mom for 20 minutes after supper.

But that’s it.

I didn’t even stop for lunch….. I fed the kids on the go.






Gah.




So discouraging.




I guess I have to plan less in a day.





Or I have to clone myself.



One or the other.






Tomorrow has big plans too.


Very big.



’Cause some of the plan for today has been pushed till tomorrow.


I hate that.


So, I am going to bed so I can get at those plans early.

But first I’m going to share this with you.




Over the weekend, the kids and I made a “Summer List”.

We sat down, and they told me all the things they want to do this summer.






Here it is:



1.Go to the beach once a week
2. Pick Strawberries
3. Go Fishing with Dad
4. Bike together twice a week
5. Build a TreeHouse
6. Drink home made Ice Tea once a week
7. Camp once a month, at least.
8. Read 100 books.
(I told them that if they read 100 books, they wouldn’t have to do school all summer!  They’re doing well.  3 days in and they are all around the 10 book mark.)

9. Have a campfire once a week.
10. Go Hiking
11. Go outside and play EVERY day.  Even in the rain.
12. Have a movie night once a week.
(This one I need to clarify.  I’ve said before I don’t have TV, but what I mean is, I don’t get any channels.  I do have a TV.  And a DVD player.  So we can watch movies;)

13. Paint our toenails… and KEEP them painted!

(Girls only.)

14. Go to the horse races.

So that’s our plan for the summer.



Do you have any plans?




Do share.



Then I can see whether we forgot anything!

Check it out!

Know what this is?

This, my friends, is a Chicken Shack.

Still needs windows, and a proper front door, and a few other things.

But it’s functional.

The hens area…

Do you like it, ladies?

Guess what they want…

They want me to open this.

Here come the Ladies!

I also practiced taking some photo’s in manual….

a little fuzzy, but not bad.

Nathan wouldn’t stay still….

These were taken at my Mom’s house, while we waited for this to start:

This is one of the rare times I wish we did have TV.

World Cup Soccer.

We love it, and would probably watch every game.

At least my wonderful Mom let’s us come to her house to watch it.

It was a good game.

I think people expected England to win,

but the US goaltender, and defense, just shut England down.

Add in an error from Green, England’s goaltender,

and you end up with a tied game.

1-1.

There were a couple a very tense moments, very close almost-goals, and very amazing saves.

Exciting!

And that’s it.