Category Archives: Random

September 22, 2012 · 12:00 pm

First Day of Autumn

My mom has a Colorado scenic calender that hangs near the kitchen. This month’s picture is titled, “Little Snake River sunrise.” The sun shines on the dry mountain peaks giving them a tan color for the horizon. The trees shimmer with orange and yellow. The sky is blue. You can see the fleeting trace of dark clouds at the top of the picture which are being replaced by puffy white ones that lay low in the sky by the peaks. And there is a double rainbow. I notice that I tend to stare more at pictures or paintings these days. I soak in the color schemes or theme. I try to visualize what the artist had in mind. This picture was the same. Just one of those that makes you wonder if the photographer purposely waited until sunrise to take the picture or whether it was spontaneous. I go with the latter.

Like the picture above. It was taken last Autumn, a day after one of my chemo treatments. My sister and two college friends were going to Yellow Springs to enjoy the air, colors and tourism. They really wanted me to go. So I went. I had a great time. This picture was spontaneous. Look at how perfect it is. Everything from color coordinating, our hand positions (that was not planned either) to my eyes peeking out from the leaf. 🙂 I thought the other two were doing the same. I don’t think the picture would have turned out as great if we planned it. And I love to plan! Ask my family…it drives them nuts. There is nothing wrong with planning ahead. Ask event coordinators. I am sure the word procrastination is never mentioned during their interviews. It is actually a job I could see myself thriving in, minus the telephone calls. Aside from profession, when you plan ahead based on circumstances, it is harder to embrace change. Trust me, it seems to be my life’s bad habit.

I wrote a post at the beginning of Spring about how my vision is blurry when I take my eyes off Jesus. Two seasons later I see parallelism to my future much like a leaf. A leaf grows in the Spring. It nourishes in the summer, and it dies in the Fall. Its beauty peaks a few days before it sees the ground. Have you ever watched a leaf fall from the tree to the ground? How is a leaf to know the timing of when it will be set free or the circumstances around it that will shape the direction of its fall?

Not that I am falling (well, ok, I do physically when I twist my ankle), but the circumstances around me seem to be falling. At least in my leaf-like eyes. Circumstances such as my last day of work is in exactly two weeks with no prospects open for something new. Circumstances such as my next MRI is October 22nd. To be honest, thoughts cross my mind frequently of what those results will show and whether or not I will have to restart another treatment. Circumstances such as finding an apartment, fixing my car, putting my paintings in coffee shops, or where God needs me to serve in a ministry. Circumstances–temporary things that shift like the wind. Circumstances that weigh heavy on the heart, much like the tug of gravity on a leaf. Circumstances that are out of my control or leave me confused.

I cannot see what lies ahead, but I have to trust in God’s timing. It is perfect. It is not spontaneous like human plans. It is tenderly planned to meet all my needs. He sees the greater picture. I see the spontaneous moments piece by peace. I must admit that as much as I try to keep my eyes on Jesus, I am more like Peter who looked down at the roaring waves beneath his feet. Life is walking by faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” Hebrews 11:1.

And faith is much like Autumn. Change is here. Change is not always a strand of negative effects. Without the change of colors and falling leaves, how will Winter ever arrive? I must embrace change. I must embrace the Autumn in my life, for even when everything around me seems to be falling–it is beautiful. And so I wait. I wait for God’s timing, because if a leaf falls too soon it can be trampled. If it falls too late, it can wither. I wait for His release of beauty as I enter the Autumn winds.

Well, sometimes my life just don’t make sense at all

When the mountains look so big and my faith just seems so small

CHORUS: So hold me Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf

You have been King of my glory

Won’t You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark

It’s so hot inside my soul, I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS

Surrender don’t come natural to me

I’d rather fight You for something I don’t really want

Than to take what You give that I need

And I’ve beat my head against so many walls

Now I’m falling down, I’m falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band

Is playing this hymn

And Your grace rings out so deep

It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS

Rich Mullins. “Hold Me Jesus.” A Liturgy, a Legacy, & a Ragamuffin Band. (1993).

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September 10, 2012 · 8:36 pm

The Start of Something.

It is here. The start of something. I go outside and I breath in. Fresh air! Crisp! The start of Autumn has begun. The trees are feeling it too. They are beginning to change color. Although it is not immediate, it is the start of something.

So in life, I see the same with prayer. The start of something. Prayer is an immediate message to God. But His answers are not always as fast. Patience, endurance, hope. The answers come in as a start of something. A start of something greater than ever imagined.

People pray for my healing. And now I am praying for a loved one’s healing. And even though it has only been a week for her compared to my ten years, I find myself already getting frustrated. Why can’t God just hear our prayers and heal her? Then I think of all those who have prayed for me diligently for the past ten years. Some everyday. I wonder if they have ever asked the same question. But they continue to pray anyway…even when they cannot see any results of healing.

The leaves will continue to change their color until the last has fallen. How can a single leaf survive the harvest winds? Patience, God’s timing is perfect. Endurance, God will never give us more than we can bear. Hope, God holds our future. And I begin to feel it. The start of something. Peace–like fresh, crisp Autumn air to my soul. And I long for more.

 

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September 4, 2012 · 10:22 pm

Labor Day Weekend Recap

Hi everyone!

Last week seemed to go extremely fast! Wednesday’s session of Occupational Therapy went very well. Although it does not feel like it, my hands have improved from the strengthening exercises and brace (which I lost this weekend…story below). My next session is October 19th. The OT gave me a stronger “soft” putty. The irony. LOL. She also wanted me to do some thumb strengthening exercises, because they are actually very weak–which surprised me, because I feel my thumbs take a lot of control when using my hands to lift things or obviously when I text. 🙂 But they are weak, so I hope the strengthening exercises help.

How was your Labor Day weekend? Mine resembled much like the Adventures in Odyssey episode where the Barkley’s go on vacation in their home town–i.e. camping in their living room, playing guess-the-animal-when-blindfolded at the zoo and having ice cream at Whit’s End. While mine was not to that extent–it was a wonderful weekend with my family. Here is a quick recap:

Saturday–

I worked a short morning shift and then hurried home to join my family as we embarked in a journey back in time at George Rogers Clark Park a few towns over in Springfield, OH. The 30th Annual The Fair at New Boston was taking place all day Saturday and Sunday. I am glad we got there in the early morning, because there was so much to see and we were blessed to see most of the fair before the rain came in little splurges (more like random downfall that felt like hail.) What a fun event!!! It is a whole field was replica of the era 1790’s-1812. There were Indian encampments (we saw the Drum and Dance event), tents full of clothes, jewelry, gentlemen and ladies hats, wool socks, goodies, kids toys, food, shoes, a blacksmith and a printer, Daniel Boone enactment, tea and pottery–all this from that specific time era. The people who volunteered to be in the event did a great job in keeping the time era within the conversation. My mom heard a little boy ask a native how much his pipe cost. The reply: “About three beavers.” HAHA 🙂

I don’t know which was my favorite part, because it was all so neat to experience! I really liked the way they portrayed the social classes at the time: the workers, the soldiers, the upperclass women in their fancy clothes carrying baskets of fruit. The soldiers did a reenactment of a battle that actually took place in that area as George Rogers Clark held off the natives from joining the British forces in the war. I also really enjoyed seeing the ladies go through the washing clothes process. There were horses, oxen, chickens and a rooster. There was a man carrying around a rat in its cage and gave us the recipe for “Rat Stew.” We also ate amazing “ham and biskut” for a late lunch and you could buy an ale- looking mug for your drinks, then you got to keep the mug!! I just set my mug in my “colonial yellow and patriot themed room” with some flowers next to my bookshelf.

I bought a bag of butter mints, which were delicious and we all shared some peach over pound cake for a small dessert before we headed out. When you took the exit, a sign read, “You are now entering the 21st century.” Like Twilight Zone! If you are ever in the area for Labor Day, this event is quite a destination! At the bottom of this post are some pictures and the event website.

But first a few more stories about the weekend. Well, by now you are probably wondering what happened to my finger brace. Well, I’ll tell ya–I was not prepared for the major grass ruts we encountered at the fair. Within a few minutes of entering, my ankle twisted and I found the grass. 🙂 My dad was carrying a big umbrella, so it was just the right size to be my cane. I did find until we stopped at this tent that had gadets and kid games. They had this sign up that talked about how people at that time judged their character and personality by their nose shape. So getting a closer step to the clay nose-shaped examples, I triped over the tent peg and grabbed hold of the tent ropes. Envisioning the tent collapsing, I let go and did this slow motion backwards fall to the ground. People around thought I fainted (must have been graceful). But seriously, it was a hot and humid day, so I can see their train of thought. A few gentlemen from the other tent came over to help me get up and they asked if I was ok. I said, “Oh yeah. I was just trying to see my nose shape.” 🙂 I think that is where I lost my finger brace. I remember feeling it sliding off as I grabbed the rope, but never looked for it as my mind was on this–“just act cool”–moment after the fall. That is my only logical explanation.

Just one more side note–just for you history lovers like myself–George Rogers Clark was the older brother to William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Interesting. Well, Sunday after the community Church service, I took a nap! Then we enjoyed a movie at the Cedarville Opera House and a bit of ice cream from the new “parlor” in town. Yesterday, we attended the community pancake breakfast provided by our local volunteer firefighters. Next event was the rainy CedarFest parade. A bit of relaxing (another nap), dinner with my sister and brother-in-law, and we finally ended the weekend by watching the town fireworks from our patio, then playing a game of Pictionary.

What a spectacular weekend! Now, if you are wondering how I play Pictionary–good question! Look forward to that story tomorrow. 🙂 As promised, here are some pictures (thank you to my mom–I was a bit too wobbly to take my own) from the Fair at New Boston. And the website:

http://www.fairatnewboston.org/index.html

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August 19, 2012 · 11:50 pm

Stay At Home Travels

So a bunch of my friends are traveling around, seeing the world and I would just have to be honest right now and say that I am just a wee bit jealous! But, then I also realized…”Well, ok, I have been to Greece!” 🙂 That counts. But still, taking a nice long travel to Europe is at the top of my life’s wish list. I guess I can always keep hopeful thoughts. As Justin Bieber says, “Never say never.” 🙂

Since it is out of reality at the present moment, I decided I could do a bit of “stay at home” travels. I remembered my Greece pages on the “I Like” links are not complete. I am so sorry if you have tried to click on the pictures for more, because I forgot about them. Thus, they are under construction. 🙂 Until the end of September, it is my goal to get those pages and stories done. Also too, my goal is to organize my stacks of life’s birth til present pictures that are currently out-of-order and helplessly stacked in bags in the closet. I love pictures so the task is not daunting, just a matter of sitting down and achieving the organization goal!! Sad though, has anyone else noticed that photo albums are going extinct? Hobby Lobby is the best place now to buy them, but the styles are limited. Just a sad thought–like negatives! 😦

There are many debates (ok not really, but the word fit) on how to store pictures. Some use boxes; others use photo albums; USB and disks; or just on your i Phone. I do not have an i Phone, so my digital pictures are either on my computer or backed up on a USB. Well, I learned a few important things in the world of digital cameras a few weeks ago. I was finally uploading my Greece pictures from my USB to my Shutterfly account, so I can get copies for my scrapbook I hope to complete (I will add the term here, “someday”).  Now, when I went to Greece, I figured that it was a one in a million opportunity…”Click, click, click.” 🙂 Five thousand pictures later, I got home and deleted the bad or blurry ones. Still an epic close to four thousand. But I figure, two weeks of seeing just about everything, that was a pretty fair number. LOL.

Anyway, back to my story–I had my USB plugged in my computer and after a few hours of uploading, I was getting near the end. I went to stand up and was aiming to put my computer on the chair that I used to prop up my feet. But when I stood, I held onto the computer only with my left hand (dumb choice). I was trying to balance with my right hand on the rocking chair, but instead lost everything. The computer fell out of my hands, crashing on the USB, which landed hard on my right foot. USB=busted. In a moments flash, I thought to myself–“I just lost everything.” I had bank files on there, other pictures, school papers, and an awesome power point I presented for my Humanities class.

Definitely a gasp of frustration and panic, but life goes on. Lesson learned for sure. Of my Greece pictures, I only lost the last day–The Acropolis. But my pictures of the Parthenon did not turn out great anyway. It was so hot that day and windy. I got fried like a lobster and could not hear much, plus the rocks are so slippery there with steep steps (and super crowded)…that is what I remember of my last day in Athens. 🙂 Then we went shopping. So I always have my souvenirs. But as my mom says, “Pictures are the best souvenirs.” I think she says it a little different, but I get my picture genes from her for sure. 😀 In this case, my best memories and pictures of other days in Greece are safe.

The moral of my dramatic story is this: Do not procrastinate uploading or printing special pictures and keep them in order always. 🙂 You will avoid years of frustration. Now you know my downfall. Have a great start of the week. If nothing else, say cheese. 🙂

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August 3, 2012 · 12:01 am

Anne (spelled with an “e”).

As I finished my crunchy peanut butter and honey sandwich for lunch, I headed back in my room to finish a project. Today’s goal: my earrings. Picking out my earings in the morning (let alone putting them on) takes a while–due to all of the studs being crammed in the same small oval container, combined with the small backs which I usually drop. I decided if I organized my earrings, my early morning ready routine leaves me with a few more minutes to spare. I got a pack of cork tiles and a 5×7 frame, turned on part two of Anne of Green Gables and went to work.

Right about the time I start pushing in my pearl studs, the scene where Anne recites “The Highwayman” for the White Sands recital starts playing: Matthew Cuthbert buys Anne a pearl necklace; she recites; Gilbert gives Anne a standing ovation; and the scene ends with Diana and Anne walking by the lighthouse on the beach.

Now I can relate a bit more to Diana…wanting the latest fashion, the buzz, eyes the fashion of the ladies’ hair at the dances. But Anne sees past that. As they watch the sunset the conversation unfolds:

DIANA: Did you see all those diamonds? I wish I were rich and I could spend my whole summer at a hotel eating ice cream and chicken salad.

ANNE: You know something, Diana? We are rich. We have sixteen years to our credit, and we both have wonderful imaginations. We should be as happy as queens. Look at that! [Points to sunset.] You couldn’t enjoy its loveliness anymore if you had ropes of diamonds.

DIANA: I don’t know about that.

ANNE: I’m content with my string of pearls. Matthew gave them to me with as much love as ever went into any of those stuffy women’s jewels. I am happy Diana, and nothing is going to hold me back. (1)

I think Anne says it best. She is content. She is loved. She has a goal for her future. I think when I start to see life from Diana’s point of view, I get anxious…wanting more yet not realizing how much I have. Funny, Anne was a lot like Diana in the beginning of the movie–insecure yet prideful. She even wanted to be called Cordelia, always dreaming to be someone else. Her attitude changes over the course of events that unfold. And her attitude in this scene is spot on. Thinking each day from Anne’s point of view allows room for God’s point of view to rise above my own. Meaning, if I am content, happy, and realize that I am loved by the One who created me…even all my handicaps and pain and failures cannot hold me back from becoming who God created me to be. He says,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13.

Seems like the best way to start out each morning. And just like Miss Shirley told Anne, “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it,” (2) so too God’s compassion and mercy never ends. They are new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness! [Lamentations 3:22-23].

References:

1. Sullivan, Kevin. 1985. Anne of Green Gables. Based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novels. Retrieved August 3, 2012. http://greengables-1.tripod.com/script/1part7.html#.

2. Sullivan, Kevin. 1985. Retrieved August 3, 2012. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088727/quotes.

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July 24, 2012 · 8:14 pm

Wishful thinking…

As I paint, I have been jamming to oldies. Anything past the year 2004, I really don’t listen to due to my hearing loss. I don’t know the words plus I can’t catch the beat equals that I stick to oldies that I know. Personally, I think the 80’s-90’s are the best anyway. However, I have also been into movie soundtracks or classical music lately. It helps me to think while I paint. Today, it is Bach and the Sea. The London Symphony Orchestra plays the greatest of Bach’s pieces with the sounds of the sea in the background. It is so relaxing.

A few songs are so calm…lots of cello so the sound is deep–makes me want to sit by the sea with a cup of tea in a cute sundress and fancy hat. Others pieces have more upper violin with a good beat which makes me want to ballroom dance like they did in the day (think Pride and Prejudice style songs); and still others, I wish to have my flute at hand. Although I definitely could not play a note or even remember the hand positions, I have been missing being able to play the flute. I really loved it. I can see myself being the flute soloist in Bach’s “Badinerie”. 🙂 My favorite piece on the cd is Bach’s No.1. I think it is the whole symphony, but I am not positive. Lovely melodies none the less!!

With the Olympics starting this Friday in London…my thoughts of my dream vacation arouse. I really hope to make it to England at some point in my life. There are a few things on my list to see: London (obviously), Oxford University and C.S. Lewis’ home, “The Kilns”; Canterbury and St. Augustine’s Abbey in Kent; and the countryside of England…maybe Wales. So much to see!

I love any history (as you might already know!), but since some anscestry is rooted in England, I find their history even more fascinating! Last summer, I spent a lot of time studying the time periods from King Henry VIII to King James I. This summer it has been King Arthur. I picked up T.H. White’s classic work, The Once and Future King, but it is over 500 pages and with all this painting–I have a feeling it will be my autumn season reading (with tea). 🙂 For right now, I just enjoy BBC’s show called Merlin. You can watch the first two seasons on hulu. I have yet to start The Downton Abbey series, but I will!! 🙂

My final months in Denver, a friend and I went on a quest to visit different tea shops around town. We found a British-owned cafe called The House of Commons. 🙂 We enjoyed the simplicity of decor, bright atmosphere, and sugar lumps for our tea. I, of course, put in three. 😉

Have a splendid evening, regardless of how many lumps of sugar are in your tea!

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July 6, 2012 · 12:00 am

Treasure Falls

Today’s hot temperatures (and I mean HOT!) reminded me of a few things. First and foremost, I had nothing to complain about since my AC was running and I sat inside for the most part. Last week’s storms hit pretty hard. There are still thousands without electricity. Please pray for those who still have none as tomorrow is said to be record high temperatures.

And today, as I used my day off to write letters, I also sorted through some pictures from our CO trip in June. We took Wolfe Creek Pass to a site-seeing area called Treasure Falls. It was a little hike (and thanks to Dad’s walking stick and his arm) I made it to the top. Another “breath-taking view”…if I can borrow the term for the two meanings. 🙂

All who are thirsty

All who are weak

Come to the fountain

Dip your heart in the stream of life

Let the pain and the sorrow

Be washed away

In the waves of his mercy

As deep cries out to deep (we sing)
Come Lord Jesus come
Holy Spirit come
As deep cries out to deep

-Kutless, “All Who Are Thirsty”

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July 3, 2012 · 11:23 pm

Time for “Now and Then!”

Have you ever seen Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? Your first view of the dwarfs is not at home…but at work. “We work, work, work, work, work, work, work–we work all night and day! In a mine! (echos) In a mine! (echos).” 🙂 Not surprising that their carts are full of all sorts of different gems and so easily found. Classic for sure! But with the Fourth of July right around the corner, I am remembering good days in the old mining town–Creede, Colorado.

Creede is located in the San Luis Valley…go much much farther than the city limits and you are in mining mountain territory. Growing up, the mines were not active but they had the mining museum open so you could see how the miners back in the late 1800’s mined for silver. Currently, a mine called The Last Chance Mine still operates. Back in 1889, Nicolas Creede found silver in the mountains above what is now known as Creede, CO. He yelled to his partner, “Holy Moses! I’ve found it!” and they staked their claim as the Holy Moses mine. The Last Chance was also during this era.

Then. (My sisters and I at the mining museum.)

Growing up, we went up to Creede/surrounding areas a lot during the summer months. Some of the shops close for winter, but Creede still thrived as a town during the winter months too. Thinking of the history of Creede–it is amazing that it is still alive and thriving today! The Silver Panic of 1893 left Creede in a bind. When things reopened most went to Leadville to mine for silver there. In the early 1900’s, the town went through a few fires and floods. Most of the buildings that you see today are not the originals from 1890’s but from after the fires/floods. Some, however, are still there.

Creede is best known for their Fourth of July celebrations. Big town parade, kid events digging for treasures in a saw dust pile (huge pile!!!), souvenir shops, rock-drilling contests, and of course the fireworks from the mountains above.

Creede is also famous for the Western outlaws that came for the silver rush in the 1890’s. “Soapy Smith” and his gang, Bob Ford–the man who shot Jesse James, Ed O’Keffey–the man who shot the man who killed Jesse James (lame, but that is why he shot Bob Ford), and Poker Alice. All in Creede. 🙂 Wow! All interesting characters and part of the good ol’ West!!!

 Creede Theater and Hotel. The theater has amazing play productions! My favorite: Our Town. I remember my older sister saying that we should leave after the second act. Now I know why, I cried the whole third act!

This past June, during our time in CO, my mom and I got to spend a day in Creede while the others hiked (they went to The Last Chance Mine). Mom and I finally went to the Creede Museum! After all those years…so glad we did that, because there is so much history in there! Old photographs, household items, an old saloon bar counter, and also the old Creede Hotel piano. I forget his name, but some famous self-learned piano player played for the guests at the hotel. It said on the piano that he could not read music but played by ear. He “read” a catalogue…he flipped different sections for different moods. They even had the catalogue there and a picture of him at the piano (you can see the book behind him). 🙂 I thought that was great!

During our day at Creede, we also got in on the latest of the “Hollywood gossip” about Johnny Depp’s upcoming movie, The Lone Ranger, in which he plays Tonto. They are filming part of the movie behind Creede! There was all this buzz about the movie. Some of the locals (and others in the valley) are in the movie as background people in scenes. The man who took the picture of my mom and I by the fudge shop was talking about his role that started filming that night…a night shooting scene, ooohhhh! Cool! Our family does not go to the movies often–I did a lot in college, but I don’t anymore since it is a waste of money with no captions. BUT, we did all decide that May 31, 2013…we will be going to see the new film (just because we want to see the parts filmed in CO). 🙂 This is the closest I will ever get to big time Hollywood-ness:

The road to the mines is closed for filming.

 If I see a windy scene…I will know what caused it. 🙂

I also think the whole Colorado history is amazing–how it all ties together. Nicolas Creede sold the mine in 1890 to David H. Moffat, who owned the Denver & Rio Grande railroad. There are stations all across the state where the railroad used to run from town to town. It was the biggest form of traveling. The museum had the prices for the trip routes. It took over a full day to get from Denver to Creede. Major stops were in Pueblo, Alamosa and Wagon Wheel Gap (in between South Fork and Creede). The last stop was in Creede.

The train station is now the Creede Museum.

Creede is quite the town. I think I like it so much because of the community. It is close-knit; it is genuine. They are proud of their history and welcome all travelers to share the experience. If you are ever in Colorado…the mining towns are a neat experience. Full of history and treasures. You just never know what you might find!!

For more readings and interests:

http://www.lastchancemine.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Ford_(outlaw)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1210819/

http://www.creede.com/

http://www.denverandriogranderailroad.com/

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June 29, 2012 · 4:36 pm

Ode to Film Cameras

Ode to Film Cameras

By: Mel

Pictures from old were black and white,

Then color added brought fun and delight.

What more fun for a kid to test,

The making of life’s moments last still as best?

Now if you’ve forgotten the days,

When life was not such a technical craze;

Take out the old box that’s stuffed in your closet,

And cherish the pictures like a deposit.

For the era of film cameras is nearly extinct,

But the joy of memories will return in a blink.

Today, according to the event board at work, is Camera Day!!!!! Have you ever thought of how neat cameras are? It is the only way to create a still image of a memory that lasts! I did some readings on camera history and found there is a lot of genius ideas in the invention. I added a few websites at the bottom if you want more information. Here are a few stand outs in camera history:

  • Aristotle–Made first note of optic laws
  • Alhazen–Made first pinhole Camera Obscura around 1000 AD
  • Joseph Nicephore Niepce–Made first photographic image with Camera Obscura in 1827
  • Louise Daguerre–Made first photographic device in 1839
  • Henry Fox Talbot–Inventor of film negatives
  • Alexander Wolcott–patented his camera in 1840
  • George Eastman–Patents Kodak Roll-film camera in 1888
  • Oskar Barnack–35mm camera is developed, early 1900’s
  • 1963–Polaroid reveals color film
  • 1984–Canon’s idea of first digital camera
  • 1986–Fuiji’s disposable camera
  • 1990–Kodak’s Photo CD for digital storage

Somewhere from 1000 AD to the 1800’s– a lot of thought and experimenting must have taken place. To think of the world of technology has changed to so much from the 1840’s first camera to what it is today…we are taking instant pictures on our phones which we can instantly send to our email or friends, who can instantly order pictures–which in some cases can be instantly printed. I just want to know how long the first family photo sessions took, back in the day. Of course, I am sure from an 1840’s view, it was better than hiring a painter for a family portrait. 🙂

I got my first camera around the 7th grade. I got just a first starter camera. It was so fun to take pictures then go get my film developed. The suspense of waiting in line to pay for your pictures often got overrun with opening it right away and laughing hysterically in line. 🙂 I bought another camera in high school, a Canon. 🙂 And my first digital camera–wait for it–the summer of 2007. I made it one whole year of college with a film camera. 🙂 I have had several digital cameras since then because I fall a lot and sad day–I break the lens. 😦

I finally sorted through my old pictures last summer before the move. I ended up throwing a good amount away due to too far away or just bad focus pictures or just duds…but I still have a large amount of old pictures 🙂 (which are sitting in a box in my closet, LOL). I also got rid of my negatives; I wish I had saved some for my special box. Film is not going to be around much more–it is getting to be a passing fad joining the others like cassette tapes, VHS, and even CD’s.

So, since today is Camera Day, I wanted to share with you some of my best and worst pictures of my days with a film camera. 🙂 I sorted through my pictures in the closet and picked out a few in categories. And the winner’s are–(drum roll please)…

Best of Show

 Best of Kodak Moment

Best of Unfocused Focused

Best of Light Contrast

Best of Most Creative Props

Best of Trying to Portray Realistic-ness

Best of Night

HAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The cotton balls get me every time. 🙂 (And sorry for the finger smudge on the pictures. I think my scanner is dirty.) Well, enough candid shots…have a great evening. “Everyone say, ‘CHEESE!!!'”

References

http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/stilphotography.htm

http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/stilphotography_3.htm

http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/Photography.htm

http://photography.lovetoknow.com/First_Camera_Invented

http://www.whoinventedit.net/who-invented-the-very-first-camera.html

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June 27, 2012 · 11:40 pm

Please pray.

Just wanted to share something that has been on my heart and mind all day: The Colorado wildfires. If you have not heard recently–CO is having a rough time this summer. Extreme dry, no humidity, and gusts of wind (today was 65 mph) leaves conditions not very favorable when fires happen. There are 12 fires in CO right now…the worst being near Colorado Springs called The Waldo Canyon fire. It is spreading fast, burning homes, forcing evacuations of thousands and thousands of people and it is only 5% contained.

The Weather Channel today said that the fire started by a dry thunderstorm. I do not remember learning about those in junior high science class (either that or I forgot), so it was very interesting to learn about. In a regular rain storm, the rain wets the ground so when lightning strikes it hits wet ground. Well, in a dry thunderstorm, the rain evaporates before it hits the ground. Thus, when lightning strikes, it causes the spark. This summer, that is how most of the fires are caused. (At least that is what the Weather Channel says.)

I think last time CO had a fire that was devastating was my freshman year of HS (well, the summer right before). A fire started from a cigaret near South Fork, which was about 30-40 minutes from our house. We saw the smoke rising over the mountain and by the evening it was raining ashes. We could not run cross-country practices for a whole week or so due to the heavy smoke. The firefighters used our high school as their base. Fighters from all over the state came to help. It was massive. Now think of all the firefighters from across the country going to CO to help with the fires. It is the biggest ever seen.

My thoughts today were of people I know either in the area or working as firefighters. Please pray for the people who have to leave their homes or see them burn. Please pray for the evacuating families and other travelers as hotels are getting scarce. Pray for strength and safety for the fireman who are working long shifts. Pray for the volunteers who are working with Red Cross or others like Samaritan’s Purse who are trying to help those in need. Pray for rain (with no lightning).

Thanks for praying alongside me. You can keep up with the news on pretty much any news website or news channel. If you want the best inside coverage, go to Colorado Springs Gazette. Here is the website: http://www.gazette.com/

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

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