Happy 4th of July

Greetings from the Ozarks… 

Before leaving for the lake, Wednesday, I shopped for a new camera. 

A little over three years ago I upgraded from a Kodak Easyshare point and shoot camera to a Canon Rebel Xti.  For the past several months, I’ve thought about moving to the next evolution of the Rebel.  I did some research and decided I might buy the Rebel T1i. Then the T2i arrived on the scene. 

I thought about it some more; then Jeanne of Backyard Neighbor left a comment on this post.  J and I met Jeanne and her husband, last year.  Jeanne’s husband’s camera was one of the first generation digital Canon Rebel’s. He gave me some very helpful hints, giving me the incentive to take the dial off auto and move to AV and manual focus.  When Jeanne mentioned, in her comment, her husband had just purchased the Canon Rebel T2i and they both loved it, that’s all I needed to know.

My plan was to buy the camera body only, since I have several lenses. However, I found a pretty good package deal.  The package had the 18-55 kit lens and a 75-300 lens.  I had the 18-55 lens, but did not have the 75-300. 

As luck would have it, granddaughter Xanti broke her 18-55 lens, recently and needs to borrow one until she can find another. I rarely use the 18-55, but she likes that lens and uses it quite a bit.  I gave the Rebel Xti to our oldest daughter. She and Xanti can negotiate the exchange of the 18-55 lens.

We picked up the new camera on the way to the lake, Wednesday afternoon. I’ve been practicing.

This photo was taken early Friday morning, between 5 and 5:30AM.  I used the Canon 70-200 L series lens.  I don’t have the tripod, this trip, so I stacked books, on a deck table, to the height I needed and set the timer. The setting was on AV and manual focus.

Mornings, at the lake, are gorgeous, this week.  The daytime temperatures have been in the upper 70’s to low 80’s.  Perfect weather for having our morning coffee on the deck.  J heard Reveille playing across the water, Thursday morning.  There is a group camp in that direction.  This morning, when I went out to lower the sunshade at about 6:30, I heard the theme from Ghostbusters.  Morning wake up calls come in all forms.

This is sunset, Thursday evening, at a boat launch, in Lake of the Ozarks State Park.  I used the 18-55, with image stabilizer.  I wish now I had used the 75-300, because we saw lots of deer.  Perhaps we will return for more photos this evening.  If we do, I’ll have that lens.

The split rail fences and log structures, in the park, make wonderful subjects for black and white photography.  The black and white photos were done, Thursday evening, using the 18-55 lens, with the photo style set at monochrome.

 

 

Mimosa in the Ozarks…

I continue to practice, while I’m on a little computer break.

I’ll return soon.

Wishing you a safe and Happy 4th of July!

~Fall Around Town~

A little rain was certainly not going to keep me from welcoming home my camera.

Tuesday was another rainy day, in Missouri, as I traipsed around taking photos of this tree and that leaf.  I missed the ol’ girl, so much!

I’m a tad behind in visiting.  I participated in Mosaic Monday, thinking I would be able to travel around the land of blog. Instead, J and I spent 8 hours in our car, Monday.  I said to him, we could have really gone somewhere in that amount of time and he said, we did! 

We left the lake at about 9:15 Monday morning, arrived home in the normal amount of time, unloaded the car and left for St Peters, Missouri, where the Canon awaited us, at Best Buy!

As long as we were “in town”, I stopped by JoAnn Fabric, where I purchased a fairly large amount of burlap.  I have a tablescape idea swimming around in my head!  I will use a portion of the fabric to cover a couple of chair seats, for the master makeover.  More on these projects later.

We arrived home at about 5:30 Monday evening and started out in the car, again, Tuesday morning.  We were just going to run a few errands. One of those errands was a trip to a plumbing supply in a small town just south of here.  When we arrived, we discovered the business had moved even farther south! So on we went.

As long as we were out we decided to run even more errands than we had planned. We arrived back home at about 2:30 PM.

I’m ready to put my feet up, for a couple of days, and blog browse! I’ll be around to see you, over the next few days.

Meanwhile, here are a few examples of the beautiful Fall color in our neck of the woods.   Asters beside our driveway~

Saint Theodore Catholic Church, Flint Hill, Missouri. 

 Pin Oak

 Hickory

Burning Bush

 Maple

Be sure to stop by Susan’s A Southern Daydreamer, for beautiful Outdoor Wednesday.

I learned, recently, a friend’s home is to be on the  local Christmas Home Tour. I am so excited and eagerly await seeing her home on the tour.  Of course, J and I won’t be doing as much this year, as we did the year our home was on the tour.  In fact, we had just discussed downsizing the Christmas decor, when I spotted these two publications! Well, of course, I had to bring them home.  Especially the Southern Accents Holiday issue.  Who knows if we will ever see another!

As I paged through the magazines, I saw lots and lots of inspiration! Perhaps a small tree in the living room.  I can’t forget the dining room tree. Naturally, we have to have a big tree in the hearth room for the kiddo’s and on and on and on…….

~An Independence Day Table~

It’s time for Tablescape Thursday, with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

We’re celebrating the 4th of July at Lake of the Ozarks.

I used two tea towels, from Marshall’s, to make the runner. The plaid napkins and oblong white dish are also from Marshall’s. The red plastic salad/dessert plate, fish salt and peppers, blue goblets, red flatware, and metal seashells are from Target. The square white plates and napkin rings are Pier One.

The white dinner plate and lighthouse salad plate are from the Oneida outlet.

The blue sherbet dish is depression cobalt. The crock, I used for the flowers, is Robinson Ramsbottom. The sailboat is Jim Shore.

The flags are from Dollar General.

The flowers are white/yellow and red/bronze Alstromoeria, from Kroger.

The desert recipe can be found at Designs by Gollum, Foodie Friday, July 3rd.

I am so dedicated to tablescaping, I even bring dishes, from home, when we travel to the lake!

~Over the River~

To grandmother's house we go.

The horse knows the way,

To carry the sleigh

Through white and drifted snow.

Our Thanksgiving begins today, when we have lunch with 2 of our grandchildren at their daycare. We also plan to spend the afternoon with them.

Saturday afternoon, we'll celebrate with our youngest grandson, at his 1st birthday party. Saturday evening, we'll shop for Thanksgiving dinner, with eldest daughter.

Sunday morning, before leaving for our place at the lake, we'll meet our family for brunch. Another Thanksgiving celebration.

Since this is a particularly busy weekend, for us, I'm writing a small post, with few photos. I hope to publish something from the beautiful Ozarks, Monday. The plan is to relax during the early part of the week.

Some of our children will arrive late Thanksgiving night. We are designated babysitters, while the girls Christmas shop, the day after Thanksgiving. While they shop, I'll prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I imagine G'pa, will be keeping up with the young'uns. Or at least trying to.

Since my last post was published Tuesday evening, I thought I had better write a little something before we leave. I remember a couple weeks ago, when we were away, sweet readers told me, they were a tad worried about us. We thank you, so much, for your concern.

Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend!

The snow photos were taken 3 years ago, on the road to our place at Lake of the Ozarks. The last photo, a winter sunset view near Big Cedar Lodge, a few years ago.

~Setting the Thanksgiving Table~

We have a fairly busy week ahead of us, so I decided to compile my Tablescape Tuesday post, today.

My Tablescape Tuesday contribution, this week, is what I'll use for Thanksgiving dinner, at the lake. This is the first time I will pack up tableware, for our trip to the condo, since we moved in 5 years ago.

I decided to make the place setting simple. Glass plates from Wal-mart, $1.00 each, added to brown salad plates from my collection of dishes, white tablecloths and napkins, gold chargers and bronze leaf napkin rings. I'm also taking two birchbark candle holders, with berry wreaths and copper and brown ribbon, to decorate the tables. Dinner will be served on two small round tables. I'll use flatware and stemware, already at the condo.

The menu:

Turkey

Dressing (my mother's cornbread dressing recipe).

Mashed Potatoes

Gravy (at J's request)

Green Beans

Corn Casserole (at Gabi and Drew's mommy's request).

Cranberry Relish

Raw Veggie Platter

Relish Tray

Rolls

Pumpkin Dessert (the one I wrote about, awhile back), topped with real whipped cream.

Besides taking along dinnerware, I will also need various baking pans and dishes, from home, to prepare the Thanksgiving feast. Space is limited at our condo, therefore I don't have a full complement of cookware. I'll just load up a couple of rubbermaid storage containers. Easy Peasy!

Because we will be away from home, during Thanksgiving week and the weekend after, we've been working on Christmas at our house. Today, I finished the dining room decorating. Will write about it, soon.

I began decorating the hearth room, today, and took a few photos. I still need to do some work in the breakfast room. The big farmhouse table is piled high with this and that, to do with decorating in other rooms.

J will do the front door decorating, sometime this week. I'll finish a few other things around the house. When we return from the lake, week after next, we'll decorate the big tree, in the living room.

When we've finished all the rooms, I'll do a post, with more detailed photos.

The "theme" for the hearth room sort of took on a life of it's own. We brought the cabinet from the back porch, for beside the fireplace. I borrowed Lori's (All About Home) empty frame, with wreath, idea, for above the mantel. The tree with bunnies and birds nestled beneath, has a sort of woodland look. So we just went with that idea and things seem to be coming together.

Hope you've enjoyed the sneak peek.

Here is another little peek at what is happening in the blue dining room.

I'll be back, with another post, later this week. In the meantime, we are decorating decorating decorating! A friend of ours once told me, I wouldn't be going to all the trouble of decorating for Christmas, by the time I reached the age of 60. Well, we're both past that age and even though we've slowed down a tad and downsized, ever so slightly, we are still delighted to decorate for Christmas.

Tablescape Tuesday

Be sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch, Tuesday, for lovely table settings throughout blogland.

~Fifty-One Days~

When we passed through Branson, Missouri, on our way to Big Cedar Lodge, we stopped at the Kringles Shops at Grand Village. These shops, open year round, offer a little bit of everything in Christmas decor. Always fun to browse, I usually find an item or two, to bring home. This time I found something blue for the dining room. I'll begin decorating that room and others in our home, soon.

We plan to celebrate Thanksgiving with our children the Sunday before. We will have brunch at a nearby restaurant. I'll prepare a traditional Thanksgiving meal, at the lake, Thanksgiving day. Since we won't be at home for Thanksgiving, I'll begin bringing out all those cartons and some of the trees, in Christmas storage, in a couple of weeks.

In good times and bad, we always celebrate Christmas. We are well known, in our neck of the woods, for going all out, when it comes to Christmas decorating!

When do you begin decorating for the holidays?