Photography — Janets Journal

Listings 1/5/12

5 Jan posted by Janet

Listings: Recommended Listing of Links
A Forgotten Text? Why is that, I wonder? (HT: Challies)
Very thought-provoking post on Ephesians 5:12. “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”

Family Photo Album Tips {Photography Project}
This is a great article on organizing your photos to create a printed photo album at the end of the year. This is good for those who don’t get into journaling with scrapbooking. The time to get started is now!

Making Things Pretty with Pallets
I love these ideas for making furniture using pallets. My favorite is the bookshelf!

The Joy of Quiet (HT: Challies)
This post was very interesting on how much we need quiet, but discovering it nearly impossible to find with all our machines. “In barely one generation we’ve moved from exulting in the time-saving devices that have so expanded our lives to trying to get away from them–often in order to make more time. The more ways we have to connect, the more many of us seem desperate to unplug. Like teenagers, we appear to have gone from knowing nothing about the world to knowing too much all but overnight.”

AlbertMohler.com – Podcast
Every weekday, Dr. Albert Mohler gives a 15-minute podcast called “The Briefing”. It is current news from a Christian perspective and provokes Christians to approach our age from a biblical perspective.

Bob Ross: Painting Mountains
One of my best friends, Bobbie, and I used to watch Bob Ross on PBS (before we got very busy with families–smile). We each actually have a couple of paintings that we did while following his tutorials. Very fond memories!

T h e * H o t * C h o c o l a t e * S t a t i o n
I liked this idea for a Hot Chocolate Station. Aren’t the marshmallows so pretty in the jar?

Free Downloads on christianaudio
Each month, christianaudio.com has a free audio download. This month’s freebie is Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I’ve not listened yet, but this comes with many recommendations.

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Filed Under: Christian Life, Current Events, Homemaking, Listings, Photography

Listings 7/7/11

7 Jul posted by Janet

Listings: Recommended Listing of Links
Finally Feeling at Home Again. . .
Susan, who formerly wrote at High Desert Home (If you haven’t read that blog, I urge you to stop by with a favorite beverage and really absorb Susan’s writings.), writes about embracing a home that is not permanent. It was an encouragement to me, because we lost the last 2 homes due to no fault of our own (one home was sold by our landlord), and sometimes I’m fearful of it happening again. Here are my favorite quotes that really touched my heart.

“I think I’ve subconsciously held off entirely embracing this little house as home, even though I like it so well, and even though I recognize it as a gift from the Lord, because I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay here. Maybe I haven’t wanted to start setting down roots only to have to pull them up again.

“But suddenly, I don’t feel that way. Rather, I feel certain that the Lord gave this home to me—even if for only six months or a year—and if He has put me here, it is where I belong. This is where He wants me to live, so I shouldn’t hold back, gun-shy about another possible uprooting. If the Lord sees fit to move me somewhere else tomorrow, that’s His business, and, really, it’s only another chance to press hard into Him, to know Him better, and to trust Him more.

“So, I’m ready to settle into this place.”

Not a Morning Person? Rise With the Sun!
I enjoyed this second post by Susan about rising with the sun. I have been a night owl for years, but am trying to break that pattern. I know my days go better the earlier I rise, especially if I rise as the sun is just peaking over the woodlands.

Are You Washed in the Blood?
Michele at A Quiet Gracious Life shares a beautiful arrangement of the hymn, “Are You Washed in the Blood?”

Five Bible Verse Bookmarks Digital Download by Karla Dornacher
Karla Dornacher is one of my favorite modern artists. She is a Christian and offers much encouragement with her artwork.

YOUR Fireworks Shots!
I love looking at photos and was just amazed at the firework shots featured at Pioneer Woman Photography.

Free ebook: Best of Betty Crocker 2011 Summer cookbook
I love my hardback Betty Crocker cookbook and just know these recipes will be wonderful, too!

National Blueberry Month
July is National Blueberry Month! Blissfully Domestic has a lot of great info on the nutritional value of blueberries, how to freeze them, etc. I wash my blueberries, but do not flash freeze them before bagging them up. I never have a major problem with them sticking together.

If Leonardo DiCaprio Got Saved
I love the movie Titanic, so this post caught my eye. “God doesn’t gravitate toward the people that the world gravitates toward. He gravitates toward the weak, the lowly, the ordinary, and the unimpressive. He calls those whom the world ignores. If God primarily saved rich, powerful, and beautiful people, those people might have some reason to boast before God. But God saves unimpressive, weak people, so that there might not be any boasting in his presence. And when God saves these people and uses them to spread the gospel, it demonstrates the power of God, not the power of the people.”

Are You Holding The Art Of Homemaking Sacred?
This new-to-me blog has been very encouraging to me, especially the post “Are You Holding The Art Of Homemaking Sacred?” As a single mother, there is no one to come home to me at the end of the day to show appreciation to me, and that can get really discouraging. This post has helped me to endeavor harder in my role as mother and homemaker. Here are some favorite quotes (emphasis by the author).

“We should approach every task as a blessing to be received, never as a chore to get done.”

“In homemaking there is no such thing as ‘small work‘. We are to find the sacred in the everyday, strive to see the goodness or usefulness in ALL things, taking nothing for granted.

“The housewife makes the home, and the home makes the family. This is a tremendous responsibility that God has called the woman to do. A responsibility that we can NOT accomplish by ourselves, we MUST rely on God to see us through our journey. So never let the world make small of what being a homemaker is all about.”

Give Them What They Really Need
This post reminds mothers what is most important as we rear our children. “We mamas tend to major on the minors. At least that is what this mama has done. We strive to make sure our children are well educated and well rounded. We push them to potty train by two, write cursive by four, and read by five. We are deceived into thinking more is better. More life experiences, more lessons. We fret over having not done enough for our children. Did they learn what they needed to be successful adults? Whose definition of success are we living by anyway?”

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Filed Under: Christian Life, Encouraging Quotes, Homemaking, Homeschooling, July 4th, Listings, Mothers, Photography, Recipes, Single Mothers

Listings 2/16/11

16 Feb posted by Janet

Listings: Recommended Listing of Links I am renaming my “Recommended Links” to “Listings.” Sounds so old-fashioned, doesn’t it?:)

MightyBookJr.com: Free Year of Online Kids Books—(I found this offer last week and hope it is still valid.) Mighty Books Jr. is offering a free membership to their website – a $99 value. This website has over 850 animated books online, perfect for all types of students, including children with special needs. Check it out!

What We Love Artsy Writing Project for the Week of Valentine’s Day—Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, February is still a month to focus on love. This is a great project for the whole family, and would make a great keepsake.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss, The Interview Pt. 1—Girl talk has a 4-part interview with Nancy Leigh DeMoss, from Revive Our Hearts radio. It is a blessing to read how this single woman allows God to use her. Pt. 2 | Pt. 3 | Pt. 4

Have You Started a Forest Fire Today?—True Woman has a very convicting article on the power of the tongue. I never really realized how voicing our feelings can make them worse. “Have you ever noticed how once you state something it seems to become more concrete?”

Cyber-sex Is Still Cheating—Be very careful how you conduct yourself online with the opposite sex. I personally will not chat or email with another man unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Taking Better Photos~Even with a “Cheap” Camera—Lizzie at A Dusty Frame shares some fantastic tips on getting great shots with your regular camera. I often drool over cameras I want, but now am encouraged to use what I have!

Kitchen Tip Tuesdays: How to easily access spices in your kitchen cupboard—Tammy shares a great tip on easily getting to your spices stored in cabinets. I already store mine in a basket, but never thought to label the tops. Great idea!

5 February 1957 “Sleekness in Design for ’57 and the Need For The Latest Thing”—I really enjoy reading The Apron Revolution blog, where the author chronicles how she lives her present life as if she was living in the 1950s. I really recommend reading this recent article discussing how we can get caught up trying to keep up with the Joneses. “Styles change and desires with them, but we must remember that deep down, it is all manufactured. Not only the product but the desire.”

Introducing BLB.sc!—Blue Letter Bible, one of my favorite Bible research sources, now has a new BLB URL shortener. This is very useful when you need to link to these tools on Facebook or Twitter.

500 Posts and Counting—Be sure to listen to the beautiful singing of this precious boy that has several disabilities. Oh, how precious!

Four Reasons Busyness is a Bad Idea—Busyness is something I hate and try to stay away from if at all possible. Blissfully Domestic shares great reasons to keep yourself from it.

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Filed Under: Christian Life, Godly Womanhood, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Listings, Marriage, Photography, Simple Living, Single Mothers, Valentine's Day

Fall Beauty

31 Oct posted by Janet

“In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil. And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November.“
—Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden, 1905

Where we live, we do not have blazing, glorious colors in the fall. But the colors we do have are beautiful to me. As far back as I can remember, all I have known is the ugly brown of the leaves from the pecan tree or the bright orange of the needles from the pine tree. Here at Hidden Pines, we have 2 trees in the front yard that have gorgeous leaves in the fall. I love to watch them fall when a good breeze blows. They are beautiful blanketing the front porch that some young lady forgot to sweep.:)

The brown-eyed susans are everywhere down here, but this is the first place I’ve lived in where they were close to my house. The are so pretty with the goldenrod. Unfortunately, everything is already fading.

These are the last brown-eyed susans at the pond. I hate to see them go.

“Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.“
—William Cullen Bryant

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Filed Under: Encouraging Quotes, Life at Hidden Pines, Photography

Introducing Missy Anne

13 Jul posted by Janet

Please meet our new family member, Missy Anne—Anne with an “E”.

Missy Anne

Her mother is a Labrador, and her father is suspected to be a Boxer.

Missy sleeping in the Grass

The girls have never had a puppy of their own, and are so excited.

Missy Buns

And worn out.

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Filed Under: Animals, Photography

Animal Adventures

27 Jun posted by Janet

Lately there’s been a lot going on with our animals and wildlife. Living in the country gives one much to see and talk about. I cannot say how many snakes I’ve shot since the weather turned warm, several of them being water moccasins at the pond behind our house. I usually will not shoot a nonpoisonous snake, unless it’s too close to the house and may bite one of the animals or might get into the house, as one did last year. Our landlord had a time getting him out of our attic! Last week, I shot 2 rattlesnakes within 10 minutes, while we were walking in the woods along the mown trail. It has really discouraged me from walking in the woods. We normally walk in the evenings after supper; perhaps the snakes will be hiding during mid-mornings.

Daddy helped me get a shotgun last year, because he was tired of driving out to kill my snakes. I was really scared of guns at first, but now I love the security they give me. I don’t have to feel helpless when I see a snake, or feel someone is trying to harm us. I have a pistol that I carry when I go walking—it looks like one a cowboy would tote—but I love my shotgun the best. My oldest girls enjoy shooting, especially my middle daughter—she loves it!

A cat from the neighborhood jumped on our kitty Autumn last Saturday night. Autumn ended up with an infected wound and is on antibiotics. He is doing well, despite having to endure us shoving a buttered pill down his throat every morning.:) (In the picture below, Autumn was actually sleeping like this, but opened his eyes when he heard the camera click on.)

Our neighbor’s dog, Teddy, who spends 90% of his time with us, often brings up things he has killed, including rats and ducks. When we were walking in the woods one morning a few weeks ago, Teddy was chasing grown deer. So it really came as no surprise to me this morning when he brought home a little baby fawn he had killed.:( He is a Labrador-Chow mix, so I find it hard to be mad at him. He’s just doing what Labrador’s do, and he probably thinks he is helping to provide for us. He is the best dog in the world—he obeys so well and is so sweet. He truly loves us, and we him. He’s so smart and does all sorts of tricks, like sit and stay. For some reason, though, he thinks speak means sneeze! He “sings” by howling with us. We so appreciate that our neighbor allows Teddy to spend so much time with us. I honestly thought I didn’t like dogs, because I had seen so many people let their dogs trash their homes and yards, but now realize that if dogs are taught well, or have plenty of room, they won’t trash things, nor leave their business in the yard.:)

My friend’s full-blooded chocolate Labrador just had 11 puppies! (She had 10 last time.) My friend believes the father is a Boxer. I’m not sure how they will look grown, but this is how they look now.

Teddy brought this little fellow home to me one day after finding him at the pond. Teddy started to try to kill him, but obeyed when we told him not to.

The girls call these little fellows the “weathermen”, because they let us know when it’s about to rain or already is raining.:) They always smile for the camera.;)

Weathermen

Last is my mom’s rooster, who the girls have named Wendall. Wendall really doesn’t belong to anyone, but takes his meals at my folks’ house. He definitely lets them know when it’s time to get up and when it’s time to eat.

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Filed Under: Animals, Photography

A New Old Camera

13 Jun posted by Janet

In my last post, I mentioned that I was making do with the inexpensive camera I already had. I got to thinking about an old camera my dear friend gave me a couple of years ago. It had given her some problems, so she decided to get a different one. Because of the problems, I did not want it and put it away. I got it out the other day and realized that it only needed a new battery and a bigger memory card. I have been greatly enjoying taking pictures with it. My old camera takes pictures faster, which is really necessary for action shots, but the “new old” camera takes beautiful close-ups, takes vivid colors, and has a larger resolution size. How foolish I feel for not realizing I had such a wonderful camera sooner! I had been praying for one, not knowing that God had already provided.

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Filed Under: Frugality, Photography

Making Do

27 May posted by Janet

It isn’t about what you do without. It’s about what you do instead.”
Quoted by Edith Flowers Kilgo in The Simple Life

I have been wanting a new camera—one that takes super macro shots, breathtaking closeups of distant objects, and all around awesome pics like I see on other websites. Between ongoing doctor bills for my daughters and a slowing economy, it has not been possible for me to afford a better camera. Instead of feeling bad about it, I have felt that the Lord wanted me to just be thankful for the simple one I have and to make do with it. So I’ve made the best of my situation.

I learned to make my own macro lens by holding a magnifying glass to my camera when I take a picture.

I learned how to take better pictures of pets.

Autumn's Paws

Although I have not edited my pictures before because it seemed so complicated, I have learned to adjust color, saturation, tint, warmth to make a picture stand out more. I realized that I have software on my computer to make it simple for me.

Before

Pond at Sunset (After)
After

Leaf After Rain
Before

Leaf After Rain
After

Piney Woods
After

I know there is still so much to learn. I’m sure the professionals laugh at my amateur work, but I’m having fun!

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Filed Under: Frugality, Photography, Recommended Books, Simple Living

A Little Friend

17 Apr posted by Janet

While about my house, I kept hearing a voice calling very loudly and noticed that it sounded like it was coming from a pipe. I found this little friend in a steel pipe outside.