06-Nov-2024
We Still Have Roses!
Though we are getting to be well into November, our roses still look good. No real frost to burn them or otherwise damage them. Our other flowers in the yard are still in bloom, but some have been moved to the porch because of a few colder mornings. Fall colors are nice too, but I would have to drive some to get to the most beautiful. Caring for Carol's daily meds, etc, keeps me home more. So I haven't driven very far, any distance and I have my daughter do the driving. Learned I have a heart block so will likely be a pacemaker in my near future. Happy to still be enjoying life, however, and looking forward to the promise of a happy future. Wishing you well!
06-Nov-2024
I Am a Big Fan
Yes, I am a big fan of grabbing a photo of anything that catches my eye! Anytime I see an interesting glimpse of an ordinary object, an unusual or fascinating aspect of lighting or some other subject that stirs my photographic interests I will just have to get a shot of it. It may be that others fail to feel the same response as I do. But this does refine my powers of observation and increases my awareness. It's good for me.
18-Oct-2024
A Shot in the Dark
This was truly a shot in the dark! Carol is having health issues, so I needed to check on her in the middle of the night, 4:30 AM to be exact. This lamp that Carol uses for a night light looked so beautiful in the darkness, I had to get a photo. I took advantage of the Z8's wonderful high ISO performance to get this picture. The only light was provided by the lamp itself. I was pleased I took the time to capture it before getting back into bed.
28-Sep-2024
Evening Sky
A couple weeks ago our daughter took us to the 50th anniversary party for some friends of ours. We traveled some 45 miles to get there, up the McKenzie Highway east of Springfield. On the way home it getting late in the day and we could watch the evening sky. This interesting swirl of a cloud got my attention.
My 4th grade photo
A scrapbook page created by our daughter, Syndee. Thanks Syndee!
09-Sep-2024
Playing With Low Light
This is a figurine Carol arranged for an imaginary fountain scene. I saw how it looked in low light but didn't like the colors. So I made it into a B&W scene, something I loved to work with back in film days. I liked the dreamy effect of it all, fitting I thought for the scene I imagined. What do you think?
18-May-2023
Donny Wants Some Hay!
Angie's Donkey, Donny, is a very friendly, gentle guy and will come running if he sees you at the fence. Like a kid, he is always hungry. As you can see it is a lovely day.
27-Jan-2024
Farm Pond on Rainy Day in Oregon
I always liked this fountain in the middle of a small pond seen along a country road. The pond is a bit swollen by the rains.
05-Aug-2024
Happy That They visited.
Carol and I enjoyed so much getting to see Jack and Brenda when they visited here on Aug. 5th. I shot this photo of them to remember our breakfast together.
05-Aug-2024
Two Girls and a Tall Guy (or else the girls are short!)
Two friends from Ohio made a vacation trip to the Northwest to see the wonders of Idaho, Washington and Oregon. They just did a tour of the Oregon Coast and planned a visit to Eugene. Carol and I enjoyed having breakfast together with them before they traveled up Highway 58 to the Willamette Pass, which they found to be too smoky for comfort. I got this shot of Carol with Brenda and Jack Hoying. It was good to share a meal and some stories. The time flew by. They are going to see Crater Lake and other points of interest while heading homeward bound. Wow, what a great trip it must be! I was impressed with their camper van, a fine way to travel.
17-Apr-2024
Portrait of Dolly
We are enjoying Dolly! That is a good name for her because she is a little doll. At either five or
six years old she fits in with us two old people really well. Carol is happy with her pal, so I am pleased.
Enjoying Anniversary #63
May 13th was an enjoyable day, our 63rd anniversary. Carol and I took a little drive together and enjoyed a fine meal. At our age, that can make a full day. Carol snapped this shot with her phone.
Vr&CR Anniversary
02-Mar-2024
Adding Some Color!
It's the time of year to add color, starting in April or even March. This photo was taken in March and the colors are so much prettier now. It's a beautiful time of year! This is a good month for a wedding.
22-Apr-2024
Nearby Farm Field
I took a short drive recently with my old Leica Digilux 3 on a rain-free day along a road I hadn't explored before. This is a scene along that road, yellow weeds in a farmer's field. I assume it is some kind of wildflower, maybe mustard. It does provide the fields with a splash of yellow.
15-Nov-2023
A Bit of Color From Last Fall!
I had forgotten about this photo I shot last fall. I do like the way the pretty leaves stand out. I like it so I thought I would share it. Is that a good enough reason?
15-Jan-2024
It Does Get Icy Here!
A photo I shot during our ice storm in January. It got cold and first snowed, then the ice formed on top of it, about three inches of snow and a 1/2-1" thick layer of ice. Very treacherous. That car stayed put!
May-1961
Happy Newlyweds!
Carol and Me in May of 1961, a week or two after our wedding. A friend shot this picture for us. This is a copy of the print, and the colors are faded and a bit off, but I love it just the same. I don't recall, perhaps it was from a color slide film.
I am reminded of the song that goes:
"Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days."
This was the chorus of the song, "Those Were The Days", credited to Gene Raskin, released August 26, 1968.
26-Feb-2024
Photo Made with Leica Digilux 3
I bought an old Leica Digilux 3 on eBay and when I got it everything was packed in the box exactly as from the factory. It looks brand new and actually doesn't look like it has ever been used. So I started playing with it to learn how it shoots and came away very impressed!
From Microsoft Copilot - "The Leica Digilux 3, a digital single-lens reflex camera, made its debut on September 14, 2006. This camera was a departure from Leica’s usual reflex lens mount, as it adopted the Four Thirds system. The Digilux 3 shared specifications with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1, both utilizing the Four Thirds standard lens mount and featuring a 7.5 Megapixels live view N-MOS sensor. However, the Digilux 3 had modified firmware that included DNG output."
"Here are some key features of the Leica Digilux 3:
Lens Mount: Interchangeable Four Thirds mount.
Sensor: 17.3 × 13.0 mm Four Thirds System RGB Live MOS sensor.
Maximum Resolution: 3136 × 2352 (7.4 effective Megapixels).
Lens: It came standard with the Leica Elmarit 14–50 mm f/2.8–3.5 optically image-stabilized zoom lens.
Controls: The Digilux 3 featured film-camera type controls for both aperture and shutter speed.
Flash: Built-in dual-position flash for bounce-flash or direct flash.
Software Package: Included Adobe® Photoshop® Elements® 4.0 and Quicktime movie player.
Production Quantity: Only 13,300 units of the Digilux 3 were made, making it somewhat rare.
Designed by Achim Heine, the Digilux 3 combined classic styling with modern functionality, appealing to photography enthusiasts who appreciated its intuitive controls and Leica heritage. Although its production duration isn’t explicitly specified, it remains a cherished piece among Leica aficionados."
I got a steal on a camera that originally sold for $3800, and it is in brand new conditions besides! Such fun to play with!
24-Nov-2023
All Alone on the Shore!
Fern Ridge Lake looked awesome when a break in the clouds and the appearance of the sun made this dramatic scene. How small the man on the shore in the foreground looks! I thought the view looked best in black and white. I used to shoot a lot of B&W film years ago.
27-Jan-2024
It's Pretty Out This Way!
There are hills and mountains not too far away. In fact, if a person heads to the Coast and Florence from here they will go over the Coast Range, which isn't too high. Going East out of Springfield will take you to passes over the Cascade Range, which are much higher. I do enjoy the view, even when the sky isn't blue.
15-Jan-2024
The Woods Next Door!
I enjoy watching the woods next door, sometimes I see deer, sometimes longhorn cattle and other times I just enjoy the view, such as this one this winter. It is an everchanging viewmaster! (I bet you don't remember the old View Masters, do you?) I would love to see one again. It's been a long time.
27-Jan-2024
Can I Have Some?
I had to smile at the look our new little dog, Dolly, has as she sees what Carol has in her hand. She is sure a sweet pet and loves to be next to one of us. No way I can return her now. Carol is not going to give her up and, confidentially neither am I. LOL She has found a home! She needed adoption when her previous owner died at 98.
15-Jan-2024
The Ramp to Our Porch during the storm.
I was delighted to see this pattern on the ramp up to our porch. Thank heavens for the slots between board, which are what made the shot for me! Ordinalily, I watch only where I am walking and see nothing attractive. The ice storm helped, in that way at least.
27-Jan-2024
A Hillside Farm!
I had to get a quick shot of this farm as we passed by on the way to Corvallis. A barn like that always attracts my attention, as does that tree between house and barn. Also, that large house seems to fit! To me it was a fine farm scene. Well, part of the farm anyway!
27-Jan-2024
Finally A Dog For Carol!
Saturday Angie drove us to Corvallis to check on a dog for Carol. Her pal, Miko, died a year ago and we recently lost Mollie, a poodle we have had with us since 2011. Carol has been lost without Miko and will be helped greatly by having a new pal to bond with. I found Dolly on Petfinder and we both fell for her, by the photos and description alone. She turned out to be just the fit we need. We tried a couple local rescue dogs that were good ones, but were pups and too much for oldsters like us. Dolly is full grown and six years old, she loves being on a person's lap and so far has proved to be just what Carol needs. She is already following Carol everywhere she goes. You can see how pleased Carol is in the photo. 😊
16-Jan-2024
Frozen Pond
A little pond in our yard is showing some ice and damage from the ice storm. But the Elephant Ears look like they are surviving ok. They are definitely still green. The weather has certainly changed now! It has been relatively warm and rainy. So the snow and ice are melting fast. Hooray!
January 15, 2024
What Is The Saying About Birds?
You know! "Birds of a feather flock together." Here is an exception to the rule. Inclement weather can bring them together. This American Robin and the European Starling share company as our snow and ice storm hit. The storm hit on Friday, the 12th and is still affecting us. Tonight and tomorrow more freezing rain is due and Wednesday it is supposed to improve. We have about three inches of snow, covered with a thick layer of ice, making it too dangerous for us to venture out. I have trouble enough with balance without ice. Temperatures have got down into the teens overnight. Our daughter just got home from the store and said the roads are icy, with only some of them sanded. The main problem is water pipes are frozen and so we depend on the bottled water we have on hand. But don't worry, be happy. 😉
08-Oct-2023
2024-ARE THINGS LOOKING UP?
