Happy New Year to All in Blogger land!

WISHING YOU PEACE IN THE NEW YEAR!

Hope the event proved to be a Happy one for all!

Swans and animoto

My good friend, Theresa, sent me a very neat site that brings slide shows to a whole new level: http://animoto.com/ Animoto! I have uploaded this to Youtube too. The quality probably could be a little better but it is definitely a great idea...here it is with my photos from a Vancouver BC trip I took a couple of months ago! There is music when you play the video so turn down your volume if you don't want the sound....Vivaldi rocks!


Above is a version using YouTube.....
Here is a version I used with animoto but uploaded from my hard drive...




The difference in sizing may account for the difference in clarity.....
Another option is that I might try seeing what it looks like from Photobucket....maybe later...:)

My New Camera and Photo Challenge Something New

http://communityphotochallenge.blogspot.com/2008/12/community-photo-challenge-something-new.html

Here is a photo of my new camera and some details about it. This is also an entry to the photo challenge photoblog as Something new!

View out of a window

The little things we see are always framed in some way...take for example this view outside this octagonal window over my front door. It's snowy outside..but it's framed by a black interior. Not sure how that happened except that I did not use a flash. The black is a nice setting for the photo. I use black for my 8 by 10 photo mattings quite often. It is the most classic framing.

I got a new camera for Christmas this year....a Lumix by Panasonic..an 18x Zoom! I need to download my Christmas photos soon from it...so that is why you haven't seen a lot of christmas photos here...but your patience will be rewarded soon!!!! I've also begun a couple of other blogs for my family which will be private...I'm doing some documentaries of their trips...maybe they will be come more public later....:)

In the meantime, the little moments we share every day are captured in our hearts, minds and cameras...of course!

PS: visit Donna's site..she made this animation...:) http://dsdesignsandotherthings.blogspot.com/

Hummingbird in the snow

It's an amazing thing but hummingbirds do winter over here in the Pacific Northwest. It does help if you keep their bird feeders from freezing by taking them in at night when it gets below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. These little birds are quite agressive in defending their feeders. The significant snow that has fallen here in the last few days have left them undaunted. In the morning especially they are interesting to watch as they fend off each other from the feeder. For such small birds they are quite adament about their territory.

Merry Christmas from us!

Hello and Merry Christmas from us! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year too! 2008 finds us in good health! Wishing all the best to you and yours.

I think I've settled on this photo for our Christmas card this year....

The stories behind the photos are as follows:
Ron is standing beneath a miniature railroad trestle he made for his friend who then proceeded to have it gold plated. Jasmine was having fun with her hands when I took this photo and it was just a coincidence that they look like the wings of the birds on the Christmas tree behind her. As for me, I took up playing handbells at St. Louise Church in Bellevue.

In addition!!!!! I have a special blogger happy tidings card at this link (or just scroll down): http://littlethingsphotoblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/since-this-is-my-main-photo-blog-i.html

I hope you enjoy both!

Wishing you the best Christmas and wonders, good health and happiness in the new year!

Happy Holiday Boat

Hello, all! I am stealing a few minutes to post a blog. I was looking at my photos trying to decide what I want for this year's Christmas cards...still need to take a family photo too. Each year I try to send a photo card I make to my friends and family. I usually have something with my husband, daughter and me and maybe sparkles....I like getting photos of people for Christmas. I've been making scrapbooks each year and I also like getting the sparkle cards too. I've combined sparkles and family photo in the past and that worked ok too. It's so much fun but it does take a little time.

Ok...so you are wondering what about the title of this blog and the Holiday Boat? When I ran across this photo which was taken a couple of months ago I had to laugh. I had forgotten I took it! I love to take photos of boats and their names. I couldn't resist this one. I may send it to some people who send me odd photos for christmas for a photo card back at them..it actually looks pretty good as a card. I have one friend who loves to send me those costco card photos of her vacations and travels at Christmas...palm trees, trip to Africa and that sort of thing. Yet, she is usually my first card. I get such a kick out of her cards and look forward to them. The card is the only communication we have all year as she live out of the state. This year the first Christmas card I received was a thank-you Christmas card we got from a grade schooler for buying a Live Christmas tree at their School fundraiser. It's pretty cute too! In the meantime I hope you enjoy the little Maritime view of the Happy Holiday Boat at Elliot Bay Marina in Seattle.