Making Noises

We returned from a 3 week RV vacation almost a week ago.  I had more pain then usual when I am on holiday, but “pain doesn’t go on vacation”, it goes where I go and participates in what I do.  Some observations that may help with pain on RV road trips I’ve found are:

• Bless my irritable bladder– bathroom breaks every couple hours force us to get out and walk around, stretching muscles that have been in the “lock and load” sitting position for a while.
• Being thankful –File this one under “things I need to work on” — feeling thankful, rather than annoyed,  at how wireless internet at most of the campgrounds we stayed at sucked.  So my computer time was greatly reduced.  While it was somewhat difficult emotionally to stay unconnected from those at home, my body appreciated it..a bit less pain in my neck and shoulders. The Netbook we’d brought along only has a 10″ screen which caused me to experience difficulties in reading content on it so I rarely did.
• Keep it small–I appreciated the ease of clean up in a 22′ RV, even if the small space made me a bit stir crazy at times.
• Use the force–assisted mobility devices that is (if you don’t have your own.)  At the outlet mall, I used one of their wheelchairs (hubby helped push).  Swallowing some pride helped me conserve my energy for something important I wanted to do later.
• Drinking’s good–drinking more (water) is better.   It’s possible dehydrated muscles are more painful muscles but I’m no doc. This is the point where I curse, rather than bless, my irritable bladder.

Here’s a few pictures of our trip.  (My web host limits me to 2 MB per picture and I lack the knowledge and energy to re-size the bigger ones.)  Hope you enjoy these.

Lighthouse at Whidbey Island, Washington

Sunset at Cannon Beach, Oregon

4th of July Parade on Whidbey Island

A woman and her dog, Cannon Beach, Oregon

In decorating the house for Christmas and putting up the tree, I realize that almost every Christmas tree ornament we have tells a story.  As we place them on the tree, I remember with fondness who and where they came from.

There are ornaments given. A good friend gave us this a few years back.

There are ornaments created.  I painted many “white-ware” ornaments over the years, like this one,  painted over 20 years ago.

There are ornaments that tell the Christmas story.  My husband gave me this lighted ornament of the nativity for Christmas one year.

There are ornaments from far away lands, such as this wooden carved ornament from Israel that was given to us by my in-laws.

There are ornaments that celebrate special occasions.

There are ornaments that make me think, like this one.

Do you think this is Joseph and Mary praying over Jesus?  I do.

My sister-in-law is a potter.  She has given us many ornaments

out of her potter’s kiln over the years.

Our tree may not be matchy-matchy, or grace the cover of a design magazine, but each ornament that adorns it has special memories.

We went for a walk in the woods yesterday with friends.  It was a bit chilly, humid, gray and dull but the laughter and conversation warmed our hearts.  We enjoyed God’s creation and even saw two deer.

I had my camera with me.  Everyone was very patient with me as I shot multiple aspects of this old barn.

Unfortunately, the deer declined to co-operate for a photo shoot.  I joked that I do best with photos of stationary objects!

I find that if I don’t take my camera, even to a trip to the mall, I often wish I had.  For example, the other day when we went to Cross Iron Mills, off to the west there was a field of harvested, baled grain underneath a  Chinook Arch with some really neat looking clouds surrounding the mountains.

I love my new camera.  I give God the credit for this talent He has given me to nurture.  My camera deserves a lot of credit too.  Here are two photos that won, or tied, for first place in the photo groups I belong to.  The camera is a Panasonic Lumix and it makes taking good pictures so easy!

This is a picture of a feather boa, and the category or theme that week was “pink”.

My ladybug photo, below, tied for first place in another group where the category was “signs of Spring.”  Ladybugs seem  to”winter” under my dead plant material or in the ground.  We had a nice day a few weeks ago and out they came.  I’m sure they are back in hiding now as our weather has taken a most wintery turn.

I thank God for this talent He has given me.

Country Life Entry-c. Big Noise Enterprises

I’ve found a new hobby – photography!  I enter photos in online photography groups I belong to on which have a weekly theme your photo must fall into.  Recently, the theme was “City Life/Country Life.”  Here is the photo I entered, taken just outside of Vulcan, AB last fall.  I’m pleased to say it won third! (based on vote counts, members of the group vote on photos entered – no actual prizes are awarded).

Below is my entry for the Shadow theme in another online photography group.  This photograph won third place.

Shadows-c. Big Noise Enterprises

My entry for “homes” also won third place:

Oak Park, Illinois Home - c. Big Noise Enterprises

These pictures were  taken with a dinosaur of a digital camera – a Canon Powershot A30, one of the first digitals, with only 1.2 megapixels.

I look forward to seeing what I can do now that I have a new digital camera!

I’m wondering if this means that I can now say I am an “award-winning” photographer?

We have been having some beautiful sunrises this fall and – fortunately or unfortunately (!) – I’ve been awake early enough to capture some of them with my camera: