Christian Photographers Community

Larry, it's so good to know you're feeling better. 

It's been almost like fall here the last few days but it looks like summer may be on the way back, at least for a week or so.   

Not a lot of news here today.

Larry ~ So glad you are feeling better and was out for your coffee this morning.

Marilyn ~ Sorry about your depression.  I am happy to say that I don't know what that is personally.  I do know that is devastating for the person with it.  Prayers for you.

Not much planned for today.  Thinking about calling step-daughter to see if she is home.  45 minute drive there.  Sounds like a plan. 

Cool again this morning but bright and sunny.

Larry, I am so glad you are home and feeling better, and able to do some of your usual activities.  I sure look forward to meeting you some day!

I worked today, longer than usual because I stayed to help with the July 4th (early) dinner.  We had burgers and hotdogs..the big, juicy franks!, lots of potato salad, pasta salad, fixings and jalapeno poppers which I helped to make.  Those were really good, I think I might just make some myself some day.  I fed Beth and she really enjoyed the meal.  The employees brought in salads and desserts.

Mark has been here, and now I can print!  He's a good, loyal and loving grandson!  Bless him, Lord! 

I have been working on a scrapbook of our Guatemala trip, and have it nearly done.  Then I will work on Costa Rica.  I probably will never get all my scrapbooking done that I want to do.

I need to write a family reunion newsletter, now that I can print it out!  See you later, or as the texters say, CU later. 

Thank you Etta Sue, I am feeling better today. this too shall pass.

Hi everyone.  Had a good nights sleep and now ready for another day. 

We had a busy day and expensive day yesterday.  We have been needing a new bed and we decided to get the adjustable beds with remote controls.  For some time I have had to sleep with my head elevated.  This new bed is really two twin beds fastened to a king headboard but has a bracket on it that lets you roll them apart at the bottom to make them.  We also got a new wrought iron headboard.  We plan on taking our old bed upstairs so we will have extra beds if ever needed.  The movers will take the mattress and box springs upstairs but I am going to have to figure out a way to get the head board, which is pretty heavy, upstairs and setup.  This is suppose to be delivered a week from today.

Then we had to replace the drive tires on our daughter's electric wheelchair.  All of the tread was gone and the tires were slick, which wasn't safe.  These tires, including the installation, cost just a few dollars short of $500.  Needless to say we can't stand many days of spending like yesterday.

I plan a quieter day today.  We do have a meeting to attend this morning and will go to coffee at McDonald's shortly.  McDonald's seems to have gotten their free wi-fi fixed at last and my friend Rod and I can use our iPod Touches there now.  We had been having a lot of trouble getting online.

Janet, sounds like quite a celebration.  Certainly glad your grandson was able to get your printer working for you.

Marilyn, glad you are feeling better.  Isn't it helpful to keep in mind that "this too shall pass".  There are a number of simple, but profound, slogans that can be most helpful when we are in a time of distress or discomfort.

Jeanne, we have finally had a couple of days where the temperature didn't get into the 90s.  Still warm but much more enjoyable.

How can I defend myself against Satan's attacks?

Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be to stand firm against all the strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:10-12 NLT


Tricking Houdini

During his life, Harry Houdini had a standing challenge that he could escape from any jail cell within an hour. A small town in the British Isles had just constructed a new jail cell they thought was escape-proof, and they wanted to put it to the test. Houdini entered the cell and immediately went to work. After two grueling hours—an hour past his deadline—Houdini finally withdrew his file from the lock and leaned against the door in exhaustion. To his amazement, the cell door swung open.

The jailors had tricked the great magician by closing the jail door but never bolting the lock. He was free all along, he just didn't know it.

Satan has the same strategy, doesn't he? His greatest weapon is to make us think that we are trapped, when in reality the cell door is always open. Satan can't bind us, so he tricks us into making us believe the cell door is locked.

Yesterday my aninmations didn't want to 'preview' but they 'posted' okay.   

I did go see my step-daughter.  She sure wasn't raised like myself or my son.  So much drama in her life.  Calling the police.  Drugs in the neighborhood.  Someone has a key to her apartment and comes in when she is gone.  Two of her sons are not allowed on the apartment property due to them being in prison in the past.  I thank God that my life isn't a thing like that.  Never has been and I pray never will be.  Maybe that's why I only see her once a year at the most! 

I have mowed the yard and showered.  Now I am catching up online. 

Kitty invited me to her house this evening for pork chops on the grill.  I made potato salad for my contribution.  Then after dark, we will watch the fireworks over the corn fields that are off to the distance.  Sounds like a plan.  Of course, I will be going over early.  We may just mat my photos for the State Fair.

Etta Sue, what a sad sort of life your stepdaughter has.    

It's as lovely a day as the forecasters promised.  I need to make a run to the dump this afternoon, to take my recyclables.  Maybe while I'm out I'll do some picture taking.  Even at the dump, there is a beautiful view of the mountains.  Trouble is I seldom think to even look at it while I'm there.  Shame on me that I don't take even a few seconds to drink in the beauty that God has provided.   

We have finished weeding the garden.  Now we are going for a canoe ride on the river.  We have wanted to do that for a while now.  So this should be fun.

Tomorrow is my grandson's birthday party.  Hard to believe he is 13 now.

Be back later
Judyb

Judy I hope you are taking pictures with  your new camera!!

We might be taking a drive up the coast to the sea ion Caves so I can take pictures. Maybe today or maybe tomorrow. Or maybe pictures of some of the light houses.

Oh, I'm certainly going to be watching for all these pictures!!!

No we didn't take the camera.  Good thing too as we were doing a lot of splashing and everything was soaked.... I don't think that would be good for the camera!

We did see a heron.  We let the canoe drift and we got to within about 6 - 8 feet of it.  finally it was spooked and flew off.  It really was lovely.  When john and I go out alone we will take the cameras.

We have decided that we are  going to go up the coast tomorrow.

Jeanne, Etta Sue and Marilyn, I am turning a lovely shade of green here, thinking of the photo ops you have.  We do hav e beauty around us, too, but have to look a bit harder, or with a new perspective, to see and appreciate it.

I need to check the paper to see if they are even having a fireworks show here tonight.  Haven't heard a word about it!

Larry, that sounds as if your pocket took quite a hit this week!  Those times just seem to come around every so often.

I met Mark's date today at their park festivities for the 4th.  She seems like a nice girl.  He has been really wanting to meet someone, and we have been praying for the right girl for him.

Janet do not be green, you have taken some wonderful underwater photos that none of us will ever be able to do. And I'm sure you took some photos on your recent dive trip. So lets see yours too.

You're right, of course.  I stand corrected!  (But I don't know how to post photos.)

Maybe Jeanne will write you a tutorial on posting photos, it isn't at all hard once you GET it.
You can upload directly to the gallery from your computer now. without having a website first.

.

I went to Kitty's last evening for a cookout and took some potato salad.  Of course, I went early.  Bob said he would be back by 7pm.  A little after 6:30pm, he called and said he was in an auto accident and for her to come and get him...only 4 miles away.  Of course, she was in a dither so I told her I would drive..that she was in no condition to drive. 

At the corner of SR38 and SR13 is Trinity Life Center.  It's a new campus with only a sanctuary and a park like setting.  They were having fireworks last evening.  When Bob approached there he looked at all the people there and the next thing he knew...whammo!  He was hit and his air bag went off.  He wasn't hurt but will be sore for a few days.  It seems that a woman with her son in the truck turned left right in front of him and Bob hit her.  She said that someone directed her to turn but Bob said he didn't see anyone directing traffic.  But everyone was okay.  God was with all of them.

They were discussing yesterday morning that Bob needed a new car...his has over 130,000 miles on it.  Now he will get a new car. 

Then we went back to their house...had our cookout and watched fireworks all around the horizon.  Probably about 6 areas and that was just to the south and southwest. 

Another clear, bright and sunny day today!  Love it!

Someone to count on

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and constantly loves those who love him and obey his commands.

Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT

The love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children's children of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments.
Psalm 103:17-18 NLT

The Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NLT


About this week's promise

"You can count on me—I will never let you down." That is faithfulness. Husbands and wives vow on their wedding day to be faithful to one another, devoted and committed to one another in all area of marriage. It is a vow to be with one's mate, to stay with one's mate, and to build up one's mate. Again and again throughout the Bible, God holds faithfulness up as one of his foundational qualities and a foundation quality he expects from his people. There is nothing like the faithfulness of a mate, friends and family, and God to build our sense of security.

Hi Everyone...

This has been one of the busiest weeks for me.  Had some problems on another site that has taken a long time to try to fix. 

Now, I'm headed south to Virginia.  So, next time you hear from me, it will be from the Handy Mart in Winchester!

Hi everyone and Happy 4th of July for those who celebrate this occasion.  I just went out and put my American flag on the mailbox (that is really the only place I have to display it).  I have had the flag for a couple of years and never remember to get it out.  So it is nice and fresh and looks very good out there.  

We will head to church in about an hour.  Since the choir isn't singing this month we can go 30 minutes later and still be on time.  I don't look for a large crowd today but hope I will be wrong.

Etta Sue, having to have a wreck to get a new car is pretty drastic!!  Sure glad no one was hurt.   Some folks create chaos or thrive in it as it makes them feel alive.  We have some family members like that as well.  Sure glad you have a quieter life.

Marilyn, hope you all have a nice trip to the coast today and get some good pictures.

Pat, hope you have an enjoyable drive.  Say hi to Paul for us.  Enjoy that new home and don't be working too hard.

Janet, you are right about the hit to the pocketbook.  The new beds are a very major purchase but will never have to be done again in our lifetime.  The only other major expense that I foresee now is we will have to add a new roof in a year or two.  

Judy, sounds like you had a very nice canoe trip yesterday.  Guess this is the time of the year for it.  Isn't the water still pretty cold up your way?  Taking a camera in a canoe sounds rather risky.

Jeanne, it is sure true that we can find God's beauty whereever we are if we will just open our eyes.  Even focusing on a leaf or a tree is a thing of wonder.  I just saw some amazing pictures this morning of a recent find in Greece of skeletons of huge human beings. This totally unexpected find furnishes proof of the existence of "Nephilim". Gen 6:4 and Num 13:33.  Let me know if you would like to see the photos and I will forward the e-mail I got to you.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable day.  It is beautiful here but will be about 8 degrees warmer than yesterday.

Janet, there are instructions for uploading pictures to the CP gallery, for posting pictures from the gallery and for resizing before you upload, in the "How To" section, as well as using another site like Photobucket to store your photos and to post from:  Click Here.  If you need help with any of it let me know, OK?  I've been missing those beautiful underwater pictures you used to post on the old SN, and I'd love to see more of them.

PS!  Pat, I meant to mention that I'll be asking travel mercies for you as you get into the holiday traffic on your way south. 

Larry I live on the coast 1 block from the coastal highway 101. We are in the northern bend of the Coos Bay hence the name North Bend which is where I live. We are going  up the coast today.

Hi everyone.  Hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th.  I watched the 4th of July day celebration from the National Mall last evening.  I don't think it was one of their better ones although did enjoy Reba McEntire and also the pianist.  The fireworks were really quite someone and they show up very well on a large screen TV.  Our neighbors must have spent a small fortune on fireworks as they fired them off for quite awhile last night.  Do hope that is the end of them for this year.

I am going to have to make a quick run down to our daughter's apartment.  She is out of money and was expecting her food stamp card renewal.  She called this morning saying it wasn't there so sure she is probably out of food.  She is a diabetic and certainly must have enough to eat.

We did attend church yesterday and it seemed strange to sit out in the congregation.  After church nine of us went to a buffet for lunch.  It was pretty good and I sure didn't need any supper.

Marilyn, I understand now that you are just going for a drive and will see a different area of coastline than where you live.  Hope the weather cooperates.

Bob is a retired insurance man so he knows how insurance works.  The Blue Book for his wrecked car for cash was $7500.  Blue Book for trade in was $3500.  Insurance pays the cash.  This wreck was worth $4000 to him!  They were wanting to trade but now insurance should give him $4000 more than trade in. 

Bob is sore but he will be fine. 

Church was awesome yesterday.  A lot of American history in the sermon.  Good to refresh in our minds.  We were told to find a veteran or a family member of a veteran and tell them thanks.  It's a shame.  Three young girls in the back row stayed there and were laughing and talking amongst themselves.  They don't have a clue what a veteran has done for them!  Hope they do now that the sermon is over. 

Today is laundry, getting gas for the mower, taking a birthday gift to a friend and whatever happens along.

We  had a nice drive yesterday I took 12 photos that  still have to edit and resize for post on here and  S&F. The photos came out great except that 2 I took in the cave of the sea lions  were kinda dark. I will have to see if  can  clarify them enough to be presentable.

When we were on the observation deck outside  looking down the cliff, there was one bull  facing his harem that was laying there sunning themselves and he was barking and looked like he was preaching to the cows. He was all raised up  with his head in the air barking away. I took a photo but I was so far away that I don't know if  can bring that in close enough  to see. I will see what I can do in PSP, I don't know enough in Photoshop to do that yet.

Time to start a new week HERE