O Christmas Tree...

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Jupiter 12

father and son

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Jupiter 12

”… the glory of sons is their fathers.” (Proverbs 17:6 NASB)

Christmas with a Minolta Hi-matic 7s

Right at the end of the summer, I found this slick little Minolta Hi-matic 7s in a yard sale for a few bucks. It’s kind of been stuck in a drawer since purchased, so I decided it was time to drag it out and see if it actually works. It turned out to be a smooth shooting little camera and a lot fun to use. Here's some of the shots.


So we start off spending some of Christmas Eve by finishing up some last minute shopping then pop into a fast food dive for a quick lunch and a big story.

Two things I enjoy. Listening to my wife spin a big yarn and taking pictures. Sometimes I do both at once. I'm not sure that she always appreciates that though. ;{

Then it’s off to Wally’s for some snacks and then zip through Blockbuster to pick out a few movies before settling in for the Eve at home.

This kind lady gives up her Christmas Eve (and probably Christmas Day too) so schmucks like me can lazy in and rent movies from her. She was even in a good mood… go figure!

The next day, we spent Christmas morning at church… a really special service. Then we headed over to some of our friends’ house for Christmas Lunch. We also got to open some presents (thanks guys!), but the most fun was watching their grandson rip into his. All eyes are on the little guy.

The Great-grands look on from the nickel bleachers.

Mom waits with great anticipation for “the shot.”

Mom gets the shot! … and another! … and another!

Okay, finally, hey, there’s just too many presents, too many toys… and mom’s tired of shooting.

Dad’s wearin’ down too. "Are you sure we haven’t played with that already?" Time for a break, don't ya think?

”C’mon, dad! Some of my toys are getting bored!”

”Hey! I’m startin’ to feel a little neglected back here!”

”Hey kid… pssst! Over here! If you’re smart, you’ll stay out of the way and keep your trap shut. Otherwise, me and you both will end up on the back porch!”

parked

taken with Zorki 3 ~ Jupiter 8

bent

taken with Zorki 3 ~ Jupiter 8

"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV)

hullinger

taken with Zorki 3 ~ Jupiter 8
Hullinger, a good friend and confidant enjoying a cup of coffee at the new coffee shop near his home. Not sure about this look though. I get the same look from my wife when she's getting ready to give me a "Zorki beating" if I take one more picture!

(Enjoy, PM!)

mom 'n ginger

taken with Zorki 3 ~ Orion 15

adam & carl

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Industar 50

carl's truck

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Industar 50

jimmy's wife

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Industar 50

"The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"(Luke 4:18 KJV)

one good man

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Industar 50

“A simple life in the Fear-of-GOD is better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.”
(Proverbs 15:16 MSG)

carl & coffee

taken with Zorki 3m ~ Jupiter 8

nel's front porch

taken with Zorki 3m ~ Jupiter 8

beauty salon

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15

the pool

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15

“Instead, his delight is in the Lord's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalms 1:2-3 HCSB)

just between us

taken with Zorki 3 ~ Orion 15

”Okay, so there’s always time to cook a turkey. Let’s just sit here and chat a little before we really get into cookin’ the bird.”

taken with Zorki 3 ~ Jupiter 8

“Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10 HCSB)

just weeds

taken with Zorki 3 ~ Jupiter 8








It’s interesting what you can see just walking through a grassy field. Yeah, summer is gone, flowers are gone, green is gone, winter is on us and everything is dead looking. But still when I look closely… it’s pretty intriguing… to me anyway. And at times, fun to take pictures of.

welcome

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15

this old house

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15

Old houses. Man, don’t you love ‘em? I pass by one and wonder what it looked like new… and what it would take to make it new again.

My wife and I were driving home from some errand the other day and passed in front of where they’re building a huge distribution warehouse on the site where a farm used to be. I had been by there a couple days before and noticed the old farm house still standing in a grove of trees at the corner of the property, three stories tall and made of cut stone bordered by a stone wall around the yard. “You’ve got to see this old house,” I told my wife.

As we turned the corner, we saw the smoke from a diesel engine and there sat a big yellow Caterpillar in the front yard. The only thing still standing of the once fine home was one corner room; the rest was just so much rubble.

I’m sure it won’t be long until progress reduces this old house to rubble as well.

****************
“"Again, GOD's Message: "'I'll turn things around for Jacob. I'll compassionately come in and rebuild homes. The town will be rebuilt on its old foundations; the mansions will be splendid again.
(Jeremiah 30:18 MSG)

new convert?

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15

As my wife and I drove around the countryside, she wanted to pause and watch this farmer unload his corn. “Here,” I offered. “Take a picture of him,” and I handed her a Zorki. Here’s the resulting shot of my wife taking her first picture with an FSU camera. New convert? Ahhhh……… I wouldn’t bet on it. But since it has the reflection of her sweet hand, I think it’s a pretty good shot.

spotlight

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15

“You own the day, you own the night; you put stars and sun in place. You laid out the four corners of earth, shaped the seasons of summer and winter.” (Psalms 74:16-17 MSG)

dancin' girls

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15


"At that time the deaf will hear word-for-word what's been written. After a lifetime in the dark, the blind will see. The castoffs of society will be laughing and dancing in GOD, the down-and-outs shouting praise to The Holy of Israel.” (Isaiah 29:18-19 MSG)

back door

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15


”The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, 'Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.' "The servant reported back, 'Master, I did what you commanded--and there's still room.” (Luke 14:21-22 MSG)

moving day

taken with Zorki 3M ~ Orion 15

We helped some friends move from apartment to house a couple of weeks ago. I snapped this shot in the after-move coffee break. She’s dog-tired, but glad to be in her own home.

fist

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Jupiter 8

Not sure what this ol’ boy’s name is, but if push comes to shove, I hope he’s on my side.

”Why, we even saw the Nephilim giants (the Anak giants come from the Nephilim). Alongside them we felt like grasshoppers. And they looked down on us as if we were grasshoppers." Numbers 13:33 MSG

side of a barn

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Orion 15

This shot taken outside of a barn turned Flea Market. By the time this photo was posted these last little pretty flowers had probably fallen victim to the first frosts of Fall.

not here

taken with Zorki 4 ~ Jupiter 8

Ya know how you can be somewhere without really being there? Caught this young man in a crowded room... bodily... but his mind is obviously somewhere else.

lunch

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Orion 15

Here’s my favorite hot dog vendor when I’m downtown people watching. I’ve taken I don’t know how many pictures of him and can’t seem to get a good one. Even in this one, both he and his customer looked away just as I was shooting… L

broken tractor

taken with Zorki 4 ~ Jupiter 8

The ol’ tractor needs work, but will have to wait til’ later to get attention… probably this winter.

morning coffee

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Orion 15

On a morning drive, my wife and I wound up at this local café that advertised “home cooking.” The light came through the window to land right on the gentleman’s cap. Light unnoticed, the waitress has the full attention of these guys… probably about this same time every morning.

tomatoes

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Orion 15

"As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out. This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God." (2 Corinthians 9:9-11 MSG)

never forget

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Orion 15

”Now when this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?”
(1 Corinthians 15:54-55 HCSB)

apples 'n apples

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Jupiter 8

It’s these big decisions in life that kill us. “Should I get this bag of apples or that one? One bag or two? Or one bag and some cider? Where’s my checkbook? Or should I use my debit card?”

stonefaced

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Jupiter 8

I’m sure this stone-faced fellow had dropped something out the window, but I just couldn’t figure out what.

angel and bird

taken with Zorki 1 ~ Orion 15

Here’s an angelic yard decoration I came across at an antique/junk shop not far from home. This photo was taken not long before sunset with a small beam of light coming through the trees to land right on the little angel’s head. My eye just seems to focus on the shadow behind. I also like the colors in this view of the angel and his friend, Mr. Frog.