A Few Calm Evenings

While at Lake Bonaparte, we enjoyed simply being away from home. For me, everyday life can become a bit tedious--especially when I lose my focus--but when I do those same things (wash dishes, prepare meals, etc.) at a different location, somehow the tasks transform themselves.  Part of that is because when the task was done, I usually grabbed my camera and headed toward the birdfeeder, or the dock, or the boat...  You get the picture.

We had a couple quiet days at the Lake, and I took only a few photos of sunsets.  That was mostly because there were no clouds.  Now, no clouds is nice, weather-wise, but for sunset photos, clouds really make the shot.  The Lord paints His beauty on the sky with so many different colors.  Especially when clouds drift by, one sunset can change a hundred times in 20 minutes.

Still, a cloudless sky makes for a peaceful, calm evening on the dock with my honey.

 Captured a bird in this one.  :)

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
Captured by Christine Anne

Havin' Fun on the Lake

I've already posted my vacation photos on Facebook; however, since getting serious about photography, I've edited them all to reflect that leaning.  So, I'm reminiscing about our very recent vacation, and wanted to show y'all where we were and what we did for two weeks.  It'll be in small chunks, in case you get bored--who wants to see someone else's 200 vacation photos all in one sitting???  Or at all??  :)

So, if you're interested, early on in our vacation, we spent some time on the Lake.  My cousin Al freely lets us use his pontoon boat, which is super because there are six of us.  We boated, a few of us cast lures or roped (see below), Danny kayaked, we swam, and of course, we all played Frisbee.

Once Thomas got the hang of the rope, he used perfect form

Danny caught it on film; uh, print; uh, digitally, I guess.

Danny wished he could've kayaked more...

One of my favorite photos from vacation!

My dad followed behind us in the Cadillac (it used to be his dad's)

Yeah, we joke that Grandpa (my dad) is getting old, but he sure still does have fun!

A flower on the dock

I love these mailboxes.  Every now and then, someone actually gets mail!

My cousin's son fishes with one of Fernando's poles.

Two fishermen (and one photographer getting in the way).

End of day.  I took sunset pictures almost every evening.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
www.CapturedByChristine.blogspot.com

Vacation Reminiscing: Time for Treats

While at Lake Bonaparte, we are required by family rules to visit a little place called Treats & 'Tiques once per week.  Um, make that at least once per week.  Treats for their ice cream treats, 'Tiques for the various antiques they display.

It's on Route 3, just as you enter Natural Bridge.  Of course, if you drive two more blocks, you'll leave Natural Bridge.  But you can't miss it; this tiny place is always packed on a summer evening.

Dad has a hard time deciding.

Now, if you ever visit, keep in mind that their sizes are a little different than what you'd experience in the suburbs.  Yes, they have small, medium, and large.  But unless you have a bottomless pit for a stomach, don't order those sizes.  Stick to the baby, kiddie, and extra small.  Trust me.

Not exactly a small.

Jacob enjoys his cone.

Thomas has a bottomless pit for a stomach...

 Jacob does it his own way.

The living-room-sized shop boasts two little tables; most people stand around outside to eat.  And that's okay.

Ice cream made us happy this evening.  My dad and mom were in a very silly mood!  Maybe the mood was enhanced by the fact that we picked up the tab--which, by the way, was about $22 for eight people.  That would make anyone happy.  :)

One word to describe our after-dinner festivities:  Yum.

Back to life, Christine

Blog Blog Blog!!! (and some pictures...)

I have a very dear friend.  She spent all afternoon yesterday playing with me and my blog.  I think I remember 5% of all that she showed me I could do on this little ol' page!!  But, I'm still excited about the changes that will be coming soon.  Really, it's just in how this blog looks, but it's still amazing to me!  And Lori is amazing. 

I wish I could take some pictures, but alas, my dear camera is getting repaired.  However, I can post some pictures!!

Since I have shutter withdrawal, here are one or two pictures from vacation--upstate New York.  And for those naive folks who think "upstate" means you can hop in to the city whenever you want, remember the up in upstate.  As in north.  :)

These pictures are a few of the birds and critters I discovered at the Lake.  There was no comparison to sitting on the south porch with my camera and a cup of tea, the air filled with birdsong as I waited patiently to see what came to visit.  :)

Back to life,
Christine