Bacon... MMMMmmmmmm

While we do not do pork (we follow a lot of the OT food laws - not because they save us, but for the same reason we celebrate Passover or fast - to remind us of who God is and what He has done). So anyways, while we do not do pork, we do eat turkey bacon. But no matter what type of bacon you use, check out this video of Alton Brown using a waffle iron to cook bacon! GENIUS! This is a GREAT way to season my cast iron waffle iron I got from Lehman's. :D

So why the waffle iron? In a pan, the fat and meat shrink and cook at different rates, and over time leave lots of grease in the pan making it difficult to cook lots of bacon. The waffle iron collects the bacon grease in its nooks and crannies, allow you to collect it to use for cooking other foods, or leave a thin layer of grease on for yummy waffles!! :D

Alton explains not only what kind of bacon to buy at the grocery store, but why the waffle iron wins out as a cooking platform. In a pan, the fat and meat shrink and cook at different rates, and over time leave a troublesome amount of grease in the pan that makes multiple batches challenging. The waffle iron pulls away bacon grease in its nooks and notches, and you can collect it to use in another food, or leave a thin layer of grease on for seriously home-style waffles.

Fun video

HT: Homeschool Freebie of the Day

Current Web Readings

Bug Farm
A cool game where you are a beneficial bug in your garden. How cool is this? Can I just say I want one?! :D

Plump Stocking
A bit late for Christmas, but not for those after Christmas sales in order to stuff next year's stocking!

Best Books For Girls: 20 Books She Has Loved
From one of my favorite blogs

Can Beans Cure Morning Sickeness??

No Poo Hard Water Epiphny
for those who did not have the wonderful results most of us have with no poo, this read is for you. Tells you what to try if you have hard water.

Homemade Deodorant
Oh this looks SO sweet. I so need to make me some of this!!!

Hairstyles from Yesteryear
Tutorials on beautiful hairstyles. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Doing a little happy dance right now!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like ....

STRESS! LOL!! How come after every Christmas comes a stressful shopping day, followed by a stressful time of cleaning up the tree and ornaments (Not to mention that someone stole all three of the kids sleds - I don't know why - they were the cheap circle ones and nothing special, but my three kids are now sledless and I am so sad).

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas. I had a most WONDERFUL one. So wonderful that I did not take any pictures! LOL!! I was too busy enjoying my family. I have to share with you what made this year one of the best.

It wasn't the presents (which I got some REALLY nice ones), and it wasn't the food (Brian made duck and it tasted amazing), and it wasn't the fact that it was a nice quiet time at home, just the 6 of us (well as quiet as a house full of 6 - 4 being kids - can get).

A couple weeks ago, we went to a city run Christmas event. At the event, a reporter approached us and asked the kids if they were here to write letters to Santa, and what they were going to ask Santa for. She pried and pried, finally they let her know that we don't do the Santa thing. She continued to try to get them to "well what WOULD you say if he were real?" The kids really had no answers.

She thanked us and we walked away. About 5 minutes later, she came up to Brian and me. The kids were sitting down watching a performance in the main lobby. She asked us if not doing the Santa thing relieved us from the pressures of feeling like we had to provide a lot of toys. Now me, I was thinking, I would think that believing in Santa would mean a parent could provide less toys because they could just blame Santa or the kid (for being too naughty). We mentioned that actually we try to limit the amount of gifts the kids get at Christmas anyway (regardless of the Santa thing or not, we just don't want a lot of clutter in the house). But that the one thing I noticed was that because the gifts came from an actual person instead of an imaginary being, they were more thankful for the gifts they got, be it books (which what homeschooled kids doesn't like to get books?!?!) or clothes, the children are more appreciative.

SO skip forward to yesterday, Christmas day. We beginning opening the gifts, and the children, even JJ,reaffirmed what I had said. With each gift they opened, they were so thankful. Many times, after a gift was opened, they would stop, put down the gift, and give us a hug in thanks for giving it to them. To those who were not here, comments of thanks and "how did they know?!" showered forth. It was truly touching and one of the best Christmases ever.

Today will be spent in writing thank you notes, and the following days will be spent in adoring play and reading of the special gifts we received.

Something happy....

Something happy and living after all this death....


Our living history ranch has a Christmas celebration each year. They always have an activity for the kids to do. This year was candle making, like they did back then. :D


Another picture from the living history ranch - Christmas as it used to be.


JJ LOVES to throw snowballs!


We got to spend time with family - this is my sister and her daughter sledding down the hill.


Making snow angels with family.


EE being a big sister and JJ totally enjoying it!


AA doing a puzzle - I LOVE this picture!!!

and finally...

My sister with her dd and all four of my blessings. :D

Death...

It seems that ever since July, I have been surrounded with death. Friends, friends of friends, and family all dying. 7 deaths in five months. And now I learn that my Uncle Jon has been given 3-8 months to live.

My Uncle Jon is fairly old, all the other deaths but one were fairly young (not older than 60). Some were cancer, some were horrible accidents, all were cherished and precious lives. It was interesting to see the difference, especially in those whose death was prolonged due to cancer, between those who knew Jesus as their Savior and those who did not.

Those who knew Jesus, and knew that this was not their home, had such a peace about dying. They even had peace about the suffering they were going through (their bodies were in much terrible pain). They loved their earthly family, but longed to "go home."

This last funeral I attended was this past Sunday. Her name is Rebecca and she loved Jesus more than anything. She left behind a husband whom she dearly loved and a 15 year old son, who doesn't quite understand how a loving God could tear his mom away from him. But her husband (and her) believe in a loving God whose eternal plan is much more than we can understand. They know that death is swallowed up in victory! (Your prayers for her husband and especially her son are appreciated.)

Her service was just beautiful. Children sang (she LOVED children). Her husband and others spoke about her influence in their lives. LOTS of tears at the loss of such a wonderful and beautiful woman, and yet, happy tears too, knowing that she was now home - no longer in pain. We sang two of her favorite hymns.

There were some of her unfinished projects there (she knitted). A friend commented how hard it was to see those unfinished projects there, that would never be finished. But after hearing all that she did for others, one realizes that her priorities were straight. Not in the finishing of a knitting project, but in the knitting of hearts of family and friends.

Her death was the first of the 7 that really impacted the children, because they knew her. The others were friends of mommy's or family they had not yet met. But Rebecca was THEIR friend too.

It was a wonderful opportunity to talk to the children (after they shed lots of tears) about the reality of death - that there is a heaven and a hell - both equally real. And sadly, there are people who goto both. We talked about how Mrs. B was now in heaven, no longer in pain, joyful in being with Jesus. How this is not our home, and we are here for only a short while. Life is short and precious.

Christmas Web Readings

Homeschooling For Free Christmas/Advent links

Christmas Lapbook

Christmas Unit Studies

Polar Bear Lapbook

The Importance of Friends
A really good read about our children and their friends

Worthy of Wedding...

A new internet friend recently remarried for the second time nearly two years after her first husband's death. She looked so beautiful - full of joy!

Of course, me, I cannot even imagine marrying another man after losing Brian. But then again, I AM currently blessed to STILL be married to him all these 13+ years. :D So I guess it is a good thing that I cannot picture myself ever loving another man.



But I began to think about what would attract another man to me should I need to remarry.

I am not a good cook.
I am lazy.
I do not keep a very clean and orderly home.
I do not homeschool the typical way.
I need to lose ... weight. ;)
I am not as submissive as I should be.

Well, you get the idea. My list started getting pretty long.

And then I started thinking. First, I need to kiss my husband's feet for staying with and loving someone like me for as long as he has! :D I need to be more grateful to him! :D

But secondly, that I can become a better woman for the man I have NOW. Make him proud to be married to me. Be all the things I am praying my girls are so they can be worthy of a godly man for a husband. Be all those things in my list that I am not, but that I know my husband not only needs, but deserves.

I know my man will always love me. I am so thankful I can be secure in that. Especially in this day and age where divorces are rampant. I know he knows my faults, and loves me in spite of them. And he always will. But how much more special and meaningful to him, for me to change and be better. I know that our home is not on this earth. And that time here is very short and precious. I want to do everything I can, now, while we are both here together, to show him how much I value him.

I never thought about that. My lack of keeping the home clean and organized shows a lack of my value in my husband. I mean if someone special was coming over (hey, even if it was just the news station with video cameras to video the house), wouldn't I make more of an effort? How much more special and of value is my man than the CBS cameraman?

Christmas Web Readings

Bible Printables for Christmas

Beautiful Christmas on a Budget
tutorials on inexpensive gifts to make and give! :D

Advent Christmas Unit Study 2007
GREAT collection of links!!!

Hot Chocolate on a Stick
OH YEAH! YUMMO! This blog is GREAT!!! This link is just to hot chocolate on a stick, BUT ....
THE WHOLE BLOG is worth checking out!!! This blog is all about making and giving gifts!! WONDERFUL blog!!!

DIY Therapy Sacks

Tutorial of Felting for Kids
I have NOT seen it done this way before. NO MESS!! This is a mom after my own heart!!! :D :D :D

Patchwork Soup Mix in a Jar
GREAT idea!!!

Tradition
Christmas Traditions of the McDonald Family.

Prayers are needed

A dear dear friend of ours passed away Wednesday night. It has been very hard on our family, mostly because this is the first death the girls have personally dealt with (as they actually knew and loved this lady very much).

Your prayers are appreciated as the girls continue to deal with their emotions and the spiritual aspects of death.

Thank you.

Christmas Carols - Love Came Down At Christmas

I love love LOVE this song. I heard it first just a couple of years ago on a Shawl Colvin album my husband bought. I LOVE her version. Sadly, I cannot find a copy of it anywhere online for you to hear. There is a very nice Jars of Clay version all OVER youtube, but this version I shear comes CLOSEST to Shawn Colvin's version:



EDITED TO ADD:
I just love Ravelry. A complete stranger (to me, but won't be after this, I am gonna track her down! :D ) found a link for the version of the son I was wanting to share!! THANK YOU (you know who you are!!!).

SO HERE is the way to listen to this song! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this CD and it is almost practically all I listen to at Christmas!

Love Came Down At Christmas, by Shawn Colvin

Christmas Carols - All Is Well

I have never heard this song before, but it is SO VERY beautiful!!

Take a listen:

Christmas Movies - White Christmas

Oh how I LOVE this movie! Brian watched this all the time growing up, but I did not watch it until after Brian and I got married. It is watched at least twice during the season. And the kids just LOVE it. All the singing and dancing... WONDERFUL!!!

And it has some great lines! And I love how it shows the respect for the elderly and how people cared for one another back then. "Doing it for a pal in the army." And there are LOTS of laughs in the movie.

Definately something worth checking out and watching. I think you will love it as much as our family does.

Christmas Readings

Twas The Month Before Christmas
A little late, but still GOOD stuff here!

Fabric Water Bottle Carrier Tutorial
This would make a GREAT gift for anyone living in TX (don't look Katie!) :D LOL!! :D

Christmas Movies - A Charlie Brown Christmas

OK, so my husband, being totally a Charlie Brown himself, loves this movie. We watch it at least twice during the season.

It does have the redeeming value of it actual has Scripture in the movie talking about the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

However, that being said, I will admit that I did NOT let the children watch this when they were younger. Having three daughters, they would look at Lucy as an example. Lucy is a very harsh little girl. And she is a bit of a bully.

Now you may disagree with me, and that is totally fine. But I wanted my children to have an understanding of how to behave properly before watching. Yes, I might be a bit more protective (I am sure some of you are reading OVER protective), but there is no harm in waiting a few years before showing a movie to your child. :D

Christmas Movies - Elf

Yep, call me a heathen, but I love the movie

ELF

Will Ferrel can sometimes be a bit much, but he does it just right in Elf. We watch this movie at LEAST 3 times during the season. I quote this movie a little bit too.

I will warn that there is one bad word in here, said twice, with an accompanying action. This happens near the end of the movie. The son says it, then the father repeats him. My children know where this scene is, and we just skip over it (at least until we get a Clear Play). :D

I like smiling...Smiling's my favorite!

Please share some of your favorite movies in the comments below!!

Christmas Movies - It's A Wonderful Life

I thought it would be fun if we shared some of our favorite Christmas movies!! While we do not watch a lot of TV, during the month of December, we have a movie on every day - yes, even Christmas.

SO you HAVE to start of the season with Frank Capra and Jimmy Stewart!

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Can you believe that I did NOT watch this movie growing up. I cannot recall watching it before I met Brian (but then again, my mom has a better memory than I do and would know FOR CERTAIN if I had or not. :D

This movie is one of my all time favorites. Brian and I quote the movie frequently to each other. IN fact, "Brian (last name) lassos stork" is how I told him we were pregnant with our second child! :D

Christmas Web Readings

Holiday Open House and Christmas Links

My December Basket

16 Christmas Photography Tips
Some REALLY good tips on what to do to avoid the "why didn't any of my pictures turn out?" syndrome. :D

Current Web Readings

A Mother's Hope
A must read for any mom who struggles with a child in their homeschooling.

I Heart Faces - Autumn Beauty

(be sure to click the above button to see all the entries and visit this awesome blog where you can enter too AND learn something about taking better pictures!)

So there is a neat story behind this photo. I had said I wanted the kids to be oldest to youngest, and pointed along the side of the stairs (assuming that they would all be standing). I looked down to change the settings on my camera, and heard my oldest daughter telling everyone where to be. When I looked up, I saw this and loved it SO MUCH, that I had not the heart to tell her that is not what I meant. This turned out being my favorite shot.

Even neater, when we got home, and she saw the picture, she said "Oh I am sorry. JJ should have been up and in more." WOW!! She realized that ALL ON HER OWN!!! I am so proud of her. Of course to me, the fact he is NOT where it would look like the typical shots makes it even that more special. JJ was being all boy and being in and playing with the leaves - caring less about photography. :D

Clicking on the picture will take you to it on Flickr, so you can see it bigger if you wish.

So there it is, my first ever entry into iheartfaces. I hope you like it!!!

P.S... I will be taking a blogging break for a little bit. I will be leaving for NY on Friday for my Aunt's memorial service. Brian will be here alone with the kids. I am sure he would appreciate your prayers. I will be getting my house in order for him while I am gone. Then when I get back, Thanksgiving, and the week after, Brian has off from work (so I will most likely be enjoying time together with my family, taking advantage of my husband's time off). See you second week in December.

And PLEASE remember to VOTE FOR ME in the PenScrappers contest!

I made a layout for a contest and would love it if you would go and vote for me. PLEASE share with your friends. You can vote for other layouts you like too. This contest is based on VOTES (i.e. more on popularity than on technique or skill) so the more people who vote for me the better. THANKS!!! To vote, click on the image above. Next to the layout (which has the pictures from the princess photo shoot I did - THANK YOU REBECCA!!! I never would have had good pictures for this kit if it had not been for you!) is a VOTE tag/button. Click on that! THANKS!!! And again, feel free to pass on the link asking your friends to vote too!! THANKS!! :D

Current Web Readings

Felt Play House
You could take this even further and make it so they can design their own house and change it around. Or maybe grow different things in their garden at different times. :)

Macho Manly Man POcket Hand Warmers
This is such a cute post. Not only does it have a great tutorial, but a great story behind it!! Why not make some of these for the mail/garbage men (not saying mail men are garbage men, though a lot of what they bring us goes in the garbage, but you know what I mean!). Don't forget to add to the note about keeping these in your pocket to keep there hands warm in their pockets!! :D

Using Old Jeans Up
Martha Stewart does it RIGHT!! GREAT ideas, but I am especially partial to the quilt at the bottom of the page - PERFECT for a boys room!! :D

The above was a link found on this post about ways to use up old jeans. This post is GREAT!! :D

Shutter Cal
This is a GREAT way to organize a photo a day. Then you can print it out (the price is actually pretty good) and get it in a shoebox! The shoe box is designed to hold twelve months of 30/31 photos! WONDERFUL gift idea for the grandparents!

Flickr
This post is a GREAT intro into how and WHY you should use Flickr if you take pictures. It is from Digital Photography School. I just wish I had the time to connect more through groups there. I just don't have the time.

Foto Friday - Leaves

(a quick reminder to please vote for me I really need the votes to win! THANKS!!!)

I had so much FUN doing these pictures. THANK YOU REBECCA!!! If you have not already read the story behind these photos, I encourage you to do that. It really is worth the time, at least I think it is. :D

(edited to add: OK... after seeing every one else's photos, and they are of just leaves, I feel really bad. I think I messed up on the assignment. But how could I NOT take these shots of my kids?!?! I am sorry Rebecca and other fellow FF followers. Rebecca - feel free to remove my link if you do not think I completed the challenge as stated. I will not be offended at all! :D )

So we headed to the last place I had been where I saw lots of leaves and there was a most beautiful bridge there. I told the kids about throwing in a leaves and watching them race under the bridge (there was a beautiful running river flowing under the bridge), and of course they went NUTS throwing LEAVES over the bridge. Not just one or two for a race ... but literally...



Here is one of JJ on the bridge. I love the shot, but hate the exposure! No matter how much I played with it, I could NOT get his face brighter!



Here is another one of JJ on the bridge. I love this one too!!!



I was TRYING to get a sun flare on this one, but but it did not work. Any thoughts on how to do something like this in the future??



Here is JJ on the stairs playing with the leaves while I was trying to set up a shoot (see a couple shots below), and all he cared about was playing in the leaves. SO CUTE!!!



Here is the shot I was setting up. AA was AWESOME in helping with this shot. I had said what I wanted, but she interpreted it differently, telling each of her siblings where to sit. I loved it so much that I was not about to say a word about what my vision was.

Leaves and Vets

As I was taking pictures for the next foto friday challenge (leaves), this old man on a bike walks up to us and asks me for a favor. He asked me if I knew today was Veteran's Day. "Yes Sir." I replied. He told me of how he was a veteran - he had fought in the Vietnam war. He asked if I would please take a picture of him with my kids. How could I refuse?! I thanked him for his service to our country and gladly brought my children over to pose for a picture with this unsung hero.

As I was explaining to my children about what today was and meant, the old man started crying. It near broke my daughter's hearts to see him crying. We all then posed for the picture. "EVERYBODY SAY THANK YOU!" "Thank you!"



After the picture was taken, he asked one of my girl's to hold his hat and "watch this." He then proceeded to do not one, not two but FIVE forward head-over-heals flips! I could not believe how agile this man was!



What an honor to take his picture. What a privilege to have my girls so close to him and meet him. And I will be printing these out and framing them as a gift to him. Bringing them by on Thursday as we will be on that side of town again tomorrow.



Thank you to ALL the veterans who have helped to make this country free.

Please Vote For Me!!!!

I made a layout for a contest and would love it if you would go and vote for me. PLEASE share with your friends. You can vote for other layouts you like too. This contest is based on VOTES (i.e. more on popularity than on technique or skill) so the more people who vote for me the better.

THANKS!!! To vote, click on the image above. Next to the layout (which has the pictures from the princess photo shoot I did - THANK YOU REBECCA!!! I never would have had good pictures for this kit if it had not been for you!) is a VOTE tag/button. Click on that!

THANKS!!! And again, feel free to pass on the link asking your friends to vote too!! THANKS!! :D

What JJ Was Doing....

My uncle loved the pictures of the girls being princess and asked what the prince was doing.

Well, actually the KNIGHT was busy saving the princesses from the dragon!

Current Web Readings

Single Serving Pie In A Jar
OH MY WORD!! These are SO CUTE!! What a great way to use up those little canning jars that you think you will always get around to using, but never do. ;) I gained ten pounds just looking around on this blog. YUMMO!!!

We Need All The Help We Can Get
LOVE this idea for cold frames.

Low Cost DIY Build Your Own Greenhouses

Weston Price Book

Math
Free math book from the 1800's! WAY COOL!!!

An Easel ...
Check out the easel frame (and the AWESOME pictures in it)!! It makes me totally want to declutter the whole house so I can paint and put up an easel frame like that! :D

Foto Friday - Dress Up

The challenge was dress up. I must admit that I am SO THANKFUL to Rebecca for this challenge. I had the BEST time. I had the girls go downstairs and grab things from our dress up room. And they had so much fun. The grabbed an outfit and came upstairs for a photo shoot! I had some roses that were near dead. So we grabbed the petals to throw on each other (well the girls throw on each other) for fun. :D

Someone asked me if I had a studio and used professional lighting. No, I wish. The white sheet is just a cheap white flannel sheet from Goodwill (I think). We used PVC pipes to rig up a sort of stand to hold the sheet. The lighting is natural lighting from our bedroom window. You can see the shadow and the light from the window on the floor and on MM in the "behind the scenes" shot. :D HTH!

Here is one of AA that I just LOVE!

She looks so elegant So grown up! My goodness where does the time go?!?!

Here is one of EE when the petals were thrown at her. I love the look on her face! Unfortunately, none of the petals made it in the shot. MM was throwing and did not know quite where to aim.

And here are a few of MM. She is the most photogenic of all four of my children. So almost every photo of her came out.

And of course, one of the behind the scenes. Do forgive the messy background! And as always, feel free to leave constructive criticism! :D

Another Layout - Homeschooling

I just LOVE homeschooling! This layout is from pictures taken during one of the best homeschool days ever! We were at a local park and there was a river nearby. The kids did observation drawings, MM caught a ladybug, and JJ was all boy running around and playing in dirt. It was a GREAT day! Be sure to click the image for close up and credits.

Current Web Readings

This is a GREAT new blog I discovered through another blog. LOL!! :D Every week they have a different themed contest (this coming week is balloons). Every Friday they have a photo fix up challenge (if you do not have Photoshop you can use GIMP - it is a free program that does a LOT of the stuff Photoshop does). Every week they have an inspiration post which either gives you great tips on taking better pictures OR gives you photo editing tips. DEFINITELY worth checking out.

Jar Of Fun
I LOVE this idea!! This idea could be done per season too (change the ideas for the season like a winter one could be make pinecone turkeys, create paper snowflakes, bake cookies for the neighbors). This blog has other great ideas so be sure to check it out.

To The Outskirts
I discovered this blog through her beautiful pictures shared on the Fun For Nothin Flickr group.

Imagine Childhood
Beautiful beautiful blog. I discovered this blog through the blog above.

Homeamde Cloth Napkins
Not just your ordinary ones, but 20 made from a $4 Goodwill twin flat sheet!! YIPPEE!!!

Free Curriculum List
For every subject. This is very well thought out and organized list of links to free curriculum (like Ambleside Online). Well worth your time to check out. You can homeschool for free!

Ebook PDF listing
GREAT collection for free pdf ebooks to help with homeschooling! :D

Bus Songs
There is ajust about every fun kids song you can imagine here! Music and lyrics. AWESOME!!

Another Layout - MM in Service

When I was taking pictures for Foto Friday: Motion, MM was being so sweet and thoughtful and selfless that I just HAD to scrap the moment so I would not forget it!! Click on the images to see them bigger and for credits! :D

Foto Friday - Motion

The challenge was motion. ICK! I did not like ANY of my pictures (although hers came out amazing so be sure to see them!!!). The snow has finally stopped, the wicked wind (and yes, it was WICKED) has finally left, and the sun has come out. So I am going to get some pictures of snow ball fights for motion and see if they come out. So I will post another motion post later today if they come out. :D

But until then, here are my tries. I was thinking of a kid and a lollipop.

Here is my first try:

Somewhat good, but now, Rebecca, can you see what I mean about focusing on the eyes? :D

Second try:

It is OK, but still SOMETHING should be IN FOCUS. The lollipop looks great though! :D

Third try:

Would have been PERFECT if those darn eyes were in focus!

Two more shots of my daughter loom knitting. These were taken just trying to capture motion:


REALLY close to coming out good. The loom and hand holding the loom should have been in focus that would have been the perfect shot.


Better. The yarn is in focus! :D YEA! The hand is almost in focus.

-=-=-=-=-=-=back with snow shots-=-=-=-=-=-

OK here is my first try. I had MM throw snow up in the air and took the shot.

I love how it came out, but it would be better if the snow flakes had some motion blur to them.

Here is my second try. I had JJ throw snow up in the air.

He is not in focus but the background is. LOL!! Got some lblur on the flakes and him (he was moving). Getting better.

My third attempt.

I have to admit that THIS is my favorite. Although I do wish SHE were in better focus. She was knocking snow off the tree.

Here is another one of her knocking snow off the tree.

What parts of her that are not moving are in focus. :D

Here us another attempt. MM was walking and she fell.

I have no idea how she is in focus in the middle of a fall but the snow she kicked up isn't. LOL!! But I loved her smile, even though she fell.

And my final attempt, MM throwing snow.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this one. She looks great. Her beautiful smile. She is in focus. The snow thrown is not. I have no idea how it happened, but I am so thankful it did.

I honestly do not know what I am doing. LOL!! I took a lot of pictures and played around a lot with shutter speed and aperture. I have a book that I will be reading on this subject.

As always, your comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated!!