Strobist: How to Photograph Christmas Lights

All you photographers, and those who like Christmas lights should check out this blog entry I found...Strobist: How to Photograph Christmas Lights

Snow

As promised some snow...

Snow

Well, it has finally happened; we have snow! It isn't much, and may melt with some sun, but we have almost a centimetre on the grass (it melted off roads & sidewalks due to traffic). If it is still around tonight (it probably will) I'll take a picture and post it for everyone.

Kittens Big Day

So I dropped the kittens off at the vet today for the big snip-snip. We should be able to pick up Eek! sometime this afternoon around 4:30-5:00, but Samus will have to wait until tomorrow (likely tomorrow afternoon since she won't be ready until mid-morning tomorrow). Hopefully all will go well, and I'll keep everyone posted.

New Computer

Well I've finally got a new computer. I ended up getting a brand new Apple Macbook Pro. I ordered it on 13th via Apple's website and have been crossing my fingers since then in hopes that it would arrive by the end of the week. Well I guess it paid off, after watching it make its progress from China, through Alaska and Memphis it finally made its way to Kitchener today. It arrived at the office at around 2pm.

Currently I'm in the process of importing my photos and music from my home PC which will be done in some unknown amount of time. I'll provide another update once I've had more time with it.

Photos: Flashed Kittens

Joy got me this fancy new flash (Nikon SB600) for my birthday and I needed some test subjects, of course the kittens volunteered. ;)









Also, I hope this gives people an idea of how much bigger they are now.

Jack-o'-Lantern

Joy carving the pumpkin...

Samus *thinks* that she is helping...we all know better.

The nearly finished product...

The finished jack-o'-lantern...


So, what did your jack-o'-lantern look like? Oh, FYI we had not a single kid come to the door....very disappointing.

Spring Leaves

Does anyone else find it odd that I'm posting picture of fresh spring leaves in the fall?

The following photo was taken at Wheatley Provincial Park back in May; notice the very straight bridge in the background.

Rondeau Sunset

I was just flipping through some of my photos and I came across this sunset photo from Rondeau Provincial Park; taken back in May. I hope to be a little more active and continue to post photos, enjoy!

Photos: Successful Flight

With zero wind keeping the kite up is a problem...Don's quad seems like a good solution.


Don, Murray, and Marilyn prepare for launch.


And we get flight! Although in the end it isn't much more successful than Murray running through the field...and not quiet as much fun to watch.


But here is proof that it was indeed in the sky.

Photos: Kite's First Flight

Marilyn and Dad are the ones to volunteer for the kite flying roles.


Dad is off to a good start, but it is taking a lot of running to have a chance...there is almost zero wind.


And he is down...

Photos: Kite Construction

Bright and early Saturday work began on the construction of the 2006 geometric kite.

Murray & Don were the ones who began construction making decent progress.


However, it was only a short time before Grandpa came on the scene to ensure things were coming along.


Soon though a whole crowd had gathered to look upon the newly created kite.

Thanksgiving Activities: Kites an Introduction

Typically each year at Thanksgiving we, as an extended family, have some sort of activity which involves building something. For the last few years it has been model rockets, this year we switched it up and decided for kite building & flying. Note that these activities are usually related to some memories of long ago for my dad and his siblings.

So this is it for the intro, I'll be following this post with a few covering the construction, first flights, and close with the successful flight.

Photos: More Thanksgiving Bugs

More of Joy's insect (and similar) photos...

Photos: Thanksgiving Bugs

I have finally gotten all our photos in one place...yay! So as promised some photos.

All of these photos here are ones Joy took during our stay at my Aunt's in Cherry Valley, ON. Enjoy! George I think you need a macro lens now...

Novels

I just wanted to mention a couple books I've read recently and/or am reading now.

A few weeks ago I finished "The Shadow of the Wind", a novel recommended, and borrowed, from George. True to his recommendation this was a very interesting book which kept you on your toes throughout keeping you reading far longer than you had intended. I'm not going to list the description here...it can be found on Chapters.ca, Amazon.ca, or Wikipedia.

I also recently picked up two books by Cory Doctorow: Eastern Standard Tribe, and Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town. Cory is a Canadian author who's novels are interesting and different (i.e. unique). Why is it when I was in school and forced to do a book report including at least one Canadian author it was always a problem to find one who's books attracted my attention with due to their content rather than the fact they were Canadian?

I have finished EST, it was a gem that went by ever to quickly, and I'm currently engrossed in Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town. If anyone is interested in these let me know and you can borrow them...or if you are inclined you can download them free (yes free) from his website (he is a proponent of Creative Commons).

Change of Seasons

Well this past week marked a change in seasons here...the change from outdoor to indoor soccer. Yes, as I'm sure some of you haven't heard Joy and I have been playing soccer on in a K-W co-ed league since about July. It started with Joy playing for Carolyn while she was in China for work, but she continued to play afterwards since the team was often short on women. After a couple weeks of watching from the sidelines I was persuaded into playing also. It was rough at first--I can't say that I've played soccer since I was a kid...and then only during gym when necessary--but over the coming weeks I have gotten more used to the extended running.

One of the major hurdles was the realization I really didn't know how to run properly. Whatever technique, or lack there of, I was using was resulting in extremely sore calves and shins. As of a few weeks ago I believe I have corrected my technique resulting in the ability to actually run down the field without losing ground to the opposition or my team-mates. Note that I did find this soccer thing fun even before learning to run.

So back to where this post started; last Friday marked the final game of the outdoor season. I can't say we ended on a high mark...we were short a fair number of folks resulting in us being shorthanded by one person on the field (and of course no substitutes) against a team with about 5 substitutes. Even with those odds against us we put up a valiant fight resulting in a 5-1 loss with two near-goals (off the inside post and trickling along the crease)...one by myself. :)

As for the new season, last Wednesday was the first "game" of the indoor league. I say "game" since it was really supposed to be a meet & great for the teams, but we ended up playing a game against the other team doing the same thing. The indoor league is a 7/side co-ed league hosted in the University of Guelph Gryphon Dome. Due to the change of venues Joy and I had the pleasure of buying some indoor soccer shoes, since the plain runners definitely don't do the job.

Well that is some of the latest news. I know I've been lazy with posts...but you can cross your fingers. ;)

P.S. All the photos are not yet centralized...still have some of the latest photos on my work laptop. :(

More Photos

So I know a while back a posted a link to a Flikr account, but now I'm posting one to my Picasa Web Albums. There are some additional kitten pictures there.

Photos: Samus & Eek! Asleep

Samus & Eek! have decided that sleeping on their cat-house is the place to be. However, they are beginning to become a little to big for it...maybe it is time to buy them a cat-bed.

[Nikon D70s -- Kitchener, ON]

Kittens of the Day

A while back I submitted a picture of Samus & Eek! to Daily Kitten. Today they are the Daily Kitten.

Just thought I'd advertise.

Photos: Samus on Guard

Here is Samus protecting her territory from Eek!.

I'll have to take some more photos because the pair of them have grown since these photos were taken on the weekend.

[Kitchener, ON -- Nikon D70s]

 

Photos: Samus & Eek! Sleeping

Here are a couple photos of Samus sleeping on Eek!, on their "house". Samus kind of caught onto the clicking noise of the camera and is watching me.

[Kitchener, ON -- Nikon D70s]
 

Photos: Eek! and Joy Playing Games

Here are some photos of Eek! and Joy playing a bit of Beyond Good & Evil. You can see how much he is helping her. ;) To quote Joy: "Eek! is the cat she always wanted."

[Kitchener, ON -- Nikon D70s]

 

Photo: Size Perspective

This should put their size into perspective. Note that Eek! is extremely difficult to focus on...he throws off all attempts to autofocus.

[Kitchener, ON -- D70] 

Photo: Samus

Here is Samus staying safe in her box. She is much more cautious than Eek! but now on the second day here she is doing much better. She had a little bit of separation issues (been calling out for her litter-mates).

[Kitchener, ON -- Nikon D70] 

Photo: Eek!

Here is Eek! the Cat. Don't mind his right eye, he seems to have been scratched by another kitten. Eek! is a cute little playful boy.

[Kitchener, ON -- Nikon D70] 

Photo: Samus & Eek! Arrive

Samus and Eek! just after arriving back at the apartment. In case you are out of the loop Joy and I just got new kittens.

[Kitchener, ON -- Nikon D70]