Man I love Pictures!

Last night I was in charge of a church youth group scavenger hunt. Not just any scavenger hunt, but a Digital Camera Scavenger Hunt. My little group of girls made up a list of 10 things to find and then we split into groups (boys and girls) and went out into Albany to find them. It was such fun to see how each group interpreted the lists! I think my favorite shot was the "something big, round, and red" that my group took first. Here are some interpretations for you!

I feel like I am moving from "just lucky" with my camera to knowing how to set up and get good shots. I still haven't read my manual all the way through (I and I know I should have done that a long time ago) but I am figuring out more and more how to frame a shot, use the light to my advantage, and click at just the right moment. It's becoming a wonderful challenge to me to take just the right shot. I hope you enjoyed these!

A RECORD high!

I'm not sure what the official high was yesterday, but I heard it was a new record. We've been having lovely mild summery temperatures in the 7o's, but yesterday, according to the temp in my van, it was up to....99 degrees! It hovered around 95 for the most part, but it was still HOT! Thank goodness my hubby said "It'll be real hot today, close up the house" in random passing about 8 am as the kiddos left for school, 'cause we stayed pretty cool all day. I'm also thankful for the ac in the van and the wonderful built-in hepa filter that filters out all of the cottonwood and other pollens.

On unrelated news, I head back to one of my favorite places in Oregon--Seaside--for a wonderful scrappy weekend with a very select group of ladies. Should be a wonderful, rollicking good time, as the women I am going with are all some of my favorite people in the whole wide world! I'll post pics of what I accomplish when I get back! I'm feeling VERY creative and very much in the groove!

Enjoy your day!

Just a couple of pics....

I just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from Boston. One is the old aqueduct/dam on the Charles River. The other is a site of a sister duck boat on the Charles River during the tour. And the last is my favorite picture of Joel and I on the trip. We are sitting on the edge of the fountain in the Paul Revere Mall.

Enjoy!

Home Safe and Sound

We made it home safely. It was a wonderful trip. Definitely broadened my horizons. I think that everyone should travel when and where they can. Anything that broadens your mind and expands your sense of self should be enjoyed. I'll have more to say later, but I wanted to say here that what I felt most while seeing all of the historic sites of Boston was gratitude. I'm grateful to everyone who stood up and spoke out and fought and died for the freedoms I enjoy today. I hope that I can be as courageous should the need arise.

The picture is of the center of the Quincy Market. This was the original marketplace of Boston. When they needed more land, the people of Boston chopped off a hill and filled in the harbor that was on the edge of the marketplace. Now it's shops and restaurants and bright and beautiful. All of the signs are original to the marketplace. And I have to tell you, the restaurants all smelled AMAZING!

But back to the gratitude. I think that freedom's biggest enemy right now is apathy. Too many of the American people aren't doing anything--even voting. I think that this recent news blurb sums it up best. A father was running for a state senate seat and the voting in the primaries ended in a exact tie. AND NEITHER OF HIS TWO SONS VOTED! And, to make things more interesting, BOTH sons were registered voters in the same political party as their father!

Please, whatever your political views are (and I don't want to start a debate here) enjoy the freedoms that came from the sacrifices our forefathers made. Educate yourself about the issues and exercise your right to vote.

And that's the other side.

20,000 steps

So according to my step-counter, I took about 20,000 steps yesterday, or roughly, ten miles. It feels like it too! Thankfully, my legs and ankles aren't so sore I can't continue to walk around today! So far, we've seen the Old North Church (one if by land...two if by sea...), walked past Paul Revere's House, Copp's Hill Burying ground, walked through the Italian District, went to the Museum of Fine Arts, lots of time near Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Market. I have tickets on reserved for a Duck Boat Tour this afternoon. That way, we'll see the majority of the sites WITHOUT WALKING them! Hooray!

More later...

Fenway and More!

So the game was on! It was foggy/misty, and by the time the 5th/6th inning came into play, we were pretty wet. We were wet, then dry, then wet, then dry. Thankfully we ended dry. It was an exciting game! Tied off and on, and even up to the middle of the 9th inning. The Sox lost (barely) but it was an exciting game!

Today I made it to Paper Source and walked around the Boston Public Garden as well as Faneuil Hall and the Quincy Marketplace. I took myself out to lunch at Cheers (even though no one knew my name...it was still fun!) All in all I had a wonderful, sunny, yummy day.

Arrived!

It's a long flight from Oregon to Massachusetts. That's all I have to say. Plus, nothing makes you realize your size like cramming into airplane seats. We had a smaller commuter plane from Oregon to Salt Lake City, Utah (about 50 people on the plane) and I had to comment to Joel, "It's a good thing we are friends!" because we were literally squished into each other. Thankfully, once we got on the 737, we had bigger seats and a row of three seats to ourselves. I took the window and Joel took the aisle, and we were quite comfortable for the duration of the flight from Utah to Boston.

It's been cloudy and rainy. We found out that Tuesday's Sox game was called on account of rain AFTER everyone was seated, so we are hoping for a let up on the drizzle for the game we have tickets to tonight. I spent the morning hanging out at the hotel, and the afternoon walking around the Harborwalk and the USS Constitution and the USS Constitution Museum. Enjoy the pictures!