A New Camera!

Eek, has it really been over a month since I last updated this blog? Wow, time flies when you're having fun and keeping busy! We have been talking about buying a replacement for our malfunctioning 35mm Pentax SLR for a long time - we had both been saving for and researching digital SLRs. So last Friday, while I was down in Pasadena, I visited Samy's Camera and bought a Nikon D40 digital SLR and an extra zoom (85-200mm) lens. I decided to go for the lighter weight and not worry about a huge amount of megapixals - 6.2 MP is plenty for the definition we need. This is a great camera - works just like a "real", old-school camera and the lenses are wonderful. It weighs so much less than the old Pentax film camera; the body weights just over a pound. Here's a picture of the Pentax next to our Nikon boxes.These were the first photos I took with the new camera; great for indoor shots without a flash!These pictures were taken by Tom with his digital 5.0 MP automatic Polaroid (bought for $79 at Target!)

2007 Ventura CROP Hunger Walk

The 27th annual CROP Walk happened on a later date than usual. It happened because of scheduling conflicts with the church but later, after Daylight Saving Time had begun, turned out to be very nice. We had registration, stretching, and the pre-walk program in Trotter Hall. The runners left on Coach Burns' starter pistol shot, and the walkers left to the rhythm of Joe's drum . . .

Upon their return, the runners and walkers were welcomed back by Bruce. Refreshments and music were waiting for them in the patio!

Still photos can be seen by clicking here.

I'm Back

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I've just been too busy to add anything about what I was doing. Besides working, planning the Ventura CROP Hunger Walk, and volunteering with Tom as House Managers for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, I've been enjoying and keeping up the yard. Spring has most definitely arrived, although we have had some record-breaking hot and cold days this just-past winter! I'll have to do some Catching Up later, but here are some of this week's blooming bulbs . . .
More to come later!

After the Cold, Heat, and Rain . .

I took this picture on February 4th - we have had some spectacular sunsets, sunrises, and cloud formations lately. January had some record low temperatures (crops were ruined because of the frost). Earlier this month, we had record highs - 82 degrees last week was an all-time record for February 5th in Oxnard. Our indoor/outdoor thermometer registered 85 degrees on our back porch! In between the cold and heat, we had rain last week and this past weekend, but now the bulbs are really beginning to bloom!

More snow and rain!

The storm continues to hang around and dropped even more snow on our local mountains. I couldn't resist stopping to take pictures on the way to work again this morning. This first shot is of my favorite Ventura landmark, Two Trees, with the snow-covered mountains in the background. The photo below is a panoramic combination of five shots I took from Olivas Park Road, panning from Two Trees on the north to Santa Paula on the south. Remember to click on the photos in order to see the full size; I made the panorama as small as possible in order to make it load faster.