Penning Photography Daily

This is my final photo in my 2007 Picture of the Day set.

An easy one to pick from those I captured today.

The last day of the year, and a final day at work for some 13 of my fellow workers who are retiring from doing the work of the State of Illinois.

I was doing some final saves of data for one of our top administration staff. Before I went up, I was compelled to take my camera (which I carry near about everywhere) with me, in case this particular person wanted a final memory captured.

She did.

I took those photos, and was sitting in her now bare office, doing my tech-geek thing, when it really started snowing.

I quickly grabbed my camera when I saw this scene before me.

One lone worker crossing a nearly empty lot on their way home from work, as the snow pelted her.

I saw a similar scene in my mind happening at the same time in a different lot which I could not see. That of our dear retiree heading home with tears and snow.

Time passes swiftly.

Cherish each moment dearly.

I wish you all a very happy and peace-filled New Year to come.

I had swapped out my wide angle lens for my telephoto in hope of finding a suitable subject for today’s photo.

I searched a few places, but nothing struck me as interesting – I guess I wasn’t opening my eyes enough to see. =)

As I was driving home, I noticed the sun setting. A-ha! Perfect opportunity.

I had been aware of the naked limbs of all the trees, and seeing the sun between the branches had me thinking of what photo I could take, if I could find the right spot quickly enough.

I thought of a parking lot of a local church, which is bordered by a small forest of trees. It was close by, so I headed for it.

I drove to the right spot, seeing this bird’s nest high up in the brances.

Framed by the branches with the background of the setting sun, I thought this bird’s nest to be of interest.

I wonder if there’s any birds living there, or if they have long flown the coop for warmer a climate.

Karen’s favorite of this group, thus the picture of the day.

I drove out to Riverside Park this afternoon.

The Sangamon River runs through it. That’s the body of water seen here.

The river was flowing with a pretty fast current, parts of it still had some ice on it.

Winter has taken all the leaves from everything, leaving the landscape a barren stark ghost of the life in Summer.

I was hoping for a train to come through, but no such luck.

There was lot’s of mushy ground from recent rain and snow. I had to walk very carefully to avoid caking my shoes with mud.

I’ll have to remember to come back next Summer to show y’all the vibrant greens.

Another retake of a photo from this Autumn at the Shoal Creek Forest Preserve in Litchfield, Illinois.

A way to warm up from the cold outside – 30F seems colder coming from 60F than it does coming from 10F.

I used Photomatix Pro to process the RAW format file directly. Just a bit of sharpening and other minor adjustments in PSPro X2 and here you are.

Sunset on the shore of Lake Lou Yeager.

The trees illuminated with the golden rays of the last bits of sun.

This was taken just before the leaves all turned into their Fall coats of gold, brown, and red.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. =)

Keep warm.

There’s somethings about this photo which make it stand out to me.

The grouping, the light, the different looks one each person’s face. I’m reminded of both the poker playing dog cliche, and the last supper by DaVinci. I’m not saying that this is high art, just that it strikes me as interesting.

From left to right, Karen’s Uncle Don, Brother Tom, Nephews Conor & Russ, and Father Tom.

The Ford Five.

Karen was, at the time, preparing an outstanding German-themed dinner (with mostacolli and meatballs in backup position) from a new cook book penned by the family who ran the famous Berghoff Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois until it recently closed.

Karen’s meal was a superb delight – the Berghoff’s would be proud of her accomplishment.

Prior to eating, we imbibed on wine, and other soft drinks, and grazed through a wide variety of crackers, cheses, spreads, and fruits.

That’s the tradition – Christmas dinner at our house. Karen cooking something she’s never cooked before. Lot’s of time to swap old family stories, and keep up to date on everyone in the Ford family.

A nice tradition, even if dinner takes a bit longer to prepare at times. =)

Johanna, Takin’ a Nap

Cats like to sleep – a whole bunch.

Johanna, being near to 20 years old, seems to sleep about the same now as years ago. A lot.

Perhaps that’s why she’s lasted this long!

She gracefully submitted to me sitting before her, waiting for the right combination to get her portrait. She pretty well ignored me, which is also her usual pattern, until she want’s something I’m eating, or needs more petting and scratching. By your command, my lady!

I was seeing how close I could focus with my Russian Zenitar lens. It’s about 1 foot, or .3 meters. Pretty darn close. Mighty fine lens for a very low and reasonable cost. I’m happy to be discovering more uses for it.

I’m happy that Johnanna is still with our family. Cantankerous and self-directed as she is.

From Christmas Eve at Karen’s Uncle Don’s home. An annual Ford family tradition, is Christmas Eve in this house. For many decades it was the home of Karen’s Grandparents, now it is her Uncle Don’s.

Full of family memories.

Don emptied a drawer full of famiy photos out onto the middle of the floor for all to sift through. It turned out to be a source of wonder and amusement, seeing all the changed faces and ghosts of years past.

Jenny here is holding one of her twin granddaughters. Hailie has a sister Kailie, who wasn’t able to be with us on this night. Kailie has an inoperable and malignant tumor on her brain stem. She’s been through the medical gauntlet, and is starting chemotherapy and radiation therapy tomorrow in hopes for a miracle. Keep her in your prayers.

Hailie, is full of health, life and energy. She was a bundle of fun, running and exploring everything. Jenny takes care of the twins while Lexie and Eric, their mom and dad are off working. Jenny’s been pulling extra duty as grandma through all of Kailie’s illness.

The two of them were playing – trying to keep Hailie corraled and out of mischief, when I started taking their photo. Jenny got Hailie to look at me with this smile – a miracle in itself!

The meaning of Christmas is the hope represented here in these two smiling, loving people, each giving what they can with no expectation of return.

I have a heart full of hope that Kailie benefits greatly with this treatment.