OK.. I have been watching you guys... and your pictures...

As I posted 2 months ago...I had purchased a new Nikon L100 Point and Shoot.. from Costco. They give you 90 days to return it.

I returned it today.

After getting pretty good results with some outdoor pictures and some closeups, I was very frustrated with the challenging pictures that only an SLR will get right, at least for me. On the evening of the 4th, I felt like the camera was useless to get a decent picture.


It was very convenient that Consumer Report had just been delivered at the time I got this camera, as I used this information to help make the final decision.

I decided I wanted a user friendly lighter weight SLR camera, something I could grow into. I wanted at least 2 lens to come with it, the 18-55 mm standard zoom VR and 55-200 VR lens. I also really want it to have the HD video option, as I thought that was a great feature of the Nikon L100.

I'm leaning towards the Nikon D5000... but ...
the local Target store has a returned Canon Rebel LSi that does not have a box... for $449.00 with one lens...which is a really good price. The warranty and everything is fine, and it has all the items that would be in the box. That is a big drop in price from the real price of that Camera...man, should I or shouldn't I....

I keep thinking I could spend less...than end up moving up again later. With the cost of these cameras, that is even more expensive!

I know this is a big purchase....and I sure hope I am making the right decision. This has been a real "going back and forth" mental argument regarding cost and camera options. It is hard to justify this kind of expense, but than again.. I only wish I had the ability to grab those moments in the past again with a great picture, that I did not get.

Now those moments are gone.


By the way many of your fantastic pictures are what made me want a better camera!!


PS...I bought the Nikon D5000 this afternoon...there I did it!
And yes.....the new header picture was taken with the new Nikon D5000...

I could not believe what I saw...

OK, we had plans to go watch the fireworks at "Emerald Downs" with the Family on Friday afternoon.. as we went last year and it was amazing. I am not really into fireworks.. and I was impressed!

Well, after working on Friday and with the weather being about 90, we had decided we didn't want to go fight the traffic and parking issues to go to the racetrack, and were going to stay home.

Well, the other half had mentioned running up to see the new Angel of the Winds. It is a smaller Casino which was added onto and remodeled lately, and is known to be the most friendly one around.

So, we hop in the car and pop up there to check it out. We find a spot to park, and get out...only to see that the car next to us has a sweet looking and panting large puppy locked in the car... mind you it is about 85 degrees at this time. Oh, and what a thoughtful owner, she had cracked the windows about 3-4 inches on each side. I am sure that made the dog comfortable...NOT!



I immediately wrote the license number down, and brought it to someone on the staff. Over and over again we heard them on the sound system asking "whoever owns the Honda Prelude with license number... please come to the office".

Then finally we hear.. "whoever owns the Honda Prelude license number.... your car is being towed." My other half went out to see what they were doing and he said 3 security people had been observing the issue to the end.

We were extremely pleased with how Angels of the Winds handled this, and took the dogs health and concerns into consideration.

I could just wring the neck of that dog's owner, I really could!

"A hot oven or a hot car...it's the same thing"

Vote for my Blog Button!

On the right sidebar you will see 4 Blog Button options that

Ali has created for me to choose from...

I would like to find out.... which one's you like!

10 things you do not know about me...

I am doing this in response to the "Honest Scrap Award", that I mentioned previously.. thank you Cousin B at She Who Rides Many Ponies...

1. I like soft ice cream
2. I feel better when the sky is blue..
   
3. I want to move somewhere warm and dry when it is winter and wet in Washington.
4. I like the water (as in lake, not in rain), I do not like to swim.
5. I used to be fearless when it came to horses, until I had a bad horse accident about 10 years ago. The first time I got on a horse after that accident, I was actually afraid.. for the first time I understood how some people could be afraid to ride a horse. It took a while to get over that, I am no longer fearless on a horse, which is probably for the better.
   
6. I would like to live somewhere where you can walk to a store or a coffee shop at some time in my life, just to know what that is like.
   
7. I believe in forgiveness, and yet have a very hard time thinking I can forgive my mean hearted animal hating neighbor who has killed my beloved pets (thus the invisible fence we must have, plus exterior fence).
8. I am a middle child, and believe there is something to the "Middle Child Syndrome"...
   
9. I cannot get into sports like baseball, football, basketball...I cannot keep my attention on them long enough to enjoy them.
   
10. I thought I wanted to pursue some kind of art career, and took art classes in college.
    

Oh.. how sweet is it is!

First.. I want to say that I am horrible about handling rewards..really terrible.

I have received some kind rewards from some wonderful bloggers, that I do not deserve... and yet have been honored.

And than I am bad about "paying forward". That is wrong.. yet I get so overwhelmed, and short on time.. that I become like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind..ah tomorrow is another day... (seriously, shame on me).

I want to apologize for this flaw in my blog integrity..so without any more fuss...

Ali ....at The Blessed Country Mom who I personally believe is a real live Angel on this earth...( I bet she has feathered wings tucked under her cowgirl shirt!).. gave me the "Super Follower" award. Thank you Ali!

JAM our own Just A Mom's own Reality...was so gracious to list me as someone to receive this sweet Panda Super Comment Award, thank you!

Plus one of the wonderful Pony Cousins..who refers to herself as "Cousin B" (is that for Betsy??) from She Who Rides Many Ponies... was so nice to me as well. I am s'posed to tell you 10 things about me ..you don't know... I will, just not now.

It is to acknowledge 5 people who leave you super comments...so I am going to combine these three great awards and list 10, well let's make it 15!
It's a 3-fer!

I will sorta stick with the rules... x 3 for 3 awards! In no particular order....
1. Ali at The Blessed Country Mom
2. Audrey at Stage 3, Who Me?
3. Kritter Keeper ((hugs))
4. Opus 6 at MAinfo
5. Paint Girl at Adventures of Painted CreekFarm
6. Randi at Beauty Be Good
7. Desert Rose at JessesDesertRose
8. Lisa at Laughing Orca Ranch
9. Evil Twins Wife.. from the Glamorous Life of a Hausfrau of course!
10.Pony Girl.. from Pony Girl Rides Again

I want to add 5 more of you as well...
The Good Cook ..You really should visit her site when you are hungry..yummm,
Tamis at a Day in The Life.. (she is one of the very the nicest people I know..)
John and Regina at Horse Talk Indiana
City Girl Turned Country
Dusty Devoe at CopperPony'sCowgirl..

I could of gone on further, but had to stop..

I must say.. you all have no idea how nice it is to know you.. all of you :)

I will tell you 10 things about me later, I am worn out from putting this together!!

PS.. I know these things take time to do something with.. so no one is obligated..I just want to acknowledge you!

Quotable Sunday...Friends..

I love this wonderful Sunday post challenge, brought to us from Toni.
And I am going to focus on:
Quotes about Friends.

This is because it has been my family and my friends (both in my real world, and in my blogging world) who have been a blessing to me, as we have been going through the stress of life and death for this last month!


Friends are like melons; shall I tell you why? To find one good you must one hundred try. -- Claude Mermet

"The only way to have a friend is to be one."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.-- Abraham Lincoln

One who looks for a friend without faults will have none. -- Hasidic Saying

A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.-- Walter Winchell

Friends are needed both for joy and for sorrow. -- Samuel Paterson

A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway. -- Fr. Jerome Cummings

Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends. -- Cindy Lew

Thanks, dear friends :-)