Finally a New Camera

Back in January my digital SLR was stolen. It was a big loss to me because I have been a photographer since I was 10 years old. I used a Brownie and then my father let me use his Kodak Signet 80 35 mm rangefinder. Eventually I bought a GAF 35 mm slr and progressed through  a Nikon F, a Canon rangefinder, an Olympus OM 1 and  OM 10.  I had a Mimaya 645 that I had to sell when I lost my job due to merger almost 20 years ago, but that is a story for another time and place. Back to my story...about three years ago Dre' bought me a Nikon D80 and I loved it. I have taken thousands of photos with it and it was my main camera. The one I used almost exclusively for this blog. Obviously I miss having that camera. I have been shopping for months for a new one a little over a week ago I purchased one.  I bought a Nikon D 5000'and will ave it my hands tomorrow.  

It will be arriving just in time for me to resume sharing photos of country life in late summer and early autumn. I am anticipating its arrival baited breath.

Until next time...John

Great Light for Photos

This time of year, as the sun is moving a little to the southern sky, the light quality changes.  On those really good days, in the early morning hours, when the humidity is low and the temperature is tolerable for those getting out and about, it is easy to find numerous subjects at which to direct your camera lens.  Below you will find some random shots taken around our place in the past few days.

Iron Weed 

Early Blooms on the Goldenrod

 Photos below by Robert Lord

Francis the first eyeing her beau, Peter Jennings.

Peter Jennings, always protective of his ladies.

A bumble bee enjoying breakfast in a morning glory blossom.

Until next time...John

Parched Peanuts, A Southern Favorite

It is peanut harvesting time down south and that means it is time to parch peanuts. This is one of the easiest treats to prepare. In fact it is so easy it is almost foolproof.  You can find recipes on the internet but his is the one I learned about 55 years ago from my Mama.  

Take 2 to 4 pounds of raw peanuts in the shell and spread them evenly on a large cookie sheet. Place them on the center oven rack, close the door and turn the oven to 400 degrees F.

Parched peanuts are a great treat anytime of the year. 

Prepare yourself a glass of iced tea and wait for the oven to reach 400 degrees. When it does turn the oven off. Don't open the oven door. Just let them parch unattended.

Take the opportunity to relax. Go take a seat in that rocking chair on your front porch and enjoy your glass of tea and the warm summer breeze. When you think the oven has had the time to cool and you know you can pick the cookie sheet up comfortably with your bare hand knowing you won't burn your fingers, remove the cookie sheet full of peatnuts from the oven and pour them in a large bowl. Enjoy cracking, shelling and  eating the country goodness of fresh parched peanuts.

Until next time...John.

Summer is in Full Swing

Mississippi claims to have a temperate climate.  I guess by the definition we do but at this time each year we all  begin to second guess that claim. So far this summer has been a very mild one.  However, now that we are in the midst of hurricane season the weather has become noticably warmer.  And by warmer I mean hotter and more humid.  The temperature for the past few days have reached the mid 90s F (35C) and the humidity has been in the 55 -80% range.

As I pen this, the heat index is over 100 F and by anyone's standards that is hot.

Yes it is summer here in Mississippi and the forecast for at least the next 10 to 12 weeks is continued hot, summer weather.

Until next time...John

I am Taking Control

I am not certain whether or not we have all experienced what I am about to write about but I am certain that at least some of you can sympathize with me when I pen these next few lines.  

I awoke a little before sunrise two mornings ago, stumbled from my bed to the bathroom to wash the sleep from my face and after flipping on the light looked into the mirror I saw a horrifying site...Me.  Staring back at was me.  Hey, listen I think I am a fairly average guy.  I don't stop clocks with my bad looks but I neither do I get many double takes because I am stunning either.  That is not what I am talking about.  When I looked in the mirror I realized that the guy staring back at me was out of shape and overweight.  

Maybe it was just that I was a little more wide awake than I am most mornings. But here I am about to finish out my 5th decade on this earth and this was the first time I realized "I need to take control of ME!"  I don’t think I am in a rut.  It is difficult to be in a rut when you have two growing sons around the house that are active in sports, school and life in general.  Maybe it is just the routine that puts me on autopilot. It goes something like this:

• Get  up in the morning just before daylight

• Shower and get dressed

• Go downstairs to start breakfast

• Wake everyone up

• Finish preparing breakfast

• Help get everyone out the door

• Water and feed all of the animals

• Drive 30 - 45 minutes to work

• Go to meetings

• Work at my desk

• Eat lunch, usually at my desk

• Go to meetings

• Work at my desk

• Daily options

• commute home another 30 - 45 minutes in traffic

• feed and water the animals

• help with dinner

• help with homework

• go to soccer practice

• go to meetings

• help with fund raisers

• watch a movie

• pay bills

• enjoy a book

• surf the web and work on my computer

• Help get clothes ready for next day

• Go to bed

• Read until sleepy

• Next morning -Repeat above
  
  

Some people would say that is a rut but, I  think of it more as a routine that gets me through our family’s busy schedule.  

Why am I writing all of this? I will tell you why.  I am not getting any younger. I feel very young but when I look at that out of shape overweight guy in the mirror I know that he is the only one that can help me to get control of my condition.  So, yesterday that is what I have decided to do.  Work with that guy in the mirror, me, and gradually get this body back to one I am proud of.

Before anyone jumps to any conclusions I am not going to be going on any fad diets, instituting a new dynamic diet program or anything else that radical.  Nope, I am just taking control of me.  Starting yesterday, I began to eat better foods, drink more water, stop drinking sodas of all kinds, and stay away from all artificial sweeteners.  I am going to do what I want to do, eat what I want to eat but, do everything in moderation.  

Here is the hard part.  I am going to post my vital statistics on this blog from time to time in order to accomplish two things. First, it will show you of my progress if I make any. Second, it will make me accountable to you and me for what goes on in my life as far as health maintenance is concerned. In other words, I am purposely seeking peer pressure to help me reach my goals.

Now the hard part for me. Here are my first statistics.

I am allowed to eat 2347 calories each day in order to lose weight.  This is based on my current weight and the MyDietDiary app which I have downloaded to my iPhone.  My weight started out at 227 pounds and, just so you know, I am a little over 6 foot 1 inches tall.  I want to lose roughly 30 pounds and then maintain that weight over the long haul.  

The first day I ate about 1200 calories, drank 56 oz. of water and got next to no exercise.  Yesterday, I consumed just under 1500 calories and about 72 ounces of water.  I walked one mile. I am not mentioning my weight again for a while because I have lost a few pounds but I am certain that most of that is water weight and I won’t post the change for about a week. 

I hope you will watch my progress and help me meet my goals. My living in the country keeps me active and I hope that by intermingling my lifestyle changes with my country life I will be able to meet the goals I have set for myself.  

Until next time…John