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Three Wise Men

One of the downtown churches displays this creche scene every year~~the three wise men greeting baby Jesus.  I think the sculptures are beautiful.  A couple of years ago I got an image of this scene at dusk or later and it was really nice, but I didn't have a tripod so it wasn't as sharp as I wanted it to be.

I made the image today at about 3 pm when it was overcast so I didn't need the tripod.

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Snowflake in Downtown

This snowflake decor is located in one of the downtown parks.  I saw someone else's photo of it taken just after dusk.  The snowflake was lit up against a darker background and it was really pretty.  I don't usually go to town after dark so I decided to grab an image of it today with the historic train station in the background.  Even in the daylight without the lights I think it's pretty.

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Christmas Tree Ornaments

This display of large ornaments is situated outside a childcare center.  Simplicity at its best.

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Large Wreath

This wreath is on the same church where the angels are on display.  Just a simple green wreath and red bow.  At night the wreath is decorated with lights.

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Three Angels

There's a church in town that puts up some classy decorations at Christmas time.  I've never seen these angels before,  but that could be because I never walked around the church in daylight.

Anyway, I think they're pretty and I'm glad I got to see them before they are taken down.

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Light Pole Decorations

Many of the downtown light poles had this decor on them.  I took this photo near dusk so the light and the deer stood out clearly against the blue sky.

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A lighted Gift

This display is in one of the local parks in Abilene, Texas.  I made the image just before dusk.

It was a beautiful weather day~~a high of 72.

I appreciate this winter weather so much even though it will probably get colder before the winter ends.  At least we're not experiencing the snow & cold that's in the northeast right now. 

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Frosty and His Family

I went to town today just before dusk hoping to find some Christmas photo ops and I saw this fun display of Frosty and his family in one of the parks.  Many of the trees were wrapped with colored lights.

Today I retrieved two quilts that were recently finished from the quilter so now I have to put the binding on them.  One is for my granddaughter who will be two this spring and the other is an oversized lap quilt for me.  I'll be happy when they're finished.

 

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Ornaments on a Tree

There's a museum in downtown Abilene that sells family memberships.  I went in there today to get a membership for my daughter's family and while I was waiting I noticed this extremely decorated tree and I had to take a photo of it, even though all I had with me was my cell phone.

The nutcrackers and the dolls are beautiful. 

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Military Nutcracker

This beautiful red, white and black nutcracker is seen at the Abilene, Texas Zoo.  There are several other large nutcrackers located throughout the zoo, celebrating the Christmas season.  

My heart is happy that:

I was motivated enough today to sweep the leaves off my driveway

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Two striped Ornaments

These two red and white striped ornaments are seen on an artificial Christmas Tree at the Abilene, Texas Zoo.  The zoo decorates every holiday season with many trees and ornaments as well as other

decor.  There are on-going holiday activities throughout the months leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

My heart is grateful that:

My youngest son and his wife will become parents for the first time this coming spring

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Victorian Stroll

This image is from a few years ago in Troy, NY.  The Victorian Stroll was (and maybe still is) a yearly event during the first weekend in December.  

There's nothing like that around where I live now, sigh.

My heart is grateful for: 

a trip I'll soon be taking with two friends

16/365   Santa's Workshop

The local Y has decorated a little for the Christmas Season.  I thought it was cute and it's just enough.

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Checking Out the Tree on the Morning of  Christmas Eve Day

My daughter and I and two grand kiddos went to this fantastic burger place for breakfast in one of the nearby towns this morning.  They usually aren't open for breakfast, but since this is Christmas Eve day they made an exception.  They were also running a competition for the best photo of people wearing their PJs.  The winning photo will win the maker a gift certificate.

Right inside the entrance they have a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree. My grand kids are very difficult to photograph but while I was trying to get them to turn around they decided to both look at the tree and the ornaments so I grabbed this shot which I actually like a lot.

Maybe we'll win the gift card.  Maybe not.  Either way, it's still one of my fave burger places.

Merry Christmas to y'all, 2020.

Special Christmas Service and High ISO

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 Every December my church holds a special pre-Christmas Sunday evening service.  That service took place two days ago. We sing many Christmas Carols from the hymnal, there is a lot of other music and Scripture is read chronicling the prophecy of and the birth of Christ.  Following the service there is always a food reception, the reputation of which precedes the event and spreads far and wide.  

I always go about an hour early. That way I can photograph to my heart's content without interfering with the somber but joyous nature of the event.  I refuse to use flash though and because the service takes place at night when there's no ambient light from outside, I have to bump the ISO up pretty high.  Even after all these years of using a digital camera and experimenting with high ISO and knowing how good the cameras of today are, I still almost hyperventilate when going past 800 or so.

But I had to go high in spite of my stubborn innate resistance. So I tried 1200--no good.  Then 1600--no good.  Then 2000--still no good but getting close.  Finally up to 2500 and knew I didn't have to go any higher.  Whew, I was getting nervous.  My camera is excellent at those ISOs, I need to learn to relax and just go with what's necessary to get the images.

It was a great evening and I'm pretty happy with the images.  They'll be a nice addition to the church history scrapbooks.

Thanksgiving 2014

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There used to be many more of us.  When the kiddos were little there were about 16 gathering for family events.  Now the kids are grown and gone.  It's sad, but that's what kids do.  They grow up and often they leave.  That's the point for parents--grow them up and send them out.

It doesn't stop those of us who are left behind from feeling nostalgic about "the good old days".  But the 7 of us still had a good time yesterday.

Thanks go to Norman Rockwell for the inspiration for this image.

Thanksgiving Day Morning

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It's Thanksgiving Day, 2014.  There's much to be thankful for, the primary thing being that there's a God in heaven Who has everything under control even though it seems like this country and this world is spinning wildly into oblivion.  God has His plans and they can't be thwarted.  All that is happening is by His permission and design...

A couple of days ago I made some French bread.  This morning I had an epiphany and decided to make French toast with the remaining French bread. So yummy.

After I took a few photos of the bread cooking, it occurred to me that I could take some photos of the meal itself.  So I quickly got things set up (too quickly I'm afraid because after I was done and looked at the photos, I realized what I could have done better--but hunger was motivating me to hurry) and made a few images.

I finally had the chance to eat, and it was as good as I had anticipated.