Dog’s Eye View.
Aug/100
Alyosha is a sentinel, standing or sitting by our front door, alert to anyone who walks outside or inside. He hears visitors before they even turn the handle to our door to come in. He waits patiently for us to return after we step outside. We are pretty sure he is grateful for the big window we installed last summer for him. If only he had a similar big window permanently to look out of while we are away from home.
New Gear.
Aug/102
The Durbins recently made a big purchase. Big purchases are the result of much thought and deliberation. This certainly was the case for our recent acquisition. We have been considering buying a new camera. Trevor’s Fuji is an older digital model, more bulky, but a real workhorse. While it took great photos and is in great condition, we were desirous of an upgrade. Kristi has been using a Canon Rebel XT for the past 4-5 years. This camera has traveled around the world and taken great shots. It’s seen some wear and tear but still performs beautifully. This camera is also responsible for sealing the deal that we are going to be members of the Canon family for the foreseeable future. Getting a second Canon ended up as the logical choice – it would allow us to share lenses between the two cameras, and allow us to sell off the older Fuji model.
Trevor’s research had focused in on the Canon Rebel T2i, also known as the Canon EOS 550D. This camera is an upgrade from the Rebel XT in several ways, including:
- Jump from 9 megapixels to 18 megapixels
- Wider range of ISO options, which enable better low-light shots. The Rebel XT only went to ISO 1200; the T2i goes to ISO 6400.
- T2i offers an HD video option. This video option has also been improved since the T1i came out, eliminating the noise from the camera’s movements from being heard on the recording.
With the existing 18-55mm zoom lens on the Rebel XT, we opted to get our first Canon prime lens – a fixed focal length lens – of 50mm. Prime lenses also give you a wider range of aperture options, and therefore, a wider range of depth of field.
We also added an external Speedlite flash to our gear and a diffuser for the pop-up flash.
Check out some shots we recently took with our new Canon Rebel T2i and accompanying prime lens.
Community Garden, Midsummer.
Aug/101
Now that we’re midway through the summer, the community garden at Southland has really been flourishing. Since we only work at the garden twice a month, every time we come back there are always so many changes.
Here’s when Alyosha came out, trotting beside the garden to go say hi to the neighboring horses.
We make the occasional friend at the garden.
Corn is being harvested this week.
Some plants – zucchini and squash – have been getting so big they are taking over the walking paths and even clobbered a few tomato and pepper plants. We’ve tried to redirect the creeping vines elsewhere to keep them from suffocating more neighboring plants.
We have veritable basil bushes, and a host of other wonderful-smelling herbs. I harvested a meager load of basil and made homemade pesto to give away. (Trevor is nearly convinced we need to replace our front bushes with basil… pretty, edible, and nice smelling.)
The tomatoes are getting huge.
There are even splashes of unexpected color – from the sunflowers and marigolds, to these bright stalks.
What is perhaps most amazing is that this garden is pesticide/chemical-free, and is still doing so well. We are amazed more critters have not turned the garden into a big feast for themselves. So far, at least.
Join us on a future Saturday and get your hands dirty!
Sunflowers.
Aug/100
The Community Garden is thriving… and sunflowers are just one example of how things have really taken off recently!
Oh, and did I mention that yours truly was accepted to the Fayette County Master Gardener Program this fall? I’m a little excited. Classes start after Labor Day.
Happy Friday!
The Mountains are Smokin’.
Aug/103
Our trek to the Smokies was our second this year. It was a bit unexpected. Chad & Karen decided about a month ago to take a vacation there and invited us to join them for a few days. It seems we’re in the habit of vacationing with them once a year, so a trip with them was nearly due. (We went to Annapolis and Washington DC together in September 2008, visited family in Alabama together in September 2009, and went to Atlanta for a U2 concert in October 2009.)
With a big vacation just around the corner for us that will involve more visiting, driving, and city hanging, we decided having a lower key vacation about getting away and just relaxing would be a good pre-cursor.
There were splendid views…
Time with the Bowmans…
Walking around town one afternoon…
Reading and hanging…
Resting…(while still enjoying the amazing view…)
Star-gazing…
Hiking in the National Park… (and spotting a deer!)
What’s your ideal vacation look like? City-goer, mountain-hiker, beach sun-bather, stay-cationer?
10K Training
Kristi's Training Mileage:
Trevor's Training Mileage:
Good Reads
Kristi's read shelf:
Trevor's read shelf: