Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves

Aww…some Monday

This post is sandwiched between two Wordless Wednesday posts that featured images of people at our local Farmers Market on Halloween. Some of the costumes were great. Sometimes the background doesn’t quite fit the mood, so let’s see what we can do.

Here is one of my favorite costumes of the day. This guy was on stilts which made him 10′ tall. I captured the first image, then he came over and posed for the close-up.

While the cloe-up was in focus and his pose was great, the background left a lot to be desired. I recently purchased a copy of PhotoShop Elements 2027 and it allows me to change the background in just a few clicks. I found an image I posted several weeks ago from our side trip to the courthouse in Butler, MO. It seemed like a good fit as the new background. Here we go.

BOOM! Now we’re talking. That stone building and clock tower was just what this spook needed. Still the sky is a little too cheery for this composition. Again PhotoShop Elements lets me change the sky.

There we go. Spooky creature on a full moon night in front of a haunted building. This is an exercise similar to my “Fun With Filters” posts only using additional images to create the final product.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

According to CoolKidFacts, November is a shopaholic’s dream month with the various promotions kicking off early on around the globe. Build your playlist of songs inspired by things on your holiday wish list to “shop” specific songs/lyrics. Just have fun!

If you have followed this blog for more than a few weeks you know that photography is my favorite pastime. I bought my first camera while in Vietnam in 1968 and have been capturing images on some level ever since. Digital photography changed my life photographicly by allowing me to know what the photo looked like immediately instead of relying on Walgreens to process my film. It was indeed a game changer for me.

The next real milestone were the grandkids. I photographed nearly everything they did including, soccer matches, little league baseball, dance competitions, and track meets in addition to birthdays, and holidays. I have photographs of family that have captured precious memories and we can enjoy them for generations to come. I also found that I like capturing insects, birds and other creatures and then there is street photography like you have seen here. Things are about to change again for me.

Soon I will turn the page on my eighth decade on this planet and I don’t need to carry big cameras and big lenses everywhere I go. This past spring we visited our middle granddaughter and went to major league baseball spring training. I took a small mirrorless camera and one lens. I can’t remember the last time I only took one lens anywhere. It was very satisfying and free to travel that light. So the first thing on my shopping list is a new mirrorless camera for my birthday or Christmas. I think Jim Croce said it best in this song.

Back in the day film was the medium of photography and there were several popular types made by Kodak. Tri-X was their black & white product but for color there was Ectachrome and Kodachrome!

I think I want this T-shirt. Have a blessed week.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

Our First Great-Granddaughter!!

Last Tuesday or third great grandchild and first great granddaughter arrived and she is perfect in every way. Say hello to Adeline Mae.

Everyone is doing great including her mom (our youngest granddaughter) and dad.

Our new pumpkin is laying on a quilt made for her by her great grandmother (my wife).

Ready to go home last Friday and all wrapped up in a blanket crocheted for her by that same great grandmother. God is good, life is good and we are blessed beyond measure. Can’t wait to see her in person, which should happen at Christmas.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This past week-end marked the seventh anniversary of my cancer surgery to remove a large cancerous tumor from my abdominal cavity and make it possible to treat an agressive prostrate cancer. My personal anthem through that journey was a song by MercyMe called “Even If”. The message is that God is capable of healing anything, but Even If He chose not to heal me, my hope is still in Him. I live in a win-win situation. If God chooses to lift me out of a difficult situation, I have a testimony that He is still in the miracle business and I have been blessed. If He chooses to call me home, then I will take occupancy of my heavenly home and spend eternity in the presence of my Savior. That’s a win-win and it’s available to anyone who acknowledges their need for a Savior and calls on the name of Jesus.

Last Thursday evening we attended a MercyMe concert and it was beyond awesome.

Have a blessed week!

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

From the beginning of April through the end of October there is a Farmers Market, every Saturday, around the town square. Over the years, it has become one of the best in the state. Several times during the season I grab my camera, head down to the square and take a random photo walk around the market. For a photographer this is what we call a target rich environment. Here are a few example images from this past Saturday morning.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

October’s birth flowers are marigold and cosmos.  Marigolds symbolize positive emotion and energy and Cosmos represent order and harmony.  Build your playlist that resonates positive vibes and harmony.

Whenever my soul needs some positive reinforcement, a fresh dose of joy, or a little peace and harmony, I turn to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When comes to music, I turn to the hymns of the church and contemporary Christian music. The message is undeniable and always refreshes my mind and soul. Give a listen.

Okay, my soul is lifted, my joy is full and I am ready to shine a little light in this dark world. Have a blessed week.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Mondays

This past week we spent a couple of days in Branson, MO. We stayed at a facility on the campus of College of the Ozarks in Hollister, MO which is about five miles from Branson. College of the Ozarks is a small liberal arts college and every student is on a work study scholarship. Everything made from the products generated by the students goes back to the school to reduce the cost of tuition. The students graduate debt free. The school maintains a bakery/mill, dairy barn, livestock, greenhouse, an outstanding restaurant. The students maintain fresh vegtable gardens that supply the restaurant. The facility housing the restaurant also has 15 suites where you can spend a relaxing time away from the crowd. the whole place is just a delight. It is perfect for a special getaway. The image below was our suite.

The morning we left for home we stopped by the gift shop, stained glass shop/gallery, and greenhouse. It was a great parting visit before we hit the road home.

This is a giant Staghorn Fern. I have never seen one before but I would love to have the space to grow this magnificent plant. If you ever have the chance to visit College of the Ozarks and spend the night in the Mabee Lodge, just do it!

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This is a freedom of choice, whatever floats your boat week at 4M so I am going back for a little Red Dirt music. Red Dirt music began in my home state of Oklahoma. Every 20 years or so Country Music attempts to re-set itself and return to it’s more traditional roots with simpler arrangements. The current state of the brand is filled with AI, auto-tune, rapper inspired lyrics, rhythms and artists. Country music in the 70’s became heavily orchestrated. Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and others brought back some of the old school sound. Red Dirt music artists are resetting the sound to a more traditional feel but with some contmemporary lyrics and phrasing. Here are a few examples. Have a blessed week.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday – County Fair

This past week has been county fair week in our area. Our fair is not huge and the main event for me is found in the livestock building where the kids are showing off their animals. I was there the morning that goats were being judged. I think this is one advantage that country kids have over city kids. Raising an animal practically birth to show ready teaches a child a wealth of life skills. They learn to provide for another living being. The kids are responsible for feeding, watering, grooming, providing shelter, exercising and everything associated with caring for another. I find that far more valuable than X-Box or Travel ball world champion.

This was my pick as the prettiest goat at the fair.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

It’s a freedom of choice week at 4M, so I don’t have to base my selections on a specific theme. With that in mind, I’m going to feature a group that I have really enjoyed the past year or so and played a couple of their songs here before. Once more, I give you Red Clay Strays. Have a blessed week.