{Create} Shooting with Soul: Exercise 1-Glimpses of You

 "A photograph is shaped more by the person behind the camera than by what is in front of it"
                              - Canon Australia from Decou


A while back, Mum bought two copies of a book called Shooting with Soul from our local Art Museum. The intention was to work through the exercises in the book together and share them with one another as well as with anyone who might be interested. The book has been sitting on our shelves for far too long. (Who is counting right?) Go back to June 2017, when I pulled the book off the shelf thinking that we never even started the project. I called Mum up to see if she had her copy of the book handy. She fished it out and we talked about starting the project. We did the first three exercises last year and then it ended up in flames on the back burner. Not the nook, the commitment to the project.

At the turn of the New Year, we chatted about it again and decided to give it a go. (I think we are committed to it this time!)  We set a schedule to do one exercise a month as the year progresses. Hopefully this will make it easier to keep an even flame under us to do it. With that said, I am admittedly a bit late on posting the first one. Here is to good intentions

Exercise 1:  Glimpses of you

Mum:

       This shot embodies my faith as well as my love of learning.  I continue my studies to become a certified Assemblies of God minister, and I focused on the work my hands do when I am studying.  Rewriting my scribbled study/class notes by hand has always been an effective way for me to study; and using color to emphasize the important bits and organizing the scribbled chaos into something less messy is a significant part of my learning process. 

Photo credit:  Mum (Canon EOS 50D)

         The feature I think of when I think of “Mum” is my hands.  They are always doing something; they seem to rest only when I am sleeping, even then I wonder...   I wanted to show my hands doing another favorite activity – working with yarn.  This shot shows the last stitches of a very soft baby alpaca summer sweater I’ve been working on for myself.  I love the feel of yarn sliding through my hands whether it’s being spun, knitted, or crocheted (like the afghan that was made for my grandma Martha many years ago).

Photo credit:  Mum (Canon EOS 50D)

Ms. B:

       There are often times when I love to just sit out on the back porch and relax with a few of my chickens. They have wholeheartedly become a part of who I am. Cuddle Bug, my little Buff Orphington, is an enormous fan of getting snuggles. She hopped up on my lap, climbed onto my arm and just wanted to hang out. These creatures bring out the best in me, most of the time….

Photo Credit: Ms. B (IPhone 5s) 

                                  

        I have had natural curls from day one. All of the photos my mother took of me as a child contain this halo of light blonde curls. My hair has gotten darker over the years but the curls remain. I have had a love/hate relationship with them all my life. It took me forever to get ready when I was in high school because I spent a good 45 mins straightening my hair with a flat iron. Fast forward to the present, and I love my curls. I feel now that they are one of my defining features. 

Photo Credit: Ms. B (IPhone SE)

The Historic Celebration of St. Peter's 150 Years

On August 12, 2018 citizens of Carson City, NV joined together to celebrate the Sesquicentennial of one of their historic churches, St, Peter's Episcopal Church. 

 These are many of the photos taken during the event*. Enjoy!

If you would like a copy of the photographs for personal use, please see the instructions below**.

{To view larger, left click on the image.}

Friends of Historic St. Peter's

*There will be more photos coming as they are edited.  Please be sure and check back frequently,

**These photographs are for personal use only. For public use, please send an email to the contact information below. 

To copy the photographs to your computer, right click and select 'Save Image As' and proceed.  If you would like a copy of the photos on a disk, please email me at flyingvsfarm2@gmail.com for details. 

{Farm} The importance of a Great Feed and Tack Store

Food is one of the most important things to consider when it comes to owning and raising animals on your farm or homestead. For some, homesteading means complete self-sufficiency. However, for many it just isn’t possible to have enough space or time to grow enough rations for the livestock you desire. This is not an excuse to keep from getting animals and enjoying the benefits they bring to your farm or homestead. 

If you are like me and have a hard time even fathoming what it would be like to grow all the food for your animals, there is an alternative. Patronizing your local feed and tack store is just as beneficial as growing your own feed. It can be a friendly environment that can allow you a little socializing away from your farm or homestead. It is also a reliable source for feed, even in the cooler months. 

As some of you may know, our little farm is nestled on an acre within city limits. We are blessed to have a fantastic establishment just a few minutes away. Benson’s has been serving the area for generations. Gran has shopped at this particular store for almost 40 years. It has taught me that customer loyalty pays off. I started purchasing feed for my animals from them almost 6 years ago when I purchased my first flock. Ever since then, the relationship built up with the proprietor and his employees has been priceless. Since we frequent the store for supplies, there are many instances where I no longer even have to give my order because they know what I get. 

It’s a bit like being a part of a rather large extended family-which keeps getting bigger and bigger. As a family would ask after one another, Mr. Benson always asks after my parents and the farm. He usually asks how the homesteading is going as well. We like to share with them come Christmastide in the form of cookie trays or little gifts. The store really is a family affair, as his grandkids are often in the store taking orders and helping process payments behind the counter.

Being a feed and tack store means they carry more than just feed- they supply for all aspects of life with animals. We purchase alwmost everything we need for all our animals there-including the dogs. It there is something I need, I will usually look to see if they have items in stock before searching elsewhere. I have found that if they don’t carry it in store, they are often willing to order an item for you if they have the ability to find it. I found out one day that the store accepts recycled egg cartons, which when I am in need of a particular type, I can be found rifling through their stash. 

I was blessed to become a patron of Benson’s through family tradition. Since we are a family here, I wanted to pass on a few tips to help you find a store that will allow you to have the same great experience. 

Online reviews can be misleading

In this day and age, it seems only natural to jump on one’s phone and scan Yelp or Google for reviews on a particular business. I caution against this- not everyone deems it necessary to post a review online. This means that there may be a bias one way or another with the reviews that are given. I encourage you to trust your own intuition. It will be of greater service to you in the end. 

Make a visit to the establishment. 

Actually stepping through the door can help in allowing your intuition to work. It will give you a better sense of the place. Take a walk through the store and browse their inventory. Do they carry items you use? Have a conversation with the employees. You will likely get the chance to speak with the proprietor, since it seems to be my experience that they spent quite a bit of time in the store. This will assist you in getting a feel for the store and help you make an educated decision as to whether or not the store will fit your needs. 

 Share with your new extended family.  

          This can take any form you feel is appropriate. Gran and I like to bake cookies at Christmas for the places we go to often. We make up a tin and deliver it to the store. I started sending a card to the store at Christmas as a thank you for the service throughout the year. It can even be as simple as taking your kids into the store upon occasion.  

A good feed and tack store can make all the difference in raising animals on your farm or homestead. If you don’t already give your patronage to a local store, I encourage you to find one and visit. You might be surprised.

Ms. B