Day 119 ~ Shooting

f/7.1, 1/200 sec, ISO 200

f/7.1, 1/200 sec, ISO 200

My new daughter's family came over for some shooting and lunch before they headed back home.  I LOVE having a daughter!  Especially because she gets excited about things that my boys don't care about at all :)

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 10:58 am
Mode: Shutter Priority
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photos and adjusted the levels.

Day 118 ~ Texas Open House

f/5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO 400

f/5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO 400

Our wonderful friends were kind enough to allow us to use their backyard for our son's open house.  They put a lot of work into it and even resurfaced their pool, so it looked beautiful!  We served cupcakes, mini cheesecake bites, blueberry and wild blackberry Jelly Belly's (because they were blue and purple like their wedding colors) and I wrapped Hershey Nuggets with stickers that had their names and wedding date on them.  I tried a few different punch ideas and didn't really love them, so the hostess suggested a very yummy drink that we served.  It was Sprite, pomegranate syrup, and vanilla ice cream.  When that ran out we made another version of the same drink using orange syrup.  It was our favorite and tasted just like a Dreamsicle :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:25 pm
Flash Mode: External Flash
Image Alterations: I cropped the photos and adjusted the levels.

Day 117 ~ Moving the Calves

We tried moving the older calves to their new back pasture by bribing them with grain, but they would only follow for a little way.  So we tied them to the tractor and pulled them - with a little added push or two as well.  They may not have liked it much, but they're happy in their new home now :)

P.S. I was driving the tractor so I didn't get any photos of the event but luckily my new daughter took this one!

Day 116 ~ Bougainvillea

This bougainvillea bush was outside a restaurant I was passing by and I stopped to take a photo.  The owner's walked out while I was taking photos and commented on how proud they were of their bush.  It made me smile :)  I tried growing them when we first moved to Texas and failed miserably.  Maybe now that I have a larger variety of sunlight, I can find a place where they would grow well.  They are such a pretty plant.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 3:42 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 120 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped it, adjusted the levels, and added a vignette effect to the edges.

Day 115 ~ Rain Lily

I think this a variety of a rain lily.  I found it growing on the side of the road.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 3:14 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/640 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 170 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped it and adjusted the levels.

Day 114 ~ Cutting Down the Brush

The boys and my husband cut a path through the brush so they could put up a new electric fence on the back part of our property.  Then we moved the older calves back there so they eat the grass.  They are much happier now :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:72 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 105 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 113 ~ Delicate

I'm amazed at how beautiful and delicate weeds can be when they are examined closely.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:39 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/20 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 150 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 112 ~ Architecture

I love to photograph interesting doors and doorways.  These arched entrances caught my eye, but I ended up liking this photo from further away better than the entrance :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 2:37 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec
ISO: 200
Focal Length: 50 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped it and adjusted the levels.

Day 111 ~ A Friend's Wedding

One of our close friend's daughter was married today.  We attended the wedding and I took some photos.  They look very much in love :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:54 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 80 mm
Flash Mode: External Flash
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.  I also blurred the background.

Day 110 ~ More Dewberries

The dewberries are ripening everywhere :)  Too bad all my canning supplies are buried in storage.  I can't wait until my house is finished and we can move in!

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:50 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/4 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 130 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 109 ~ Setting Sun

I was experimenting again with getting the sun's rays to show :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:25 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/22
Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 44 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels.

Day 108 ~ Weeds

I liked the way these light colored weeds contrasted with the dark background.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:46 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 170 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 107 ~ My Son

My middle was out working in the field and I happened to have my camera with me.  When he saw me taking photos he offered to pose for a few, and I was happy to get a few great shots of him!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:37 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 130 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.  I also added a vignette.

Day 106 ~ Wildflowers

I saw these interesting wildflowers on the back of our property today.  I'm not sure what they are.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:44 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 75 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 105 ~ Evening Sky

I took this photo through the windshield on our way home.  The windshield was FILTHY after such a long trip and I had to spot heal quite a few small dirty spots :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:13 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/22
Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec
ISO: 400
Focal Length: 32 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and cleaned up some spots.

Day 104 ~ The Reception

Cutting the Cake
f/4, 1/50 sec, ISO 200

f/4.8, 1/50 sec, ISO 200

They were very nice to each other - they refrained from smashing cake into one another's faces :)

First Dance
f/4.2, 1/50 sec, ISO 200

Father & Daughter Dance
f/4.2, 1/50 sec, ISO 200

Our Family
f/5, 1/60 sec, ISO 200

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:57 pm - 8:59 pm
Mode: Shutter Priority
Flash Mode:  External flash
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and cropped the photos.  My ISO was too low and I so many of the photos were too dark and had to be further adjusted.

Day 103 Part 2 ~ The Bride & Groom

My son and his new bride were married in the Nauvoo Temple.  It was wonderful to witness their sealing for time and all eternity.  They are so happy together!

On the Temple steps
f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

f/13, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

f/10, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

Parents of the bride and groom
f/13, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

The bridesmaids
f/10, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

The groomsmen
f/7.1, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

f/8, 1/250 sec, ISO 400

Our family - minus the groom - my husband's parents on the left and my mother on the right
f/16, 1/500 sec, ISO 1250

f/8, 1/200 sec, ISO 400

The Nauvoo Temple

I didn't take the photos I am in, but I did take the rest.

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 4:50 pm - 6:29 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority on some / Shutter Priority on most
Flash Mode:  Fill flash on most
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and added a vignette to some of the photos.

Day 103 Part 1 ~ Touring Nauvoo

We didn't have quite enough room in the car for everyone, so the boys squished in the back!  Luckily we were only a few miles from Old Nauvoo :)

Most of the activities in Nauvoo are run by missionaries, including this wagon ride.  They took us on a tour of the town where we were able to see where we wanted to go

This is a replica of the barges that the wagons crossed the rivers on.  It was much different than I had pictured in my mind.

It was amazing the technology that they had even so long ago.  Brigham Young even built a cold storage building to store food!  I loved it and want my husband to build me one since we can't have root cellars in Texas due to the high water table.

Here is an inside look at the cold storage building.

Day 102 ~ Old Nauvoo

f/9, 1/800 sec, ISO 800

f/18, 1/160 sec, ISO 800

We made it to Nauvoo, Illinois late last night and started sightseeing this morning.  We went on a tour of the print shop, the tin smith, and some of the homes.  The top photo is one of the missionaries who was working in the print shop for the day.  The bottom photo is the Browning Gun Shop which we waited for the boys to meet us before we went on that tour.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 12:48 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and decreased the saturation to give it a slightly older appearance.

Day 101 ~ Tejas General Store

We left this morning for a long road trip - our oldest son is getting married! On the way out of Texas, we passed this tourist shop and my husband was nice enough to stop so I could take a photo :)
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:59 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/18
Shutter Speed: 1/25 sec
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 40 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I adjusted the levels and changed it to a sepia tint.

Day 100 ~ Sunset

Sunset on the ranch - we've decided we live on a ranch and not a farm since we now have 4 calves (soon to be 5) and chickens, but not much in the way of crops.  I LOVE living in the country!

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:22 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/18
Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 52 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 99 ~ Easter Chicks

The chicks are growing SO fast!!  They are only 2 1/2 weeks old but they are no longer cute and fuzzy.  They are getting their feathers quickly and look a lot different than they did just 2 weeks ago.  We ended up selling most of them, but we still have 7 left.  Hopefully we'll end up with at least 4 hens and 1 rooster.  We'll just have to wait and see :)

Happy Easter!
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:48 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/10
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 55 mm
Flash Mode: Flash on to compensate for the red heat lamp
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 98 ~ Houston Temple

The youth from church went to the temple last night and since my husband's parents are here visiting, we all went as well.  I love going to the temple!  It's such a peaceful place to be.

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 9:03 pm
Mode: Shutter Priority
Aperture: f/3.5
Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec
ISO: 1250
Focal Length: 20 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 97 ~ Weed Seed

I found this lone weed seed today and loved how the white contrasted with the green around it.
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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:26 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/20 sec
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 200 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 96 ~ Oats Growing

The seed mixture that we planted in the pasture for the animals has something growing that I didn't recognize.  My husband's parents are here visiting and Dad worked on the farm so he knew what it was - oats!  So now I'm growing wheat and oats.  I'm becoming such the farm girl :)

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:16 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 75 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 95 ~ The Mean Old Rooster

Our rooster is challenging us more often, especially my youngest son.  He's getting too mean!  I'm not sure what happened since he used to be nice to everyone.  As soon as our chicks are big enough and we have a rooster to replace him, he's going to become chicken soup!

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:36 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/4.5
Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 44 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 94 ~ Leaf Variations

I was out walking around today and thought the color variations between the leaves was striking.

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 7:25 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/10 sec
ISO: 500
Focal Length: 75 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.

Day 93 ~ Sun Rays

I took a short walk today around our property and saw the sun shining through the trees.  It was just right!  Everything is so green right now!  It was an absolutely beautiful day :)

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 6:16 pm
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/22
Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec
ISO: 320
Focal Length: 28 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.



Day 92 ~ Easter Eggs



Only one more week until Easter!  This is the centerpiece on my friends table - nice and bright for spring.

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Camera: NIKON D7000

Time of Day: 11:20 am
Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/13 sec
ISO: 320
Focal Length: 42 mm
Flash Mode: None
Image Alterations: I cropped the photo and adjusted the levels.