I've mentioned we have steadily been working to organize and declutter our storage areas. Our progress has been going quite well and we're pretty happy with the decisions we have made.
Last year we had the interior of our home painted. After all of it was done, I changed some of our decor and didn't put up the same items that were on the walls. In the kitchen particularly, we kept the walls a little more bare than usual. After time has passed, I decided I'm not liking the more minimalist look. So we have slowly been putting up some of the items that were removed.
The rooster plates and hanger have been bought up from storage to take their place back in the kitchen. I love chickens and have many adorning my kitchen.
The sun has been shining the last couple of days and I couldn't be happier! It's a great time to take photos of the interior of our home.
Taking good photos is a goal of mine. I want to learn more about using the manual settings on my camera. I've always wanted to take photos of the moon that showed the craters and more detail. Well, I think I am on my way. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to be able to take a few photos that show the detail I was looking for.
Yesterday afternoon we were outside and saw the lovely moon lighting the sky.
Now that I've learned more about my camera and its settings I'll be practicing and enjoying photography even more!
I also spotted this bad boy in the crepe myrtle yesterday afternoon! This photo was taken from a window.
Tell me, do you use the manual settings on your camera? Or do you do like me, just use the automatic settings?
I hope your days are filled with simple joys , my friends! ♥
I absolutely love your kitchen! It looks so cozy! Your decor is so pretty! I think I'm still coming down from Christmas since I haven't put up any Valentine's Day decorations lol. I want to do something for Easter. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteThank you Pilar. The new year is certainly whizzing by. Enjoy your week as well! ♥
DeleteOh captured some great photos! Love the moon shots. I'm surprised to see that hawk in the tree so close to your home! The nuthatch is enjoying a good meal!
ReplyDeleteI use the manual setting when my automatic setting won't give me what I want due to lighting conditions. There's also a manual choice instead of auto focus for the lens that I haven't used real often but that can be very helpful. Love how your kitchen looks with the chickens and roosters and your big Cabernet sign! Your tea set is beautiful and the red heart garland is cute! Seems like this time of year is good for fussing around a lot!
Thank you Liz. We often have hawks land close to our home. I'm afraid they are stalking the birds at the feeder. I have a love hate relationship with them. ♥
DeleteI agree, minimalist is not for me either and it's the little things that make a home more cosy.
ReplyDeleteGreat moon shots, and isn't it fun to be taking back control over the image? The detail on the moon is just amazing! The craters look like bubbles with that detail.
Hope you have a wonderful week of photography fun and discovery!
~~~Deb xoxo
Deb, you know how moon shots have evaded me. You on the other hand have the most lovely moon photos I've ever seen. I may have to borrow Samuel's tripod to get a steadier shot.
DeleteEnjoy your week. xoxo ♥
Loving your cute rooster plates. So glad you are having some sunshine. Winter can be so dreary. Your kitchen looks so pretty. You and me both need to figure our the darn camera. I play with it constantly. I also use my android phone a lot...LOL Have a lovely week Martha Ellen.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I've had those rooster plates for years and came across them during our storage purge. I really should take a photography class. Reading and studying about my camera has really helped me. Enjoy your week. ♥
DeleteYou got great photos of the moon and that hawk too! I love the hearts banner on your fireplace. I miss having a fireplace but I have shelves to decorate so I shouldn't complain. I like a lot of things around me but they have to be 'in order' or it drives me crazy. I need to keep getting rid of things to keep it tidy. Enjoy your afternoon! Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteThank you Diane. I made the little heart banner years ago. Banners always catch my eye and I hope to make more of them. They look pretty on shelves and so many places in our homes. Have a nice evening. ♥
DeleteThose photos!!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...
I am in awe, you know.
I am scared to death to switch mine from manual!!!!
Have a cozy week. : )
I understand, Billie Jo, it's scary getting out of our comfort zones. I really, really wanted to learn more so I've been studying. Have a nice week. ♥
DeleteI'd also love to take a DSLR photography class. A community college in my area offers classes but I babysit too frequently right now to be able to commit to going to a class. Have you found a good website to learn from, Martha Ellen?
ReplyDeleteYour kitchen colors are so pretty and the rooster plates match perfectly! You have many beautiful treasures around your home. I love your moon shots, bird photos and pretty Valentine banner!
Thank you Pat. I've been reading a lot online about photography and watching Youtube videos about my camera. I've also called Canon about some specifics and they were so helpful. A class would be my next step. Have a nice evening. ♥
DeleteSo beautiful I love your kitchen.. specially the mama hen with her chicks.. that one is so cute..
ReplyDeleteThank you Krishna. I love chickens and would have them if we had more property! Have a nice evening. ♥
DeleteHello Dear!!
ReplyDeleteI love the new touches that you have added to you pretty kitchen! And the pretty dishes in the different areas (especially the red transferware) ;-)
Ooooo how stunning your moon and nature shots are!! I wish I could capture moon shots but my camera does not like them :-)
Sending Love warmth and blessings xx oo Linnie
Linnie, I have been struggling for a while about photographing the moon. I've been studying and trying many different shots. In auto mode all I would get is a bright light. Thank you as always for your sweet comments. Sending you hugs and warmth and blessings, dear one. xoxo ♥
Deleteuh oh. Did I ever tell you my camera is a simple point and shoot? It does have manual settings but I almost always use the auto settings. I used to have a darkroom and still have most of the equipment and my old WWII Nikon cameras but I haven't used film in a very long time.
ReplyDeleteAre those Emma Bridgewater mugs...lovely! As are the tea pots. I have a thing for tea pots and mugs and have far too many but they bring such simply pleasure.
Your photos are lovely, Martha Ellen, I'd say you've mastered settings quite well.
Sandra I've only had my DSLR camera for three years. I will say I can do a lot more with it than with my old camera. Your photos are wonderful and I enjoy seeing your beautiful area.
DeleteThey are Emma mugs as is the heart teapot. I have a thing for teapots as well. My English teapots are the best as they really get the Zen of making a proper spout that doesn't drip.
I hope things are going well for you, my friend. ♥
I love the rooster theme in the kitchen! I love chickens and would keep chickens except for the trudging through the snow in the dead of winter part. And your tea service is so pretty! In your header, are those Emma Bridgewater mugs? I'm so curious because I recently acquired three EB mugs and there are so many others that are so very pretty! Aren't you glad that all the disruption of painting the house is over and you're left with the pretty results. We really need to do the same. I hope you have a good evening.
ReplyDeleteJudy, I'd have chickens as well if we had more property! They are Emma Bridgewater mugs--good eye! I have four hooks on the bottom of this shelf that hold four more. I made a promise to myself not to buy more when I filled this shelf, but I just love her patterns and can't seem to help this addiction! It is nice to have that painting all done! Have a nice evening. ♥
DeleteYour kitchen is delightful and I like the brood of happy hens. I used to try fiddling with the manual settings, but why? Automatic works fine for me. It seems to be working great for you, too! I enjoyed seeing all your pictures and capturing bird pics is not easy.
ReplyDeleteThank you Vee. Automatic settings really are quite good for most photos. When it comes to taking shots of the moon all I would get is a bright light. As pretty as the moon is, I wanted to see the detail. Have a good week. ♥
DeleteI congratulate you, Martha Ellen! I'm still stuck in Auto! Right now my camera is in repair so I have a good excuse to not learn how to use it fully.....just yet. Post more photos like your moon photo and I may get motivated! What kind is your camera?
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy. I have a Canon Rebel EOS T5 camera. It takes pretty good shots in automatic. But really why do I have this camera if I don't know how to use its features? It will be a while before I really understand all that it can do. Have a nice week. ♥
DeleteYour home always looks so warm and cozy, Martha Ellen! I love your new header photos. Your Emma collection is just lovely! I collect antique English tea cups and just love them. Each one tells the story of where I found it and who I was with. Even washing them all is joyful. I just did that last week for a little tea party.
ReplyDeleteYour nature photography is wonderful and your moon photos are spectacular, my dear. You are really mastering your DSLR and should feel so proud! I am using a Nikon point and shoot. I need a small camera that is always with me.
Warm hugs for inviting us over today. I always look forward to our visits! Sending sunny wishes! ♡
Hello Dawn, it's always nice to have a visit with you! I can just imagine your lovely tea cups all ready for a tea party. It's so much fun to collect special pieces through out the years.
DeleteI always enjoy seeing your photos. A small camera is really a lot more convenient. We use a small one as well sometimes, but for distance shooting I really like the T5. I'm challenging myself to learn more.
Warm hugs to you, my friend. ♥
Like you I take a notion to declutter regularly. I have learned not to be so quick to take it to Good WIll, as I often have and regretted it. I put it in the attic for awhile and see if I miss it or one of the girls will take it and use it for awhile. We even trade things! I think we put our signature on our homes with the things we've chosen to decorate with. Yours is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI have a problem with hawks because of the number of bird feeders we've put up for our enjoyment and sadly the birds' detriment. We love the birds and the hawks are the collateral damage. I have been known to run out in the yard with a long stick to scare them away. Whatever it takes.
Thank you for stopping by, Debbie! The hawks are really something, aren't they? We have quite a few around here and as majestic as they are, I'm so glad to see them fly away! They are quite the patient hunters, so it's good you chase them away.
DeleteWe have put things we thought we wanted down in our basement in storage. It's good and bad to have a place to put things! Have a lovely day. ♥
I have Rooster plates too and will have to take a photo to show you! We're so much alike and I'm on a mission to declutter as well, XOXO
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see your rooster plates, Susan. Have nice afternoon, my friend. xoxo ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen your moon photos are amazing. And I like how you are making your kitchen more homey. I know the minimalist look is popular, but we might as well have the things we love around us. Like your cheery heart banner--and your red and white transferware!
ReplyDeleteDotsie, after our painting was done I thought I'd like less around. I was wrong! I definitely like the more homey look. Have a nice week. ♥
DeleteMartha Ellen, what a great picture of the moon. You can see the craters and all. Your kitchen looks charming, and I always love to see the dark traditional furniture in your home, it's lovely. The red dishes look so nice on your dresser. So glad you are getting to know your camera. I call my camera "my best friend" hehehe. That little blue bird is sweet.
ReplyDeleteYou know, 'this and that' posts are my favorite, Martha Ellen, and I LOVED this one.
~Sheri
Thank you Sheri. Our cameras can be like friends for sure. Whenever I forget to bring mine, I always wished I had. Have a great week. ♥
DeleteI am afraid that (despite years of saying I was going to learn to shoot in manual) I still use the automatic settings on my camera. One of these days . . .
ReplyDeleteBut you . . . you are certainly on your way! What lovely photos you have shared with us here! Your interior shots are crisp. (And what a beautiful home you have!) Your outdoor pics are fabulous! It is not easy to take moon photos and yours are wonderful.
Applause!!
Thank you Cheryl. I'm going to try to continue using manual for heavenly body shots as auto is not my friend there. I do love the ease of automatic for everything else. Have a good day, my friend. ♥
DeleteI still use the auto on my camera ... just have not taken the time to use manual settings. I did one time and loved the pictures I took. I really should make an effort to improve my pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe automatic on my camera does a wonderful job with most photos, Audrey. When taking a photo of the moon, all I got was a bright light, so I needed to learn more to be able to use Manual. It really made all the difference. ♥
DeleteIt is nice that you are putting things back up in the kitchen from decision and not from habit. It certainly looks pretty.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you Amalia. After painting it looked all clean and fresh. It's taken me a while to decide what I wanted back in the kitchen. Have a nice weekend. ♥
DeleteYour kitchen looks lovely ...
ReplyDeleteThose moon pictures are good. I've never tried taking 'moon pictures'.
So many people seem to use their phones now as a quick photo, and they do the job very well!
I think it's nice that you have an interest in photography.
Happy Weekend Wishes
All the best Jan
Since I began my blog, Jan I've become more and more interested in taking better photos. Thank you for your sweet visits. Enjoy a nice weekend. ♥
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