Quilted With Love | Day 332 of 365

My aunt made this quilt for my grandparents for their 60th anniversary in 2007. My grandmother is gone now, but my grandfather sleeps with it on the foot of his bed every night.

In the Bedroom Window | Day 331 of 365

Settlers of Catan | Day 330 of 365

One of my cousins introduced the family to a new (new to us anyway) game over Thanksgiving. We love games in our family. This one is called "Settlers of Catan". It's pretty fun.

Thanksgiving Warmth | Day 329 of 365

It was a great Thanksgiving Day. Traditionally, as much of the family as is able congregates at the grandparents' house (my mom's parents) for the day, and sometimes for several days.
This year, two of my mom's brothers and their families who are missionaries overseas are in the U.S. and are here, as well as several of the married cousins and their families. We have quite a large and merry crowd!
After our time of Thanksgiving this evening, my cousin's husband lit a fire in the fire pit they brought, and several of us sat around it to enjoy the cozy luxury of a warm fire on a chilly night.

Murphy | Day 328 of 365

He doesn't usually look so evil. I guess he wasn't in the mood to have his picture taken.

Thanksgiving Composition | Day 327 of 365

Baking Cookies | Day 326 of 365

One of my aunts developed a delicious sugar cookie recipe that my family loves to make during the holidays. I saw a little cookie-decorating idea online that I wanted to attempt for Thanksgiving, so tonight I stayed up late making her cookies to try it out on.

After-Church Snack | Day 325 of 365

Sunday nights are always full, so instead of supper we usually have a light snack before church and a light snack after church.

Sunset Reflection | Day 324 of 365

Tiny Turtles | Day 323 of 365

These two little guys spent the day on my desk. Their young owners are going on a trip, and a friend is going to pick them up this afternoon and 'turtle-sit' them while the kids are gone.

Fall Photo | Day 322 of 365

Yesterday was our Thanksgiving meal at the school where I work, and parents and grandparents were invited to come eat with their students. One of the moms set up this nice fall backdrop for me to take pictures of the families.

Evening in Gold | Day 321 of 365

These golden November evenings just seem like food for the soul.

Rainbow Swirls | Day 320 of 365

We have a crazy fascinating little 'lava lamp' night light in one of the bathrooms that fades and changes colors every two or three seconds. I decided to have some aperture fun with it tonight. This is what I came up with.

Smoothing Out the Wrinkles | Day 319 of 365

Sometimes I wish the wrinkles in life could be ironed out as easily as my sister smoothes the creases from her school clothes.

Sick Day | Day 318 of 365

This was literally my view all day. I missed church, in bed running a temperature of 102.6.

Ruffle Scarf - Completed | Day 317 of 365

One of the ruffle scarves I made to sell at the school. Thanks to my sister for modeling.

{11/25 Note: I have several still available in various colors - they make great gifts! If anyone is interested, leave a comment and I can get back to you.}

Best Friends | Day 316 of 365

I realize there is a huge gap between my last post and this one. I do have photos that fit in that gap - life's just been going so fast lately that I haven't gotten time to pick and/or edit them. Hopefully over Thanksgiving Break I can catch this thing up!
Meanwhile, I couldn't wait to go ahead and post this picture of two best friends. One of these girls I've known all her life. The other one, I met three days ago. Our time together was short, but as we were getting ready to part, I grabbed them to take a few 'best friends' pictures. The lighting (noon and dappled shade) wasn't ideal, but over-all, I'm pleased.

Waiting Music | Day 315 of 365

Banjo Picker | Day 314 of 365

Had the privilege of joining some friends to sing at a nursing home this afternoon. Some of the young people took their instruments to accompany the singing.

Ivy-on-White Pattern | Day 313 of 365

I try not to use these kinds of photos often for the 365 challenge, but I really do enjoy shooting images that focus on textures and patterns. This is the wallpaper in one of the bedrooms of my grandparents' house.

School Fence | Day 312 of 365

One of my most frequent sources of material for this 365 challenge is the school playground while I'm helping with after-school care two days a week. It was a beautiful day on the playground today.

New Lens | Day 311 of 365

Lens number two. Due to a very kind and generous gift, I was able to add a wide-angle zoom lens to my equipment collection this week. I am very excited to start playing with it.

Autumn Happiness | Day 310 of 365

Grandmother's Gloxinia | Day 309 of 365

My grandmother had a low bookcase put under the window in her and my grandfather's room. On the top shelf, she kept potted plants and flowers. Two or three magnificent Christmas cactus plants, a violet, and this lovely gloxinia. Now that she is gone, the steady, unfailing seasons and blooming of the flowers is a reminder of the constant care of the Lord. Even in the struggles and bumps and pains of life, He is always there, steady and unchanging, faithful and strong.

Autumn Color | Day 308 of 365

November - the last month of autumn.

Scavenger Hunt | Day 307 of 365

Played a scavenger hunt game with my group of kids during youth class tonight at church. One of the items they were supposed to find was a penny from the 1990s.

S. W. | Day 306 of 365

Waffle House Sign | Day 305 of 365

Sunday Morning | Day 304 of 365

Sharing Ideas | Day 303 of 365

As an aspiring photographer, I always enjoy getting together with other photographers to just share ideas. Today I met with some friends of mine for a session of practice and trying out some of those ideas.