miss gracie's house

Ya'll sure know how to make a girl feel special

THANKS bunches for the birthday wishes!

My girls spoiled me with a tea party luncheon

and

an afternoon of shopping.

It was so fun and relaxing to get to shop

at the antique stores 

instead 

of doing business at them.

 Here 

is my birthday present:

after much research and deliberation

I chose the Canon SX Powershot 30

because

1. It is a bridge camera

(supposedly a step-up from a point and shoot but not quite a DSLR)

2.  I 'm a little afraid of the DSLR's.

3. I wasn't sure I wanted to invest in and carry around lenses.

4.If June can take pictures like she does with her point and shoot

then there must be plenty for me to still learn at this level.

5.  It was more in my price range.

6. It's a Canon...my old camera was, too.

AND

7.. Wal-Mart gives a 30-day  return policy.

If I don't like it- I can return it.

I figured how could I really go wrong with that?

Let's just hope that I have some time to play with it in the 

next 30 days...

I don't have anything else I'm supposed to be doing!

Here are a few shots that I quickly took:

straight from the camera

after: 

because I  do  love me some photo-editing

This one is straight from the camera

I'm trying to get that blurred background effect

It is amazing the things there are to learn.

I know more about cameras than I did a month ago

but 

 I fear

I have only scratched the surface!

and more editing

~

~

~

The days are starting to be really full.

We are in the final stretch of wedding planning.

The weather is changing...

my painting days are numbered for the season.

Sales at the shop have just suddenly picked up 

after months of being s-l-o-w.

That means it is *empty* and needs re-stocking.

 It's  all good.

Take care, girlies...hope to have a wedding post up soon.

Rene'

P.S.  ASK ME A QUESTION is still open....