Bagpipes (and drums) are our life

We've spent most of the last nine summers.

involved in the pipe band community.

That's half of the time we have been parents as our oldest

is now 18 and heading to college.

That's him, third from left, playing snare for Oran Mor,

one of only a few Grade One bands from the United States.

My piper just turned 14 and has been playing for about 4 years.

He's the tall one in the back.

And our newest competitior, is the 10yo tenor drummer.

He's the one with the wild hair in the center.

And here is the youngest who is six.

He has time to decide which instrument he wants to play,

but for now he is a banner carrier.

Recent photography

It has been a wonderful summer here so far. 

So much time spent out of doors,

at Scottish festivals, parades, the lake

and just generally enjoying nature.

Here are my favorite shots from the past month.

(Click each image for a larger view.)

Dream car

I've shared with you some of my dream houses,

but I have now come across my dream car. 

It shall have the license plate "R3D H3N"

and will be for transporting more than just children.

This  gorgeous VW truck was at a car show in NJ.

Its more "rustic" counterpart is for sale here locally.

Every time we drive by it the kids and I talk

about how cool it would be all fixed up.

And now we have something to aspire to.

This was such a beauty!

 

Getting creative with the camera

I haven't blogged much in the past month,

but I have been learning more about my new camera.

My Canon EOS Rebel T3 has a setting called "Creative Auto."

You can change from the standard auto setting to options like

vivid, soft, warm, intense, cool, brighter, darker and monochrome.

I recently discovered that the "darker" setting was great

at preventing the bright stage lights from washing out faces

at my kids' pipe band concert in early March.
I always edit photos a bit in Photoshop Elements,

mostly minor cropping, sharpening and brightening,

but if I am able to do it in the camera, it saves me time later.

I like using the "brighter" option when outside in the shade.

Without it, I wouldn't have gotten the shot above.

The left version is straight out of the camera.

The right is after only minor editing, like mentioned above,

plus some extra sharpening of my boy's beautiful eyes and lips.
(Click the image for a larger view.)

I'm going to keep reading the manual and playing with the settings.

Who knows what I can come up with next.

A camera is only as good as the eyes (and brain) behind it.

Thrift shopping

I went after-Christmas clothes shopping a few weeks ago.

Most people close to me know I really hate retail

and won't be surprised that my spree was at the thrift store.

TOTAL SPENT:

$77 (which is a lot for me in one outing)

WHAT I GOT:

7 pairs of boys' jeans -- Old Navy, Levis and Ralph Lauren

and Lucky Brand (retails for $100)

2 hoodies for the two smaller boys

Columbia ski coat and snowpants for the young teen

3 dress shirts for husband -- Eddie Bauer and Stafford

Eddie Bauer sweater and slacks for me

BEST DEAL OF THE DAY:

This West German gray wool pea coat for the older teen.

Thanks to Google Translator I know it's from the 1960s

and was made by Bulag of Auerbach.

"Bund ZB" stands for German Civilian Civil Protection,

whose members worked toward disaster preparedness

like as firefighters, EMTs, etc.

How cool is that?
He has a one-of-a-kind coat with some history.

Glad he likes vintage as much as I do.

A taste of the East

I spent my first day with my new camera at my sister-in-law's.

Not only did I get to capture my kids and their cousin
building and decorating a gingerbread house,
 I also got to have dinner with old family friends.

It was very enlightening to meet people
who knew my husband as a kid --
and to see our own children get along
like they are long-lost friends themselves.

My husband's sister, her husband and their two daughters
have spent the last eight years living in Asia.
First in my bro-in-law's home country of India then in China.
They have moved back here within the past year
and filled their home with all sorts of treasures.
No better place to play with my camera and natural light.

(Click the photos for a larger view.)