Craver VII

snowscape

2012-01-27T17:27:00.004-06:00

This is what we're missing, folks! When fresh snow comes, it makes things beautiful. I love to look at large, open areas where there are no footprints. Okay, I'll make an exception for animal tracks... I like seeing those in the snow.

This is from a few pics that I took during a trip to the library the day after our big snow. Did we forget already? Yes, it snowed so much that commuting was a nightmare. We shoveled our paths, just in time to shovel them again. There were high piles in the parking lots, left by snow plows. And then a warm rain took it all away in one night.

Next time it snows, I'm going to ask the snow plow drivers to push it all in my driveway, so that I can make up for what we've been missing. Mrs. Craver has some crazy ideas for snowmen that she got from a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon.

Hey, look... I refreshed the profile pic. That is what I look like these days. I put a new self portrait on Facebook, too.

happy new year

2012-01-25T12:28:00.000-06:00

Did I miss it? Yup. Chinese new year was on January 23. Silly me; I was thinking about other things. They call this is the year of the dragon. That sounds like a good excuse to post a dragon pic that I snapped downtown last month at an outdoor Christmas market. I'm wondering... what kind of mind decides that it is appropriate to carve wooden dragons for Christmas? Hmmm...

Mrs. Craver and I did not take pictures of ourselves on our anniversary date this year, but here is one from our honeymoon in the Poconos. I wish I had the photographer's info. He was a guy wandering around with a camera and taking all kinds of pics. If you liked a print, you could buy it from him. We bought about a dozen of his prints.

That Pennsylvania mountain snow was glorious! My wife and I love the snow. A good snow outside makes the fireplace warmer, and even ramps up the experience of a good mug of hot cocoa.

we felt robbed

2012-01-24T12:05:00.003-06:00

The snow started coming down pretty good Friday afternoon, and it made the evening commute so slow, that it was the top story on the news. My employers graciously let us out early (with pay).

There was lots of shoveling on Friday and Saturday. Sunday was time to recover, but as I drove around with my wife, I found a few places that I wanted to photograph. I did more than just make mental notes, I talked to Mrs. Craver about it, and got some good confirmation that these sites were worthy of another visit. I had the day off of work on Monday. So the plan was that sometime before lunch on Monday, I would drive back to two or three of these locations with a tripod, and take my sweet time to capture a few snowy landscapes.

But that night, Jack Frost skipped town and the temps rose and it rained. And rained. And rained. These were the big, fat, heavy raindrops that normally make beautiful music on the rooftops. Not this time. We both lay there with eyes wide open, expressing concern over how much our beautiful snowscapes might change into something that was not quite the winter wonderland that we were hoping for.

When I looked outside the next morning, I saw that only the heaped snow remained. All of the flat blankets of snow had melted down to the grass. I felt like I had been robbed, my hopes deflated. (sigh) I should have been keeping track of the weather reports.

But... The sadness lasted all of five minutes, because this was my 24th wedding anniversary. Monday for me, was primarily about enjoying my Mrs. Craver and celebrating our life together. And that aspect of the day could not be taken away from us. :-)

ask me a question

2012-01-18T12:06:00.006-06:00

My daughter uses a pen name. I wonder where she got that brilliant idea. (You don't really think my parents named me "Craver," do you?) She submits writings to a web thingy called Teen Ink. Most recently, she wrote a song and of it she says,

"I wrote this for my dad's birthday this year. I think one of the best gifts is a song, and I did my best on this one! I could always ask him my questions, and I don't always understand his answers, but he's always happy to answer. Love you Daddy!"

I'll admit that I got choked up a little, when I read it. Would you please click on the link to see the lyrics? If you feel so inclined, please give it a generous review by clicking on the stars on top of her page.

Sheila Zyra's Ask Me a Question

My birthday is not until July. Maybe she'll have the music by then.

By the way, that first pic was taken a couple years ago. Here is a more recent one:

Blue Monday

2012-01-16T12:21:00.001-06:00

Today is Blue Monday. It is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year.

Let's see... I ache all over. It feels like an elk performed Riverdance on my back while I slept. But that's because I was ambitious about moving stage furniture on Saturday. My dog woke me up in the middle of the night three times on Saturday night, but since then, we seem to be back to normal. I don't know... it doesn't feel any different than any other day... maybe I'm not celebrating it the right way. ;-)

Clinical depression is a whole other matter, and I dare not make light of that. But this Blue Monday business... Pish posh! Today is what you make of it. And every day is a gift from the Lord.

an angel among saints

2012-01-09T14:21:00.002-06:00

Whew! I have been worked like a dog lately! (That makes as much sense literally, as sweating like a pig.) Gabriel, the dog in this photo is an angel in a house of saints. By way of explanation, the home is owned by godly Christians (saints), and the dog is named after an archangel. Christopher Walken played that same angel in a 1995 movie called The Prophesy, but his character was nothing like either of the other Gabriels. This dog does not work hard at all. He exists by gobbling up dog chow and tons of affection.

But I digress. Recent events my own life seem to be accumulating exponentially, unrealistically growing into a kind of TARDIS effect, pushing more on my plate that what I can conceivably handle. What I would like to do is just sit for a while and let someone else come and scratch behind my ears, say "good boy" and toss me a treat. Is that too much to ask?

Gotta go. Lots to do!

family portrait

2012-01-03T12:13:00.001-06:00

One child is a missionary, visiting from another continent. Another child is an out-of-state college student. When will we see this family all together again? Nobody knows.

The mom asked me to take a family portrait, and between everybody's hectic schedules, we only had the one opportunity, so here's what I did. I scoured the web for samples of family portraits, to see if I could get some ideas for lighting and positioning. When I went to the house, I had three rough sketches for suggested poses. This is the first time I started a project with a drawing.

Mrs. Craver accompanied me, and was a tremendous help because she notices things that escape my attention. After I explained that I need to work on the camera settings and positioning of the flash, I said that they could relax, and I would tell them when I was ready to take the actual pictures. They ended up with three final proofs, but it took sixty shots to get there. Portraits have been my biggest photographic challenge.

I feel pretty good about the idea to separate them into two groups. Mom & Dad are together in the foreground, and their grown children are clumped together about a foot behind them. If I had not done that, I would have dwarfed the parents, because these kids are so tall! The back wall is creme colored, or off white, but solid. I got that look by placing two incandescent lamps on the floor behind the family and two bounced flashes lit the family. What do you think... any helpful advice? What would you have done differently?

eerie and empty

2011-12-28T14:13:00.000-06:00

No cars, busses, taxis, and no pedestrians. Here is a sight you don't see every day! A city as busy as Chicago seldom has a view like this at 5PM.

For a moment, this was our view on a Sunday. As my friend drove us around, I had already been looking for pictures of the Willis Tower (a.k.a. Sears Tower) from the back seat. So, when I saw this unexpectedly vacant scene, I panned and snapped the picture. It would have been preferable to take the shot with a tripod and bracketed settings, but the other three passengers would not be as eager to stop driving, and take the time to indulge me every time I got snap-happy with the camera. (sigh) Nevertheless, I'm satisfied with the image, especially considering that I took the shot from a moving vehicle.

It would have been more dramatic if the streets were wet, but then I might have droplets on the minivan's window. (Just thinking out loud here.)

Anyhoo, if you go downtown, that's when you want to go... when there isn't a lot of traffic. Mmm... 2AM is good. The rest of the time, the cars are usually packed like sardines, and hardly moving.

of crèches and Christmas

2011-12-20T10:01:00.003-06:00

Every time I see a crèche, I have to fight the urge to make corrections. This particular manger scene is set up in downtown Chicago. For example, the angel did not appear at the manger, and the magi went to Joseph and Mary's house later; it could have been up to two years later. And the fact that there were three gifts does not automatically mean that there were three wise men.

Here's a random thought: Pa-rumm-pa-pumm-pumm... Do you think there is a snowball's chance Mary would have tolerated a DRUMMER boy anywhere near her precious baby? I think not.

The baby in this manger scene is chained down and believe it or not, they have installed a GPS device inside it as well. It seems that some people like to go around stealing baby Jesus. How bizarre. Personally, I would rather that people did not display a baby Jesus, because some folks "venerate" those things, and that is a clear violation of the Second Commandment.

Sometimes Christmas seems more complicated than it needs to be. Certainly more complicated than I wish it was. There might be tensions with some individuals that you are forced to deal with. Maybe there is the pain from the loss of a loved one. Then, there might be a mountain of details about schedules, budgets and logistics.

My wish for you is that you receive the grace to go through whatever complications come your way. And that you enjoy and appreciate the simplicity of the main event. The triune God was perfectly content, enjoying the fellowship of each person of the Godhead for eternity past. Yet, at the right time, God chose to send his son and Jesus left the glory of heaven to join his divine nature to a human one... truly God and truly man. To live a perfect and sinless life, and sacrifice himself to atone for those he has called to himself. After conquering death, he sent the third person of the trinity to indwell the faithful. That is a marvelous gift! Let us not lose sight of that this Christmas, proclaiming it again to ourselves, as well as to others.

Camels INSIDE the stable??? Man, that's gotta stink! How big were these stables, anyway? Hmmm... Hey, if I don't get to talk to you before then, Merry Christmas!

a Sunday afternoon stroll

2011-12-13T17:07:00.006-06:00

Mrs. Craver and I double-dated last Sunday. This was all a gift from the other couple. After church, we dined at the Olive Garden in Bolingbrook. I ordered the Venetian Apricot Chicken. That tasted so amazing, it should be on your bucket list!

Then we drove into downtown Chicago to see The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey at the Provision Theater. It was a feel-good event, for sure!

Finally, we parked close to Daley Plaza and walked through the crowded, chilly streets for an outdoor display called Christkindlmarket. That's when I took out the camera and "went to town." (Yes, that pun was totally intended.)

What's in this collage? Clockwise from top left:

the Picasso at Daley Plaza
the Channel 2 (CBS) newsroom
pigeons huddling around the Eternal Flame memorial
the wonderful Mrs. Craver next to the happiest man in the world
a peek at the Sears (Willis) Tower from the inside of the minivan
one of my favorite landmarks--the clock at Marshal Fields (Macy's)
an amusing, blue, light sculpture, and
some of the German crafts from Christkindl Market

decked halls

2011-12-09T17:02:00.001-06:00

Have a gander at that beautiful thing in the frame. Oh look--there is a photo of mine inside there, too! ;-)

Wow, some folks asked me to submit some of my winter scenes to deck their halls for a Christmas party. What an honor! I gave them a baker's dozen. They'll give them away after the party like door prizes.

There is one other contributor to this photography idea. It is none other than our pal, Mr. Dave. I hope to come away from that party with one of his prints. He has a knack for nice animal photographs. I'm outta here, Folks - gotta go warm up my voice... Mrs. Craver and I are joining friends to go caroling tonight! Brrr... it's 20 degrees out there. It feels like 10. Forget the voice... I'm going to pack some layers on and warm up my head, hands and feet!

happy holidays

2011-12-06T14:07:00.003-06:00

[Christmas tree centerpiece]

If you purchase a set of "holiday cookies," this is what it might look like: one can expect to see see green and red icing for Christmas, blue icing for Hannukah, and red, black & green for Kwanzaa. Are those still "holiday cookies" if the package has only green and red? Aren't those called "Christmas cookies?" Is there a problem with labeling them as Christmas cookies?

What about these new "holiday trees" that I have been hearing about? They look an awful lot like Christmas trees to me. What's the diff? I don't get it.

Is it because everything that somehow bears the name of Christ is of him or for him? Let us not kid ourselves. Jesus himself said that may will come to him on that day and say "Lord, Lord..." but to some, Jesus will say "depart from me... I never knew you." The Christmas holy day has become a secularized Christmas holiday. I do not see a need to make sure that the name of Christ is stripped away from rich, established tradition.

So what if we DO see a radical transformation into *The Non-Denominational Secular Thing Buying Period? Shall I tell you what I want to do about it? I want to remember the significance of the incarnation of the second person of the Trinity. I want to be freshly awed by the many, many prophecies that were fulfilled in that one life. I want to connect the dots, and see the necessary relation between Christ's birth and his death and resurrection.

Some churches will hold services on Christmas day, and some will not do that unless the 25th falls on a Sunday. My own church will have a shorter-than-usual service. (I am not sure how I feel about that.) The Christmas morning tradition in my family is that we do not open gifts until Dad (that's me) opens up the Bible and reads the account of the birth of Jesus. First things first.

Bottom line? Do not let retailers, popular media or special interest groups dictate how you celebrate Christmas, and be picky about who gets the privilege of informing you about the same. Wise men still seek him.

P.S. For any of you, who for whatever reason, do not celebrate Christmas... I still wish for you the very best. Let me offer a sincere and well-intentioned "happy holidays" to you and yours.

* This clever phrase was not my own, but it comes from an article by Sam Biddle entitled The 7 Absolute Worst Tech Gifts to Give This Holiday.

Christmas lights

2011-12-01T14:02:00.001-06:00

Three years ago, I took some pictures using a Christmas tree with lights to produce some special effects. This year, I tinkered with some special effects to produce a Christmas tree with lights. Here is how I did it:

Using a tripod at night, I manually focused on a blank wall.

The camera was set to exposure priority, and the two shots varied between 5 and 13 seconds. Then, I turned out the lights.

My hand formed an upside-down "V," to mask the shape, as I drew a zig-zag on the wall with a cheap, pen laser. (Remove any reflective jewelry so you don't blind yourself!)

In post-editing, I changed the red lines to green.

The ornaments were done by guessing where the tree was, and just dotting inside the triangle with the same laser.

Then, I put the two images together as an overlapping collage.

I tried combining more exposures to get a variety of ornament colors, but I liked the simplest one best. I wonder what else we can try with light.

struck by Lightnin'

2011-11-28T12:23:00.001-06:00

Target shooting has always been a fascination of mine. Some of you may remember stories I've told about archery. But there has also been darts (tungsten) and throwing knives... basically, if you need to aim it, I want to practice it. They say "practice makes perfect," but I have been struck with the reality from an entirely different experience... that practice makes me frustrated, because I have never been made perfect in any of these disciplines. In fact, my nickname at the archery range was Lightnin'. Sounds cool, right? But do you know why they called me that? It's because "lightnin' don't strike the same spot twice."

Fortunately, I don't have the same problem with photography. My unsteady hands took this, somewhat long exposure (1/3 sec) without a tripod by laying down and using the dock as a brace. I expect that I hold my breath for just about all of my pics. Anti-shake technology is a big help, too. When I do not like the position, cropping and straightening is a simple (post-editing) fix.

Aim... focus... steady... click... Meh, that'll do.

Check out: 11 Surefire Landscape Photography Tips from Digital-Photography-School.com

consistent compassion

2011-11-22T12:03:00.003-06:00

This picture is from last year, but the Jewel food store in Bolingbrook is once again donating a bunch of complete meals. My wife and I have the pleasure of passing these along to people who need a little help.

These are hard times for a lot of us, but it is great to see people exercise kindness on a regular basis and show compassion in a bunch of different ways. We see donations from KFC, Olive Garden, Panera, Red Lobster, Pizza Hut, Famous Dave's, Chipotle, Longhorn Steak House, and I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody. There are local businesses that donate other items, such as grocery bags and produce bags. There are groups like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and elementary schools that have taken special collections. Lots of anonymous donations fund the purchase of regular stock from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

I am especially thankful for the regular volunteers who give up their time week after week and do their work in such a way that our guest are not compromised of basic human dignity. We typically serve 65 families every week.

There are other food pantries and other organizations that serve in similar ways, and it is cool to see what goes into these acts of compassion and to learn how people are motivated to such things. Ultimately, the motivation comes from the same source as the provision. And that source is so great that it (he) eclipses the channels. That is truly something to be thankful for.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

-James 1:17

to whom credit is due

2011-11-18T14:05:00.004-06:00

[click on image to enlarge]

The talent of Mark Highton-Ridley was featured at our friend Betty's blog. One flower (photo) in particular got my attention, and the creative technique inspired me to try something similar. The b&w image was called, "Lighting the Cosmos."

I snapped this photo at night. First, I focused on the faux flowers, and made sure it was set to manual. Then, I set up an off-camera flash to the right, and turned the lights off. Since I do not have remote flash capability, I flipped up my camera's flash and deflected it to an optical slave flash trigger with a steel spatula from the kitchen. I was happy with the results, and I hope you like it as well.

Now, here's the plot twist... I went back to Betty's, so I could give credit to Mark for his idea, and here's what I found. My brain got things jumbled up. I somehow thought that he did a night shot with off-camera flash, but the strong side lighting was all natural... from a sunset.

Praise God for his handiwork in creation and for the talent he lavished on Mark. Praise the Lord also for the grace he bestows on us by allowing such occasions that our accidents and misinterpretations can sometimes have an aesthetic element to them.

crepuscular collection

2011-11-15T14:00:00.003-06:00

I drove up to Wisconsin this weekend, and had a little time to kill in the late afternoon. The sun was very low on the horizon, and the drama of daylight's finale would climax quickly, followed just as quickly by the drawing of an opaque curtain.

First, I worked to get the most realistic colors in this shot (above). Then, I toyed with the color settings in the camera, pulling one color or another. I fiddled with saturation, too. But I ended up most satisfied with a simple black & white. [click on any photo to enlarge]

My favorite part of the amber waves of grain was the closest stalks, with their wavy details.

There was a wooded area bordering the South of the property, and this is where I have done some archery. This path interests me because of how well lit the pathway stays, and how dark the woods can be on either side. When someone looks at this spot, they might just see a hill. Do you know what I see? My mind goes back to a time when I worked with campers there, and some children had the misfortune of disturbing a swarm of ground nesting yellow jackets. I also picture, in my mind's eye, my own children rolling down that hill. Thankfully, these are two separate stories, and not the same event.

This last one was inspired by David Herrick, who's pictures I've seen on Facebook recently.

sneaky church cam

2011-11-10T17:08:00.003-06:00

This was a sneaky shot I took at church. I showed that man his picture, and he laughed about the "butt shot." That was good natured self-deprecation, but it was not why I took the shot. I was motivated to snap this pic because I saw something very different. I see a family that is so blessed, it moves me. I know this man personally, and that he takes his role as husband and father very seriously. He is not just a figurehead, but in a very practical way, he serves as the spiritual head of his family. He leads with wisdom and grace. I see how they love each other. The wife is a godly woman who serves unselfishly. That little girl sings at church with all her heart. I've taught their other kids in Sunday School, and these kids know their Bible. One can see that their parents instruct them at home.

A lot of people have a warped picture of what a Christian looks like. Crusades, inquisitions, picketing funerals and whatnot. For me, a Christian looks like this.

(f.y.i. -- I'll be running around and probably won't get much time on the computer for a few days. I hope to catch up with you in between errands.)

restless and runcible

2011-11-07T17:05:00.007-06:00

The Pentax was feeling neglected, so camera in hand, I went to a local park, and meandered around the pond. There were so many geese there, that I thought I would get a good picture of them. Sorry; I was not happy with how those turned out. (Geese are kinda gross when you have to walk where they have walked... especially when there are hundreds like there were at this park.)

Let's see, where was I? Oh, yeah... so I have the camera in my hands, scouring the area with a discerning eye, thinking, "I've gotta shoot something." Hmmm... It's a good thing I did not say that out loud.

I took a picture of these very trees recently, but I like the colors better this time around. That, plus I used a tripod this time. (sigh) I think I got what I came for!

Incidentally, if you pass through my beloved town and feel the urge to skate on or near this pond, be sure to carry rocks in your pockets. Apparently, you can avoid getting in trouble by flinging stones at the authorities. I have no idea how it works, but there it is, in black & white. Punctuation matters, people.

reformation day

2011-10-31T12:18:00.000-05:00

There is some debate about whether to celebrate this holiday, and how to do it. I have heard arguments on different sides, and find it difficult to settle on a definitive, once-and-for-all kind of answer.

In the Craver household, we have observed the holiday traditionally at times, and at other times we chose a more conservative substitute. I like going outside with our children and mingling with the neighbors. I like seeing creative or humorous exhibits. I like challenging the Jehovah's Witnesses when they try to slip a Watch Tower magazine in the bag instead of candy. And finally, I like taking pictures to try and get the most out of the costumes. Here, we have Wolverine. I accented his hairy face, and enlarged his canines. Then I placed a grainy layer on top of the pic, so that it looks tougher.

I have to admit that I liked Brother Greg's duck hunter costume. I wonder if he was going for your regular, run-of-the-mill duck hunter or the famed Elmer Fudd.

This year, they'll have to hit the streets without me. I'll be working too late for the walkabout. But today is not just Halloween; it is also Reformation Day, and my small-group's tradition is to watch a Martin Luther movie together each year for this.

Did any of your churches sing "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" on Reformation Sunday? Mine didn't, but I kinda wish they would have.

spouting off

2011-10-25T10:07:00.003-05:00

Wow, the sun shone brightly today, and the views were stunning all around. This is Meyer Park, which is just East of our post office and across the street from our amazing new library.

Someone told me that the water is shooting up because of a machine under the water. That's ridiculous! Who would believe such a preposterous notion? How do you plug in an electric machine under the water?! Or if it is allegedly gas powered, let me ask you this, what would happen to your car's engine if you submerged it under water? I'm not that gullible, people! No, I believe this to be a whale of some sort. Probably the beluga from Chicago's Shedd Aquarium enjoying a day in the burbs before he gets shipped off to do some work in Connecticut.

If you are able to view our town's e-newspaper, you will see that I added my photo to the other shots of the park.

cool rains

2011-10-19T12:14:00.002-05:00

Cooler weather is setting in (finally), plus it has been raining. I like the rain. I like the pitter-patter off the roof at work. That sound comforts me, but I don't know why. I like the swishing sound of cars driving on the rainy streets. I like the optical accents that come from the wet pavement and the extra lights.

This second photo makes the oncoming Jeep look like a surfer locked in the hollow. That's when the surfer can ride inside, completely covered up by the wave, without having it break on him... like riding in a tunnel. Do you see it? The crest of the wave is formed by the trees on the left side of the image.

Thank you Lord for the cool rains, for golden sunsets, and for every visitor that passes through here.

dark matter

2011-10-17T17:17:00.002-05:00

Hmph... pretty wild! This lawn decoration was upstaged by its own shadow. I was walking inside a building, and the stark, high-contrast shadow stopped my in my tracks. I didn't adjust the color, but just for kicks, I added some vignette. C'est bon, n'est-ce pas?

mad scientist

2011-10-11T14:08:00.001-05:00

Friends, I have been working on a fantastic invention. The 4-D Imaginator prototype is installed on my computer. It allows bloggers to attach virtual experiences to their photographs. For example, when George posts a photo of a flower, you'll be able to smell it; when Imac posts a photo of pork pie, you'll be able to taste it. It needs to be installed on both the sender and receiver's computer to use it, so until it is mass produced, I will have to resort to the old fashioned means of word-smithing.

If you had my 4-D Imaginator device installed on your computer, you would look at this photo and feel a light breeze on your face, still damp from recent rains, and smell the fresh air from the Morton Arboretum. That fresh air accompanied by faint traces of cut grass and prairie flowers. You would also feel the temperature variations between the sunny and shady spots. It is almost as if you could be standing right there with me a few days ago.

Imagine the uses after mass production! The soft, baby-lotion smell on photos of a new-born. Samples to savor of recent creations on the grill. The nose-tickle of a diet cola. Crisp, dry leaves from the Honey Locust that crunch underfoot like corn flakes. It goes on and on. What experiences do you wish you could share with your blogging friends?

Ah well... back to the lab.

jumping to conclusions

2011-10-04T15:22:00.001-05:00

These are unidentified grasshoppers. If anyone knows more specifics, I would be happy to add that information.

I like grasshoppers. Usually. This is the first time that I have seen one with a face like what you see on the lighter green hopper. It was singing from a bush, and it let me get very, very close for a nice, macro shot. The chirping sound was pretty, but this character has a face for radio, if you know what I mean.

The grasshopper in the wood chips looks more like what I have come to expect, but the detailed photo suggests that this one is a slob. Look at all that dirt on him. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Both grasshoppers were seen at the Morton Arboretum last Friday.

regarding beauty

2011-09-27T14:36:00.003-05:00

The Sovereign Creator could have made the universe functional and nothing more, but he chose to include beauty in his design. I have been thinking about what that says about his character. It is a good day when you take the time to explore the attributes of God, and end up with a doxology or even a "wow." (chuckle) That was me, at the end of a recent class--I just blurted out: "Wow!"

As I ponder and soak in as much as this feeble mind could grasp about the beauty of God, I realize-- the splendor of creation is not the same level or intensity as the Creator's beauty. It is more like a dim reflection. I would compare this to how the moon does not give off its own intrinsic light, but rather it "glows" by reflecting the sun's light.

I see reminders of God's beauty when the sun's rays burst through the clouds in an evening sky. I see these reflections of God's beauty when I hear children laughing. I see it when an older person looks at their spouse of many years and they still have a sparkle in their eyes for each other.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8)

daddy dudes

2011-09-23T17:04:00.002-05:00

The term "daddy longlegs" refers to a number of different things. This one standing on a pink zinnia is the one I am most used to. There is also a crane fly/mosquito hawk, and one or two types of spiders that are called by the same name. This however, is not a spider. The class Arachnida has several subclasses and orders. Scorpions and ticks belong to the arachnid family, and so does this guy. Besides "daddy longlegs," it is also called a harvestman or more properly, an opillonid.

As I said, it is not a spider. The opillonid has only one body section while Spiders have a separate cephilothorax and abdomen, but this character has only one. It has only two eyes, while spiders have eight. It does not produce silk or venom. That's right. The story that suggests these are the most venomous things on earth is a myth. That does not mean that they are not dangerous. If I throw one at my wife's face, it will almost certainly result in me getting a concussion. I'll just snap my picture and move along.

chums

2011-09-20T13:26:00.004-05:00

How nice. A birthday party with laser tag, video games and pizza.

The decor was a shark theme... cool.

A mom lined the kids up for a pic, so I quickly jumped on a chair for a different, somewhat sinister perspective. Mwaa ha ha haaaa...

turtle whisperer

2011-09-15T17:02:00.005-05:00

While camping at Timber-Lee, we visited their Science Center. They have live animals and lots of interesting exhibits. We took the grandies for a tour. Grandson liked handling live snakes in the reptile house. I thought that was cool. Here is our little wild man staring down a painted turtle. Ha! The serene pose works for the photograph, but I know the real child, and what he is capable of. When we went downstairs, all the children were instructed to sit akimbo on a carpet, while the tour guide gave some basic information and handling instructions for the small mammals and birds. Boy is two and-a-half, so he completely ignored the presenter. Instead, when he saw that Poppa was sitting on the carpet, he remembered our game from the day before. That means that he rushes me for a tackle... over and over and over... That's the equivalent to doing one hundred sit-ups!

Granddaughter did not handle the animals, and for the most part, she refused to be handled by anyone other than her auntie. But every once in a while, she forgot that she decided that she was not supposed to be having fun. Here, she found delight simply by lying flat on the floor.

Before the week was over, Granddaughter smiled more and more, sometimes laughing and hugging. She is still much more reserved than her big brother, but all things considered, there was a remarkable turn-around in her initial demeanor from last Thursday!

My daughter made one comment about their time away. She talked about how much she was able to enjoy the vacation with her husband, especially without having to constantly look down and exclaim, "Omigosh! Where are the kids?" I'm glad we could do that for them. It made us real tired, but isn't that what love is about?

I'm IL, You're OK

2011-09-12T12:09:00.003-05:00

The grandkids are in Illinois this week from Oklahoma. We took them camping with us this weekend. Just the two little ones. My daughter and son-in-law are should be savoring every minute they spend with just each other.

Friday night, while walking back towards our campsite, a bonfire behind us cast a shadow of my grandson and me onto this little tent. I liked what I saw, so I stopped briefly to see if I could capture the image.

But, as I said, the little ones are from out-of-state. They are not used to Mrs. Craver and me, and sometimes the baby cries when we try to pick her up. (If you allow me a moment of transparency, that kind of rejection is heartbreaking for a grandma and grandpa.) There were a few occasions, when they got caught up in the moment, and seemed to be less traumatized by "Poppa and Nanna." I will treasure those times!

I managed to scrounge up one more vacation day, so that I can spend one more full day with them before they have to return home.

K-x has arrived

2011-09-07T14:13:00.000-05:00

Mail? For me? Gee, what do you suppose we could have in this box here? The box says, "K-x." Hmmm... isn't that a kind of camera?

Yup; I got it!! Now I need to figure this thing out. There are so many menus and options. It's less intuitive than your run of the mill point & shoot, that's for sure! The owner's manual is 315 pages long. That's a lotta information!

Would you like to know how it compares to my previous camera? No??? I'll pretend I didn't hear that.

Pentax ist DL (former cam): manufactured in 2005, 6.1 MP CCD sensor, iso range 200-3,200, continuous 2.8 fps, no image stabilization, no preview, and 2.5" LCD.

Pentax K-x (new cam): manufactured in 2009, 12.4 MP CMOS sensor, iso range 100-12,800, continuous 4.7 fps, image stabilization, digital preview, and 2.7" LCD.

Let's see what this baby is capable of...

refreshment

2011-09-01T17:10:00.005-05:00

It's hot and muggy again 'round these parts. We could use something refreshing.

The search for a replacement camera is exasperating! I feel like I can get close enough to feel excited about an option... and then the rug of opportunity gets pulled from under my feet. That, and a few other things have left me weary. I find myself wanting refreshment fulfilled from things or people. I must be careful about that, because in truth, I have many things to be thankful for. And there is a higher source of refreshment than my circumstances and surroundings.

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2

getting closer

2011-08-24T17:09:00.002-05:00

These ducks are used to having people feed them. They were not nearly as scared of me as they should have been. In fact, I'm used to seeing water fowl swim away when I approach for pictures.

Close as I was, I wish I could have been closer still. That one on the grass had down on her bill that was driving me crazy. I wanted so badly just to reach out and brush that stuff off.

I'm still pondering my camera dilemma. I found some sweet deals on eBay. Each time the clock runs out though, some eager bidder has gone beyond my comfort zone. I think I'm going to have to let go of the desire for a DSLR for now. While I've been without my Pentax, I've been using my wife's compact digi-cam. Left pocket--all day, every day. I like the idea of always having that with me, and not having to lug around a camera bag. Maybe I should go small for my next camera.

The other option was one of those super-zooms. I saw one that had an optical zoom of 36X!! That sounded great until I read a review that said that when they zoomed way in, the focus got soft, and it was not very good in low-light situations. Nah, if it's too big to conveniently stash in my pocket, I need to have better performance than that.

something is missing

2011-08-12T14:56:00.003-05:00

Hmmm... (realizing that I keep on posting bug pictures)

Today's theme is going to be about what's missing. That means no insects!! Let's see, we have a flower with... no bugs. And a late-night shot with a diminishing mosquito count. Why? Because of the subject of the photo that you can barely make out. I tried so hard to get a good shot of one of the bats, but this is where a good DSLR would have come in handy. I was out there for an hour panning these flying rats, and this is the best I could come up with! I want manual focus, minimal shutter lag, and a couple remote flashes on light stands... is that too much to ask?

Well, maybe it is. For now.

A friend from Osaka is visiting for a few months. Last night he told me that it never snows back home, and that he is nervous about what that will be like. I beamed with excitement as I told him one of the most wonderful details of our Chicago winters. Two words: "no mosquitoes." (big smile)

One more bat picture:

skeeters

2011-08-09T17:19:00.003-05:00

It's not that I have been painfully busy lately. No. I haven't been around much because I'm hiding from these guys. I better hurry up and add something before someone corrects me: this looks like a male mosquito because of the feathery antennae; it's the females that go for your blood.

[You can click to enlarge the mosquito, but why on earth would anyone want to do that!]

big guys

2011-08-02T17:04:00.001-05:00

This monstrosity whizzed past my head as if to try to intimate me. It is much bigger than an ordinary fly. And those wings! Someone asked if it is a horsefly. No, it is called a "Patterned-wing fly" (xenox tigrinus). This beast just might be big enough to haul off a Peanut M&M or two, but not half-the-bag, so I let it be.

When I got out of the office, I heard a LOUD cicada in a small tree and stopped to see if I could spot it. Then the sound stopped, and I dropped my gaze from the branches and accidentally saw it on the trunk. I didn't expect that. I took the compact point-n-shoot from my pocket and snapped a picture. This thing must have realized that I was watching, so it started sloooooowly sidestepping, until it was on the side of the tree. That's more obvious than the first hiding place! Big head... little brain.

candy and toys

2011-07-28T15:58:00.004-05:00

To whom it may concern:
.
I left half-a-bag of Peanut M&M's downstairs next to the remote control. When I returned the following night, I thought I might like to have the rest for a snack. The goodies were gone, but the litter was left behind. That goes beyond just plain wrong, it is downright cruel. Sleep with one eye open.

And now, on to other things. The camera I used a couple of years ago has come out to play again. It is a Sony Mavica. The battery won't hold a charge, but it works if I plug it in.

This image is a glass candy dish in the dark, illuminated only with an ultraviolet flashlight. I doubt this little flashlight will cause any harm, but I read somewhere, that UV light stimulates vitamin D production and that it may cause positive mood bursts. That is happy news for anyone who's M&M's have not been absconded.

You know what else? I discovered that where Picasa's touch-up tool is not small enough, I can open the JPEG in Paint, and use that to color the pixels. That's how I removed the table's glare from under the bowl and my fingers that were pinching the top of the bowl. So easy!!!

topper

2011-07-25T14:03:00.000-05:00

Best wishes to Rachel and Randy, who were married this weekend. While sitting at with new friends at the reception, Marilyn got up to take pictures of the wedding cake. When she returned, she commented how often the cake goes relatively unnoticed at wedding receptions. With all the time and money that is put into the cake, it's a shame that most of us do not give it much attention. Truth be told, I confess that I am more interested in eating it than gazing upon it.

After the reception, I helped a little as we prepared the room for the next morning's church service. Then I saw the cake topper being stored away. Now that I could have more control of the background, the idea of a picture was more enticing. I took my wife's camera and got one very simple picture. Then she and Agnes had some ideas for the background. I liked their input, and here's what we came up with:

red-hot ice cube

2011-07-19T12:28:00.000-05:00

It was so hot this week, that when I grilled at lunchtime, I didn't even need to light the charcoal. (sizzle)

This image of a "red-hot" ice cube was remarkably low-tech, and no color editing was necessary. One evening, I placed an ice cube on a black surface, and used a cheap, red laser to illuminate it. In case you're wondering, the camera was my wife's compact point & shoot.

Stay cool, Friends.

virtual shoebox of JPEGs

2011-07-14T16:56:00.002-05:00

Hmmm... what do I do now that I do not have a camera? I think I'm going through denial, do you know why? Yesterday, I recharged all of my batteries... even though I can't use them. Unless or until God provides, contentment is where I need to be.

Sorting through the virtual shoebox of archived pics, the first ones I see are from last week's portrait sessions. This bunch will probably not end up in a framed 8 x 10. But I'll tell you, we had such a fun time goofing off and making each other laugh!

I wonder what else we can find in our virtual shoebox. Ooh, I see some good ones...

clicking with confidence

2011-07-11T14:06:00.003-05:00

Landscapes, macro, portraits, still life, etc. It seems that most photographers can be identified in one primary style, even if they do all kinds of other stuff. I do not yet have a niche category that I specialize in. It depends on who you talk to, right now you might classify me somewhere between a clueless dabbler and a wishful perpetrator. Wherever I end up, my biggest challenge has been taking pictures of people. One way or another, the light was always working against me. Meh, who needs light, anyway! (kidding)

When my Pentax went belly-up last week, I borrowed a friend's Canon and spent two days with them, their daughter, and my wife. Mrs. Craver suggested this pose, and helped with the reflector/diffuser, and makeup. I barely did anything, but keep on pushing the shutter release! The young lady was a fun model, and so easy to work with! All things considered, the indimidation factor was nullified, and I am pleased with the results.

lights out

2011-07-06T12:28:00.003-05:00

There is a time and a season for everything. A time to haul around a camera bag everyplace I go, and a time to say goodbye to that camera. I wish I could say it's because I've upgraded, or something like that. Alas no, my Pentax died last week. Long story short, I managed to soak it in what appeared to be green ectoplasm. (We didn't send any samples of ooze to a lab for testing, but I'm sure that's what it was.) Anyway, the camera is toast. Adieu, mon vieux! A replacement DSLR is not really an option right now. Weep with me, my friends!

To make matters worse, I made the horrific discovery en route to what was supposed to be a 2-day portrait shoot for a graduation. The young lady's parents let me use their Canon Rebel. The substitute was so fun to use, I forgot about the demise of my own camera... almost.

So, this is the last photo from my dearly departed. One evening, only days before it's demise, I flipped up the flash, set the focus to manual, and prowled to and fro on my lawn. A dozen mosquito bites later, voila, a keeper!

parting shot

2011-06-28T17:01:00.001-05:00

I wanted to show you a few more images from the recent museum trip. This one was one of my favorites, because it looks like natural backlighting with a fill-in flash. I like that technique a lot. But the WW2 tank was indoors, and the silhouettes were painted that way. I like how realistic the wax figure turned out.

There was another picture taken of this WW1 machine gunner, but the museum was not designed specifically for photography, so there were difficult glares off the figures and strong lights in the background. But I hovered around, bending and crouching until I finally found an angle I was happy with.

This last shot was taken by Mrs. Craver. I could kick myself for skipping the only statue of a soldier from the Revolutionary War. Happy Independence Day to my fellow countrymen. And to our friends from across the pond, no hard feelings?

groves grieving

2011-06-23T12:01:00.001-05:00

People in the office today are saying that it has been confirmed that two tornadoes touched down in this area. We have power at work, but I've had no power at home since Tuesday night. Still waiting. Last night, we lit tea candles here and there, and that looked kinda pretty. We should try candlelight again some time, when it is by choice and not necessity.

The downed branches, and in many cases--whole trees... that was not so pretty. I am probably not what you'd call a "tree hugger," but I still find it sad to see these beautiful giants felled by catastrophic winds. Driving to work, I observed street after street, and mile after mile, that the lawns were lined with piles of broken branches.

It is merely inconvenient for the Craver house to be without electricity. Granted, I am not there 24/7. Still, it is much easier to deal with this, than the damaged homes that absorbed the crash of heavy tree limbs and massive trunks. As far as I know, there was no loss of life from these tornadoes. Then again, I haven't been able to tune into the evening news yet.

Cantigny

2011-06-15T14:04:00.000-05:00

My work car needed new rear tires. I considered switching to this car.

It comes with an intimidating security system.

I can use that new car to tow my boat.

Here is what we use for family transportation. The kids love it.

"Dad, this is so cool, it'll blow your mind."

The kids can fully recline to sleep on long trips.

These pics were from a recent visit to Cantigny (pronounced kan-tee-nee). We toured the First Division Museum and hung around the tank exhibits for a while. Unfortunately, our batteries died before going to the gardens. I only took the first two pictures. The rest were taken by Mrs. Craver.

barely skating by

2011-06-10T14:35:00.004-05:00

While on vacation, I tried roller skating... and survived! I did not fall at all, but ALMOST fell from the moment I laced up the rental skates until I sat on a bench to remove them. This shot was taken by one of my kids (s1) from his cell phone.

They do this thing, where a bunch of families go together. It's mostly moms and young children, but none of those ladies got up to hit the floor. They were having too much fun laughing at the one dad who never skated before.

It didn't take any time at all, before the kids started to join hands and make a long human whip. I was precariously teetering along, near the wall, when the kid at the end shouted, "Mr. Craver, gimme your hand!" Ha!! Do I look like some kind of suicidal lemming to you? No, Missie... I earned these few gray hairs by NOT having young whippersnappers (Good choice of words, eh?), fling me to a certain demise with such recklessness. No, I'll stay vertical, thank-you-very-much. The human body was not meant to go that fast without being in some kind of protective cage.

Do you skate? Are the rental skates made that uncomfortable on purpose? If it was planned that way, then I think it's a clever idea, because no one in their right mind would wear that kind of torture for the fun of it.

The important thing is... I never fell. Winner!

absent and absent-minded

2011-06-07T12:09:00.003-05:00

Friends, it's been way, too long. I apologize for not having visited you. I have been painfully busy, and I sure hope things settle down to a more manageable level soon.

I do not even have a lot of photos to show for the absence, but here is one from last week.

As usual, there is a story behind the pic. I went fishing with five kids from church. When I arrived at the desired spot, they jumped out of the minivan and started running towards the water. I called out to them and recalled the young fishermen because although I had a tacklebox and even some worms, I had forgotten all of my fishing poles!

Okay, so we all went back so that I could retrieve the poles from my house, and then we had the normal amount of activity, helping them all get set up to fish. I began casting as well, but half-an-hour into it, a chill ran down my spine. I suddenly realized that I did not have my fishing license with me.

Children under sixteen years of age do not need a license, so I set my pole down, and let them continue as I walked back and forth checking on them, untangling line and typical troubleshooting. My wife's camera was in the van, so I hovered over and around them, looking for a good shot.

As the sun was setting, I was aiming to get something with a colorful background and fill-in flash. I think this was a test shot of what I was trying to get, but I played with post editing, and liked this one better.

Oh, and as it pertains to the fish... we all got skunked!

caught up

2011-05-19T22:38:00.004-05:00

I hope you weren't counting on Camping's prediction of the end of the world. He gave a false prediction once before, saying that it would occur mid-September 1994. I don't understand how people can be so gullible that they followed this guy... twice!

Well, according to my picture here, he missed it by a day or two. Sorry Camping fans. Show's over. You have to get back to your jobs on Monday.

Faith is not a salad bar, where we can pick and choose according to fickle whims. Religion that we invent or create is presumptious, arrogant, and false. The holy Scriptures indicate that God treats false prophets harshly.

Wait... What's that in the sky? Oh nevermind. False alarm. No one knows the day or hour of Jesus' return. When he comes, it will be like a thief in the night. In other words, we can't predict it.

90 degrees with snow flurries

2011-05-11T17:12:00.000-05:00

Man, it's hot outside. I just saw a dog chasing a cat... and they were both walking! We've got record highs this week. I hate turning the air conditioning on this early, but it was just way, too muggy. In the midst of this scorching heat, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

Something outside caught my attention: for a second, it appeared that we had snow flurries. Big, fluffy snowflakes! I mean, it's so hot, that chickens are laying fried eggs, and it it's simultaneously snowing?! But that was just the petals from a Bradford Pear tree. Those beautiful trees seem to be all over the place now. The white petals make them very obvious. It's funny how I hadn't really noticed them before.

Something else surprised me today. I received a call from a customer who talks slow and takes a lot of my time. I secretly wanted to hurry up and move him along. He said that his son, who is my age, is in the hospital with a brain tumor and has been given a 10% chance of surviving. Wow, that tore me up inside. I asked him if I could pray for him. That's all I could really do, but I was glad that I could do that much. He expressed his appreciation. Then I hung up the phone and cried. I'm not the weepy type, but this really got to me.

grin and Bear it

2011-05-10T12:26:00.000-05:00

Poor guy. Our dog (Bear) had surgery, and now has to wear the cone of shame for his own protection. It must be so humiliating. For a healthy puppy his age, it usually means one thing. (wince) He has been robbed of his er... accessories. (heavy sigh)

It was approximately 15 years ago that we had a female pup (Coco) and she had her special surgery. I remember how she took the little toys and brought them close, as if she wanted a moment to imagine having a litter.

Who can tell whether it is because of the discomfort and shame, or because of anesthesia, but Bear is out of sorts. He didn't want to eat or drink. And he seemed determined not to ever piddle again. Aww... poor little guy.

toe cam

2011-05-04T17:02:00.000-05:00

New image from the toe cam. (No, there isn't really any such thing.) This was just my regular o'l Pentax. It's a gorgeous day out there, today. If I had a camera in my shoe, this is what it would look like, here.

That reminds me. Some folks were talking about what to wear at church, and we had different perspectives on whether it is okay to wear flip-flops or sandals. What do you think? Does it bother you when people wear sandals or flip-flops to church?

588-2300

2011-04-28T12:12:00.006-05:00

A Chicago based icon is gone. Elmer Lynn Hauldren passed away this week, at the age of 89. He was best known as the "Empire Carpet Guy." He was a kind, grandfatherly type. My wife tells a story about our oldest daughter, when she was two. (Almost three decades ago.) She would run to the TV when she heard the "Empire Man" talking, so she'd sit herself down in front of the TV and stare at him. Then, when the commercial was over, she'd walk away.

This bobble-head doll belonged to a friend. I had a surprisingly difficult time getting the flash to cooperate, but it eventually gave me what I wanted.

forsythia

2011-04-25T17:03:00.001-05:00

Oops. I forgot that I planned to use this photo to say a word about Forsythia. I plugged in the title and photo, and scheduled it for Monday, so that I could use free time over the weekend to ponder and wordsmith something that waxed poetic. Free time on Easter weekend?? What was I thinking?!!

The text was supposed to muse over the gilded landscapes...

Um, that's all I got.

choir boy

2011-04-25T14:15:00.002-05:00

Early Sunday morning, I found a space where I could be alone, I bowed my head and tucked my chin down to touch my chest for eight counts or so. Then I tilted my head waaaay to the left. Then of course... waaaay to the right.

Next, I relaxed and sounded a long, steady, smooth, low note with my voice, paying special attention to produce the air from deep in my gut.

After that, I did scales. They were not loud. I tried to keep the throat relaxed the whole time. Our choir didn't warm up as a group, so I hope my efforts were of some help.

After that, lots of hot tea--no sugar. Cough drops. I grabbed some bottled water from the case--room temperature... not chilled.

During the past few weeks, I have been trying to build up vocal endurance by singing (hard) in the car on the commute to and from work. Last Monday's choir practice left me hoarse, and I could barely get through the ending on the last song. Sunday morning, my throat was still a little sore from Saturday night's rehearsal, and I had to find a way to make it through morning rehearsal and then two worship services!

When we got through with the first four songs, the choir got a break, so that the regular team could do their song. I remembered someone's advice, so I went back into the church office. There, I found some olive oil that we use for anointing. Using a plastic spoon, I measured a quarter-teaspoon and swallowed it. (Not so tasty.) They say it lubes the throat, enabling singers to last longer. I rinsed the stuff off my tongue but didn't gargle. Finally, I prayed, that the Holy Spirit would carry me through, so that --at the very least, I would not be a distraction.

Easter songs are triumphant. I believe they need to be sung with a certain... gusto! I held nothing back. But between all the hot teas, sips of water, cough drops and swigs of (shudder) olive oil, thank the Lord that I made it through the whole way without crashing horribly.

Whew! Choir is done, and now I can go back to being the sound guy and hide behind the booth. No bruised uvula or sprained larynx... I think.

I hope your Easter Sunday was amazing and wonderful, and that you can experience the uncontainable joy of celebrating the Lord's rising from the grave.

How do you volunteer at your church?

gloomy day

2011-04-19T14:35:00.000-05:00

It was a dark and stormy... week. Sure, there were moments of relief briefly interrupting the pattern, but we've had more rain and clouds and cold high winds than usual this week. This Canada Goose doesn't seem to mind.

Yesterday I came in to work, and there seemed to be a gloomy haze hovering over everybody's head. I wanted to order a big tank of nitrous oxide and pump it into our air supply lines.

But maybe it is good this week to ponder heavy things. I find that the Easter celebration is sweeter when I first take the time to contemplate the events that led up to Resurrection Sunday. Some of us observe this in different ways. For me and my house, we do not do lent like liturgical churches. I did not give anything up for lent. Whether I eat meat or abstain from it has nothing to do with any of the days of the week or season. Nevertheless, I would acknowledge that there is a benefit to treating the days before Easter as something special.

My desire for you is that you have had the opportunity to remember and be intentional about a somber reflection upon the life of Christ, and the events of Holy Week. Then, on Sunday, may you fully embrace all the richness of the day.

a moment in spring

2011-04-13T12:36:00.002-05:00

The magnolias outside of the office have started to bloom, and the sky was such a deep blue color that I stepped out at lunch time, and snapped a quick pic. When I came back inside, I discovered that one of my coworkers was busy taking a picture of me at the same time. Thanks for the photo, A.W.!

So this is what I look like to other people, eh? Just meandering on the lawn, and looking around as if I need to be escorted back to a padded room? At that time, I was looking for a shot that gave me blue sky for a background, and I did not want the building to be in the shot. I was paying attention to the angle, making sure that I got close to a ninety degree angle off the sun, maximizing polarization for the deepest blue in the sky. And one more thing. There were bees buzzing about, and I was hoping one would come back to pose for me, but they seemed more interested in the higher blossoms. One nice bee landed on my shirt sleeve and visited long enough for me to take a blurry picture, but not long enough for a crisp, clear image. That's alright... I like the flower by itself.

drink up me hearties!

2011-04-08T17:13:00.005-05:00

Looks like rain today. ...and tomorrow. ...and the day after.

nifty fifty

2011-04-05T10:12:00.002-05:00

(First of all, if you're visiting... thanks!! Things have been so busy lately, that I have not been in the blogosphere very much.)

We celebrated Mrs. Craver's birthday this weekend. It was a surprise birthday party. We had a good turnout, and it was a special treat to see that some people who live farther away made it out for the event.

We had lots of food, tons of laughs, and... karaoke. It's funny how everyone thinks rock stars are so cool, and people wish they could sing, but put a microphone in the room, and it's like a deadly kryptonite, striking victims with a paralyzing fear. Coaxing, cajoling and putting people on the spot eventually got folks to go up there and make fools of themselves. I did it three times, myself... and for that, I apologize to every sensible ear that was offended. It was cool though, when the audience joined me do do back-up vocals, and some people even got up to dance!

To my surprise, and great delight, the karaoke platform was not used only for silliness, but one young friend (Rachel Grace) got up and sang a touching and tender song that melted our hearts. My wife was moved to tears.

The best part of this event was celebrating the life of Mrs. Craver and showing our appreciation for the blessing that she is in each of our lives. That woman does so much for her family and community. It was good to have some time set aside for her, as opposed to taking from her, like I usually do. Every day, I am humbled to stand in the presence of true greatness. I suppose I should sign off today by singing...

Then I saw her face,

Now I'm a believer.

Without a trace--

Of doubt in my mind...

what???

2011-03-24T10:14:00.000-05:00

What's this?! Snow?! Barely, but still! No, it can't be. I specifically remember knowing that I was through with the snow for this season. It's time to tune up the lawn mower and sharpen the blades. We had a day that was in the 60's, and everything!

Perhaps it is manna. Yeah, let's go with that.

I just had a thought about cold weather... Suppose it was zero degrees today, and they said it was going to be twice as cold tomorrow... what would that temperature be?

super moon

2011-03-21T10:18:00.001-05:00

I tried to get ready for Saturday's super moon pictures by taking photos on Friday night, but I like what I got at 10PM Friday night much better than the yellower, but less detailed Saturday morning shot. (Ugh, I got up at 5:30 on a sleep-in Saturday, and the pics were not worth it.) Then, I looked for the moon on Saturday evening, but our skies were mostly cloudy. (sigh) Oh well, c'est la vie!

I tried to layer the pic by making copies and stacking them in a collage. It seemed to bring out some detail in the mid-tones.

If you know of anyone who got good moon pics this weekend, please leave a comment so the rest of us can see them. I'll start us off... I found really sharp detail on Friday's moon at Imac's blog. If you click on his pic, you can see pristine details on the bottom an left of the moon.

land of the rising sun

2011-03-14T17:17:00.005-05:00

Japan International Food for the Hungry I'm concerned about friends in Japan. As bad as things are -especially up North, the nation is in much more danger than many realize, since Japan has a staggeringly low Christian population. What that means, is that most people who die there, go to a hopeless eternity. Please do what you can for disaster relief. But what eternal good is it, for a person to escape an immediate present danger, only to suffer eternal loss? Please pray especially that God pours out his grace and draws the hearts of men and women to Himself. Christians, pray that the people of the land would know the Risen Son.

[I didn't take this photo, though I wish I could have been there! This one was sent by Esther (center), who is a friend originally from Bolingbrook. She currently resides in Tadaoka, and as far as I know, my other friends in and near Osaka are safe.]

Japan International Food for the Hungry

Hands of Love America

a bear in our laundry bin

2011-03-07T14:02:00.000-06:00

We took Bear for a drive on Friday. He was too comfortable in his spot, because when I wanted to take him outside and walk him... I think he gave me an attitude about it! Look at him, he's doing the "Who, me?" routine. To be fair, it was drizzling outside.

Friends, I like the light in this picture. We have a large primary light source: the open van door on an overcast day. And there is some secondary, fill-in light from the windows all around. It's like I had a traveling portrait studio!

Bear is smaller than a cat, but so much bigger than when we got him. He eats his own food, but steals food from the cat's bowl, too. So far, he has done a fair job of training us.

bedazzled

2011-02-28T14:13:00.004-06:00

The new polish looked nice on the dark rocking chair. I admired the sheen, and if it were not so late, I would have picked up a book and given it a good test run. But it really was past my bed time. While dousing the lights, I couldn't help but notice the big, heavy raindrops, and the beautiful music they made. I stepped out front and held my palms up to let a few splash on my hands. Oh, that rain was so good!! I wanted to stay up, but now I positively had to get some shuteye. One last glance at the fresh, shiny look of the rocker, and I was off to bed.

Morning came, and I stepped out front again to warm up the car. The midnight rainfall was now a coat of glaze on... everything! It was as if, by some crazy osmosis, the shine from my rocking chair now spread all over the trees, cars, and OH! (I almost slipped) Don't forget the walkways.

Yes, it was dangerous to tread on this stuff, but I loved it anyway. Every once-in-a-while the sun would poke through the clouds, and show off the elegant, glittering gown that covered the local landscapes.

national anthem

2011-02-23T14:22:00.001-06:00

A professional singer struggled with the lyrics of the national anthem on Superbowl Sunday. I am torn between a compassionate and critical response.

On the one hand, we're only human. I would hope that I could be treated with grace when I goof up. Even if it is a glaring error. The Golden Rule applies here just as much as anywhere else.

On the other hand, we're talking about a professional singer doing her nation's anthem at the most public event imaginable. How could this happen?

For future reference: Any professional singer who has even a remote possibility of singing his or her nation's anthem should be responsible enough to memorize the lyrics, and stand ready to do the best rendition possible... or decline the invitation to sing it. The song has four verses, and they're only expected to do one verse. The song is about our flag, which represents our people. The singer also represents our people. It is a high honor and should not be taken lightly. At the very least, it should be treated with the same professionalism that earned the singer a celebrity status.

As for Christina Aguilera. It happened. It's over. I don't like the idea of a harsh reaction to her song. Let me end on a positive note. (No pun intended.) The singers in this video did a beautiful job.

night lights

2011-02-17T14:13:00.000-06:00

Good news - I've begun carrying my camera bag again!

Daylight lingers until after I start heading home these days. Sunset's spectacle changes so very rapidly, that I hurried into a lot at the local park to set up a tripod and snap off a few pics.

Besides the amazing colors in the sky, the ground was an interesting blue-gray hue. It was important to me that I capture the snowbank in the foreground, so I used a flash. The white snow in the foreground makes the blue behind it look like it's painted on, but that's what I found so fascinating here. I did not add the blue in the back... I removed it from the front (by using a flash). That blue compliments the orange sunset rather nicely, don't you think?

It is 56 degrees (f) as I write this. (That converts to 13 c.) It is so warm, that I walked out front during a break, and filled my lungs, but could barely reconcile what I felt on my skin with the piles of snow that still cover the ground. I reached down to touch it and make sure the snow was still cold.

this week's thaw

2011-02-14T17:01:00.003-06:00

Last week, we endured frigid temps here. The week before that, we had a couple feet of snow in one day. This week, it's all going to melt.

I keep hearing birds, but can't find them. Nevertheless, I blew off an inch of dust from my camera bag, and reacquainted myself with the Pentax relic. I fixed a broken eye cup and we're ready to go again. Now, if you happen to see one of these birds, would you please point it out to me, because I can't seem to spot even-a-one!!

happy valentine's day

2011-02-11T17:13:00.005-06:00

This was Mrs. Craver and me back in 1987. We had been dating 3 months. In another 3 months, I would propose and six months after that, we were married.

She is amazing. After two decades, I love her more than ever before. I would not have dreamed that it could be possible, but she and I have grown together and I am more blessed than any man should be.

Last week, I was listening to a John Denver song. I like it, except it has the wrong name, because when I sing it, I can't call it "Annie's Song." As I heard it, I could only think of my Mrs. Craver.

deep thoughts

2011-02-08T12:19:00.004-06:00

This kid is so funny! We're in the car and he says, "Dad, I think I know what I would want them to say for my eulogy." I said, "Really, Son? What's that?" He replied, "knock knock..."

Here are some pics from the big snow we had last week.

Diogenes

2011-02-07T10:16:00.005-06:00

On a dare, I went to the grocery store like this. It feels funny at first, but as time passes, you forget about it. Every once in a while, you notice that someone is staring at you, or find an odd expression on a stranger's face. I was surprised to find that, for the most part, people acted as if it was completely normal. This is an age where tolerance is the highest virtue.

It reminds me of The Emperor's New Clothes. I can not understand why people acted as if it was completely normal. Not that they had license to be rude, but they kept their murmuring to themselves, and stifled laughter if I made eye contact. Please, people... I stand at 5'7"; that's hardly intimidating.

Finally, one older gent chuckled as he passed by. To that stranger I say, "Thank you, for your honesty." Between tolerance and honesty, I consider the latter to be the higher virtue. Hence, I respect him for that.

I kept the tiger stripes until the following morning. It was good for a laugh, but I'm back to a plain goatee again.

calm before the storm

2011-02-01T12:09:00.003-06:00

We watched icicles melt off the bushes on Friday. I was fascinated by their clarity and the trapped air bubbles. The weather was nice enough for routine car maintenance on Saturday, so I checked fluid levels for the cars. We discovered a problem and my car got fixed. (Thanks, Brother Greg!) Good thing, because we have a big snow storm forecasted, and they're talking about record accumulation, high winds, even thunder and lightning.

As I write this someone said we're in the calm before the storm. Who's calm?! Have you seen how gas prices spiked and how busy things are at the grocery stores right now? On a lighter side, our puppy is tiny, so it will be funny to see how he reacts to huge piles of snow. I expect he will love it. We renamed him "Bear." You can see how small he is compared to my shoe.

Everyone at the office expects that when the storm hits, we will have to shut down for a day. I have mixed feelings about that. Let's see what happens...

Star Wars Talk to Your Kids PSA

2011-01-28T12:29:00.003-06:00

Asylum puts some wild stuff out there, and I probably would not recommend or re-post a lot of it, but this one is different. Parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts... please pay special attention to this (ahem) important public service announcement.

wood-a coulda shoulda

2011-01-26T12:27:00.001-06:00

Dozens and dozens of birds filled this tree. So much so, that I wanted to pull over immediately and snap a picture, but it happens to be in an area that is somewhat inconvenient to find a parking space, especially during morning or evening rush-hour traffic. I have driven by to see a few redwings now and then, but never so much as what I noticed that first time. There were many times that I wanted to stop and just take a picture of the tree by itself. When a tree juts above the tall grasses like this one, it makes a striking image. I do not mind that it is bare. In fact, there is something I find beautiful about the plain wood and natural lines.

One morning, I did it. I just pulled over on the way to work, and walked a block or so, to find a spot to take a picture. I was never quite satisfied with this particular image, which is why I haven't posted it before. I meant to go back, and try it again with different skies or from different angles.

The absence of other trees or structures in this vicinity transforms it from just another tree to a magnificent sculpture. The spot is marshy, and sits between a pond and an area that is being developed.

I avoided this route for months, because of the construction and slower traffic. Friends, the store's grand opening has come and gone, and I have resumed traveling this regular route. I am sad to report that my tree has been cut down. I will no longer see the silhouettes of a hundred blackbirds on my beautiful tree. Adieu, mon vieux.

twenty-three

2011-01-20T17:11:00.001-06:00

Those eyes. They're like hot cocoa on a cold winter's day. Mmmm...

On Sunday, January 23, Mrs. Craver and I will have been married 23 years. I'll tell you what--if I lost everything in the world, but still had her, I would still consider myself a rich man. You know what else? I think I walk closer with the Lord because of her, and I walk closer with her because of the Lord.

Yeah... she's a keeper.

snappy dresser

2011-01-17T14:24:00.004-06:00

So, I was going through some money I haven't used in a long time and I found these clothes...

(Origami done by a coworker's kids.)

puppy power

2011-01-10T17:08:00.006-06:00

I was ambushed Friday night. When I got home from work, "someone" was waiting for me. The puppy's name is Beau. (I would have named him Sasquatch.) He is ten weeks old. I'm not exactly sure what he is, other than part dachshund.

I did not want a dog, but my wife and kids did. So far, we're getting along great. But how can a person not like a puppy, right? Besides, this one has a gentle, mild and quiet way about him. Quiet is good; it is very good. He likes to be held a lot. I suppose that is a good thing, too.

Soon, we will begin his training. Before he is done, I expect him to assist me with my picture-taking. He will need to fetch specific items from my camera bag, set up the tripod, and hold the reflector for me.

think n-ice thoughts

2011-01-05T14:14:00.002-06:00

"Glimpses of heaven in twenty-eleven." I left that comment at a new friend's blog and it got me thinking.

There is something about this row of icicles... it is merely a transparent substance in the dark, but it catches the light and a careful observation will reveal some wonderful blue and even orange colors. I took the picture, because I noticed something beautiful in what I saw. Let me encourage you this year to keep an eye out for the things that are good.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Philippians 4:8

of quests and cardboard

2011-01-03T12:18:00.004-06:00

Our friend Imac accepted my response to his invitation for adventurers to join a quest. The mission is to solve puzzles and the last person standing rescues the fair maiden. We are Viking-type characters.

If you have not been to Imac's site, you are missing a real treat. He has a great sense of humor, treats his guests nice, and has amazing photos.

This would be a good opportunity then, to display the cardboard shield and battle axe I use with my younger son. He made his own shield, and uses a foam sword. We have somehow managed to horse around without breaking anything (or each other). The second pic shows the comfortable grips and adjustable arm strap. The first shield I made was more complicated, messy, and less comfortable.

Except for the leather arm strap with Velcro, they're both just cardboard and tape. The axe turned out to be more dangerous than I expected. I have to pull back a lot, or something will get busted. But when I swing that heavy thing on to my son's shield, it's pretty cool!

painted sunrise

2010-12-28T17:16:00.001-06:00

There is not much going on outside for me these days. I am usually hurrying to get out of the weather, and into someplace warm and dry... especially if I can find hot chocolate and peanut butter cookies!

I hope it's not too tacky, but I saw a nice sunrise on Sunday and thought I'd fiddle around with it in post editing. I ran it through a program that makes it look painted, but then pulled back a bit from that effect. This one is more intense than the original photo, but less intense than the paint feature wanted to make it.

The next photo remained natural, but instead of allowing the silhouette, I added flash. That way, we can see the snow on the branches.

nativity

2010-12-22T12:17:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas!

Here is an interesting perspective on the account of Jesus' birth. Most people will draw from Luke, chapter 2, but check this out. Think of it as viewing the events from above (or below).

Note: Apocalyptic literature unfolds events from the end times, but as with other forms of prophetic literature, it is not bound to linear time constraints, such as you would find in historical narrative.

¹ And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. ² She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. ³ And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. ⁴ His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. ⁵ She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, ⁶ and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.
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⁷ Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, ⁸ but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. ⁹ And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. ¹⁰ And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. ¹¹ And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. ¹² Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
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¹³ And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. ¹⁴ But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. ¹⁵ The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. ¹⁶ But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. ¹⁷ Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
Revelation 12:1-17 (ESV)

bananas foster

2010-12-15T14:12:00.002-06:00

What would you like at this very moment? Any intense cravings? Right now, I wish I could have (or make) Bananas Foster. And do you know what would go good with that? My friend Mary makes the very best decaf coffee I have ever tasted. She says the trick is not to be skimpy with the grounds. Mmmm...

There is so much fun to the preparation of Bananas Foster. The problem for me is that we don't have any dark rum in our home. Have you ever tried this dessert? Paula adds pound cake, but I don't. The photo up top is my own, but I thought it would be nice to show a video as well. The following video is by Paula Deen of the Food Network. Bon appetit!

warrior son

2010-12-09T12:38:00.003-06:00

S2 looks like he is putting finishing touches on his snowman, but the truth is he only helped with part of it and I caught him in the act of adding a goofy grin to MY snowman.

That poor snowman would have looked a lot better if we had raked the leaves out of the backyard. Oh well!

That day, my son spent more time constructing a snow fort. Unfortunately, it got too cold in the subsequent days for a snowball fight. The icy stuff we have now would be lethal.

He is studying about Constantine in his history class. We have been talking about making shields for the last few weeks anyway, so he and I went to work on a couple of usable, cardboard shields. We are not done yet, but they're coming along nicely.

The real fun will come later, when we spar with foam swords and these cardboard shields. Mrs. Craver, you may want to move those breakables out of the way.

don't freeze your tookus

2010-12-06T17:11:00.003-06:00

This Black-capped Chickadee must be tired because it's sitting down. Doesn't it look like as if the bird is sitting on the ledge? I don't know if I've ever seen a bird sit on it's tookus.

It is amazing what a difference we have in temperature from when I took that picture. It was just just two weeks ago!! Today, we have sub-zero windchills. Today is the kind of day when everyone who steps outside has only one objective... to get back inside.

Okay, I have to go outside right now to warm up my car. I'm just glad I can come back inside and leave it running until it is warm enough to transport a live human. It is so cold outside, I might need to wear a mouthpiece, just to keep my chattering teeth from cracking and breaking off... Brrr!!!

i like squirrels

2010-11-30T14:02:00.000-06:00

Some people don't like squirrels. I know that now, but it took me by surprise when I showed this photo to a couple of friends and they got foamy at the mouth just from looking at this cute little critter.

When I was twenty one, I lived next to a city park. There was a guy in the field house that worked there for years and years. He fed the squirrels regularly. These creatures were so sweet and docile, that I would bulk quantities of nuts and hand-feed the squirrels.

Years later, I imagined that I would like to see the same thing at my house. But I had to change my mind when I saw the damage they did to my front lawn. Plus, I learned that some people have had squirrels damage their homes and make their way inside. No sir, that's not for me! I will tolerate them stealing from the bird feeder, but we don't need to have anything clawing and tearing holes to get inside my house. I am happier keeping my distance, thank you very much.

People have asked for my photos before, and that always makes me feel good. But once, while visiting someone's house, I noticed one of my squirrel pictures nicely framed, and on a shelf. That kind of stuff motivates me to keep on hunting for good images.

of thanks and giving

2010-11-24T12:23:00.003-06:00

The skin on my knuckles is broken from fighting -- in church. Wait; let me explain... Our family had time to waste while waiting for people to arrive. My youngest son and I rolled up newspapers to use as swords while waiting. I am an amazingly proficient warrior when fighting children who weigh less than one hundred pounds. I am less proficient when my hand slams into a heavy wooden door. Especially when said wooden door is being kicked open from the other side. I forfeited the match, and we drank hot chocolate instead.

You might already know that Mrs. Craver and I are the directors for a food and clothing pantry. A manager from our local Jewel food store contacted us about donating precooked meals for people in need. I think this is the third year they've done this. There were twelve meals the first time, and eight the following year. This time he said they would give away TWENTY NINE meals!! I had to take the seats out of the van to fit them all, and we just made it with the meal boxes going wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. They actually gave us thirty-one boxes, not twenty-nine. Way to go, Jewel!!

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for many things. And that includes all those people and organizations like Jewel who sacrifice a little to help a friend in need. I pray a special blessings for those homes who find themselves having a hard time this season.

Above, we see Mrs. Craver, Brother Greg and D2. Normally, we like to deliver these to peoples' houses, but this time it was just too much, so D2 did a marvelous job of calling people to come pick up their meal boxes. Greg and his kids helped with distribution.

Oh, and the idea for swordfighting with newspaper came from Greg and the kids. Only, he managed to come through it unscathed.

blue notes

2010-11-22T14:15:00.000-06:00

The last few weeks have been unbelievable! There is a lot going on, and if it were not for the grace of God and loving ways of my dear Mrs. Craver, they would be fitting me for a straightjacket by now.

She put some nuts in the feeder, and we stood in the kitchen, watching, while the birds just kept coming. I went out there with my camera and waited. They may have thought I was too close, so I pulled my jacket over my head, and tried to hold very still. Eventually, they came back. I especially liked this little Red-Breasted Nuthatch.

We call this the squirrel feeder because those squirrels think this is for them. True to form, the squirrels also joined the party.

I saw a Bluejay in the neighbor's tree and snapped off a freehand shot of it. Then, I went back to hiding behind the tripod.

It was a good time to just sit there and wait. I needed to simply be still. I was glad for a time of refreshment.

choice of camera

2010-11-11T14:00:00.002-06:00

What Your Choice of Camera Says About You

Gordon Lewis wrote a hilarious post about photographers and their cameras, so I brought you the link (above). Check it out.

According to him, I'm cheap. According to me, he's right.

The photo above was taken in August by my wife as she watched me sneak up on some house sparrows. If you're curious, here is the shot from where I was stalking.

Gordon says he's not taking any more comments about the post I linked, but he was kind enough to give permission to point others to it. Enjoy.

funny little man

2010-11-10T08:29:00.004-06:00

People at my job have little doohickeys at their cubicles. Around my department, we have five or six rubber ducks, a couple bobble heads and there is one foam car that one of my coworkers keeps throwing at me.

We may have found something that suits me. It's a wind-up toy that dances. Wind him up a lot, and he only does a little dancing before pooping out, so that makes us laugh all the more.

We have a great crew in this office and as you can see, it doesn't take much to amuse ourselves.

it'll be dark soon

2010-11-05T17:20:00.001-05:00

After we change the clocks each fall, it gets so dark! There are a lot of windows at work, and it starts to feel like I’m working night shift. That brings new challenges for taking pictures. There will likely be a change of emphasis toward indoor opportunities, but I don’t want to miss out on night photography.

I hope I didn't obfuscate the post with a misleading title, but this is going to be more about the sun in general than sunsets in particular. Right now, I'm thinking about the setting sun. You know, in the summer, it goes down ever so slowly, and sunsets are stretched out over a longer period of time. But as the seasons change, and the sun sets quicker, I am concerned that it might descend too rapidly and break something. Easy does it, Sunny boy!

Another random thought: if the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, why is the longitudinal reference point in England? Shouldn't it be somewhere in the Pacific? One more blurb, then I'll stop. John Denver's song "Sunshine." I've been listening to (and singing along with) that song in my car. Play song from iLike.com... wow, that guy was brilliant!

musk at dusk

2010-11-02T14:00:00.004-05:00

There is a pond I see on my usual commute. It has Mallards, mostly. I saw a Great Blue Heron in there once. And one time I thought I spotted a Wood Duck, but I can't be sure. Since then, I drive extra slow near that spot (provided that there is no one behind me). I have been looking for something other than the typical Mallards.

This time I saw something, and couldn't figure out exactly what it was, so I parked and tried to get a better look. I think this is a Muskrat. Not knowing diddly about Muskrats, I looked them up online.

Did you know that the Roman Catholic church gives a special dispensation in some areas that says you can eat Muskrat on Fish Fridays, during lent? The reason is that they live on the water, so they are treated as fish. Despite their name, these rodents are not true rats. I hear the meat tastes just like duck.

I do not practice Roman Catholicism, but I'm generally trying to eat less red meat. No, I do not plan on indulging in Muskrat cuisine.

Speaking of rodents and/or rats, today is election day, and I can't help but wonder what the results will be. I get tired of the smear campaigns, but these days it's like people are competing to see who can be the most rotten and still get voted into office. Here, in Illinois, we have the distinguished honor of purchasing license plates that were made by former governors. Well, that may not literally be true, but our governors seem to go from the state capital to a state penitentiary.

on the morrow

2010-10-27T14:13:00.003-05:00

The sun sets on one day, promising to return in a few hours. Its yielding of the sky to twinkling stars is only temporary, because he will return soon to rule the day again.

Leafless trees are barren for a season. A frosty breeze strips them bare to reveal another form of glory in their creative lines, their shape, their originality.

A noisy escapee from the recycle bin performs its random and noisy dance in the gusty breezes. It rushes here, then there, crashing occasionally, and then suddenly stopping - as if out of breath.

Standing there, I soak it all in. Someone steps outside, chin tucked, and begins the hasty charge to the calm inside their car. "What are you so happy about?" they ask. I smile and say, "no mosquitoes."

But I know they will return. And so will the leaves. And so will the sun. Lord willing, I will be here to enjoy them all again.

de colores

2010-10-22T17:18:00.001-05:00

Multi-colored vs. multi-cultural. What does that really mean? I used to think that my community was multi-cultural until a visitor told me otherwise. He made a distinction, saying that we were multi-colored, and that is not the same as being multi-cultural. Our language, foods, song, attire, and other expressions were predominantly homogeneous. We had people of color (Hispanics, Indians, Asians, etc.) in community, but our social standards were all pretty similar. For example, did the African-Americans among us bring Afro-American culture to the mix or did they simply blend in with the prevailing Anglo culture?

I suppose I had never thought this through before. As I look into this, I find that if I want to be multi-cultural, that means more than allowing or being friendly to other people groups, it means an active intentionality about bringing elements together in such a way that they retain their roots. And this, not on a free or casual basis, from time to time... but being a pervasive filter through which everything passes. Honestly, it sounds like more work than it's worth.

I prefer to come together focused on a task or a common vision. If we occasionally celebrate the uniqueness of any particular culture, that is beautiful. But let the general identity fall where it may. I do not feel right about manipulating our identity or manufacturing a "multi-cultural" community.

li'l nippers

2010-10-19T12:26:00.000-05:00

A certain Downy Woodpecker was so proud of his red nape, that he turned around for the camera, "showing his good side." That was nice of him. He wasn't drumming on this little tree, and maybe even picking at that white stuff that looks like frost.

I went back after work for a closer look at the stuff resembling frost, because it was too warm yet for that. And here, if you get up real close, you will see that these are little flying things. They hatch from the white cocoons or eggs or whatever. There are lots and lots of those egg thingies on this tree. Sorry, but I don't have them identified yet. Mmmm... good eatin'! (If you're a woodpecker, that is.)

gold rush

2010-10-15T14:13:00.000-05:00

The sparkle was nearly blinding under these golden Honey Locust trees. Say, the gold market is up now, isn't it? (Can you imagine how many people would be out there raking other people's lawns if these tiny leaves were made from the valuable ore?) Maybe I should bring a couple bags of this stuff, and a few silver strands of hair to barter for cameras and lenses, eh?

morning mist

2010-10-13T10:01:00.000-05:00

fall foliage at 6 pm

2010-10-06T14:07:00.001-05:00

Many evening photographs are taken into the sun for spectacular sunsets or dramatic silhouettes. This one was more like ninety degrees away from the sun. That is a good angle to use a polarizing filter, because the sky comes out darker.

The trees are tallish in this stretch of my daily commute. The amber rays from the setting sun broke through a gap in the trees on my right, and lit up these red Maple leaves. The scenery almost looked fabricated, as if the coloring was boosted with saturation (but it wasn't). Perhaps it was the queen's gardeners (from Alice in Wonderland) who painted the leaves such a brilliant hue of red.

delicious

2010-10-04T12:21:00.002-05:00

I don't usually take pictures of my food, but the light was right, and I wanted to tell you about this one.

How do you fix a bratwurst? I have a rule about hot dogs: mustard-yes, ketchup-no. My favorite is a Chicago dog: Vienna Beef on a poppy seed bun with everything, including sport peppers; hold the celery salt. But I digress. What about grilled brats?

Looking in the refrigerator, I was delighted to find that we had leftovers from Chinese food. So, starting with grilled plum tomato spears, I also grilled sweet and sour peppers and pineapple to give it something special as well as balance out the hot giardiniera. The flavor was so good I don't know which I liked best, the brat or the toppings!

The bun was lightly oiled (from the giardiniera) and seared on the grill. I treated myself to a bottle of Sam Adams Oktoberfest. Mmmmm... that was good eatin'!

bird joke

2010-09-30T12:03:00.005-05:00

Humor can be a little complicated for some to pull off. Sure, it looks easy when you see it on television, catch Jim Gaffigan or Brian Regan on Youtube or listen to Bill Cosby LP's. This little Downy Woodpecker just does not get it.

Woodpecker: Knock knock.

Me: Who's there?

Woodpecker: Knock knock.

Me: (sigh) Who's there?

Woodpecker: Knock knock...

Aaaargh!!! Little woodpecker, don't quit your day job! I don't know, maybe the little guy was confused because I was using flash under this tree. I don't usually use flash for birds, but the background was too bright... unlike Woody here, who was NOT too bright. I kid, of course. this was a very smart woodpecker. As woodpeckers go, he was probably in the bird division of Mensa. Knock knock...

homeward bound

2010-09-28T10:12:00.003-05:00

Nobody expected this would last forever, but it is bittersweet to see them go back home. We look forward to recovering from all of the playing we did, and extra patience we practiced, but they brought so much joy into those few days, that it was all very much worth it.

I like the transition that happened from extreme shyness at the beginning, to the way Rylan eventually would come running to the door as I returned home from errands. He would reach up for a hug, and then not let go, so that I could hold him for a while. He's bilingual now, as he knows butterfly kisses AND Eskimo kisses. (Maybe he knew that before, but we brushed up on it.)

I am so glad for this opportunity to spend time with them. It sounds like my daughter son-in-law enjoyed the special week they had together. The strange thing is how one-sided this will be in our memories. I will never forget this week with all the funny faces and baby giggles, but my grandchildren will not remember a thing. I look forward to someday showing them the pictures and telling the stories.

In the meantime, I'm back at work, and the department is absolutely swamped. (sigh) In a way, that makes me feel special, too. I'm glad they need me. ☺

grandpa quiz

2010-09-24T10:51:00.004-05:00

Grandpa quiz

First Question: There are jumbo Legos piled up on the floor, but your grandson isn't playing with them. Do you:

a) show him how to do it by building something?

b) allow him to find his own use for the blocks?

c) find a way to build something together?

The answer I chose is:

d) None of the above. Shove the blocks aside and wrestle.

Next Question: You set him on your bed while picking out dinner attire, and he starts playing with the wall decorations above your bed. Do you:

a) tell him not to touch those things?

b) let him explore the decorations, even if he could destroy them.

c) move him off the bed?

My answer?:

d) None of the above (again). Forget about picking out clothes, take his hands, and start jumping on the bed.

I made sure this week that he would know me, not as his personal photographer, but as Grandpa (or Poppa). I had forgotten how much repetition they require. While I sat on the floor with him, he would walk up, bump me, and I tumbled back, taking him down with me while pleading, "Get him off of me!" He laughed hard. Then we would get up, and he would do it again. And again. And again... That was a good workout.

Speaking of which, I would like to devote this blog entry to the makers if Advil and Tylenol. And a very special thank-you to my own Mrs. Craver, who took these pictures.

stay-cation

2010-09-20T23:01:00.004-05:00

They say you shouldn't announce your vacation over the internet. Bad people find out, and they break in while you're away to take your stuff. Well, we live quite simply, here in the Craver home, and I have a hunch that if somebody broke in while we were gone, they are more likely to feel bad for us and leave something, so the next guy has something to steal! Truth be told, we have everything that we need.

But no, we are not going away, so it is probably okay if I break this rule. Instead of travelling, I will spend four days this week at home. (I couldn't get Friday off.) My daughter and son-in-law are having some time for themselves and so they brought the grandchildren to Bolingbrook.

This week will be about cherishing every moment that I can hang out with my grandson. The poor guy bumped his face on our coffeetable on the first night, but everything else has been a breeze so far.

We have lots and lots of kisses for our granddaughter. She is SO good natured, and loves to smile! Oh, and she loves to kick Poppa (me) in the face, too. They call her "the flailer" on account of how she gets excited and pumps her arms and legs.

I put a lot of work into scrubbing out some old yard toys and prepping the back yard for my grandson. I hope he likes playing with us here. They were all stashed way back in a "forest" of weeds. I'm lucky to have found my way back to civilization after going into that dense thicket!

Check out the beauty I found while cleaning out the playset. There were lots of spiders (and other critters) playing in these unused toys. This one was bigger than the others, and worthy for a photo break. I didn't want her playing with my grandchildren, and got ready to squish her into oblivion, but she got away. Well, the main thing is that she is not in the playset anymore. Good for her!