tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43531198712441485502012-01-26T08:52:40.672-05:00"Where Pictures Tell Most of the Story"Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.comBlogger1271100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-20796765808989772792011-12-28T02:07:00.003-05:002011-12-28T02:14:27.341-05:00

Jeanne had another birthday (which is a GOOD thing), she can still blow out the candles (which is an even better thing) and she still looks fantastic (which is a GREAT thing). We had a little party with, of course, chocolate cake with 7 minute frosting. Mary made the frosting and it turned out great (on the second cake - the first cake was more of a "divinity cake". Any of you whose moms made

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-77539751311778995922011-12-28T01:58:00.004-05:002011-12-28T17:25:23.583-05:00

Back in Pennsylvania, the Pickett home kind of got famous for its gingerbread house parties. We made the newspaper once and sometimes had as many as 20 people building houses. It was quite a production just for Jeanne to bake all the pieces and glue the houses together. But it was fun and became quite a tradition. So, we've tried to keep the tradition here in Edmonds. This year, Jeanne's

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-25172776234127044532011-12-28T01:43:00.004-05:002011-12-28T01:57:33.539-05:00

Back in Pennsylvania we bought our Christmas Tree from the same farm every year - 17 Christmases in a row. The best farm in the whole area was 5 blocks from our house. A couple of years we didn't even tie the tree to the roof on the way home. One of the coolest things about the farm was that it "drilled" your tree for you. With a perfectly perpendicular drill hole in the bottom and with the

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-65011607299440284862011-12-28T01:37:00.003-05:002011-12-28T01:40:47.286-05:00

Getting a portrait photograph of Lucy Hickman is about like finding a Picasso at a garage sale. However, somehow this Christmas, we told Bob and Lucy to sit down for a photograph and they did it and she ALMOST smiled!!! Here it is for all of posterity to see and enjoy. Bob and Lucy Hickman, Christmas 2011.Bob & Lucy HickmanChristmas 2011

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-70033167830553477712011-12-28T01:30:00.002-05:002011-12-28T01:35:04.548-05:00

OK - maybe I've read articles with pictures or even seen something on TV that might have bigger than this, but NEVER in real life! Jeanne and I were driving home from Spokane in October on I-90. Jeanne was in the passenger seat. I saw it first and thankfully had the camera in the back seat. Jeanne was a real pro. She got the camera and GOT THE SHOT! Just thought you might want to see how

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-11004772312353931302011-12-19T13:52:00.029-05:002011-12-19T15:38:42.454-05:00

Can you imagine anything to be more thankful for than to have the WHOLE family home for Thanksgiving???? It was just fantastic. There are 20 of us now (soon to be 21) and then you add a few more relatives and it was a fun and memorable time - the FIRST Thanksgiving in the Edmonds house and it worked out great. Everybody had a bed, the hot water never ran out (absolute miracle) and there were

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-24157910497409529882011-09-18T23:53:00.005-04:002011-09-19T00:06:37.615-04:00

A couple weeks ago a forest fire was burning on the western side of the state. The smoky skies created some pretty fantastic sunsets so I thought you should be able to experience them vicariously. It went on for about 5 days, but here is one night at the beach.The crowds came out at night just to watch the sun set.The color in the sky and on the water was remarkable.A ferry and girl walking

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-10594101465980241842011-09-18T23:47:00.002-04:002011-09-18T23:52:23.623-04:00

I know many of you have been waiting patiently (some not so patiently) for some pictures of the new house. It's almost done! For those who can't wait, here's a preview. Full collection should follow in the next couple weeks.Just a little taste of Before/After.The ExteriorThe Kitchen

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-15043013322724059992011-08-01T01:51:00.004-04:002011-08-01T01:57:35.774-04:00

There's a roof or two in the way, but the sunsets are still pretty nice from the new house versus the old one. (Keep watching for before and after pics of the house - coming soon.)

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-32990198948205463392011-08-01T01:30:00.006-04:002011-08-01T01:50:53.578-04:00

Although Addison doesn't turn 8 until tomorrow, there was a party yesterday to celebrate his and Annie's birthday's. I had gone over to Spokane for Youth Conference (photographer) and had the good fortune of being there for the party. I took Addison shopping to find him some running shoes for a birthday present and then we went to IHOP for birthday lunch. Upon entering the host ask "how many?"

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-46862722170290392912011-08-01T01:23:00.002-04:002011-08-01T01:29:32.251-04:00

Owen Rodger Pickett (and his parents Casey and Katalyn) have been staying with us in Seattle for the past several months preparing to leave for medical school. Tommorow (July 1, 2011) Casey and I leave on the long drive to Columbus, OH. Katalyn and Owen fly out on the 4th. I'm going to miss Owen very badly (and his parents too). He's grown up a lot since he's come. Here are some fun pics.

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-75913048466362065032011-07-17T01:26:00.005-04:002011-07-17T01:48:12.512-04:00

Of course one cannot properly celebrate the 4th of July without attending a fireworks show. This year it was my privilege to view two separate show and was left wondering which had the better fireworks. We had dinner up at the Lake House on Sunday the 3rd of July and many of the Lake inhabitants put on shows of their own. This year, on about 3 separate docks on the west end of the Lake a

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-1542886680140391272011-07-16T23:59:00.007-04:002011-07-17T01:25:41.420-04:00

One of the best things about Elizabethtown, PA was that there were about 4 parades a year. Same participants basically in each parade, slightly different theme, but something special that brings a town together, creates a venue where everyone meets and truly senses they are part of a community. Well ... for some reason it never occurred to me that Edmonds, WA might have parades. I don't know,

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-24309215721491403522011-06-06T23:26:00.009-04:002011-06-06T23:52:14.714-04:00

Our newest grandchild has arrived. We could call her #8 but that seems so impersonal. Instead we'll refer to her as Maren Kelly Ditto. (The Kelly part is just to add to gender confusion.) Anyway, she is beautiful, of course. She weighed about 6 1/2 pounds and was 19 1/2" at birth. The girls (Laynie and Hailey) are ecstatic, of course, to have another sister.And although Addison was disappointed

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-30645400092117150252011-04-28T15:25:00.003-04:002011-04-28T15:35:46.150-04:00

Had to take Casey, Katalyn and Owen to see the tulips, just had to (oh, and the camera came along coincidentally). While the daffodils had faded the tulips have come into their full glory. It was breathtaking. And, we found a great Thai restaurant in La Conner, which could have been breath taking as well if Katalyn hadn't ordered "2" on the hotness scale. As it was, it was only HOT not

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-20127333350889093872011-04-17T16:06:00.004-04:002011-04-17T16:15:07.174-04:00

This is a colorful time of year for the Mt. Vernon area of western Washington. It is time for the Tulip Festival. I'm not exactly sure what makes for good tulip growing. Why are most of them grown in Holland? Why are so many grown in La Conner, WA? I don't know, but when they are blooming it is colorful indeed. Many of the fields seemed to get planted in corn over the last few years but it

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-44928287894987782732011-03-26T23:54:00.003-04:002011-03-27T00:18:32.249-04:00

OK - I know rings have great gospel symbolism, eternal life and all that. But a different thought struck me the other day about my wedding band so here it is (in case you care).This band is very special to me. Beyond that it symbolizes my eternal companionship with my best (sometimes only) friend, it was purchased in a very special place during a wonderful time. Jeanne, Emily and I all flew to

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-20473274941128649422011-03-14T20:59:00.004-04:002011-04-17T16:17:31.312-04:00

"Daddy, why do they call it the Gold and Green Ball?" "Uhmm, I think it was some organization's value colors a long time ago. Call Grandma Pickett, she'll know, she used to run them." "Hello, Grandma, this is Emily. Dad said you'd know why they call it the Gold & Green Ball." "Well, I don't know. Let me find Grandpa and see if he knows." "Floyd, do you know why they call it the Gold and

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-14749205183159925592011-03-11T00:13:00.004-05:002011-03-11T00:32:55.492-05:00

One day last summer, Bill, 26 years old, married, pregnant wife, nice house, decent job, announced that he had decided to enlist in the Air Force. Whoa - big surprise. But, then, maybe not so big. The more I thought about it the more it sort of made sense. One day when Jeanne ask me what Bill was thinking, I said, "it could be like when he came home from High School one day and said, '

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-50708877625822474022011-03-10T23:57:00.002-05:002011-03-11T02:07:57.002-05:00

Jeanne & Rodgerfront l to r - Ella, Hailey, Zoeyback l to r - Laynie, Addison, ClayDue in part to the need by certain family members for advance planning of activities during our Christmas Holiday together, we decided to spend part of one day getting family portraits. I just realized that none of them are posted anywhere so here they are (well some of them).Mary & EmilyKatalyn & CaseyBill,

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-9095221401267888812011-03-09T18:18:00.003-05:002011-03-09T18:55:21.192-05:00

Far be it from me to complain about airline travel. Every time I consider complaining about a 6 hour delay in Denver, I just think of my pioneer ancestors who took up to 4 months just to cross the plains to arrive in Utah, and that quells such thoughts. I DO NOT want to meet them in the hereafter just to hear "you whiner!" Anyway, the key to tolerating delays, and travel in general, is to

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-23345687222612777812010-11-28T00:59:00.010-05:002010-11-28T01:48:03.006-05:00

When we first moved to Pennsylvania, people there, upon hearing we'd moved from Seattle, would say, "Boy, you know all about snow then." The comment had context. The year we moved, 1994, was the "winter of the century" in central PA. So, it was perhaps extra difficult to explain the concept of temperate weather in a place almost 7 1/2 degrees latitude to the north of Harrisburg, PA. Sure, we got

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-13416335294944266862010-10-10T12:53:00.006-04:002010-10-10T13:05:41.430-04:00

Whoops! I just read a post from several weeks ago which promised I'd update you with pictures of the house furnished. In order to practice keeping promises, here you are, the house furnished. Sorry it took so long.

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-33363485337081780032010-10-09T14:53:00.008-04:002010-10-10T11:41:22.420-04:00

Who needs to travel to the rain forest when there's rain forest just around the corner? Jeanne standing among massive ferns. Yes, she is standing up! The trail was quite steep and turned out to be very aerobic carrying camera and tripod. A beautiful little stream that winds its way down to the Puget Sound. The obligatory slug photo. They grow 'em big around here.This is just one of several walks

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-6405025481625095502010-10-09T14:12:00.003-04:002010-10-10T11:44:08.725-04:00

Jeanne and I love to take morning walks. There are beach walks, forest walks, river walks, it's really great. The other day we decided to hike through the woods down to a creek that winds its way to the Puget Sound. There was a little "pull off" on the side of the road where perhaps 3 cars could park (not exactly a parking lot), so we parked and got on our way. The path was steep, not well

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-15111800320104567182010-10-09T12:08:00.007-04:002010-10-09T12:58:47.288-04:00

As some of you know, Emily was quite a "Twilight" fan. I say "was" because, well, she's not any more, but having been a fan she still has friends in Pennsylvania who are big fans who demanded of her that she visit the setting for the books and send them pictures. One Saturday we decided to make the trip to Forks - which - no matter where you are is a VERY LONG TRIP. Our intention was to board

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-79143622468191504162010-09-04T23:50:00.004-04:002010-09-05T00:04:10.299-04:00

Based on the title you'd think I'm some kind of great chef or something - but in fact, it's not me but the receipe that's won 3 blue ribbons now. It's Annies receipe for Pineapple Chille which won it's first blue ribbon at the Lancaster II Ward Chille Cookoff in February 2008 and the third (that we know of) was won tonight in the Meadowdale, WA Ward Men's Chille Cookoff. When the signup sheets

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-90514618830593999442010-08-06T01:40:00.002-04:002010-08-06T01:43:39.390-04:00

You've got to love Seattle!

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-53940669726676147972010-08-04T17:38:00.004-04:002010-08-04T17:59:52.713-04:00

So, this morning, I had an epiphany.As I'm unloading yet another box (how do we have so much stuff??) I find a tablecloth. Jeanne is in the shower getting ready to go to lunch and shopping with Claudia (I'm so jealous, but they're probably tired of having a guy tag along) so I open the shower door and ask, "where do you keep the tablecloths?" To which Jeanne replies, "You know we probably have to

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-227057269208478282010-08-02T12:51:00.004-04:002010-08-02T13:34:39.684-04:00

Well - after a cross-country trip, Jeanne and I have arrived in Seattle.We have a house to live in - at least temporarily. We are "caretakers" for a house that has been on the market for 400 days and can live here (very reasonably) until the house sells.The house has BEAUTIFUL views and is a nice house. 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and a family room and office.Supposedly it is 4000 sq. feet, but we

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-44586901928316443112010-07-05T11:37:00.008-04:002010-07-12T23:21:09.676-04:00

Some of you are wondering why it's going to be hard for us to move from PA back to Seattle. All other reasons aside, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Saturday I spent about 45 minutes driving around Elizabethtown and took these pictures. I will miss that!

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-916076339565088012010-07-01T19:38:00.004-04:002011-03-10T22:47:10.918-05:00

Toy Story 3 - A Must SeeMost of you are aware of the fact that Emily and I love to go see good movies together. It's hard to find good ones though. Usually, if I stay awake it was adequate, if I laugh outloud or cry it was good, and if I stay for all the credits thinking there's going to be one more scene, it's excellent. Toy Story 3 definitely got an "Excellent" rating. Never even came close to

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-19592607833489716952009-04-21T15:19:00.006-04:002009-04-21T16:06:14.337-04:00

Jeanne and Emmy indicated they'd like to get some rest so Mary and I took a walk through Kennsington Gardens and a little of Hyde Park. It was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect and it was fun being with Mary. She was quite patient about my stopping to take pictures. I felt so blessed to have such a great relationship with a child. Jeanne and I have been so blessed in that regard.We

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-28662123790610796012009-04-19T22:13:00.009-04:002009-04-19T22:32:50.246-04:00

After our "on street" reunion, which by the way, included Mary running up to me and jumping up in the air, wrapping her arms around my neck and telling me she loved me (it could have been a TV commercial it was that good) we settled in a little, then took a walk down to the BYU center.It was a beautiful day and immediately I noticed it was going to be a great week to be in London. Right on the

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-7742266431080116842009-04-19T07:10:00.006-04:002009-04-19T07:46:24.435-04:00

It seems miracles have always happened in our family - ranging from Rodger living through a car accident to Annie making it home from Chicago for a wedding. Our London trip was no different. In fact, miracles began before we even left. Air India informed me that they had canceled their flight from London to Newark that Mary was to return on. They rebooked her on Virgin Atlantic. Mary didn't

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-16437291475776918552009-04-09T18:16:00.009-04:002009-04-09T18:51:41.351-04:00

We just can't believe the time has gone by so fast. When we sent Mary off to London for a semester abroad, we didn't even know if I'd still be employed. Now, we are about to pick her up from her London adventure and I'll be staying an extra 5 days for business with Belron International. Wow, how life is fun!Our trip began on April 6th, 2009. We felt so blessed to be able to travel and take

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-52252497506062950582009-02-01T21:17:00.007-05:002009-02-02T10:28:56.989-05:00

Icy Sunset 31 Jan 2009Well, just a little story so my posterity can know that I mess up some times - big time. A young single adult I've known for 4 years agreed to be baptized and I was asked by the missionaries to give a talk on the Holy Ghost. The baptism was Saturday the 31st of January, 2009 at 11:30a. I was excited. Friday night the missionaries called and said the

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-10160797561113360212008-12-14T21:55:00.004-05:002008-12-14T22:26:32.766-05:00

Christmas has always been remarkable good to me. OK - that first Christmas after I met Jeanne was a little rough. That was the time I called on Christmas day to talk to Jeanne (a mere month after we had met). Her little brother Michael answered the phone and went screaming through the house, "it's Rodger on the phone, it's Rodger on the phone." I took that as a pretty positive sign but when

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-20310328590513134152008-12-13T11:59:00.001-05:002008-12-13T12:00:39.300-05:00

Under normal circumstances, I'd leave this kind of a post to Emily. After all, it is HER haircut. But here's the rub - she ask me to take pictures of the new "doo" so she could show all her friends. So I did, but, horror of horrors, she did not like them. So what does she do? She takes a few self-portraits with her phone for all I know and posts those. So, as an outlet for the deep hurt of

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-39099175419254394332008-11-22T09:54:00.004-05:002008-11-22T10:20:45.857-05:00

Snow has come early in PA. It wasn't really forecast. But it came anyway. Like everything else, the unexpected has it's goods and it's bads. In this case it's beautiful and it's cold. And here is what differentiates people in life - you may either focus on the good, focus on the bad, or just miss it altogether. That said, let me say, IT'S BEAUTIFUL! Oh, and Ray Little and I are going to

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-91837821311340328392008-09-19T10:13:00.005-04:002008-09-19T10:33:01.930-04:00

Just in case you ever wondered what a harvest moon is - there's your answer (the full moon nearest the time of the autumnal equinox). Now, you may wonder, "How did Rodger know that?" Aside from the fact that I'm "the smartest dad in the world," this is a small story of the true value of sport.Developing team building characteristics, learning to work hard, taking personal and group

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-58604580731237304542008-09-18T09:56:00.013-04:002008-09-18T11:39:21.892-04:00

There was a middle-aged man mowing his lawn on his riding mower. It was late in the season. There hadn't been much rain. It was late in the day. The sun was low in the sky casting long, sometimes confusing (though beautiful) shadows. Although the lawn was generally not long, the few spots that were made it look scruffy, so it needed a trim. It was even a bit dry and brown in some spots but

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-37437976238974277072008-09-18T09:56:00.006-04:002008-09-18T10:58:35.946-04:00

One of the issues associated with being released from a calling is"relevancy." Having been released as bishop two years ago there's a nagging and continuing question of whether I'm contributing. Of course any feelings of irrelevance are relative, not objective, since the experience of being a bishop will never disappear (and doesn't seem to even fade that much). With me, the feelings are not

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-75642788422044465262008-08-17T23:00:00.005-04:002008-08-17T23:23:02.800-04:00

It was a busy but fun and rewarding week in the picture business. Again, miracles do happen and so does fun and growth. As you can see, the DC temple is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, they are doing construction around the ENTIRE temple so you just have to get your angles so the construction isn't visible. The above was taken from the back of the parking lot with my 18-200 zoom (somewhere

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-85666375366110399672008-08-10T08:52:00.005-04:002008-08-10T09:10:29.053-04:00

This blog is dedicated to my loving son, Kelly Ditto, because he cares about such things (and it might be a good idea to have a record of my office when it was clean once in history).And there's more to the story than just being clean.Perhaps you noticed the big black box behind my desk and were wondering what it is. Well, that's my Kodak ML-500 commercial photo printer. Yes, I'm now competing

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-59439891094307671912008-08-10T07:58:00.003-04:002008-08-10T08:36:55.765-04:00

So, in this case Jeanne and I are walking by the harbor in Newport one evening (walking off some ice cream or gelatto no doubt) and it is beautiful. The sun is setting. I've got my camera and am taking some pictures of the sunset (which will lead to a later point).We hear a woman's voice say something like, "I'll give you two dollars each if you'll just be good for one picture!" There, at the

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-62514430420199734572008-08-07T07:29:00.004-04:002008-08-07T08:10:03.599-04:00

Meet the Smarts - as in "Get Smart." Once again, in more or less traditional fashion, I had prayed that we could be instruments in God's hands. It's a standard for me. Don't get me wrong, I mean it and earnestly want to do God's handiwork but most days it's not directly obvious what work was done.So, on this day, Jeanne and I are eating at a famous little dive of a restaurant, The Lobster Pool

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-33670177535543773632008-08-06T22:33:00.005-04:002008-08-06T22:55:04.234-04:00

It's important before diving deep into the more ethereal topical matter that readers understand the basics of vacation for me and Jeanne. This, of course, can be different for every vacation but for this vacation the basics are clear: Eating, Walking, Picture Making.Understanding those things before proceeding will help one comprehend the the rich lessons and experiences of this vacation. So,

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-87578747140305990652008-08-06T22:27:00.002-04:002008-08-06T22:31:57.393-04:00

Just a starting note on some reporting on our vacation to New England. Because of timing issues, we decided to go to church at Lebanon Ward on the Sunday we left so we could get Mary and Ashlie to UMass on time. There was a young man who worked for us that left under suspicious circumstances and we have pursued legally who is a member of the Lebanon Ward. I didn't even think about it until

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-48705116643347745372008-08-03T23:19:00.005-04:002008-12-09T19:56:28.127-05:00

Well ... all I have time to say is ...it was a beautiful vacation. (more to come)

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-68326338952634474212008-07-21T06:00:00.004-04:002008-12-09T19:56:28.332-05:00

One of the things I've learned about life from carrying a camera around at all times is that sometimes, despite schedules or comfort or plans or whatever, you just have to stop what you're doing to appreciate the beautiful things around you. So, on the drive home from teaching institute last week, I had to pull the car over to the side of I-283, get the camera out and take this picture.Normally,

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-29865078763935872882008-07-20T20:13:00.002-04:002008-12-09T19:56:28.519-05:00

This week, a friend - Becky Bruckner - asked me to take a picture that portrayed the parable of the Wheat and the Tares from the New Testament. I immediately thought, "too bad, because the harvest was all in last week." She's a woman of faith though, so I went out to see if there was any wheat left standing. Not a mile from the house I came across the edge of a wheat field that had all been

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-88457461639223119442008-07-13T19:53:00.004-04:002008-12-09T19:56:28.998-05:00

I love taking portraits. Saturday evening was no exception. I had met Kelly at another shoot, she was fun and a little sassy, not afraid of the camera and her mother decided to cancel her appointment with the local studio and me do her senior pictures instead.I'm not sure I'll ever be able to make money at it because I tell everyone it will be a half-hour shoot and then linger for two hours and

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-47891443941127044642008-07-13T19:15:00.003-04:002008-12-09T19:56:30.486-05:00

If you're ever wondering if God will use you to accomplish his purposes, know this, He will! Allow this small example. Emily left Thursday evening for Utah to attend the Young Ambassadors' workshop so Jeanne and I decided to travel on to Washington, DC, spend the evening and go to the temple in the morning. Planning is good. Putting yourself in a position to serve is good. Knowing what God

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-45068570127292333372008-06-22T23:29:00.002-04:002008-06-22T23:35:38.666-04:00

Today in Sunday School I taught Alma 5-7. It struck me that when Alma began to preach to the people in Zarahemla he made specific mention that his teachings came from his "own record." That pricked me about writing my "own record" so here we are again. The Lord has truly been good and faithful and merciful to me. My birthday last week was spectacular. Emily wrote me the sweetest, insightful

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-71836163178218035682008-06-22T23:15:00.003-04:002008-12-09T19:56:31.569-05:00

Well, here it is, my first attempt at paid senior picture photo shoots. Kirsten and Kelly. Kirsten, of course, grew up across the street. She's been waiting to get this done for a long time. Last year I took some "Junior Pictures" for her and took some family pictures of her extended family. I must say, it was a bit harder going for the artistic shots than I thought it would be. Kirsten

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-56464363699778251452008-06-22T22:02:00.003-04:002008-12-09T19:56:32.999-05:00

Most of you know I've been getting pretty interested in photography lately. Sunday, the 15th of June, my 53rd birthday, and Friday, the 20th of June, I decided to get some practice taking "Senior Pictures" since I've had several requests to do them. On Sunday I took Mary and she had so much fun that on Friday she got Sarah Rudy and Emily and we went again. It's so helpful to me to work with

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-53320610363308730262008-06-03T07:57:00.005-04:002008-12-09T19:56:33.565-05:00

If you ever wonder whether time goes fast, just own a car that tells you when it's time to get your next service and then starts counting the miles since it should have gotten done and reminds you every time you start the car. Some time ago when the Honda Pilot needed service (service was due in 1000 miles) I called to get an appointment with the service department. They had no waiting

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-78189662540695834102008-03-31T07:11:00.004-04:002008-12-09T19:56:35.463-05:00

At the time of the get together, Wills (Bill & Mary Ellen's son) was dating a girl from Peru named America. Great name! Really nice girl. I introduced my self and asked, "how are you?," "very brave," she said. It was a genuinely funny response because many members of the family upon finding out she would be staying in the dormitory-style housing told her she was "very brave." So she adopted

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-88361923194939672842008-03-30T23:01:00.005-04:002008-12-09T19:56:36.550-05:00

Going to Utah was all about family. We were all celebrating Lucy's 80th birthday, but in a way that was only an excuse. Her birthday had passed a couple weeks earlier but it was the stated purpose for getting together. Jeanne's family has been very good about finding opportunity at least once a year to be together. It seems like after Mary died Bob and Lucy committed themselves to the concept

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-59422409690321060452008-03-23T23:07:00.004-04:002008-12-09T19:56:38.800-05:00

As you know, miracles happen every day we just need to notice them. This day was no exception. I was scheduled to leave for Utah on Thursday morning, but found a flight from Tucson on Wednesday evening that would get me to SLC about the same time as Jeanne and Emily arrived from PA. I got on the plane in Tucson at 6:15p. All went well until we were on final approach to Las Vegas. At that

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-28410408150436718292008-03-23T22:50:00.003-04:002008-12-09T19:56:39.363-05:00

Though this blog is being uploaded on March 23rd, these events happened around February 12th. The desert does give plenty of opportunity for photography. For these pictures I simply walked around the golf course next to the resort. Moma and Papa cacti look like a happy couple.Above is the Marriott resort we stayed at. How can something so huge be supported with water and everything else

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-50100434060391436902008-03-23T22:31:00.002-04:002008-12-09T19:56:40.606-05:00

Tucson, Arizona is a rather medium-sized city in the middle of a desert. Why people ever thought in the first place to live in the desert is beyond me. And when I say, "in the first place," that is to say the children of Adam and Eve, or whoever was the first to say, "wow, here's a hot, dry, arid, death-trap of a place with no water, let's settle down," just amaze me. So, here in the middle of

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-46788581276377150832008-02-11T23:21:00.000-05:002008-12-09T19:56:40.858-05:00

Sunday was a fantastic day - mostly. Sacrament meeting was one of those rarish occasions when the spirit is overwhelming and tears come easily. There's no telling why. Preparation I suppose. But, most Sundays the preparation feels about the same. It's just sometimes, prayers are better or thoughts are better or something, and the Spirit is really strong. Today was one of those days and I don't

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-81528073346130008282008-02-10T09:25:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:41.474-05:00

After spending the morning and early afternoon with the Raleigh's and Catherine, I returned home to find Emily sitting in front of her mirror putting on "Cats" makeup. She's pretty into the musical. I down loaded some pictures from the morning then headed over to Masonic Village to visit Tom. Tom had spent time during the week at Hershey Med Center, where they had discovered a non-operable mass

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-2110294009866855262008-02-10T09:21:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:42.764-05:00

Years ago there was a popular beer commercial which always concluded, "It doesn't get any better than this." Of course, it was wrong then and it's wrong now, but the saying was catchy enough to remember all these years and today (Saturday, Feb. 9th, 2008) was truly a day when "It doesn't get any better than this." Nine weeks ago Catherine Pearce was baptized and today she went to the temple to

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-11938618991123878272008-02-08T21:55:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:43.720-05:00

The title pretty much describes it. There are two young women living upstairs. Above is Bonnie Corbett. Bonnie is a traveling nurse trying to pay off her student loans, so, she's living upstairs. She's from Canada. I met her when she attended an institute class, liked her immediately and when she explained her plight, it was pretty easy to invite her to move in up stairs. Ann Marie was

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-65884634871151913662008-02-08T09:14:00.000-05:002008-12-09T19:56:45.296-05:00

The day after deadly tornadoes killed over 50 people in Arkansas and Tennessee (6 Feb 2008), the edge of the system worked its way into the Susquehanna Valley. Temperatures rose from the 30's to the 60's and the effect was quite eerie. So, what happens when it's suddenly 65 degrees in the first part of February? Well, first of the all the National Weather Service posts advisories warning of

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-48886260471564686312008-02-08T08:40:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:46.226-05:00

How do you take pictures on a day like this? I guess that's where beginners, like me, get into trouble. So, you go out and get some experience so in the future you might have some good ideas. Anyway, there should be some memories of days like this, because they do exist. Not only do they exist, they are good days, all except for the color and light. It was a busy day at work, so I didn't get

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-62280212496328946932008-02-07T10:53:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:47.212-05:00

Did I happen to mention that the new 80-400mm lens has Vibration Reduction (VR)? That means it's good for people with shaky hands - like me. Somehow, when VR is on it compensates for hand shake. If you look closely at these pictures, the first in each set is without VR and the second is with. I know you need to look close, but believe me it really makes a difference.Also, you might notice

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-18416550901558781502008-02-07T08:50:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:47.337-05:00

I had talked to Mary in the evening of January 27th, 2008. She called from school about something and we ended our call at about 9pm. She called back at about 9:15pm. "Dad, did you hear President Hinckley died?" It is amazing how fast news travels. He had died about 15 minutes earlier and she was already telling PA about it. I got four calls that night, the last at about 11p about the news.

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-8041182722560106032008-02-07T08:27:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:48.037-05:00

They say living life successfully is all about balance. So, here's a little balancing act. Perry Raleigh was sick today and stayed home from church (Feb. 3, 2008). Ian, his son, takes his fast offering collection assignment very seriously. Instead of not doing it because his dad (who drives him and is his companion) was sick, he asked me if I would take him. OK, that's fine, I like giving

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-50891768082173134132008-02-06T07:41:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:49.148-05:00

It was dark when we got home Saturday night so I couldn't play with the new lens. After getting my Sunday School lesson ready, before I went to visit Tom, I took a few pictures just to see how it worked. All of the pictures are at 80mm then at 400mm. Actually, on my camera it is the equivalent of 120 - 600. I thought the results were good and the lens will definately be fun.

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-72728998080579254602008-02-06T06:08:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:56:49.601-05:00

Every now and then, I'm capable of doing pretty strange things. This ranks pretty high up there. Jeanne has been telling me that she has volunteered me to be the official photographer for Trek in June. So, I've been thinking about how to make the best pictures in a setting like that, and kept thinking I needed a good telephoto lens. The Nikkor 80-400 was attractive but expensive. A couple

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-81874627767979353462008-02-05T07:33:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:04.365-05:00

So, remember the story about Bishop Beal committing us to no sleep-overs for kids over 12, and how I said that was a firm rule, at least until we had been in PA for a while? Well, here's a little follow-up to that. Rules were always a pretty firm thing with me. Finding exceptions always seemed too risky for any possible rewards. The younger children were always carefully watching for any

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-75027886979138816952008-02-04T07:38:00.000-05:002008-12-09T19:57:05.709-05:00

February 1st, 2008. Today it was icy. Funny how often days can be defined by weather conditions. It was fun stopping and taking pictures of things that had new meaning because of the ice. Guess I'd never really paid attention before.Proceeding with caution is generally a good idea but was a particularly good idea on this day. I grew up in California and never experienced an ice storm in my

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-14132571616029863372008-02-03T22:08:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:07.468-05:00

Bishop Kenley challenged us to do 11 things as individuals, couples and families. One of those was to visit the temple monthly. Well, Jeanne and I believe in accepting challenges from bishops and take them seriously. There was that challenge from Bishop Beal all those years ago. He had a meeting one night with all the parents in the Woodinville 3rd ward (or maybe it was 2nd ward or 4th ward

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-76784967792995911572008-02-02T22:19:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:08.025-05:00

January 30th was very windy in central Pennsylvania. It was so much the theme of the day it's all I wanted to get a picture of. I had all kinds of great ideas how to do it and none of them really worked. These two give you a little feeling for what it was like, but don't really convey the strength of the wind.In order to produce the effect, I mounted my D200 on a tripod and took multiple

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-27651980764349191692008-02-02T20:55:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:08.757-05:00

The grammar sounds wrong but is actually correct. Cats is the name of a show and Emily is in it. Elizabethtown Area High School has decided to produce Cats as its musical this year. Mr. Biddle has asked me to sell pictures again in the lobby to make money for the drama department so I'm practicing to be more ready than last year. It's a little tough right now because everyone is wearing black

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-11448612796982494882008-02-02T14:24:00.000-05:002008-12-09T19:57:09.425-05:00

May I bore you with ice one more time? Please? You see the reason it's important is so you'll know just what lengths I'll go to get a picture. Which is sort of a defining thing for someone who wants to get good at something. What risks must be taken in order to get good?Well, of course, there are hundreds of kinds of risks that can be taken but I believe anyone who ever got really good at

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-17977566301340825612008-02-01T07:28:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:10.421-05:00

Kelly and Erica and I traveled to the river after Sunday dinner to see what the ice looked like. I'm glad we did. Everything had a kind of golden glow. The sun was low, so all the corners that were poking up became translucent and modified the golden tones to pink.This is Erica's spot, so named because as we were driving on 441 to the next spot by the river, Erica said, "did you see that?" As

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-62211446986289190922008-02-01T06:21:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:11.472-05:00

I didn't want anyone to think my interest in photographing people had waned. The object for the last month has been to take at least one picture a day. Most days the opportunity simply doesn't arise to shoot people. Several times in the last month, after taking the 50th picture of a barn or the 100th picture of a sunset I've yearned to photograph people and even thought to call a modeling

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-87957116157614790442008-01-31T22:24:00.002-05:002008-12-09T19:57:12.818-05:00

I sincerely apologize for any confusion created by this post. It was not all that long ago I extolled, in this very blog, the virtues of looking up. Well, I am deeply humbled now to acknowledge that sometimes you just have to look down.I went back to the river a couple days ago to check on the ice and get some pictures in different light. However, the light was so flat that there was just

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-20876206785459368022008-01-31T21:22:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:13.587-05:00

A dear young friend asked me the other day, "Why do you take pictures of Three Mile Island?", and said, "I can't believe you take pictures of TMI." The statements could have been more complex than face value. She had a boyfriend that worked at TMI but he no longer works there and they are no longer girl friend/ boy friend. In any case the long and short of it is, I think it looks cool. From

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-56335317132246155062008-01-30T23:04:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:15.458-05:00

These pictures were taken January 25th. I wanted to go back to the river to see what the ice looked like. It had continued to be cold and I expected the ice might be thicker than it was the first time I saw it in Harrisburg. I first approached the river at a park in Middletown and was surprised at the amount of ice in the river. The closer it got to Three Mile Island on the upriver side, the

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-82396848121577071112008-01-30T22:42:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:16.121-05:00

The other day I was reading Becca's blog. She had taken a picture of herself and Clay in the snow. It reminded me that many of the photographers on Flickr and other photography sites take self-portraits. I'm not sure why. Probably because when they went to photography school it was an assignment and it's just standard study for real photographers. Or, possibly because since no one else ever

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-76313768500208737372008-01-30T13:35:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:16.952-05:00

Look Papa, I have a black eye! Just thinking about banging a head into the couch, or the coffee table, or the bookshelf, or the hard object "de jour" makes me cringe with imagined pain. How do children ever survive? I can't answer that, but I know they do. Banging heads is nothing new, it's been going on for generations. When my parents started calling me "accident prone" it didn't do

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-55048278038905414242008-01-28T08:04:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:17.786-05:00

I told you January 23rd was a good picture day. You couldn't have possibly thought after reading the last post that the pictures could be done. As you recall, I left you outside the capital building on a cold, clear, windy, Pennsylvania winter day. In order to get home, I had to make my way to Front Street and then to the freeway. Front street runs along the river and it was startling to see

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-81013640621023069942008-01-27T23:26:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:19.831-05:00

Some days are just good picture days. Perhaps it's by choice or maybe just by opportunity, but the 23rd of January was a good picture day by choice and opportunity. Ever since attending Alyssa's wedding in the capital building I had wanted to return to take pictures of the building itself. There are so many angles and patterns and contrasts and shapes in the architecture. So on this day I

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-32459930130436058302008-01-27T22:14:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:20.156-05:00

When you think about it, you really can't experience "too many" sunrises. The day the sun doesn't rise is certainly a day you won't be taking any pictures. On this morning, Emily called from the car on the way to school to tell me I needed to run outside to see the moon. It was huge and red. Alas, none of the moon pictures turned out, but there was some nice color behind the house, so running

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-53305713474178524382008-01-27T21:37:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:20.752-05:00

The best answer to the above posed question is probably, "I don't know." I drive down the road looking all the time for things that invite me to take a picture. The reality must be that for everything that speaks to me there are hundreds of missed opportunities that, for whatever reason, didn't motivate me to get out of the car with the camera. One thing I clearly like is big skies. When I

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-91238510939241441442008-01-24T07:40:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:21.365-05:00

What do you do when your eldest grandson shows up at church in a full suit looking like a little man? Take pictures, of course! This is one of those, "Watch out because time flies!," moments.I still so vividly remember going to Utah to be with Annie and Kelly for the first ultra-sound. Is that involved grandparenting, or what? I remember the doctor, who conducted the ultrasound himself, (in

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-6008055615094543712008-01-23T22:03:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:22.385-05:00

It's Saturday morning, about 6:30am, and I can't sleep any longer. So, the scriptures say arise early. Since no one else was stirring, I thought there must be something to photograph before everyone wakes up. It was beautiful, very cold, but tough to find good shots. Anybody need another sunrise? Just in case, here's another.Well, on the way home, I did drive by a pond with a pair of swans.

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-83632875746851780902008-01-23T21:43:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:23.173-05:00

Like so many other things in life, snow is yin and yang, it is a study in opposition. It is cold and harsh and at the same time beautiful and fragile. Although cold, it magnifies light and draws you to it. It is a complete pain to shovel off the driveway and absolute joy to make a snowman with a grandson.Steps to NowhereThe snow on the back lawn drew someone to it and then something about the

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-11163757097694595872008-01-23T06:57:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:24.036-05:00

First Snowflakes of the year nestlegently in some moss nearSilver Spring17 January 2008 - There used to be a race track on the Carlisle Pike called Silver Spring. The only sprint car races I've ever been to were there. It was speed week and Byron and I took all the teachers and priests to see the races because I had free tickets (Cindy Rowe Auto Glass was a sponsor). It was a small race track

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-52869580073369525602008-01-23T06:40:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:24.240-05:00

16 January 2008 - At the end of the day, on the way home, I drive down another unfamiliar road, just to see what's there. The road ends at some railroad tracks and a creek, and there at the end of the road is a very pretty dairy farm. I wondered whether is was advantageous in any way to farm next to the tracks or if perhaps dairy cows kept up at night by squealing steel and rumbling wheels

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-87742773604869901932008-01-22T07:43:00.003-05:002008-12-09T19:57:25.037-05:00

If you're looking for chronology here, I'm deeply sorry to disappoint. The day of this posting is 22 January 2008 and the day of these pictures, I believe is the 15th of January. My last post, about the party was from January 21st. "Why?", you ask. Well, forgive me, but I'm trying to catch up on my blogging without going further in the hole with current events. The day will certainly come

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-21257441274322290752008-01-22T06:03:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:26.233-05:00

I just had to feel grateful last night for the blessing of friends. Pennsylvania has always seemed a long way from home, (whatever home is these days), but when gathered in our dining room with 15 friends to celebrate anything, we are at home. Last night was one of those occasions as we gathered with the Dittos, Raleighs, Shaffers, Erika DeCort and Bonnie Corbett to celebrate, as Kelly put it

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-52449276540758360062008-01-21T21:26:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:26.964-05:00

Sure, all the pictures that show up on web pages and blogs look great. That's because for everything picture that gets published, a couple hundred get deleted. Usually, I can look at a picture in the camera and know if it has any possibilities. So, by virtue of the fact that it remains in the camera, expectations have already arisen before it gets uploaded to the computer. After uploading,

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353119871244148550.post-17902206301378740652008-01-21T21:01:00.001-05:002008-12-09T19:57:28.490-05:00

A slow day for photography. I wound up down in Lancaster at the outlets, so it was probably a good day for shopping. We are so spoiled to have the outlets so close to us. I haven't bought a pair of pants for over $13 since forever. Socks, shirts, pants, ties, pretty much everything I wear comes from the outlets. Favorite stores have come and gone. It used to be that a small store called "

Rodgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03408927917820281900noreply@blogger.com0