Friday 30 December 2011

Countdown


I made sure I took the camera with me
on our morning walk on Wednesday.
It's been wet and muddy here,
so the hounds have not had a run for a few days.
But we took a chance that it wasn't too muddy
and gave them a run.


I knew it would be a good opportunity
to take some pictures of the hounds running.
I set the camera to take multiple shots.
It tends to be a bit of a pot luck,
with plenty of blurriness
with unexpected focused bits .



In the afternoon,
as it started to get dark,
we took a trip into Bernkastel.
We had planned to do this before Christmas
and visit the Christmas Market.
But because of my cold,
we didn't.
It was my birthday
on Wednesday,
so it was a good reason to go out for a while.


The Christmas Market had finished,
but the market place was still decorated with Christmas lights.


We had a leisurely walk around,


looking in shops,
and taking photos.
I played about with some of the different settings on the camera.
This last photo was taken on a night setting with a longer exposure.
I deliberately moved the camera around to get a blurred effect.
I like it.


Something I'm not so pleased with is the countdown to my next birthday.
In a years time
I will be 60.
It seems such a monumental event to me,
something I will have to get used to.
I'm sure lots of people reading this will have celebrated a sixtieth birthday
and they are fine with it.
Maybe in a years time
I will have come to terms with it.
I am planning to mark the occasion by having a party.
That should help.



 

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy belated birthday my dear friend! So sorry you have had a cold. Your holiday pics of the market remind me so much of my long ago visit to the area. What fun to see the hounds running and having such fun. I appreciate you emailing Tammy and her new hound, Shelby. That is what I love about blogging, sharing the things that we love most.
Many wishes for you and Mike to have a blessed new year. Love to all!

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

I see you have some awesome property for your sweet babies to run and play.

Happy Belated Birthday, age is a matter of the mind... If you don't mind, it don't matter. As the south would say here in the US. So its all how you feel. My brother is on a countdown as well for 60 this Spring. I have 2 more years to go.

Love your pictures and how abstract the shaking one is.

Have a blessed New Year!

Kath said...

I did smile. We have so many photos like that (blurry dog shapes).
I loved seeing Bernkastel, it looks like a Disney land town, how beautiful.
Don't worry about being 60, just think, it's only 50 plus V.A.T

Kath x

Louvregirl said...

Hey! At first when you said "Countdown" I thought that you meant to the New Year!! Happy, blessed 60th birthday in advance. Having a party is a great idea. My husband will be 60 before I will. He is young at heart and in this respect, at times, younger than me!
:-) Let us know how it goes, though!
There is some consolation in knowing that we all have to run the same "gauntlet," I too, want to do it well.
:-)
(As well as possible, that is!)I think continuing to embrace change is a good thing. I don't want to get old, cranky and stuck in my ways...) I have a fear of that, I mean.
:-) Let's hope for the best!!

Steve Gravano said...

Well a happy belated birthday! I'm glad you didn't let the cold keep you from having a good birthday. he photos of the Christmas shops and lights are awesome!
Have a happy and healthy New Year!

Minerva said...

Happy Birthday! That looks like such a fun place to visit. And the dogs look so free and happy. Hope you have a very Happy New Year.

noelle said...

Happy Belated Birthday wishes, it was mine on Thursday!! The hounds look like they enjoyed their run, bet they could run for miles! The market place looks just wonderful, really Christmassy! Wishing you a very Happy New Year xx

Connie said...

Happy Birthday, Lynne! I hope it was a good day for you. Love the pictures of the hounds--looks like they are having fun romping about. The rest of your pictures are lovely too. Happy New Year to you. Wishing you all good things in 2012! :)

Val's alentejo blog said...

Happy New Year Lynne.
I planned my 60th birthday for 3 months.. The hardest part was getting my 4 children together.. but it happened.
Your photos of Bernkastel are beautiful.. it looks such a lovely place you live in.
I enjoy reading your posts.
Thanks for sharing..
Your hounds are adorable.
best wishes
val

Annie said...

Hello Lynne :D

Gorgeous pictures of the hounds! The whippets have been going stir crazy we've had so much rain. Definitely too muddy for many off lead antics here!

A belated Happy Birthday, and Happy New Year. May 2012 bring peace, health and prosperity to you and all who you hold dear x

BadPenny said...

What a lovely place to visit on your birthday. Happy New Year. The hounds look happy racing together. I'll be 49 in Feb so countdown to 50 after that. I feel so old here surrounded by the young boat crews like we were but as Joe said " It's life mum " You'll be fine 60 is the old 40 or something !

Zuzana said...

Happy belated birthday!;)) Loved all your images, they are so artistic.;) And some come across as fairytale like.;))
Happy New Year dear Lynne, may 2012 be a prosperous one for you and yours.;)
xoxo

Selfsewn said...

Yay Lynne, you can so do this.
It's basically deconstructed hexagons!
Look forward to much fun!
Happy New Year!!

houndstooth said...

You share a birthday with my sister! I have a birthday this year that I'm not looking quite so forward to, either.

You have some lovely hounds!

genji said...

Love getting shots of the kids running around, even if only a handful are in focus. Your houndies look very happy to finally get a good run in after the rain.