This week's Photo Scavenger Hunt

You will find this week's Photo Scavenger Hunt over at There is a Season.  It is being hosted by my sister Valerie.  It is a very special Photo Hunt this week.  It is in celebration of our 100th photo scavenger hunt!  I hope that you will participate.  Go over to Val's journal and leave your entry in her comments section.  The deadline to turn in your entry will be extended till Monday at 11 PM EST.  That way you will have time to go out Sunday night and have fun, and still show us your New Year's Eve photos if you would like.  But that is only one of the subjects that is up for grabs for the Photo Hunt.  Go over to Val's journal and check it out!

Love you, and may we have lots of photo taking together in the future, Krissy :)     

Tags: Photo Scavenger Hunt, photo shoot, photography, Krissy's Photo Scavenger Hunt

Merry Christmas

               

I hope you all have been having a Merry Christmas.  I've been having a wonderful one.  I am so thankful to God that John got to spend this Christmas at home instead of in the hospital.  We have been having a truly blessed time.  Today was a quiet day, spent just by ourselves, as Valerie was not feeling well.  So we ate our Christmas feast alone.  It was delicious!  Yesterday was lots of fun also, as John's parents came to visit.  John and I exchanged gifts today and I got a mousepad with kitties on it.  He is also going to buy me yarn (when I tell him what kind!) so I can learn how to crochet.  I want to make a blanket.  I got John two pairs of jeans, as he has lot 65 pounds, and the other pairs are just too large, LOL. 

Before I go, I wanted to ask you, who out there remembers the silver aluminum Christmas trees?  If you are my age you will remember.  Did you have one in your childhood?  They came with a color wheel that spun around, making the tree change colors!  Nowadays we would think of them as tacky, but gee were they glorious to a child!  We couldn't wait to put ours up ever year.  I googled "silver aluminum tree" and found a photo, as well as one of the color wheel. 

      

Well, I guess that's enough reminiscing for now, you all have a great week.  Love you all, Krissy :)

  

monday morning question

         

Rudolph runs away from home because he believes he is a misfit.  He comes to the Island of Misfit Toys with Yukon Cornelius and Hermey the Elf.

Which toy can you most relate to on the Island of Misfit Toys?  (a bird that cannot fly but swims instead, a train with square wheels, a squirt gun that squirts jelly, a white elephant with pink spots, a Charlie-In-The-Box, a blue airplane, a cowboy that rides an ostrich, and a ragdoll named Sue)

                                   

My answer: I care about and would take home the Ragdoll named Sue.  I was reading online that nobody could answer what was wrong with her and why exactly she was on the Island of Misfit Toys.  Then it was suggested by several people that while she did not have any physical problems like the other toys, perhaps her problems were inner.  One minute you see her elated, and the next minute she is crying.  So it is my guess she has mood issues.  I empathize with her!  So she is my favorite, LOL.

Which toy is your favorite?  Krissy :)     

Tags: Monday Morning Question, Island of Misfit Toys

Photo Hunt Participants...

Photo Scavenger Hunt #99

Anything Christmas

Here are the entries:

My Photo Journey

The Light's On... But No One's Home

The Light's On... But No One's Home

The Light's On... But No One's Home

Promise... Me

Footprints in the Sand

Gina's Space

Linda's World

Thank you all for participating this week.  These were all special and fun! 

Next week's Photo Scavenger Hunt will be hosted by my sister Val.  She will post the subject in her journal tomorrow (Tuesday).

Love you all, Krissy :)

Anything Christmas!

Here is my entry for this week's Photo Hunt - Anything Christmas. 

These are some cookies John and I made for his home healthcare nurse for Christmas.  Mini-Chocolate Chip with raspberry jam!

    

This is is something I made John do - stand in the lawn with a Santa hat on!

                       

                       Merry Christmas, everyone!

How to take digital photos

I thought I would throw out a few tips on how to take better digital photos.  Hopefully this will make all of our shots better.  I know this stuff is really basic, but sometimes I need basic!  If you have any additional tips for everybody, please leave them in the comments section.  Thanks!

1.  Pick subjects that are interesting.  Your photos will be more interesting, your enthusiasm will show through in your work.

2.  If you want to take a shot of something and have it occupy most of the photo, then fill up the frame (as you look through the camera) with the subject.  You can do this either by getting up close to the subject, or using the zoom feature on your camera.

3.  Watch what you cut out of a picture.  You don't want to be cutting off people's legs, or their head, or half a Christmas tree, or, well you get the idea.

4.  Watch what setting you put the camera on.  There are different settings for different distances.  There is a landscape setting for photos that are far away, and a macrosetting for things that are three feet and closer.  And many settings in between.  Choose your settings carefully.

5.  Sometimes shoot your subjects vertically.  Especially when photographing people.  What this means is, turn your camera vertically (not horizontally).  That way you will not be cutting person's legs off and just getting half their body in.

6.  Take more than one photo!  Take lots!  You have the luxury to snap away with a digital camera.  This way you can choose which photo(s) you would like to keep and which you would like to discard.  You will have a much better chance at getting a good shot this way.  You may just come away with many good photos.

7.  Don't always take a picture shooting head on in front of your subject.  You can take the picture from below looking up, or from above looking down.  Try different angles.

8.  If it is dark, and you can't see your subject, turn on the light, or use your flash! 

9.  Before you shoot, check out the background.  Is it untidy or distracting?  Perhaps you need to clean it up, or move the camera to take your shot from a different angle.

10.  If you are photographing a person, look at your model for a moment.  Is there a last minute thing on your model that needs to be taken care of?

11.  Consider joining a photography community on the net.  Others will give you an honest opinion on your work.  This will help you take better photos.

12.  Learn from others.  What do you like in their photos.  Really think about it.  Is it the composition?  Angle?  Style?  Lighting?  Colors?

13.  Learn from yourself and your own successes and mistakes.

14.  Consider using your photo shop program to enhance your photos.  I am not talking about going hog wild here and changing colors of your photos.  I am just talking about cropping them, and simple things like that.

15.  Read the Owner's Manual that came with your camera!!!

16.  Have fun! 

Krissy :)
Tags: How to take digital photos, photos, photography, digital camera

A few days before Christmas

Hi.  I haven't meant not to post in so long.  I don't think I have been this busy in, well, who knows how long.  But it has been a good kind of busy.  I have been having fun doing all kinds of Christmasy things!  Since John has not been admitted to Hershey the whole of December, I have been able to do a lot of things I didn't expect I would be able to.  I have gotten to bake, do Christmas cards, shop, and do a Christmas journal!  What fun I have been having.  I have just been living a normal life and it is great! 

John is doing well, all things considering.  At first he was getting two units of blood twice a week, but now he only gets blood about once a week.  Actually, he hasn't had blood at the present time for a week and a half!  His doctor started him on chemo for the Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) and it seems to be working!  His red blood cell count actually went up by itself this week instead of down when it was time to get blood, and he didn't need to get the blood.  That is the first time this has happened in months!  It appears the chemo is working.  Perhaps he won't have to get his spleen out after all!  John has four more weeks of chemo.  Right now he is going for labwork three times a week to get his counts checked.  Between labwork, chemo and blood, this makes a busy week for the both of us, but we can handle it.  We have other appointments too.  Some times by the end of the day we are dog tired.  But that's ok.  At least John is not hospitalized in Hershey.  And there is light at the end of the tunnel.  He is also not running fevers anymore, and is feeling pretty good, except a little weak at times.  And sometimes he feels sick from the chemo.  But he feels way better than he did the last few months.

So it looks like we are going to have a good Christmas!  On Christmas Eve we are going to Midnight Mass.  On Christmas morning it will just be John and me.  We will open our presents.  Then my sister Valerie and her boyfriend are coming over for Christmas dinner.  It sounds like a really fun day.

Let's see.  What else is new?  I have a new pair of glasses!  John says they are modern.  I like them very much and think they are modern and sort of glam.  I think I will be able to carry them off, LOL.  When I get a chance I will take a photo of them for you all. 

Oh, I didn't say anything about the trip to Hershey last week yet.  Dr. Claxton is extremely pleased with John's progress.  But I guess you can already ascertain that from what I wrote above.  

Okay, so I guess I better go.  Does anybody know what to get a kitty for Christmas?  He doesn't like toys much.  He gets bored with them because he is so smart.  Michael also can't do catnip.  While other cats get mellow (high?)  he gets MEAN and aggressive!  He starts attacking things and people.  He must be getting high off of it and it just makes him very aggressive.  He starts running around and acting crazy and clawing people like a totally possessed cat.  So he is the hardest person on my list to shop for, LOL.  Do you have any ideas?

Love you all, Krissy :)  

Tags: Christmas, health, cat

monday morning question (late, LOL)

         

Will you be watching football on Christmas day? 

question brought to you by my husband John!

My answer:  No

John's answer:  Yes, LOL.

Huh???

Tags: Monday Morning Question

photo scavenger hunt #99 subject...

     

Photo Scavenger Hunt #99 will be due on Sunday, December 24, at 11:00 PM EST.

The subject for this week is: ANYTHING CHRISTMAS.  

Here are some ideas: Christmas cards, favorite Christmas ornament, Christmas lights on houses, stockings, manger scene, Christmas village, gifts, etc.

Use your imagination and do whatever you would like this week, as I know it will be a busy week for you.  So do something easy and fun!   

Please place links to your entry submissions in the comments section below, including your full entry URL.  Thanks for playing, and let's have fun!  ~Krissy :)

Tags: Photo Scavenger Hunt, Photo Shoot, photography

Photo Hunt Participants...

Photo Scavenger Hunt #98

Christmas Tree or Christmas Decorations

Here are the participants:

Footprints in the Sand

These are my Thoughts

Scavenger Hunt Journal

Sassy's EYE

ALMOST Paradise

going to Hershey for 3 days

Hi, you all!  Just wanted to let you know that if you don't see me around for a few days, the reason is that John and I will be in Hershey for the next three days.  Don't worry, it is pretty routine stuff.  He is going to get a check up and have a few tests done.  Then on Thursday he is getting blood transfusions.  And then on Weds. we will be travelling home.  And as so as we get home we will have to run over to the local hospital here so he can have more tests and get "typed and crossed".  That means that they will draw blood and check and see exactly what kind it is, so they can give him more blood on Monday.

Okay, so how are things going with John?  I am sorry, I should have written a few days ago.  I know some of you are wondering because you have been emailing me.  I haven't kept up with this journal as I should because i have been SO busy.  But a lot of what I have been doing is fun stuff.  Christmasy stuff!  And then there is the just plain chores and helping John. 

So John's allergic reaction subsided pretty quickly, thanks to the Benadryl he was given.  He didn't even need to see the doctor on Monday.  

He goes to chemo every Tuesday, and he gets blood on Monday and Thursdays.  The local hospital is still messing that up some, but now they are a little better about it, since we called Mitzi and she called them.  But the thing about it is, even though they do give John his blood, they keep insisting every time, "Are you SURE you are supposed to be getting blood twice a week?"  "Because we are SURE you are supposed to get it once every two weeks".  I don't know where they got that stuck in their head, but they keep saying it over and over again.  And John keeps insisting on his blood.  If he got it only once every other weak he would be dead!  He hasn't gotten it that infrequently in MONTHS.  All they have to do is look at their records.  What are they talking about?  Mitzi has called and spoken to them repeatedly.  Strange.

They are also making other mistakes.  John had to return to the hospital four times in the same day, one day last week, to get the same test over and over again, due to their mistake.  That's what he told me.  I remember driving him three times.  Poor guy must have took the bus one of the times, LOL.  I remember us going out at 10:30 at night for the last time that day and getting back around midnight, trying to beat the courier who was leaving at midnight to bring blood to the Red Cross !

At any rate, all these mistakes are manageable, they are not preventing him from getting his blood or chemo.  They are just major annoyances.  Okay, end of rant and rave.

At any rate, we are leaving this morning and coming back Friday night.  So you all have a nice week and I will see you this weekend if I don't have a chance to write an entry while I am away.  Oh, Val is going to be doing entries for the Christmas journal, Joy To The World.  So that will keep going.  

Okay, bye bye for now.

Love you all lots, Krissy :)

monday morning question

         

Did you like to ride around looking at Christmas lights when you were a kid? 

Do you like to drive around looking at them today?

My answer:  So shoot me!  It's two questions!  I was just real curious if you liked to see lights nowadays. 

My answers are YES and YES.  I loved looking at them as a kid.  I still go around looking at them as an adult!

I haven't done it yet, but I found out last year that my town has a bus ride tour that drives you all around town looking at the lights.  There is even an announcer, and he stops at the best houses so you can get a better look!  Just like when you were a kid!  At the end of the tour you get some homemade cookies and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.  I am going to take the tour this year, as it sounds like an inexpensive and great way to have some fun.

Okay, have a great week everybody, love you, Krissy :)

photo scavenger hunt #98 subject...

      

Photo Scavenger Hunt #98 will be due on Sunday, December 17, at 11:00 PM EST.

This week I thought we would take a photo of our Christmas tree.  I think it would be fun to see all the pretty trees out there.  If you would rather take a photo of a Christmas decoration, inside or outside of your home, that is okay too.  

Please place links to your entry submissions in the comments section below, including your full entry URL.  Thanks for playing, and let's have fun!  ~Krissy :)

blood transfusion reaction

John and I are off to the local hospital.  He appears to be having a reaction to a blood transfusion he had today (Friday).  Please don't worry, it is only mild - hives.  But the instruction sheet says that if this at all occurs, to come to the emergency room immediately.  So I guess that is what we'll do.  I'll let you know what happens when we get back.  From what I have read on the net, it can be controlled with antihistemines.  PLEASE, no Hershey...

Love and take care, Krissy 

Edit:  It is now 4:20 and we just got home.  It was indeed an allergic reaction that he had, but the doctor said it was not from the blood transfusion.  The reason was because it was too localized, and not over his whole body.  She reached this conclusion after calling John's local oncologist's associate.  After giving John benadryl and tylenol (which he can have more of over the next few days), she told him to go to his local oncologist on Monday so he can look at John's rash again.  I don't quite understand that.  If it is not related to the transfusion, why would he be visiting an oncologist instead of his regular primary care physician.  But she said the oncologist could see if John had an allover rash.  That would indicate a blood transfusion reaction.  That sounds contradictory to me.  Hmmm.  Ok, so anyway tomorrow I will write an update in this journal on what has been going on with John.  I haven't done that in a few days. 

Krissy :)

Tags: blood transfusion

please play along!

        

In my new Christmas journal, Joy To The World, I did an entry today.  At the end of it I listed "Gifts your husband doesn't want for Christmas".  I think it was pretty funny.  Then I listed some things I didn't want for Christmas.  To name a few of them- a carton of cigarettes, a gerbil or any other kind of rodent for that matter, a subscription to Popular Mechanics and a Chia Pet!  I was hoping others would play along.  Please go to the Christmas journal and tell us what you DON'T want for Christmas.  Come on guys, this is just for fun! 

Click to go to journal entry ~~~~~~>   Joy To The World  

Krissy :)  

A Christmas Survey

I found this Christmas survey in Val's journal who got it from Monica.  It looked like a lot of fun, so I thought I would do it.  Maybe you'll learn a little more about me after reading it.  If you want to play along, you can copy and paste the questions below into your journal, and leave your link in Val's comments section so she can see your answers!

  

     

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  Definitely wrapping paper, especially bright foil wrapping paper!  With shiny bows!  Or interesting designs, both traditional and funny   

2. Real tree or artificial?   Artificial!  They are easier to clean up after, and very low maintenance.  They don't catch on fire, or drop little needles!  And I have always had one, even the silver one when I was a kid! 

3. When do you put up the tree?  Right now I can't put one up because my cat Michael would climb it, eat it, bat the bulbs around, or eat the bulbs, LOL 

4. When do you take the tree down?  N/A

5. Do you like eggnog?  Yes.  Not the alcoholic kind, though.  But I do worry about ingesting raw eggs.  They are raw in there, aren't they?
 
6. Favorite gift received as a child?  I would have to say my dog named Rolf.  He was a Sesame Street character.  You could stick your hand in him and make him talk. 

7. Do you have a nativity scene?  I wish I did but I don't.  Michael our cat would get that too.

8. Hardest person to buy for?  Any man in my life (except John).  Men are foreign creatures to me and I just don't know what they want.  I have been told that they don't want Soap-On-A-Rope for Christmas, nor a Chia Pet, nor another tie that sings Jingle Bells!  What to get my Dad then?  I have no idea.      

9.  Easiest person to buy for?  John because he tells me what he wants, and I can always give everybody else gift certificates.  Now you may think that is tacky, but, people can really get something they WANT, and they won't have to regift.  I love getting gift certificates!

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?  Oh gee, snail mail.   

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  It doesn't matter anyway, because I like to give more than receive.     
 
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  "It's A Wonderful Life".  Plus I love all those little Christmas specials like "A Charlie Brown Christmas", "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer", "How The Grinch Stole Christmas", and the like.  

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  This year I started in November. 
 
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?  Nope.   

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  nuts, cookies, chocolate, chicken (not turkey) dinner with trimmings, tangerines,   

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?  I like all one color the best, maybe blue
 
17. Favorite Christmas song(s)?  "Silent Night", and maybe "Joy To The World", and lots of other ones!

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?  definitely stay at home, with John and my kitty, then let relatives visit a few days later here!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?  Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, and  of course the most famous reindeer of all - Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
 
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  gotta have a star!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?  Always Christmas morning.  If you are THAT impatient, you can open one on Christmas Eve! 

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?  Rude people at sales.  They push you out of the way to get the best items.  They also cut in front of you to get your parking space.  They are just generally inconsiderate and out for themselves.  Now don't get me wrong, most people this time of year are VERY generous, and go out of their way to help others.  It is just a few people. 

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?  All themes and colors.  But if I were going to do a whole tree in one color I would pick blue and white, or I would pick red.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?  Didn't we already have this question?

25. Do you have Jesus in your heart this Christmas?  Yes!

Merry Christmas!  Krissy :)

  

 

chew toy

It's crazy.  I've got writer's block.  I dread doing entries anymore.  It seems like all I ever have to write about are John's health issues!  I must be boring as all-get-out.

But what can I do?  So here goes an attempt at an entry.  First let me start with how John is doing, because I think it is important, LOL.  All things considered, he is doing quite well!  His blood came in yesterday, and he received two bags.  His face now has it's color back, and he is rosey red!  He is no longer weak.  Thank God for that.  Today he is at chemo and soon I am hoping he won't have to get the four bags of blood a week, because the chemo will start working.

As I dropped him off for chemo today, I was so proud of him.  "He can handle it,"  I thought.  He's a trooper.  

Yesterday after getting blood the hospital told John that he was scheduled to get blood once every two weeks.  This is wrong.  He is supposed to get it two times a week.  Ugghhhh.  The hospital is already messing up.  But they are insisting.  So I had to call Hershey (Mitzi, Dr. Claxton's nurse).  Mitzi will get back with me today.  She is also getting back with me about the local oncologist.  He thinks that John is supposed to get labwork twice a week, but John's supposed to get it three times a week.  So they refused to do the labwork yesterday!  Uggghhhh.  So Mitzi will have to straighten that out too.  Why are these local folks so incompetent?  The nurses locally at the oncologist's office got some other things wrong also, and were mean to me, but I won't bore you all with the details. 

Oh, good, I just got some mail, be right back!  Hey, that's not for me, that's for John.

My cat is staring up at me!  I don't know why, I don't have any food for him, LOL.

Speaking of my cat Michael, he has been going crazy the past few days.  I have been packaging a few Christmas boxes to be mailed and he has been clawing the suitcases.  He claws the suitcases when he is stressed out and thinks weare going to Hershey!  Well, since John and I have been packaging the boxes (to mail for Christmas), he thinks we are going to Hershey, and he is panicking, poor kitty.  So I tell he to go play with his "chew toy" instead.  His chew toy is the handle to his box of cat litter, LOL.  You see, he hates to play with cat toys, most bore him.  So when he started to claw the suitcases/ furniture, etc. we told him to go chew on his "chew toy" and he came to learn what that meant, LOL.  He also knows it as "handle", LOL.  So today, all day he has been chewing on his "handle" aka "chew toy".  That keeps me happy, LOL, as I don't want the suitcases ripped up.  

Let's see what else is new.  It snowed a little today.

Let's see.  I just told you about John, my cat, and the weather.  Ugghhhh!  I had better quit while I am behind!

Love you all, Krissy :)                 

monday morning question...

           

Fruitcake.  Delicious or doorstop?

My answer:  Delicious.  I love the stuff.  I even like the store-bought kind!  I buy it!

What's your answer?  Krissy :) 

                     

Home, but not home free

Hello everybody.  I guess you know by now that John and I are at home.  And loving every minute of it. 

We got here Thursday night.  I haven't posted yet because I kind of wanted to keep a low profile.  I have just been doing a lot of things I have wanted to do, things I really haven't gotten to do in months.  And boy it feels great.  I am really enjoying being home.  Sorry I didn't update you all sooner on what was going on with John.

Let's see.  How is he doing?  He is doing a lot better than before he went in the hospital this last time.  He still requires a lot of blood though - four units a week.  They are giving him two bags on Thursday and two on Sunday.  At least that is what they are supposed to be doing.  Things are already messed up.  When he went for his scheduled blood today (Sunday), the local hospital said it wasn't ready.  They said it wouldn't be ready until Monday or Tuesday.  This would never happen at Hershey Medical Center.  That was the whole purpose of setting up two days a week on schedule.  So he could have scheduled transfusions.  Tomorrow morning we call Mitzi.  I think she will have something to say to them about this!

I feel bad for John.  He is already turning pale, and is tired and out of breath.  He is okay now, but in a couple of days will be sick again if they don't hurry up.  

As far as the Hemolytic Anemia goes, it is still not giving up the fight, as John puts it.  It wants to hang on to him.  He is receiving chemo for it though.  I believe 8 treatments (8 weeks worth).  

Gee, the guy upstairs is playing his stereo REALLY loud past midnight.  I find that quite inconsiderate.  He does that often.  He is so rude! 

Anyway, getting back to John, between chemo (four hours weekly), blood twice a week (an all day affair), the home nurse (three days a week), and additional labwork twice a week, John has appointments seven days a week.  This is not counting his regular doctor's appointments.  This is every day in December.  Maybe they will give him Christmas off, LOL.  I hope so!  But I am really not complaining because we are home.  It is much nicer than being in the hospital.

So that's about it for now.  How is he overall feeling?  "Tired, but not too bad."  I wish they would give him that blood on time, then he probably would have said "good". 

So on a final note I wanted to say that I am too busy to do the Photo Scavenger Hunt for this coming week, but I promise we will do it for the rest of December.  I have the subjects all planned out!  So thank you for bearing with me, and being patient.  

Love you all,

Krissy :)