Fern

Although I got a Nikon D50, I didn't exactlly know what
I would take pictures of. Maybe, there was only one thing
which could be my objects.

Flowers.

Using Nikon D50, without choosing auto mode, is pretty
complicated. There are so many things to think about,
before I take a picture. That is, ISO, aperture, and
shutter speed. If I choose auto mode, it is much easier.
But if I take pictures with auto mode, the camera I use
doesn't have to be Nikon D50. In the other word, it doesn't
have a meaning to use Nikon D50 at all.

I slowly started to understand how to take pictures and
what to take pictures of with my Nikon D50.
Exchanging opinions with Rob helped me in understanding a lot.

This picture was taken in the backyard.
I didn't look for an object so hard as I have done.
I took the picture of it which I saw.
I think I started to understand what can be objects.
The answer would be ANYTHING, as Rob kept telling me.

Since I understood what photography is just a little bit,
I feel like I will be able to use this camera more.

Exciting!

Jim's backyard

Jim's Apples

Jim's Cherries

Jim's backyard

Yesterday evening, Rob and I visited Rob's friend Jim's.
He had fresh clams he digged at Birch Bay and kindly wanted
to share those with us. We were luckily invited to a dinner.

He lives in a country and has a huge backyard.
His neighbors have horses and cows.
Also, he has a beautiful mountain view.
Awesome place to visit!

The third picture is the view from his backyard.
The mountain which is covered with snow is hidden by the trees
in the picture. However, I like the vapor trail in the sky in it.

Thanks Jim, the clams were so delicious!

Poppy bud

Today is Memorial Day here in the U.S.A.
Rob and I went to a nursery.
Although a lot of shops were closed,
the nursery was luckily opened.
We bought a couple of Petunias, lettuces, peppers,
new pots, and plant soil.

As soon as we came back home, I worked on planting.
Needless to say, Rob taught me how to plant!
(He has worked at a nursery when he was a student.)
I will be able to take pictures of those I planted.
For today, I put a picture of the bud of the poppy
which we have and we look forward to seeing the flower of.

Hummingbird

We are hanging a hummingbird feeder near the porch.
Since the feeder can be seen through the kitchen window,
we noticed that we have lots of customers lately.
I took pictures of them today.
Actually, it was not so difficult at all.
It seems like they don't care about people so much.
Even if I was standing by the feeder,
they didn't hesitate to come.

Although they are so tiny, they can move so fast.
You would be very surprised if you could see them fly.
You can tell they are near you because of the sound of their wings.
The sound is like a bee's buzzing.
That's why hummingbird is called ハチドリ in Japanese.

Looking at hummingbirds is soooooo amazing!

A vest for my niece

これ、姪の彩にあげるベスト。
毛糸屋さんの母の日セールで20%offで買った毛糸を使っている。
先週水曜日に編み始めた。
で、あっさり、後見ごろができあがったので、お披露目。
子供用は、使う毛糸も費やす時間も少ないからいい。
このベスト、V-neckになる予定。
そんなわけで、前身ごろは、後見ごろのようにはあっさりいかない。
でも、６月中には仕上げる予定。

This is the back of a vest.
I am knitting it for my niece Aya.
I bought the yarn I am using for the vest with 20% off price
on mother's day sale at NW Handspun Yarns which is my favourite
yarn shop in Bellingham.

I started to knit this last Wednesday.
And I already finished the back.
Knitting something for kids doesn't require so much yarn or
so much time. Which is nice.
This will be a V-neck vest.
I want to finish it by June!

Today's flowers

I try to use my Nikon D50 every day.
In order to use it, I go for a walk to look for interesting
objects. And what I can find is usually flowers.
Actually, I do like taking pictures of flowers.
Because flowers can show the season.

When I was walking with carrying my camera, I met a gentle man
who was carring his brand-new camera.
He told me that he has been taking pictures of neighborhood.
I had chat with him for a while.
"Sayonara" was the last word he and I exchanged with each other.

I feel happy when somebody notices me and speaks to me.
Therefore, I would like to say to him,
"thank you for finding me who have a very quiet life here."

Today's flower

Not only I but also a bee liked the flower :)

Cockatiel chiks vol.2

Today, Rob and I visited the bird breeder to see
how the chicks are growing up.
Here are a couple of pictures of the chicks!!!
They are still hand fed.
They almost look like adult birds though.
Rob and I got opportunity to hand feed them.
Both he and I made their feathers pretty messy.
Sorry, chicks!!!

Candy machines

Colorful candies!
They would never be good for our health though.
If I was a child, I would enjoy inserting coins in the machines,
and turning the knobs :)

I took a bus to the Bellis Fair Mall today.
The mall has GAP, Abercrombie & Fitch, and American Eagle
which have the type of clothes I might be able to wear...
I took $300.00 which Rob gave me as a Christmas present
to the mall. Yep, I was seriously going to shop.

The result is...

I BOUGHT two tops which were on sale.
I spent about $20.00!
I spent money on clothes!!!
It's very unusual!

Anyway, the picture is not good at all.
Just a picture of American colorful candies
which always attract me.

Cafe Avelino

I knitted, drinking mocha with whip cream
at Cafe Avelino today.
This lamp creates the mood, doesn't it?

Cockatiel chicks

This morning, Rob and I visited the bird breeder whom
we bought HaNa from. She showed us a few Cockatiel chicks.
Here are a couple of pictures of the chicks.
They are about 3 weeks old.
We will get one of them in a few weeks.
Because they are still hand fed by her.
When we visit her again, how will they look like?
Aren't you curious? ;) We are so curious!

We buried HaNa with a Gladiolus bulb I bought for her
yesterday. The colour of the flower will be orange.
In order to reminds us of her pretty cheeks...

HaNa, we love you!!!

Nite Nite HaNa..

Our sweet HaNa suddenly died today.
Rob and I are too sad right now. We can't stop crying.
She didn't spend even two weeks with us.
We do hope she was very happy here with us.
HaNa, we really miss you. Without you, how quiet this house is.
We are sorry if we could not take care of you very well
and that we could not be with you when you closed your
precious life. We wish you could let us hear your cute chirps again...

Thank you very much HaNa for every moments you gave us.
Sleep good HaNa,

Nite Nite...

Iris & Tulips

先週から、ロブの車、修理に出している。
その為、スーパーに行く手段は、バイクか徒歩だった。
が、二日前にバイクのロックをなくした私に残された手段は、
今や、徒歩のみ・・・
昨日に引き続き今日も、歩いて買い物に行った。
そんな帰り道に出合った可憐なお花。

ガーデニングというのは、それを趣味とする方の満足に終わらず、
そばを通りかかる全ての人の目を楽しませるものだ。
我が家の庭は・・・
手をかける必要あり、だ。

Frisbeeeeee

Such a beautiful day!

On the way home, I rode a bike to Boulevard Park.
I took a picture of frisbee Players there.
I wanted the frisbee's motion to be stopped in the picture.
But, the shutter speed was not quite fast enough...

I hope to play frisbee with Rob very soon :)

Squirrel Kitchen

我が家のキッチンを訪ねてくるリス達は、
私達が声をかけると、ぴょんぴょん跳ねてそばにやってきます。
これ、まる一年、ピーナッツをあげてきた成果です。
そんな様子をNikon D50で、狙ってみました。

最近になって、母リスが子リスを連れてくるようになりました。
Squirrel Kitchenの場所を教えてるんでしょうか？
お客様増加の予感がします♪

Today's HaNa

朝から眠そうにまぶたをくっつけていた花ちゃん。
夕方になってようやく元気を取り戻し、
カントリーミュージックに合わせて、
楽しそうに鳴いていました♪

そんな花ちゃんを被写体にカメラの練習。
ISOやシャッタースピード、絞りの関連性を理解する為にも、
とにかく写真を撮りなさいっ！！ときつくロブに言われ、
昨日、今日と撮りましたわよ。
そのおかげで、ブログの更新ができました。

花ちゃんには、今後どしどし登場してもらいます。
鳥好きさん、いらっしゃーい！

Calla Lilly

ブーケを思い出させるカラー、ご近所の庭に咲いていました。
清楚な美。
今の私に欠けているもの？

HaNa ─花─

今日から、ロブに溺愛されて暮らすことになる、
Cockatiel（和名：オカメインコ）のHaNa（花）です。
ブリーダーさんの家に何度か足を運んで、
飼う事を決めたのは、雌のオカメインコで生後約９ヶ月。
ブリーダーさんによって、すでに手乗りに躾け済。
シアトル滞在から戻った今日、引き取りました。

土曜日に、鳥かごの中に入れるおもちゃやハシゴを購入。
部屋の模様替え＆掃除までして、鳥かごのスペースを確保。
名前なんて、１週間程前に、ロブによってすでに決定していました。
鳥（カラス以外）にとっても優しいロブは、
すでに肩に花を乗せて歩き回っています。
優しい言葉をたくさんかけながら。

私達の初めてのペット、花をどうぞよろしく。
花の写真ですが、ロブによる撮影です

Seattle

移民手続きの関係で、シアトルに１泊してきました。

ロブの車故障中の為、Bellingham空港でレンタカーを借り、
日曜日の３時半にBellinghamを出発。
５時にホテルにチェックインして、
ダウンタウンシアトルでカクテルアワーとディナー。
ホテルに戻ると、家にはないテレビのスイッチをロブがすぐさまオン。
テレビなんていらないって言ってるロブも、
こういう時は、テレビのリモコン離さないのよね、全く。

ディナーの後のデザートで飲んだコーヒーのせいか、
一睡もできず、ベッドの中で一晩中ゴソゴソし過ぎたせいで、
寝ていたロブまで起こし、またまたテレビがオン。
そのまま夜が明けてしまいました。
あぁ、眠い。

Nikon D50で写真を撮ってみよー！ということで、
撮った写真をアップします。
ぼかし方を練習してみました。