Happy Valley Pride: April 29, 2009

This last Christmas, I received a digital camera from Doris, my daughter-in-law.

It is one of those cameras that allow you to store photos on a computer disk. Unsure of how to operate it, I took it in to Crown Camera in Redding and they were very helpful. I was amazed at what the camera could do.

If a picture was sideways, they could flip it around. It could be cropped to eliminate a reflection or burst of light. The image could be enlarged or, if corrected improperly, they can straighten it out.

I took a lot of pictures today of insects and I am looking forward to seeing if any of them are any good.

In high school I took photography and learned to develop my own film. I love taking pictures. I gave up taking pictures after I got married, however. I didn't have too much time, but I found out God always gives me my heart's desire. Now I take pictures with my new camera and I can snap away to my heart's content. I am not very good, but every once in awhile, I do get a picture that I really like.

My friend Gayle and her brother are great photographers. They take beautiful scenic pictures of mountains, landscapes, sunsets and water reflections.

My daughter Irene owns Graphic Emporium and she has some beautiful photographs of Mt. Lassen, Mt. Shasta, Turtle Bay Sundial Bridge and the surrounding area.

Some people have a good eye and seem to catch the perfect photo. I just point and shoot.

I have been told you have to be patient, but I am not very good at that either.

Happy Valley Pride Day was a great success! We picked up about 100 bags of trash and some furniture.

I tidied up the mile of roadway that I adopted and only got two bags full.

I discovered that the only cigarette packs being thrown out were either Camels or Marlboros. Members of our group also found some very strange things. For example, one man found a turkey caller.

I want to thank all of those people who came out and helped. Our next trash day won't be until September, so help us keep Happy Valley clean. And remember, Pride Day offers an award of $600 for the arrest and conviction of anyone dumping trash in Happy Valley.

Do you want to adopt a section of road?

Give me a call at 357-2416 and I will sign you up. It's easy and a good way to get some exercise. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Well, dawn is breaking and the farm is calling, so I am out of here. Volunteer. Recycle. Pray for our men and women in service, our leaders and our nation. God Bless America!