dlyn

Strange. I feel different than I did a week ago. About this time last week, my camera died and it will be at least a week, maybe two until I get it back. After getting over the initial panic, I disciplined myself to be more accepting of going awhile without it.

There can be no doubt that in the months since I first got a DSLR, I learned to look at the world very differently. I saw things I had not noticed before. I looked outward more and slowed my brain down to take in details I had previously skimmed over. I took more time to think about how the scene before me made me feel. And I learned to explore ways to convey those feelings to other people through the photos that I shared.

Now? I still look at the world that way, because it has become habit. But I can’t capture it and I can’t share it. If I had to characterize how I feel about it, I would say I have lost a part of my voice. I just have laryngitis for a couple weeks. It is not the end of the world or a hugely tragic thing. I will either get the D70 fixed or I will buy a new D80. I have the means to do either, for which I am very grateful.

And as I mentioned last week, if I gave in to impulse, I would have already replaced it, but I am being practical and patient. Practical and patient are no fun at all, but they do pay off in the end. At least that is what I told my kids when they were growing up.

I sure hope I knew what I was talking about.

So, you know I love to cook, right? And that a lot of stuff I cook comes from the garden. That means it is whole and whole stuff can be hard to cook. I need knives. For years I had Chicago Cutlery which are pretty good knives for the price. I still have a couple of them that I really like. But then I heard about LamsonSharp knives. I can’t take credit for tracking them down. That has to go to my brother in law Scott who bought them for my sister for her birthday a few years ago.I liked them so much, that the following year, I asked Larry to get them for my brithday. There are a few things that I particularly like about them, aside from the fine quality. They are made in the US – in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. I like to buy things made here when I can find them. And, for $10, you can send up to 5 knives back to the factory for sharpening. It can be difficult to find a competent knife sharpener so I am particularly glad to be able to do this.The knives themselves are hefty, feel nicely balanced in your hand and look great as well.They come in very handy when you want to turn something like this:Into this:So you can make this:

Also very useful of course for reducing buckets of tomatoes and other vegetables into sizes that will fit nicely in the freezer. In that regard, the vegetables are still winning. Three buckets of tomatoes are ahead of me today – I think they are breeding during the night.

I better go get started on them – have a great day!