17 and 18/30

Through the eye

Red head

Now my regular readers will know of my dear friend Ron who is 91 and that he has had a lifelong love of photography and is a great source of knowledge. He still has a keen interest in digital photography and computers, he is certainly keeping his brain cells ticking over. A while back he sent me these two slides he had shot and then a photo of the camera used for the task. Now you have to remember these were taken many years ago, before all the modern technology we have at the push of a button. Pretty damn good don't you think! I guess a bit of the clarity has disappeared over the years, there is a bit of lint on them and they were emailed to me. We are spoiled when we can mostly just push on the macro button or add a macro lens to our modern digital cameras.

This is........

..............a photo of myself in a mirror with a favourite accessory! I took this photo late Sunday afternoon after I had returned from my second walk of the day, this last walk was 70 minutes long and 8900 steps which a pretty good effort up and down hills, along roads, grass and kilometers of sand so please excuse the revolting hair and my general dishevelled state. I decided my camera was to be my favourite accessory other than my pearl earrings which I wear everyday. I have since taken 15 more photos in various mirrors around the house for this weeks meme suggested by Jhoanna of One Red Robin, me thinks I don't really like photographing me!! Now just as I clicked the button for the first photo who should appear in the shot but Dear Husband with hands on hips calling me for a BBQ dinner that was ready for eating, so I guess he is my favourite accessory! Does he count? View the many other participants post for this week from the list at Three Buttons.

This photo I am sharing with you was sent to me by my friend who celebrated his 91st birthday this last week, I suggested to him he should go out and treat himself to something to celebrate his special day. Hence the photo emailed to me, he bought himself the big new flash attachment and he wanted to show me how big it was. He quite innocently went into his laundry and photographed himself in a mirror with his newest accessory, maybe it is his favourite accessory now. My friend has been a passionate photographer most of his life and began a photography club in 1953 in the country town where he lives and was a very successful exhibitor in it's hey day. If I have as much zest for life and passion for my hobbies at 91 life will be good.

Copper maids

What can I say, my newest friend amazes me almost daily, he is one very talented man who happens to be only 90 years young. This is his last piece of copper work which is his own design and is 2 feet long and too heavy for his wobbly legs to get off the wall for a better photograph. I know you will all appreciate the work that has gone into this fabulously creative work.

Hobbies

This is proof that you are never too old for hobbies, Ron set up his camera and tripod this evening so he could show me some of his copper enamel samples and gemstone cutting and polishing he has completed and taught over the years. As I said before he is a very talented and interesting person who takes great joy in sharing his hobbies with me. I can only hope I am half as enthusiastic as he is when I'm 90. I appreciate all handwork but I myself mostly work with needles, threads and cloth, I can't stand getting my hands dirty and I'm way to messy for paint, ink or glues.

A favourite flower

The Cuban Lily Scilla Peruviana is a favourite of Ron's and I have to say I love all the detail of this magnificent plant, what a fantastic colour. Many thanks to Ron for this great shot. He has photography in his genes passed down from his dad and now his own granddaughter has taken up the family hobby. You can tell I hate winter can't you, flowers and colour are my thing and winter is just too drab for me. Roll on spring. Note winter hasn't even begun yet in the southern hemisphere!

My new friend

I want to introduce you to my newest friend, Ron. We have only met by email and with one phone call and I am very much looking forward to meeting him face to face one day. My new friend is the husband of a second cousin of my mothers and we didn't know anything of this branch of our family until last month. This wonderful celebratory stamp was created by his granddaughter for his 90th birthday in February. I have to tell you he is the most interesting person I have met for a long time, he is so busy and enthusiastic about life and an absolute whizz on the computer and with a camera. He seems to think we should have our DNA analysed because we seem share so many interests and have very similar senses of humour but there is one area of our lives where we are not compatible and that is bicycling! So my message is "Enjoy Life" and value your friendships.