Just how safe are my JPG files?

It's that time of year, school is back in and there are plenty of picture perfect moments to capture. This is Ryan's senior year and Jenn's sophomore year and both are continually asking to use my camera to take photos. What worries me most is the camera's ability to protect my jpg files from being deleted from its memory.

When I mentioned my concerns to my boyfriend, he suggested my purchasing some sort of micro sd travel card for those times when the kids have my camera. One of its features is that is has a write/protect switch which would prevent my data from anyone mistakenly deleting valuable files. I think it might be something I'd use all of the time. Goodness knows, with all of the things I photograph, I could use the extra space!

PS Maybe I'll pick up a 2 pack for twice the space, you think?

Remembering old friends ...

While visiting over at "The Pond" I read a post titled "My Friend the Stuffed Animal" which reminded me of one of my favorite toys from my youth. As I mentioned to Karen, my great grandmother (affectionately known as "Big Mama") had a stuffed monkey that she kept at her home for all of us to tote around when we would visit. He wore a yellow shirt with red trim, with the name "ZIP" in large black letters, red overalls with green buttons, and white shoes (the ones that looked like toddler shoes). We all toted him around, but for some reason he was my favorite! I even gave him his own nickname; "Zeek" after a neighbor who lived right around the corner from my grandfather's house. Shortly after "Big Mama" died, we were all invited to her home to see if there were any items we'd like to have in memory of our time with her. I chose Zip, and for years afterwards, my children laughed and played with him. Last I saw him, it appeared that he'd lost his britches; darn that silly monkey! We'll need to go shopping and find him some new ones straight away!

So, what was your favorite toy from your youth?

Family Land Investment

Years ago my grandfather built his home on one third of a city block. At the time there wasn't even a paved road yet and his home was stylish for its time. It originally had seven rooms; four bedroom, one bath, living room, and kitchen. Over the years he added an enclosed side porch and a bait and tackle shop. The side porch acted as an entry for the house and a passage way from the kitchen to the shop. My great-grandfather lived with my grandparents and stayed busy by working in the shop.

As the years passed my grandparents divorced, and my grandfather was eventually placed in a care facility while his home sat idle. After a bit a cousin moved in and lived there until she bought a home of her own. It was sad what happened next as my uncle was forced to leave the house sitting during an illness. We all agreed it was a horrible waste of a family's land investment which had been passed down for posterity. Thank goodness my uncle was able to renovate the old house and turn his investment around.

There are a multitude of wonderful memories of happier times with my family in that home, but there will be time for sharing those later. For now those memories remain stored in my heart ...

Christmas Memories of 1983

It was early, the sun had yet to crest the horizon when into the bedroom ran our three year old, Lisa. She was so excited and wanted us to get up to see what "Santa" had brought her for Christmas. As we followed her into the living room she promptly sat in her new wooden rocking chair. "It's beautiful!" she said as she touched the heart shaped cutout. Next she started opening her presents filled with dolls, clothes, games, toy pots and pans, and a special surprise.

For months she had been looking at the aprons as we would go through various stores. She loved the one her grandpa wore as he cooked out on the grill, and had asked if she could have one of her own for Christmas. I remembered that I had some remnants of fabric packed away, so while she was asleep I cut out a pattern from paper, ironed the material, pinned the pattern onto the material, cut it out, and then proceeded to sew it all together by hand. The surprise was complete as I finished sewing on two pockets large enough for her little hands.

As she opened that package, her eyes lit up with joy! She unfolded it, shook it out, and ran to me to have it tied around her tiny waist. No sooner than I had tied the bow, she twirled around to show everyone. She was a sight to behold, just three years old in her little red nightgown and little red apron with its tiny flower print.

We talk about that memory often with great fondness. Even though she shared that apron with all of her siblings, it somehow withstood the test of time. Believe it or not, she still has that little apron. It is a Christmas memory that will forever be in our hearts!