Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri

Checking my lesson

Ginger dropped me off early at church tonight

So I used the extra time to sit in the classroom and go over my coursework.

December 4, 2011 | Categories: Church, Church, Remote Shutter Release, Tripod | Tags: 365 Days, Artificial light, Available Light, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Colour, EFM, Gary Allman, Nikon D7000, Photography, Self Portrait | Leave A Comment »

After Thanksgiving Dinner at church

I spent this evening helping in the kitchen at church

We fed over 200 hundred people, including members of the congregation and local community. We were too busy to stop and take pictures, so all I have for today is this hastily taken picture of Ginger and I in a brief pause near the end of clearing up. Ginger, it appears, found a cookie.

November 16, 2011 | Categories: Arm's Length Self Portrait, Church, Church | Tags: 365 Days, Artificial light, Available Light, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Color, Gary Allman, Gary and Ginger, Nikon D7000, Self Portrait, Springfield Missouri | Leave A Comment »

Sitting round the campfire on Guy Fawkes Night 2011

It’s November 5th and this year we left the Guy at home.

Guy Fawkes Night 2010 at Berry Bend

Last year we were also at lake Truman for Guy Fawkes night, and we took the Guy along for company. This year we were expecting to be carrying up loads of kids’ luggage to Kansas City, so we left Guy behind. That’s three years now he’s avoided a fiery demise.

We took the Kayaks out on the lake today, but it was too windy to go far. We saw a flock, or whatever the collective noun is, of white pelicans. After being driven off the the lake by the wind I went on a walk around the closed off areas of the campsite, and ended up walking back along the lakeside. When I got back to our campsite Ginger fancied a walk, so we re-traced part or my walk, which was very fortuitous as we were able to see a fantastic sunset over the lake.

The wind continued to blow hard and unpredictably most of the evening, making sitting round the campfire hazardous at times, but the sparks made up for the absence of fireworks.

White Pelicans on Harry S Truman Lake at Bucksaw

Camping at Bucksaw Campground, Harry S Truman Lake, Missouri

Harry S Truman Lake at Bucksaw

Dead tree, Bucksaw, Harry S Truman Lake, Missouri

Sunset at Bucksaw, Harry S Truman Lake, Missouri

Campfire sparks on Guy Fawkes night

Bucksaw campsite in the moonlight

November 5, 2011 | Categories: Camping, Out and about, Outdoors, Remote Shutter Release, Tripod, Wilderness and trails | Tags: 365 Days, Available Light, Bucksaw campground, Campfire, Camping, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Chrysler Town and Country Minivan, Colour, Gary Allman, Gary and Ginger, Harry S Truman Lake, Nikon D7000, Photography, Self Portrait | Leave A Comment »

Trunk or Treat

This evening we went to the Church Hallowed Carnival

Lanie wanted to take part in the ‘Trunk or Treat’. After a lot of head scratching we came up with the idea of making the back of the van into an ambulance, with Lanie as the patient, tended to by Katie as Nurse D’eath. We even managed to find a hospital IV bag hanger for $1 in the Habitat for Humanity Restore Center.

I took today’s picture while I was handing out candy. We’ll pass over how I frightened one kid by making them think the candy finger they’d picked out of the box of human body parts was really my finger. Oh how I laughed (later).

Lanie the victim at the Trunk or Treat

Nurse Katie D'eath, box of body parts in hand, tends Lanie the Victim

October 30, 2011 | Categories: Arm's Length Self Portrait, Church, Church | Tags: 365 Days, Available Light, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Colour, Gary Allman, Halloween, Nikon D7000, Photography, Self Portrait, Springfield Missouri, Trunk or Treat | Leave A Comment »

Blessing of the Animals

Today was another busy day.

I was up at five-thirty am and out the door at six for my lift to church, and then I spent most of the next seven hours in the kitchen helping with the meals. It all went very well (well planned and executed Kris!). We were far too busy to take any pictures. I really should have made the effort.

Clearing up took a long time, so I decided to stay at church until the afternoon’s events started. I took today’s picture after the blessing of the animals had taken place, Getzger was very well behaved and the only feline this year – there were lots of dogs but no lizards (shame).

October 2, 2011 | Categories: Arm's Length Self Portrait, Church, Church | Tags: 365 Days, Blessing of the Animals, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Gary Allman, Nikon D7000, Photography, Self Portrait | Leave A Comment »

This is what results when one accidentally presses the shutter while struggling to get the camera into position

AKA Parking lot fund raiser wash-out.

Ginger and I volunteered to watch over the Youth Group kids working the Cider Days parking lot fund raiser after church today. Yesterday’s attempt got rained off, and the weather wasn’t any better today. After less than an hour we sent the kids in and Mark and I stayed out and took around six dollars an hour (that’s two cars) for about three hours before throwing in the towel.

Gary at the parking lot fund raiser wash-out.

While Mark was off having some lunch I took a few pictures for today’s self portrait. This is what you get when you accidentally hit the shutter and it fires several times in quick succession when you are not expecting it to do so. I had a more normal shot – but I’ve loads of those, so I decided to go with this rather stupid looking one. You will, I hope, note the rain on my glasses. Unfortunately you can’t see how wet my hair is.

18 September 2011 | 365:261 | 365 Days blog | Copyright © 2011 Gary Allman

September 18, 2011 | Categories: Arm's Length Self Portrait, Around Springfield, Church, Church | Tags: 365 Days, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Colour, Gary Allman, Nikon D7000, Photography, Self Portrait, Springfield Missouri | Leave A Comment »

Gary in the van

at church after the Thursday evening service.

Not that you can tell that from this picture. I guess it is just as well I took the time to set the record straight.

August 11, 2011 | Categories: Arm's Length Self Portrait, Church, Church | Tags: 365 Days, Black and White, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Gary Allman, Nikon D7000, Photography, Self Portrait, Springfield Missouri | Leave A Comment »

Late at night sitting on my brother’s kitchen floor

UK June 2011 – Day 26. Last week we were Scottish Episcopalians, this week we reverted to CofE,

and made a final visit to St Margaret’s. Where (if you’ve been paying attention) I was Christened, as were my two sons, and my brother. I and my brother got married there, and both my parents funerals were held there.

The service was sparsely attended, we stayed afterwards for coffee, which we had in the Church as the parish hall was being used for a function of some sort.

Two weeks later back in Christ Episcopal Church in Springfield, I felt very uneasy about the full church and how well supported it is. I read that the (below target) weekly contribution for the previous week had been over $13,000 that’s about £8,000 at current exchange rates. At St Margaret’s the vicar stood in the pulpit relating the reduced income of the previous week’s jumble sale of £700.00. One wonders what he, or the people at St Maelrubha’s in Poolewe would do with a fraction of that £8,000 per year let alone per week.

After church we spent the afternoon and evening with my friends Roy and Jan, their daughters and families. Dee is my Goddaughter, and I’m honorary Godfather to Lynn who asserts (to me anyway) that she should be my Goddaughter. The amusing thing is that I wasn’t her Godfather because Roy and Jan thought my (first) marriage wouldn’t last, well that’s what they told me some time later. Ha! I must have got ‘em fooled by the time Dee came along then. We had a great time catching up and were treated to a nice dinner out. But much more importantly Jan produced real home made mince pies for us. Mince pies in July. Wonderful.

I should have taken some pictures, but the photographic lethargy that’s afflicted me on this trip struck again, and I took none. At the end of the day I just sat on my brother’s kitchen floor (why not) and took today’s picture. After nearly a month away from home my beard’s looking in desperate need of a trim – that’s only a few more days away.

Today’s extras

Inside St Margaret's Church, Eastney, Portsmouth

St Margaret's Church, Eastney, Portsmouth

July 10, 2011 | Categories: Arm's Length Self Portrait, Around the house, Church, Church, Idling, UK, Visiting | Tags: 365 Days, Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Colour, Gary Allman, Photography, Self Portrait, St Maelrubha's, Visiting friends | Leave A Comment »

EFM Retreat

This week’s EFM class was held on a Saturday,

so we got out of the classroom and spent the day in a cabin by the river. It was very nice to sit in the screened porch going through the lessons and exercises; a day of good company, conversation, discussions, food and coffee. I have really enjoyed this class throughout the year. It’s been challenging, hard work, engaging, highly informative, and we’ve also had some great fun. Thursday nights have become a great anchor point for my week. Unfortunately we’ve only two more sessions before we break for the summer. I’ll miss the class, my classmates and mentors.

During our mid-morning break I noticed something move out of the corner of my eye and heard a small knock on the front door. On investigating further I discovered a small bird had flown into the door and was laying stunned on the mat. Checking the bird books at home, we found it was a migrant – a Male Wilson’s Warbler. After about twenty minutes it recovered and flew off.Before we finished for the day I explained about my 365 Days project and asked if anyone was willing to be in my daily picture. Everyone was, and this is the result. Thanks Guys!

To get the best out of this picture I would have needed to use a diffuse fill-in flash. I didn’t have the flash gun and diffuser with me (the weight of EFM books was quite enough), so I had to settle for an over exposed background. Had I been thinking I’d have taken a separate background shot with no one in it and merged the two – there’s hindsight for you.

***

While I was out being educated Lanie spent the day working the parking lot at Arts Fest with the Youth Group and Katie went with Ginger and they enjoyed some time out in the Kayaks on Lake Springfield. However, the home highlight of the day had to be Ginger, Katie and Lanie shaving Blue Kitty to give her a lion cut. When Blue Kitty eventually comes out of hiding I might try and get a picture.

Today’s extra

Male Wilson's Warbler

May 7, 2011 | Categories: Activity, Around Springfield, Church, Day out, Remote Shutter Release, Studying, Tripod | Tags: 365 Days, Black and White, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, EFM, Gary Allman, Nikon D40X, Photography, Self Portrait | 2 Comments »

You’ll always find me in the kitchen at lock-ins

I managed around three hour’s sleep,

which I guess isn’t too bad. I was up at seven fifteen and helping out with breakfast. Before the end of the lock-in we held a short service in the church, and left for home at ten am. Instead of getting a nap, we went shopping, I spent some time at the computer and we had a visit from Dash and Leslie.

At seven pm Lanie and I were back at church for the Easter vigil. Either we didn’t do these back in my days as a choir boy, or the choir never attended, as this was my first. It was a wonderful but long service; we didn’t get home until after nine. At one point I was concerned that Lanie would burn the church down with her candle. That, fortunately turned out to not be the case.

Once the kids were all in their rooms for the night Ginger and I settled down to watch Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. We’re slowly going through all the Star Wars movies in episodic order.

Tomorrow we have another early start for Church and hopefully I’ll get a chance for a nap.

Today’s extras

Breakfast at the Youth Group lock-in April 2011

How can Donya, our Youth Minister be so chripy on so little sleep? Donya with Dan.

Cindy and Edith serve the breakfast they and Donya prepared.

April 23, 2011 | Categories: Activity, Arm's Length Self Portrait, Church, Church, Image Style, Places | Tags: 365 Days, Artificial light, Available Light, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Colour, Gary Allman, Nikon D40X, Photography, Self Portrait, Springfield Missouri | Leave A Comment »

2.25am Youth group lock-in

I was foolish enough to volunteer to chaperon at tonight’s Youth Group lock-in.

I spent most of the day finishing off clearing my hard drive ready to process the wedding pictures I took last week.

At seven pm Lanie and I went to church for the Youth Group lock-in which started with Friday night’s Good Friday service. The lock-in that followed was an enjoyable, tiring, late night. Some of us watched the movie – The Passion of the Christ, there was a less challenging movie available for the others and I honed my dish washing skills; not that they need any honing. By the time I took this photograph I was thinking that maybe we should have brought bed time forward by a couple of hours.

Note: A lot of people taking part in the 365 Days project make sure they take their pictures before twelve midnight each day. I’ve always considered that my day isn’t over until I’ve gone to bed for the night. I have no problem posting this photograph taken after midnight as my previous day’s picture.

April 22, 2011 | Categories: Activity, Church, Church, Image Style, Places, Remote Shutter Release, Tripod | Tags: 365 Days, Artificial light, Available Light, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Colour, Gary Allman, Nikon D40X, Photography, Self Portrait, Springfield Missouri | Leave A Comment »

Pancake supper at Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield Missouri

It’s Shrove Tuesday – Time for Pancake supper.

We had a quiet day and shortly after picking the kids up from school headed down to Church as Alek and I were helping in the kitchen. Tickets to the pancake supper are sold as a fund raiser for the youth choir. Traditionally supper is prepared by the dads of the choristers and youth, while the choir does all the serving. Alek took over my job of batter mixing, and I helped serve. Ginger helped too, taking tickets and money on the door.

There was an excellent turnout, lots of sausage and pancakes were eaten. Between serving and clearing up I took a few pictures including today’s self portrait. In the background you can see the guys working away at the grill making pancakes.

Today’s alternate shot & some favourites from the Pancake Supper

Preparing the Pancake supper at Christ Episcopal Church

Steve and Tim debate quantities

Intent on pancakes and sausages

Pouring the pancake mix

More and more pancakes

Mixing the batter

Clearing up

Pancake supper at Christ Episcopal Church

March 8, 2011 | Categories: Activity, Arm's Length Self Portrait, Church, Church, Image Style, Places | Tags: 365 Days, Artificial light, Available Light, Black and White, Christ Episcopal Church Springfield Missouri, Gary Allman, Nikon D40X, Photography, Self Portrait, Springfield Missouri | Leave A Comment »

Gary and Ginger at the Church Annual Meeting

We spent a lot of time at Church today

Our day can be summed up as Church, annual meeting, home, sleep, and an evening of choral music back at church. That was about four hours at church and three hours sleeping.

Lunch was provided before the annual meeting, possibly as a reward / incentive to those attending. Though as these events go, the meeting was fine. I took today’s picture at the end of the proceedings, and my camera surprised me by actually focusing at one point, so the Nikon’s focusing fault has gone from permanent to intermittent.

Back home the wonderful 64°F (18°C) temperatures made me think of getting out in the snow covered backyard, in my shorts and taking a picture of myself reclining in a sun lounger with a nice refreshing cocktail. Which just goes to show how quickly the 365 Days ‘let’s make a clever shot’ thinking can sneak up on you. Luckily I realised my mistake before I executed this plan, so I indulged in a three hour snooze instead.

Our evening trip back to Church to hear the Springfield Chamber Chorus and The Dury Singers was well worth the effort. I love choral music and we were treated to a variety of wonderful examples.

One good thing about recording my day and not setting up artificial pictures: I won’t be wracking my brain for a clever Valentine’s Day shot tomorrow. Though I haven’t been beyond doing so in the past.

Today’s out takes & alternate shot

This is what happens when I'm not paying attention

Never work with children, animals or Ginger. If she's not pulling funny faces she's just as likely to flash me or the camera. Nice but it disrupts my creative flow (well dribble is more correct).