The Sabbatical Update

A week long without the computer (other than quick email and bank balance checks) gave me lots of extra time to enjoy other things in my life. I finished reading Alive, which is an amazing story of survival. (That makes seven books I've read over break. Now time to hit the text books again.) I kept the house more straightened than usual. I played games with the kids. And I spent more time being creative.

I've been wanting a camera bag that doesn't look like a camera bag, one that is more comfortable to carry. The price of cute yet functional bags is outrageous and I don't have the money to spend on that so I decided to make one.


I bought an Old Navy messenger bag at a thrift store for $2.50, fabric for $2 and I already had batting that I used for padding.


After taking out the original liner and using it as a pattern, I sewed together a new, partial liner with sections and padding. I sewed it all back together and viola, new camera bag. It's very comfortable and easy to carry and cute! All for $4.50 and a day's work.


These pictures were taken with my old Canon point-and-shoot. I can believe the difference in the quality of pictures. I'm really happy with my Nikon DSLR.


Feeling creative, I worked with an idea that was in the back of my head. I made a three dimensional, mixed media, under water picture. I really have no idea where this idea came fun and the picture is kind of cheesy but still cute.


Although I've been waiting for fog to take morning mist pictures, it doesn't really fog according to my schedule. One morning after dropping the kids at school and with no other obligations, I went to the American River and took some pictures just for fun. I really enjoyed being outside and (somewhat) getting past the "are people looking at me?" fear I have.


All in all it was a great week away from the computer's pull.