Week 33, Day 234, December 13, 2009 Memory Icons

We decorated our Christmas Tree today.  My wife always asks me to put a lot of lights on the tree, and every year I have failed.  I think I finally succeeded this year, and put all of our lights on the tree.  We had to purchase more lights to be able to finish the tree.  She was right, more lights is much more interesting.

After the lights, we begin decorating the tree.  Each ornament brings back a flood of memories.  I think especially this year now that two of our children are no longer living at home.

When I was younger, and the children would bring home hand made decorations from school we would put them on the tree.  I always thought that some day in the future we would them out, and just put up our most artistically pleasing ornaments.  Today those hand made ornaments mean more to me then any of the expensive purchased items.  They contain something much bigger.  They contain the wonderful memories of Christmas that they made them.

What are some of your favorite holiday decorations?

Lessons Learned:

• Our house is very old, and every movement causes all of the decorations to move.  This shot was difficult to get a clear shot.  Lighting and White Balance is also tricky.  I tried all sorts of settings.  I was able to manipulate the White Balance so the reindeer and the trees look good, but the lights are now too blue.
  

 Photo details: Exposure time 1/10 sec, Aperture f/1.8, ISO 100, Focal Length 50 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal length 82mm, Lens Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, tripod.