Chewy Chicken {Animals}

Today was a busy day for me. Going through things for a yard sale. Packing for my trip to Michigan. Had a photo shoot this evening. And now getting ready to go fix supper. I just do not get why this Chicken is so chewy. Think I should use him for supper or find a better one?

Beef ... it's what's for dinner {Animals}

Three days ago I posted a photo of some cows. Although they were skinny as they are not ready for the butcher yet. I thought it would be interesting to post the after math of the butcher. It's a sad reality but alas this is how the world works.

ISO 100
SS 1/320
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Mister Turkey {Animals}

Surrounding the pond that is closest to the house is a fence to keep kids from falling in. This is one of the animals that is hanging on the fence. When I got home from my shoot today and actually had a brief moment it was not raining. I went and snapped this real quick. I wanted to get a shot of a real Turkey but not in this rain am I tramping through wet grass.

ISO 100
SS 1/640
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Tigers & Bears ... Oh My it's Eliana {Animals}

This week's theme is animals. Of course I had to throw a photo of Eliana in there as well. My mom got her this outfit 2 years ago I believe. It's a size 18 months and the shorts are STILL too big around her waist. So, this is a Detroit Tigers outfit and she has her baby girl polar bear "Cake". It definitely fits this week's theme.

ISO 100
SS 1/2000
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Cows {Animals}

Living in Rural Southern Indiana I come across allot of barns and farm animals. These cows are about 1/4 mile down and across the road from me. The cows in the back pasture in my backyard were too far into the field to get photos of today. I'll have to come up with some interesting animals and photos this week. And I'll have to switch to my 85mm 1.8 to get some up close ones as well.

ISO 100
SS 1/500
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Rural Southern Indiana {Around Town ... as Seen by a Tourist}

I was driving home a bit ago and have always liked this barn. And finally decided to stop and take a photo. This is one of many of thousands of barns in Rural Southern Indiana. I will be doing a photo series of barns this summer. Among a few other series.

ISO 100
SS 1/1250
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Pioneer Woman's Boost @ 70% Opacity
Pioneer Woman's Vintage @ 75% Opacity

Crosses & Monastery {Around Town ... as Seen by a Tourist}

Yesterday Eliana and I went to the Louisville Zoo. I still need to upload those photos. I'll post a few soon. I just took Eliana's P&S with us and left the big camera at home. I had a great day just being a "mom" and spending time with Eliana. So, since we were at the Zoo I had not taken a photo for POTD. I took 2 today to make up for it. First photo is an up close view of the Monastery from earlier this week on my blog. And the 2nd is crosses from the Cemetery from the Monastery.

ISO 100
SS 1/2500
Fstop 1.4
Pioneer Women's B&W @ 66% Opacity



ISO 100
SS 1/3200
Fstop
Sigma 30mm 1.4
My B&W

Jasper Court House {Around Town ... as Seen by a Tourist}

It was a busy long and tiring day for me today. And just couldn't think too well about photos. Went into jasper tonight and thought I'd get a night shot. I don't get too many of those. Anyway, I actually just stuck it on P Mode and snapped real quick. Only thing I don't like is how the clock at the top blurred out. What type of settings might you use to get that better?

P Mode Settings
ISO 1600
SS 1/60
Fstop 2.0
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Pioneer Women's B&W @ 66% Opacity

Schnellville Church {Around Town ... as Seen by a Tourist}

This church is a few minutes down the road from me. It had a fire a few years ago and they have rebuilt it nicely. In fact the house I'm renting now was bricked with left over bricks from this church. As well as the house across and down the road from me. It definitely has some history to it that's for sure.

ISO 100
SS 1/6400
Fstop 2.2
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Jasper Train Depot {Around Town ... as Seen by a Tourist}

Back in the day of Al Capone and riding the train. The train used to run from Jasper to French Lick (Indiana) to the Casino. French Lick again has a running Casino. The city of Jasper purchased 3 train cars from Crane Naval Base. And 2 have been remodeled and waiting to be used for transportation from Jasper to French Lick. The 3rd car is on an unused track being remodeled currently. In this photo you only see one of the cars ready to be used. The 2nd one is behind it. I hope to get to ride it at least once. I peeked in the windows and it's awesome inside for a train. Can't wait to take photos of the inside sometime soon. I some how forgot to put my memory card back into my camera when we went into town. So, I used {gulp} Brett's P&S and it felt weird since it's so tiny along with the viewfinder. Also, got some weird sun flare in this shot.

Sisters of St. Benedict {Around Town ... as Seen by a Tourist}

The story of the Ferdinand Benedictines actually begins in sixth-century Italy at the time St. Benedict wrote his Rule for monks. The sixth century was a period of great chaos. The Roman Empire was in decline, and barbarian hordes were invading Europe. Famine and disease swept through the cities, and families were uprooted.

To a time of chaos, Benedict responded with a call for stability and rootedness. To a society in which the family structure was decaying, Benedict offered a model of community based on love and respect for one another. To a world which had forgotten the love of God, Benedict called for prayer and study of Scripture in order to listen to God's word.

As Benedictine monasteries spread throughout Europe, they carried with them a desire for learning, a sense of family, and a message of God's love. Western civilization was preserved, and Western monasticism was born.

Over the centuries, Benedictines adapted themselves to the needs of the church and culture in which they found themselves, including that of the American wilderness.

In 1851, Rev. Boniface Wimmer, OSB, superior of the Benedictine monks in America, visited St. Walburga Abbey in Eichstätt, Germany, to ask the sisters to begin a foundation in the United States. A year later, on July 4, 1852, three sisters arrived in New York Harbor to start their new lives in America. The three, Sisters Benedicta Riepp, Walburga Dietrich, and Maura Fleiger, settled in the small town of St. Marys, Pennsylvania.

Who are the Ferdinand Benedictines
The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand

The Ferdinand Benedictines are one of the largest Benedictine communities of women in the United States.
The religious community numbers 173 women, about 115 of whom currently live in Ferdinand at Monastery Immaculate Conception.

The community includes 7 women in initial formation (two novices, five temporary professed), the first three stages of membership. The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand are members of the Federation of St. Gertrude.

Ministries of the Ferdinand Benedictine Sisters
Currently, 80 sisters serve in full-time positions outside the monastery. In addition, 20 sisters serve in part-time positions outside the monastery.

Ferdinand Benedictines serve in Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Italy, and Peru.
The sisters serve in the areas of education, parish work, health care, counseling, retreat and spirituality work, social services, and mission work.

A sampling of positions held by Ferdinand Benedictine Sisters include: parish pastoral associate, director of religious education, liturgist, youth director, superintendent of schools, school principal, school director, teacher (at all levels, from pre-school through college), psychologist, planning coordinator for a homeless coalition, librarian, hospital chaplain, nurse, physical therapist, veterinarian, comptroller, spiritual director, administrator.

The Ferdinand Benedictines operate For Heaven’s Sake, the monastery gift shop, and Kordes Center, a guest facility, both on the monastery grounds.

History
The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand were founded in 1867 by four young Benedictine sisters who came from Covington, Kentucky, to teach Ferdinand’s German settlers. (See The History of the Ferdinand Benedictines.)
In the past 140 years, over 1,000 women have entered the Ferdinand Benedictine community. Their faith, spirit, and energy have led to the establishment of six independent monasteries—in Arkansas, North Dakota, California, Louisiana, Indiana, and Kentucky—and missions in Peru and Guatemala.

At a time when many religious communities have not had new members in years, the Ferdinand Benedictine community has averaged almost three new members yearly for the last 12 years. The community’s success in gaining new members has been featured in print and broadcast media internationally, including a Wall Street Journal article and an episode of ABC’s "Nightline."
Monastery and Grounds

The monastery's architectural magnificence has earned it the name "Castle on the Hill." The heart of the monastery is the church, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Also on the grounds are a Lourdes Grotto, outdoor Stations of the Cross, the Rosary Steps, a walkway for recitation of the traditional prayer, and Hildegard’s Labyrinth for walking prayer and meditation.
Guided tours are available Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m; Saturday and Sunday, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Tours are available at other times by appointment. Known for their hospitality—part of the Benedictine rule by which they live—the sisters welcome visitors to share the peace and beauty of their facilities.

Despite hardships and poverty, the community grew and began to branch out to other locations. In 1859, one of St. Marys foundations, a community at Erie, gained its independence. That same year, three sisters left Erie for Covington, Kentucky, to serve in that diocese at the request of the bishop.

The Covington community grew rapidly. When the dwelling that served as both convent and a girls' school became too small, the sisters constructed a new building they dedicated as St. Walburg Convent.

It was to this convent that Rev. Chrysostom Foffa, OSB, came when he needed teachers for a school in Ferdinand. On August 20, 1867, four sisters from St. Walburg—Sisters Mary Benedicta Berns, 21, Mary Rose Chapelle, 19, Mary Xaveria Schroeder, 23, and Mary Clara Vollmer, 33—arrived in Ferdinand. Two days after their arrival, they received their first postulant.

These four Benedictine women were makers of history, as much pioneers as the trailblazing figures we usually think of bravely heading out into unknown territory.

From this beginning has grown a vibrant community of sisters, which gave rise over the years to eight additional monasteries and a retreat and conference center that provides a warm and caring haven for the soul's journey.

From this beginning has come forth an endless succession of ripples—waves of energy, spirit, and faith—that have touched and changed people's lives.

ISO 100
SS 1/8000
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Eliana {Flowers}

Since the weather is warmer I'm going to try to share more photos of Eliana. Right now she is my everything and love watching her grow. It's hard to believe she will be 5 in November. Seems like just yesterday she was born.

And now she says and does things that amaze me. Not technically a flower but it is to Eliana. She seems to think dandelions are flowers. Eliana's dress does have flowers on it so that does fit the theme.

I was playing around in photoshop with this photo. I'm trying to work on skin tones. And we all know this is a big thing lately. In this photo just did a few small baby steps in changes. Have no clue if I'm heading in the right direction or not.

In the warmer weather Eliana is normally a bit pink especially once she steps foot into some grass or plays outside for a bit. I'd like some CC on her skin tones. Am I heading in the right direction? This photo is pretty close to her IRL. I can't compare right now since she is not home.

ISO 100
SS 1/200
Fstop 4
Canon 100mm Macro 2.8

Mother's Day Surprise {Flowers}

At church on Mother's Day they had all the kids plant a flower for mom's. I need to transplant this to a pot still but at least it's alive yet. I'm not sure what the name of this flower is. I have not seen it allot.

ISO 100
SS 1/80
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

White Beauty {Flowers}

The rest of the flowers on this plant were all white or all pink. This one is mostly white with a touch of pink. And of course as I type this I do not remember the name of this flower. If you know what it is let me know. The first one is my normal processing and the second one is with Pioneer Woman's B&W @ 66% Opacity.

ISO 100
SS 1/8000
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4

Droopy Fushia Roses {Flowers}

After last nights horrendous storm this is what one of the rose bushes looked like. This is one of the rose bushes right outside my kitchen window. It's sad to see them all droopy. And they are calling for more storms and rain. Not sure they'll make it to much longer. I did my normal processing then used one of PW's actions.

ISO 100
SS 1/1600
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Pioneer Woman's B&W @ 66% Opacity

Forgotten {Flowers}

About 2 1/2 years ago I took a photo of this same flower but it was red. I do not remember the name of it. Maybe one of you know the name of this flower. Right when I hit the shutter the wind started to blow. Always seems like that lately. I did get a good photo of it despite the wind.

ISO 100
SS 1/6400
Fstop 1.4
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Pioneer Woman's B&W @ 66% Opacity

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