Challenging

I find these birds to be one of the hardest to photograph well.  For starters, they are in constant motion so you are as likely to get an empty frame as not.  More of an issue, however, is the sharply contrasting black and white on the face which is very challenging to expose correctly.  I never attempt these birds on sunny days but even on days like today with a solid cloud cover, exposure is tricky.  In an attempt to get the details in the blacks, I have lost some of the detail in the whites here.  I like having challenges, though...

We had a wonderful dinner last night with lots of laughs.  Ellen had to drive home last night so we said goodbye around 9.  We retired to the living room in front of the fire and it didn't take much time before we were all yawning and starting to fade.  So, up to bed.  Breakfast this morning was overnight oats with berries, pecans, maple syrup and a dollop of ricotta.  Then we settled in for a few rounds of dominoes.  I had the worst hand I've ever had and scored 340 points!  Still, it's always great fun.  Peg and Kura left early afternoon and now the house seems unbearably quiet.  

And now on the final countdown to Christmas!

xo
Debbi