the new Canon camera

I spent most of the day learning about my new Canon Rebel 500d and learning to use its RAW converter software.  As I look at the RAW thumbnails beside the large Jpeg in this program I can see the difference. The jpegs look washed out beside the RAW.  Apparently the jpegs are compressed  RAW files.  The compression  is done in the camera, of course.  So, yes there is a huge advantage to shooting RAW.  The files are larger and have far more data. So, finally I understand that.
Something I cannot understand is this: 
Live View mode is only available, surprisingly, in the Rebel T1i's Creative zone modes, namely Program, Shutter, Aperture, Manual, and A-DEP. The order of these modes has been inverted on the Rebel T1i, starting with Live Mode, then Live Face Detect, and finally Quick mode. 

Also in the movie mode of course.

Otherwise, in the basic modes I need to use the view finder.  That is totally odd.  Its a good thing I hardly ever use the basic modes.  But I am going to take the camera down to London Drugs where I bought it, in the morning and just ask about it, to be sure, I have it right.  I would be happy to find that I am wrong! 

I need to learn how to add the extra ISO speeds and get more familiar with how to navigate.  Right now its just punch the buttons until I get to the thing I want to change.   I was shooting with the 50mm which is not IS.  But it works pretty good without IS. 

I have the above phalenopsis in bloom, as well as two more of my $12.00 orchids that I buy from the grocery store when they are on for half price.  My little ladyslipper is in bloom also.  There are a few violets in bloom also.

Today I made a beef tongue in the pressure cooker.  I added about a tablespoon of pickling spice, and cinnamon, a bay leaf, some celery seed, half a cup of chopped onion, a garlic clove, 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup of sugar, salt and pepper.  The house was smelling wonderful from this combination of spices.  The tongue is delicious.  I should have taken it out of the cooker, sooner, though.  Its is very very soft... almost like butter. 

Gung Hay Fat Choy

A couple of days ago it was Chinese New Year.  Happy New Year!  The year of the rabbit is upon us!  The above photo is a cement rabbit in my garden.  All of the photos are from Feb. 15 last year.  I have not been able to find the time to get out and shoot just yet.  But, the first crocuses are up; the hellebores are starting, and the snowdrops are in bloom, too.  The best little cyclamen along the old cement path by the garage as above is blooming beautifully too.  The magnolia has buds and the first few camillias are open.  I really need to get out and clean up the perennials and prune the roses.  We have had warm weather and some rain.  We are so fortunate compared to all the 'weather' other countries, even other parts of our country, are experiencing. 

The Vancouver Island Rock and Alpine gardening group are holding a Study weekend at Sidney, on Feb. 25, 26 and 27.  There are workshops, talks, open gardens, and more.  If you wish to attend please see the registration form here:  
This looks like it is going to be very interesting. 
I have been so busy lately, it seems.  I am trying to learn the settings on my new camera.  Trying to keep up with Megashot, but am falling terribly behind.  Our membership is growing, there are photoshop classes, questions in the forums, and so much to do.  I have not had time to even look at the critique forum.  ah well... it will all be there tomorrow.  Cyrus is making videos of the Megashot / Facebook challenges, and the Megashot Contests and putting them up on You Tube.  He has 39 of them done, including the help for getting started for  new accounts.  This link should get you to his You Tube account with all the videos listed. Enjoy.
There has been some good eating around our house lately, as well.  I make soup every second day, or so.  I am making interesting and good meals for our dinner.  I have also been reading a few of Phillipa Gregory's books on the time of Henry the VIII.  Nasty times in England.  And there are equally nasty times in Egypt and northern Africa, right now too.... much like the political troubles in Iran.  There seems to be a huge power struggle happening in the Muslim world right now. 

Frost and Ice

A few frosty photos from on the deck.  You can see the gold fish just beneath the black ice. 
Today I purchased my new Canon EOS Rebel T1i or EOS 500D.  I had my heart set on a 7D.  While looking at it and trying it out I found that it was rather heavy.  My old lenses from the Canon Elan 7e all work with it, but the shutter release cable does not.  The salesman was excellent. He watched me handling this thing and very expertly suggested that I might like to try the T1i.  The lenses and the shutter release  are usable with this one.  It seems to have much better balance for me.  I liked how the Elan felt in my hands and this smaller Rebel T1i feels the same.  AND it is half the price.  I am not sure what the big difference between the 7D and this one might be, but I am sure I will be very happy with this one! 
Our January seems to have been very busy. 
In the garden the snow drops are in bloom and the species crocus are up.  I don't see the crocus leaves in the front crocus field but they should be showing soon, too.  The Blue heron has been seen around the pond. All the apples are gone from beneath the tree.  I had raked them and the leaves off the grass onto the path.  The leaves are still there, but the apples are gone.  There has been a very busy squirrel around the back garden. This must be a very full squirrel if it ate all those apples, though.  The critter is also eating the few apples that were out on the deck in a plastic bag.
Megashot seems to be rocking right along.  Our servers were maxed out so we now have more servers to carry the load.  Version 2 should be soon in development and on line.    Its been an exciting day today!