New pet...

This year I had the opportunity to either purhcase a new lense for my birthday in May, or a new pet. Can you guessed what I picked? I've been wanting a chameleon for years, but they are a significant investment in money, time, space, effort, plants, and crickets. One time a few years ago I actually bought the screened cage and never bought the chameleon, and then lost the cage on the highway off the back of a truck during a move a few years ago.

So in early May I waited eagerly for the little box to be delivered to my doorstep, overnight from Florida. It arrived, and it's been a learning experience ever since. Ruth wasn't totally informed on how much attention these animals required (neither was I), but since May I think I've developed a pretty good 'husbandry' for raising a healthy little lizard. Well...not that little. They get pretty big. Ruth didn't know that either.

But I did. ;)




Funny thing about Chameleons - they hate people. He likes me to feed him 10 to 13 crickets a day, he likes me to mist him 2 to 3 times a day, buy and maintain live plants, and clean up his poop, but after that; this is what I get from him...



He hates me.

Oh well. It's kind of like owning a zoo animal. It's a bit of a 'look but don't touch' pet. Very fun to observe and photograph.



These are his colors when he's all fired up and sitting in the sun. This was one of his first succesful photo shoots. What a beautiful animal!

Ruth didn't quite know what she was agreeing to when she aproved of the lizard. Especially the other day when she found a "vibrating" fedex box on the doorstep. It was full of 500 live crickets. (Super cheap when you order online like that). Sorry babe. Lizard's gotta eat!



Ruth named him "Otto". I'm sure you'll be seeing more pictures of him.

4th of July

Moving backwards in time here, posting 4th of July pics that my late rebel took.



The Millers had their always popular 4th of july party this year. Bbbq, friends, explosions..it's always a blast!

Saltspring

Ruth and I were in need of a little time away last weekend. We took the opportunity that the 4th of July always brings to us Canadians; to go home on a weekend that is not a Canadian holiday. Truthfully we only get the 4th off here, which was on Wednesday, so we just took Thursday and Friday off too.

We went up to Saltspring island, one of the larger of the gulf islands. It was a good time away from the office at work, and the office at home. I personally experienced a couple of firsts on this trip. I went sailing for the first time. I also dropped my camera for the first time (more on that later).



This was the harbour we came into. We took a ferry to Vancouver Island and then a ferry to Saltspring. Ruth has been really getting into the photography stuff (bitten by the shutter bug I suppose), so keep in mind that she took some of these photos.

There was lots of wildlife.

Mostly deer. Mostly deer walking onto or off the road we were driving on. Thank God we didn't hit any..but we shot some...

There were many beautiful things in beautiful places. Old barns in big fields, big trees in old forests...






...and hot chicks on the beach. Yowza!



We spent some of our are American dollars on the Canadian tourist industry by going on a sailing tour of one of the harbours. Ruth has sailed before but it was a first for me. It was a blast, and it was also relaxing.

And it was perfect weather.

Here's a picture for Dad...

As seen is previous posts, this is me wearing my "I'm on vacation, but I'm not a real cowboy" straw hat. It also hides my fair face from the sun so I don't burn like a tourist.

And that's Ruth standing on the highest point on the island. She's wearing her "I'm so glad my husband doesn't have email access" smile.

We visited several local artisan studios such as a pottery studio...

... several vineyards...

...and a couple cheese farms. We tasted some very delightful cheeses. We were just sorry that the vineyards and the cheese farms weren't next door to each other.




After the days activities, there's only one thing left to do at the end of the day on a gulf island (and many other places I'm aware), and that is: go searching for the best place on the island to see the sunset. It's like the closing visual orchestra of the day. Well we heard about this place from one of the locals, so we headed down to this beach with our chocolate espresso mousse to go, and our tripod and camera.

We situated ourselves on an outcropping of rocks where Ruth promptly dug into the mousse, and I promptly started snapping my photos.

And this is when for the first time in two years, I dropped my camera...

..into the ocean.

And this is literally the last photo that camera took.

Rest In Peace my dear sweet digital rebel SLR 300D with my 18-55 lens and a 2g flash card...you shall be missed.

That was the very lowest point of my week.

Ruth gave me that camera as a gift on my birthday a few years ago. That was the single best gift I've had in years. This blog exists because of that charming little shutter. It ached in my heart to pull it, dribbling out of the water like that.

But hey, the pictures weren't lost!

And if the worst thing of the whole weekend was losing a material thing that can be replaced one day - so be it. I'm thankful for our health and safety, and the ability to take trips like this with someone I care about so much.

And someone that cares enough for me that she didn't get angry or frustrated, she just spooned Chocolate espresso mousse in my mouth while we watched the sunset.

Thank you Heavenly Father, for sparing my 60mm prime macro lens.

Hitched

I think the smartest people in the world wed in May. Surprise surprise. There are actually a number of reasons why May is the month of choice. These include: nicer weather than June (no rain), none of the unbearable heat of July and none of the smoke filled air of August. Depressing I know (sorry Ali). September would have been my next best choice. May is also shoulder season for most honeymoon destinations and that means - cheap(er). So I was not surprised when my good friend Trevor (who makes the list of smartest people I know) choose May for his wedding.



These are Trevor's parents. They're awesome. Royden and I spent many hours at their home during our teenage years and I spent many hours driving Pastor Dave's blue firefly while learning how to drive. He didn't know that back then though. Pastor Dave also officiated our wedding and followed up with some biblical counciling on the chairlift at Silver Star. Good times. Wendy is an amazing cook - I used to tell my friends to make sure and babysit Jordan if ever asked because the dessert she would make you was totally worth it!



Here comes the bride...isn't she beautiful? We didn't really get the chance to meet Nicolene before the big day but she seems like the perfect match for Trevor. We love Trev so much and we've prayed that he would find someone as great as him and it looks like he has.



Proverbs 18:22 "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favor from the Lord."



At the reception we got to share this table:



With this adorable little girl:



And her sexy as ever mama:



Glen K was also there with us but we neglected to get a good pic of him. Sorry ladies. He's cute, single and has a job. For more information email glen@.... just kidding. Glen, forgive my shameless matchmaking:).





“Thus says the Lord of hosts…Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you...and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” - Jeremiah 29:4-7