Life: Through the Lens

San Antonio, Texas is decked out for the holidays, with hundreds of thousands of lights. The downtown area has a riverwalk system which you can walk, of course, but also tour by boat. The lights over the river, and many of the bridges you float under, are decorated with a twinkling wonderland of lights. Riding the river system, you hear music playing from a number of sources, everything from pan flute to guitar, solo or ensemble. Smells from numerous eateries waft through the air, and all your senses come alive. As photographers we were challenged to find some photos which would record the experience, and as tourists we just wanted to sit back and soak it in. We were traveling with our daughter, son-in-law and 2 year old grandson, so we did it all. It was amazing to watch the face of the little one as he looked overhead and pointed "lights!" everywhere we went. He also reacts to the music, and swiveled his head as we heard new sounds or turned another bend of the river. He l

There are so many ways to give creative gifts. I have a really clever book which shows different craft projects you can create using photographs - from lampshades to lap trays. There are also wonderful photo books you can make, telling a story about a specific time or event, or creating your own story with one of your family members as the main character. I gave a book to one our granddaughters for her birthday this year in which she starred as the "princess" of her kingdom, and the "king" and "queen" loved her very much. I used photos of times we had visited with her, and photos from the wedding her dad and step-mom. The "princess" was also going to get a new brother or sister, to share her kingdom. The book was a hit, and will be there for her as long as the new brother doesn't get his hands on it!:) I also saw this year that you could create board books, for the younger set. So many choices. There are a number on online companies to check