New Toy! and updates

Who doesn't love a new toy?  Mine is a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens for my camera.  I have been wanting one for ages and finally managed to save up enough to buy one.  (They aren't expensive as far as lenses go, but still not part of the daily budget.  Dreaming of macros here, LOL!)  Check out these 2 quick snaps...

This first one is of a doorknob in my house.  Ah, they don't make them like these any more.  Isn't it pretty?  But check out that laser sharp focus!

This little crystal hangs in my kitchen window. I had to touch up this photo just a little to correct the backlighting, but I had no idea how much of a difference different lenses can make - I could never get that soft focus background with my normal lens. Not without Photoshop anyway. Oh, I'm starting to feel like a photographer now!

I have reached a stopping place with my hummingbird. I literally cannot touch it again with a brush. At least, not until I have a few more successes under my belt. I have wanted to learn to paint for so long - perhaps the day will come when I will look back at this little sketch and laugh, but for today I am kind of proud of him.

And finally, thank you to all who sent us well wishes over the loss of our pet AND to Jake for healing for his hand. It is hard on a man like him to have the limits put on the use of his dominant hand, and Lydia and I have had to supervise him pretty closely - "clean" and "dry" are 2 words he has a hard time with, LOL - but the cuts are closing nicely now and he should be back to normal soon.

Is it spring where you are yet? (Or, if you are in the southern hemisphere, can you feel the end of summer coming?)