Winter Garden Aglow

So tonight we went to the Winter Garden Aglow at the Idaho Botanical Garden. It was gorgeous and really nice. We met up with my friend Monae and her hubby Matt. It was good company and good times. We froze though. The cool thing was I got a special filter for the Christmas lights. The bad thing was it was really cold and since it was dark I was using a slow shutter speed. So I was shivering. Which means all the pictures with human beings...BLURRY. The lights a little too but you cant tell as much.



Christmas is such a special time of year and I think this year I have found it means even more to me. We have been through a lot this year as some of you know. Both good and (not bad but) trying. The understanding I have now, having gone through the temple and being sealed to Mike and our many trials this year, of how Christ and the atonement play such a large part in our salvation has made this Christmas very special to me. Where most have cut back on Christmas this year, I think it is giving all of us to focus on the Spirit of Christmas. Even in the commercials and ads you see that retailers understand that families are not spending as much money this year. This is a good thing. Does it take tha magic out of Christmas? I don't think so. I have found that keeping in a strict budget has made me really look for unique and thoughtful gifts. Could we go all out this year as well...maybe if we weren't going on vacation the week after...but this has been so much nicer.




So here are some pictures from the winter garden aglow. Only a few are using the new filter (it was only for my wide angel lens). I think I will get another one for one of my zoom lenses before going to Texas. See if you can see what it does to the lights. Sorry if any are blury. Like I said, shivering and didn't bring the tripod.


(TIP: to really see the picture and the effect from the filter click on the picture to make it larger)



The little blue structure really shows up close what you can do with the lights, also look at the red lights on top, they range from regular looking, to little star shapes (my favorite) and then the really close ones really spread the light.. The other pictures below were just pretty.



I would definitely suggest it to everyone...although would say to pick a warmer night or where tons of layers and bring warmers for your hands or something.