Saturday, January 1, 2011

By jove, I think I’ve got it

Last year, for Christmas, I got a nice little Sony Handycam from my husband. I pretended to like it for about two or three weeks but it was soon apparent to him that I wasn’t thrilled. I was frustrated after a multitude of attempts to edit the clips as well as convert the movie files for use in Windows Movie Maker. And besides, I much preferred my camera and the still images.

And so, the little video recorder sat here all year. And no one played with it.

I’m not a person who makes many resolutions. But after seeing a movie over at the Blue Ridge Gal, I wrote her and asked what equipment she had. She was very helpful, even going as far as sending me a link to a tutorial on YouTube that would help me to convert my video into the right format for Windows Live Movie Maker.

And so I resolved that this month, I was going to finally figure out how to use the little Sony Handycam and how to incorporate footage into the little videos that I love to create for this site. Surprisingly, my new Dell laptop, which has Windows 7 on it, converted the clips automatically. The only thing I have to figure out now is how to edit them, but one thing at a time.

This is only a first attempt, and although it’s apparent that I’m a hundred times more adept with my Nikon than I am holding a tiny video recorder, I think I’ve done it. By jove – I think I’ve got it!


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The video is only two minutes long. I took all the photos and footage early this morning during a walk with George which I then set to some music that I already had in my computer. Thank you so much for your support over the past year, for your encouraging comments, for your laughter, for all of it. Here’s to another good one for all of us.

And now, I’m rewarding myself with a mimosa. Cheers ~

Love,
123 Signature

49 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

We got to see George in action! He's such a pretty and sweet and good boy who obviously loves his mom. :)

We had mimosas w/ breakfast today too. :)

Country Girl said...

It's a perfect day for a mimosa, isn't it? Thanks!

~ C.G.

becky up the hill said...

Lovely. I kept thinking I was going to see Mr. Darcy striding out of the trees/house tho. lol..George was my 2nd choice. It was sweet to hear your voice~

Dawn Gross said...

Beautiful as always!

Dawn

Anonymous said...

Kate, this was lovely and I'm glad that you are taking it upon yourself to learn the technology and to allow us all to see your life in true action mode... well, okay, so it was George Action Mode, but all the same, sometimes a video is just so nice!

A mimosa DOES sound yummy today.

Di

Mental P Mama said...

What a treat! To see George in action. To see the beautiful homestead. And to hear your beautiful voice! Happy New Year!

Country Girl said...

Mr. Darcy? Oh, that's where I've heard this before. D-uh.

Jan's camera said...

Nice job Kate. Your property is so beautiful. You are lucky to have that nature around you every day. And George is a beauty. Happy New Year.

Marilyn said...

By Jove, I think you do....my head isn't spinning because you moved too fast...or my eyes aren't crossed because you zoomed too much, it's a great little video....mostly because.....well, you know.....HE'S in it!!!!
and to hear your voice....just great!!!
Your adoring, over the top, film fan
M!!! :) :) :p

Gayle said...

This is just plain, unadulterated FUN!
Thanks.

Char said...

it looks wonderful! i tried making a movie this morning but can't figure how to upload it so i gave up.

oh well.

:) you are so much better than me at that stuff.

tj said...

...You are so talented! So happy that you decided to give this a go 'cause you're rockin' it girl! ;o)

...Loved seeing Georgie-Peorgie in action and hearing you whistle and speak - lovely. :o)

...Thanks for the lil' glimpse into the life of our beloved Country Girl!

...Happy New Year Country Girl & Guy & George and the whole Country Girl Family!

...Many blessings too... :o)

tj said...

...Oh, and btw I love, love, love the new blog header! Pretty! :o)

Merisi said...

Happy New Year and congratulations on your accomplishment with the video camera!

Hilary said...

With a star like George, I can't see how you could make a bad video!!!
:)

Lisa Sall - Sall's Country Life said...

I just found your wonderful blog, what fun! From one country girl to another, I'll be back to see ya again and again! George is beautiful, every country girl's gotta have her dog!
Have a wonderful day!!

Skogkjerring said...

Wow, your photos are amazing but it was such a treat to see George "live" and a 360 degree view of your home at one time..and yeah, I agree with everyone else, you have a warm and kind voice..
Happy New Year my friend!!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

oooh, pass one over here. I'm sitting down tonight with the manual for my new canon EOS 7D. Love it.. and it scares me too. :-)

FireLight said...

What I want to know: Are the still photos part of your video? Do you just adjust settings on the playback? What magic is at hand?
I am borrowing from a new cheer here in Auburn, but it certainly fits your triumph over the hand held cam.....
"Yes YOU cam!!!"
{chuckling and keeping my fingers crossed for the BCS bowl next week}

kate i said...

Kate this is lovely and I think it adds a wonderful dimension to blogging! It's inspired me to dig out the flip cam that I got last year and try again to create a video! Happy New Year to you.

mrs mediocrity said...

You have got it!
I am having red wine just now, after a day with the extended family. I am so glad to have found you this past year, looking forward to another year with you!

Low Tide High Style said...

I love that you broke out the video camera and gave it another go. George is just as handsome in live action as he is in his stills! Must be the day for trying new things, I finally tried out my new lighting equipment! And yum on the mimosa!

Kat :)

Country Girl said...

Oh, thank you so much, all. The magic came from the program (Windows Live Movie Maker). I just press buttons and it does everything for me. And I was trying to be quiet - that little camcorder picks up everything.

~ C.G.

Where the Fur Flies said...

Very nicely done.

Deb said...

by golly I think you got it....love watching George...

Leslie: said...

I so much enjoyed this and the music was perfect! I wish I could get a better camera and learn more about tweaking photos. One day! *sigh* Happy New Year to you in that little spot of paradise where you live! :D

RottenMom said...

You definitely "got" it, great video!
Happy New Year!

Unknown said...

What a lovely video Kate! I truly enjoyed it.

Happy New Year

~Andrea~

My Farmhouse Kitchen said...

kate...you are REALLY inspiring me..i just love this...another beautiful piece...beautiful footage of your sweet dog...and i LOVED hearing your voice call him "my friend"....he is just gorgeous...LOVE the music...perfect. i have to learn how to do this..i want to have video like this of Teddy. what a treasure. i saw that you mentioned you did it on Windows Movie Maker. i found that and downloaded it...what a challenge for me. i have NO IDEA AT ALL....ZERO of how to do it...

guess i have something to learn in the new year...

i am REALLY enjoying all of this...

happy 2011, my friend...and happy 2011 to george

kary and teddy
xxx

Mary Lou said...

Kate, I've played this over and over and it brings me to tears. The video and the simple words of "hello my friend" are just amazing. I'm trying to decide what to do with my blog. I've lost inspiration.
I love the music you used.

Rusty said...

Well done! Don't fall into the trap (or temptation) to use the zoom feature too much. Straight cuts are as effective as fades between scenes. Watch some of the pros - clips are seldom more than perhaps 10 seconds in length, and most are probably between five and eight. Have fun in what you do! ATB!

beth said...

off to watch your video....and let me say WOW....you are a determined little thing when you set your mind to something. i could learn from you !!!

Flea said...

What fun, hearing your voice and seeing George run! Cheers to you!

Anonymous said...

Oh Kate, I've got tears...it is beautiful....and seeing George in motion reminds me so of my dear Ivan...thank you, I feel you have brought us on a journey with you, thank you......smiles

Lili said...

A perfect day for setting off to learn a new skill AND to enjoy a mimosa! That music is really beautiful, just like your voice. xo ~Lili

MaggieGem said...

Very nice video, so nice to see that you are not afraid to try new technology and share with all here in the blogosphere!

You've done so well with your still camera, I'm certain you'll master the video recorder and editing in short time! Happy New Year!

Mary said...

Omigosh, that is marvelous! How fun to see George running across the lawn, and to hear your voice. I love that music, too! Have a wonderful new year!
xoxo

Jeanne Walker said...

I ditto what Mary just said. George running and the voice of kate! I really like the music too!
Hope to see more videos this new year! Happy 1-1-11! Hugs!

Candis said...

The best -BEST!- Christmas present you could ever give us all -- video of George!!! :D I love him even more. He's such a handsome boy. Looking forward to your future videos, as well ... :-)

Happy New Year to you and your family Kate! -xoxo

Sweetpea said...

CG, I am crawling with goosebumps, typing as fast as I can after watching this TWICE because it is positively UNCANNY...that whistle you use for George early on ('bout 30 seconds into the video) is EXACTLY and I mean EXACTLY my whistle for Isla to "come" and the reason I watched this twice was that the first time, although asleep across the room, when you whistled, she woke up & looked over to me and I thought, ok, "coincidence"?? So when it was over, I replayed the video (Isla had moved over to her bed at this point) and AGAIN, your whistle made her look up & over at me like, "WHUT MOM?!??!"

geez. think I need a triple mimosa at this point.

Anyway, HapPY nEW YeAR, love the vid thang!!!!!!

Nancy said...

I think you may have inspired me to get out my Flip which has been sorely neglected for many months. :)

Kerri Farley said...

Oh, I LOVE it! You did a great job! I felt like George was going to run up and lick the camera :) That would have been cool (but maybe not so much for the camera)

Can't wait to see more of your viddys!

Unknown said...

oh my.
This was just so wonderful , a treat for all the senses.
I agree with what everyone has said, and also loved hearing the birds in the background.

You are so very talented . And an inspiration.

Russell said...

Okay. That was nice. I liked it a lot. And I am not one who throws around a compliment unless I mean it.

The combination of still images and video is really effective. And the music is great, too. A really nice mixture of sight and sound.

Your area looks very much like it does out here in Iowa. We lost a lot of snow last week when we had some warm temps but it is now cold again - as in single digits.

The one thing we do not have that you do is birds. Hearing the sounds of birds and running water was something I enjoyed a lot. Of course if I were a bird I would not be here either!

Happy New Year, Kate! And keep working with that video camera!

Nancy Grossi ~ Churned In Cali ~ The Wife of a Dairyman said...

I have only one video on my blog about the birth of a calf and I'd like to use my flip more often. I can get the clip onto Youtube but have no idea on how to edit. Maybe I can learn from you as you go! Great job on the video! Happy New Year:)

judi/Gmj said...

Look out Spielberg!

Diane said...

How lovely! I've not mastered movie making yet... in fact am still working on the Nikon. So happy to hear your voice though!

Warm new years wishes!

Donna S. said...

I liked the video!! Very nice!

Carolynn Anctil said...

Excellent job. I like the mix of still & video shots. George sure is a happy puppy!