Bill bought me a new camera lens for the feast of the Epiphany.  This one is for portraits, and intentionally blurs backgrounds/foregrounds/sidegrounds.  This is great for the messy housekeeper who doesn’t really want you to notice the fingerprints on the wall behind the person in the photo.  Or the dirty laundry nearby.  Or the cluttered kitchen counter.  The gingerbread houses were photographed with that lens.  Here are some family shots taken over several days where I practiced with the lens.  I have to admit that I really love it.