kids will be kids

post #391
            I wanted to do something today to join in the voices speaking out against the inhumane treatment of children we've recently become acutely aware of. Of course this means, by definition, that their trauma is also extremely harmful to their families. 
           Using small children as pawns in some larger immigration debate is wrong. Clearly and despicably wrong. 
           I decided I would simply show some photos I've made over the years, of children, without giving their names or their stories. (I don't actually know the names of some of them myself and the names don't matter for this particular post. I did take each photo, mostly during the past 10 years.)       
          Being a child is never all fun and games, and their needed nurturing can be hard work. But it is what we humans do for each other and for the future of the human race. Kids are learning all the time. Each is a unique person. None of the world's children does well being treated with cruelty or being used as a hostage.

 

I'm ending today with a big splash of grandchildren, in awe of all kids in all places.

Memorial Day at the McDaniel family cemetery

post #390
       FIRST -- a decision I made today about my blog! I'm going to go on summer mode! For a while I will post only every other week! After more than 6 years of doing it every week! I feel like a kid getting away with something, except I really get into working on my blog posts. I still love working with my photos and making a story each week. Now I will see if I can also enjoy doing the other photo tasks that I'm not doing those hours when I work on my posts....

      SECOND -- Memorial Day weekend was two whole weeks ago, so I decided today I should show a few photos I made there. I didn't make many, and wasn't totally happy with the ones I did make, but now that some time has passed, I need to swallow my pride and share at least a few of them in honor of this annual gathering at the McDaniel family cemetery. I am an honorary family member, having known some of them since I first came to the ridge over 50 years ago. One year I should join them but not eat or talk, just take photos. However, as much as I like making photos, that wouldn't be as much fun as the visiting -- and eating.

ARRIVING

EATING

CEMETERY

VISITING

THE VIEW

TRACTOR TRAINING

THE GARDEN, and LEAVING -- until next year

 Thanks to all the McDaniels, as ever, and I hope I have given at least "a flavor" of the occasion.  If anyone doesn't like one of my photos, please feel free to tell me and it can be removed.  In the meantime, enjoy and I'll hope to see you around soon.   And I will be back with another post in two weeks, June 24th!!!!   

Colors all around, late May and early June

post #389
     After two posts that have had so many words, I'm eager to celebrate the color that's all around us.  Of course, I live in eastern Kentucky, and I've spent the last few days with family in Denver, Colorado, so please just go along with me and enjoy some of what I have been seeing. Today's photos are all made within the past few weeks:

a wisteria vine on my gallery/home that every year refuses to give up the ghost

Memorial Day in Kentucky means visits to the family cemeteries both small and large. 

a field that's ready to be mowed but waiting in the wind for dry weather instead of thunderstorms every afternoon

I saw this brief but beautiful sky one night, from home,

and this textured sky the next, on the way home.

Denver section, selections:

 

If no kids happen to be around, then ask Riley to pose in the late afternoon sun, to show the roses in their place. I hear that this year this beautiful display has happened before the Japanese Beetles do their annual invasion.

KIDS, at a school event, waiting and playing and being all together:

Three photos from an evening walk in the neighborhood:

The neighbor across the street says this catalpa tree is one of the most beautiful trees in town. She worries that it could so easily be removed if the property is ever sold to someone who would prefer to have a bigger house instead of a bigger tree.  Ever since my friend, poet George Ella Lyon, published her first book of poetry whose title is Catalpa, I have been attached to these trees. 

a second view

To end, it's back to the roses, the next evening:

Well, there's still another last one, filled with color, T. waiting for word about breakfast:

 

         Of course I am grateful to be able to be in these places, with friends and family, and for these occasions to get out and about.  I'm also grateful for visitors to this blog! I really enjoy sharing these various locations and these photos all the while focusing on my attachment to Appalachia.