Thankfulness photos from the past 12 months, part 2 of 2

post #261
        I'm back with some more photos I am thankful for being able to make. This week it seems to be mostly people, and happenings. I am also thankful for people I haven't made a photo of, including President Obama whose bravery for his whole presidency in the face of demented racist individuals with guns and arsenals is so generous. That may sound like a strong statement, but it is the truth.  And it will be hard for him and his family for the rest of their lives. That fits my definition of generous.
        So here we go again, in part 2!  Locally, I was able to take some photos for some friends who got married this fall, and I even ended up in one taken while they applied for their marriage license. Again, bravery and generosity are factors in their lives as well.

taken by the Lexington Herald-Leader

Jennifer Reis, artist extraordinaire

my friend photojournalist John Flavell

  
 Other friends caught in important moments:
         

Jean Rosenberg, watching her husband, John, recieve an honor on stage.

            Three photos of George Ella Lyon, whom I enjoy being able to catch in all kinds of moments:

during the Appalachian Writers Conference, in Hindman, KY, with her close friend and fellow writer Gurney Norman

Our writers group happened to be meeting the day the news came out about the two year poet laureate honor!

George Ella near her childhood home (house) in Harlan, Kentucky, the day she found out that her book TRAINS RUN was accepted by Simon and Shuster for publication!! It is the second of her books written with her son, Benn Lyon, and it will be edited by her long time editor, Richard Jackson.

       My big group photo of the year was at my church -- The Lexington Friends Meeting. Our members are called Quakers. We undertook a major renovation of the building, and it was mostly completed! I feel like this is a happy photo, even though not everyone could be in it at that one time.

      Last March, one of our members, Roberta, who is a cellist, put together a program featuring her cello, two members who are poets, Melva and Judith, and some of my photos. It worked out so well. It happened in the same room as above, on a Saturday afternoon. It was a beautiful, heartening event:  

before

after

         Following all this reverence, the next photo is for pure fun. I keep thinking our 42 year old fridge will stop working any day, and I know it should be replaced in any case.  Yet I am just so thankful to its reliable self for still working!! 

        Well, here is a photo of me, thankfully still working -- and yet I am older than the fridge! I was so thrilled that day to be way back in the woods with friends. Doug discovered this boulder covered with trillium, and Karen took this photo. I think it is the first photo of me on my blog since I started this weekly gig five years ago!

    I have to find a place for this next photo, just because I love it -- a granddaughter who will be spreading her wings in different ways every year, like we all are doing as well in our own way:

       Then a reminder for me that there is beauty in what lies ahead, even though there will be challenges:

          There are many other photos, friends, places and moments I am thankful for, but I end with this second view from the deck, made this frosty morning. It celebrates the light that changes and surprises, the mainstay in all my photographs. I've never seen it before looking exactly like this:

Updates: monarch butterfly stations, the local Arts Fair, and frogs changing colors!

post #167
        I had a lot of fun yesterday at the MSU Arts and Crafts Fair, even though I worked hard all day long and didn't make any more money than the usual.  It really keeps me going to have so many repeat visitors with their stories of where an image of mine might be hanging or how they can't bear to part with a favorite card.  Of course, I'd also like them to be out of cards and buying more.  Yet somehow I can't get too worked up about that particular conundrum since I know it is kindly meant and not really a problem at all.
        The following photo from yesterday is thanks to Jennifer Reis, made just before the doors opened at 9 a.m.  I like to think I was hamming it up for some good reason, but probably I was just simply hamming it up...  Her photo just shows my section of our doublewide.  I never had a chance after that to get a good photo of our entire set-up!  I guess that was a  good problem to have had. 
         

 
      Actually, Jennifer also made a photo for her facebook page that shows her side of things....  She is an amazing fabric artist who also makes jewelry, knits winter head bands, and much more.  I'm regularly thankful she is smart and funny as well!  Here is a hint of the some of her items for sale:
       

  
         I have wanted to share my photographer friend Betty Hall's information connected to  her passion for saving the monarch butterfly.  This is the link to her RESOURCES PAGE on her blog. She especially recommends a recent article about monarch stations, here.  Bravo, Betty, for all you do and share with others, and for the beauty of your garden of native plants.
        I am still in thrall with my few milkweed plants even while they look dead and dry.  I suspect the real action going on is the work of the new seeds, currently covered by snow and ice.  I will continue to follow them for months to come. 
        I did find out from a science teacher who came by yesterday that the simple reason the frog on the milkweed pod is green on top is because he has turned the color of where he is situated.  I should have known that many other creatures besides chameleons use that strategy to protect themselves, but I did not.  I am glad someone I asked could finally tell me.  Whew.  Here is the photo again:

       I can tell I am currently a bit wore out, as they say around here, so I am going to save the printing discussion until next week.  It is an important topic for photographers to think about!  Right now I am going to publish this blog for today, grateful to have the needed electricity to do that despite the chilly, soggy, ice-producing weather.  Warm(!) good wishes to everyone,  Ann