some Feb. 24s

post #420
          Last week's picks from exact years ago was so much fun for me that I am going to do it again. It's actually helpful to review these earlier moments and be reminded that some things stay the same and some things change. And I suspect that's what the rest of my life will do, as each year becomes part of whatever path I'm busy discovering I have been on.
         In any case, here's some of the fun:

2018, February 24 --

This photo is at my gallery house the same day as the next four photos taken by my daughter at what is now her house.

photo by Rebecca

photo by Rebecca

photo by Rebecca

photo by Rebecca

THE YEAR BEFORE, 2017:
 

creek training, while I was photographing near the waterfall

NOW another year earlier, 2016: 
 

I now have a car that has room for bumper stickers. I will try to find this one in my piles somewhere and paste it on. Please, everyone, trust in the wisdom of this proverb.

This barn stood for ages while becaming increasingly wobbly. One day on my drive to town, soon after taking this photo, I found the barn demolished. There is now an empty space. I often see the shadow of its stories when I go by, the years of hay or cattle or horses, and the hard work of farming not occupying the same place in the lives we currently are leading. I love the lines of snow on the roof, like in a poem.

ONE MORE YEAR BEFORE, this time 2015:

These steps make up for all the work they require by being very photogenic....

I remember distinctly being totally taken by the way the shadows of the trees worked with the bare tree trunks, providing there was both sun AND snow at the same moment in time.

sharing the woods with others

         On a personal note, I would like to pay tribute today to my step-sister Haven, on her birthday. She passed away last month after many years with a less common kind of breast cancer that she took to task with every means possible over 8 or 9 years.  She was a tiger, and she had earlier written several books on how to live a saner, healthier life.  And she loved California where she had lived for almost 50 years.  I send my love to her husband, Robert, and to her son, Steve, his wife Piper, and their two very young children whom Haven was grateful to have been with as much as she could.

more winter photos, guest photographer

post #409
              Rebecca was up early two days ago, took the dogs for a walk before work, and went to some familiar places -- which welcomed them with winter wonders that would soon melt away. Thanks, R, for how open you are to this place on earth that you love. I am very moved by these four photos you took.

    [.... I've decided on a new term:  PIP, i.e. post in progress. . . . ] The first two additions to this post this evening show the prep the day before Morehead University's annual Arts and Crafts Festival  -- with over 100 juried vendors. It felt like it was held earlier than usual since the first Saturday in December this year came on the 1st.

my 10 x 10 space -- thank goodness this is held in the old gym and not outside, because we had a fair amount of rain during the Friday setup time and the Saturday event day. It's always fun to visit with various people who stop by the "booth".  Thanks as ever for your support!!

Fiber artist Jennifer Reis, my friend and former booth-mate, is diagonally across the aisle. She had to work all day so didn't get started on the setting up until later Friday afternoon. Of course, she did a great job, photo to follow:. She shared her booth this year with Dustin, who has taken up broom making!

show in progress, on Saturday

       To wrap up for now, I am sharing two spring photos.  As beautiful as the snow can be, it comes with long dark nights and uncertain road conditions.  I like to be reminded that spring will be here before we know it. I realize it's not yet even officially winter, but I'm very aware that folks in North Carolina and my friend Sue and family in southwest Virginia are having a hard stormy time this weekend, and I wish them well. We seem to be just a bit too far north to have gotten any of it.

Great Britain wrap-up -- for 2018

post #398
        By now it's more than two weeks since I have returned from England, yet I remain in transition. I haven't yet come to terms with my new relationship with the British Isles.  I do know the light over there is amazing -- a photographer's friend -- though because it's closer to the North Pole, there are more hours of darkness in the winter. However, as always, I'd like to express my appreciation for all the fine and fun folks I have met there over the years, the main reason my connection will remain for many more years. 
        These remaining photos from two weeks ago were made in the little bit of time I had that week to be out and about with my camera. 

SO, this is where I left off last week -- about to walk to High Street via Peelers Close:

 I was looking for some protein to fill out my leftovers at the apartment, but, really, a hunk of cheese, no matter how amazing, is not a good option when the next day requires 22 hours of traveling and the scrutiny of TWO Customs and Security lines, the first one in London and the next one after arriving in Detroit.

    This new small shop in Chipping Campden also sells fresh cut meat, and has vegetables as well. I'm afraid this town is catering more and more for the many tourists than for the random hungry residents..... but they were more than tolerant of my American self.

    I wanted to walk home the scenic way, over this creek that runs through town, where for days I had been wowed by the fullness of these flowers.  The next two photos were made from the little bridge that crosses over the creek.  Well, maybe it's not called a creek in England.
 

These homes back up on the creek.  The English love of gardens is legendary, and it lasts during every month of the year:

I guess this limb, in a front yard, could be said to have a pair of pears.

The solar panels caught my attention as well.  Then I looked more closely at who was in the window.

Sure looks like Shakespeare to me...   He made me laugh, in any case.

          The next day I headed for home.  I was picked up around 7 p.m. at the Lexington airport by my dear daughter, since driving myself home, with over an hour on the interstate, after such a long day without sleep, has never been a good idea.  
       After that first night's sleep, I absolutely needed to drive to town, for a dental appointment. When I started to get in my car -- left for several days in my very basic shed -- I discovered this enormous web, complete with its workaholic spider.  I hated having to destroy everything, so the least I could do was to make this photo in honor of all that deft design work which welcomed me home.

     

         I will get back to add to this post after I check with friends in England about what a creek is called, and, from last week, what is the story behind "Peeler's Close."  Thanks!

Earth Day, April 22, 2018

post #383
       Busy day today -- starting with time in the woods with my daughter and granddaughter. There are some flowers, but not as many as usual, and the trees feel late as well -- not much greenness yet.  It was a rough cold long winter. It seems to me that the world climate struggles to make the many adjustments that are part of the honest-to-gosh climate changes that are happening.

      A few photos from a day that was supposed to be cloudy (and therefore better for photos) but today was, in the end, pretty sunny. Still, it was a good way to spend Earth Day.

starting out, with the two dogs

a loyal Murry moment, by R. 

T. leading the way

wood betony, yellow, along the path, surrounding a single bluet

       

Actually, there were a lot of fiddle heads (new fern leaves) but we didn't pick any to eat.

There were not many trillium out yet! These are white ones, kind of basic, always lovely.

wild yellow violet

photo by R of a mayapple, with its flower still just a tease in the center

photo by R., happy hikers

A girl's gotta keep up with her recording and notes while out in nature.  Does anyone recognize my college reunion hat? now belonging to a better head size than mine? T. prefers the bow in front.

boots in the creek

I was trying for a photo of her upside down so it might look as if she had lost her top two teeth instead of the bottom two.... I know, crazy of me, and I didn't quite get the look I had in mind. That's what I get for trying to pose a photo!!

           So, another Earth Day has come and gone, and I still can't figure out why it's so hard for some people to accept that climate change is happening and could be less of a mess if we'd all pay attention and take responsibility for our one and only world. Is it really so hard to imagine what could happen if we don't rise to the occasion? Soon? Please, everyone, think about it with an open mind.

diverted again, this time by the creek!

post #381
       Cold and snow were forecast for yesterday, despite the APRIL date.  Who would believe it! I am lucky that my photographing daughter, with T, almost 7, and the two dogs, reluctantly set out for the creek and the waterfalls. Yet, despite the cold, it turned out to be a magical adventure. I have never been down there right after a covering snow. So, thank you, family, for sharing your winter wonderland via these photos. Good job!

headed down to the first crossing of the creek

amazing to have these colors to cross over

communing with a fallen tree

Murry standing out....

Is this magic, or what!

turkey track, one of several in the area

the top of the first waterfall, framed by rhododendron limbs

checking on the fairy pile

This is my favorite of her photos, at the top of the first waterfall. There would have been no snow to see had they not gone down until the afternoon. Again, thank you, thank you. This is what a swamp is not.....