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!!!!   

Favorite photos from 2016, part 2 of 3

post #317 (interesting to begin 2017 with post 317, and therefore to have ended 2016 with post 316...)

       Welcome this chilly first day of 2017! I'm glad I took last week off, though I'm proud to have done this blog every Sunday for 6 years and 3 months, missing only 4 times. I really enjoy pulling a blog post together.  
       Starting in the middle of January I am going to begin a digital photography class at Morehead State University. I suspect I will learn a lot that I don't even know I don't know! I am so looking forward to it and to sharing on future posts some of the projects it requires.
        Today I want to share more of my favorite photos from 2016. Last week I did some of the portraits, and today I want to do some of the outdoors photography from near where I am privileged to live, and some of the neighborly reasons I am grateful to live here.

redbud branches, barn roof, porch roof

There is quite a bit of luck in getting a different-than-usual image of dogwood flowers! So this photo brings me happiness.

We left this skull alone for months after we found it here in early spring along the creek. We wanted to see over time how it would return to the earth.

Exploring rocks and woods happens during any season.

 

Ann C. and Capp Y. visit the waterfalls when there was just a trickle. Come again!

looking in another direction from that same place

What makes the mystery of timeless beauty from two stones near a stream?

Will this winter bring those snows of last winter? I was told these are deer tracks going up our steps overnight.

The second annual memorial ride for Garry P., along our ridge and at his house:

Natalie warming up for the walk, in Garry's barn

Garry loved his family and his horses.

I so enjoyed this gathering as well -- George Ella Lyon Day in Harlan (Harlan Co., KY) and the audience's deep connection to a native daughter being Kentucky's Poet Laureate. This is what dreams are made of.

         I have to admit that I originally took the last photo (below) because I thought it was funny.  Now, after the election this fall, I can only wish it were funny.
          I find that my hopes for the New Year are also the stuff dreams are made of.  May all citizens of our country communicate better with each other, may we have equality among differences and not be afraid of someone because we are told we should be, by someone seeking power by telling us how to think or feel. May there be a recognition that we need cleaner air, cleaner water, and safer food, none of which can happen if we rely solely on outdated fossil fuels. May greed not determine a person's worth, may we look after the least among us because we are all connected, and may we simplify our lives so we can hear our own selves think and feel.  We need to be present for each other.  
        Well, that's the idea of what this sign now carries for me. A big load! It would be nice if we could all admit there are things we don't even know we don't know, (as I said about my upcoming class) and then trust our own path and the path of others as we try to engage in a world that needs help from all of us.
 

Second annual memorial ride for Garry Purnell, who loved horses

post #293
         For a couple of hours yesterday morning, a group of family and friends rode horses or off-road vehicles in honor of Garry Purnell, who died in December, 2014. It was the second year for this summer event; this time it was not as hot as it can be. Also the rain was short in duration. As a photographer, I appreciated the cloudy light -- and not being super hot.  
       I wasn't able go along with the ride for the whole two hours of it, but today I am sharing some of the photos I did manage to make.  

       First, the preparations at the house and the arrival of wagon and horses:

Natalie, warming up her horse, in Garry's barn

Jean's garden, beside the barn

wagon and horses now ready to go

other horses, perhaps feeling left out -- in the field

Garry's grandson

 

Garry's wife and my friend, Jean

along route 504

 

heading toward home

Perhaps the best response to my photography all day! Loved it!

 

returned

Jonathan, the "ring leader", and his daughter, Natalie, remembering Garry, and his love for them and for the shared love of horses

    

guest photographer Joe Hill, Memorial Ride for Garry Purnell

post #244
      Hot day. Very hot.  Middle of July. The first annual memorial ride in honor of Garry Purnell, my neighbor who died last December.  Photos by Garry's son-in-law, Joe Hill, who is a fine photographer.  I take responsibility for these photos not being in strict chronological order.  My apologies for not being able to post these closer to the date of the ride! and particularly for not getting these photos to show here as sharp as they are in their original version. I may be able to redo this post in the near future.

I particularly like this photo of two good friends, with Joe's mother-in-law on the left.

       

      

 The last three photos I made more recently, trying to show the cemetery/house locations.  Their farm provides this beautiful spot.  Since I took this photo, a bench has been added.

Guardian rabbit nearby!

   Thanks, Joe, for sending these to me, per request.  I forget, have I ever seen you on a horse?!?!?