Miss Elaine E-us

post #462. 
       My plan for today was to feature photos that I want to share but which have never had a place in any of my "themes."  It turns out I am not fully ready to show those yet. So, instead, here are some of the unconnected photos I also want to post.  They may be strange bedfellows, as the expression goes, but so be it for today. (It's possible that all the current impeachment upheaval, sadly, is having repercussions in my own day to day life, just from trying to make sense of so much that is terribly hard to reckon with.)

So, some quiet moments, for now, with additions for this post during the week to come: 

sometimes known as Quaker Ladies

This moss was in bloom, for a day or two, and one year I happened to see it!

In London, at the British Museum, some books we might never GET AROUND to reading....

my Norwegian friend Reidunn with the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum

standing room only....

This past week, George Ella's beloved editor, Richard Jackson, whom she worked with since early in her publishing career, died in Baltimore, MD. He took a chance on me for the photos for George Ella's Counting on the Woods, and I am one of many who loved working with him. He will always be a treasure.

summer

our old barn in winter (not made as a black and white photo)

nine for now, more to come, laugh with a friend today, and have hope

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Monday's Add-ons:

Friday's Add-ons:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to this garden maven!

catching up with myself, sort of

post #414
       YO! I am trying to keep up with myself and not listen to the news too much and enjoy my hermit days when they happen -- like yesterday. It's wet outside, some snow, some rain, and who knows what something will happen during the night.  I hope everyone is safe and sane and staying positive in this new year. Today I'm simply sharing some moments from the past three weeks. Then next week I will do more of the Maine photos.
      To begin, a few snow photos from Colorado, in the mountains, where everyone is eager for measurable snowfall: 

tracks and shadows

Christmas gift -- a robot by remote

Can you find the same girl at a table in this restaurant? With my empty seat beside her?

 

Also on the balcony, besides myself -- a very unique chess board!

Back in Kentucky, stove-top shadows and patterns, thanks to Nik and Hannah -- bravo!!

Lexington, Kentucky had an arts display this fall of outdoor benches decorated with a book in mind -- this bench was inspired by a book by George Ella Lyon. I knew about the bench but I didn't know where it was. I found its more permanent location totally by accident, near the entrance to the Carnegie Literacy Center! It is based on her book What Forest Knows, illustrated by August Hall.  George Ella, when you see this post, could you please send a comment here to tell who the Lexington artist is?  I keep forgetting to tell you that I found "your" bench, in December!

 

I love the bird in the opening and the dog under the bench!

    

       Back home, I visited Sandy, and all those guineas came to visit at the same time!  There must have been a lot of news to catch up on.... Thanks, Sandy, for sharing your photo here.

I hope you have a good catch-up to share stories with someone, soon. 

 

Saint-Malo photos, for all readers of All The Light We Cannot See

post #245
     Many people I know seem to have read Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See.  I have not finished it yet, but my friend George Ella said in January that it was the best book she will read all year.  It took me many months to realize that the city of Saint-Malo which is featured in the story is a place I visited -- for the first time -- in May, 2014.  And being me, I took photos there.  And made an album in my Zenfolio account. I have finally put it together in my head that I can share those photos with readers known and unknown by putting the album on this blog.  And today's the day!

        While figuring out how to do this, I followed a link to Goodreads.com where I discovered this marvelous photo of Saint-Malo.  I wish I had seen it before my visit.  Even in walking the wall all around the town, I couldn't get a feel for how it sits on the English Channel.  I am including this whole Goodreads section, I think, though there are other reviews on that site as well. The book won the Pulitzer Prize in literature this year.


 PART ONE, the photo and a book review from Goodreads.com:

Jul 22, 2015 LeeAnne rated it 5 of 5 stars  (on Goodreads web site)

Shelves: france, literature, germany, favorite-fiction, lyrical

All the Light We Cannot See
by Anthony Doerr

This book has the most hauntingly beautiful prose I've ever read. It's brimming with rich details that fill all five senses simultaneously. It's full of beautiful metaphors that paint gorgeous images. I didn't want this book to end, but I couldn't put it down.



"In August 1944 the historic walled city of Saint-Malo, the brightest jewel of the Emerald Coast of Brittany, France was almost destroyed by fire....Of the 865 buildings within the walls, only 18 ...more

flag 582 likes · Like · see review

PART TWO, the story of visiting there with my friends Mariko and Christian:
      My friends have often been to Saint-Malo; they live only an hour away, in Rennes, in the region if Bretagne. I have been good friends with Mariko since meeting her in Japan a long time ago. I thank them both profusely for being willing to go there once again to show me the place for my first time ever.  We had a lovely day in mid-May for our excursion.  
       The guiding design of the town is the thick wall around the outside, with a wide walkway all along the top. It felt like a big star, with the views toward the interior being either high buildings or streets leading into the center of town.  The views away from the town feature boats and ships and nearby land along the northwest coast of France. The whole thing is very dramatic.  I can't imagine the destruction of the place near the end of WWII that is part of the story in the book.  It must have been an enormous community decision to rebuild the town as faithfully as was feasible and affordable.  
    
Revision May 2020: I'm redoing the photo entries for this post. I deleted the slide show link that was here because it wasn't working. Enjoy!

looking into the city from the ramparts:

Mariko and Christian

school group

pointing toward Canada... see a history book....

writer and diplomat Chateaubriand, early 1800s, native son

    

cousin camp

post #242
     This is a rare post, since it has family photos. In five years of doing this weekly blog, I have only occasionally shown photos I've made of family members.  But this week is kinda special, as we say, a first time for Colorado and Massachusetts cousins to be together here for 6 days. It is hot out but not uncomfortable, we have three adults taking turns with everything from food to adventures, and so far so good.  Since this is a happy time, it seemed more than OK with us to share some of that happiness.

in the yard, near the house

in the house, my daughter

said daughter in sharing mode --  she has an excellent eye!

the barn, also near the yard

What would camp be without some good stories!  This one is The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant. It tells about and shows the chaos of a visiting family invasion, with everyone happily sleeping where ever there is a space and lots of hugging!

J built this swing, which has been a big hit. It hangs from a sycamore branch. This early photo is by me,

and this photo is two days later, by R, and I love, love, love it. The light is right!!

     Then there is the pond,

 

  making our own pizzas,

J, chef extraordinaire

     
 reading in bed (kid version),

photo by R

and looking out at the doe and her fawns who continue to come to eat the apples from our loaded apple tree.  They do not seem bothered by a visiting dog or the competition from the turkeys or the noise from mowing the yard. Thanks, deer ones, for sticking around this week, and thank you, dear ones, for this wonderful week.