had to be there, and humor helps, as does the unexpected

post #401
       Am starting on my eighth year of posting on this blog!  Once a week for most of the time! I say bravo to my crazy self, and to all the pleasure I get from focusing on story telling, with photos, each time. Tonight I am going to hunt up some of the images that I just happened to see. Just happened to have my camera with me. Just had to be there. No Photoshop. Just luck and a thrill and eyes open.

A favorite -- I had returned to my car after visiting with Sandy, my neighbor and friend.  After getting into my car, I looked around to prepare myself for backing up on a hill and a curve.  This is what I saw instead! Just sitting there next to me, on the truck tire. Waiting for me, I presume. My camera was on the front seat next to me. I slowly lowered my window and equally slowly picked up my camera and faced it out of the window. She never moved. It turns out she was pregnant at the time, so maybe she was just enough slowed down not to be bothered by me. I title this photo "on the way."

This is somewhere between a found photo and a quick snapshot. My writers group was meeting at a Panera's, and sometimes I just can't resist. Two poets at work, a quick moment saved, and some fun.

This cracked me up. All these people coming to the Louvre Museum, in Paris, to see the Mona Lisa, and this was how the scene presented itself. I was almost embarrassed to add my cell phone to the collection. All that mystery in the painting, a bulletproof glass in front of it, and no opportunity to connect with the art itself. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Mon Dieu!

 

Talk about the unexpected! Why I noticed this when about to get in my car, in the shed, I will never know.  My eyes at the ready, as they say. I had never before seen such a big snake in the wild, and I had no idea what he or she was up to. Well, up to the rafters, of course. I risked taking the time for a photo, with my handy camera, thinking the snake looked very comfortable up there and wasn't about to get activated.  I decided it was big and black enough not to be a copperhead -- a big black snake or a cow snake -- and I lucked out.

Well, this photo is being included because this birthday card showed up in my mailbox, hand delivered, and I thought it hilarious. What a lot of careful work!  Thanks again, Jean!!

     This photo has also been on my blog before, but I thought it a good example of what happens when you set the remote for a group picture, run to get into the photo, and have no idea what crazy whatever your beloved family members are plotting. 

 

This is from the summer before. I got to the pond just as J. was able to pull off one last throwing--three--cousins--into--the--air in the pond.... This photo still makes me laugh. The kids are too big anymore for this to happen again. I feel lucky to have caught this quick and happy moment.  

experimenting under the Denver Christmas tree. What would happen if.... How would it work.... I love how it turned out.

        This British sign is still there. I saw it again a month ago. I hadn't gone out looking for a sign, or something quirky, or something humorous, but there it was, and the eyes got it. 

        I've managed to use up this day already, so I will do another similar post soon.  Next week I get to share some Halloween ones.  And an outdoors wedding from last night.  This is all by way of trying to stay grounded as our midterm elections get ever closer to happening. I want so badly for things to turn around for the USA. I want to see the American can-do spirit show its power. I want some concentrated attention spent on taking our changing climate situation very, very seriously. I'm so tired of lies, lies, lies, and not just the president's. I don't see anything good about separating young kids from their families. And then losing them. Please vote and stand up against all the attempts to make voting harder rather than more universal. 
        As the ACLU says, vote like your rights depend on it.  Ain't that the truth.

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!

Mother's Day distractions

post #85
       Steady rain all day today, and the chance of thunder, which meant caution with the computers.  We have lost one or two to lightning over the years, so, when in doubt, we unplug.  Also, on the way home from town just now, I was stopped in traffic for an automobile accident ahead of me that took quite a bit of time to sort out.  It is a reminder of what could happen to any of us. 

      I have had a different sort of day than I expected to have, including not being able to complete the post for this week.  I look forward to a better blog day soon!  I do hope this Sunday has had good parts for everyone. 

      I took this photo today, and, appropriately, I am calling it "a leap of faith" --  the squirrel makes it from the walnut tree to the willow tree once again! 

    
      Lastly, I can't help wondering if this a mother's day photo or not....