CREATING COMMUNITY

ALSTROEMERIA

2011-04-12T10:33:00.010-04:00

The alstroemeria flower symbolizes friendship and devotion.

The species of alstroemeria are known to come from one of two distinct areas of South America, one in central Chile, the other in eastern Brazil.
The flowers of alstroemeria are generally showy, with leaves that grow upside down, and with the leaf also twisting as it grows out from the stem. The most popular are hybrids commonly grown today from two species; one species from Chile (winter-growing), the other species from Brazil (summer-growing).
It has been known to resemble the a miniature lily, and has also been called the Peruvian Lily or Lily of the Incas. They are named after its discoverer, Baron Claus von Alstromer, a Swedish baron who collected the seeds on a trip to Spain in 1753.
The Alstroemeria or often reffered to Lily is a flower of the 30th wedding anniversary flower for symbolizing magnificence of pride, beauty and devotion.
These were taken with my 100mm f2.8 macro lens.You can click on the image to see them in larger size.

LACE CURTAIN

2011-03-18T12:44:00.001-04:00

About one year ago, my mother came home from respite care with the hospice service I was using. While there for observation after a fall, she was medicated so heavily she was in a stupor and often did not recognize me when I went to visit. I always questioned how she could have been "observed" under such conditions.

This photograph of the lace curtains in my mother's bedroom was taken in early May, about 2 months later. The green and yellow beyond the curtain speak of rebirth and new beginnings.

But on the bedroom side of the curtain, life was beginning to wane. There was a veil between life and the approaching transition.

This photograph is a poignant reminder of my mom's last days.

Seems so appropriate to close with a poem that was one of her favorites and was read at her Life Celebration.

PERFECTION WASTED
by John Updike

And another regrettable thing about death
is the ceasing of your own brand of magic,
which took a whole life to develop and market —
the quips, the witticisms, the slant
adjusted to a few, those loved ones nearest
the lip of the stage, their soft faces blanched
in the footlight glow, their laughter close to
tears,
their tears confused with their diamond
earrings,
their warm pooled breath in and out with your heartbeat,
their response and your performance twinned.
The jokes over the phone. The memories packed
in the rapid-access file. The whole act.
Who will do it again? That's it: no one;
imitators and descendants aren't the same.
— in the New Yorker, 5/07/1990

CUTE AND FUN -- NOT

2011-02-18T19:47:00.002-05:00

Recently when I forwarded information about Nor'wester Readers gaining national coverage on AOL's PAW NATION, I got many emails from the recipients with comments like, "Oh, that's cute," or "It must be fun." All I can do is shake my head. I find it difficult to understand why people cannot grasp the profound effect that therapy dogs have in such a wide variety of environments. So profound, that the US Senate has proclaimed every November 14th as National Reading Education Assistance Dogs Day.

A video from Intermountain Therapy Animals, originator of the R.E.A.D. program from which so many education therapy dog programs, like Nor'wester Readers, have taken inspiration, shows the typical impact that these wonderful dogs have.

One of our teachers shared an amazing story about a little boy who had no friends until his therapy dog walked into the classroom. One on one time with his four-legged friend gave the boy confidence, security, and motivation to work harder at his reading; as his confidence grew, the other children in the class started to accept him.

Another dog in our program worked with a guidance counselor to help a child with anger issues. Before the dog arrived, the child refused to talk about anger; but with the dog's presence, the child would talk to the dog and began to verbalize her feelings. Not only was the dog a good listener, but the calming presence was instrumental in creating a safe and stress free environment.

These stories go on and on -- another is about a little boy who was very shy and fearful about reading aloud and who gained confidence after reading to his therapy dog -- so much so that he invited the school principal to come to his class to hear him read a story he'd written about his reading buddy.

Cute and fun??? -- NOT!!
Powerful, motivational, and a doorway to a lifelong love of reading and learning??? ABSOLUTELY!!

ICE STORM

2011-02-03T20:49:00.000-05:00

Our area had an ice storm, and I took advantage of the opportunity to get out and do some photography. There was no sunshine which does add more interest to the ice. If you would like to view the images in a larger size, just float your mouse over the picture and click.

The neighbor's red maple tree was gorgeous.

Another shot of the red maple. I love the color in the background.

Holly

Evergreen

Shrub

Boxwood peeking out from under mounds of snow.

Evergreen

Evergreen fans

SNOW

2011-01-30T10:36:00.009-05:00

I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape - the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show. ~Andrew Wyeth

Took the most amazing walk at Tyler State Park yesterday while it was snowing. Invigorating, but at the same time peaceful -- walking through a world of stillness. I can begin to imagine what Thoreau must have felt when he co-existed with nature in his small cabin by Walden Pond. This is a shot up the path I had just descended.

Schofield Ford Covered Bridge in Tyler State Park. The original bridge was burned by arsonists. The community raised funds, and rebuilt the bridge across the Neshaminy Creek, following the old bridge design as closely as possible.

Neshaminy Creek scene just below the bridge.

Loved the painterly look of this tree in the snowfall.

One of the original homes from the Tyler Farm.

A view from inside the covered bridge showing the trees on the hillside. Loved the contrast.

A shot of the Neshaminy Creek. There must have been condensation or water on my lens which caused the softness in the upper left hand corner.

This is one of my favorite shots. The falling snow makes it looks like a painting.

BIRDS AT MY FEEDERS

2011-01-12T15:35:00.000-05:00

I am so envious of photographers who manage to capture birds with their mega zoom lenses and in such crisp detail and focus. Several days ago, after a light snow, I spent quite a bit of time in front of my dining room window with my new Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM lens. Some of the photographers in the SmugMug Daily Community say God made this lens. Indeed, it is a wonderful lens which has helped me capture better quality bird images. There is still lots of room for improvement, especially since these photos were shot through glass, but I wanted to share a few with those of you who follow my blog. ** Side note: I shot about 350 photographs and only saved 65.

White-throated sparrow

Carolina wren

Blue Jay

Black-capped Chickadee

House Finch

Song Sparrow (I think)

The bird seed robber

House Finch

LONGWOOD GARDENS

2010-12-28T00:58:00.002-05:00

"Exquisite flowers, majestic trees, dazzling fountains, extravagant conservatory, starlit theatre, thunderous organ—all describe the magic of Longwood Gardens, a horticultural showstopper where the gardening arts are encased in classic forms and enhanced by modern technology. Many generations helped create Longwood Gardens, but one individual—Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954), industrialist, conservationist, farmer, designer, impresario, and philanthropist—made the most enduring contribution.

More than 200 years earlier, the land had been inhabited by the native Lenni Lenape tribe who hunted, fished, and farmed the productive wilderness. In 1700, a Quaker family named Peirce purchased the property from William Penn and soon established a working farm. Joshua and Samuel Peirce began planting an arboretum on the farm in 1798. The farm was purchased in 1906 by Pierre du Pont so he could preserve the trees, and from 1907 until the 1930s Mr. du Pont created most of what is enjoyed today. In 1946, the Gardens were turned over to a foundation set up by Mr. du Pont. After his death in 1954 Longwood's first director was hired. Since that time Longwood Gardens has matured into a magnificent horticultural showplace filled with countless opportunities for enjoyment and learning." (excerpt from Longwood website)

All photographs were taken by me and can be viewed larger by placing your mouse cursor directly over the image and clicking. My Longwood Gardens Christmas gallery can be viewed here. All photographs are available for purchase.

Looking up through the roof of the gazebo pictured in the next photograph.

Gazebo and lake in a light snow

Walkways

Lamp posts and tiers

Orange tree

A variety of Jasmine

In the Conservatory

Wreath of ferns

Conservatory

Hibiscus

Lines, circles, and curves

Bird of Paradise

A DIFFERENT KIND OF THANKSGIVING

2010-11-25T21:06:00.002-05:00

“Being solitary is being alone well: being alone luxuriously immersed in doings of your own choice, aware of the fullness of your own presence rather than of the absence of others. Because solitude is an achievement.” ~Alice Koller

I was so grateful to receive four invitations to Thanksgiving celebrations. How fortunate I am to have a wonderful circle of friends who thought about me this first Thanksgiving since mother's death. But solitude called to me, and I listened. I decided to take Hannah and head to the New Jersey shore to spend time at Island Beach State Park. We walked the shore line for 2 1/2 hours in a light rain. I photographed, picked up stones and shells, listened to the waves breaking, and watched Hannah enjoy her first experience with the ocean. We were alone on the beach. Except for several fishermen we passed no one, saw no one. We were alone with the sea spray and the screaming gulls.

PHILADELPHIA ZOO

2010-11-19T11:52:00.003-05:00

The Philadelphia Zoo’s 42-acre Victorian garden is home to more than 1,300 animals, many of them rare and endangered. The Zoo, fulfilling its mission of conservation, science, education and recreation, supports and engages in conservation efforts to protect endangered species around the world. Cheetahs, hippos, giraffes and much more make the zoo Philadelphia's leading family attraction with over 1.2 million visitors last year.

Like many other Philadelphia landmarks and institutions, the Philadelphia Zoo is an American first. The charter establishing the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was approved and signed on March 21, 1859. Due to the Civil War, however, it was another 15 years before America's first zoo was ready to open.

The Zoo opened its gates on July 1, 1874. The Frank Furness Victorian gates and gatehouses, and the Zoo's location, are the same today as they were on the day it opened.

On November 13th, I had the opportunity to visit the zoo for the first time since moving to Bucks County in 1970. The weather was incredibly beautiful, and I spent 4 hours roaming the grounds and taking many photographs. You can view the photographs in larger format by clicking directly over it.

Cheetahs

The cheetah is the fastest mammal on land, capable of speed bursts of up to 70 miles per hour. It has a highly flexible spine and a slender build which allows it to take long and rapid strides. The cheetah can sprint 60-70 miles per hour but only for short distances -- approximately 300 yards. It has blunt, partly curved unsheathed claws which provide additional traction during rapid acceleration.

Mother giraffe licks baby Abigail who was born at the zoo on July 17, 2010

Two rare birds at McNeil Avian Center

Caribbean Flamingos

The Caribbean flamingo and Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) are the most brightly colored and largest of all flamingos and sometimes considered subspecies of one species. They are a scarlet pink color overall and have black primary feathers with large bodies and flexible long necks topped with a small head. The flamingo's long legs and feet are bare, and their toes are webbed. Young birds are mostly grey and do not develop their characteristic pink until after the first year. The sexes are similar in appearance although males tend to be larger than the females.

Southern White Rhino

At the end of the 19th century the southern white rhino was considered extinct, but a small population numbering around 50 animals was discovered in South Africa. With intense protection the southern white rhino came back from the edge of extinction and is now considered to be the most numerous species of rhino left in the world. Most of the approximately 15,000 southern white rhinos are restricted to game reserves and national parks where their safety can be carefully monitored.

Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises

Red-Shanked Douc Langur

Pygathrix nemaeus

The douc langur is one of the most colorful of all primate species. Their body is largely gray agouti (each individual hair is gray, black and white). Their thighs are black, but the lower part of their legs from the knees down are reddish orange. They have black hands, feet and shoulders, with a striking white tail, throat and cheeks.

EMOTIONALIZING DOGS

2010-11-11T18:29:00.001-05:00

It has long been a pet peeve of mine that many dog owners do not allow their dogs to BE dogs. Author Jon Katz wrote a wonderful entry on his Bedlam Farm blog today about how our emotionalizing, anthrophomorphizing, and projection are the "new and real abuse" that harms so many dogs. I cringe when I see neurotic behavior in dogs caused by the lack of training and parameters laid by owners -- dogs floundering because an alien existence has been thrust upon them by needy owners.

Jon Katz writes:

People have been wondering about animals and our communications with them for thousands of years. Lots of opinions, mine only one. But here is where I am going with it, after some years of researching, experimenting, and thinking and writing about the subject. I’m considering a book of short stories focusing on the way people and dogs talk to one another.

It is well known now that humans and other animals – especially dogs – emit biochemical smells (hermones) when they feel love, anger, or other intense emotions. Humans perhaps once knew how to smell these feelings, but have mostly lost the gift, scientists believe. It is very pronounced in dogs. It’s one of the elemental ways in which they talk to each other.

It is, I believe, the language of our relationships with them, the words they use to speak with us, spiritual connection to them and the way we train them. They smell our affection or anger or need, and they react to it. We use words, they use feelings, smells and other instincts.

Because we are not, in many ways, as evolved as they, we insert our words into their minds and think we know what they are saying and feeling. What’s the harm?

To me, the emotionalizing, anthrophomorphizing, projection and transformation of dogs into children prevents us from communicating with them and leads to what I call the “new abuse” or the “real abuse” that harms so many dogs. Many more dogs are harmed by being treated as children than are chronically abused by humans, I believe.

In America, the rescue ethic is noble, and powerful. “Rescue” is a powerful term, and lots of dogs could use it. But it also projects a sense that we are “saving them.” And people tell me all the time that their dogs were surely abused, even though they usually can’t possibly know that. This feeling comes sometimes from our need, not theirs.

When you emotionalize a dog, and project your thoughts into their heads, then you overfeed them, can’t train them, or confine or crate them --and can’t help them understand or live by our many rules, leading to so many losing their lives in various ways, being medicated, sent off or back to shelters because they bit, or have accidents, or bark or chew up the furniture.

The great trainers I have known do not patronize dogs in this way, do not talk to them the way humans talk to one another. They listen. When you project pity, “cuteness,” piteous notions of abuse – even when they are true – then you project a sense of superiority. We all think we are superior to cute or pitiless things, and it makes us feel good to nurture. That is sometimes a selfish response -- about us, not them.

I don’t like to be patronized, or treated like a child, or seem as piteous and abused. I try not to do it with the animals I live with. This is a lofty goal. I often project emotions onto my dogs, anthropomorphize them – I’m not sure it’s even possible to never do it – but I do try and be aware of it, and to leech it from my training, listening, and communicating with them.

MASTERS OF THE MOMENT

2010-11-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

A friend gave me a pile of old magazines, and as I was browsing through them I came upon this article titled MASTERS OF THE MOMENT -- a collection of thoughts from well known people from different walks of life. Today's reflection is from Kristine Tompkins who is the former CEO of Patagonia. She has, along with her husband, bought up 2.2 million acres in Argentina and Chile to create new national parks.

Quote from Kristine Tompkins: "The millions of species with whom we share the Earth have intrinsic value. We have to reach, if not perfect harmony between man and the natural world, at least a truce. I have a border collie-like personality -- I'm happiest with a job to do. I glaze over if things are going smoothly, and excel when faced with very big problems. You see something that needs to be changed? Jump out of your chair and put your shoulder to the sheel."

THE FOUR ROOMS

2010-10-06T13:11:00.008-04:00

"There is an Indian proverb or axiom that says everyone is a house with four rooms: a physical, a mental, an emotional, and a spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room every day, even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person." ~Rumer Godden

I like this metaphor for the different aspects of who we are. I reflect upon MY four rooms. At times I feel I can be in several rooms simultaneously. When I do nature or macro photography, I am definitely in a mental, emotional, and spiritual room at the same time. . .

Is YOUR house well balanced? Do YOU spend time in all your rooms? Please share your thoughts about how you spend time in your rooms as a comment below. It is very simple and makes the blog even more interesting to my readers.

STEPHEN WILKES

2010-09-29T11:05:00.008-04:00

Yesterday I had the phenomenal experience of hearing photographer Stephen Wilkes speak about his Ellis Island photographs, which are currently on display at Michener Museum in Doylestown, PA. I visited the exhibition in July and was totally mesmerized by the images. I was frustrated that there was no technological information offered for each photograph. I suppose it could have been done on purpose to allow these powerful images of Ellis Island to impact the viewer.

Portrait of Stephen Wilkes by Greg Gorman

This corridor photograph graces the cover of Wilkes' book titled ELLIS ISLAND -- GHOSTS OF FREEDOM. He told us that this image is one of his favorites because of the contrasts and textures that offer a metaphor for life in a place of decay. Notice the green vines growing on the left, and the decay on the right. He also spent much time talking about light and how fleeting it is to a photographer. Light only exists for several minutes; it is never constant -- always affected by geographical and physical conditions.

When I viewed the exhibit at Michener in July, I just assumed that the photographs were digital and wondered how they could be enlarged and retain the depth of field and sharp detail and focus. I learned that he took these photographs using an 8 X 10 (large format) camera which uses film (ala Ansel Adams). He took only three photographs in each room with some exposures being as long as 15 minutes! His first negatives came out completely black, so he had to go back and do it all over again. "It happens to all of us," he said.

Below is the photograph Wilkes has titled "Blue Room."

Wilkes also shared experiences he had of feeling a presence in the room while he was working, actually seeing a child (dated 1920's by clothing). In another instance he felt such a strong presence of negativity that he left the room without taking one photograph; he did return later and was able to photograph successfully. Another time he felt as if he were being watched from the doorway and said something to the person who was with him that day. The other person reported having the same, exact feeling.

This project ran from 1998 to 2003 with the goal of raising funds to help preserve and stabilize the historic buildings on Ellis Island. His emphasis was on the hospital and wards. Ironically, Wilkes said, it was the act of stabilization that made it more and more difficult to move about the buildings and find the quality of light for his images.

Wilkes also shared that this five year project was life changing for him. His mother was a concentration camp survivor, and there was a similar energy at Ellis Island that spoke profoundly to him. He definitely felt a connection between the two.

LAKE IN THE CLOUDS

2010-09-28T11:49:00.012-04:00

"A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed. . . it feels an impulsion. . . this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons."
~Richard Bach

I had a wonderful invitation to spend two days with special friends at their lake front home in the Poconos. It was even more special because Hannah was also invited. It was the first time I'd taken a trip since mom's death, and I really cherished the opportunity to be in a new environment.

This is one of my favorite photos because it so aptly illustrates the name of the lake, Lake In The Clouds. I saw the reflection while I was being treated to an amazing morning ride in their boat, which was propelled by a quiet electric motor.

Thank you, Nan and Bob, for this gift -- a glimpse above the horizon.

WRIGHTSTOWN GRANGE FAIR 2010

2010-08-23T17:06:00.013-04:00

The annual Grange Fair is always a great opportunity for photographing. The first day of the fair I went to photograph the harnessing exhibition. The draft horse pictured is a Belgian. They are gorgeous animals which stand over 18 hands in height. The draft breeds are noted for their gentle, calm, and sweet dispositions.

Here is the Belgian in full harness. He will be hitched with a team mate to pull a wagon and offer fairgoers an opportunity to ride behind the horses. Always a very popular event.

Here is a 4-H girl showing off her turkey. He was a very sociable bird, and the kids loved him. They were feeding him blades of grass.

A beautiful face belonging to a pony giving pony rides. It's always hard for me to see these wonderful creatures hitched to a wheel, walking in circles for hours. The children love being on the ponies, but my heart aches for these gentle souls. I often ask myself if this is exploitation of animals for man's entertainment? But then, I suppose, I could say that my use of my own horse for dressage was also exploitation? However, the ponies were clean, in good flesh, and their feet were well trimmed, so it was apparent they were well cared for. AND, best of all, they wore no bridles or bits, so the children could not yank on their mouths.

What's a Grange Fair without animals and farm equipment?

There were tents where different non-profit organizations and businesses interacted with the fair goers to raise money and provide information and education. This one-eyed screech owl was helping spread the word about AARK, a certified wildlife rehabilitation center, badly in need of donations.

It's always heart-warming to see the bond that 4-H kids have with their animals. This young lady was relaxing with a couple of her sheep.

Cows are a huge part of the fair. Many different breeds are represented and shown. 4-H kids even get an opportunity to judge the cows. Here are a Holstein (b&w) and a Guernsey. The two of them seemed to be having a conversation about what was going on around them.

OXEN -- I found these huge animals fascinating. They had the most beautiful faces, and were unbelievably gentle. They were yoked together. This was a demonstration to show how yoked oxen are used for working. I wondered whether oxen were a breed so I researched and found out they are simply steers of any breed of cattle, that are at least four years old, and taught to work. A steer is a castrated bull. A full-grown ox is usually larger than a bull because it is allowed to live, and, therefore, reaches full maturity. When farmers choose an animal for an ox, they choose one with horns. The horns keep the yoke on their heads when they back up. The horns grow as their bodies grow, so the horns can get quite large. Different breeds have different shapes and sizes of horns.

I loved this shot I got of the ferris wheel just as dusk was falling. You won't get me on one of these things!

There are many displays, and I liked this quilt. Different "bug" fabrics were used to suggest bugs in jars. I thought it was pretty clever.

One of the produce tables with many different types of home-grown vegetables and the ribbons awarded.

The Grange Fair reminds me so much of the Shippensburg Fair in the town where I grew up. It was exactly the same with animals, 4-H, fair queen contest, rides, food, vendors, a horse show, and competitions in many categories. There's a part of me that will always be a "farm girl."

A WALK IN NEW HOPE

2010-08-19T10:38:00.011-04:00

New Hope, Pennsylvania is about 13 miles from my home. Last weekend I drove up to walk around the town and photograph. It had been a number of years since I had walked the streets, and I spent about 2 hours exploring.

On my way into town I stopped at one of the New Hope-Ivyland RR crossings and put my camera on one of the rails to get this picture.

Here is a shot of the bridge that crosses the Delaware River into Lambertville, New Jersey. If you look closely you can see many people walking to Lambertville. It's a popular thing to do. Lambertville is also a very fascinating town popular with tourists.

New Hope is a very arty town, and the window displays are always interesting. Here is a sculpture against a beautiful backdrop. The reflections adds a bit of intrigue.

This is a street shot which shows how quaint the town is.

Beside one of the more unique shops in town, I saw this arrangement of mannequins. How many faces can you see?

John and Peter's Place is a very famous nightclub. Many well known musicians have played here, and Ken Burns filmed part of his documentary AMERICAN JAZZ at John and Peter's Place.

New Hope once offered Canal Mule Barge Rides. This is a shot of one of the holding corrals for the mules that pulled the barges. There are still halters and ropes hanging from the posts. The canal is nearly dry due to a leak, so the rides have not been offered for about 3 or 4 years. In this picture you can see the canal in the background and the tow path.

This shop always has a very colorful fabric and clothing display when the weather is conducive.

CHICORY

2010-08-15T15:03:00.006-04:00

In his "Humble Bee" Ralph Waldo Emerson, too, sees only beauty in the "Succory to match the sky;"

Chicory is an elusive flower. Highly reactive to weather conditions, one has to be vigilant to find them blooming. Most of the summer the chicory blooming near my home was very pale and washed out. I wanted to find that lovely, unmatched, periwinkle blue color for which chicory is known.
I finally came upon chicory early one morning as the blooms were opening with the morning sun. They were in a field in the country, and in a shady spot. There was that blue I'd been searching for all summer! I did a tight macro of this bloom on the tips of the opening petals.

I love this shot because it looks like there is a glowing light in the center. The stamens have beautiful blue lines, and the tips sport curliques like the dandelion -- in fact, chicory and dandelion are both in the same family.

Another macro emphasizing the center of the flower. In this one you can see the tips of the stamens that will eventually curl.

Do you recognize Chicory in these languages?
French - chicoree
Spanish - achicoria
Portuguese - chicoria
Italian - cicorea
German - chicorie
Dutch - cichorei
Swedish - cikorie
Russian - tsikorei
Danes - cicorie

SUNRISE

2010-08-13T08:55:00.007-04:00

"Life is a great sunrise. I do not see why death should not be an even greater one."
~Vladimir Nabokov

The other night I could not sleep. Finally, at 5:30 a.m. I decided to get up, get dressed, and go photograph the sunrise. I knew of a spot about 20 minutes away where I thought I could see the sun come up over the horizon -- horizons are not friendly in my area. When I arrived, there was a pink tinge where I thought the sun would appear. Got out of the car with Hannah and walked around a large field and watched the sky change.

Given that it was cloudy and a bit foggy, I did not see the sun appear over the horizon. My first glimpse was through the clouds just above the hills and trees.

This was my first glimpse of the full orb of the sun. The clouds were very dramatic.

After I left the field, I decided to explore the back roads. It was cool, and I had all the windows open in the car. Hannah was very excited by all the scents and kept popping her head in and out of the window. Normally I do not permit this because I think it is dangerous, but I was driving slowly, and there was very little traffic. This was an interesting barn which caught my eye. I love the contrast from the brown to gray.

As we continued to explore, I came upon this small house -- so many old farms had these stone out-buildings which were often spring houses. Some are root cellars and well houses. But the wreath caught my eye. Loved the weather-beaten door and the potted plant.

All photographs can be viewed in larger sizes if you click your mouse directly over the image.

THERE YOU ARE!

2010-08-08T21:12:00.003-04:00

There is a quote by Confucius : "And remember, no matter where you go, there you are."

In times of grieving, people often think they can escape emotional pain or run away from difficult situations, forgetting that no matter where one goes, one's emotional landscape does not change. This quote has come to mind frequently these past few months since the death of my mother and 24/7 caregiving. Some days are very difficult -- the house is very quiet -- I am overcome with feelings that I'm not quite able to sort. I think that once I can identify those feelings, I will be able to acknowledge them and move on.

DO YOU READ MY BLOG?

2010-07-14T19:15:00.006-04:00

I have not been blogging too regularly, but a few people recently have mentioned that they check in to see if I have posted. I never realized that because I rarely get any comments, except for faithful Cindy. I was assuming that no one was visiting my blog, so didn't feel too inspired about keeping it current. If you are, indeed, a reader of my blog, it would be terrific if you would leave a comment for me after you read the entry so I feel that it is worth the energy to continue to post photographs and musings. It's no fun writing for a non-audience. And I always enjoy hearing your reactions to what I have posted.

AFTER DEATH

2010-06-19T09:41:00.009-04:00

"I'm not afraid to die; I just don't want to be there when it happens!"
(Woody Allen)

My mother died at age 97 on May 25th, after four years of a steady decline. She had always declared that she never wanted to go into a nursing home, so I tried to honor that request by keeping her at home and taking care of her. It was not easy. Caregiving, as much as I loved my mom, was very difficult and exhausting for me.

Her days were filled with contemplation of dying. She would sometimes say, "I'm not ready to die yet." Then she would say, "Let me die!" I know it was a struggle for her to let go, and several times I told her it was OK -- that I would miss her greatly, but that I would be alright. I think her greatest difficulty was the idea of leaving me and those she loved, behind. And at one point she even said to me, "I thought dying would be easy -- that I would just close my eyes and drift off."

I had done alot of grieving over the past four years as I watched mom lose her vision and attempt to recover from a fall and fractured femur. Eventually I got to a point where I hoped she would have an easy death instead of having to endure total dependence and hours of lying in bed.

Old age is lonely. Visitors stop coming. Friends move on with their lives. There just isn't much room in busy schedules to visit a friend approaching the end of life. Mom didn't only need me; she needed to know others still cared about her too.

Her death was a release for both of us. I had been living in constant fear that she would have a stroke or fall and hit her head and wind up lingering in a vegetative state. I worried if this happened I wouldn't be able to care for her.

So many have sent cards and written emails of condolence for which I am deeply grateful. I have my moments of heartache which I take the time to acknowledge, but then I move forward. Life awaits.

PEONY

2010-05-15T22:03:00.004-04:00

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Terri Guillemets

My macro lens has been waiting for my Peach Sorbet Peony bushes to bloom. Finally, this week they opened in their tri-color glory. The pink in this extreme close-up reminds me of cotton-candy.

I love the streaks of red. This shot also picked up traces of the sticky peony juice. This variety does not harbor ants like so many others, so it is wonderful to cut and bring indoors without fear of bringing in ants.

I love this shot because it seems lit from within; the center almost looks like a flame.

The shade made this peony appear more purple than pink.

CAREGIVING

2010-05-08T10:47:00.001-04:00

"I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance."

~ Pablo Casals

It was my intention to post this about a week ago, but when I went to publish it, the musings disappeared. Now I do not even recall the thoughts I wrote.

It seems a bit odd to me that many people refer to care-giving as caretaking. The whole essence of caring for someone who is no longer able to care for him or herself is an act of giving by the person doing it. Caretaking seems to imply a whole different attitude towards the emotional and physical energy invested in caring for someone.

DANDELIONS -- A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

2010-04-25T11:32:00.005-04:00

" You cannot forget if you would those golden kisses all over the cheeks of the meadow, queerly called dandelions."
~Henry Ward Beecher

The dandelion has become a muse for my macro lens. Yesterday I wanted to try to capture just a couple or a single starburst of a dandelion going to seed. To my amazement, when I uploaded the photographs to my computer I discovered the rainbow iridescence. These were shot with the sun as a back light.

I used a blooming dandelion as a background which suggests the sun.

Comments are appreciated. It is always good to get feedback on my photographs.

AZALEA

2010-04-18T21:58:00.006-04:00

"I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty."
~Georgia O'Keeffe

The azaleas are blooming, and they offer quite an inspiration for macro photography. I have spent much time up close and personal with my azalea blooms. The macro lens affords a passionate view of the delicacy of the azalea. For a full size view, click directly on the photograph.

I was focusing on the pistil and stamens in this shot. The short depth of field gave it a very ethereal look.

This is one of my favorite azalea shots, and I am considering entering this one in a competition. I was using back lighting from the sun in an attempt to get the pollen to sparkle. It worked! I was able to reproduce what my eye was seeing -- the stamens looked as if they had been dipped in silver. I posted this as my daily photo on the SmugMug site, and it was pushed to number 3 out of several hundred photos posted that day. All photographers comment, and the positive feedback determines the ranking.

I liked the way these two blooms were facing each other and the stamens and pistils were intertwined.

This shot really shows the pollen on the flower and the shafts of the stamens and pistil.

Taken from the outside of the bloom.

Deep side view.
Which one is your favorite and why? Leave a comment below.

EYE CANDY

2010-04-10T19:08:00.008-04:00

The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration.
~ Claude Monet

My macro lens exerts a magnetic pull. My eye is hungry to look at nature magnified. I spent more time in my yard this afternoon with the azalea blooms and last year's hydrangea lace. I am so glad I did not prune the hydrangea bush last fall.

I shot this dried cluster of hydrangea with the sun as back-lighting. I really love the effect and the blue bokeh background.

My pink zalea bush blossoms have just opened. Ordinarily they do not open until May, but our warm April spell pushed the bloom early.

Another shot of the pink azalea. I pulled back to get more of the blossom and increase my depth of field.

I love the shadows of the stamens on the azalea petals.

More shadows and detail.

Tight macro. Focusing on the stamens.

Wider view of a sinlge hydrangea bloom showing the veins. I call this hydrangea lace!

A FLOWER FOR KRISTIE

2010-04-06T20:10:00.007-04:00

As anyone who has ever been around a cat for any length of time well knows, cats have enormous patience with the limitations of the human kind.
~ Cleveland Amory

Kristie, a calico, came to us in the fall of 1991. She was a stray who was hanging around the school playground where I taught. One cold, wet day the recess aides carried her into my library and said she needed a home. I took her home and found a family who was willing to adopt her. In the meantime my mom had fallen in love with her and wanted to keep her, so she never left. Kristie was always really my mom's cat. She would have been 19 in June which made her the cat we'd had the longest of any. She was always shy and did not like to be picked up. However, she loved attention and sat on mom's lap by the hour. She was also very vocal and talked alot.

I have had cats since 1972, and Kristie is the last one to leave. These pictures were taken recently when she was still thriving. The end came quickly. She suddenly started losing more weight. Her appetite dwindled, and one evening a few days ago I saw her walk into a chair leg. I then noticed that her pupils were dilated and did not respond to light. It took me a few days to get up the courage to take her to the vet who affirmed that Kristie was blind and that her health was failing.

She was gently ushered into a sleep while I held her in my arms. Goodbye Kristie. Godspeed! Thank you for gracing our lives and home for so many years. Here are Spring blooms that celebrate rebirth -- just as your soul will fly free.

MORE MACRO

2010-04-03T18:48:00.009-04:00

Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again.
~Henri Cartier-Bresson

I had some ideas to try to improve my macro images, so I was eager to get outside and shoot. After doing a bit of web surfing last evening, I decided to try a different f-stop and utilize the on camera flash. I also opted to lie on the ground instead of using my tripod. While a tripod is almost necessary for quality macro images, I tend to find it unwieldy. At times, it actually prevents me from placing my camera exactly where I want it.

Remember if you would like to see the images full size you can click directly on top of the photograph.

The little yellow flowers that carpet the ground are now blooming. They are Marsh Marigold. They like damp areas, and are often found near streams.

Another Marsh Marigold. The glistening on the petals was the sunlight reflecting.

Blossoms from my Weeping Cherry tree. This is not a macro -- I shot this with my 100-300mm zoom lens.

Post processing of a Weeping Cherry image to make it more dramatic. I increased the color balance, contrast, and saturation to get this effect. (zoom lens)

These blooms were on a tree in my neighbor's yard. From my research it appears that this is a Malus Sugar Tyme Crabapple. The blossoms are exquisite! This was also taken with my zoom lens.

This is an emerging stalk from my Peach Sorbet peony plant. (macro)

Just a Dandelion -- I was amazed to see how pretty a Dandelion is when studied close-up. I never realized the stamens were curliques. (macro)

I decided to break off a branch of Weeping Cherry blossoms to put on the ground, so I could lie down to photograph it. I got several nice macro shots before Hannah walked over and stole it right out from underneath my camera! Enough is enough -- she wanted me to play with her!

Another macro of a Weeping Cherry blossom.

Side view.

MACRO MADNESS

2010-04-02T20:00:00.008-04:00

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”
Ansel Adams

I bought myself a 100mm f2.8 macro lens because I love doing close-up photography. Up to this point I had been using a set of close-up lenses with moderate success. A macro lens is much better but very difficult to handle. The extreme proximity of the lens to the subject magnifies every little movement, so a tripod or a very steady hand is needed. There is a difference, however, in blur due to lens motion as opposed to a short depth of field. Many photographers purposely go for a short depth of field.

I spent much time outdoors this afternoon with my macro lens -- going mad in several respects. Experiencing frustration with not getting the images I wanted, and also going mad with joy as I embraced the challenge of macro photography. Here are a few I kept from today's madness.

forsythia

weeping cherry blossom

moss

unidentified

Here is an early Sedum shoot. I was trying to capture the rain drop and maintain some reasonable depth of field.

FIRST DAY OF SPRING

2010-03-20T22:23:00.010-04:00

"An optimist is the human personification of spring."
(Susan J. Bissonette)

These little yellow flowers eventually flower profusely, making the woods look like they are carpeted in sunshine. I do not know the name of this flower. Leave a comment if you can identify it.

Trees are beginning to bud, and this one also had a wonderful scent.

I think this is a magnolia tree. It was gorgeous. It almost looked like snow was on the branches, and here and there were blossoms which had opened.

This is a macro of the blossoms on my Japonica bush outside my kitchen window. The scent is very sweet and attracts lots of bees. I just got this 100mm f2.8 macro lens and have been having lots of fun with it. It's challenging to use, and I seem to throw away more photos than I save.

Here is one bee on the Japonica caught with my macro lens.

A certain harbinger of spring -- crocus!

Mallard pilates.

Canada goose. I was thrilled with the sharp focus. I shot this one from my car!

MORE WINTER IMAGES

2010-02-19T09:51:00.010-05:00

“I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.” (Henry David Thoreau)

I like this Thoreau quote because I find myself doing the same thing as a photographer -- when the lighting or season pulls me, I trek to favorite photography haunts.

I saw this old tractor in a farmer's scrap field. The original photograph is interesting, but I played with it in PhotoShop and really like the "poster effect" treatment. I am thinking this one may be worthy of entering in a contest that has a post-processing division -- maybe the 2010 Grange Fair?
Another one of my creek snowscapes. I loved the way the branches add interest, and the depth of field is good.

This farm is on one of my favorite back roads that has escaped development. I love the contrast in this landscape.

I wanted to emphasize the simplicity of this landscape -- the expanse of snow meeting the grey sky with only trees to break the line.

This gazebo reminded me of a cupcake!

A lattice that caught my eye -- I love the blurred background -- not quite bokeh, but still adds to the image.

Lots of people would say -- why a fire hydrant? This one was yellow instead of the normal red and white. I really liked the splash of color against the snow.

Most split rail fences are left natural. The teal color of this one really pulls the blues/greens out of the snow.

When I shot this one, it was snowing. I love the disappearing background in the haze.

We had a light snow after the big snowstorm of Feb 10th. It looked like little bunches of cotton had been placed on the tree branches. I probably should have zoomed in and taken some close-ups to capture the effect.

SNOW IMAGES

2010-02-16T09:00:00.009-05:00

I wanted to finish the Olympics stories before I posted some photographs from the February 10th snowstorm. The above photograph was shot in my back yard during the height of the storm. I love the effect provided by the flakes falling on my camera lens -- it gives it a dreamlike quality. Remember that you can view larger images by clicking directly on top of the photo.

This is Craig who came and opened my driveway with his snowblower. He was working in the height of the storm so there would be less snow when he returned the next day.

I love icicles and was experimenting with focus, lighting, and depth of field.

You can see that the lighting in this icicle shot was more dramatic. This one was underneath the branches of an evergreen, but I was able to position myself so the icicle caught a bit of afternoon sun.

I have another shot of these icicles but the photograph was shot in RAW and saved to a TIFF file. Several people have commented that they thought these icicles looked like glass.

Played with contrast in this image and thought it came out well.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 13

2010-02-15T00:02:00.000-05:00

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (cont)
By Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

13. And One Heartwarming Moment in Japanese Sportsmanship

At the 1936 Berlin Games, Japanese pole vaulters Shuhei Nishida and Sueo Oe tied for second place. The teammates were offered the opportunity to have a jump-off for the silver medal, but the two friends declined out of mutual respect for one another. For the purposes of Olympic records, Oe agreed to the bronze while Nishida took the silver.

Upon their return to Japan, the teammates came up with a different solution. The pair had a jeweler cut their medals in half and fuse them back together, creating half-silver, half-bronze pendants. The “Medals of Friendship,” as they’re now known in Japan, are enduring symbols of friendship and teamwork.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 12

2010-02-14T00:02:00.006-05:00

Tamara and Irina Press

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (cont)
By Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

12. Soviet Sisters or Communist Brothers?

No one ever questioned the athletic prowess of Tamara and Irina Press, two Russian sisters who were unstoppable in track and field. People did question their sex, though.

At the 1960 Games in Rome, the Presses became the first sisters to win gold at the same Olympics. Tamara set an Olympic record in shot put, and Irina won the 80-meter hurdles. At Tokyo’s 1964 Games, they were even more dominant. Tamara won the gold in both discus and shot put (beating her own record), while Irina won the first women’s Olympic pentathlon.

Given their hulking stature and mannish features, rumors started to spread about their gender. Rivals derisively labeled them “the Press Brothers.” But the whispers turned into shouts after the International Amateur Athletic Federation announced that it would begin gender testing at the 1966 European championships. Both sisters promptly withdrew from the event and disappeared from competitive track and field.

The Western media gleefully interpreted their retirement as a tacit confession. A Soviet spokesman dismissed the accusations as jealousy and claimed the sisters had stayed home to care for their ailing mother. The truth remains an Olympic mystery.

Olympic Cheating: The Creativity PrizeThis Old Sword:

We’ve all heard of marathon runners hitching rides and athletes dosing up on performance enhancers, but who knew Olympic chicanery could come in the form of hacking? During the fencing competition at the 1976 Games in Montreal, the electronic scoring system started giving Soviet Boris Onishchenko credit for hits even when he didn’t make contact with his opponent. Turns out, the clever comrade had rewired his sword with a hidden circuit breaker so that he could give himself points at the touch of a button.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 11

2010-02-13T00:02:00.000-05:00

Babe Didrikson

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (cont)
By Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

11. The Babe Who Ran Circles Around the Competition While Playing the Harmonica

When the Los Angeles Olympics rolled around in 1932, a 19-year-old typist named Mildred “Babe” Didrikson faced an unusual problem. The rules dictated that an athlete could only enter three track-and-field events, and Didrikson had qualified for five. So, she simply picked the ones in which she already held world records—javelin, 80-meter hurdles, and the high jump.
Her first event didn’t get off to an auspicious start. The javelin slipped from her hand and tore the cartilage in her right shoulder. For most athletes, that would have meant instant defeat, but Babe’s compromised throw sailed more than 143 feet and set a new world record. Two days later, Babe set another world record in the 80-meter hurdles. She looked poised to sweep her events, but was disqualified in the high jump competition for diving headfirst over the bar, which was illegal at the time. She had to settle for silver.

Didrikson had an outsized personality to match her athletic prowess. Reportedly, she’d greet her opponents with the taunt “Yep, I’m gonna beat you.” And during training sessions for the Los Angeles Games, she would irritate her teammates by literally running circles around them while playing her harmonica.

The Babe’s sports dominance didn’t stop with track and field. In 1935, Didrikson picked up golf, and by 1950, she’d won every available women’s title in the game. She’s still considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, male or female. Never humble, Didrikson wrote in her autobiography, “My goal was to be the greatest athlete who ever lived.”

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 10

2010-02-12T19:48:00.004-05:00

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (cont)

By Ethan Trex

August 14, 2008

10. Brazil’s Long and Winding Path to an Olympic Embarrassment

For the Brazilian team, getting to the 1932 Los Angeles Games was an Olympic trial all its own. The Brazilian government was bankrupt, and it couldn’t afford to pay for the team’s expenses. So, the athletes traveled via coffee barge, stopping at ports between Brazil and Los Angeles to peddle roasted beans. All they needed was to sell the 50,000 bags on board.
Unfortunately, the team made only $24. At the time, the tax to enter the United States was $1 per person, meaning only 24 members of the squad were able to leave the ship. The other 45 teammates had to set sail for the Pacific Northwest to try to unload the rest of the coffee.
Sadly, the athletes who did make it to the Games didn’t fare particularly well. After losing to Germany 7-3 in water polo, the Brazilian team jumped out of the pool and started pounding on the referee. The police pulled the Brazilians off the battered official, and the team was disqualified from the rest of the Olympics.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 9

2010-02-11T00:02:00.000-05:00

Nawal El Moutawakel

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (cont)
By Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

9. The Hurdler Who Made History for Muslims, Africans, and Women

Talk about Cinderella stories. After spending her childhood running through the streets of Casablanca, Morocco’s Nawal El Moutawakel used her speed to earn a track scholarship to Iowa State University where she won four individual Big Eight titles. In 1984, she became the only woman on the Moroccan team at the Los Angeles Olympics.Moutawakel blew away her competition in the 400-meter hurdles, handing Morocco its first gold medal. At the same time, she also became the first Muslim woman and the first African woman to win a gold medal. As she ran her victory lap with a large Moroccan flag in hand, her elated countrymen back home poured into the streets of Casablanca in the middle of the night.As a national hero, Moutawakel has used her celebrity to help other women in sports. Although Morocco largely supported her career, she knew women in other Islamic countries weren’t so lucky. One of her greatest triumphs has been organizing a women’s 10k race in Casablanca, which now draws more than 27,000 participants. As Morocco’s Minister for Youth and Sports and a major player in the International Olympic Committee, Moutawakel led the task force that chose London as the site for the 2012 Games. She has summed up her triumphs by saying, “My athletic race was the 400-meter hurdles, but it has been a metaphor for my life … You have to get over the hurdles and keep running.”

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 8

2010-02-10T00:02:00.000-05:00

Spiridon Louis

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (cont)

By Ethan Trex

August 14, 2008

8. Slow and Steady, with a Break for Wine

While planning the first modern Games in Athens in 1896, French historian Michel Breal wanted to come up with an event that linked the competition to its ancient roots. He suggested a footrace that was the distance from Athens to Marathon, because a messenger had once supposedly sprinted between the two cities to spread news of a Greek military victory. The Greek people were captivated by the notion of a race with such strong ties to their country’s history, and they become obsessed with dominating the event.

While the other nations barely prepared for the competition, the marathon-crazed Greeks held two qualifying trials to choose their entrants. Except for the Greek runners, only one other contestant had run a full marathon before the Olympic Games. On the day of the race, the lack of proper training quickly took its toll. By the halfway point, runners started dropping like flies.
After nearly three hours, fans at the finish line learned that a Greek runner named Spiridon Louis had taken the lead, despite stopping along the way for a glass of wine. Greece’s Prince George and Crown Prince Constantine got so excited that they joined Louis for his last surge to the finish line. Louis, a peasant farmer, quickly became a national hero, and his name even entered the Greek vernacular. The term egine Louis, which translates as “become Louis,” is still used to mean “run quickly.”

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 7

2010-02-09T00:02:00.001-05:00

Cassius Clay

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (cont)
By Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

7. Cassius Clay Tosses His Medal into the Ohio River

Before Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali, he was a cocky 18-year-old boxer at the 1960 Games in Rome. His masterful performance in the ring won him the gold, but his friendliness and chatty demeanor won him the hearts of journalists. Hoping to capitalize on Clay’s loose tongue, the Soviet press tried to bait him into talking trash about America. One Soviet reporter asked him how he felt about being barred from certain restaurants back home, and Clay quickly responded, “Russian, we got qualified men working on that problem. We got the biggest and the prettiest cars. We get all the food we can eat. America is the greatest country in the world.”After Clay returned home to Kentucky, he proudly wore his gold medal around his neck. But his American pride didn’t last long. In Louisville, a whites-only restaurant refused to serve him, and a white gang made the mistake of trying to attack him. After the incidents, the medal lost its luster for Clay. According to popular legend, he reacted by abruptly chucking it into the Ohio River. Four decades and one Civil Rights movement later, the Olympic committee gave Ali a replacement medal during the 1996 Games in Atlanta.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 6

2010-02-08T00:02:00.001-05:00

Shun Fujimoto

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (cont)
By Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

6. Bearing the Weight of a Nation on a Broken Kneecap

The Japanese men’s gymnastics team won gold at every Olympic Games from 1960 to 1972. So when the 1976 Games began, capturing a fifth straight gold was a matter of national pride.
Things started to come apart, however, when gymnast Shun Fujimoto felt something pop in his leg during the floor exercise. He knew he’d broken his kneecap, but hesitated to tell his coaches for fear of being pulled from competition. Knowing that his team needed every tenth of a point to win, Fujimoto decided to downplay the injury. He dusted himself off and hopped on the pommel horse, scoring a 9.5 despite the searing pain in his knee. Fujimoto later credited his injury with helping him to focus, because he knew the slightest error could have caused permanent damage. “I was completely occupied by the thought that I could not afford to make any mistakes,” he said.

Following the pommel horse was Fujimoto’s strongest event—the rings. For his dismount, he flew through the air in a triple-somersault and made a near-perfect landing with clenched teeth and tears in his eyes. The judges awarded him a 9.7, a personal best. After sticking the landing, Fujimoto collapsed from pain. Even then, he only withdrew from the competition after doctors told him he would risk permanent disability by continuing. Fujimoto’s teammates rallied around their friend’s gutsy performance and edged out the Soviets for the gold.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 5

2010-02-07T00:02:00.000-05:00

Lawrence Lemieux

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (continued)

By Ethan Trex

August 14, 2008

5. Losing a Race to Save a Life

At the 1988 Games in Seoul, Canadian sailor Lawrence Lemieux was moving along at a quick clip, even though the seas were exceptionally rough. About halfway through the race, he seemed to have a firm grip on the silver medal when disaster struck.

Lemieux heard the cries of two Singaporean sailors competing in a different event nearby. One of them was clinging desperately to his boat, which had capsized under the 6-ft. waves. The other had drifted 50 feet away, swept off by the currents. Instead of staying in his race, Lemieux set course for the sailors and pulled them out of the water. His hope for a medal all but dashed, Lemieux waited for rescue boats to arrive. By the time they did, he’d fallen to 23rd place. But Lemieux’s bravery did not go unrewarded. The Olympic committee gave him the Pierre de Coubertin medal, a special award for sportsmanship.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 4

2010-02-06T11:26:00.007-05:00

Alberto Braglia

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (continued)
by Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

4. The Human Torpedo Gets to Keep His Day Job

Although professional athletes can compete in certain Olympic events today, the modern Games were founded on the purity of amateurs competing solely for the glory. However, this often forced star athletes out of the competition just for taking money to make ends meet. Legendary track-and-field champion Jim Thorpe, for example, lost his amateur status for earning $35 a week in minor-league baseball games.

Italian gymnast Alberto Braglia’s “professional” adventures were even more pitiable. After winning the all-around gymnastics gold at the 1908 Games, Braglia hit upon hard financial times. So, he turned to the place best-suited for small, athletic fellows—the circus. Performing as the Human Torpedo, Braglia delighted audiences across Europe with his daredevil stunts. In the process, he broke his shoulder and several ribs.

Irked by his stint in the circus, Italy’s governing body for gymnastics declared that Braglia had forfeited his amateur status. Just like that, his Olympic days were over. Fortunately, cooler heads realized that being a human torpedo wasn’t quite the same as being a professional gymnast, and Braglia regained his amateur status in time for the 1912 Games in Stockholm. There, the Italian wonder picked up two more golds. After the Games, he returned to the circus, where he enjoyed a long and successful career.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 3

2010-02-05T23:36:00.014-05:00

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (continued)

by Ethan Trex

August 14, 2008

3. The Boxer Who Turned Down Millions for Communism

Cuban boxer Teofilo Stevenson burst onto the heavyweight scene at the 1972 Munich Games by knocking down his first opponent in just 30 seconds. He was a force in the ring, and commentators often joked that the “honor” of facing him should go to the loser—not the winner—of previous matches.

After Stevenson cakewalked his way to the gold in 1972, boxing promoters clamored for the Cuban to go pro, but he resisted. He believed passionately in the Cuban revolution and preferred to fight on behalf of his country. After he nabbed another gold at the 1976 Montreal Games, promoters became even pushier. Stevenson passed up millions of dollars and was hailed as a national hero for his convictions. Then he picked up his third straight gold in 1980, at age 28. After retiring, Stevenson worked as a boxing consultant in Cuba, earning about $400 a month. When asked about all the money he turned down, he often replied, “What is a million dollars against 8 million Cubans who love me?”

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 2

2010-02-04T18:59:00.013-05:00

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories (continued)
by Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

2. Riding to Glory Without the Use of Her Legs

In 1944, Danish horseback rider Lis Hartel contracted polio while pregnant. Although the illness left her almost totally paralyzed, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl. She also kept training for her event—equestrian dressage. By 1947, she was riding again, even though she couldn’t use the muscles below her knees. Despite needing help mounting and dismounting her horse, she competed for Denmark at the 1952 Games, winning a silver medal in a sport that was almost entirely dominated by men. In an indelible image of Olympic sportsmanship, Swedish gold medalist Henri Saint Cyr helped Hartel onto the platform at the awards ceremony. In the following years, Hartel kept on riding and won another silver at the 1956 Games.

Lis with her horse Jubilee

Groom assisting Lis off her horse.

Lis astride, preparing to perform a Grand Prix dressage test

Honorable Mentions in Competing Without Your Entire Body

• The One-Handed Gunner: Hungarian rapid-fire pistol champ Karoly Takacs was known for his steady right hand. But while he was serving in the army in 1938, a grenade accident destroyed it. Undeterred, he taught himself to shoot with his left hand and won gold medals at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics.
• The One-Legged Gymnast: At the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, American gymnast George Eyser grabbed one bronze, two silvers, and three gold medals—all while competing with a wooden leg.

THIRTEEN OLYMPIC STORIES - story 1

2010-02-03T21:56:00.003-05:00

I am an Olympic Games junkie, and I am looking forward to following the Winter Games this month. I found this article in the Mental Floss Magazine which shares thirteen fascinating stories from past Olympics.

13 Medal-Worthy Olympic Stories
by Ethan Trex
August 14, 2008

1. The Weightlifter Who Beefed Up at a Japanese Internment Camp

A scrawny, asthmatic child, Tamio Kono developed his weightlifting physique in the most unlikely place—a Japanese internment camp. During World War II, he and his family were forced from their home in San Francisco and moved to a detention center in the California desert. For three and a half years, they endured brutal conditions along with other Japanese immigrants. Although the situation was terrible, the climate wasn’t. The desert air agreed with Tamio’s lungs, and he started lifting weights to pass the time.

After the war, Kono kept training, and within a decade, he was the lynchpin of the U.S. national weightlifting team. Despite his family’s detention, he proudly lifted for the Americans. Using his freakish ability to raise and lower his weight quickly, Kono helped the team fill gaps in its roster. During his career, Kono lifted competitively at weights ranging from 149 lbs. to 198 lbs. To bulk up, he’d devour six or seven meals a day, and to slim down, he’d “starve” himself with three meals a day. He won his first gold as a lightweight during his Olympic debut in 1952, his second as a light heavyweight in 1956, and then a silver as a middleweight in 1960. All in all, he set seven Olympic records and 26 world records. Plus, he went on to become Mister Universe three times. Not bad for a boy who’d once been a 105-lb. weakling.

DONATE FOR HAITI

2010-01-30T01:16:00.004-05:00

Please visit Doctors Without Borders website for information about the situation in Haiti. Click on the picture above if you would like to donate.

ORCHIDS

2010-01-08T18:57:00.008-05:00

"When the emotions are strong one should paint bamboo; in a light mood one should paint the orchid." - Chueh Yin

I visited Parkside Orchid Nursery the other day and was graciously permitted to photograph. Unfortunately I will not be able to provide the names of these orchids which I have posted. Remember, you can view these photographs full size if you click directly over the image.

Some of the plants in one greenhouse had just been sprinkled, and I shot this opening bud with water droplets.

I found this shot fascinating because I captured a bud and the flower, both full front and in profile.

I was intrigued by the jagged edges on this orchid. I love this photo because the short depth of field makes it more artistically interesting.

Here is a close-up of the same flower on a different angle. The extreme blurring in the background is called bokeh. Bokeh can be accidental, but many photographers adjust their camera settings to get an intentional bokeh effect.

The shape and color of this orchid fascinated me, and I loved this cluster.

I think this image will make a lovely notecard.

So many orchids have faces. What kind of face do you see in the center of this one?

This was one of my "art" shots. Major bokeh here -- I love the ruffled edge of one petal and the gorgeous color of pink.

If you would like to see the rest of my orchid photographs, please visit my gallery on my photography website. You won't be disappointed! I welcome comments here as well as on my gallery.

GLASSBLOWING AND LIFE

2010-01-05T19:16:00.010-05:00

"I find working with glass meditative, almost therapeutic. I can leave the world behind, and focus... The simplicity of form, the drama of rich, intense colour, the joy of challenge, and the challenge of endurance... The piece, when it is over, is not what is made, but how it is made." (Andrew Kuntz)

On Sunday I had the opportunity to observe Ron Andress, The Happy Potter, doing his other art -- glassblowing. It was a treat to watch glass take form under the hands of Ron and his colleague Wayne Fitzgerald. Ron has been working with glass for about 5 years, and Wayne has been perfecting his art over the last 15 years.

Here is Ron working with a new "blob" of glass -- I'm sure there is a proper name for the beginning piece of glass that will be blown and molded. This one will be a dish or plate when completed.

Ron is rolling the rod and supporting the globe in a heat-proof pad.

In this picture, you can see that Ron is blowing the glass while supporting it. The tube is attached to the end of the rod. Glassblowers wear tinted glasses to protect their eyes from the glare of the ovens and hot glass.

Once the piece has attained the size and thickness desired, Ron prepares to transfer it to a new rod. He applies a dollop of hot glass which will be the seal for the new rod and cuts it. The top of the piece now becomes the bottom.

Another view of the globe after the new seal has been affixed and cut.

The new rod has been attached to the opposite end. The old seal is then filed and smoothed.

It is reheated in the oven, and Ron opens it at the point of the old seal.

Here you can see the opening at the top of the globe.

Ron works the opening until he has it balanced to his satisfaction.

Then, after reheating it again, Ron spins the rod and the glass flares out and becomes a dish or plate -- in this instance a plate. You can see the red hot edges of the piece as it spins.

The final step after the piece is completed is to remove it from the rod. I witnessed several finished pieces break in this last step. This plate came off the rod in one piece! It was then placed in a very hot box which allows the piece to cool down gradually -- depending on the size and type of piece, it can take anywhere from approximately 12-18 hours and up.

After watching Ron and Wayne for nearly 2 hours and seeing 4 pieces break either at the end when being removed from the rod or during the process, it made me realize that this art, like most art, is a huge metaphor for life. Glassblowers are working with a highly fragile product, and they invest 45 minutes to over an hour in crafting the piece, realizing that there is a chance that it may reach completion and break during removal - or - break in the process of creation. Talk about lessons in non-attachment. The artists accept the breakage, view the damage and learn from it, turn, and start anew. When I commented on this observation, Wayne said, "You learn very quickly not to fall in love with a piece while you are working on it."

DECEMBER PUPPY FIX

2009-12-30T16:06:00.007-05:00

It's always lots of fun when Wendi invites me to go along to visit a litter of puppies. Mom is the black female on the right, peering in the window, wishing she could be inside with all the visitors. The chocolate is an American Lab. You can see the obvious difference in size and in the facial features. Rylee is an English Lab.

Here is a shot of seven of the puppies. It is very difficult to get a bunch of squirming puppies to all look in the same direction for a litter shot. It's even more difficult when some are black and some are yellow. Always more challenging to bring out the features on a black animal.

Then we got into a cutesy mode -- stuck this Santa hat on a very obliging puppy. Next year's Christmas card?

We shot quite a few photos of different puppies in the basket in front of the Christmas tree. I was struggling with depth of field to get all the puppies in focus. Everytime I upped my F stop for increased depth of field, I lost shutter speed. When I adjusted to regain shutter speed, then my depth of field diminished. This is more difficult when shooting inside, especially since you have to shoot fast.

I love this portrait shot. I think the patch of sunlight makes a very effective frame.

We took the puppies outside for about 10 minutes. It was very cold and windy, so we couldn't stay out too long. They are only 5 weeks old. I was just waiting for a puppy to investigate this blue glass garden ornament. . .

Another outdoor shot. It was difficult to get shots because the eight puppies were all running in eight different directions. There were also six adults and two children moving in different directions as well, often walking right in front of my camera as I was about to take a shot.

Play and fresh air is a prescription for tired puppies. In about 2 weeks they will go to their new homes.

MERRIE CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-25T10:00:00.004-05:00

The other day I did a Christmas photo shoot, hoping to get some photographs that might make nice cards for next year. I thought this was a beautifully decorated mailbox with an uncluttered background.

At the same house was this decorated lamp post. I like the simplicity and good taste.

These next 3 photos were taken in a development that now occupies the land which was once Georgana Farm where I lived for 19 years. The houses are quite large and were built by Toll Brothers, a developer I do not like because of their penchant for gulping up so much farmland.

I think this photograph of the red door would be nicer had I included the light on the left side. Seems a bit unbalanced. I think a tight crop would improve this image.

A white door for a white Christmas which we are having this year, the first in many years. When I was a child living in Shippensburg, white Christmases were common.

“Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.” (Calvin Coolidge)

WINTER SOLSTICE

2009-12-21T10:14:00.006-05:00

A friend sent me this article which I very much enjoyed -- so much that I quoted portions of it in my Christmas letter for this year. What I love about the celebration is making the time to be alone and getting in touch with my inner self. The way I most commonly do this is by walking alone with Hannah in the outdoors in all types of weather.

Dr. Rich encourages us to not dread the darkness but to embrace it.

Winter Solstice: A Paean To The Pregnant Darkness
Dr. Judith Rich, Featured Contributor, The Huffington Post

Having spent nearly a lifetime dreading the onset of winter with its short days and long nights, I now hold this season of darkness as most sacred. Learning to honor Winter Solstice has transformed my relationship with winter and subsequently this entire season of long nights. I've gone from fearing darkness to embracing its rich possibilities where silence meets stillness and invites me to turn inward.

In the busyness of this time, with holiday parties, shopping, cooking, and rituals shared with family and friends, include time for stillness and reflection on the evening of Solstice to honor the pregnant possibilities of the dark.

With the Solstice approaching, and in the spirit of embracing its darkness, I share this replay of a post I wrote last year. May you find comfort here.

Solstice = Standing-Still-Sun
Dec. 21st, we enter the belly of the night.

Winter Solstice: We come to the portal that separates darkness from light. Standing in this arch of time where Earth takes a breath before facing us back towards the sun, we too, take a breath, turn inward, pause in this moment of fullness and let darkness reveal its gifts.

Winter Solstice: A time to look back at the year gone by, gather its lessons and put them in the stew of your life. Time to let the heat of your presence cook the stew. Render the lessons into the sweet nectar of wisdom. Then drink of it. One-small-sip-at-a-time.

Winter Solstice: A time to let the longest night of the year seduce you into stillness. Time to silence inner voices, listen to the beating of your own heart. Time to breathe slowly, become the breath. Linger here. The night is long.

Winter Solstice: Time to savor the sweetness of the dark. Nothing to fear. It's only you. And millions of years of Earth's turning; away and then back, away and then back towards the light. It's all you. The dark, the light, the fire, the night: it's all you. You're all it. Sweet oneness, savored in the dark.

Winter Solstice: A sacred link, where Earth's veil thins, the unseen, seen. Images of ancestors and ancient roots threading back beyond time. Back to first humans, their fires still burning to call back the light. We are the ones who hold them sacred. We honor their struggles, their triumphs. We're here due to them. They gave us our blood.

Winter Solstice: A time to reflect on your life in this moment. Like never before, or ever again, reflect on this sweet, fragile moment.

Winter Solstice: A time to let go of what burdens. Empty out stones sitting heavy in the heart. Let bygones be bygones. Acknowledge. Forgive. Begin again.

Winter Solstice: A fertile time, a time to ready the womb; a time for pregnant possibility. A time to sow seeds of imagination that germinate in the darkness. A time to tend the inner hearth; be warmed by the coals of creativity.

Winter Solstice: The union of opposites. Fullness: emptying. Emptiness: filling.  The shortest day meets the longest night. Celebrate the dark. Greet the light. We've journeyed long; we've journeyed far. In summer, we rejoiced in the sun, now absent. In winter, we settle into the night, now present. We draw inward, tuck in our wings to keep warm. All flights are canceled.

Winter Solstice: A time to check inner weather and road conditions. Are you cold? Are you hot? Are you merely lukewarm? Is it stormy? Is it balmy? Are there blue skies inside? Does the road rise to meet you? Are you on shaky ground? Is it smooth? Is it rocky? Can you see where you are?

Winter Solstice: Can you be with it all, just as it is? No fighting, no trying, no pushing the river. It flows by itself, so you watch it. You notice. You see twigs and branches submerged in the stream of your life. Without effort, the water flows over, under and around it all. Nothing can stop it; it goes on forever. Like you do. Like I do. Like we do.

May you go on forever, like this most pregnant night of the year.

A brief ritual to include in your observance of Winter Solstice:

1) Set aside at least 30 minutes, preferably longer, but whatever works for you is fine.

2) Include friends, family members, or celebrate alone if you prefer.
3) Turn off all the lights. Settle in to the darkness.
4) Spend time with your eyes closed, breathing slowly, watching the breath.
5) Let your awareness settle down in your belly. Feel it fill and empty. See your  life coming and going on each inhale and exhale. Feel the strength and fragility of each  breath.
6) There's nothing to do but let go into the dark, allow it to hold you. Feel its safety. Thoughts arise and fall. Just watch them come and go. Return to the breath.
7) Remain in silence for several minutes after you've finished. Savor the moment.
8) At the end of 30 minutes or whenever you're complete, light some candles, build a fire, have a warm cup of tea or a hot drink of some kind and celebrate with yourself or those around you the possibilities found in the dark.

The Blessing of the newborn Sun God: 

"Out of Darkness Light is Re-born. Carry the hope of this moment like a torch in your heart through the coming year. Let it sustain you in your times of darkness, and be a symbol of blessing in your times of joy. Let Peace be with you.

Wishing you and yours a Happy Solstice! May you find peace in the night.

SNOW PUPPY

2009-12-20T12:37:00.005-05:00

Southeastern Pennsylvania got socked with a Nor'easter yesterday. Hannah loves the snow as much as she loves water. This is the first time she's seen snow that was so deep she had difficulty walking or wading through it. She wound up leaping through it -- She looked so funny and joyous, I was calling her Pogo.

Snow photography can be difficult with the light meter trying to read the light on the intense white -- takes manual settings. I got this picture of Hannah, which I like because you can see her eyes, and the snow on her face is in decent focus.

I spent an hour shoveling my driveway this morning and still was not finished. My elbow and shoulders were protesting. Came into the house to rest, and soon a truck and plow appeared to finish the second half of the driveway, a gift from our wonderful next door neighbors.

The sun is out and the sky is blue. It is gorgeous but cold -- windy, but not blustery. I will venture out later on with my camera and Hannah.

2009 TAMANEND PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

2009-12-19T10:56:00.007-05:00

I entered the Friends of Tamanend Photography contest in 2007 and did not receive any awards. Last year, with all that was happening with mom's medical issues, I did not enter. This fall on one of my walks to Tamanend I saw the contest posted. The deadline was very close, so I scrambled to have enlargements printed, matted them, and took them to the park office. On Thursday morning I received an email from my friend Hillary who is a wonderful photographer, and she congratulated me on my winning photographs which were on display in the Southampton New York Camera and Video store.

I entered this photograph in the people division, and it won a second place. The focus is not extremely sharp, and I was disappointed in the color quality. No photo editing is permitted in submitted photographs or they will be disqualified. This little girl was beautiful and adorable. She did exactly what I asked her to do. I told her to hold the leaves up and look at them instead of at me.

This image won a third place in the Natural Scenes division.

This photo won a second place in the Natural Scenes division. This is the old farmhouse in the park. I shot this picture while paying close attention to the reflection in the window pane. It came out very crisp and focused.

I've always liked this photograph because of the red foliage (center left). I thought it was a great splash of color in an other wise neutral photograph, but it did not place. Click on the photo for a full sized view.

This doe photograph was submitted for the Animals/Wildlife division and won a third place. The focus could be sharper, but it is a peaceful, calming image.

This photo won a second place. I was walking one day and had my 300m zoom lens on my camera when suddenly I spied this buck about 12-15 feet from me. He was standing in the foliage that bordered the path where I was walking. I raised my camera thinking he would bolt when I started pressing the shutter, but he just stood there looking at me. I should have adjusted my camera settings for a higher shutter speed, but I was afraid he would take off and I would totally miss the shot. It is not as sharp as I would like, but it is still an interesting photo. Don't you love the lyre shape of his antlers?

CHANUKAH -- part 8

2009-12-18T00:02:00.001-05:00

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed (continued)

by David Holzel

8. So how do you spell it – Chanukah? Hanukkah? Hanuka?

The short answer is yes. We’re dealing with a transliteration that – because English and Hebrew don’t share all of the same sounds and none of the same letters – is inexact.
The first Hebrew letter in the holiday’s name has the sound of a guttural “h.” How would you prefer to render that in English – with an “h,” which can lead people to think that the word starts with an English “h” sound? Or how about using “ch” instead – which could lead some to think the sound is like the “ch” in “cheese”?

Then there’s the final letter hey, which does have the sound of “h” – except when it comes at the end of the word. Then it’s silent. So, do you use an “h” to be as true to the Hebrew spelling as possible? Or do you leave it out, because the word doesn’t end with an “h” sound?
The choice is yours. Chew it over while you polish off your jelly donut.

CHANUKAH -- part 7

2009-12-17T00:02:00.001-05:00

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed (continued)

by David Holzel

7. What were you saying before about pancakes?

Forgive me. You can’t go without a nosh. Potato pancakes – latkes in Yiddish – are the traditional holiday food for Jews whose background is in Eastern or Central Europe. They’re usually topped with sour cream or apple sauce. In the Middle East, sufganiyot – jelly donuts – are the holiday delicacy.What they have in common is both are fried in oil. So there’s a reminder of the miracle in every delicious bite.

CHANUKAH -- part 6

2009-12-16T00:02:00.001-05:00

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed (continued)

by David Holzel

6. Is this the big Jewish holiday of the year?

You’d think so. And, in fact, a 2000 survey found that 72 percent of American Jews light Chanukah candles – slightly fewer than the 77 percent who hold or attend a Passover seder, but a lot more than the 59 percent who fast on Yom Kippur. So Chanukah is certainly just about the most popular Jewish holiday.

But for most of the 21 centuries after that first celebration in Jerusalem, Chanukah was a low-key, minor holiday. That began to change in the 19th century when, under the secular influences of the Enlightenment and Zionism, the Maccabees and their struggle began to be seen as heroic.
Today in Israel, Chanukah is celebrated as an act of national liberation. In the United States, the holiday’s subtext of religious freedom resonates.

CHANUKAH -- part 5

2009-12-15T00:02:00.002-05:00

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed (continued)
by David Holzel

5. Why do you get a present each night?

For the same reason that people line up outside Wal-Mart at 5 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving. There aren’t any set rules for gift-giving. But how can you not do something everyone else is doing? When it comes to commerce, Chanukah has been absorbed into the larger Christmas gift parade.

It wasn’t always that way. Once upon a time, children might get a few coins during Chanukah. I have a book about Jewish holidays published in 1938, which put it this way:“The children eat pancakes and count their coins, and consider themselves fortunate.”

CHANUKAH -- part 4

2009-12-14T00:02:00.002-05:00

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed (continued)
by David Holzel

4. Speaking of spin, what’s the deal with that top?

That’s the dreidel in Yiddish; sevivon in Hebrew. It has four sides, marked with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hey and shin. (They make the sounds “n,” “g,” “h,” and “sh.”)The dreidel found itself connected to Chanukah because the four letters form the abbreviation of the phrase “Nes gadol hayah sham” – “A great miracle happened there” – “there” being long-ago Judea, and the miracle being that high-mileage oil.(In Israel, the sevivon is marked nun, gimel, hey, pey, for “Nes gadol hayah po” – “A great miracle happened here.”)

But the Israeli version is a relatively recent adaptation. It seems the dreidel is based on a German top. The four letters also stand for four words in Yiddish, a European Jewish language based on German. Nun stands for nitz (nothing), gimel for ganz (everything), hey for halb (half) and shin for shtell-arein (put in). And these are the keys to playing the dreidel game.

Traditionally dreidel is played with nuts, rather than coins or chips, which are divided between the players and a pot in the middle. Each player takes a turn spinning. The letter facing up when the dreidel stops determines whether the player can take the whole pot, half the pot, nothing, or must add nuts to the pot.

CHANUKAH -- part 3

2009-12-13T00:02:00.000-05:00

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed (continued)
by David Holzel

3. What about the miraculous oil?

You’re referring to the wonderful story that, when the Temple had been purified and there was nothing left to do but light the eternal lamp, they found only enough pure oil to burn for a single day. By a miracle, the oil lasted for eight days – long enough to process more kosher oil and rush it to the Temple.

The story of the oil offers an alternate reason for why the festival is eight-days long. It comes from the Talmud, which contains the law and lore of the early rabbis. And while the earliest rabbis lived long after the pious, honorable Maccabees, they were contemporaries of the Maccabees’ despotic descendants, who ruled Judea by combining the offices of king and high priest, corrupting both.

The miracle of the oil was the rabbis’ spin on Chanukah, which enhanced the holiday’s religious meaning while de-emphasizing the political role of the Maccabees.

CHANUKAH -- part 2

2009-12-12T00:47:00.005-05:00

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed (continued)
by David Holzel

2. So why is Chanukah 8 days (nights) long?

The first Chanukah celebration lasted eight days, in imitation of the eight-day fall harvest holiday called Sukkot (the festival of Huts), which the Maccabees had not been able to celebrate in their mountain redoubts. Jewish holidays begin at sundown because that’s when the new day begins, according to the Jewish calendar.

ANSWERS TO EIGHT QUESTIONS ABOUT CHANUKAH

2009-12-11T10:44:00.003-05:00

I found this article interesting. When I was working as an elementary librarian, I loved reading the Chanukah story HERSCHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS by Eric Kimmel, to my classes. I think I liked it even better than the Christmas stories.

I will post one question and answer over each of the eight days of Chanukah.

8 Chanukah Mysteries Revealed

by David Holzel

December 8, 2009

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared December 2008

Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, begins at sundown on December 11 with the lighting of one candle on the eight-candle menorah. Every night an additional candle burns, until the eighth night, when eight candles are lighted. To celebrate, we’ve answered eight questions about the mysteries of Chanukah – one for each night. And yes, one of the mysteries involves the proper spelling.

1. What is Chanukah?
To put yourself in the right frame of mind, think 2,000 years ago. Better yet, think 2,200ish years ago. Thanks to Alexander the Great, Hellenistic kings rule in the Middle East, and Hellenistic culture has been embraced by the region’s elites.
Now focus on Judea – at the time, the area immediately surrounding and including Jerusalem. It was from the mountains and caves of Judea that a rebellion of traditionalist Jews, known as the Maccabees, broke out against the rule of Antiochus, the Damascus-based Hellenistic king, and those Jews who had abandoned their traditions in favor of Hellenistic ways.
King Antiochus tried to root out local religions in his empire. In Judea, that meant outlawing circumcision, kosher food and the Jewish Sabbath and, in 169 BCE, introducing pagan sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Maccabees fought a guerrilla war against Antiochus’s forces for three years, before recapturing Jerusalem in 166 BCE. They immediately began to cleanse the Temple of its ritual impurities. And on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev (roughly corresponding to December), they made the first burnt offering in the rededicated Temple.
That was the first Chanukah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew. And it has been celebrated beginning on the 25th of Kislev every year since.

DO DOGS INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY?

2009-12-10T00:32:00.005-05:00

It seems a few happy tails make for a happier workplace. RED HERRING, a magazine and website about business and technology, says pet owners would be willing to take less pay, work longer hours, and even switch jobs if companies would let them bring their dogs to work.

In a poll conducted by SIMPLY HIRED, a job-search company based in California, 66 percent of dog owners say they would work longer hours if they could bring their four-footed pals to work, and 32 percent say they would work for less money if

Rover could come along.

SIMPLY HIRED partnered with Dogster.com to identify dog-friendly companies because, RED HERRING points out, "more US households have pets than children."

What do you think?

AS THE WHEEL SPINS

2009-12-06T11:36:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I went to Fleming Pottery Studio in Doylestown to see a pottery show and sale. It was a fun opportunity to photograph as well. There were a variety of pieces which were wheel thrown as well as slab built. Several potters were selling their wares or "stuff" as I joked with my friend Ron Andress, The Happy Potter. Ron is a real artist, with vision and a talent to make clay come alive under his hands. He is also a glass-blower. His glass work is also stunning.

This piece was very intricate. It was made by one of the other potters.
This is one of Ron's Raku pieces which I loved. I love the iridescence of this type of Raku glaze. I also loved the wavy handle base.

This is another of Ron's Raku pieces with a very creative raffia adornment. I said that I felt it was reminiscent of African pottery. Ron and his wife both said it had more of a South American feel to them. I actually bought a small vase with the black and white Raku glaze. While it feels very African to me, there is actually a spot in the glaze that looks Japanese, and this is why I liked it.

Another small Raku vase/pot by Ron.

This bowl showed one of the most colorful Raku glazes. The single holly leaf added a bit of interest. I was thrilled to pick up the iridescence so well.

If you are shopping for that unique piece of art -- either pottery or glass, visit Ron Andress and see his work. You won't be disappointed and just may find that perfect gift you want for a special person. 215-345-9911.

PET PEEVE -- ME AND I

2009-12-05T09:30:00.008-05:00

I finally found the type of moss I'd been wanting to photograph for months. Instead of just being a soft carpet of green, it has upward growing tendrils. I'd love to photograph this moss after a rain or frost. I didn't have my close-up lenses with me, so I used my 17-85mm zoom and shot on the macro setting of that lens. I played with depth of field which is simply the range of focus from front to back of the image. In a short dof, only a small part of the image is in focus, and in a long dof, the entire photograph will be in focus. In macro photography the depth of field is extremely narrow (short), and, in my opinion, makes close-up images fascinating.

The reason I titled today's entry PET PEEVE is because I get very disturbed when I read the misuse of "me" and "I." I guess it is my grammar background.

"Thank you for taking pictures of Hannah and I."

"Thank you for taking pictures of Hannah and me."

Most people would say Hannah and I which is incorrect. In this case, Hannah and me is the correct use of "me." A simple test to do if you are one of those who are uncertain is to phrase the sentence quickly in your mind using just me or I . . . most people can distinguish the proper use. Instead of using lots of fancy grammatical jargon, I believe that most people who struggle with the proper use of me and I will find this test easier to do.

"Thank you for taking pictures of I."

"Thank you for taking pictures of me."

I think all of you will agree that the correct use is "me" in this sentence. So, therefore, the proper use is: "Thank you for taking pictures of Hannah and me."

"My mom and I will go to the store today."

"My mom and me will go to the store today."

"Me and my mom will go to the store today."

Which is correct? Do the test.

"I will go to the store today."

"Me will go to the store today."

The correct one is the first one, "My mom and I will go to the store today."

Sorry for reverting to teacher mode, but if only one person finds this helpful, then the entry was worthwhile.

So, having said all that, Hannah and I are going out this afternoon and will take a walk where she can run off leash.

Have a great weekend!

NOVEMBER FORSYTHIA

2009-11-30T22:02:00.005-05:00

In my recent daily travels I have twice seen forsythia bushes popping blooms! Our November here in southeastern Pennsylvania has been unseasonably warm. What have YOU seen that has been fooled by this weather?

This photo was taken last spring and is available from me as an attractive notecard.

HELPFUL HINTS

2009-11-29T13:43:00.010-05:00

My neighbor has been giving me old magazines which I've been enjoying. In one issue of REAL SIMPLE I came across an interesting page titled "7 LISTS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER." Thought you readers might find the following interesting and/or helpful. I did!

10 THINGS TO KEEP IN A FIRST-AID KIT
1. Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
2. Sterile gauze pads and cloth tape to secure them
3. Latex-free disposable gloves
4. Tweezers
5. A thermometer (digital variety is safest)
6. Triple antibiotic ointment
7. Antiseptic wipes
8. A face mask to use when administering CPR
9. Topical antihistamines and aspirin
10. First-aid instructions

6 SIMPLE RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS
If you don't have _________________ try ________________
1. 1 teaspoon lemon juice -- try 1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
2. 1 cup cake flour -- try 1 cup less 2 TBL all purpose flour
3. 1 cup buttermilk -- try 1 cup milk plus 1 TBL lemon juice, or 1 cup plain yogurt
4. 1 cup brown sugar -- try 3/4 cup granulated sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses
5. 1 cup heavy cream -- try 2/3 cup milk plus 1/3 cup melted butter
6. 1 cup ricotta cheese -- try 1 cup cottage cheese

HOW TO GET A HUMAN ON THE LINE!
Tired of not knowing how to reach a live person? Here's how to skip the guesswork, courtesy of gethuman.com
Here are a few:

Apple: 800-275-2273 -- press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages

FedEx: 800-463-3339 -- say "representative" at each prompt, ignoring messages

PetCo: 888-824-7257 -- Don't press or say anything

VISA: 800-847-2911 -- Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages

Wal-Mart.com: 800-966-6546 -- Press 5 to speak to a customer service rep

White House: 202-456-1414 -- This number goes directly to an operator

RE-SUNG BY SCIENCE

2009-11-27T10:49:00.004-05:00

By the 6th grade, many girls lose interest in math and science, which they may need for future jobs. So the next time your daughter or grand-daughter asks you to sing a lullaby, sing it in science.

TWINKLE, TWINKLE LITTLE STAR (re-sung by science!)

Twinkle, twinkle little star
You're a ball of gas that's very far.
32 light years in the sky
10 parsecs which is really high.
Helium, carbon and hy-dro-gen
Fuse to make our starry friend.
When it enters supernova stage
It explodes with bursts of rays.
And if the star's mass is big and bold
It will become a black hole!

For other great ideas, go to Girls Go Tech.

The photograph was taken in the rain at Fanny Chapman Park in Doylestown. For the best view click on the photo to see it full size. The rain drops on the branches will then be visible. The pond fountain is in the background.

10 1/2 INCLINATIONS

2009-11-20T23:18:00.014-05:00

Ben Okri

When I attended the American Association of School Libraries Conference in 2006, I heard Dr. Ross Todd, an amazingly inspirational visionary in the field of school librarianship. He is Associate Professor at Rutgers University School of Communication, Information & Library Studies, Department of Library & Information Science. He is also the Director of CISSL
(Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries).

Dr. Todd emphasized that READING not become a lost art – today we find ourselves in a sort of CATCH 22 situation when it comes to reading. Librarians have always been strong proponents for reading, but now their jobs also require them to be leaders in technology. Reading has been victimized by the digital information explosion. We need to re-think and create reading incentives that incorporate technology. . . . and to get kids to read, we need to address the reasons why they don’t.

Several years ago I read a marvelous article where the British Royal Society of Literature asked authors to nominate 10 books they think children should read before they leave school. This was part of a quest to develop a universal list. Most named well known classics like Alice in Wonderland, Dr. Seuss, Catcher in the Rye, something by Shakespeare, or The Hobbit.

But, in my opinion, African poet and novelist Ben Okri came up with the best reading list which he titled 10 1/2 Inclinations.

1. There is a secret trail of books meant to inspire and enlighten you. Find that trail.

2. Read outside your own nation, color, class, gender.

3. Read the books your parents hate.

4. Read the books your parents love.

5. Have one or two authors that are important, that speak to you; and make their works your secret passion.

6. Read widely, for fun, stimulation, escape.

7. Don’t read what everyone else is reading. Check them out later, cautiously.

8. Read what you’re not supposed to read.

9. Read for your own liberation and mental freedom.

10. Books are like mirrors. Don’t just read the words. Go into the mirror. That is where the real secrets are. Inside. Behind. That’s where the gods dream, where our realities are born.
10½. Read the world. It is the most mysterious book of all.

CHANGING THE LOOK

2009-11-19T00:38:00.006-05:00

I've been fooling around with changes recently.

I've had wall paper removed in my family room and foyer. The walls now have a fresh coat of paint. It's exciting to see the difference. Next are new draperies which are being made by a neighbor of a good friend. As I am restoring order to the rooms, I am making changes. Throwing away some things, giving away others, and rearranging shelves and wall hangings.

I've also been changing my photographs in Photoshop which is a software program that allows the photographer to manipulate the photographs in a myriad of ways. I am so eager to learn how to make this software work for me, I ordered the book Photoshop 7 for Dummies.

And now I have a new look for my blog as well.

The photograph is of our cat Kristie who is 18 years old.

LIQUIFY

2009-11-16T10:40:00.003-05:00

I have been fooling around with Adobe Photoshop in an attempt to learn the many features it offers for manipulating photographs. Last evening I took one of my flower photos and discovered the liquify option and had alot of fun playing with it. Made me feel like a painter! Would love your observations and comments.

LOOKING AT A ROPE

2009-11-15T11:50:00.004-05:00

Several months ago I saw a little item in a magazine -- FOUR WAYS OF LOOKING AT A ROPE. The blurb listed these four ways:
1. as a marriage symbol
2. as homage
3. as cow control
4. as rodeo routine

Here are a few that came to my mind.
5. as a way to hoist and dry clothes
6. as a restraint
7. for rescue purposes
8. as a swing

Now, what can YOU add to the list?

IS #13 UNLUCKY?

2009-11-14T19:43:00.009-05:00

Yesterday was Friday the 13th. I got through the day without hitch. Actually, it turned out to be a very positive day -- several good things happened! How was YOUR Friday the 13th?

TEN REASONS WHY THE NUMBER 13 IS UNLUCKY

by Stacy Conradt - November 13, 2009

Mental Floss Magazine Blog

It’s Friday the 13th again! Anyone see any black cats? Walk under any ladders? I don’t really subscribe to the theory that Friday the 13th is unluckier than any other day, but superstitious people may have good reason to stay in bed on days like today. Here are 10 reasons the number 13 is unlucky.

1. There were 13 people at the Last Supper. It’s said that Judas Iscariot – the one who betrayed Jesus – was the 13th man to take his place at the table.

2. Similarly, there’s a Norse legend that has 12 gods sitting down to a banquet when the 13th (uninvited) god, Loki, showed up. Loki killed one of the other gods, which led to events that eventually resulted in Ragnarök – the death of a bunch of gods, a slew of natural disasters, and the eradication of everything on earth save for two human survivors. There’s a lot more to the story than that, but you get the general idea.

3. Traditionally there used to be 13 steps leading up the gallows. There’s also a legend that a hangman’s noose traditionally contained 13 turns, but it’s actually more like eight.

4. Apollo 13 is the only unsuccessful moon mission (intended to get men on the moon, anyway) thus far. An oxygen tank exploded and the survival of the astronauts on board was pretty touch-and-go for several days, but they did all come home safely in the end (but you already knew that).

5. There was a mass arrest and execution of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307.

6. According to Mr. Krabs on Spongebob Squarepants, there are 13 dirty words. Squidward must be a George Carlin fan, because he responded with “I thought there were only seven?” “Not if you’re a sailor,” Mr. Krabs replied.

7. Although a “coven” is now just considered to be a group of witches (or vampires, if you’re into a certain young adult series about vampires), it was once believed that a coven was made up of exactly 13 members.

8. There’s an old superstition that says if you have 13 letters in your name, you’re bound to have the “devil’s luck.” Silly, yes, but slightly more convincing when you consider that Charles Manson, Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer, Theodore Bundy and Albert De Salvo all contain 13 letters (I know, I know, what about their middle names?).

9. Kids officially become teenagers at the age of 13, and we all know that’s a scary phase.

10. In numerology, the number 12 is considered to be the representation of perfection and completion. So it stands to reason that trying to improve upon perfection by adding one is a very bad idea indeed – your greed will be rewarded with bad luck.

And here’s a bonus fact for you today. In the late 1800s existed a group called The Thirteen Club. Their purpose was to debunk the legend that 13 people at a table would result in the death of one of them within a year. They met on the 13th of the month and had dinner 13 people to a table, and to make matters worse, they purposely spilled salt on the table without throwing it over their shoulders. The horror! They also fined members who showed up late – 13 cents, of course. Members of the 13 Club included five U.S. presidents – Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and Chester A. Arthur. I’m not sure if it’s worth noting that two of these presidents were shot – one fatally, of course – but I’ll mention it anyway. And, if you’re keeping track, Chester A. Arthur only became president because he was vice when Garfield was assassinated.

LATIN PHRASES -- part 5

2009-11-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize the wide variety of colors and texture in pumpkins until I stopped at the Eastburn Farm to look at their display. I think this is a white pumpkin, but it was actually more grey. Price: $65.00!

The final two Latin phrases:
9. Memento Mori(meh-MEN-toh MOR-ee): “Remember, you must die”
Carpe diem is so 20th century. If you’re going to suck the marrow out of life, trying doing it with the honest, irrefutable, and no less inspiring memento mori. You can interpret the phrase in two ways: Eat, drink, and party down. Or, less hedonistically, be good so you can get past the pearly gates. Naturally, the latter was the one preferred by the early Christian Church, which would use macabre art—including dancing skeletons and snuffed-out candles—to remind the faithful to forgo temporal pleasures in favor of eternal bliss in heaven. The phrase also served to prevent swelling heads. Some historians say that victorious, parading Roman generals would have servants stand behind them and whisper “memento mori” in their ears to keep their egos in check.

10. Sui Generis(SOO-ee JEN-er-is): “Of its own genus,” or “Unique and unable to classify”
Frank Zappa, the VW Beetle, cheese in a can: Sui generis refers to something that’s so new, so bizarre, or so rare that it defies categorization. Granted, labeling something “sui generis” is really just classifying the unclassifiable. But let’s not over-think it. Use it at a dinner party to describe Andy Kaufman, and you impress your friends. Use it too often, and you just sound pretentious.

LATIN PHRASES -- part 4

2009-11-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

Winter cabbage -- I loved the color and curly leaves.

On with the Latin phrases!
7. Ad Hominem(ad HAH-mi-nem): “To attack the man”
In the world of public discourse, ad hominem is a means of attacking one’s rhetorical opponent by questioning his or her reputation or expertise rather than sticking to the issue at hand. Translation: Politicians are really good at it. People who resort to ad hominem techniques are usually derided as having a diluted argument or lack of discipline. If pressed, they’ll brandish it like a saber and refuse to get back to the heart of the matter. Who said the debate team doesn’t have sex appeal?

8. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam(ad-MA-yor-em DAY-ee GLOR-ee-um): “All for the Greater Glory of God”
Ad majorem dei gloriam is often shortened to AMDG. In other words, it’s the WWJD of the Jesuits, who’ve been drilling the mantra into their followers since (Saint) Ignatius of Loyola founded the Catholic Order in 1534. They believe all actions, big or small, should be done with AMDG in mind. Remind your Jesuit-educated buddies of this when they seem to be straying from the path. (Best used with a wink and a hint of irony.)

LATIN PHRASES -- part 3

2009-11-10T09:27:00.005-05:00

I stopped for lunch the other day at Dominick's and snapped this picture of their wood burning oven. I am trying to expand my photography to include subjects of everyday life that we often don't take the time to stop and observe. I was happy with the result of this one snap.

Two more Latin phrases for your perusal.
5. E Pluribus Unum(EE PLUR-uh-buhs OOH-nuhm): “Out of many, one”
Less unique than it sounds, America’s original national motto, e pluribus unum, was plagiarized from an ancient recipe for salad dressing. In the 18th century, haughty intellectuals were fond of this phrase. It was the kind of thing gentlemen’s magazines would use to describe their year-end editions. But the term made its first appearance in Virgil’s poem “Moretum” to describe salad dressing. The ingredients, he wrote, would surrender their individual aesthetic when mixed with others to form one unique, homogenous, harmonious, and tasty concoction. As a slogan, it really nailed that whole cultural melting pot thing we were going for. And while it continues to appear on U.S. coins, “In God We Trust” came along later (officially in 1956) to share the motto spotlight.

6. Quid Pro Quo(kwid proh KWOH): “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”
Given that quid pro quo refers to a deal or trade, it’s no wonder the Brits nicknamed their almighty pound the “quid.” And if you give someone some quid, you’re going to expect some quo. The phrase often lives in the courtroom, where guilt and innocence are the currency. It’s the oil that lubricates our legal system. Something of a quantified value is traded for something of equal value; elements are parted and parceled off until quid pro quo is achieved.

LATIN PHRASES -- part 2

2009-11-09T09:47:00.002-05:00

I love to photograph doors, and when I am driving around, I am always looking for old or unusual doors. Given that I love barns, I stopped when I saw these weathered doors and the old farm equipment. The milk can was a bonus.

Here are the next two Latin phrases:
3. Habeas Corpus(HAY-bee-as KOR-pus): “You have the body”
When you wake up in the New Orleans Parish Prison after a foggy night at Mardi Gras, remember this one. In a nutshell, habeas corpus is what separates us from savages. It’s the legal principle that guarantees an inmate the right to appear before a judge in court, so it can be determined whether or not that person is being lawfully imprisoned. It’s also one of the cornerstones of the American and British legal systems. Without it, tyrannical and unjust imprisonments would be possible. In situations where national security is at risk, however, habeas corpus can be suspended.

4. Cogito Ergo Sum(CO-gee-toe ER-go SOME): “I think, therefore I am”
When all those spirited mental wrestling matches you have about existentialism start growing old (yeah, right!), you can always put an end to the debate with cogito ergo sum. René Descartes, the 17th-century French philosopher, coined the phrase as a means of justifying reality. According to him, nothing in life could be proven except one’s thoughts. Well, so he thought, anyway.

TEN LATIN PHRASES YOU PRETEND TO UNDERSTAND

2009-11-08T20:06:00.003-05:00

The MENTAL FLOSS MAGAZINE is running a list this week -- ten Latin phrases you pretend to understand. I'll share a photo and two phrases daily for the next five days.

This photo was taken yesterday as I was wrapping up a walk at Tyler State Park. It was getting dark quickly. The clouds were pink and the sky was so blue. The silhouette against the color was quite striking.

Here are the first two Latin phrases:
1. Caveat Emptor(KAV-ee-OT emp-TOR): “Let the buyer beware”
Before money-back guarantees and 20-year warranties, caveat emptor was indispensable advice for the consumer. These days, it’d be more fitting to have it tattooed on the foreheads of used-car salesmen, infomercial actors, and prostitutes. For extra credit points, remember that caveat often makes solo appearances at cocktail parties as a fancy term for a warning or caution. Oh, and just so you know, caveat lector means “let the reader beware.”

2. Persona Non Grata(puhr-SOH-nah non GRAH-tah): “An unacceptable person”
Remember your old college buddy, the one everybody called Chugger? Now picture him at a debutante ball, and you’ll start to get a sense of someone with persona non grata status. The term is most commonly used in diplomatic circles to indicate that a person is unwelcome due to ideological differences or a breach of trust. Sometimes, the tag refers to a pariah, a ne’er-do-well, a killjoy, or an interloper, but it’s always subjective. Back in 2004, Michael Moore was treated as a persona non grata at the Republican National Convention. Bill O’Reilly would experience the same at Burning Man.

TREE MAN

2009-11-01T01:14:00.004-04:00

This Tree Man lives on my street, and I say hello to him every time I stop at the stop sign. I often wonder what his expression is implying?

Has something frightened him?

Is he blowing air?

Is he imitating an owl?

Does he know something I don't?

Has he seen too many cops on the side street waiting for speeders?

Is he reminding us to set our clocks back to standard time?

SMUG MUG

2009-10-29T09:31:00.004-04:00

Yesterday I stopped in two places where I'd been wanting to take photographs for a number of weeks. It was overcast and drizzling. My first stop was to the pagoda. About 2 miles from my home there is a property that displays a strong Chinese architectural influence. In the back yard there is this beautiful pagoda. I was able to peek through some shrubbery to get this shot. I would LOVE to walk back to see if there is a pond with koi.

My second stop was at the Gravel Hill Rd. bridge to get this shot with stunning fall color. The stream was flowing fast after all the rain we'd had overnight.

On the recommendation and generosity (50% discount coupon) of a gifted photographer friend, Hillary, I signed up with SmugMug as Larkphoto to store and display my photography. I felt it was time to step up my photo sharing to a site that had more integrity. Stop and visit! Your comments/feedback are always welcome. ** Please note: my site is under construction.

MORAVIAN POTTERY AND TILE WORKS

2009-10-27T10:19:00.010-04:00

The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, a National Historic Landmark, is maintained as a "working history" museum by Pennsylvania's County of Bucks, Department of Parks and Recreation. Handmade tiles are still produced in a manner similar to that developed by the pottery's founder and builder, Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930). Mercer was a major proponent of the Arts & Crafts Movement in America. He directed the work at the pottery from 1898 until his death in 1930.

You may still purchase handmade re-issues of tiles and mosaics made in the American Arts & Crafts tradition. Check their catalog to see the many tiles available for gifts and installations such as kitchens, fireplaces, floors and walls.Tours are offered every half-hour and consist of a 17-minute video and a self-guided walk through the facility. Visitors will see original installations, various displays, and selected aspects of current tile production.

I drive by the Tile Works often, and have been wanting to photograph the fascinating architecture. Finally, the other day I had my camera with me and the time to stop. This building is made from reinforced hand-mixed concrete.

The Tile Works construction reflects the Spanish influence on mission architecture.

A close up of one of the tiles produced here. What story do you think is behind this ship and sea serpent?

Did Mercer have a chimney fetish? I didn't count them, but there must be over thirty chimneys! This one was particularly ornate.

Lots of chimneys!

Another shot which shows the Spanish Mission influence.

This is the inner courtyard showing the protected walkway.

The walk way on the right side of the building. I like the interplay of light and shadow in this photograph.

Another view of the inner courtyard and chimneys.

A close-up of the concrete walls visible in the walk way.

OCTOBER AFTERNOON VACATION

2009-10-25T19:55:00.012-04:00

I had the opportunity this afternoon to drive to the northern part of beautiful Bucks County. It was a bright and cool day, perfect for taking off on a road trip. I had Hannah and my camera with me, in anticipation of being able to do some photography.

As soon as I was able, I ducked off the main highway to the back roads. I did not care if I got lost. I knew if I kept going, I would eventually come out to a familiar place. There's something very rejuvenating for me being off the main thoroughfare, moseying along the back roads at my own pace and meeting very few other cars. It made it possible for me to stop frequently when I saw something I wanted to photograph.

I thought this building was interesting, and I wondered if it had once been a schoolhouse? The color and contrast came out very poorly, so I decided to turn it into a black and white photo to salvage it. I was happy enough with the results to share it.

I slammed on the brakes when I saw this old barn and tractor. It reminds me of the barns that were so common in the country around Shippensburg, where I grew up.

I walked up and took a rear shot of the tractor under the barn overhang. This was another photo that is better as a black and white image than color. Black and white symbolizes the simplicity of farm life. Photographs in the mid 20th century were predominantly black and white, so I felt it heightened the impact of the image. I really like the contrast too.

Hannah and I stopped at the Bucks County Horse Park in Revere. Riders were participating in a "Spook-a-rama Trail Ride." Horses and riders follow a set trail where they encounter many spooky obstacles. Anyone who knows horses is aware that they are creatures of flight and have a natural inclination to be spooky when seeing strange, unfamiliar things. It's a fun outing for riders, and they receive extra points if they came in costume. I love this grey horse made up to look like a zebra. I wonder what his owner used to make the black stripes? It must have taken HOURS! I imagine other horses spooked at him!

After grabbing a light bite to eat at the horse park and letting Hannah out for some sniffing and a run, we headed again into the back-roads wilderness of Tinicum. Just off Rt. 611 we encountered this beautiful waterfall. Off to the left was a lovely home. I would be the luckiest person alive if I could live in this environment.

Tinicum is very rocky, and stone walls are common. This scene reminded me of Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall." Here it is for those of you who may not be familiar with it. And if you are, it is always worth re-reading.

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,

That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,

And spills the upper boulders in the sun,

And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.

The work of hunters is another thing:

I have come after them and made repair

Where they have left not one stone on a stone,

But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,

To please the yelping dogs.

The gaps I mean,

No one has seen them made or heard them made,

But at spring mending-time we find them there.

I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;

And on a day we meet to walk the line

And set the wall between us once again.

We keep the wall between us as we go.

To each the boulders that have fallen to each.

And some are loaves and some so nearly balls

We have to use a spell to make them balance:

'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'

We wear our fingers rough with handling them.

Oh, just another kind of out-door game,

One on a side. It comes to little more:

There where it is we do not need the wall:

He is all pine and I am apple orchard.

My apple trees will never get across

And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.

He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'.

Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder

If I could put a notion in his head:

'Why do they make good neighbors?

Isn't it Where there are cows?

But here there are no cows.

Before I built a wall I'd ask to know

What I was walling in or walling out,

And to whom I was like to give offence.

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,

That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him,

But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather

He said it for himself. I see him there

Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top

In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.

He moves in darkness as it seems to me~

Not of woods only and the shade of trees.

He will not go behind his father's saying,

And he likes having thought of it so well

He says again,

"Good fences make good neighbors."

This chapel intrigued me -- non-denominational -- for hire -- built in 1847. I should have peeked in the windows.

These huge glacial boulders deserved to be studied. I would absolutely love to see this scene after a snowfall -- but frankly, I meandered so many back roads, I do not think I could relocate it!

This had to be the most awe-inspiring sight of my drive this afternoon. There was a sign by the bridge noting the exceptional quality of the water. These creeks are spring fed and eventually feed into the Tinicum Creek. The boulders were amazing. Instead of just being plain grey stones, they were mottled with white and moss. The water was rushing through the chanels, and the fall color added to the scene. I felt like I was in the mountains, not Bucks County.

This is the same creek looking downstream.

IDA PHOTO SHOOT

2009-10-23T14:29:00.007-04:00

I love to do photo shoots. Katie, a college junior, boards her mare Ida at the barn where I kept Lark. She asked me if I would take pictures of her and Ida. We had a gorgeous fall day, and it was good to do the shoot before Ida's coat started growing the winter fuzzies.

This was a candid shot -- Katie enjoying a quiet moment with her horse.

I like the way the breeze was blowing Katie's hair away from her face. She has more of a mane than the horse.

Horses have amazing eyes. I love this shot, which also includes the halter nameplate of Ida's registered name, Fuerst Ideal.

This was one of the under saddle shots. I particularly liked this one because of the hock action. The hock is the middle joint in the horse's hind leg -- it appears to correspond with the elbow of a person. But in the horse, the hock is actually the heel because horses evolved over the years to walk on their middle toe. The hoof compostion is similar to our fingernail.

Ida is moving forward with energy and power coming from her hindquarters. Her ears are pricked forward, and she looks very happy.

I caught this shot as Katie was walking Ida into the woods behind the pasture. It certainly shows the love a girl has for her horse. They are so relaxed and enjoying their stroll.

This is what they call a conformation shot. Conformation is the sum of the parts -- the way a horse is put together. Many people, including horse people, mistakenly say confirmation.

I love this candid shot because I got lucky and captured both Ida and Katie striding forward with their right legs!

LANDSCAPES

2009-10-22T22:52:00.004-04:00

I am challenging myself photographically, and have been shooting landscapes.

I like what the sky and clouds contribute to the first shot. I think the composition is better than in the second one.

There's something to be said for the interest provided by the large bales of straw in the second photo. The tree is interesting, but it probably shouldn't be dead center?

So. . . please tell me YOUR thoughts?

PS- a reminder -- you can view the pictures full size by clicking right on the photograph.

OLD CEMETERIES

2009-10-20T00:48:00.004-04:00

When I was doing graduate work towards my master's degree in communication at Shippensburg State College (now University), I took a course in 35mm photography. At that point I was already fairly adept with my Minolta SRT 101 camera. The course assignment was to produce a sound-slide presentation, writing an original script and taking all the photographs to accompany the script.

Most of the students opted to do "how to" presentations which required very basic and straightforward photos. I had always had a fascination with old cemeteries and epitaphs, so I decided to do my project with a literary thrust. I titled it "Genesis." Everyone asked me why I chose that title when I was shooting cemeteries and gravestones. I replied that if you wandered long enough and often enough, reading the epitaphs of these folks, they became very alive. We are conditioned to think that death is an ending, but in many ways it is a beginning.

I used bird calls in the background, and my mother was the narrator. The tape was coded with signals for automatic advance of the slides. The day I was scheduled to show "Genesis," my mom came to class with me. My heart was pounding. I was very proud of my project and was eager to share. The lights dimmed in the classroom, and the bird calls started quietly. Through epitaphs and poetry and snippets about death by famous poets and writers, I used metaphor and symbolism to heighten the impact of the photography.

As the ending approached with a poem of uplifting hope, the bird calls started quietly and gradually became louder. Before the last slide shut off, I turned off the projector to a room of dead silence. The silence persisted a few moments, and then the professor spoke quietly, "Oh, Debbie, that was wonderful!"

I received a 10 which was a "professional" rating for the project.

Across from Tamanend, the park where I often walk, there is an old cemetery. I decided to explore it this afternoon. A number of the old stones had flags and a metal disc which signified that the deceased was a Revolutionary War veteran.

Old cemeteries so often have ornate iron gates. This one was obviously very beautiful at one time, but has fallen into disrepair. It had seemingly been reinforced with any kind of junk that was handy.

This shot reminds me of one of the photographs in "Genesis." I like interplay of light and shadow as well as the depth of field which keeps the entire photograph in focus. I also like the white above the tallest stone, somewhat suggestive of spiritual energy.

Behind the cemetery was this magnificent tree. I wondered if this tree was as old or older than some of the oldest tombstones? I thought it was an interesting metaphor -- the trunk was as white as bones. I am guessing it is a Sycamore? Can anyone verify that for me?

In this photo I attempted to shorten the depth of field so that the stones in the rear were out of focus, symbolic of the fading of the physical form after death.

DAVIS FEED MILL

2009-10-18T00:01:00.005-04:00

Yesterday afternoon I took a trip to the little village of Rushland which is like taking a step back in time. In the immediate village there are about 8 or 9 victorian style homes along with the post office, a warehouse business area, and Davis Feed Mill. My destination was Davis for bird seed. This is a snapshot of the old train station across the street from the feed mill which is now vacant after serving as a craft shop for a few years. You can see the tracks in the foreground.

The post office was closed. It is run by a postmaster who is very grumpy when the PO Box numbers are not included on the envelopes. This is a really old-time post office.

Davis Feed Mill has been in business for many, many years. It is a family business, and it has a very unique character. As long as I had horses, I bought my grain, bedding, and most of my supplies there. The prices were always lower than the tack shops in the area.

Here is one of the outdoor storage areas. To the left is straw, and hay is to the right. Do you know the difference between hay and straw? Hay is a grass -- orchard grass, timothy, alfalfa, clover. Straw is the stem of wheat, oats, barley, which is baled after the grain is harvested. Straw is often used for bedding as it can be recycled by mushroom growers. Because manure disposal is such a problem, this is why some people prefer using straw. The most popular choice of bedding for horses is wood chips. They come in big paper bales, but disposal is sometimes very difficult.

Davis carries a wide variety of items -- gardening supplies, fencing supplies, horse and pet needs, bird seed, Breyer Horses, farm and outdoor gear, etc. . . There's a bulletin board inside that advertises horses, dogs, cats, and farm animals for sale along with help wanted ads.

This is the equine aisle -- all kinds of tack and supplies such as fly spray, hoof dressings, supplements, bandages, bell and exercise boots, wound care, wormers, salt blocks. . .

This aisle displays dog and cat food, kitty litter, odor control items, first aid remedies, and dog and cat beds. To the right there is an aisle with fish and bird supplies. . . and also supplies for small animals like pet mice, rats, hamsters, ferrets, and guinea pigs.

Mary has worked at Davis for many years. Here she is ringing up my bill. I went for bird seed and suet, but I got lucky and found a 100% waterproof Harry Hall (British) jacket at 50% off! It was a perfect fit, and I bought it! Harry Hall gear has always been coveted by equestrians because of its fine quality. This is my first Harry Hall item ever. . . and I don't have a horse! But it will be fabulous for walking Hannah in cold and wet weather.

After I'd paid for my purchases, this gentleman helped me carry my things out to the car -- a service that isn't usually provided these days. But that is Davis Feed Mill for you --

FUN WITH LANDSCAPES

2009-10-17T00:01:00.001-04:00

The original photograph was dark. I lightened it and then fooled around with color temperature, tint, and saturation. I tried to make it look fairly realistic without being overly garish.

What do you think?

When I approached this small pond, the water was glassy still. I was hoping that I could get a few shots before the reflection was disturbed by ripples. But water is just too tempting to Hannah, and she slipped in before I could stop her. I quickly snapped the picture before her ripples reached the reflection. Using the same features as above, I was able to make this photograph much more dramatic than the original.

The color of the trees was far from being this vivid. I think it is interesting that when the color is adjusted in the trees that it also changed in the reflection.

BREAST CANCER PET THERAPY

2009-10-16T08:54:00.010-04:00

Those of us who love and understand animals know the therapeutic power they have to offer when we are ill. Some animals are particularly instinctive. I recall one day when I was ill with a gastro bug and feeling miserable. My cat jumped on my lap and draped his body over my abdomen. The warmth of his body and vibration of his purr amazingly helped my pain to subside.

Purina and Susan G. Komen:
Cat Chow sales to benefit breast cancer battle
By Joan Lowell Smith
October 15, 2009, 3:31PM

Purina is donating proceeds from sales of Cat Chow to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure.And you thought Purina was only interested in selling pet food. Not so. Purina is heavily involved in raising awareness about breast cancer. This is the second year Purina Cat Chow is supporting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, global leader of the breast care movement. PCC is donating $200,000 to the Komen crusade and wants involved people to participate with their stories and photos with their cats.

A national survey indicated 84 percent of breast cancer patients with cats found respondents were soothed during their battles with breast cancer and 76 percent found kitty calmed them daily during treatment.

Purina Cat Chow urges consumers to submit stories and photos of their cancer experiences by May 2010. We’re a bit early but why not start now? For every photo uploaded, Purina will donate $1 to Komen up to $10,000. That’s in addition to the $200,000. (Visit catchow.com for details.) Purina Cat Chow’s "Complete Formula" and "Indoor Formula" feature pink packaging during Cancer Awareness Month. And we’re halfway through it. A few breast cancer survivors shared their stories of how much their cat influenced their determination to fight the disease. With patient permission, Purina shared some uplifting stories.

Lara Pilla, from Manhattan, had plenty of support from friends and family, but they couldn’t live with her. So she adopted Mingo, a tiny black kitty with an independent, energetic and affectionate disposition. Just what she needed. Ten years later, Lara was hit with a recurrence of breast cancer. A survivor of the double onslaught, she wants people to know that Mingo helped her through it.

Through a routine mammography in 1991, Missy Fish of St. Louis, Mo., was diagnosed with the disease. Fourteen years later, like Pilla, she needed another mastectomy. Over those years, her cats, Phoebe and Jack, stayed glued to her side. Fish was grateful and raised more than $700,000 for breast cancer research as a community organizer par excellence.

In Rochester Hills, Mich., Shannon Watson was a mere 25 when she received her diagnosis. Living alone, she adopted Chloe, a kitten who became her constant companion while she recovered from treatments. In 2007, just before she was set to marry, breast cancer returned, but Watson did not let that prevent her marriage or dampen her determination to make an impact in the fight against breast cancer. With a group of similarly dedicated women, she formed "Rack Pack." The group has raised $30,000 for the Komen fund.

This past summer Purina displayed a lighthearted approach by launching a new product line, Chef Michael’s Canine Cuisine. It arranged "house parties" across the country through hosts who volunteered to invite doggies and owners to Sunday supper. Guests and pooches played games and, of course, received samples of Chef Michaels’ dry dog food in — you guessed it — "doggie bags." Hosts received Purina party packs containing decorations, games and product samples. To read glowing comments from participants (no dogs commented directly), check houseparty.com/chefmichael.

Dawn D’Angelo, of Newton, hosted a picnic party at the dog park in Wantage Park where dogs can race around in an area covering seven acres. "It was an awesome experience," she bubbled. "Purina sent us such great things." About 20 dogs romped with D’Angelo’s 4-year-old Lab, Rocco, but first each one was introduced to Chef Michael’s tasty goodies. "We fed them separately to avoid any problems," she explained. "We gave each dog two wet and two dry samples. One man said his Lab puppy, Maggie, was a ‘fussy’ eater, but she disproved his statement by gobbling up her sample and then proceeded to climb on the picnic table looking for more," she recalled with a laugh. A marketing executive when she isn’t frolicking with Rocco, she added with another laugh, "and I don’t work for Purina!" She and Rocco are regulars at the dog park, about which she said: "The dogs are like Rocco’s best friends. He’s my baby and it’s great to do something special for our best friends."

Contact Joan Lowell Smith at P.O. Box 302, Garwood, N.J. 07027 or e-mail her at mailto:http://www.petcentric.com/Stories/Articles/Were-in-This-Together.aspx?articleid=0ad06961-d66f-4e14-8978-c7

HERON

2009-10-15T10:24:00.006-04:00

One of those lucky shots at an unexpected time!

The other day I drove past a lovely pond where a lone swan was swimming. I decided to double back to take some photos. Recently I have been trying to pay particular attention to sharpness of focus.

I positioned myself on my stomach to use the ground to help me steady my camera and lens, since I was using my 70-300mm zoom, and started shooting. It was late afternoon so I set my ISO at 400. In retrospect I now realize that 800 might have been a better choice to help boost my shutter speed -- always a good idea when shooting moving objects.

I was snapping away, enjoying the beauty of the swan when I noticed a heron in the shadows. I thought it was a staue at first, and then it moved! I kept inching closer and closer, and the heron finally stepped out of the shadows and proceeded to walk towards a stream at the rear of the property. He paused, and I got this photograph.

Reminder: you can view these photos full size by clicking on the photograph.

ANOTHER DANGER OF SPOT ON FLEA-TICK TREATMENT

2009-10-12T13:16:00.010-04:00

Dog owners are becoming more and more concerned about flea and tick treatments, both spot on and feed through. Read on. . .

Dog stuck in crate highlights rare risk of spot-on flea treatment
October 7, 2009

By: Edie Lau For The VIN News Service

A veterinarian presented with a peculiar case of a poodle stuck in its crate last week traced the problem to the pet’s spot-on flea treatment. Residue from the product Advantage, which was applied between the poodle’s shoulders, somehow came in contact with the plastic base of the animal’s crate, dissolving the plastic and causing it to adhere to the dog’s belly. When the dog wouldn’t come out of its crate the next morning, its concerned owner brought the dog, crate and all, to Dr. Tej Dhaliwal of North Town Veterinary Hospital in Ontario, Canada. Following two hours of sleuthing, Dhaliwal concluded that benzyl alcohol, an inactive ingredient in Advantage, was to blame.

Animal Health, maker of Advantage, acknowledged that the flea treatment was the likely culprit and offered to pay the owner’s veterinary bill, compensate him for loss of salary and replace the crate, Dhaliwal said.

Bob Walker, a spokesman for Bayer in the United States, confirmed that Advantage contains benzyl alcohol, which reacts with certain plastics. He said he consulted with colleagues in veterinary services and was told, “We know it can happen, but we’ve never seen it.” Walker said a lead veterinarian in the department thought that most of the veterinary community was aware of the potential for the product to react with plastic. Walker said that he personally had not heard of such a thing before. He added, “My counsel would be, if you’re not aware, you need to be aware.”

The incident certainly surprised Dhaliwal, a practitioner for 13 years, who posted his experience in an online discussion board of the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). Some veterinarians said they were familiar with the potential for the product to damage plastic, but many were astonished by the news.

Dhaliwal said the owner of the dog, a 15-year-old poodle mix, had applied Advantage to the dog before bedtime. He speculated that the dog rolled over in the crate before the liquid pesticide dried. Presumably, residue of the product made contact with the plastic floor of the crate, causing the plastic to dissolve and “glue” the dog in place overnight.

Dhaliwal noted that the dog had been unable to eat, drink or relieve itself for 15 hours by the time he managed to free it with a tool normally used to scrape excess plaster from drywall. The white dog had a patch of dark gray plastic about 6 inches by 4 inches stuck to its fur. Following the advice of representatives at Bayer, Dhaliwal said, he removed the remaining plastic using the contents of another two tubes of Advantage. Once freed, the dog was fine.From the start, the dog’s owner suspected that the Advantage was to blame, Dhaliwal said. The veterinarian figured some chemical was involved but wasn’t sure what. At first, he applied regular alcohol to the plastic base, to no effect. Then he tried a tube of Advantage. The plastic liquified almost instantly, and his gloved hand stuck to the plastic.

Photographs snapped with his iPhone show a puddle of liquid across the bottom of the crate. Dhaliwal said one tube containing .5 cc of product covered half the crate base; he speculated that the plastic, as it dissolved, perpetuated the chemical reaction.

According to a Material Data Safety Sheet for benzyl alcohol posted at http://www.sciencelab.com/, the compound “can extract and dissolve polystyrene plastic and may attack other plastics.” The chemical is in wide use, found in hundreds of cosmetic formulations including baby toiletries, mascaras, hair dyes and skin care products, according to the article “Benzyl Alcohol Allergy: Importance of Patch Testing Personal Products,” published Feb. 15, 2006, in the journal Dermatitis. Its function in topical preparations is as a preservative, solvent, anesthetic and/or to decrease viscosity, the article states.

Walker at Bayer said the company veterinarian he consulted speculated that benzyl alcohol is found in a variety of spot-on flea treatments besides Advantage. However, it’s not possible to determine which products contain the compound by reading their labels, as manufacturers are not required to list inactive ingredients.

Dale Kemery, a spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates pesticides including spot-on pet parasiticides, said the agency is considering a new rule to require that manufacturers disclose pesticides’ inert ingredients. “This increased transparency will assist consumers and users of pesticides in making informed decisions and will better protect public health and the environment,” Kemery said by e-mail. “The Agency anticipates publishing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register within the next few months.”

Kemery also encouraged anyone aware of adverse reactions with an EPA-registered product to report the matter to the manufacturer and directly to EPA. “Manufacturers of pesticide products are required to report to EPA information they receive about potential adverse effects of their products, but reporting to the EPA directly is beneficial because the data we receive from the manufacturers is aggregated by severity category, and the report of an individual incident that we receive directly may provide more details initially that could lead to a follow-up by EPA with the manufacturer,” Kemery said.

Walker said Bayer officials in Canada examined the lot of Advantage used on the dog to check whether it contained an abnormally high concentration of benzyl alcohol but found nothing unusual. Dhaliwal complimented Bayer for taking responsibility right away. “Obviously, this is something of ongoing concern," he added. He said he plans to write a report on the incident and submit it to a professional journal in hopes of spreading the word. “This is something that everyone needs to know,” he said.

AUTUMN AMBLE

2009-10-11T18:41:00.008-04:00

I love nothing more than to amble along with my camera in hand in the company of Hannah. She finds things to sniff and follow while I find things to see and shoot. This was one of those unexpected results -- a silhouette against the sunset.

I enjoy looking for unusual coloration of leaves and was quite intrigued by this oak leaf starting to turn red. I wonder if it will eventually completely turn red or a combination of colors?

Milkweed brings back memories of my childhood. The ripening green pods are sticky and exude a milky substance, hence the name of milkweed. To me they are more beautiful as the pods fade away, die, and release a burst of seeds with downy wings to carry them aloft.

I came across this shrub and wondered if it was some sort of wild grape? The vivid blue is difficult to describe.

The autumn light is different -- I think of it as a slant that is not noticeable during other seasons. Even though these leaves are still green I liked the interplay of light and shadow caused by that seasonal slant of light.

It is always a joy being near water, and I was captivated by the color just beginning to emerge.

SOLD!

2009-10-10T10:59:00.002-04:00

This is one of my favorite photos. It was taken at Churchville Reservoir on a gorgeous January day 2009. One of the reasons I love it is because the focus is extremely sharp and crisp, just like the air in the winter.

Yesterday I was sharing my photography with a beautiful 18 yr old girl who has been helping me with yard work. She was admiring random photos, but stopped and gasped when she saw this photograph. She said she loves trees and pictures of them. I could tell this photograph really touched her and spoke to her in a way I will probably never understand. She asked me if it was for sale, and I said, "Of course!"
"How much?"
-- and without hesitation I replied, "One hour of yard work."
"Sold!"
I let it go much more cheaply than I should, but I believe that it is important sometimes to let your work go to someone who genuinely appreciates it and will enjoy having it in her home.

MELTING MEN

2009-10-04T00:01:00.001-04:00

This amazing installation of 1,000 melting men was done in collaboration with the WWF to highlight global warming.

Earlier this week, Brazilian artist Nele Azevedo, carved 1,000 figures out of ice and placed them on the steps of the concert hall in Berlin's Gendarmenmarkt Square. With temperatures of 73 degrees fahreneheit, (23 degrees celsius), the ice figures began melting within half an hour. the project entitled 'Melting Men' was meant to bring awareness to the World Wildlife Fund's warning that melting ice could cause sea-levels to rise more than 3.3 ft by 2100."

CANINE OBESITY

2009-10-03T09:52:00.004-04:00

October 14th is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. On this day veterinarians who are participating in a national study will record measurements of cats and dogs who visit their clinics. The Association of Pet Obesity estimates 44 percent of dogs in the USA (3.3 million) are overweight or obese.

My local Pet Valu store has a scale, and I take Hannah regularly to weigh her. My vet is thrilled when Hannah visits because she is a fit Labrador without excess pounds.

The association website includes ideal weight ranges and recommended calorie intake -- only 200 to 275 calories for a 10-pound dog! -- The group. which is unaffiliated with any pet industry company, says a key component of its mission is promoting owners' weight loss alongside their pets. Keep in mind that the range stated for a breed is general. For Labrador Retrievers, the range is 55 to 80 pounds. Hannah is 60 pounds and at a very healthy weight. If she weighed 80 pounds, she would be obese!

If you feed dog treats, break them up and feed smaller bits. Whole treats add up quickly. Table food is discouraged. All those nibbles you feed your dog during the day, along with lack of proper exercise, pack on the pounds. Canine digestive systems are sensitive and do better without a wide variety of foods.

The website includes a list of common and well-known treats and their caloric amount.

http://www.petobesityprevention.com/about_us.htm

LARK PHOTOGRAPHY CARDS

2009-10-02T12:18:00.008-04:00

These photos do not show the striking beauty of these cards. All cards are blank so can be used for personal messages for any occasion, or for just a friendly note. They are 5"x7" in size, and each card comes in its own cellophane sleeve.

Snow scene with reflection in the creek

Taken after a rainstorm.

A selection of four cards with accompanying envelopes. Many different colors of card stock are available. I am also available to do photoshoots for personalized cards.

I have a wide range of photographs available -- animals, flowers, landscapes. . .

A GOOD DOG STORY

2009-10-01T20:14:00.006-04:00

Lost Dog Gathers Clues to Find its Family
A Hopelessly Lost Rottweiler and the Dedicated Animal Rescue Worker who Found her Family

by Steve Hartman

Play CBS Video Video A Dog's Unending Loyalty

Ella, a Rottweiler, was in a car crash and scavenged for food on the highway for weeks. Ella was reunited with her family but as Steve Hartman tells us, the story doesn't end there. (CBS)

Over the last 20 years, the Love Me Tender animal rescue in central Tennessee has rounded up more than 1,000 abandoned dogs. And although most are timid and untrusting, CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports, one Rottweiler named Ella was notably different. "I could just tell right away she was somebody's baby. She just didn't act like a stray dog to me," said Kathy Wilkes-Myers, who found the dog a few months ago.

Ella was emaciated and drinking from a drainage ditch along an empty stretch of highway. Kathy says it's typical for people to dump unwanted pets in the middle of nowhere - but again, the dog's demeanor convinced her there was more to the story. So she did some detective work, and what she found is a heart-wrenching tale of unending loyalty. "She was hoping her family could come back. But they couldn't. They couldn't come back. It just breaks your heart," said Kathy.

Kathy found the first clues to this mystery - broken glass and tail lights - right near where she found the dog. And just down from there, she found a second set of even more intriguing clues: personal items gathered up. By the dog, she assumed. "It was like she was sleeping with them - or waiting with them," Kathy said. She took a picture with her cell phone and then gathered the items. They were mostly random, personal things - toothbrush, comb, razor, a candle that said Michelle, but nothing that would explain anything - although now, she did have a hunch. Kathy remembered two weeks earlier she'd driven by an accident on the same stretch of highway. She remembered because it was such a horrible crash. A single car had flipped over and landed on the side of the road, at just about the same spot where she found the dog. Based on what she saw that day, Kathy figured there was no way a person could have survived, but what about a dog?

So she called the highway patrol. "She gave me the mom's name and the dad's name and the mom's name was Michelle. And I thought, 'Oh my God, this is their dog," she said. Thrown from the car, rescue crews never saw the dog. She spent 13 days scavenging for food along the highway - and 13 nights bedding down with whatever she could find that smelled like her lost family. "That's the last spot she saw her family and she was going to stay there," Kathy said. Kathy figured it all out. But fortunately, she got one thing very wrong. Someone did survive the crash. In fact, all five family members survived. "I'm lucky to be sitting here with my family," said Joe Kelly, the family's father.

After two weeks believing that their dog, Ella, had died, the family of Joe and Michelle Kelly got the most wonderful, slobbery surprise of their lives. For the first time since the accident, the Kelly's had a good reason to cry -all thanks to a dog who refused to forget her family - and the stranger who refused to take lost for answer. Unfortunately, it was a bittersweet reunion because of the accident and the medical expenses, the Kelly family has had to temporarily relocate to a place that doesn't allow dogs. The good news is, Kathy has promised to hold onto Ella for as long as the Kelleys need to get back on their feet.

SORDID SORTERS' TALES

2009-09-30T10:14:00.008-04:00

Let this one double up as a mystery photograph and also as a photo for today's entry. Do you know what it is? Is it something that can be recycled?

I read an interesting article on how to recycle anything, and there were a few interesting tales from people working on the "front lines" of recycling facilities.

In one box of stuff, there was a WW I ordnance which was still live. It came from a house that was being torn down. Eventually the police were called and the bomb squad came. They shut down the street and brought in a bomb-disposal robot, but it failed. They finally took it to a landfill and blew it up there.

A guy who worked at a crematorium brought in a metal hip that remained at the bottom of the incinerator. Titanium is expensive, and no one is going to say, "Can I have grandma's hip back?"

A sorter was pushing some cardboard through the balers and happened to see some plastic that needed to be removed. Suddenly he noticed the bag was moving. Turns out someone had wrapped up a large rattlesnake in the plastic bag and had thrown it into the trash. The sorter managed to free it and let it go.

Along with these tales, there are some wonderful suggestions for recycling.

Prescription Drugs: The Starfish Project (http://www.thestarfishproject.org/) collects some unused medications (TB medicines, antifungals, antivirals) and gives them to clinics in Nigeria. They'll send you a prepaid FedEx label, too.

Wheelchairs: Go to www.lifenets.org/wheelchairs which acts as a matchmaker, uniting wheelchairs with those who need them.

FedEx: Paper FedEx envelopes can be recycled, and there's no need to pull off the plastic sleeve. FedEx Paks made of Tyvek are also recyclable.

Tyvek: DuPont, the maker of Tyvek, takes these envelopes back and recycles them into plastic lumber. Turn one envelope inside out and stuff others inside it. Mail them to Tyvek Recycle, Attention: Shirley B. Wright, 2400 Elliham Ave. #A, Richmond, VA. 23237.

Plastic Bottle Caps: Toss them. They're made from a plastic that melts at a different rate than the bottles, and they degrade the quality of the plastic if they get mixed in.

WAITING. . . WAITING. . .

2009-09-29T10:57:00.004-04:00

WAITING . . .

Those of you who know me have often had to respond when I ask what time I can expect you when you are coming to the house. Time, for me, as someone who does not hear a knock at the door or a doorbell being rung, is critical. When I wait for someone to arrive, it is an investment of my own time. It means that I need to be vigilant and WATCH the door or driveway so that I am aware you have arrived and can greet you.

As a result, it is frustrating when I sit and watch and wait for someone who says they will arrive at 1pm and do not show up until 30-45 minutes later, and yes, sometimes an hour or more past. It is an investment of my time -- sitting and watching and waiting when I could be getting something accomplished.

For me, it is an extremely frustrating situation that I have had to deal with -- even more so now that my mother is no longer able to answer the door or tell me someone is there. Even my dog doesn't help me. She doesn't bark at visitors.

So when someone with a hearing impairment asks when they can expect you, this is why. People with hearing loss compensate with vision.... and so we sit ... and watch ... and wait....

THE LABEL OF DEAF

2009-09-28T14:11:00.008-04:00

As many of you know, I have been hearing impaired since birth. As a result I immediately developed the skill of lip reading in compensation for poor hearing. I fooled my parents for two years before they realized I wasn't responding to sounds the way most children do. Then began a journey of testing and advice.

One doctor used some sort of shock testing (which I remember!). It frightened me and made me cry. As a result I did not respond to the testing. My parents were very angry at the stupidity, ignorance, and lack of compassion displayed by this doctor. Another doctor told them to institutionalize me, not recognizing that I had above average intelligence. Thankfully my parents ignored all this advice -- advice? Utlimately they took me to Johns Hopkins where a Dr. Hardy and Dr. Psyche Cattel evaluated me, told my parents I was very bright and already an expert lipreader. They were the first to give my parents hope.

I was blessed with two wonderful parents who were inately wise when it came to addressing my needs as a hearing impaired child. My father had a Master's Degree coursework in speech pathology which gave him an understanding and knowledge of deafness and hearing impairment.

Back in those days there were two "handles" -- deaf and hard of hearing. I was categorized as hard of hearing because I had a moderate loss and could hear some sounds without an aid. As I aged, I lost more hearing, but was still high functioning in the hearing world. I went through public schools WITHOUT any sort of assistance which is available to hearing impaired students today. Some teachers cared enough to spend extra time with me -- many didn't. It was a tremendous struggle, constantly battling fatigue caused by intense focus required for lip reading.

I have always used the term hearing impaired for myself. Some people may say that I am deaf, but I personally have a difficult time accepting this label. When I was involved in the county deaf/hard of hearing organization as a member, board director, and eventually president, I became aware that there were two societies existing. The deaf clustered together with their hands flying as they communicated through sign language. Then there were the hearing impaired who were joining the hearing people and communicating orally. Some of the hearing impaired were able to communicate both in sign language and orally. I have never been an accepted part of the deaf community. I do not know sign language so I was never able to commuicate easily with them. All my life I have been a part of the hearing world and worked 37 years in public education as a librarian and for several years as district library coordinator for 15 libraries.

Today's technology has been fantastic for the deaf and hearing impaired. Email, text messaging, closed captioning, telephone relay services, TTY, transmitters, vibrating alarm clocks, strobe smoke alarms, miniaturized and digital hearing aids, etc... the list is endless. It has really enabled those with hearing disabilities to become more independent.

I can't tell you how often people have asked me if I am death -- to which I reply, "No, I'm very much alive!" Seems very common to hear the word death for deaf. I also have people who comment on my speech, which is one of the most insulting and insensitive things a person can say to someone with a hearing disability. Some people say, "I can tell you are deaf because of the way you talk." Others ask, "What country are you from?" I usually respond Mars or some European nation.

I don't know why I was moved to make this my blogging topic today -- no special reason. I guess it is a way of reaching out and hopefully educating the hearing so that they have a better understanding. And a way to reach out to other hearing impaired to let them know they aren't alone.

A CARD FOR YOU?

2009-09-27T18:05:00.004-04:00

The last two years I have had notecards made from my photographs and have given them as gifts. Everyone has raved about them and told me I should sell them. Last month I got the idea to make the cards myself when I came across some card stock I had in my craft bin. I had a few 4 by 6 prints that I affixed to the card stock with double-faced tape. I then solved the dilemma of noting "Lark Photography" with my name and year by printing it on clear address labels which I attached to the back of the card. As a finishing touch I ordered clear cellophane sleeves to protect each card. I am very pleased with the end product. Now I need to determine pricing and decide whether I want to explore marketing the cards through a store or two.

I also have prints which are matted and available for sale as well. Again, I need to determine pricing.

I continue to shoot and shoot and shoot. I just came in from shooting cobwebs with rain drops on them, and not one photo is worth keeping. On the other hand, yesterday I took a beautiful walk at Playwicki Farm in Trevose and got this photograph which I like.

PS -- the last Sunday mystery photograph was the circular bottom of a wicker chair.

BLOGGING THOUGHTS

2009-09-17T19:00:00.002-04:00

I've been a non-blogger recently, but I'm sure no one has noticed except for Faithful Cindy. I have visited other blogs that I enjoy and leave comments for the bloggers, but for some reason I do not seem to attract any interested readers or followers. Is it the name of the blog? Is it the variety of topics I post? Would I gain more of an audience if I did something cutesy, or on a single topic, or humorous? But then it wouldn't be ME. I happen to be fascinated by many things. Interesting articles catch my eye and trigger thinking... I share and hope others will be interested as well? Doesn't seem to work. I post lots of my photographs, but they seem to disappear in cyberspace. So, I have not yet discovered the secret to successful blogging. After all what is the purpose of blogging if it reaches no one? I had hoped that by posting my ideas, thoughts, photography, etc. it would appeal to a cyber community. So I guess I feel a bit alone and lost like the statue in the photo I snapped at an antique barn near Doylestown.