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Steam Heat

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Don’t you just love seeing an old steam engine? They bring to mind history, and romance, and days gone by. Please visit Monochromia if you haven’t yet. You’ll see the work of a collaborative group of photographers, amateurs, and photo nuts from all parts of the world.  This is my contribution for the week.

LB's avatarMonochromia

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“Yeah …. I’ve got  ::cling cling::  fsssss steam heat”

How many of you hummed that song as you read those words?  Or, sadly, how many of you have never heard of that 1954 song from The Pajama Game soundtrack?

For more images of the annual visit to my city by these historic steam engines, please check out the following links:

https://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.com/2014/04/10/those-great-steam-engines/

https://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.com/2014/04/13/train-day-in-radford-now-in-color/

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The Back Story

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When I pulled into the parking lot, the early morning sun was shining on a simple little bush outside of my office.  Frankly, I’d never really paid attention to this bush, but today it was decorated with frost and it was beautiful.

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I grabbed the camera, jumped out of the truck and crouched down to take the shot.

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I was excited because I’ve felt a distinct lack of time with my camera lately,

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and I’ve missed the creative flow that comes when the camera is in my hand.

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So, did I take a few easy shots and walk into my office with contentment?  Nope.

No sooner had I gotten into position than a patient pulled up and took the one parking place that got in the way of my shot.  Seriously … every other space was empty!

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Cracked. Me. Up.

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Welcome to 2015 everryone!

May we all learn to be flexible, to look at things from a different angle and perspective, and to find humor often.

Thanks to all of you who visit, who like or comment on my posts, and who share their lives with me.  I’m so very grateful for all of you! May we all have so much goodness in our lives that we have plenty to share with those around us.

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Peaceful

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The days after Christmas are some of my favorite.  The hustle and bustle have settled down, yet the lights and tree are still up.

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So while I get back into the routine of work, after a 4 day weekend, I have the pleasure of coming home to lights, still softly shining in my home.

(after hitting publish, I found out that this post is my 400th!)

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Chrome for the Holidays

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Clever title, eh?  Since the bike has been absent from the blog for several weeks, I decided it should be front and center for Christmas.

May your holiday be full of laughter and joy, and find you surrounded by the love of family and friends.

As we open our hearts and arms to those in need, may our roads be dry, our travels safe, and our adventures abundant.

Peace to you, my blogging friends, no matter what holiday you celebrate.

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I’m Dreaming

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 Yes! I’m dreaming of a White Christmas!

As Alys at Gardening Nirvana so amazingly remembered, I finally started to focus on Christmas – yesterday –  the 20th of December.

Since my old fashioned Christmas (otherwise known as “just now focusing on the holiday”) is not yet white, I pulled up an image of January of 2013, and I’m thinking positive!!

(and by the way, this image has had very little post-processing.  It really was this glorious that early morning almost 2 years ago)

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Kindness in the WordPress World

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The great wide world of WordPress is filled with talented, creative people.

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Some put words to paper that inspire me, make me think, and bring a tear to the eye.  Others fill my screen with photographic images that are so visionary and incredible that I exclaim out loud.  History and humor are found here, too, as are recipes, travel tips, gardening ideas, and of course, motorcycles!

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And then there are the crafty ones.

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The ones who spend hours using their creative spirits and their hands to make items that have the rest of us wondering how they do it.  The quilters, painters, scrapbookers, knitters, crocheters, candymakers, and artists of every sort.

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Since beginning my blogging journey with WP, I’ve been blessed to be the recipient of valuable friendships, and gifts of photography, handmade cards, folded books, t-shirts, and most recently a chrocheted bunting, which arrived all the way from Australia!  Incredible! How on earth did Dani from Teddy and Tottie find the time to make so many festive buntings and then to mail them to friends all over the world?

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 How did she know that, because of family, work, and civic commitments, I have not yet put even one Christmas decoration out?  How did she know that her gift of time and kindness would be so welcome in my home.

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Thank you, Dani.  You are, in addition to being talented, a kind and generous woman.

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These gifts, and the people who make them, inspire me to up my game!  I frequently read blog updates where one blogger is sending gifts to another.  Their planning and organization is impressive; the generosity incredible. You all know who you are.

You inspire me.

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Brighter

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The event was a success and the monies will help many in our community.

Children, the elderly, the hungry, the abused, and those without homes.

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The future is a teeny bit brighter for them.

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Finding Calm with Photography

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Preparation for an important community event has challenged my time management, and my organizational and leadership skills.  My heart has been racing and my body has been in what seems like non-stop motion.  As I prepared to run out the door for the final trip to the store, I was stopped by the sight of the flowers a friend had given me before Thanksgiving.

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While their beauty is starting to fade just a bit, I find that the muted colors are deeply appealing.

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Even better though, the flowers, so pretty in the morning sunlight, made me stop and grab the camera.

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And I found myself relaxing.

Those of us who are addicted to our cameras and to what our eyes move us to capture, know that photography is a form of therapy.

Time, often spent alone, to shoot, and breath, and then to shoot some more.

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Before I knew it, I was heading out the door with a smile on my face.

Perhaps you’ll find a little therapy today, too!

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Feeling the Holiday Spirit

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It had been a busy day in the office, but the staff found time to put up the Christmas Tree and to add some pretty lights to the waiting room.  I was the last one out at the end of the day and as I prepared to walk out the door, I had to stop and admire the decorations.

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 The lights on the tree cast a soft reflection on the glass of the window.

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The building was quietly empty and a soft rain was falling outside,

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and the cars passing by on the highway added to the glow in the window.

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And suddenly, I was feeling the holiday spirit.

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Harley

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How wonderful to have a photo of me on my bike serve as an illustration in a blog post. Please visit Meditation Travelogue to view the photos and read the thoughts from Noelle. Her blog is a lovely place to visit.

noellevignola's avatarMeditation Travelogue

Photo by Laurie Buchwald from http://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.com Photo by Laurie Buchwald from http://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.com

On the soul highway it doesn’t matter if you’re souped up on a Harley or riding a tricycle. Speed is not determined by the vehicle, but rather the clarity in vision of the driver.

Thank you Laurie Buchald for the great Harley shot. If you’d like to see some other great photography from her travels on her bike please visit her blog at http://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.com

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