Auction: Selling History

March 20, 2014 by LB

A dear friend of mine recently phased out the construction / welding side of her 57 year old, family owned business, and because of that, an auction was held to sell off equipment. I’d originally planned to serve as support person and friend, but within minutes after arriving, I knew that I’d also be documenting history. This is the first post of two about that auction.

While understanding that this was a bittersweet process for the family, I neverless found it fascinating. As with bikers and military families (and I’ve been part if both), the group of machinists, contractors, and welders that were present that day represented another subculture: those hardworking folks who work with their hands, and their backs, to construct things that many of us take for granted.

The room was packed and the excitement palpable.

Immediately energized, I jumped into the middle of the large crowd of people, primarily male, most in ball caps and Carhartt. No one seemed to mind me and my camera, thankfully, and I enjoyed interacting with everyone.

This young man had a little of his own cash and when I asked what he planned to buy, he said “something for my Dad”.

This little guy was just along for the ride.

Andthis one? Obviously, he was there for the hot dogs!

The range of age …

and the visions of the past

made me feel whistful for “the good old days”.

The auction lasted all day long, inside and out.

and ultimately, it was a huge success!

Next Post: The Auctioneers and the Family

Grayson Highlands Getaway

March 17, 2014 by LB

Grayson County, located in the Blue Ridge Highlands of Southwest Virginia, was the location of this past weekend’s gathering of the BGs, a group of women who meet a few times a year to celebrate birthdays and friendship.

We enjoy delicious food and drink, take walks, read books, play games, and sometimes do a little crafting.

All this, plus plenty of time for talk, is typically done in a cabin or farmhouse in a rural part of Virginia.

We worried about this little one – he seemed so sluggish – but maybe he was just enjoying being able to catch some rays on a 50 degree day.

We surely enjoyed our time in the sun.

Cheers! Spring is coming!

Peaceful Evening

March 14, 2014 by LB

… and who doesn’t need one of those!

Shop Window

March 12, 2014 by LB

The conference is over and it’s time to attend to an overfull week; a week filled with work, other commitments, and thankfully, with play. So while I’m anxious to share the photos from the auction, I’ll have to put that labor of love off for a few days.

As that long successful day drew to a close, winter’s setting sun lent beauty to dirty shop windows and the machines used to punch metal.

Taking a Break

March 8, 2014 by LB

This year’s Annual Meeting of the Virginia Council of Nurse Pracitioners is being held at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, Virginia. During one brief break period, I dashed outside to feel the warmth of the winter sun and to use the camera to photograph something besides NPs in the conference setting.

The Reston Town Center has an outdoor Ice Skating Pavilion and on this beautiful, 60 degree day, I was drawn to photograph this unique facility against the bright blue sky.

The strong lines of the human made structure against the natural clouds and trees provided a striking contrast.

When I finally directed my gaze downward, I had to smile at what I saw.

Refreshed and energized, I headed back inside to continue the work of the conference.

Celebrating 40 Years!! Nurse Practitioners: Your Partners in a Healthier Tomorrow!

Ladder to the Sky

March 5, 2014 by LB

This past Saturday, I attended a friend’s Absolute Auction. Her mechanical contracting business is closing after a long, very successful 57 years in business. I had the good fortune to be able to document the history of the business, the fascinating aspects of an auction, and the culture of contractors, subcontractors, small business owners, and incredibly hard workers. It was a bittersweet day but a successful, and even a joyful day, as we celebrated all that was this business and the family associated with it.

Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be sharing some photographs and thoughts from that day, but for now I’ll share this one. My friend Kelly gave me the most perfect title for this photo.

Ladder to the Sky

Sadly, but fitting for this Ladder to the Sky post, I had to say goodbye to my Abby this week. She was a sick little thing and could not recover. I’ll miss her presence in my home and my life. Abby was the last of my pets, with two dogs and another cat having gone on before her, and for the first time in 28 years, I have no children (pets or human) in my home.

Abby was a cute little thing and like her human, knew what she liked and what she didn’t like.

Rescued and with six toes on her two front paws, Abby was a joy and a pain, as only cats can be (I say that with a smile).

Thank you, Abby, for allowing me to share your life,

Additions to the Shrine

March 2, 2014 by LB

A few months after the wreck, I realized that I had unintentionally created a shrine of sorts, to the bike.

The shrine contains the helmet I’ll never be able to use again;

the one remaining glove, the other left behind in that intersection;

the photo of me, taken on the morning of my last ride on that bike,

the camera that somehow survived,

and a box filled with the many, many cards I was so grateful to have received.

How nice that, through the joy of blogging on WordPress, I was gifted with wonderful additions to that collection. Debby, from Apple Moon Creations, sent me what I like to call Book Art. She folds the pages of books into familiar and favorite things.

For me: a motorcycle and a camera

Debby is so clever and if you want to know how she folds these books into art, check out this link.

Debby made the comment that it is hard to photograph a folded book and I very much agree!

Blogging has brought gifts of friendship, and more blessings than I ever thought imaginable. In addition to the connections with people from all over the world, I have gained insight, been inspired, and grown as a photographer.

Thank you so much, Debby! Everyone – please check out Apple Moon Creations!

Blue and White

February 27, 2014 by LB

So …. what clever name would you have given this post?

Blue and White just doesn’t quite work, does it?

These photos were taken the day after our lovely big snow 2 weeks back. The ground is clear of snow now, but the temperatures are low and the threat of snow is in the forecast.

More importantly, California is getting rain!! Come on Mother Nature, ease that drought!

Thank you all for your visits and comments. I’m a bit backed up in visiting everyone’s blogs … but each day I visit a few and I am confident that soon, yes SOON, life will calm a bit, and I’ll get back on track!

February 28th Update: Some have asked about the glass structures on the fence posts. They are antique glass insulators http://www.collectorsweekly.com/tools-and-hardware/insulators. Insulators were originally designed to keep the wires linking telegraphs and telephones insulated from the wooden poles that held them aloft. They peaked in the 1920s to the 1940s, are now prized collectors items.

March 4th Update: I’d sent an email to my friend Wilson, one of the owners of these beautiful glass pieces and I was wrong about the insulators! Even though the link that I included showed very similar pieces, the blue glass pictured “on the fence, rounded top, screw bottoms, are covers for airport runway lights”. Wilson says “I got them at a sale at Hubbell Enterprise in C’burg. I have mostly blue, a few red. I don’t know how valuable they are; they certainly weren’t when I bought them”.

February Wine

February 23, 2014 by LB

What do you do on an unexpected 60 degree day in February? Especially when you know, according to weather experts, that the snow and freezing temperatures will soon return?

You gather with good friends and celebrate the sun!