Tag Archives: Photography

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Holiday in Atlanta

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As I sit here on New Years Eve, enjoying a wee dram (or two) of single malt whiskey and writing this blog post, I think how differently I now spend the final hours of the year. Between the fullness of life and an overly packed schedule, it is a joy to spend a quieter evening at home, catching up, relaxing, and oh yes, watching college football.  Whereas I used to stay up until midnight, I am now content to meet with friends on New Years Day.

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The past three years have found me recovering from a motorcycle wreck, running for state delegate, starting a new business, and just two months ago, starting another.  Even my time on WP the past few months has been limited.  No wonder I’m content to be still.

Many people will ponder 2016, and put into beautiful words what the year has meant.  Others will plan for the coming year and all that they hope to accomplish.  Me?  I’m about a week behind and am still glowing after a wonderful 48 hour trip to Atlanta to see my son and his family.

We enjoyed an incredible tapas style Christmas Eve meal at the Iberian Pig. Oh my goodness, the food and drinks were incredible!  This was our effort to take a selfie afterwards.

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I awoke the next morning to this lovely site.  What is it about a lighted tree that brings such a sense of peace?

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We spent the day opening gifts, enjoying our traditional breakfast souffle and Bloody Marys, and playing games.  My granddogs, Wilson and Tela, were never far from the action, or the food.

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Oh my gosh, I love these dogs!

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 The cheese plate was almost to pretty to eat.

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Another family tradition is the Cracker, and I was glad to have it continue in Atlanta.

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What a joyful visit!

On a personal level this coming year, I’d like to think that I will make an effort to volunteer a little less (doubtful) and exercise a little more (probable).  I also hope to spend more time with family and friends, and of course with my camera, and riding the bike.

What I definitely know is that I will do all that I can to join the resistance against bigotry, misogyny, racism, and hatred.

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Despite the fact that national and international politics have me entering 2017 with caution, I do know that there is much good in this world and I believe that goodness WILL prevail.

Welcome to 2017!  Thank you for the light you bring to my life, and for your friendships.

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View From the River’s Edge

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If it had been summer, I would have walked right into the river to better capture the late day sun adding light to the trees futher down the way.   Even still, it was a lovely site to see from this park called Riverview.

What a perfect name.

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Santa Stops Here

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After spending most of the weekend happily knocking multiple items off the to do list, it was so nice to receive an invite to a wine tasting.

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We only had an hour, but sometimes that is all that is needed for a respite from work.

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There was time to laugh with a dear friend,

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and with the women who were conducting the tasting.

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As an added bonus, I got to a little shooting.

Despite my rusty trigger finger, it felt good to play with the camera.

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Perhaps I’ll stop back by to do a little shopping.

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All in all, it was a lovely way to spend an hour,

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and it’s beginning to feel like the holidays.

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Tis the Season

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At our women driven fundraiser, with 100% of the monies raised going to local organizations, we served this yummy Divatini.  The non-alcoholic version was just as delicious – or so I am told 🙂

I haven’t had much time for photography and with temps in the 20s today, I wasn’t able to get the bike out of the shop.  The good news is that I have had the day to catch up on so many things, none of which were holiday related.  Maybe next weekend!

Now I’m off to see what you all have been up to.

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The Best

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That’s what Thanksgiving is to me.  The Best Holiday of the Year.

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Family.   Friends.   Food.   Football.

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Enjoying the traditional Bloody Mary and Mom’s braided bread while watching the  Macy’s Parade, and the National Dog Show.

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No Gifts.   No Shopping.   No fighting over Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas.

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Just the colors and beauty of the season.

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Remembering the blessing of good health, and the opportunity to give to those less fortunate.

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Cheers, and Go Hokies!

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The Road Ahead

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Still swamped with the new job, but I hope to get the bike out of the shop in the next day or so, and find some time with my camera.

Nothing like time on the bike and time with the camera to make a gal happy.

#cellphonephotography

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Rising Up

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Before I head out to do Thanksgiving Dinner Grocery Shopping, I wanted to share a few #Fall2016 photos.  Since the devastating results of the election, I’ve pulled out my camera only once or twice, and because of that, I’ve not really captured the beauty of fall.

I did snap a few though.  Two with the camera. Two with the cell phone.

Can you tell which image came from which camera?

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Thank you for being here. Your solidarity in devastation, your words of wisdom, and your hopeful spirits have been soothing to me.

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Monochromia: Subway Surfing

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It’s hard to believe that it has been 5 weeks since that incredible weekend in NYC.  The past month has been a blur!

When Joe, Stacy, Terry, and I were taking the subway to meet up with Patti and Robyn, I had fun trying to stay upright without holding onto anything as the train sped underneath the streets of the city.  I also posted myself right in the window to grab this shot.

Such fabulous memories of a great time.

(and, just FYI, I did manage to stay upright … although I’m not sayin’ it was pretty 🙂 )

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Finding a Way

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I came to WordPress last evening, seeking a distraction from despair.  I’ve been on a media blackout, avoiding television, the news, and FB.  I have just not been ready to face a world in which so many people, although NOT the majority, voted for  … well, a man whose values are so very different from my own.

And I’ve felt badly about that.  Where was my fight?  Where was my ability to rally?  I’ve been feeling like Tom Cruise in Top Gun after the death of  Goose.  Maverick couldn’t engage, and I hadn’t been able to either.

As John Pavlovitz said in his article “This is Why We Grieve Today”:

This has never been about politics.
This is not about one candidate over the other.
It’s not about one’s ideas over another’s.
It is not blue vs. red.
It’s not her emails vs. his bad language.
It’s not her dishonesty vs. his indecency.

It’s about overt racism and hostility toward minorities.
It’s about religion being weaponized.
It’s about crassness and vulgarity and disregard for women.
It’s about a barricaded, militarized, bully nation.
It’s about an unapologetic, open-faced ugliness

Starting a new business and being so overwhelmed with it that I didn’t have time to focus on the results of the election was helpful.

Being with my likeminded, similarly destraught friends was also helpful.

Knowing that so many of my WP friends feel the same way that I do has been comforting.

When I heard about the Women’s March on Washington, a peaceful march in the unity of women to honor women’s rights and values, I felt something rising within me.

I don’t have answers, and I surely haven’t been able to express myself as elequently as so many of you.

But I do feel the hint of a rally.