Tag Archives: Photography

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Comfort

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As I sat outside on the kitchen door stoop this evening, I glanced over and saw that the daisies were starting to bloom.

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I grabbed the camera, thinking all the while that I have very much missed the creativity of photography, and how far behind I am getting in my learning of this craft.

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Deciding that the daisies were deserving of a blog post, I thought of Meg Ryan and her character’s description of daisies.  It was then that I remembered that I had already used “aren’t daisies the friendliest flowers?” for a post two years ago.

Ah well, they brought a smile to my face none the less.

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As did Louie.  His face will make anyone smile.

Louie and Daisies.

Comfort at the end of the week … and before the long weekend ahead.

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Nestled in the Blue Ridge

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While on the way to meet my parents and son in Charlottesville for a Mothers Day lunch, I took a brief detour to King Family Vineyard.

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Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the vineyard offers near 360 views.

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The visit was brief (just one little sip of wine),

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but the detour was worth it (even if I did get fussed at for pulling over onto the grass to catch this reflection).

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The best part of the day, though?  Time with my parents and son!

Hope the day was lovely for you as well!

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The Wonder of Florida

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When you saw the title of this post, did you think about sun, tourists, and Disney World?  While those things certainly are identified with Florida, that’s not the Florida that I experienced almost 2 months ago.

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Those of you who know me will not be surprised to learn that just going over the Sunshine Skyway was exciting!  I wish Donna could have stopped the car but for some reason she didn’t think the Florida troopers would appreciate that too much 🙂  I do love a bridge and I’d have loved to have been on the bike!

My welcoming committee!

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My three day visit was jam packed! In fact, we rarely stopped exploring.  A brief, early morning visit to the beach …

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… was followed by a stop at the Sarasota Farmer’s Market.

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  Is this not the perfect view for lunch and a cold beer?

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We spent time at the Myakka River State Park and it was during our time there that I KNEW I needed a zoom lens!  Visitors to Myakka can enjoy “the land in its natural state, a piece of the REAL FLORIDA”.

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The Birds! The Gators!  The Trees!

“Myakka protects one of the state’s most diverse natural areas. The Myakka River, designated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River, flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing from a boardwalk that stretches out over the Upper Myakka Lake, then take to the treetops with a stroll along the canopy walkway”

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And then there’s the Canopy Walk!

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76 feet high, the walkway offers an incredible view over the park.  It was a bit hazy that day, but you’ll still be able to appreciate the vista.

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The Airboat tour brought us up close and personal to the gators and other wildlife.

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On our last evening, we took a long leisurely walk around the neighborhood, admiring the trees, flowers, and the sunset.

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It was a wonderful 3 day getaway, one that ended far too quickly.  I’m already looking forward to next year and time with my dear friends!

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Welcome to the Weekend

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Friday afternoon.  What a lovely site to see at the end of the work week.

Saturday’s Arbor Day Tree Planting was a success and the rain didn’t stop me from going to door to door.

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And now, it’s Blog to Blog via WP!

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Good Friends and Votes for Women!

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The WordPress world, and the bloggers who live in that world, have been so good to me!  In just a few short days, 5 in fact, according to the countdown widget, I’ll be meeting with women that I’ve come to know through blogging.  Energized excitement is flowing from Canada to New Zealand to California all the way to Virginia and DC.

There are many others who blog on WP that I’ve come to know and love, and today I want to tell you about one of them – cat lovers, pay attention!  Suffragette Kitty is written by Louisa May Alcatt “a reincatation of one of the world’s most notable women”.  LMA is “a tortie with cattatude, who despite a 125-year cat nap, remains passionate about women’s rights”.

A visit to Suffragette Kitty offers a great education about many of history’s notable women.  I’m always inspired and in fact, after reading one post, was moved to donate to Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House.  What a fascinating family the Alcotts were!

Just the other day, the mail carrier delivered inspiration for my campaign from LMA and her publicist (Maureen, the writer of the blog). The Votes for Women items seen in these photos are a reminder that not only was there a time when women were not able to vote; they were also of course, not able to run for office.

LMA tells me that Marmee – Abigail May Alcott – lobbied for a woman’s right to vote from age 16 until her dying day at 77.  While she never lived to see her dream come true, she paved the way for women today.  LMA says “in my opinion, Marmee was an unsung Women’s Rights Activist”.  I love this sachet and hope, that as LMA intended, that it brings me luck.

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Thank you, LMA, for this wonderful gift, which brought a huge smile to my face and warmth to my heart.

I feel truly blessed.

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Until Tomorrow

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It was lovely to visit many of your blogs this evening, which kept me from doing much work on the photos from my recent trip to Florida.

There’s always tomorrow, right?  G’Night Ya’ll!

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Myakka River

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A wonderful weekend in Florida with friends was well worth the craziness of life upon my return.  The Myakka River, designated as a Florida Wild and Scenic River, flows through 58 square miles of wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands in the Myakka River State Park.

And while I cannot wait to share stories and photos, I’m firmly convinced it is time for a zoom lens!

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I look forward to checking out your latest posts!

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Infinity … at Keswick Hall

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Isn’t it incredible how sometimes all we need is 24 hours away from life’s routines and life’s chaos?

We drove through a snow storm to get to Keswick Hall and while there, soaked up the many comforts that we found.  Next time, we’ll make sure to enjoy the heated infinity pool.

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The steam rising off the water added a misty quality to the images,

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whether in color or in monochrome.

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Beautiful scenery in a historic building, incredible food and drink, and a wonderful friendship = 24 hours of fabulous!

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How incredibly lucky am I?

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Keswick Hall

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The destination was Keswick Hall, a 100 year old resort just outside of Charlottesville, VA.  The purpose was a long planned reunion with a dear friend from college.  Jan has been a big part of my life through the years, and was instrumental in my recovery from the motorcycle accident.

The drive to get there?  Near whiteout conditions (cell phone image)

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I left early in the morning, hoping to beat the snow but instead spent almost 5 hours driving through it (the drive would normally take 2 1/2).  It was certainly not the deepest or the worst, but driving through any snowstorm is challenging.

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You know me though.  I am nothing if not up for an adventure, and oh, how glad I am that we didn’t reschedule this 24 hour getaway to Keswick Hall.

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“Built in 1912 as a gorgeous Italianate-style estate, the property was converted to a country club in 1948, and restored in the early 1990s as part of the world-class hotel that now graces a most beautiful piece of Virginia countryside”.

Keswick, at least for us, is one of those once in a lifetime type places to visit.

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An historic home, beautifully renovated, Keswick is a place where “guests feel as though they are visiting a grand country estate rather than a hotel”.

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Our plan was to take a tour of 4 of the 30 wineries in the Charlottesville area, but once we arrived in safety, we decided to nestle in.

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What an incredible place in which to ride out a snowstorm!

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In the next post, I’ll share some indoor images of Keswick Hall.

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Cheers to a fabulous reunion!

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Frozen in Time

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Actually I wish I was frozen in time!  As it is, time is rushing right past me!

It’s been 7 whole days since I have posted!  Those of you have followed me for the past 2 1/2 years know what a record that is.  I’ve enjoyed the few moments I’ve had to photograph winter, while most of my time has been devoted to the campaign.  Thankfully, I’ve found a few moments to get by many of your blogs.  You’ve been doing some great work!

Stay tuned!

Later this weekend, if you have time to stop back by, you’ll be learning about a fabulous 24 hour getaway with a dear friend.

Stay warm my friends!!