Ready for Take Off!!!

Imagine driving into the parking lot by the Cohansey River in Greenwich,NJ, ready to have a quiet lunch at the Bait Box restaurant (we had finally found it after several trips in their direction). What greeted us, besides the wonderful variety of boats, was "THIS"??? What?!?! Because we had followed the Bait Box directions on their web site and seemed to drive "forever', we decided that lunch first was in order. When we came out, I strolled over to look at this and was wondering what it was. At that point, a guy in a truck came close and teasingly told me there were "postcards for sale inside"!! Naive as I am, I asked, "Inside the space ship or in the shop?" He laughed and then proceeded to tell me the story about this outer space looking structure. Seems his work is restoring fiber glass boats, and since this is made of fiberglass, he has been comissioned to refinish this for someone to live in!! Seems a guy bought it from an amusement pier in "south jersey" (He was from Florida so did not know that Greenwich is also in South Jersey!!) It has been a part of a thrill ride. When the excitement was over, the people would get off and walk through this. Imagine living in a structure like this.

The guy who owns this one just located another in Denver and had sent my buddy out to look at it. Next stop, living in Denver for awhile to fix that one up, What a career and life of adventure he has chosen. My point is that if I had not bothered to engage him in conversation, I would still be wondering about the outerspace structure!! It doesn't pay to be hesitant or shy!

The Amazing Zinnia Shares JOY!!

Saturday morning...restless sleep...feeling the emotional effects of the full moon and up just about at the crack of dawn. What could I do to get settled and be with the absolutely gorgeous day that was dawning. I know!! Get my camera/s and head out to the garden to enjoy the stillness - or what I thought was going to be the stillness. (The only challenge was the neighbors setting up their yard sale across the street and the people coming to see what was there). I stayed in the back yard and away from the bustle of the street, traffic and people activity. At first, I tried TOO HARD to find things to take pictures of. Then I remembered what my advice is to others and decided to live what I knew in my heart was the truth. What I began to see were the zinnias in all of their states of glory and decay. In my 60+ years, I don't think I have ever been so still to see the beautiful patterns and designs of this flower. The buds, especially had dark outlines around all of the sections. Amazing and all I had to do was BE STILL and wait. I ended up staying in the garden for 2 1/2 hours. I saw the portulacas come to life, the light shining on the balloon flowers, and the bugs and bees waking up. The most special part of all of this for me was that part way through the experience, I felt a total calm come over me. One more example of picking up my camera and just going out and BEING with it. What a blessing. I am filled with gratitude that my husband planted this garden and Mother Nature nurtured and supported his work.

Walk With Me...

Yesterday I went to meet my friend Theresa for lunch at the Painted Cottage Cafe in Collingswood, NJ. Yes, of course, my camera "friend" was with me on this adventure. In fact, I took the Canon and the Panasonic, for good measure just to be sure that I could bring home what I saw!! Indeed I did!! I never go out thinking "what am I going to photograph today?" That for me is NOT what this is all about. It is about me and my buddies out on an adventure. It is about quieting my mind and being still to receive. Yesterday, I parked and when I got out of the car, I just stood still on the sidewalk (Haddon Avenue) to take in my surroundings. I saw SIGNS everywhere. I couldn't walk without looking all around me - up, down, around. I have been training my eyes to look for all of the possibilities. Somehow, I also think about creating stories and making collages to present my visions. Yesterday was no different. I wanted to be able to invite my friends to "Walk with me" and that I did. Welcome to this little piece of the world and the signs that show us what this part of town is all about.
Please take a minute to notice the one contradiction in the collage - the picture in the lower right corner. Read its message...
GO INTO THE WORLD AND DO WELL, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY GO INTO THE WORLD AND DO GOOD!!
No need to say anymore fellow photographers. Just go out and look around you...and then look around somemore. Keep your eyes and your heart wide open for receiving!! It's a feeling of peace and gratitude and a way to live in the "precious present".

What an Opening Line!!!

DO YOU ALWAYS USE A CAPO TO MATCH YOUR OUTFIT??This past Saturday, Bill and I went to the Chester County Fiddler's Picnic in Hibernia Park near Coatesville, PA. As is our usual way of doing things, we each wander in different directions, see what we can see, and then find one another again and share "what is". This time Bill shared that he had seen a woman with a PINK CAPO. It's the gadget used for tuning the guitar. He wondered if she changed them depending on the outfit she was wearing. For me, this was a great "one liner" - a conversation starter. Later I went over to where she was playing and whispered the question in her ear. I met TECLA GAY. She laughed. "No, it is pink for breast cancer." As a "girl thing", we then launched into breast cancer conversations - friends, family and the Sister Study. It was great!! I asked to take some pictures of her..."OK. I like that", she said. I saw her, pretty in pink and then took a picture of the capo close up. When I showed it to Tecla in the camera, she said, "It would be perfect on my new CD!!" I put the pictures on a CD and they are in the mail...I am lucky to have a new friend, satisfying music to listen to from Tecla Gay's CD WHERE I BELONG, and some great photos as an extra special gift. It always pays to talk...and then listen. There are so many fascinating stories to be heard!!

The Sunday Morning Storm!!

The Sunday morning storm. It all began with what sounded like a hot air balloon flying overhead. Listening more closely, we realized it was thunder but way in the distance. Within 20 minutes, the thunder came closer and a gentle rain came down. It smelled sweet like a spring/summer rain. Just a bit more and the thunder became louder and the rain became harder. The lightening was showing itself as well. I sat on the porch talking to my good friend Susan, and she asked "Do you have the camera?" Silly me - I did not. I said, "Call you back and went to get my "buddy". This is what I saw within the next half hour - pouring rain, giant hail stones (2 bottom left pictures) [well Bill says maybe not so giant!! poetic license], water streaming down the street and pouring out of the neighbor's gutter and then the cars spashing in the giant puddles. After the storm, the sun, but alas, no rainbow. It's an hour later and the thunder can still be heard in the distance and the sky lightens and darkens...not over yet?? Brrrr...It feels like Fall!!