Reflections of Joy and Curiosity!

Photoschmoozer - capturing life's moments - one story at a time - it is a total joy to go out into the world and meet people and listen to their stories - it is a joy to do the volunteer work that I am for the Pitman Farm Market - yet at some point, it is also time to STOP and think of self and reflect on life - what brings me happiness - what encourages me to self expression - what brings me peace?!?!?

Lately I have been putting my own self and spirit aside for the sake of getting things done to make the market happen - OK - it's fun and a great way to network, connect people and make things happen.  But then, give pause.  Yesterday something happened to do just that.  I got an email from buddy, Bob, sharing the Artists of Southern New Jersey.  WHAT is that?  WHO is that?  I called since I hadn't heard Bob's voice in awhile and we talked about the group and then Contemplative Photography and Miksang.  This conversation gave me pause - and a quiet joy - to remember my inner being and what makes me totally appreciate life and the beauty of the simplicity of the world - and by that I mean the world in my immediate life - the pen on the desk - listening to the birds sing - sitting here watching the day wake up - the flowers in my garden - and just my breath!  It's a spirit of renewal and one that has been eluding me...until now.  Reflections of self in the mirror with the camera - reflections of life in the stillness of my being!!

Where Butterflies Bloom!!

When I saw the sign - WHERE BUTTERFLIES BLOOM - I was hooked.   When I walked inside, I stayed!!  I said Hi and shared that I was pulled in by the name of the shop and then Ron had stories to share!!  By now, you know Photoschmoozer's love of stories - the moments in time that are captured and make life full!!  I learned about Ron and his wife, their butterfly gardens and this shop as a happening in his retirement!  He loves the town of North East, MD and has some really fascinating and whimsical items to share.  I did find the 'perfect' Mother's Day present - a jangly bracelet filled with color.  Are you surprised??  Haven't had a photo op with it...yet...but will share when that happens.  I finally had to leave Ron though we could have talked and listened for a long time...the shop just filled up with customers and he needed to give them his attention!!  Go visit this little town - just a hop, skip and jump off of I95 when you are headed someplace - or better yet, make it a destination. There's a state part, the Cheseapeake Bay and friendly people!

Buddy Larry Geiger & the Woodbury Market

Today was Opening Day for the Woodbury,NJ Farm Market and being the person who believes that EVERYBODY .HELPS EVERYBODY, I went to support my buddy, Larry Geiger, executive director of Main Street Woodbury.  The tents were put up on the parking lot next to the Train Station restaurant.  We found Larry and met some really great vendors - including Lenny DeFiore from Dayna's Daiquiris - hey we are sharing vendors and Lenny is one of them.  Woodbury's market is on Friday and we are Saturday, so it is a win win for everyone.  We brought home luscious Jersey fresh strawberries - needed plenty of washing to get the sand out so we knew they were Jersey fresh - and the asparagus is there for the cutting!  Met Jessica too who has her own bee hive and sells eggs from her own stock of chickens. 

As we were stopping at the last farm stand, Haynicz's Orchardview Farm, we couldn't have a conversation to buy produce because the TRAIN was chugging along the tracks next to the market.  Then, to our surprise, it stopped right next to the market!!  Made me wonder if the engineer wanted to get some Jersey fresh produce for the ride!!!  All in all, the weather was pretty perfect for the market, and there was a steady stream of shoppers.  It will only get better as the weeks go along.  Congrats to everyone who is working on it!!

Breakfast Companion - with us for days!!

If the Shoe Doesn't Fit....!!

Meet Bev Richards, the inspirational speaker at the Shoe Fashion show that I/Photoschmoozer attended.  Listening to her words, I found lots of inspiration - some I will share now - some for a creation I am working on - all filled with possibilities.
    Bev shared a Shoe Personality quiz...Who are YOU??
Barefoot - carefree, happy and a little careless.  Instant solutions for a friend's problems.  You spread happiness wherever you go.
Flip Flops - energetic, gutsy and honest.  You are trustworthy and turn out to be a true friend.
Platform heels -  fashion conscious...independent...and you don't like to 'sling' on people
Flat shoes - take life very easy.  Honest and hardworking.  You like playing pranks.  You are more interested in comfort than fashion.
Sneakers - you are cool headed and relaxed.  Open minded and conscious about your health and body.  You like updating your knowledge...and know about latest trends.
High heels -you are very confident - and can solve multi-problems simultaneously.  You have certain goals in life...and have power and status.
Clogs - you work very slowly , but are not lazy.  You are hardworking and spiritual.  But your life and house are messy!!
   Thanks Bev for sharing these clever words.  I wonder if, when we change shoes, we change personality?  Hmmmmmmmmmm...

One family: Expressions of SELF!!

Friend Janice told me a few months ago that her church was having a SHOE fashion show.  Now you can tell from previous posts, that my ears perk up when I hear the word shoes and my eyes feast on the diversity of what has been created!!  So I asked if I could come and take pictures!!  To my total pleasure, this happened last week and it was such fun. Can you believe there were close to 60 women - yes all women- well, females if you could the few toddlers but still girls - sitting at round tables, feasting on shared desserts and then walking up a small staircase to a small platform to show off their shoes!!  Every person was nicer than the next and their expression of uniqueness made my heart feel really good.  On to something with the concept - or so I believe!!  As I watched everyone, I particularly noticed this one mom and her four girls - two singles and twins.  Proving my point about individual expression, I gathered them for a photo shoot.  Mom is on the left; the oldest sister on the right; the twins and younger sister in the center.  They were pleased as punch to pose for me - actually they took one themselves -oldest sister asked if I was a photographer?!?  I said "Sure" and she said she wanted to be one too!!  Cute.  Then she got them in a circle and took a picture from above - very clever!!  No it's time to take the inspirational words of the speaker, Bev Richards, and create a presentation - her words and my photos - perfect together!!

Photo Ops and Painful Possibilitie!!