Gardening Gifts of Love!!

There is a street in Pitman - Holly Avenue - and there is a house on Holly Avenue that is a true gift to all who drive by and take the time to notice.  This day, we saw that the flowers that had filled out the garden by the wall were gone!  What was to happen??  Then we saw the flats of pansies and then we saw a person!!

Truth and honest - in all of the years that we had been appreciating this gardening, never had we ever seen a person out front working on it!  Today we did.  "Stop the car and turn around!"  I knew that it was important for me - the Catch Them Doing Something Right Lady - to go back and talk with the gardener and thank her for all she has contributed to the beauty of life for so many of us!!  Now here is the most amazing information connected to this person and this garden.  SHE DOES NOT LIVE IN THIS HOUSE!  All of the gardening she does - changing the plants at least 2 or 3 times a year - is a labor of love for the people who do live there.  She and they are friends - all retired school teachers and she does all of this because she loves doing it.  She also gardens at her house in a nearby town and at a church in Glassboro.  Meet Janet - an exceptional woman with a giant heart and such a wealth of gardening information.    We learned about a new kind of tiny zinnia -

Now meet Fran - an oncology nurse who helps Janet with the gardening when she can.  So there is not one angel working in this yard, but two. 
So get this.  I, Photoschmoozer, was out without my camera that day IF you can believe that??  I had to go home and get it!!  Just had to.  Now here is the strange thing - by the time I went home, got the camera and came back, the zinnias that were planted along the driveway were gone!  Fran said that if she knew I wanted to take pictures of them, she wouldn't have taken them out.  I felt fortunate to find them still in the trash can and even more fortunate that Little Light was there dancing with me to make the zinnias perfect.  More gratitude!!

    Then we got invited to visit the back yard and who knew!!  There was a profusion of flowers - a plethora of colors - a pallette that would delight any artist!!   So..thankful?  you bet?  and the coolest part of it all besides the gardening and the beautiful flowers is for us to discover that Janet is 85 years young - what a role model!!  What a lesson and gift for all of our lives.  You can't just be complacent and drive on by when there is a synchronicity to be explored and stories to be shared.  My life is richer for having met Janet...and Fran.  I am really full of gratitude!!

Perfect...or Not...It's Done!!

Here's a lesson learned - another one - and they are - with gratitude - coming at me with warp speed.  I am not aging, but acquiring WISDOM!!

We have a habit in our house of washing the clothes and then hanging them out to dry - usually on the basement clothesline but sometimes outside. 

I have often been fussy that they are not 'scrunched' on the line.  The other day, I stopped and thought about that.  Aren't I lucky that I have a guy who shares the task with me without being asked or badgered?  YOU BET -

So what's the lesson - I can hang clothes precisely (or so I think), Bill can scrunch them somewhat and guess what??  They still dry at the same rate and they are still ready to wear!!  Amazing - and I am totally filled with yet more Joy and Gratitude that I can now let that be!!!  Hey, it's a challenge for me - and for lots of you my friend, but LETTING GO and letting it happen is so much easier on the stress level...life...and time!!

Open MIc Night and Mom's Blue Heels

We have a place in Pitman called the Bus Stop Music Cafe.  It's about become our community center - lots of music and good food.  A lot of the friends in our world have been made through connections that began on Open Mike night and went on...and on...and on!!  One such friend - no better could a person ask for...is Wendy Betz.  The first time I met her, I Photoschmoozer was attracted to the blue high heels Wendy was wearing.  Right away she had a story to tell me about them - they were her mom's and now they are Wendy's and they fit perfectly!!  From open mic nights, Wendy continued on with collecting her guys in a band - amazing all of them - Ian writes, sings and plays the piano and keyboard; Jim totally gets lost in the sounds from his drums - a lively addition to the beat; Rob - a newer member of the band is an incredible guitar player and Steve - well, he played guitar and has now switched to bass - quite talented - last night extended the group's entertainment opportunities - and here they all are in their special moments!!  Watch for them at Uptown Pitman Farm Market and other venues on both sides of the river.  You won't be disappointed - and our friendships continue to grow.  Through the Bus Stop...and Wendy - we now have 22 weeks of music bookings at the Farm market too!!  It's all so awesome - and for me/Photoschmoozer it began with the blue shoes!  Someone asked if I had a shoe fetish and I said NO, I am just fascinated by how people express their individuality by what they choose to wear on their feet!! 

Capture the Moment: Express Yourself!!

First things first.  A gift to myself - remember you have to nurture youself as well as others to enjoy life to the fullest - is to get my hair cut and colored every six weeks or so.  Today, Dawn Gorman, my stylist at Alfred Stephens Salon in Pitman, said, "Let's do something light and bright!!"  SURE!  And she did.  When it was all done, I loved the color and felt like Goldilocks - no bears around!!  I knew that it would last just this one day because, well, to be honest, I just don't have the patience to blow dry it and get the same effect IF I could!!  So fun it was.  See - in the past I have often switched stylists because it got to be too much sameness - and now, can you believe, I have been going to Dawn for more than 10 years!!  Life in small town USA!!

Then we got silly and why not.  Express myself - some of the many faces of Photoschmoozer!!  This one is my fun and loving face!!

 A bit perplexed here - what are we doing?  When will you stop taking pictures??

Here I get the chance to be like niece Kat who always seems to enjoy sticking out her tongue when anyone has a camera to take her picture!!   How NOT flattering - but hey it was part of the fun!!

Early Morning Garden Visitors!~!

We don't live in the city but we don't live in the country.  I wouldn't call it the suburbs because it is not a development - so what??  I would call it our backyard environment in small town, USA.  To say that we are lucky enough to have our yard go back 200 feet is a blessing and to say that we have a 'wall' of bamboo on one side is both a blessing for privacy and a curse for how invasive it is - and it is NOT even ours.  (Anyone have a suggestion for removing it??)  Every morning we wake up and look out the windows at the gorgeous flowers blooming in the garden, but most days, if we are observant, we are gifted with something unique!  One day, a pair of mallards had wandered up Cedar Avenue to eat in our backyard.  By the time I got the camera and then had to change the batteries, well, they were about moving on to other dining spots, but here they are.

 

I've been waking up early with the birds chirping around 5:30.  Today the sun was shining as well!!  Happy day!!  I decided to get my friend, Canon S10IS and venture out to see what was gifting us with its presence today.  Aside from six different colors of rose bushes in full bloom, there were iris, calendula and peonies.  Those of you who know me well, know that Super Macro close ups going into the heart and soul of the flowers is a favorite for me.  Today as I was looking at the iris, I found this bug? caterpillar? what?  still sleeping - just being still so I could get in there and watch him closely!  It's fascinating to BE STILL and look around - the gifts and surprises are amazing.  I wonder how often you, my friends, allow yourself that gift!!  Do it and you will be at peace.  Stillness can be so settling!!  Now off to do Tai Chi!

Synchronicities Might be Life Changiing!!!!

I had to stay home to finish Water for Elephants - both to find out what happened and to pass it along to a friend so she could read it.  Bill went ahead to the Bus Stop Music Cafe for open mic night and I said I would WALK there to meet him.  Did just that, stopping to visit with Kim at Barcelona for a chat.  When I got to the Bus Stop, the 'gang' was sitting outside - said it was too nice to go inside BUT I was hungry and did just that.  Bill was sitting at a table and there was a sandwich across from him - no person - a sandwich.  Eventually the guy came back and we all met.  His name is Richard Hawk - he came to play and sing, but we learned so much more about him. He's a writer and a motivational speaker - much on the same kinds of topics as DARE to AFFIRM.  As we were talking, all of a sudden, I saw a finger puppet being handed to me.  Why??  Richard said that he always carries a pocket full ( and he has zillions of stories connected to what happens when he spontaneously gives them to someone)  and I asked to see the others.  The one he has pulled out was a gibbon; the one I choose was this monkey!  He needs a name and I haven't settled yet - suggestions so far...Art, Erk ...and?  All I know is that this little guy and I danced through some songs as Richard sang!!  He even dedicated a song to his new friends, Martie and Bill.  Mom, you always asked why I talked to everyone.  This story is one more example of WHY and how wonderful it is!!  Some of the information that Richard shared could be life changing...time will tell!!

A Place of Belonging in Small Town USA

Meet Vic Martinson, all around ball of energy and the spark that got it all started!  As I sat and thought about the next Relationship Recipe Ingredient, I reflected back on yesterday...especially last night.  It was a cold and blustery day and I had a curriculum to write so I hunkered down and stayed in all day!  Late in the afternoon, I signed on to Facebook just to check out what was going on in that world and saw a post from the Bus Stop Music Cafe in Pitman, NJ, " since it was cold they had soups to warm you through and through. " What excited me about that?  The Hungarian mushroom soup - the split pea would have been a second!  I had been wanting that for my birthday party, but no luck, so why not go out and brave the weather for soup!!  Yes...and a favorite hot dog too!!  Am I digressing?  Of course not IF you can free associate and follow my chain of thought.  I immediately texted Ann Marie to see if she would be there.  A quick response, "Absolutely!!"  Off we went.  We walked in and it was warm and wonderful to be there...lots of people, music about to begin (it was open mike night) and well, just the right place for a cold Tuesday night.
So Martie/PhotoSchmoozer, get to the point.  What is the Ingredient connected here?? It is BELONGING.  I sometimes lament that I have lived in this town for more than 40 years and 'don't have friends'.  As I sat there last night, I had to reevaluate the word friend and the sense of belonging.  I commented to Bill that if someone wrote a play or maybe a short story about the Bus Stop, we would be 'regulars' there!  We do have friends and we do belong!  I searched my photo files to create a collage of the regulars - I won't name them now lest I leave some out.  You can be sure that next time I go back there, I will have the camera with me and I will bring home bunches of pictures of our friends.  Not next week though because it is full moon/winter solstice drumming at maryi's farm...and the opportunity to reflect on the friends there too.  Take the camera??  Of course!
So if I think about alll of this and you follow the Relationship Ingredients that I have been sharing, aside from belonging, which is important, we have already talked about communication, authenticity, laughter, patience and the biggie ACCEPTANCE.  I am learning to slow down and accept all of the people in my life for the unique individuals that they are and for the joy they can bring into my life...IF I allow them to!!  A heaert felt thanks to everyone who contributes to making each day special!!  Vic started the Bus Stop and the music...we all contribute to giving it life to continue!~!  YEAH US!!
PS - the next day was cold and blustery and different friends were waiting with warmth and more mushroom soup at the Bus Stop.  A perfect place for warm welcomes...again!!

Perfect Together!!

Imagine these conversations:  my friend Bernadette has no wheels, found a man's bike and is looking for one more her size.  Our son Jon is coming home from Japan in just FOUR short days and we've been talking about his fixing up the bike in the basement so he can continue his long distance riding.  Then allow your imagination to be riding in the car with me on the way home from work in Delaware on Friday. As we are heading down the homestretch, I glance to the left and see the perfect bike for Bernadette.  So I go and pick her up from the Bus Stop Music Cafe in Pitman and go check out the bike.  She's had some health news that has given her a bit of a setback, so no bike, but HEY WHY SHOULDN'T I BUY IT FOR ME??  The price was right and the fit is perfect.  Then I stood there thinking some more.  Thank goodness for cell phones.  "Bill come down the street and check this out!!"  Yes, we agree, it would be perfect for Jon and the price is equal to or less than his fixing up the other one.  SOLD!  SOLD!!  We scurried to the ATM to get him the $$ and then believe this.  He works at Rowan and was leaving for work in a few minutes, so he could put them in his truck and drop them off at our house.  WIN! WIN!!  Jon has the yellow bike; I have the red bike and we will have a wonderful 16 days visit beginning in a few short days!!  See I always tell you to keep your eyes open and watch for the synchronicities!!

Spirit Boosters Around Pitman!!

We were on the way to the doctor's to get the results of my lung biopsy and related tests.  Needless to say, there was some anxiety surrounding us.  It's about not knowing and uncertainty.  Then we turned the corner onto Holly Avenue and all of the tension was gone as we broke out into laughter when we saw this incredible pink gorilla sitting on the picnic table at Joe Pop's - a local eatery.  Didn't matter what time the appointment was.  I needed to stop and have a photo op! What better way to remember the day and the wonderfully positive news we recieved than to have this picture of ???  I stoped inside to get the scoop and there was a baby in his car seat, waiting for his pizza.  His name was Freddie, so I decided that I would always remember the joyful goofy pink gorilla as Freddie!  Next day, someone had dressed Freddie in a stunning black lace bra (well, the pecs were rather large!) and alas, yesterday, it was gone.  The gratitude in the situation - outright laughter in a tense situation and memories of "benign" as the results.  The sun was shining and the day was perfect!!

The Guys Love to Hang Out and Schmooze!!

If you spend any time Uptown Pitman, you will see Tom all around town.  He is one of the favorite local characters, often has his coffee, and loves to be ornery.  This day, early in the morning the day of the Pitman Bike Race, I first noticed the 'cool guy' Wes with the Sanford t-shirt.  Then he went to get his son, the owner of the Grill (newish restaurant in town) and like, the three monkeys - though I won't assign a role of see no, hear no or speak no to any one of them - I asked them to pose for me on the bench.  They are full of life and just make PhotoSchmoozer forget the cares of the world and laugh!!  How catching can that be?  Then last week, at Fourth Friday, well, I looked around and there they were again!!  Of course, another opportunity for laughter, hugs and photo ops!!  This is life as it needs to be in Small town USA.  Now it is soon time for Fourth of July celebrations - can you believe the town even had signs printed that no one could put their chairs for the parade out before July 2?!?  It's a tradition.  Just wait until the opportunity comes for photoschmoozing with parade goers and our neighbors for the fireworks!!

Daddy's Pride...

What a delight!!  Meet Jim Pierpont, the owner of the Hallmark Shop in Pitman.  We seem to have a game - whenever I go to take a his picture, he moves slowly to the side and hides!!  This past Saturday at the bike race was totally different and you can see why!?!?  When it comes to his beautiful daughter, all of the rules are set aside!  Aren't we all lucky to see the love and fun in this relationship!!

Yellow Shoes a Biker Doth Make

June 12 was the first annual Bob Riccio Tour De Pitman and 67 riders turned out on an absolutely gorgeous day to do the 50 miles course.  They rode 17 times around the route - in a town that seems flat but...It was fun to go to the parking lot at one end of town before the registration to see the transformation of guys into bikers and to hear their conversations about the race and the terrain.  I was able to share from a bit of personal experience that they had several good hills to negotiate many times over.  OK, it is NOT like the Manayunk Wall in that race in Philadelphia, but still it is a challenge.  Amazing thing is that 57 of the pack finished the race.  The riders came from the tri state area and there were many teams represented.  The main sponsor besides the Pitman Chamber of Commerce was the Caffeinated Cyclist, a fairly new bike store in town.  What did I learn from the experience?  The guys are great - friendly and real competitive team racers AND most bikers wear yellow shoes. From my perspective, not what I was told, I also took note that bikers have fantastic muscles in their legs that affords them the pumping power !!  What a sight to behold!!  Great team - great volunteers - great sponsors and Yeah Pitman!!  PhotoSchmoozer walked all over town and felt so a part of the town and the events. Thanks to all!

The Pied Piper of Pitman!!

It was Fourth Friday in Pitman, NJ.  The weather was perfect, the town was crowded with families walking, talking, laughing and eating the ice cream, cotton candy and other food for their enjoyment.  The restaurants were crowded (Sweet Lula's had their grand reopening!! Welcome back Anthony and Lula) and the antique car show in the park was crowded with cars and people checking them out.  As we walked the streets, listened to the music in front of Venice Cafe and chatted with old and new friends, I saw a man carrying a basket and surrounded by a group of kids.  What was going on?  As I got closer, this little Pug was the scene stealer and precious he was.  He was attracting young and old and just totally loving the attention he was receiving.  I know that there are animals for all kinds of helpers and healers and the attention this one received, as well as the looks on people's faces, just showed how true that was. 

Ducks in a Row!!

Years ago, I worked with Sydelle and any time we sat down to plan, she always talked about 'getting our ducks in a row'.  She always had great intentions and then the planning turned to working at a fast pace to get something done.  My task was to come in after and truly work to 'get the ducks in a row'.  When I was sitting at the lake yesterday watching the families that are hatching and growing strong there, I thought of her and our work together.  (OK, I know they are geese, but close enough because there was a mallard family as well!!)  Then I thought about my life now and all of the healing and transitions that are happening - sometimes at what feels like warp speed!!  I suppose I am refelcting and quietly planning and striving to get my ducks in a row.  The challenge of it all is to BE STILL (my favorite words but not always my favorite practice in reality) and allow events and experiences to flow.  I've been having a 'mind dilemma' yet when I sat still under my healing tree and later at the lake, the solution became so simple and clear.  Maybe we all need to pay attention to how we are guided and not think that we are totally responsible for outcomes!  How about that for a beautiful insight?!?  Try it; life could be a lot simpler and more peaceful.

Tip Top Teamwork!!

Today I am still on the Teamwork topic.  A few days ago, it was the children playing in the sandbox in Central Park, Manhattan. Today it is about a group of guys working together on the roof of our house!  They had to strip it to the bare bones to prepare to put the new roof on.  Now, as it their life depended on it, and it does in some ways, these guys were there for one another.  Not only did they appear to work well together, but they definitely lived the meaning of teamwork - Together Everyone Achieves More.  Some tore off, some did the plywood and some others did the shingles.  They each has strengths and used them effectively.  It's been less than a week and it will soon be finished.  No easy challenge since we have a three story house with lots of steep roof pieces and peaks.  Even for those of us who don't engage in physical labor like these guys, we can learn a few lessons - know your strengths, respect your fellow workers and get in there together to get the job done!  It's about discovering strengths which leads to cooperation and collaboration.  Maybe someday child care, Head Start and related fields will really step up and do the same!!  It would be a blessing and we would all benefit!!

Spirit of JOI!! Rhythms and Relationships

NOTHING IS BY ACCIDENT!!  A few months ago, I went to a drumming workshop in Mullica Hill.  I did not take the time to make my own Native American drum since Bill had just come home after surgery, but I did choose to buy one from the teacher.  I digress - so what else is new??  There were about 8 drums in one corner of the room and I went to sit with them and quietly listen to decide which one was talking with me!  Right there with me were several gentle souls who listened to the sounds and took part in my decision making.  One of these people was Conni-Joi and she is a Joi!!  Now the amazing fact is that she lives a few blocks from us!!  It's unusual for me to go somewhere and connect with someone who lives in my town and even on my 'side' of the town.  Since then we have been walking - this picture was from one day recently at Betty Park by Alcyon Lake in Pitman - talking, cooking and sharing energy and healing.  Now we have joined a CSA =- organic vegetables weekly and will build our relationship on healthy living and healthy cooking.  Maybe someday - you will have to wait to hear about this - we might expand our activities to reach out in healiing ways to our world!!  For now, we live the simple way and share quiet experiences - music, drumming, and especially love of nature!  OK Mom, so I continue to talk to everyone and once again, I show that it is necessary because you never know!!

DRUMMING FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING

Drumming has been an attraction to me for quite a few years though I have not actively pursued it. Now I can wait no longer. The hubby bought me a conga drum a few years back for my birthday present - purple of course!! Then I began to get a few books and CDs and 'jump' slowly into the water. Then I read a book by Robert Lawrence Friedman - THE HEALING POWER OF THE DRUM - and could wait no longer. I wanted to drum for finding my natural rhythms, building community and bringing more peace and balance into my life.
I called Robert to see where I could attend one of his workshops. When there was no place, I took a GIANT LEAP OF FAITH and asked him what he would charge to come to Pitman. NOW we are READY to meet and greet, play and heal. Sunday October 4 from 1-3, people will come together at the Ground House for a workshop. It's exciting and I know a new path of adventure and discovery for me!! I've lived here for so many years and now am beginning to feel more and more that it is 'my town'. It took PhotoSchmoozer's being out and about to make this happen!! Once more, I have paid attention to my intuition and done what feels right to me!! YEAH Martie the PhotoSchmoozer!!

The Dreamer...The Doer...The Idea Man!!

Saturday night started out innocently enough. We went 'downtown Pitman" to the Bus Stop Cafe to hear our friend Jim Six, singer songwriter and our son's best friend, Greg Potter, accompanying him on the guitar. It was to be a 'quiet' evening of wonderful music. Then, well, the guy at the door collecting the $ for the cover charge was wearing a fez!! What's that all about!?!?
So have I told you that PhotoSchmoozer is also a flirt? Well, I am...and it is fun.!!It's a technique that wins people - smile first of all, and then flirt, flatter and make people feel wonderful and appreciated!! No worries mate. Easy enough because, for me, it is a real way of being.
I sat quietly and listened to many of our favorite songs, but eventually the 'magnet' drew me to Vic - the hat, the beard and the intense bright eyes that noticed everything (you can tell by now, that people's eyes/faces are fascinating for me?!!) I went outside and chatted for a few minutes and then simply said that he looked so cool with that hat and could I take his picture? Sure...how did I want him to pose? Then he said to wait a minute and went to get the other hat - we talked about the Gorton's of Gloucester fisherman (how many of you grew up on their fish sticks?? and do you know that it is now a Japanese company owned by Nippon Suisan Kaisha,Ltd)? We talked about PhotoSchmoozer and how I just loved to talk to people and hear their stories. Vic said he had LOTS of stories to share with me. This is the first time I said I would come back to sit and listen because I was there to listen to Jim and Greg. Is this the start of a new trend??
This morning, Monday and the first day of Fall, I went to the cafe (www.myspace.com/busstopmusic ) and YES, Vic had stories to share. First of all, I got a great cup of coffee - $1 gets you a cup that is unlimited in refills and a delicious breakfast sandwich - they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and have quite a healthy/organic menu). Vic is three generations from Glassboro ( a story for another time) and barely graduated from high school. He then went to a few colleges and majored in 'parties' so, no degree but he is a perfect example of a dreamer who is a doer and makes things happen. His career...a jack of all trades who has worked in a lumberyard, on a trash truck, as a card counter (other stories?) and in the casinos in Atlantic City. He opened his first used record and CD place in Pitman in 1994, bought the current building on Broadway that he is in now in 1995, and just kept moving on. But...can't make the stories too long or you won't read it all...so you have to come back another day to hear the story of how Vic got started in the used record/CD business.
He wants to do and see everything in life but is one smart guy who knows that HE HAS TO STAY MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HEALTHY so he can be there for himself, his wife and 2 boys and others. So next week he is off to NY state for a week of salmon fishing with the buddies. You can be sure that Vic will be a Photo Schmoozer story another day soon!! Thanks for visiting today.

Touch Up and Trim Today

ANYTHING is a photo op and a story if you just open your eyes WIDE and pay attention to what is all around you!?! Now, don't get me wrong. I do appreciate all of the gifts and the beauty that Mother Nature offers us daily with flowers, trees, bugs, plants, sunlight and... Yet, as I sit and contemplate it all, LIFE in all of its entirety offers us the same beauty, images and experiences.
Today, I had a scheduled appointment to get a touch up and trim. Now, when this happens, there is half an hour of lag time while the color gets to the roots and makes them 'match' the rest of the hair. So, I started out reading Nature Photographer...ok, enough of that. Why not just look around where I was and focus on the HERE AND NOW. I did and I am sharing my views with you in this here and now!! It is truly amazing when you stop and look really closely at what is around. One of the hairdressers - maybe I should call her a 'salon artist' - questioned what I was doing. When I got excited telling her that I was going to creat a PhotoStory 'A DAY AT THE SALON'...well, sad to say, she was only concerned that one of the stations was dirty!!
I had tons of pictures by then, so I quietly put the camera away and just became 'more beautiful' on the outside to match my joy and beauty on the inside!! What's up with you??