The Adventuresome Nature of Youth

Their Stories...My Stories

After a beautiful day out and about for Valentine's Day with my buddy, we stopped in at Barnes and Noble on the way home.  Bill has been exploring HDR pictures - a special process to bring out the best color in a photo shoot situation.  I had seen several books in the Digital Photography section and he wanted to skim them for more ideas.  In the process, he walked over to me with a brand new book called STORYTELLERS: A Photographers Guide to Developing Themes and Creating Stories with Photos by Jerod Foster.  New...brand new...and as I looked through it and began reading, I knew it was one that had to come home with me.  So why this picture of leg warmers and boots?!?  I understand that often when I take pictures and definitely ones of people and their shoes, I am sharing their story.  This one I saw at the Whole Foods/Princeton Wellness Center cooking class the other day.  I watched this woman stand to get her food tastes - what I saw was her in a different way - how she was expressing herself and her individuality by her garb.  She was totally colorful!  I know I am going to enjoy the Storyteller book and you will see/hear more about it as time goes on!!  IF we hadn't stopped at B & N would I have ever heard about the book and/or discovered yet another way of seeing?!?  Synchronicities abound!!



IVY and ELLIE!! Too Sweet!!

A few months ago, Allison showed me a stuffed elephant she had bought for her friend who was going through chemotheraphy.  It made me laugh when I squeezed the foot and listened to her singing!  No, I don't remember the song, but it was lively.  A few weeks ago, I knew I had to purge more 'stuff' and the elephant needed a new home.  My friend, Heather, in Nebraska has a four year old and I have decided to somewhat adopt them as the daughter/granddaughter I would love to have - so I thought about finding a new home for the elephant.  I packed her up for mailing and sent her winging to a new home.  I also wrote a note with one of my greeting cards using my photos - gosh people love those!!  This one had a pair of pink cowgirl boots. I thought Ivy would like them!  Turns out she has a pair of the boots, named the elephant "Ellie" and it's her best friend.  In fact, she often sleeps with her.  Yesterday Heather took pictures of Ivy and Ellie and sent them to me.  Today I share them with you.  She is a charmer - so full of energy and imagination - a free spirit that many of us long to be.  I hope to go and meet her in person so we can dance together and sprinkle fairy dust all around us.  Make a wish...you never know when it will come true!!  My Guardian Angel, Filaree is such a spirit and everyday, I can feel her coming more alive in ME!!  Just the other day, someone said, "Martie you are such a free spirit!"  Ah to believe other people's perceptions.  Every day a little bit more - Believe and your wishes can come true!!