Guest Blogger’s Response to Yesterday’s Waiting for Spring Post
Okay Aunt Bobbie (the one who gave Anna the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls). Bobbie saw my almost Spring post of the flowering pear trees and then sent me a photo for the blog today. YIKES!
I was so hopeful. Just when I was thinking of how the earth will warm up and the buds and blossoms will burst. I was counting the days until Spring, ready for the winter to be OVER!
I love it when someone is inspired by my photos on the blog, though. Even if it is a snow photos. Well more that just any snow photo.
21 inches of snow in Kansas City in a week!!!
(Chicago John, this one is for YOU, too!) For everyone shoveling and plowing and hopeful that it will just all go away….and SOON.
(Rob, you must be so glad you moved out of Northern Illinois to Florida this year. Kristin, how was Hawaii? Sue, you enjoying Spring training in Bradenton?)
Thanks Bobbie for the photo today. Where are the crocus?
A p.s. to Aunt Bobbie’s picture
Two more responses, this time from faithful blog reader ROB
writes to
Ruth,
Brrrrrr.
Reminds me of a song that my Music Monday Maestro might find….
“Button up your overcoat, when the winds are free. Take good care of yourself, you belong to me.”
Waiting for Spring
The Spring Equinox is March 20 at 7:02 AM. Just THREE weeks to go. I checked the Old Farmer’s Almanac for the official word.
In another 5 weeks, it’ll look like this in our part of the country….I have to keep it in mind.
Blossoms and green grass, bulbs shooting up through the earth. The RedBud will bloom.
Three weeks ’til Official Spring. This photo was taken two years ago the first week of April.
March is Friday. I think I have it calculated right.
Old State Road in Columbus on the way home. (I pulled over!)
Raggedy Duo in Public Domain But Does Anyone Play With Them Nowadays?
Never used nowadays lately but had to look it up to be sure I spelled it correctly.
While in Ohio this past weekend, I was helping sort through some toys in the playroom. Matchbox cars here, a duffel bag of puppets, strollers and baby dolls and a whole tub of action figures like Batman and Star Wars light sabers. A box of wooden blocks.
The grandchildren are growing up and many of the younger toys aren’t being played with and room needs to be made for new ventures.
These Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls were gifts from Great Aunt Bobbie when Anna(9) was born. They looked exactly the same way they have smiled at me for all these years. No change in expression. Just grinning. They looked almost brand new.
I took them upstairs and set them up in my father’s old oak rocker which is now in Mark’s office. They didn’t object to being photographed. I started thinking about rag dolls and how they aren’t trendy and I wondered if people are still buying them. These are lovingly handmade in Kansas City and I think of them as classics. Nostalgia sets in. (more…)
Studio 35- Oldest Independent Cinema & Drafthouse, Hosts Free Oscars Event in Clintonville
On my way to Laura and James’ house, I saw this cool theatre, Studio 35, and read the marquee. Pulled over to the curb and got out the camera. Thought it sounded like a fun evening. Took the shot from the car and the day was a gray one.
This theatre looks l like the ones I knew growing up. No theatre in Pittsburgh serves beer as far as I know.
My DIL was teasing about my getting home to watch the Oscars Sunday night, live stream on a computer as I have no TV that gets any channels. It is always fun to see the best and worst dressed though. A lot of hype in the media. But this image evokes nostalgia for me. One of these visits to Columbus I am going to have to go watch a movie here.
BUCKEYES Reflection- Guest Blog
My son Mark sent this to me from his phone today. He was with Anna at an Invitational Swim Meet, Ohio State University - The Bill and Mae McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion to be exact. The text he had written to me with the photo was:
Photo Challenge Reflection.
No matter that the Weekly Photo Challenge for Reflection was the beginning of December. I thought it was fun to receive the photo he took with the accompanying words. He saw that and thought of the Photo Challenge Reflection. And he thought of the blog. It was nice to receive and so I’m sharing it you.
Thanks Mark. (more…)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Forward
Forward on the soccer team? Forward as in pushy, aggressive?
I’m thinking FORWARD motion cause that is what I came up with as I skimmed through my photos.
The Weekly Photo Challenge seems like a real challenge to me this week. Guess I am taking the word Forward, literally. The sensation of moving up, plowing ahead, going forward. Here are the photos I chose for the theme FORWARD. (I like to think a bit of blur illustrates the forward motion! HA!)
Trying the new option, well new to me…..click to see the photos. Let me know if it works. (more…)
Night at the Museum for Oh Snap!
The Carnegie Museum of Art had a wild evening featuring the Oh Snap! Project where museum goers are invited to respond to one of the 13 photographs recently acquired by the museum- ”a collaborative project”
and the place was packed when I arrived.
When I came into the crowd I asked a nice couple, what they were in line for and they responded, “Drinks!”
Ahhh.
I went drinkless into the gallery where the thirteen photographs were hung. Surrounding each photograph were several selections from the submissions of photographs in response to the Museum’s 13. (Oh Snap! Project explained here if you are interested in submitting your photo inspired by one of the museum’s) Everyone please consume their snacks and beverages prior to entering the gallery with the photographs on the wall.
No problem for me but others had to wait.
The gallery a bit crowded to savor and digest all the photos on the wall which is often the case with openings, receptions and events. Definitely planning a return trip to take it all in. I saw photographers I knew milling about, checking it all out. It was a vibrant scene. Abuzz. A green screen the backdrop for antics and people with props as in a photo booth. Having a blast being silly. (I remembered the Photo Booth Laura and James had at their wedding, what fun for them to pore over the images of the guests)
Then I headed to the Hall of Sculpture and I chatted with one of the photographers with a Canon on a tripod, capturing the Light Writing with the LED Hula Hoops and various swords, necklaces, and eyeglasses that glowed, sparkled and flashed. It was cool being in the Hall of Sculpture with the lights out. Definitely a Night at the Museum I told her how I worked with the hs students and we’ve done light writing in the former darkroom. How the kids love doing it and the results. We talked settings and equipment a bit and I watched the hula hoopers. The admission? FREE!
When I left, I captured the scene from the bottom of the Sculpture Garden stone stairs. You can see how the new project was well attended.
The goal is to “spark a creative response” and I would say that goal is well on it’s way to being accomplished!
If your photograph is chosen, you get a free pass for admission.
Getting Ready for Baseball Season in Pittsburgh AND Florida
Everyone has their favorite teams. Depends where you live, where you were born, where you moved, or who your family roots for, what players you like…..
some fans prefer football but the beginning of baseball means that Spring will be coming.
The Pittsburgh Pirates Spring Training is already happening in Bradenton, Florida.
I know cause my friend and frequent commenter, Sue R. is headed down to watch some games. Has her tickets. Seriously. She is one proud Lady Buc!
This post is for her so she knows that the fans at home are getting ready, too.
My favorite part of the photo is that the house number is also the Pittsburgh area code. 412!
Hope you are enjoying the warm weather and that the Pirates are looking good, Sue. It’s snowing right now. Nothing major but it is gray and cold and snowy.
You can find Sue at PNC Park when the season starts. And then it will be SPRING!!!!
Inspired by Christopher Boffoli Miniature Food Work
When I saw photographer, Christopher Boffoli’s work, I thought that this was something we could do in the digital photo classroom. He has really perfected the art in this department of miniature food scenes. And we tried to recreate one of his ideas at school. The miniatures are so appealing.
Only problem is 6 mini HO scale figures run almost 14 bucks at Esther’s Hobby Shop so that makes it pricey. They’re fragile too but oh so fun.
The Oreos were on sale at Giant Eagle. But they don’t last, either. I took in beans and rice and we had some Cheerios but it just wasn’t feasible for more than 120 students to get satisfactory results.
This is one of my practice shots. The students liked the little figures. I had some larger plastic dogs that they photographed, too.
Thanks Mr. Boffoli for the cool inspiration. It isn’t that easy to do it as successfully as you’ve done.
I’d photographed a model railroad mother hanging out the wash before but not the whole scene with props.
Be sure to check out his picture show at this link cause his creativity and imagination is endless.
If You Need a Polish Platter
At the end of the Bloomfield Bridge, when I sat at the red light, I saw the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern in the snow.
The Polish Platter “Red” consists of
Pierogi, Kielbasa, Golabki, Haluski,
and Kluski
Open Mic Acoustic Night on Tuesdays at 9PM
Michael, 7, Master LEGO® Builder
Sunday afternoon, Michael, 7, asked me if I would photograph his LEGO® vehicle and put it on the blog.
Now how can any grandma resist that invitation? Michael loves to create, construct and play with LEGO®. We just don’t like stepping on them.
(I pronounced him the “master” LEGO® builder although there might be an official designation with a credential he’d have to earn from LEGO® U)
The close-up of the vehicle. In the background? When I looked at the photo on the computer screen I noticed my father’s rocking chair in my son Mark’s office.
Here is the first photo, when Michael called down to me and asked me if I would photograph his STAR WARS LEGO® vehicle and put it on the blog.
I said, sure.
Then he came down the stairs and put on the finishing touches so I could shoot it. It tickles me how the grandchildren know all about the blog.
Friday night, four year old Maura told me I could bring my computer to her room and blog before bed. (That’s Maura on the bottom right with a hockey stick, climbing up the stairs.)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Kiss
For the weekly challenge I looked to my own family to help me out.
I figured they wouldn’t mind. The wedding clothes photos are the ones I took 6 months after the wedding. Thanks Laura and James. (Hope it’s okay!) Love, Ma
Winter Supper Still Life
A friend invited me for a winter supper after school today. A nice invitation as the week was winding down. It was refreshing and delicious.
Doesn’t it always taste better when someone prepares food, sets a table and serves it to you?
Vegetable Soup with Pesto. Bread and Olive Oil. Spring Mix, Tomatoes and Olives with Oil & Vinegar.
Pumpkin Bread and Fruit
I Drove Home in a Snow Globe
and of course, returned to the park. It’s just blocks from my house. And the light was low, the visibility poor. A stark and magnificent beauty in the midst of the storm.
What were the trees doing today? One day winter, one day Spring, one day freezing and dark, one day a warm sun but a chill in the wind. I wanted to see the branches outlined in snow. The dark branches highlighted with the new fallen snow. Actually, falling snow.
I was rewarded with a stunning winter scene, just before dusk.
It had started to snow while I was at school. The sky heavy and gray. Big big flakes. Melting on the street as it was 38 degrees. I drove home in a snow globe.
Oh yes, today I got out of the car, scared off a squirrel and photographed the snowy park bench and my favorite tree. The sounds muffled by the new snow, barely sticking to the road but highlighting the curved lines.
these are unretouched color photographs
Two roads diverged….
Home to tea. Homemade spaghetti and cheese, steamed broccoli. Leftover fortune cookie and a mandarin orange. Winter.
Winter Sun on a Chain Link Fence
The neighborhood of Bloomfield. 
Tree in Snow, Tree in Sun
Another in my winter tree series. Actually I drove through the park today and the snow is gone. See the tree below.
I wanted to post the trees in silhouette, though and the sinking sun behind the trunk.
It ‘s the warmth of the sun on the snow that appeals to me.
My drives through the park after school on my way home have help me appreciate the beauty of the winter.
A different tree but this is the angle of the sun at the time I was driving into the entrance of Highland Park.
Today on the way home, the car thermometer read 63 degrees. Here’s what my trip into the park yielded Monday afternoon. Find the car to check the scale of the tree. Because of the mottled peeled bark, I believe it’s a giant sycamore. Long shadows and blue sky with pretty clouds made it feel like April.
You Can Submit a Photo of a Photo to Dear Photograph
Today I received an email from my son’s FIL, Donald, about a photo concept and website- take a picture of an old photograph in the same location where it was taken. He must have seen it and knew it would be something I would enjoy looking at. Boy, I’ll say……………..
The website is Dear Photograph and now that I’ve gone and read about it all, I must be the last to hear about it.
Dear Photograph is all over the news. It was even on the TODAY show. There’s a book of photographs using this concept that the young author/photographer Taylor Jones has authored. Simple and satisfying. Touching and fun.
So I looked at what was done and thought I would dig out a few photographs and give it a try. I just skimmed the tip of the iceberg as I limited my search to one box and a single framed photo – the one of the family in front of the house is Fall 1991, the year we moved into the house. Laura was in the third grade, Matthew fifth and Mark a Sophomore in HS.
And then I tried it. I found it tricky to hold up the photo and shoot with one hand. These are shot with the iPhone camera. I’m sure with a bit of balancing and practice the outcome could be improved but it was fun and I enjoyed trying to capture the photo of the photo.
Here are the results. Thank you Taylor Jones for the cool inspiration. I know the blogging community probably knows all about you and your website already but I’m glad Donald sent me the link to your website this morning. See what you can come up with using your old photographs. Having moved9 times in 16 years, there are a lot of photos of places I can’t return to and take the shot.
My pans have changed a bit from the Farberware to the All-Clad. Not totally but the rack is the same. Different stove. I still have the vase, too.
Happy Chinese New Year- Year of the Snake
Mine is a single photograph today…..For a beautiful and informative post on the Chinese New Year be sure to click here
Weekly Photo Challenge: Home
Michael and Murphy
Home Game Home Plate
Homes on Hillcrest
Steve and the Newpaper
Croatian Homes and Roman Ruins
In the Sun Room in Omaha
Beechwood Boulevard Home
Maura and Mark at Home Asleep
Christmas Home
At Home Before Church
She’s Leaving Home
Over the Top Home in Daylight
Running to Home
Neighbor’s Home in a Lawn Ball
I can’t believe it took me so long to start responding to the Weekly Photo Challenges. All those challenges unanswered.
This week is home. The WordPress Weekly Challenge allows me to go through some archived files and think about the theme.
What I’m drawn to. What caught my eye.
No shortage of photos to post for home this week.
When I drive into my driveway after work I feel I am truly home. What makes you feel at home?
The gallery option isn’t really cooperating for me today. (Ooops. I read in the article Are You Boring? Seven Tips for Knowing if You ‘re Boring Someone on the Happiness Project blog by Gretchen Rubin to never mention computer problems)
Taillight and a Tall Pine in the Snow
Back to the park after school. I was later today. The sun was sinking in the west and this was facing east. When I wrote taillight it didn’t look correct but I checked it out with Merriam- Webster online and it is spelled right! I thought about cropping out the car end but changed my mind. I think it adds perspective and information, allowing one to judge how tall the pine tree is. It looks dead to me, but I am not an arborist.
Looks like the snow glows from the reflected setting sun.
It is a pine tree, isn’t it?
detail
Dog Walker and a Snowy Tree
Scroll down for the crop with the dog walker and his dogs in the distance. Didn’t see him when I shot the photo.
Another color photograph that looks black and white. Shot with a EF Canon 50mm 1.2L Lens- 500 ISO f/16, 125 shutter. Wish I had tried a few more settings at the time but wanted to get home.
Thursday the temperature is to be in the 50′s. Unusual fluctuation- one day twenties and snow and ice, another day about zero, now up to sixty?
Something feels off.
Old Trees New Trees on a Winter Path
After school I drove into Highland Park, right near my home. I’d taken a series of black and white photos for a film class years ago in this same spot and still have a print on my wall.
With the new snow today, I thought it might look interesting but the light was low and the sky thick and gray.
Found some new trees planted along the path, though.
I plan to return in the Spring.
There weren’t many dog walkers or walkers or runners or any activity in the park. The Super Playground deserted and covered with snow and ice. No bicycles. The fountain turned off. The reservoir a layer of ice. The sounds muffled with the snow, but barely a car driving around the circle today.
It’s in color but almost looks black and white.
Vampire’s Assistant at Midway Theatre, Forest Hills, Queens
A theatre lit up at night attracts my eye. (Is it theater or theatre? This sign ends in tre) I see theaters transformed and repurposed all the time so want to preserve the genre before they all disappear.
I shot the Midway Theatre when I visited my sister in NYC and we went out to Queens on the subway to meet friend Matt and eat at Just Like Mother’s Restaurant. You can read a blog about the mostly Eastern European fare, see some Borscht- if you click on the name.
I took this about three years ago (11/2009) but came across it when I was looking for a response to a weekly challenge and since theaters are a vanishing breed, I like to photograph them, read what’s playing. Thought this was an interesting selection. Always like to work on my night photography and think about how I would change the settings next time.
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