NYC Sidewalk Scene: a Writing Prompt?

Shoes in the street,
a single one by the curb.
This time a pair.
What shoes say about us.
In whose shoes would
you walk that mile?
Feel what their life is like.
Garbage that didn’t make it into the truck on pickup day?  I have photographed other shoes and flip flops found on the street.  Makes me wonder who was walking around in them before they were abandoned.

Frogs

What do you collect?

People collect things. Here is a friend’s frog collection.   Friends know people collect things and help them out by bringing one to add to the collection.  I’ve talked about it before-Tim’s snowmen collection for which there is a moratorium- no more snowmen to be added!  We all know someone who collects something.

I am fascinated with how it starts.  The first one of a collection.  I got a cool handblown glass frog from Kristin and I keep him in my China closet.  He is my only frog and I like that fact.  He is unique.

You start with one of something,
Friends buy you more.
Frogs symbolize good luck
according to what I could find.
When I see a collection
I always wonder how it began.

Four Fruits for Brunch

Shot this with my Canon 50D and 24-70mm EL series lens. Didn't think the iPhone could do it justice.

Mary and I were entertained for a delicious brunch where this fruit was served (with a side of pancakes and bacon) but doesn’t this look healthy?Seeds or seedless,

skins or peel?
Raspberries are my favorite.
Poached pears, a baked apple.
Fruit cup, fruit cake, dried fruit,
fruit bowl. fruit salad.
Fruit of the vine. Fruit tree.
Fruit roll-up, fruit tart.
Fruit Loops? Fruit flies.
Fruit.  Just plain fruit.

p.s.  If you want to vote on Keep or Pitch and see Cinderella click here.

My Sister’s NYC Kitchen- 20 for Dinner? No problem!

Think boat or galley! She lights the stove, strikes a wooden match.A writing book exercise-describe your first kitchen.Eat-in kitchen, heart of the home.People used to decorate with a theme.Trivets, salt & peppers to match,tea towels and canisters. A pantry.Formica counters, linoleum floors, upgradewith a roll of no-wax Congoleum.Ceramic tile squares. A single or a double sink.Now it’s granite and stainlessa glass doored fridge. Fancy lightsspotlight what’s cooking.Some people order take-out. Grab a bite, on the fly.

Easter Bunny with Knapsack of Tiny Colored Eggs

This is a shot of a portion of my sister’s Easter display. When we lived in Germany we bought the loveliest Easter ornaments. We moved there in 1986 and the Gasthaus where we stayed had a platter of dirt with grass growing and colored eggs resting right in the grass. I thought it was so cool! I still have not reproduced that decoration yet but think about it every year.
Easter Past

When I was little there was a big deal
about an Easter dress and hat,
a scratchy crinoline inside.
An outfit to be photographed in–
under the blossoming cherry tree.
Little white gloves, patent leather shoes
buckle strap, new white ruffled anklets.
A purse to match.
To hold what?
An embroidered hanky, ironed.

Times change.

If you want to read the story of my grandmother’s vintage quilt stars from the Keep or Pitch blog post click here

Mother Mary- Springtime NYC

Someone placed a bouquet in the crook of her arm.   Today’s post remembers friend and poet Christina Murdock who passed one year ago today, a week short of her thirtieth birthday.

from Let it Be by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

Onion Skins Colored Eggs

A bit too much sunlight on the eggs but they were a reddish color.

My sister made these beautiful colored eggs.  She peeled the paper skins off a mesh bag of yellow onions, down to the onion part.  Boiled the eggs and skins together slowly for a long time.  The eggshells became a rich reddish color.  After the dinner on Monday we played the egg game, trying to crack the other person’s egg with yours. Fredi suggested using the smaller tip like a torpedo.  His coaching worked for me and my egg was the winner, although the other guests might have felt it fixed, with the hostess’s sister winning! You win if your egg remains uncracked at the end of the game.  Mary said it had Armenian and Greek roots (the egg game.)  A competitive group!

New York City Sidewalk Pickle Vendor

I walked by. Looked back. Took the shot.

My friend Joyce is really good at street photography.  I feel self-conscious and awkward a lot of the time.  I shot this man purchasing a pickle from one of the barrels.  I haven’t seen a pickle vendor on the street before although I did see someone deep fry a pickle at the Ohio State Fair.

Pickles

The word is funny to me.
Don’t hear it much
about someone getting themselves
in a real pickle.
Barrels of pickles
lined up on a table
under a tent.
Sweet, sour, Kosher dill.
Bread and butter, gherkins,
hamburger sliced.
Pickled eggs in a jar on a bar
Pickled beets.
Pickling.
I made some once.