Now We Are Six
When I was One,
I had just begun.
When I was Two,
I was nearly new.
When I was Three
I was hardly me.
When I was Four,
I was not much more.
When I was Five,
I was just alive.
But now I am Six,
I’m as clever as clever,
So I think I’ll be six now for ever and ever.
– A.A. Milne 1927
You are the guest blogger today, Erika! Surprise. I received your photo(s) of the horse while I was at dinner with Laura and James (who are in town for a wedding this weekend) and we all agreed it was really good picture of the horse. I said it looks like Mr. Ed’s cousin, a talking horse. Laura said it might be, Ted. So I texted to ask his name and you said Windsor. Once a race horse, now a rescue horse. The grandchildren fed him apples and carrots. He’s happy in his new home and well cared for and well fed now. He and Murphy seem to be communicating in the third photo. Thanks for sending the pic updates of vacation. Looks like a great time and I miss being there as I start the new school year. 
The 19th Annual Bob O’Connor Cookie Cruise– this year’s charity chosen to benefit is the Cribs for Kids (SIDS). Matthew and I were invited to sail Wednesday night and were the fortunate guests of some dear friends and neighbors. A perfect summer evening. We shook hands with a slew of politicians including the mayor as we boarded the The Majestic. The city was in a beautiful light and as dusk came the scene was heightened in drama, especially as we sailed past the Pirates game in full swing at PNC park. Hot dogs and watermelon and pasta and fried chicken with coleslaw was the menu.There were fireworks over Heinz Field and what caught my eye were the guests lined up to get the cookies once it was announced- the sheets were about to be removed and the platefuls they took to eat- piled high. 
#1 Rule for Photographers. ALWAYS carry a decent camera. Even if not your best one, a GOOD one.
#2 Rule for Photographers Refer to Rule #1. ALWAYS You might miss that shot.
But there I was off to the first day of school, wondering how I would get two art rooms ready for Monday’s students and Matthew was coming with me to lift and haul and help set up. JB came later and knew what to do to prepare.
And what did we see on the the way to school? A Wild Turkey family (gaggle, flock, covey???) And did I have a decent camera with me? No. I broke the rules.
Had to photograph the mother turkey and her 5 chicks(?)/children with the trusty iPhone. I kicked myself all the way to school afterwards. You just can’t predict what will be in your path.. Moving right along up the sidewalk. Turn the corner down the alley.
A fun sighting. Wish I had the old 70-200 mm lens, too. They are some strange looking creatures.
Picked Matthew up from downtown Pittsburgh tonight. He came from Columbus on the Mega Bus. I had not seen one before. Big and bright and clean. Dropped him in Regent Square for an impromptu School Reunion at D’s Six Pax and Dogz. He’s in town for 48 hours. Headed back to Zagreb at the end of his visit. World traveler. But the Mega Bus was a great deal. $18.50 one way from Columbus. You can reserve early and get real deals on tickets. Learning he was coming here just last night, I cleaned today and didn’t worry so much about the first day of school Tuesday morning.I think he’s planning to come to school and help get the two art rooms ready for the first day with kids on Monday. Matthew is the one who says to his friends when I was photographing them at his college graduation-“This is what my mom does. It’s annoying now- but later, you’re glad!” I tell that to so many people I photograph. IT is true
Information about this celebration at St. Raphael’s in Morningside arrived in my inbox from the community list-serve. Said there would be fireworks. When I got there a band from Cleveland was playing Italian songs and couples were dancing. A large statue of Saint Rocco was illuminated and people would go up and kiss their hand and touch him. He is the protector of contagious disease and pestilence. There was a statue of a dog with a loaf of bread in his mouth right by his side and you can read his story here. At first I took a few timid photos with my phone as I felt conspicuous. But when the fireworks started I pulled out my regular camera and propped it against the chain link fence and caught the scene. The full moon looks less dramatic in the image than it felt in person. Used a 24-70 L series lens and the remote cable to reduce camera shake. The fireworks were fun and everyone thought they were over and then more would shoot up and an audible oooooh and aaaaah came from the crowd. A nice summer evening, it is 64 degrees right now! 
Rufus’ Food and Spirits Guide Bloggers, Greg and Katherine invited me to take part in the the Seven Links Challenge. I love the invitation and go and check out their stunning photographs of beautiful food and drink. Thanks for the challenge.
1. Most Beautiful Post My daughter Laura is to be married in November to James, and his mother Sharon Weaver painted a portrait of Laura and gave it to me as a Christmas gift. Unexpected Gift Late Christmas Eve post is my choice for this one.
A beautiful daughter, a beautiful painting 
2. Most Popular Post (s) There are two posts that are hit on every week. Here is one of them. Memories Sparked by Disco Ball Reflections? Why someone searches for a photo of a disco ball I’m not sure. But they do. My friend V suggested I add the tag “mirror ball” when Dancing with the Stars was on. This shot was taken from a happy wedding a couple of Septembers ago. (They have a baby girl now! )
and here is the other most popular post. These two posts trade positions of two and three but are hit upon EVERY week. This shot was taken from E’s mother’s apartment window when I was in New York City visiting my sister Mary.
3. Most Controversial Post is also the one hit on the most- almost 20,000 times! My Bookshelf And the amazing part is that on one day last May it went crazy and was hit on 18, 274 times on 5/31/10. My friend S was visiting and we watched the stats every hour. I had linked it to reddit.com and made the title No E-Reader Can Have This Image and people responded with caustic comments like you wouldn’t believe. I recently created a postcard with the photo of the bookshelf and a poem I wrote in response to all the people who went off about the post. Who would have thought a bookshelf could cause such a stir? If you would like to receive one of the snail mail postcards that commemorates this bright spot in my blogging experience leave me a note in a comment and we’ll email the info privately. Many of my friends and subscribers have received one already and probably wondered why. I have added the poem to the post. There are not that many comments on wordpress considering all the hits but it is the number one spot always.
4. The Most Helpful Post I have to go with the Copycat recipe for the Burnt Almond Torte, a local favorite cake bought at Prantl’s Bakery in Shadyside. Although I’ve never baked one there are a ton of people searching for the recipe and they find the link on this blog post.
5. Surprisingly Successful Post The Beaver Banquet.
6. Post That Didn’t Get the Attention it Deserved
Only 13 people viewed this post in the blog’s early days. One comment. It’s one of my favorites. You’ve seen Michael and Murphy in other posts. Murphy Waits for Michael in Time Out.
and to be fair to Michael who is going to be six next week I am adding one of my all time favorites of him
7. Most Proud of Post What Steve Put on the Mantel in Front of Still Life. I will always remember seeing this. And that the wonderful artist Deborah McLaren enjoyed it and granted me permission to post it on the blog….it just makes me happy to look at it and think about Steve setting it up. So unexpected! I love that it made people laugh out loud.
I am to pass the challenge on to other bloggers that I follow
What Did You Have For Dinner Last Night?
Craig Photography by John This is the photographer whose class I took at Silver Eye- PURPOSEFUL BLOGGING. It was after that evening I realized I did not haves a clear purpose for blogging. But I began and found one!
He got me started and here I am more than two years later, still blogging a daily photo. Thanks John. Check out his Indian Weddings shots!
Did you have a post you remember that I didn’t include?
The berries from the Farmer’s Market- blueberries for pancakes and muffins and the huge black ones like jewels and the strawberries and raspberries… some for preserves. Juicy peach. Cherries from Chelan. Or the brief sour ones. Melons. Zucchini and eggplant and basil right off the plants in your DIL’s garden. The sweet corn from the farm stand. Just back from Columbus OH and missing the family so Steve and I drove to the retro theatre the Oaks in Oakmont– my favorite movie theatre in the area with spacious leg room and a big screen. We saw the documentary Buck (stunning photography of the west) and afterward we got ice cream cones (this is a single!) at Brr-Kees Homemade Ice Cream Stand, smooth and creamy and delicious. My summer flavor is coffee ice cream. Shot with the phone. Extended the feeling of summer vacation and I didn’t think about the start of the new school year in 3 days time.
What flavor is summer?
