Sneak Peek at the Black and Whites and a Thank You to All

 

The Black and Whites

 

The photos are hung in the gallery with care.

The show’s Opening Reception is 12:30 Sunday.    Hope to see you there.    That’s it for the rhyme.

I know many of you are far away but  send good thoughts.  I am grateful to all my supportive friends and family who cheer me on.

Know many have teaching, work & family obligations or will be too far to come but am looking forward to seeing those who are able to make it!

Groundhog Phil needs to make sure there’s no snow or ice.

                                      Thanks to everyone who helped make the show possible-

Linda K. who nominated my work to the Art Committee (a good knitting friend)

Tom U. @ pixel.river images- Your archival pigment on the rag paper make the photos stellar

Mark and Jennifer at Panza Gallery who made an all out effort and framed and matted to make the show look so polished and professional.

Thanks to Steve who helped load the car before school and drove to Millvale Wednesday to take the photos I tried to switch out in frames. HA!

Charlotte T. the coordinator and the entire Art Committee at the First Unitarian Church.  (At the risk of spelling anyone’s name incorrectly I will thank the committee)

My neighbor Joaquin with the eye, thanks for showing me how to use a tape measure properly and for helping me select the groupings.

 

 

 

 

Skumps, Groundhog!

Just a couple of days left to prepare for the big day. Groundhog’s Day!  You know he’s going to see his shadow and predict 6 more weeks of winter.

Preparations are in full swing in Punxsutawney PA.  There are other groundhogs who try to share the limelight but Punxsutawney Phil is the REAL groundhog prognosticator of the weather.  Just about 85 miles Northeast from downtown Pittsburgh.

When Steve and I were at Grant Bar in Millvale,  this was the special on the chalkboard.  This is a local brew made in St. Mary’s PA at STRAUB.  You can take a virtual tour of their brewery here

The bartender brought one out and allowed me to photograph the label.  No groundhogs were harmed to make this brew.

Groundhog Brew

 

 

 

 

Groundhog Brew sign

Anna’s Self Portrait at the Swim Meet

You know how Anna (9) likes to borrow her mom’s iPhone and take photos?

She was the photographer of the pick up truck full of legs post in case you missed it.

So I said I would put her photo on the blog but I needed her to explain how she took the photo and I would add that information on the post.

See the second photo.  She drew the little symbol- to turn the camera so it faces inward?   I photographed her iPhone sketch.

That was how she explained it. Oh yes, she said told me she had mirror goggles.  I like how she thinks about composing a photograph.

She enjoyed being guest blogger so much.  I think we need to get her a camera!

Swim Meet Self Portrait

 

 

 

iPhone camera sketch

Got Bridges?

Just a few.  Here are some  bridges that cross the Allegheny River.   Since I showed the one closed yesterday, it seemed to make sense to post a shot of more bridges.

If you want to read about Pittsburgh Bridges,  click here .

 Taken from Mount Washington, Duquesne Incline observation deck just last week.

And the Tenth Street Bridge in the Tom Cruise movie (Jack Reacher) isn’t in this shot but here 

Pittsburgh Bridges in Winter

My Maps App Took Me Here to Cross the Mon?

(I think I read somewhere-  don’t use alliteration?  Mmmmmmmmm.)

How did I end up here, looking to cross the Mon?

I couldn’t believe it when I landed right in front of this sign. Bridge Closed.  It was just getting dark.

Turns out this bridge to Donora has been closed since 2009!!! The way you have to go now is a four mile addition to the trip.

The Monongahela River winds all around the place.  I’d crossed it at Homestead at the beginning of my journey.

Then I found out later this bridge is slated to be demolished.

With the help of my son’s MIL, Marlene, on the phone in Hardy, Virginia,  I found the Monessen Bridge and wound around  and up and over  to Donora.

You can’t always trust your Maps App.  At least the sign didn’t say BRIDGE OUT!    It was one of three routes.  Better try a different one next time. I read about the major supports having deteriorated.  Maybe the maps app just wanted to show me it for a photo op?

Took this right out of the passenger window
Took this right out of the passenger window

Snowy Friday Afternoon in the City

It was snowing and really cold.  I actually pulled over,got out of the car and took this pictureI.  I  was headed home from school on Friday.

The idea of going to the regular grocery store was out of the question although the larder was fairly empty.  Had to stop somewhere.

I was in the Bloomfield neighborhood and decided to shop at Groceria Italiana and pick up some essentials.

When I got home I cooked the sweet and hot sausage and added the house sauce I had purchased.  (Chicago John avert your eyes- if you click his name you get a recipe for homemade meat sauce)

A little fresh grated cheese and a glass of organic wine. Glad to be in a warm house and it tasted just fine!  City Street in Snow

Snow in Doormat

Snow in the door mat!

Sausage

spaghetti

Weekly Photo Challenge: Love

Love, love, love.

All you need is love.

Love is all you need.

I liked the Paris bridge photo with all the locks on it posted on WordPress’ Daily Post that tells what the weekly challenge is.  LOVE!

My thought was some wedding couples. Went to the archives.

As I looked for the pics to post I saw a series I put up last Father’s Day and since it is Murphy’s 11th birthday I decided that he would be the one to  best illustrate the definition of love.

I know Max and Mingus and Coltrane
and Rumpy Dog will agree I made the right choice for today’s challenge.  Not sure how Isobelandcat feel about Murphy.

Happy Birthday Murphy.  With much love from your family.  You exemplify love!  Pure and unconditional love.

Murphy and Anna

Murphy and Michael

Murphy and jack3

Murphy and Maura

Murphy and kids1

Last Sliver of Sun

Before I drove up the mountain, I went to one of my favorite spots on West Carson Street.  This is what made me decide to head up to Mt. Washington to catch the incline in the snow as the sun set.

 

city skyline

Incline in the Snow

I returned to the Duquesne Incline platform on Monday evening as I arrived from Ohio.  Not quite as much snow as I thought there would be.

Taken just as the sun sank in the sky and the temperatures dropped.  Will try again, a different winter day.

Couldn’t wait any longer to shoot when the sky was darker as it was too windy and cold.  You might have liked the night time version better.

IMG_3530

Thinking About Pie on National Pie Day

I emailed my friend Rob to see if he had any updates for National Pie Day this year.  He is the only pie judge I know. Official, that is.

Just a year ago he was guest blogger with the National Pie Day post.  When I went to retrieve the post and his photos with Willard Scott and Keegan Gerhard, I remembered how a fellow blogger helped me out that day.  No visible pictures had posted when I published the guest blog, just blue boxes with question marks.  I saw them on my computer but no one else could see them on theirs!

Thanks to the expertise of Chicago John from the Bartolini Kitchens Blog we were able to see Rob’s photos last year.

And although I knew it was National Pie Day today, you see what I came up with this year?

The idea of pie.  The possibility of pie.  Contemplating the making of pie.

What’s available in the larder?

A lone can of pumpkin?

A few apples for school lunch?

Tons of citrus, some grapes.  There are raisins in the fridge but raisin pie has zero appeal to me.

So here’s my offering, Rob.

A pretty pie plate in the afternoon sun and the mere suggestion of a pie to be created. Great for the calorie count, if one were so inclined.

Pretty Pie Plate in Afternoon Sun