scene and story - october

man and his dog

Many years ago, riding in the car -

Greg, Maggie, and our old labrador, Lacey -

 - singing to the tunes on the radio (well, probably not Lacey)

"Now wait a minute Chester, you know, I'm a peaceful man"

--

Maggie: Chester! - we should name our next dog Chester

Greg: - Yes - the perfect name for a lab!

--

"Take a load off Fanny, take a load for free"...

(The Weight by The Band)

--

So, we waited several years, and finally have another dog -

always remembering about Chester

And now, October's scene and story is about Greg and our long awaited pup, Chessie -

hiking on a beautiful Vermont October day.
We're both smitten...

October - also - has been all about the fate of my blog

I know - it's been a long time since my last post...

I have lots of excuses -

too little time - lack of inspiration - poor internet connection...

yes - all of the above

- and -

none of the above

I am having an identity crisis of the blogging variety

- and yet, I am missing the creative outlet and interaction with my blog friends

In an email exchange, Sarah - Paisley Rain Boots,

gave me some fantastic advice:

"I guess my questions to you are what do you enjoy photographing?...

Looking back at the photographs you have taken in the last two years, 

pick out 3-5 favorites and really study them, why do you like them? 

Was it the subject, the light, the lines, the mood?"

This project is turning out to be both enlightening and fun -
(which I will share in a later post)

but also confirms for me that "away for the weekend" has run its course

so as I work towards my next project,

I plan to just keep on keeping on

Have you ever felt disconnected from your blog?

Thoughts? ideas?

I would love to hear from you!

I am joining Sarah and Leon for Scene and Story

scene and story - june

Well.....

This wasn't exactly what I was going for

- but, then...

this was my June

- blurry, but pretty and colorful all the same

My month started out with crazy, busy work deadlines,

the birth of our first granddaughter

- yeah, she's pretty much the sweetest baby ever -

(I may be a teensy bit biased)

- and ended with a much needed week off -

and a celebration for Greg's career transition -

many changes ahead...

On this particular day, Greg and I hiked to Stratton Pond in Vermont

It was the perfect day to roam around the woods,

picnic by the pond, at catch a much needed breath.

With any luck, July will be a bit more focused

- and while June passed by in a blur, it was a pretty wonderful month

I'm joining Sarah and Leon for Scene and story

Have a wonderful, safe, 4th of July!

strolling heifers

Heifers in tutus? You bet!

and stroll, they did

through downtown Brattleboro, Vermont

some preferred flower necklaces

No heifer to stroll through town with?

- just don a heifer costume - and dress your pig in a tutu, instead!

 - yeah, this is Vermont - it's all good!

the sun and moon made an appearance

as well as local bands

and all of Vermont

(well, just about all of Vermont)

Yep - watching heifers stroll makes for some surprising fun.

This may rank up there with our annual tractor parade

- I'm already planning for next year...

I'm always thankful for the surprises that make me smile!

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday

Thanks for dropping in!

Scene and Story - May

Wow - May... it went by in a blink
- yet was full of so much -
Mother's Day, a graduation trip to Arkansas, Laura's 30th birthday party,
and a cup of coffee with my blogging friend, Sarah, at Paisley Rain Boots!
This was our first time meeting face-to-face, but felt like getting together with an old friend.
- And since I dumbly took no photos (I know, right?),
I'll share my story of playing at being a photographer...

"But I don't photograph people"

Yeah - that was my reply when Laura asked me to take photos of Jeff and her.

A maternity photo shoot - so to speak.

Ummmm - I don't do people, and I stand by that.

 "Don't worry," Jeff remarked, "Laura doesn't want a photo shoot

- she just wants One. Perfect. Photo".

Haha - yeah well, I'm not sure about that,

but we did have a lot of laughs - in between all those awkward poses
- and we caught a few cute candids.

I really do have a new appreciation for photographers who do this work.

So - my advice to the parents-to-be
 When the baby actually arrives
- and they want that One. Perfect. Photo

Hire a real photographer!!

But this was kinda-sorta fun, anyway.

I am joining Sarah and Leon for Scene and Story

Thanks for dropping in!

thankful thursday

So yeah, work is still crazy, and life has been crazy

- and I'm just a wee bit stressed out about, oh - just about everything

- but we all know how that goes sometimes

- and this blogging break of mine has gone on for far too long

- so it's time I give myself a swift kick in the pants (figuratively speaking, of course)

and get back to it!

anyway - 

last weekend we had the fortune of having family and friends join us at Away

where we enjoyed exploring a newly reopened (pedestrians only) covered bridge

with beautiful vistas

I was very excited to hear this bridge had reopened

- it's the little things...

and as always, I'm so thankful to have special people in my life to explore with

So - this coming weekend is the Strolling of the Heifers

- not sure I can miss that excitement!

How about you - are you looking forward to weekend plans?

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday

Thanks for dropping in!

photo challenge #14 sun flare

High atop a mountain

- amidst multi-million dollar vacation homes

- and the most spectacular view,

sits this ramshackle abode

no doubt, developers would love to raze this little gem

but here it remains - steadfast - a little piece of the real Vermont
 - with its own stories to tell

Next up - Faceless Self-Portrait
Ummmm - yeah - I'm really not sure when I'll get around to that one...

Have a great day!

essence of away - winter version

I've been enjoying Kim Manley Ort's book - Adventures in Seeing
This week, our call to adventure is "Essence"
in a series of photos, I hope to capture the essence of our weekends at Away
- winter version -
(I may need to re-do this exercise in the summer)

A couple of years ago, our oldest daughter, Maggie,
visited us during a particularly snowy week in December
(she is convinced that she was meant to be a Southerner
- let's just say that winter isn't her favorite season)

After being snowbound for a day,

and then venturing out, only to get our car stuck in a snowbank on the side of our driveway

- and cancelling dinner plans (opting for a pot of chili at home)

she remarked: It feels like summer here

Me: ummmmmm.......?

Maggie: No, not the weather - but you know how summer just feels different?

Me: (smile)

Maggie: It's like that here, relaxed... friendly, less stressed - like summer

the essence of weekends at Away

and while I'm not fond of living in two homes,
Away provides a place to unwind from our stressful weekday life

and for that, I am very thankful

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday
and Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday Five

Thanks for dropping in!

thankful for december

I'm thankful for December
- when the bears settle in for their winter nap (we hope)
- bird feeders are back on our deck

and colorful birds gather on Saturday mornings
- it's the little things -

are blue jays bullies? - hmmm, I don't know - maybe

I'm just taken in by their beautiful blue coloring

I'm shallow that way...

Well, good morning!

Yeah - snow wasn't really my thing - I guess I'll just wait my turn

- ummmm - hello? - are you about finished?

This is supposed to be our feeder...

Is she still watching us?

Gee, lady - isn't it about time that you go take a shower or something?

Who knew birds were so perceptive?
- so that's what I did before heading to our local bird store

to buy these guys a new pole for their peanut feeder
(which was bent over last year, by a bear - bad bear!)
- and hopefully give this feeder back to the chickadees...

So - how can I go about getting that bear gig?
- a winter nap sure sounds good to me, right now

Have a wonderful weekend!

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday - and Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday 5

west dummerston vermont

We've driven past this covered bridge many times
- hundreds of times -
over the past few years

located in West Dummerston, Vermont
the bridge was built in 1872

and spans the West River - a popular summer swimming spot

After riding through this charming bridge to explore the Black Mountain quarry,
it seemed about time I attempt a photo - or two

I found the quarry fascinating - it was in operation in the early 20th century
the town, growing to accommodate the workers

- and I can't seem to find any information on this old wheel
- what it is, or why it sits here

but I kind of liked it - so, yeah - it is what it is -
an old rusty wheel... painted with graffiti...

Happy Monday - I hope your week is off to a good start!

I'm joining Tuesday's Treasures and

Thanks for dropping in!

thankful thursday

Thanksgiving weekend was absolutely wonderful

- downtime at its best

Reflecting back, I'm thankful for so many things:

- sharing holidays with this crazy crew 

even when it's loud and hectic and the stuffing is a little dry...

- finding out there will be a new family member joining us for next thanksgiving

yep - I'm going to be a grandma

:-)

- misty mountain mornings

there is nothing I'd rather gaze at while enjoying my coffee in the morning

- the annual tractor parade - shared with another branch of our family

the best way ever to get into the Christmas spirit!

- riding home from a family outing, when Greg and my son-in-law

spot this beautiful owl in the woods on the side of the road - 

and I actually have the right camera lens with me

and so much more

I'm joining Michelle for Thankful Thursday
and Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday Five

whoa - it's December, already - how crazy is that?!

Thanks for dropping in!

vermont - quiet time

It's the quiet time of year in Vermont
foliage is past its peak and ski season, not yet in full swing
while I enjoy both foliage and skiing,
I enjoy this most

more scenes from the train station in North Bennington

and daughter Laura, clowning around with my new bff

later - entering my favorite book store

- once again, noticing this fence across the street

I wonder why I have never stopped to take photos

without the usual crowds in Manchester Center

I'm free to wander with my camera

Can you believe it's mid-November - already?
 time to think about turkey dinners, family gatherings, tractor parades...
and being thankful for all we have - and don't have
and for me, quiet weekends in Vermont

Have a wonderful weekend!

photo challenge week #3 - the color red

One of my mostest favoritest colors!

as it turns out - red is everywhere
and my real challenge wasn't finding something red to take a photo of
but finding something red that spoke to me

So - back in Vermont - out for a country ramble,
I see this guy standing at the train station
- North Bennington, Vermont
and I tell Greg I need to take his photo

Clicking away, with the station as my backdrop,
I hear a train coming down the tracks
I could not have timed this if I had tried...
:-)
- which feels a little bit like cheating - but not really

So, I think this might actually be self-portrait #2
- I mean, like it or not - I am this guy
and all I can think is - look up, buddy - enjoy the moment!
 but there he stands - at the station - waiting...

Next up - From a High Angle
???????

Happy Monday!!

Canon EOS Rebel T3i

EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II (kit lens)

1/60 sec at f/6.3 37mm

the northeast kingdom

- and fun with border patrol 

An early morning breakfast in Lyndon, Vermont - part of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom,

before heading up to the Canadian border for Greg's appointment with

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

and while no post about a Vermont diner is complete without a photo of the regulars

ummmm - yeah - stealth photographer I am not

Next stop - Derby Line, Vermont

and while Greg was completing his Global Entry interview,

I wandered around town.

Flower pots have marked the U.S. - Canada border since 2009

As I was snapping photos and wondering what would happen if I ventured

to the other side of these pots (a photo looking into the U.S. seemed like a neat idea),
 a border patrol agent drove up and parked right next to me.

Well - alrighty, then...

The Haskel Free Library and Opera House was intentionally

 built to straddle the border (long before all this border security hubbub)

Unfortunately it was closed - I was curious to see whether any 

restrictions existed inside the building.

and then, a couple of blocks down the road,
here is Greg so fascinated with the bonjour! on the welcome sign,
 that he had inadvertently walked into Canada

- which earned us a trip back up the street to the U.S. Border Inspection Station

you know - to check back in to the U.S. (sheesh)

And then we intentionally drove into Canada to begin our

long weekend in Quebec.

I'm joining Signs, Signs

brattleboro, vermont - our extended stay

Home of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital -

which has felt a bit like a third home to us this week...

And while I love just about any excuse for extending our weekends in Vermont -

a daughter with a ruptured appendix - and emergency surgery

doesn't actually top my list.
Yeah - definitely not looking to repeat this one...

We're so thankful to have Laura on the mend, now.

I also felt very lucky to find a little time to roam around downtown Brattleboro

-  known simply as "Brat" -

Bordering New Hampshire and also very close to Massachusetts, 

this town is all Vermont - with a bit of a hippie vibe.

- lots of galleries, bookstores, cafes - 

and for coffee lovers - Mocha Joe's - a must stop

- old fashioned lamp posts and fences

- and how about a shot with triple fences!!

- and about a gazillion wires...

yeah - lots of wires - everywhere...

So, we're hoping to bring Laura home this weekend -
which would make for a very happy Easter in our home.
Otherwise - hmmmm - maybe ham at the hospital?

I am wishing you a wonderful weekend!