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!

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!

scene & story - february

February was...

Well, it was February

The month began as February should in New England

- cold and snowy

I took this photo at Rockport Harbor, early in the month

- a cold, blustery day - the kind of cold that stings - almost knocking the wind out of me.

The ocean was a bright deep blue, and the sky - painted with shades of pastel.
Gazing through my lens, I watched the couple on the breakwater,
envying their adventurous spirit.
It's too cold for me though - I'll scramble over those rocks another day.

Rockport is popular with tourists,
its beautiful harbor, quaint shops, and art galleries draw large crowds in the summer.
The colorful buoys tell another story
 - this is a working town with a working harbor.

It is the vast openness that is compelling me to take this photo, though.
The ocean never fails to draw me in,
reminding me - always - of my first sight of the Atlantic.

Nearly 16 years old, standing on the sand,
  utterly in awe - feeling so very, very small - insignificant.
I have never lost that sense of wonder
- and with this, I raise my camera,
attempting to capture this small moment in time.

I am joining Sarah and Leon for Scene and Story

Thanks for dropping in!

scene & story - photo challenge #12 - something new

I promise - it's coincidental

- my weekly prompt (for the second time) is also my story for the month

- something new -

Once upon a time,
in the days of yore (some of you may remember),

a baby's gender was a great mystery until it was delivered,
and the doctor proclaimed "It's a ____!!"

- and long months of anticipation gave way to excited announcements,

spreading from hospital to family to friends - by word-of-mouth and telephone

- and this was the "gender reveal" of yesteryear

Skipping forward to modern times,
- January was the month for Jeff and Laura's gender reveal

- months before the baby is due
- and well -

the doctor's office lacks a bit of that old fashioned excitement - so...
a sealed envelope from the doctor was given to a friend
who wrapped a small gift to be opened at a family gathering
and...

It's a girl!!!
 and a few short weeks of anticipation gave way to excited announcements

spreading on social media...

Ummm - yeah, it's a whole new world.

And while I may be a teensy bit amused by this whole new gender reveal thing,
it was actually a lot of fun
- and after Jeff recovered from his shock over the idea of a daughter,
his baby-to-be quickly became "Daddy's little girl"
Needless to say - boy or girl - we're all very excited
- and God willing, in a few short months, we will be holding this little bundle of joy.

I am joining Sarah and Lee
for Scene & Story

Thanks for dropping in!