Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Little Moments

Taken at a wedding in France.  5 September, 2009

The Watercolorist,  3 May, 2009

Poof! 5 July, 2009

Smoke from the Bar B Que, 23 May, 2010


It would be thrilling to photograph the huge events. Photographs of erupting volcanoes, extreme weather, newsworthy moments and glorious views from mountaintops unfailingly catch my eye and elicit a "wow!" response. The images often make me wistful for a youth with the technology that is now available. But the truth is, my passion lies in the little moments that blur the boundaries and differences between us and unite us in our humanity. If I succeed, the photos are tiny reminders, sprinkled like a handful of dust, across the canvas of our common ground.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

On This Thanksgiving Weekend


A dear friend emailed this prayer/poem by Max Coots on this Thanksgiving weekend. I'd like to share it with you.

LET US GIVE THANKS

Let us give thanks for a bounty of people
For children who are our second planting
and though they grow like weeds
and the wind too soon blows them away,
May they forgive us our cultivation
and remember fondly where their roots are.

Let us give thanks:
For generous friends, with hearts as big as hubbards
and smiles as bright as their blossoms;
For feisty friends as tart as apples;
For continuous friends, who, like scallions and cucumbers,
keep reminding us we've had them;
For crotchety friends, as sour as rhubarb
and as indestructible;
For handsome friends, who are as gorgeous as eggplants
and as elegant as a row of corn,
and the others, as plain as potatoes and so good for you;
For funny friends, who are as silly as Brussels sprouts
and as amusing as Jerusalem artichokes,
and serious friends, as complex as cauliflowers
and as intricate as onions;
For friends as unpretentious as cabbages,
as subtle as summer squash,
as persistent as parsley,
as delightful as dill,
as endless as zucchini,
and who, like parsnips,
can be counted on to see you throughout the winter;
For old friends,
nodding like sunflowers in the evening-time
and young friends coming on as fast as radishes;
For loving friends, who wind around us like tendrils
and hold us, despite our blights, wilts, and witherings;
And finally, for those friends now gone,
like gardens past that have been harvested,
but who fed us in their times
that we might have life thereafter;
For all these we give thanks.

Today's link from "You Must Remember This."

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Orono, Maine
Mainers love inflatable yard decorations! After today, all the turkeys will be replaced with Santas and reindeer!


Wherever you are and wherever you are going, safe travels. May your blessings be counted in the smiles and hugs from loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving from Maine.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Tonight's Sunset, 21 November, 2010 #4

Caught this gorgeous sunset in Gouldsboro, Maine on our way home from Lubec this evening!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Veiled ~ Random Memory #22 ~ Iran

Painting on glass ~ Iran 

Random Memory #22 ~ Iran

When Peter and I compare our growing facility with Farsi, we can't help but notice our vocabularies reflect our separate lives in Iran. His is more practical and includes business terms, although he rarely indicates he has the ability. Not surprisingly, mine mirrors the world of women and, of course, the time I spend with Goli who has been my teacher and daily companion.

Goli always wears her chador when she is not in the house and, although she is comfortable in Peter's presence, she scurries downstairs to retrieve the veil if he arrives home unexpectedly. I do not think Amir insists as he is used to women at work in business clothes and I have only felt genuine affection and respect when we see one another. Rather, I think this is Goli's choice, an outward symbol of her faith. Curious, one day I ask her if a woman delivered Essie. "No", she says, "the doctor was a man and I wouldn't let him look at me...he punched me hard. I was unconscious." I am appalled, but Goli is clearly pleased at the memory.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Kitchen Nostalgia

Sauce 'n wine
Photo taken by my son, John, November 22, 2007.

Remember the bread machine craze in the eighties? In those days the ungainly baker was a permanent fixture on my kitchen counter. I experimented with dozens of grains and developed my own sourdough starter. A fresh loaf was always available for lunch and dinner...funny shaped loaves with the telltale hole in the bottom from the machine dough paddle. The fragrance of baking bread was wonderful and, before moving to Maine, I made sure to start a loaf whenever the realtors were expected to show up at our door with a prospective buyer. I stopped using my bread machine when our second child left for college and eventually tossed out my sourdough starter, unable to keep it going with a new life, a new town and a busy travel schedule. I still have my machine and it looks pretty clunky compared to the newer versions. The reason I hang on to this old kitchen friend is for the stuffing bread without which Thanksgiving would be impossible to imagine. Here's the recipe for those of you who still have one lurking in the back of your pantry and would like to give it a dust and put back into service for the Holidays.

From Richard W. Langer's  More Recipes for You Bread Machine Bakery

For large and small loaves:

small: 1 cup vegetable broth
large:  1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

small: 2 teaspoons olive oil
large:  1 tablespoon olive oil

small: 1 teaspoon molasses
large:  2 teaspoons molasses

small: 2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
large:  3 cups unbleached all purpose flour

small: 1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal (not instant)
large:  3/4 cup uncooked oatmeal

small: 1/2 cup cornmeal
large:  3/4 cup cornmeal

small: 2 tablespoons dried parsley
large:  3 tablespoons dried parsley

small: 1 tablespoon dried onion
large:  4 teaspoons dried onion

small: 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
large:  1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary

small: 1 teaspoon dried sage
large:  1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage

small: 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
large:  1 teaspoon dried thyme

small: 1/2 teaspoon pepper
large:  1 teaspoon pepper

small: 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
large:  1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

small: 1/2 teaspoon salt
large:  1 teaspoon salt

small: 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
large:  2 teaspoons active dry yeast

I bake several loaves ahead of time, cube the bread and keep it in the freezer until needed. Later, you can add all your other favorite ingredients.

Savory Thanksgiving wishes!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Autumn's Gifts ~ October & November


The colorful berries, above, were found clinging to a chain link fence in Bucksport, Maine in late October. The title describes these unexpected beauties perfectly.


November Lupine on Blue Hill Mountain which, somehow, survived strong winds and freezing temperatures.


Yarrow on Blue Hill Mountain with a backdrop of autumn foliage and a glimpse of Blue Hill Bay.

Today's link from "You Must Remember This."

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

October Magic Hour


Autumn's vivid colors are now a memory up here in Maine. The last glorious display of our leaves was stripped off the trees by the recent lashing rain and wind that left many without power for days. Peter and I closed the cottage a mere three weeks ago. Our drive home through the back roads and small towns was spectacular as the sun slowly dropped in the sky. We arrived in Bucksport just in time to capture the October magic hour.



Monday, November 8, 2010

Thumbnails are Like Male Birds

Tonight's Sunset, 10 July 2010

Contact and group photos are presented in thumbnail size on Flickr and natural selection favors the boldest and brightest. On a page of tiny images, vivid usually gets the click. It's human nature to respond to color, but many subtle and nuanced photographs are easily missed. Here are a few links to some of my favorites and several examples of my own.

Charleston 28, by JCBphoto, 10b pegueña ventana de los pensamientos, by xeniussonar, Friends Forever, by Emma Lynn B, Security Updates, by Catherine Forbes, Calm Before, by Lala Lands and Resting Branch, by Through~My~Eyes.

Snow curl
"Snow Curl" February 26, 2009

Proof of Summer
"Proof of Summer" March 22, 2009

Remembrance
"Remembrance" October 19, 2010

Today's link from "You Must Remember This."

Happy Birthday, dearest Emma!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Still Life Compositions ~ or where did that hour go?


I often see exquisite still life compositions on Flickr. The shot has been carefully planned in advance with tripod and camera settings exactly where they should be. Delicate light brushes the objects with precision and the colors look like treasure from an open casket of jewels. I always marvel at the composition and the wonderful depth of field. I'll confess my shots are often spur of the moment, instinctive...you could say hap hazard. I'm too lazy to go and find my tripod, but there is another reason to avoid delaying the shot. I blame it on Maine's gorgeous northern light and the angle that changes in the blink of an eye...just as our seasons do. I think, "quickly, get this!" and I shoot and shoot and shoot and a morning, afternoon, or twilight melts away.



Wednesday, November 3, 2010

This Morning on Blue Hill Mountain


It was the perfect November morning for a walk on the mountain path...the last for a few days if one believes the weather forecast.  We were treated to the unusual sight of a helicopter in the meadow and work in progress on the cell tower situated on the top of Blue Hill mountain. I had brought my camera to record the November lupine, but more on that later!



Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Scare Tactics

You are never too old!
Please click on the images, they are much more fun viewed in the large size!

Arrrgh!

Even though Halloween has come and gone there is always time for terror!

These photos were shot at the Natural History Museum in Washington. Even with four adults rounding up three children like border collies, it was impossible to take the time to set up a clear shot in the museum's low light, especially without a tripod. So what to do? Have fun, don't take the photography seriously and let your imagination run wild. For me, the images are like impressions from life drawings, exercises that look like scribbles, but train the eye and hand.

Today's link from "You Must Remember This."

Don't forget to vote!

Older posts you might enjoy....