Category Archives: Photo stories

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Photo stories

Color story | October | Cauldron

1 November 2011 – 1:00 am

Jules, of Pancakes and French Fries, hosts a monthly color story series. Each month, you see, she recaps the month before with a series of photos, each woven together with a theme of color. She’s inviting us to join the fun! You can find the details here. As you see, October was enshrouded in ‘Cauldron’; ‘Cider’ shall warm November. Also, an aside: when I perused my photos from the month, I found nary a photo in keeping with the color theme. So, I’m totally cheating. Considering how I may very well be the only keeping this project going—I’m totally okay with it.

You know those shows where something happens, and someone starts laughing maniacally in response, forcing a bystander to slap her out of it? I fear I’ll be dangerously close to said reaction whenever someone mentions October 2011. I’ll spare you the details, except to say it was humbling.

Yet, as always, it was so much more.

In October we got a good look at Jupiter, frolicking with the moon in the autumnal night sky. Not to be outdone, the sun more oft than not . . .

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It served a great spotlight for the changing leaves, photo walks, and a visit with a wee horse or two . . .

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A good dose of sunshine also meant open windows, and the second wind needed to work off a bit of nervous energy. I washed baseboards, cleaned out closets, shredded old paperwork, took a load to the Idaho Youth Ranch, dropped off old batteries, fingernail polish, florescent light bulbs—even an old TV—at the household hazardous waste site, started cleaning out bins in the garage, and otherwise dusted out the cobwebs . . .

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And even though I was woefully inept at Halloween festivities this year, I still found time to celebrate here and there. Mainly, six birthdays, two anniversaries, one fall colloquium, and one dinner with friends . . .

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And let’s not forget the event that warmed all our hearts—welcoming baby Josiah to the world . . .

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I guess you might say October reminded me that even though blackbirds may camp outside my door, the bluebird of happiness continues to sing in the background . . .

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Still, to be on the safe side, do allow sufficient warning before bringing up the month in my presence. Thank you ever so.

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Photo stories

Walking in a fallish wonderland

27 October 2011 – 8:30 am

Here in the city of trees, autumn is something of a wall flower. Beautiful, yes, but she tends to blend into the background. If you aren’t careful, you just might miss it. So yesterday, with temperatures a balmy 45 degrees, I decided to head to the park for a photo walk.

In the words of Dr. Seuss, if you haven’t, you should, these things are fun, and fun is good!

As my photos may attest, you don’t have to be a professional; you can meander alone, or snap with a friend. Since my mom had the day off, I wrangled her into coming along. For the record, she won shot of the day with her photo of a fallish secret garden. Okay, it was nothing of the sort, but it looked it. Funny, I could not, for the life of me, remember seeing that spot. Guess I was a little taken with the details, the colors and textures. Maybe next time I’ll glimpse the big picture; until then . . .

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Photo stories

Color story | September | Russet

3 October 2011 – 9:25 am

Jules, of Pancakes and French Fries, hosts a monthly color story series. Each month, you see, she recaps the month before with a series of photos, each woven together with a theme of color. And while she takes a hiatus to live 31 days of William Morris, I’m keeping the dream alive with a ‘Russet’ colored September. Let’s all join the fun with a ‘Caldren’  enshrouded October, shall we? You can find the details, here.

September tends to get the short end of the stick. New school clothes attire August, a big ol’ party festoons October, but September? September is easily side-stepped, much like the awkward boy in P.E. with whom you pray you don’t get paired.

And so it is, in each city and town, life quietly continues on …

The days shrink back; we may even find a leaf here and there, on the ground—hardly noticeable, and not the least bit worrisome …

Yet we know, our days of soaking in the rays are numbered. We may bemoan the fact, or kick it into overdrive. I opted for a quiet embrace, with long walks in the parks, and the snapping of photos, left and right …

To remember, or possibly, see for the first time …

It also meant a road trip; and more photos …

Where decay took on a certain beauty …

And meandering about a cemetery, offered a hint of intrigue …

With the last of the flowers cut and brought indoors …

The sun set on the ninth month …

A month forever linked with tragedy and often associated with depression, September seems contented to play second fiddle. Looking back, however, I see it’s really quite colorful in its own right.

Perhaps next year we should give it a bit more of a chance, non?

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Photo stories

Tumblin’ tumbleweeds

26 September 2011 – 8:22 am

I doubt Autumn could have been ushered in, in any grander a fashion. White, fluffy clouds frolicked amid a sky of blue; and the road was clear from here to there. We crammed so much fun into our time together, it was almost as if time stood still. Included in our frivolity was a photo adventure. Mainly, we hit the road in search of things to photograph. When we happened upon something, I’d snap as we whizzed by, or my aunt would pull off to the side of the road, we’d all jump out, snap pictures, hop back in, and continue on our way.  

If you’ve never tried such an excursion, you really must; after all, you just never know what you might happen upon…

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Photo stories

A little thankfulness

20 September 2011 – 10:39 am

For most of us, we have nothing at all for which to complain. Our lives should beat with a heart of thanksgiving.

Alas, when it comes to stressfulness, I tend to falter.

I eat, yes; I whine, naturally; I worry, most unfortunately. But say my thanks? Not so much.

Last week, however, I received news that spelled impending doom. That project you’ve been waiting on for well over a year? We may have to go with Plan B—which doesn’t include you. And that was the point I decided to make a conscious decision to be thankful for what I did have. I went outside and started thinking of all the things that have gone well for me in the past few years. What do you know? There were quite a lot.

Still, along with my thankfulness, I tacked on, “But please, please, let there be good news on Friday …”

And what do you know? There was.

Funny, after that, things seemed a bit brighter. My trip to the Idaho Botanical Gardens, for instance …

Where we happened upon the swing sculpture. When the Boise Towne Square renovated, it was deemed much too low class. So they cut it to bits, to be thrown upon a trash heap. Thankfully, someone saved it. Seeing it in its new home made me smile …

We met up with a clan of quail. We said hello and commented on their particularly fine party hats …

In a grouping of trees I breathed a little easier and imagined all the adventure there was to be had …

Lilly pads offered a splash of color …

But they weren’t the only ones to shine. Waves of color and texture popped up in the most unexpected of places. You couldn’t help but smile when you happened upon it …

It was the perfect place to sit and talk, or ponder and daydream …

Even with a backdrop of the Old Idaho Penitentiary, the gardens imparted a sense of peace and enchantment …

If you looked just right, even the creepy old stone buildings looked warm and inviting …

And therein lies the key: it’s all about having the right outlook, isn’t? Of course, a bit of good news, after a particularly dry spell, doesn’t hurt; as a matter of fact, it has a way of making it easier to be thankful for every little thing.

And that … well, that makes me all the more thankful!

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