Tee time

The Madison County Rec Dep't has a fantastic array of sports and programs for the community, as well as beautifully maintained grounds and fields. One summer evening, I watched the tee ball kids, and caught this gal running to home. I liked that I got both her feet off the ground. That's what I was going for.

A hairbrained idea in a hair raising day

I especially love taking photos of kids. This little guy was at my hairdresser's and the dad let me snap the picture. He wasn't happy at that moment but when he saw his hair at the end he loved it.

Intimate moment captured at an art gallery opening

I worked for the Athens Banner Herald for a year or so as a features writer and photog rapher and as such, went around finding people moments. This was captured at an art gallery opening reception. The gallery has a large, wrap-around front porch and as this musician was taking a break, he and this little tyke had a sweet conversation.

I love the red. As well as the musician's hair, and the expression of intensity on the little boy's face. Click on the photo to see it bigger.

I'll be posting more photos on this blog, I spent some time re-visiting some of my favorites from my work with the newspaper and set those aside to blog about. In looking through all my pics, I decided that as much as I enjoy landscape and nature pictures, I favor taking people pics at events like fairs, parades, art openings, parks, etc, even more. I think there is greater challenge in it, and sweeter satisfaction.

Have a great day all!

Another spontaneous 'spread the wealth around' moment

Jake Tapper and Karen Devers get it. At the recent ABC informercial/lovefest touting President Obama's national health care intitative, there was one comment that stood above the rest. As they wrote: "Dr. Orrin Devinsky, a neurologist and researcher at the New York University Langone Medical Center, said that elites often propose health care solutions that limit options for the general public, secure in the knowledge that if they or their loves ones get sick, they will be able to afford the best care available, even if it's not provided by insurance. Devinsky asked the president pointedly if he would be willing to promise that he wouldn't seek such extraordinary help for his wife or daughters if they became sick and the public plan he's proposing limited the tests or treatment they can get. The president refused to make such a pledge, though he allowed that if "it's my family member, if it's my wife, if it's my children, if it's my grandmother, I always want them to get the very best care"

So it's another let them eat cake moment. The peasants can fend for themselves, but since he has money, to find good care he will go outside of the very system he is setting up.

My bird visitor

A very nice bird sits on this tree every night and preens. I think he uses the birdbath nearby and then flies to the branch and dries off. It is quite a spectacle to watch him, he is a majestic bird in my opinion. He fluffs, and uses his sharp beak to pry apart all the feathers. He stretches each wing and I can see the sunlight illuminate their delicate end tips. I haven't been able to identify him yet but I'm working on it. So I watch for a while, admiring his coloring and then I decide I want to capture him flying off. Capture that moment when he arches his back and spreads his wings and uses the air to suspend himself above gravity.



So. How did I do?

This is why you can't sit on the grass in Georgia

Ahhh, dusk. The low setting sun casts long shadows on the bushes and trees. The air is golden, and the birds flit from tree to tree as they prepare to roost for the night. All is well in my backyard. Peaceful. Bucolic.

Except...

A deadly enemy lurks beneath my feet. The newly mowed sweet grass hides an army busily creating for itself another fortress. Though the army is busy, any intrusion upon their empire building will immediately result in attack. The attack is pointed and the pain sure. It's the FIRE ANT, enemy of the bare feet. Enemy of the grass-sitting lounger under cool evening skies. Enemy of all that is good and kind.

Trip Report

I ventured out into the heat to accomplish a few small errands. The yellow squash is in, and it is really local. Like, next door! I am lucky to have a farm stand on the next street. I bought:

2 lbs yellow squash $1,
1/2 lb green beans $.50
2 cukes $1
small red potato $.45
basket of green peppers $1

The great thing is you get to chat with the very nice man who runs it which is always pleasant.

The local grocery store is a mom and pop, which I like, and their weekly specials are to die for. Really good prices. I bought:
2 doz eggs $1.70
marked down 8 oz mushroom $.99
tray of strawberries for $2
iceberg lettuce $1.29
12 oz American cheese slices $1.50
pkg hot dog buns $1
banana $.21

Tax is %3 and the total was $8.95. So a week or more's worth of fresh fruit, protein, and veggies was roughly $13. I'm likin' it.

Coming out of the very air cooled grocery store was like entering a blast furnace. It is 91 degrees in Danielsville and the heat index at 102. "Ugh" I said, to a woman waiting at the entry. "Yes, it is pretty hot," she said. I smiled and turned toward my car but she approached me. "Do you have jumper cables?" she asked. "I left the light on and now the van is dead." I apologized and said no, but man, what a hot day to be stuck outside waiting to get going...and what if her husband inside was buying perishables? Rotten luck, and there for the Grace of God go I...

The local library is very good. It has a wide array of materials to choose from in all media, and they ac newest books quickly, Their Interlibrary loan is excellent, I can ask for a book from any participating library in the state. The catalog is online so I can make ILL requests, renew, or search the catalog for books to see if they are in before driving all the way over there. They even send me e-mail reminders of upcoming renewals and ILL fulfillments. Pretty sophisticated and efficient for a small rural county, and I am impressed with the facility and the workers.

So I'm checking out and renewing books, and the librarian said, "Your book 'How to photograph absolutely everything' is due in three days. Do you want me to renew it?"

"yes, please. I have not yet learned how to photograph absolutely everything."

Pause.

"Oh! HA HA HA. Well, [laughing] you have two more renewals on it in case you need more time."

To the bank...the locally owned local bank was sold a few months ago. We all got the usual blather when one corporation sells out to another: 'nothing will change, the staff will remain, the name will not change." And etc.

This bank has brick front, gold letters for its name above the door, and in the lobby, a coffee pot with free coffee for customers. Te tellers all know you by name and the interior is like the bank from the thirties, with thick carpet,granite teller counter, couch and wingback chairs...mahogany and wood, with a display of old bank clocks behind the tellers on the wall in a mahogany case.

Then they announced that the name will change after all, and locals are very upset. I am not happy either, I love my local bank, but what are you gonna do? It is the way of the world.

My old air conditioner has a hard time keeping up but I have a fan on and chilled water...watching the news about North Korea. Thunderstorms predicted for later, so hopefully we get some more rain without the damaging winds!

Summer shots backyard

Obama kill fly like Ninja!

The Forgotten Leeks

These have been there for weeks...leeks...placed on a mower only to be forgotten

Everyone's hungry!

Yesterday was nice...a good Sunday School class and a good worship service. A friend stopped by and we had a nice chat. Today I've had fun with my kittens, made a toasted turkey and cheese sandwich with a side of potato salad, munched lunch accompanied by chilled water. Another friend is stopping by later with a slice of homemade blackberry pie. The blackberries are from her yard. Fresh! Good!

I took a break from computering to wander out back and watch the birds. The babies are growing quite well inside all the bird houses, and they are clamoring for food! food! food!

Here, a mom busily leaves and comes back with some treats for her chicks.

Separated at birth?

Obama toured the Tomb of Qar today. Noticing a hieroglyph carved on the wall, he pointed and said, "Hey! Looks like me! Look at those ears." Similarity is spooky, eh?

Fibonacci rocks

An amazing insight into the detailed architecture of Creation.
Mathematics, beautifully rendered. And just three minutes, too.

Cats galore

My kittens Bert (tiger) and Luke (black and white) are two peas in a pod but totally different in personality. Bert is a thinker, he looks before he leaps. He is the kind of cat that looks at you disdainfully if you forget to give him his daily olive, or are 30 seconds late in feeding him. He is the kind of cat that swirls around your feet as you stand and wash dishes, or more dangerously, runs ahead and then plops down right in front of where you are walking. He loves nothing better than to snuggle up to your side on the couch and purr contentedly. He is extremely sensitive to any changes in the apartment. Putting a new throw on the chair will send him into mewling anxiety attack. If the environment stays the same, he doesn't mind reminding you that he is king.

Now Luke, he is the athlete. He wants to leap and jump and explore and run. He is not afraid of anything and if he was an outside cat he'd run after a turkey buzzard if he saw one. Not to attack, but to say hello to a new friend. But as much as he goes off to explore something he uses me as home plate and comes snuggling up to my lap for a catnap. Then he's off again to examine and then play with a minute dust mote he just found, or discarded floss in the wastebasket. When I hear something crash I know it's Luke.

Here are the boys:

Bert is too stressed. I think he needs to relax more.















Luke at the bedroom window watching the robins feed on worms at dusk.













The landlord has a yard cat, at night if the front door is open the yard cat likes to stand up and say hello to the two house cats. Luke and Bert say hello back.