Life-Changing!

 How in the world I neglected to mention some life-changing news in my last post is beyond me. What was I thinking? It is high time to rectify that shortcoming.

Ever since Bruce bought me my first Panasonic digital camera some 17 years ago, I have been a big fan of that brand of camera. I used them almost exclusively for years but for some reason that I don't recall, I bought an Olympus and that had been my camera of choice for the last say, nine years or so. The two brands are quite similar and even have lenses that fit both brands, so there was that. Perhaps you recall that I bought a new longer lens for my birdies and a new camera body to support said lens. It was a used Panasonic from Colonial Photo and Hobby, say a year or so ago? Except all of this time I have hated it because of a feature that I have become accustomed to using was not working as I wanted. Well, I won't bore you with the whole story, but suffice it to say, while searching YouTube for an answer, one poster mentioned resetting the camera. Well duh? Why didn't I think of that? 

That solved my problem instantly and now I am in fine shape, well, make that fantastic shape. The camera is living up, and even exceeding, my expectations now. The photos are gorgeous! 

Or at least I think so! Notice anything in this shot aside from our resident Northern Cardinal? That was obviously a super sunny day. This one was not so much. Also another tree as there are plenty to choose from here.

Buds my friends. Buds.

While having grown accustomed to my close up photos of the goldfinch on the feeders, every now and again I can get them in the trees.

Although we just took a fantastic field trip that I look forward to telling you about, I had been going through some months of photos in order to make an album to send to my publisher. Not that they are selling much these days, but it never hurts to send in new images. We will probably never have the good fortune that we once had when Hobby Lobby bought $100K worth of images and then continued reordering them, but mailbox money still trickles in, albeit at a much, much slower rate. I wrote about that wonderful day in this post from 2014 which if you have the time you might enjoy the story. I know it brought me to tears again!

My point was that I came across lots of things I had yet to post, so here goes some photos from places we've been and things I have seen that have brought me joy. Some days on my walk through the park I see almost nothing, and then there are days all sorts of things are captured with my cameras.

A close up of the old railroad bridge, the closure of which changed Murphy a lot. 

Because up to this point I have had very little exposure to forest mushrooms, it seems to me, from my limited exposure, that finding this big bunch in the winter is pretty unusual. Then again, it might not be unusual at all!

Something that really stood out to me while looking through photographs from December and January, is how much fog, from either the river, 

or the ground there was. I'm not seeing it as much for the last few weeks but there is at the very least six weeks of winter to go.

Beats me where I took this one below, but let's just put it in the blog and get it off of my desktop which, btw, after writing about it I took the plunge and got rid of all those languishing photos on the desktop.

What a hoot, I know exactly where I took this one!! And so do you. When they are small, I have no clue! 

One day while walking the sky turned an amazing color and had one of those "sundogs" present.

Here's something I found not far from the back door amongst the wet leaves during the rainy weather. 

One thing that has been really nice is the color of those leaves when wet. Not only do they look great on the ground, but on the trees where, according to John, they remain until pushed off by the new leaves. When they are dry, they shrivel and are more brown, but when wet, oh my that rust color is the best!

Still no sign of the bluebirds, but other birds are having no problem checking it out. Who will be the victor pray tell? Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, or perhaps even the White Breasted Nuthatch?

Say it ain't so! We want bluebirds! Remember these two?

I never finished up with our Asheville story and probably I won't go back in time aside from these images that I took in the car museum at the Grove Park Inn. I wish it did not have all the ceiling lights reflecting on it, but the facts are interesting, what you can read of them. One very telling sentence is the declaration that one can rarely sleep without a blanket AND there are no mosquitos, music to a Floridian's ears!

Finest Resort hotel in the World! Our next visit we must go check it out inside. I will say that they had some fantastic grass for December!

For those who love Asheville it might interest you to learn when they began their huge growth spurt. No charts on how things went following the stock market crash!

On our way home we stopped in Sylva for lunch which was delightful. More and more towns we visit have murals touting their assets.

During a quick stop in an antique store, I could not resist the lighting!

Aren't they just amazing glasses? Now you understand why I had to write a post to include random findings! Like the one below that we came across as we made our way back to the car after a fabulous lunch at Lulus. Fortunately Laura gave us the idea when I got in touch. It did not disappoint.

Western Carolina University is nearby and my research tells me that some of you may be familiar with one of their most famous alumni. If you guessed David Sedaris, you guessed right! Oh how we love his books! I have also had the pleasure of reading novels written by Ron Rash who teaches there and has just been named to the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame. Previous winners include Thomas Wolfe and Lee Smith, who if you have never read a fantastic Southern novel written by a woman, I suggest you rectify that situation sooner rather than later!

Finally, as this post was meant to be short, I came across this, first in the park and more recently in my photo library.

Does that really even mean anything? Who else would you be???

your friend,

Gail

High Hopes

High Hopes

She's got high hopes,

She's got, high, apple pie, in the sky hopes.

That's me folks. I've been preparing for the best show of my career this week, or may I be redundant and say I HOPE it will be the best show?

This is no apple pie in the sky, but it is a jet, which seems sort of appropriate as well. 

Seems to me like a jet can travel considerably further than an apple pie in the sky don't you agree? By the way, some of you may know this already, I was not among you. The above song is one by Frank Sinatra. Another famous line from that song is, Whoops there goes another rubber tree plant! I learn something new each and every day.

I took this photo while taking the clothes off the line. I know, I'm crazy to always be thinking about taking pictures, but you knew that didn't you?

Now you see what I mean by maximum sunshine. Actually, I'm merely showing this to segue into this sweet little poem Bruce forwarded to me from someone else. Apparently, before there was "social media" there was the clothesline.

A clothesline was a news forecast, To neighbors passing by,

There were no secrets you could keep, When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link, For neighbors always knew

If company had stopped on by, To spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the "fancy sheets", And towels upon the line;

You'd see the "company table cloths", With intricate designs.

The line announced a baby's birth, From folks who lived inside,

As brand new infant clothes were hung, So carefully with pride!

The ages of the children could, So readily be known

By watching how the sizes changed, You'd know how much they'd grown!

It also told when illness struck, As extra sheets were hung;

Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe too, Haphazardly were strung.

It also said, "On vacation now", When lines hung limp and bare.

It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged, With not an inch to spare!

New folks in town were scorned upon, If wash was dingy and gray,

As neighbors carefully raised their brows, And looked the other way.

But clotheslines now are of the past, For dryers make work much less.

Now what goes on inside a home, Is anybody's guess!

I really miss that way of life, It was a friendly sign

When neighbors knew each other best... By what hung out on that line

Nowadays, most folks have fences around their yards, but I dare say that wasn't always the case. I can't imagine what inspired someone to write a poem about a clothesline, but then again, I can't imagine what inspires me to photograph what I do!

Finally the prints are done. Or almost anyway. I loaded up the twirly thing only to unload it!

After sorting through my baskets, stocking my inventory in the large plastic bin, I discovered I had room, thus, I decided to take it all with me. I told you I had high hopes!

What I didn't have was an adequate supply of Smarties, the candy I have on my browsing table at shows. Let's just say they are hard to find these days. At one point I ordered 80 lbs. from the Smartie store. After checking at Walgreens, Publix, Dollar Store, and Big Lots, I've decided perhaps I should do that again. From nearly our very first time at the market, I've had a small candy dish with Smarties for anyone who likes them, and let me tell you, there are plenty of people who do. Count me super surprised on that, however, Bruce knew as it was his suggestion. From their site I've learned that the inventor came to the United States in 1949 from England after the war, opening up a factory with two machines in a rented space. I love to hear those kinds of success stories. Apparently, he too had high hopes. (finally found some at Target.)

Fiddling with my prints is not my favorite part of the business. After a time I need to move and walking Baxter is a good way to do so. I mentioned a few weeks ago that the peach tree on our street was beginning to blossom. A few houses down two nectarine trees are doing the same.

See the tiny little moon down on the bottom right? While driving down Pershing the other day I noticed that the Angel Trumpet flowers are going crazy right now. This tree is cascading down the wall around Southern Oaks, the fancy neighborhood across the street from us.

Looking at the mass of blooms it makes me think of petticoats. The color of both of these blooms, the purple and the delicate shade of orange, is outstanding! Indulge me as I take you closer.

Fantastic right? As I type this I hear our cardinals. HaHa--our cardinals. Actually I've discovered that there are two pairs hanging around. Imagine if we have two nests! If I happen to walk outside and find them nearby I talk to them. That's right--I talk to them gently, hoping they won't be frightened and fly away. It may very well be working because Mr. Cardinal was kind enough to just watch me from his perch in the new tree while I tried and tried to get a shot of him amongst the branches. Fortunately some of the leaves have fallen allowing me a better opportunity. May I dare say that I'm pleased with this one?

They say it's best to get the light in the eye of your subject which is why I'm so pleased with this shot. Some might argue that this red is even better than the orange and they very well might have a good point. Picture me with the zoom lens on my Nikon, head bent way back, looking into the viewfinder trying to get the shot. The camera is a bit heavy, my neck is getting older, and it's nearly impossible to use the automatic focus. I switched over to manual, adjusting the ring until the camera focused on you know who. Happy days!! All the while I calmly thanked him for sitting so still for his portrait. I think what also makes this a nice shot is the blue sky behind him bringing stark contrast to the scene. Here's another view:

Which is your favorite? The lighting in the first is the best, but I do like how his comb is up in this one.

There are a few things I've been meaning to mention. One is that the space I photographed for Dana will be the site of nine NBA All Star parties! She's already so darn busy I have no idea how she'll manage, but knowing her as I do, she will. As well I finally read a novel!! Fanfare here. It's been far too long since I've read one and I'm happy to report that I can recommend In the Sea There are Crocodiles. Talk about having hope! My word, the hero went through so much it's hard to imagine how he survived. Based on a true story, the author recounts the tale of a 10 year old Afghan boy whose Mother abandons him in a city to get him away from the Taliban. In our days of relative calm, it's easy to forget how much of the world lives a daily life of struggle. Novels like this one remind me of the ease with which I go about my days. 

Speaking of which I am joining the ladies for bridge in a bit; a play day before "Show Time!"

Hopefully yours,

Gail