It is NOT Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

…but it IS Mrs. Fields’!

Take time to enjoy quiet moments with yourself for inner reflection.

~Author Unknown

Missing my little brother...

I “sworda” like this one!

Seashell Art

Time you enjoyed wasting, was not wasted.

~John Lennon

It's never too late

...to act on your dreams.

Taekwondo

Jack gets promoted!

Remembering...

Each happiness of yesterday

Is a memory for tomorrow.

~George Webster Douglas

Pictures of Pictures

Photography serves at least two important functions: it not only preserves our memories, but it also provides a visual documentation of our history.

A few days ago, members of my photo group spent a couple of hours at the County Archives, poring over old photographs for our exciting new project, Main Streets of Montgomery County.

Image #75 depicts the NW corner of Main and Center Streets in Fonda, circa 1926.

#514 portrays Main Street in Fonda “before the demolition.” Can anyone help identify the year? The auto in the lower LH corner may provide somewhat of a clue.

You’re probably shaking your head and wondering what in the world does #586 have to do with Main Streets? The answer is nothing. I was simply intrigued with this 1976 image of the Fonda Bicentennial Committee. I recognized several people on the Committee, including my 9^th grade science (or was it math?) teacher and a current co-worker! How many people can YOU name?

Considering these images were shot thru plastic sleeves under fluorescent lighting at ISO 3200, I was pleasantly surprised at the results. Of course, these photos would not have been possible without the assistance of my friend, Steve, who did a terrific job of helping to minimize the glare by holding the binder upright…and steady…while I photographed. Thanks for your help, Steve!

Bokeh

In photography, bokeh is the blur, or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image, or "the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh)

This was my first attempt at bokeh, and I found it to be incredibly difficult and challenging. Nevertheless, I gave it a shot!

Thanks for the assignment, Linda. It was certainly a learning experience I won’t soon forget! “If at first you don’t succeed…try, try again!”

And I will.

Texting...

A fixture of modern life!

Are we truly independent? Or are we irrevocably tied to these small, electronic devices?

Happy 4^th of July!

Thought for the Day...

We need time to dream, time to remember, and time to reach the infinite. ~Gladys Taber