It won't be long...

…before the pitter-patter of little (and big) feet will be heard in the halls along the banks of the Mohawk.

The Mulberry Tree

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a Baby Mulberry Tree grew alongside a little house.  Inside the little house lived Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. 

Many years passed.  Baby Bear grew up.  So did the Baby Mulberry Tree.  Even the house got larger! 

One summer day, Papa Bear told Mama Bear, “It’s time to trim that Mulberry Tree.”  You see, that tree had gotten so big and heavy, it split in half and its long branches swooped over their house.  So Papa Bear got out his chain saw.  Whrrrrrr went the saw as Papa Bear trimmed the Mulberry Tree.  “Gee, that looks better!”  Papa Bear exclaimed.

In fact, Papa Bear thought that the tree looked so good, he’d trim a little more.  After all, he reasoned, more would be even better! Whrrrrrr went the chain saw as more branches fell to the ground.  “Gee that looks better!”  Papa Bear exclaimed.

A few weeks passed and one day, Papa Bear looked at the Mulberry Tree and thought to himself,  “Hmmm…that Mulberry Tree needs a little more trimming.”   Whrrrrrr went the chain saw, over and over.

Papa Bear called Mama Bear outside.  “Look at this Mulberry Tree!” he cried.  “It’s ugly and it doesn’t provide any shade for our house.  It’s time to chop it down!” he shouted.

Goodbye, Mulberry Tree…I’m going to miss you!

Faceless Portraits

(For best viewing, please click to enlarge)

The photo group I belong to met this week for another round of the 4 GF’s:  great friends, great food, great fotos (theirs…not mine!), and great fun!

At our meetings, we share the results of our latest “homework” project.  This month, it was Faceless Portraits…a delightful photo assignment (thanks, Linda)!  I’m always amazed at the various interpretations that come out of these assignments.  The other photographers in my group do spectacular work, and this month’s results were no exception. 

It was Steve’s turn to assign our next photo challenge:  Bright, Happy Pictures!  Oooh…I’m motivated!  I have been giving this topic a great deal of thought, and I’ve come up with a bright idea.  Are you curious?  I’m going to….SHHH…it’s a secret!  You’ll just have to wait.  In the meantime, please stop by BITS ‘N PIECES often.  And feel free to leave comments…I would love to hear from you! 

All that glitters is not gold!

Recently I was asked to photograph some jewelry pieces.  I love shooting macro and was quite happy to oblige!  This image is my favorite from that series:

When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.  ~Peter Marshall


In the Sticks

Richfield Springs is considered a village, not a town.  A village is smaller than a town, but larger than a hamlet.  A city is bigger than all of them.

I don’t live in a city.  I don’t live in a town.  I don’t live in a village.  I don’t even live in a hamlet.  Some people might say I live “in the sticks.”

Now, I don’t mind living in the sticks.  In fact, I kind of like it.  You never know what you’ll see when you look out the window.  Deer, turkeys, bunnies, horses…they’ve all roamed in my yard.  Why one morning I even woke up to find a herd of cattle grazing on my lawn.  Did I mention that I live in the sticks?

Which brings me to my point.  I may live next to nowhere, but with just a few clicks of a mouse, a window opens to anywhere in the world.  The World Wide Web, that is. 

My window to the world was abruptly shuttered last week when, without warning, my Internet service failed.  Suddenly, I was isolated…cut off from the rest of the universe…for nearly five days.  FIVE DAYS!  It was suffocating. 

I grew up without computers or the Internet.  In fact, I made it into my…well, let’s just say I was well into adulthood before the Internet was a household word.  Now I can’t live five days without my window-to-the-world?

Maybe I do mind living in the sticks!

Fourth of July

We Will Remember

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.  ~Cynthia Ozick