May You Be Blessed

No my dear friends you didn't go to sleep last night and wake up in a timewarp having lost a week of your life. I'm sending you blessings for the upcoming holiday a week early. We are going to visit our kids and grandkids. I have much more planned than blogging in the upcoming days ahead. So, for those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving I want to extend sincere blessings for a wonderful holiday. Take care and I'll see you in a couple weeks to catch up with what's going on in your world. In the meantime I leave you with recent photos of two of God's greatest blessings in my life.

Little Lily

Baby Lucy

The Wayback Machine

My last couple of entries for Watery Wednesday were photos of Blackwater Falls here in West Virginia. I posted those on my photoblog here and here. I don't think I've mentioned the amber color running through the water that is fairly evident in this image. It is a result of high amounts of tannin in the water. The tannic acid is from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles.
Some of my readers will remember I told of going down and back up 214 steps. This first photo shows the railings of the last set of steps going down to the falls. What I'd like you to focus your attention on is that huge rock at the bottom of the falls and then take a look at my next photo.

This is from the wayback machine when my brother and I visited Blackwater Falls in our youth. I so remember this outfit. That shirt was a canvas cloth of red, white, and blue. I usually wore it with a blue wraparound skirt. I'm sure some of you ladies remember those. Kinda reminds me of wearing a hospital gown. You had to be careful how you sat on it or the back folded and you and your underwear were exposed for all to see. What's with that hairdo you might be asking. Truthfully it was a grown out 'pixie' haircut and not a Beatles do! I loved it and can only wish that my hair was just as thick today.

Do you see where we are standing? Yep, right down at the bottom of the falls. This picture was taken about the last year before the steps were installed. Until then you found your way down a damp boulder strewn path. I talked to my Mom last week and we discussed it probably wasn't the safest place to be. When we visited we always went clear to the bottom. There are signs these days to tell you to stay on the path, that deaths have occured.

As Hubs and I stood above the river a couple of weeks ago I marveled how powerful the falls hit bottom after their five story drop. At one time I could get up close and personal with this waterfall. Today 214 daunting steps down and back up somehow seems like the right way to enjoy the view.

For more Watery Wednesday click here.

Mellow Yellow Shadow Shots

A few Wisteria leaves still clinging to the vine.
A Wisteria leaf caught in the vines backlit by the sun.

For more Shadow Shots visit here.

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Ohio Quilt Barn In Sepia

A couple of weeks ago Hubs and I were returning home from a trip to nearby Ohio when I spotted this quilt barn (so-called for the quilt patch that decorates the side of the barn) across four lanes of traffic. When I shouted quilt barn he knew he needed to find a safe place to pull over and bless his heart he did. Since we were in the state of Ohio it was quite appropriate that the quilt block is called 'Ohio Star.'

I've included the original image as well so you can see the weathered patina and rusting tin roof.

(Don't forget you can enlarge to see greater detail.)

For more Sepia Scenes join Mary here.

A SpongeBob Greeting

This past Saturday Hubs celebrated his birthday. In a sealed envelope from miles away came this little mellow yellow fellow with wishes for a happy birthday from his two sweet granddaughters, Lily and Lucy.

As you can see their Mommy traced their little hands inside the card and Lily 'wrote' her message for Grandpa.

Grandpa got many cards for his birthday but he sat and looked at this one the longest.

Lily and Lucy - Grandpa loves you too!

For more Mellow Yellow Monday click here.

A Squirrel and His Antics

I had to laugh at this little squirrel whose picture I took through my sunroom window. If you look closely just underneath him and to the right is a hanger that holds my bird feeder. I think he sat there contemplating how he could get to the seed. That thin strand of wire didn't seem to be the route he wanted to take.

I was on the phone with my Mom when out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a flying gray mass. I told my Mom to hold on a minute and grabbed my camera. Mr. Squirrel had climbed down the tree and was across from the feeder when he took the risk and jumped a good three feet toward the feeder. As you can see he was hanging on for dear life.

After swinging around a few times he was finally able to position himself around the feeder and grab a few bites before dropping to the ground below. He had managed to shake some seed out so he had a few nibbles on the ground before scurrying off to find whatever nuts are left in my yard that he hasn't already confiscated.
For more Camera Critters join Misty here.

Dona Nobis Pacem:Grant Us Peace

November 5, 2009

Bloggers from all across the globe will blog for peace.

We will speak with one voice.

One subject.

One day.

(Blogblast for Peace - Mimi Writes)

I hope you will listen to the music and think about the words.

"Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me

Let there be peace on earth

The peace that was meant to be.

With God as our father

Brothers all are we

Let me walk with my brother

In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me

Let this be the moment now.

With every step I take

Let this be my solemn vow.

To take each moment

And live each moment

With peace eternally.

Let there be peace on earth,

And let it begin with me."

For Lily and Lucy - Grammy Loves You!

Teeny Tiny Window Views

Teeny Tiny Windows of a Teeny Tiny Church

(click to enlarge to see detail on darker window)

Last week as Hubs and I were ending a day of sightseeing off the beaten path we drove back to the interstate to head back home. We pulled off at the first rest stop and sitting just across the way was this little tiny church. The path from the rest stop back to the interstate had us passing it on the way to the entrance ramp. Hubs stopped so I could take a couple of pictures.

There was no sign and no explanation of why it was there. Perhaps just a calming respite for travelers on their continued journey. Except for a sky shot as we entered the interstate it was the last photo I took. Looking back, that somehow seems a fitting way to have ended the blissful day.

For more Window Views join Mary here.

A Camera Critter Halloween

Heidi wants to remind you to......

Beware of Black Cats
Glowing Orange Lights

and Smiling Jack-O-Lanterns!

Happy Halloween Everyone

For more Camera Critters click here.

For more The Brenda Photo Challenge click here.

A Bench In The Forest

I found this bench along the path to the overlook for the waterfall that I posted on my photoblog yesterday. (You can see the waterfall here.) I visited the waterfall many times with my family when I was a young girl and hadn't seen it in many years. The sepia tone helps suggest an earlier time and seems fitting for my memories.

I wanted to post the original image as well because I thought it was such a peaceful looking spot with the sunlight coming through the forest behind it and the soft light dappled on the fallen leaves. I might add that since it was only about 50 feet from the precipice of the gorge I could hear the roar of the waterfall enticing me to continue rather than to sit.
Besides Sepia Scenes I'm also posting this for RunE at his Visual Norway blog. He posts a bench shot on Friday. It's all very informal at his place. Just post your photo and leave him a comment.

For more Sepia Scenes join Mary by clicking here.

Mellow Yellow Monday

Yellow mellow golden leaves basking in the sun.

For more Mellow Yellow participants click here.

Mating Season for White-tail Deer

A couple of our Camera Critter bloggers from Pennsylvania (Willard and Coy) often talk about the rutting season of the white-tailed deer. They spend time out in the fields looking for and photographing this yearly deer ritual. What are the odds I would be able to watch this occur in my own backyard. Not highly likely I'm sure; but it did occur this past week.

I've become particular of the quality of the photos I post but this is too good not to share.This shot was a long one for my camera so I've cropped it so you can better see the activity. I had looked out my window and saw three bucks passing by - the first this season. I grabbed the camera and quietly stepped out on the deck. These two bucks are between my neighbors house and mine. The third buck is to the right just out of sight in this shot. They didn't battle long and went about grazing on the grass.
The above shot was taken two days later on Tuesday. I took this guys picture through my living room window. He was beside my front porch eyeing the dogwood tree you can barely see on the right. If you look closely or enlarge this one you can see him licking his lips. I'm guessing those little branches were tasty. You'll also notice that three of his eight points have been chipped. I don't believe he was one of the two in the first picture; but perhaps he has been in some rutting activity of his own.
For more Camera Critters click here.

Looking At The Sky On Friday

Fall Foliage In The West Virginia Mountains
That speck in the sky is a vulture.
(click to enlarge)

For more Looking At The Sky click here.

The Brenda Photo Challenge

I was visiting Judy of Through Squirrel Eyes a couple of weeks ago and she mentioned this photo challenge. The chosen theme was actually her suggestion. The hostess for the challenge is Donna of Made In Heaven and the challenge has its own blog page here. Challenges take place about every two weeks. The theme this week is Highways and Bi-ways. Since I live in West Virginia my inspiration for the theme was a John Denver song.

Take Me Home Country Roads

On my way out to do errands I often leave the paved roadway for a leisurely drive down a nearby one lane dirt and gravel road. Along the way a portion of the roadway is canopied by the closely lined trees along either side of the road. I feel as if I'm being sheltered by the overhanging branches. I stop and step out of the Jeep. There is a stillness and a dampness. The sun splashes brightly on the roadway behind me casting shadows.
Ahead of me the sun filters down through the trees beckoning me toward the light and my continued journey. Urban life is just out of sight.

On another day this leaf covered road lined with trees in their autumn splendor would be a welcome change of pace. It twists and turns and rises and falls across hills and hollows leading me past steep pasture land and forgotten farms and often opening up to reveal far reaching vistas stretching across mountains underneath clear blue skies here in my 'Almost Heaven.'

Though it beckons me to explore its mysteries, today there are places to be and errands to run and I must be on my way.

When the errands are done and my bones have grown weary I'll head down sun-dappled patched roads.

Soon, I'll Round The Bend and the driveway on the right will carry me home.

Sepia Scenes: Another Camera

Last week I presented a Brownie Camera that had been owned by my Mom. This week I'm going to continue with one more that sits on her shelf with the Brownie. The Agfa Ansco Corporation introduced the Shur Shot camera in 1932. The model above with its art-deco faceplate was produced around 1939.
How could you not smile with those two eyes and big nose staring back at you?

:)

The rest of the body is made of wood and cardboard and covered in stipped black leather.
My Mom and Dad found this camera in a box of goodies from an estate sale.
If you're interested in seeing photos taken with such a camera I found a site where someone found some film in one such camera and had it processed. Click here.
For more Sepia Scenes click here.