Photo blog day 365, August 22, 2011

I’ve spent all day thinking about what I would write tonight. It’s hard to put how I feel into words but I’m going to try.

I had no idea when I started this project what it would bring me. I knew that it would challenge me in ways I hadn’t been challenged before. But I never knew that what I would shoot would matter. Or that my narrative’s would mean so much to anyone but me. I’ve read the comments from you folks about being sad that the project is ending and it feels incredible to know that I could bring something to your day. Occasionally I read older posts and can hear my own voice reading the story and I have to say, it’s a little annoying. But that doesn’t matter. With your support I made it through this project. Yes, natural disasters and insect borne disease kept me from  meeting my anniversary date. But it was never a race for me. I’m not competitive by nature, I only care about enjoying the experience and that is what I did. What we did. Together. Without the support of my friends, family, and online community this would have been very much like a stand up comedian telling jokes to a mirror. They just aren’t funny. So is an image pretty or dramatic if nobody is looking at it? Is that a bit like the tree in the forest thing? Maybe.

So I’d like to say thank you. To the people who viewed my images 22,221 times, whether it was to see the newest post, to cycle through what you hadn’t seen, or to revisit something you really like. That’s a lot of eyeballs on my images. To the people who left a total of 417 comments. To the 21 subscribers. To those that didn’t subscribe but still checked my blog everyday. To my coworkers who tolerated my lunchtime walks in search of something that grabbed my attention. To my husband who tolerated me saying “I still need a blog picture” on days that it was more of a challenge. And who is so tough to impress with pictures that I know he really liked something when he tells me he liked it {remember, a while back I said he’s unfailingly honest}. To my Aunt Diana, Uncle Louie, and mom who gush over my posts and tell everyone they know about what I’m doing. To my coworker Phil who likes the way I write and makes me feel like a Pulitzer Prize winning author and tells me he’s going to say “I knew her when…” because he believes in me that much. To Dee-Dee who cried after I came and took photos of her gardens to show her family back in North Dakota and wanted two disks so she could leave one in ND. To Canon for making wicked awesome gear. To the INTERNET. For real, where would I even be without the internet? All the things I googled to learn a quick tidbit (including making sure I was using ‘Pulitzer’ correctly!), and for providing me with a platform to put all this out there and for people to see what little ol’ me is doing here in Massachusetts. To WordPress.com for providing free tools for anyone to do anything on the internet. To other 365 bloggers for their inspiration and support. And to my blog. For being exactly what I needed to prove to myself that my passion for photography is real and not fleeting. And for proving that if you stick with something the rewards are that much sweeter.

For all of that, I thank you.

I had a lot of trouble thinking of a picture for today’s post. It’s a fairly important day and I didn’t come across anything that could convey how I feel. So my family took a walk to our favorite field tonight and I asked my husband to take a picture of me blowing a kiss to say thank you.

And for those of you who would like to stay with me you can find me on Facebook here: http://on.fb.me/qJBCui  and if you haven’t signed up for Facebook (it’s free people!!!) you can also visit my regular website: www.jconnphoto.com

I have some ideas for other projects I’d like to do but I may take a break for a bit. In any event, I’m not disappearing. In fact, quite the opposite.

Photo blog day 364, August 21, 2011

We are having a somewhat lazy Sunday which is rare. We started off with brunch and headed home to tidy up. The kids took naps while I worked on photography stuff and my helped me. We saw the clouds roll in and when I heard the thunder I decided I better run out for a picture while I still had the chance. I took a walk across the street intending to see what the brook looked like but the thunder started coming louder so I thought I should call the trip short and head back. I passed by the farm van [click here] and noticed that the patina looked a little more progressed since I last saw it in November. This is the front of the van showing the make “Metro” of the International Harvester manufactured van (thank you wikipedia!!!).

Photo blog day 363, August 20, 2011

I had a chance to second shoot for my friend Brian of Brian Sullivan Photography at a church in Indian Orchard, MA. The day was beautiful to begin with but as the afternoon wore on it got better and better. We were outside the church when we noticed the Sun Beams over the clouds. I caught this silhouette of the bride standing with her father greeting guests. If you’re interested in seeing more keep an eye on Brian’s site www.briansullivanphoto.net where he will post more shots from the wedding but no guarantees that any of them will be images I took.

Photo blog day 362, August 19, 2011

It has been a while since I did any sort of setup for a blog picture. Mostly I’ve been taking pictures of things I see during my day. So I took a few extra minutes to put this one together. I asked my husband what he thought of the shot (folks, he’s really hard to impress) and he said “well, I’m thirsty now”. Guess that means he’s not a fan. Oh well, you win, some you lose some. Happy Friday!!!!

Photo blog day 361, August 19, 2011

REALLY long post alert. This is a recollection of the last part of my trip to Germany when I was 17 years old.

~I left Munich in a hurry after having a disagreement with my employer, though I wasn’t sure I had made the right decision. Six months before I had packed my bags and headed to Germany to be an au pair and have the adventure of a lifetime. My plan had been to stay for a year and had I stayed on with the first family I lived with I surely would have met that goal. But at 17 years old my decisions were rash and not thoroughly evaluated. Living with a new family my patience was put to the test and I was a slightly better treated Cinderella. Housekeeping and childcare were my duties but the expectations were high. Finally, hot tempered and naive I fought with my employer and decided to go home. A walk to the subway, a train into Luxembourg, and a taxi ride left me on the door step of the air port at 8 PM.

Two hours later I sat on the sofa in the ladies lounge and looked at the wide eyed girl of my own reflection. Beyond the door lay darkness. Only moments before I heard the sound of ventilation units shutting down and automatic door locks being set. I looked down at my hands, my fingers had intertwined themselves and were white at the knuckles. There I sat 17 years old in the international airport in Luxembourg. Only two deutschemarks left in my pocket and growling tummy. I had no ticket home and no place to go. I hadn’t planned well. Even if I had enough cash I wouldn’t have been allowed to rent a hotel room as a minor. So I hid in the ladies room in the hopes of being passed over. I needed to be at the airline counter at 6 AM  in order to obtain a stand by seat with my voucher left from the first portion of my trip.

I held my breath and waited. Then I heard it. The dreaded sound of a security guard on his rounds. I laid down on the sofa and pretended to sleep.  ”Miss?” A strong hand shakes my shoulder. “Miss??” I peer through slit eyes and pretend to be disoriented. I open my eyes further and yawn. Kind and calm green eyes stared back at me. The guard addressed me first in french, then english. Having been immersed in German language for 6 months I was tongue-tied with my native language. I responded in my Germanglish and the corners of his eyes crinkled. He looked to be only a few years older than me but had a face that showed wisdom. I broke down and told the guard my story. He said that I couldn’t stay and as he stood to use his radio he looked down at me. I saw his resolve change and he said I should just spend the night with him in the security room since he couldn’t leave me alone and I had no where to go.

In the security room I watched televisons flick through video camera cycles. Airplane. Tarmac. Front door. Ticket counter.  The guard brought me a hot chocolate and asked me questions about America. He reached across the table to a worn paper bag and uncurled the top. Reaching in he pulled out a sandwich wrapped in parchment paper and handed me half. As I nibbled on the rich dark sour dough bread I thought about my situation. How fortunate I was that this person was willing to help me. I said this aloud and he smiled. He said that all of us have a guardian angel and that angel takes many forms during our lives.

In the morning when his shift ended he guided me by my elbow back to my “hiding place” and instructed me not to come out until I heard the televisions turn on. He took a scrap of paper out of his pocket and scribbled out his address, tucking it into my hand he looked into my eyes and said that I should go to him if I don’t get a flight again. He said it was the least I could do for having provided him with my companionship that evening. I promised to call if I needed help again and thanked him again. I did make it home to the U.S., just not that day, or even the next. But when I returned I wrote him a letter. A few weeks after mailing it the letter was returned, “Address not found”. I brought the scrap of paper to the post office and asked if I should send it a different way. We sent it again and again it was returned. I was left to believe that he was my guardian angel and since that time he has appeared in many other forms throughout my life. Protecting me from major catastrophes. Sometimes rainbows remind me of my guardian angel and I send a mental thank you to him.

Photo blog day 360, August 17, 2011

And so it begins.

I mentioned recently that I can feel the shift of the seasons. This August has been fairly cool and I am starting to see leaves flutter to the ground. Seeing these geese in formation grabbed that mist of change and solidified it. Only a week more before the school buses will be on the roads and only a few more after that we will hear the crunch of leaves under our feet and breath in crisp autumn air. We will start to cram in last minute things like a picnic or a hiking trip in the hopes that will carry us through the long winter. Maybe a tropical vacation will be in store for us this winter. Or more, maybe relocate to a warmer climate.

Photo blog day 359, August 16, 2011

To my sweetest girl,

You turned two and to you that means you can do anything. Especially if Big Brother does it first. You open the door and go in the yard to play. You climb into your seat all by yourself and you even drink from a big girl cup. You’re learning to express your feelings in ways other than screaming. In fact your favorite phrase is “go away!”. Two days ago you learned how to say “Why?” and that you get a response so you say it again. And again. And again. It blows me away the things you can do and how little by little you depend on me less. You refuse my hand to go up and down stairs and you say “Me do!” whenever I try to help you with something .

You are two and you are becoming independent. So that is why my heart stretches and swells when you climb into my lap and rest your head against my chest. You snuggle in and play with the ends of my hair that dangle over your shoulder while you watch Dora. You are still mine, even though you are two.

Photo blog day 358, August 15, 2011

On our ride to daycare this morning it was a bit foggy and the air was wet. It hadn’t started to rain yet and we passed by our favorite spot on the street (our favorite field would be directly behind me in this shot). We saw the mist hanging out over the trees and clouds over the mountains.

“Mom”

“yes”

“Are we in the clouds?” [mental giggle as I recall people in my past telling me to get my head out of the clouds]

“No, why?” [I imagine my cushy bed that I reluctantly dragged myself out of on this gloomy Monday morning.]

“It feels like we’re in the clouds.”

“It does?”

“Yes, look, it’s all cloudy around our car….”

“You’re right! I guess we are in a cloud”

The conversation then turned to how my four year old wouldn’t get lost in the fog because he knows how to get home by finding things he recognizes on the street. “Just because we can’t see something doesn’t mean we don’t know where it is”

My four year old. The philosopher.

Photo blog day 357, August 14, 2011

Well hello there Mac. It seems I’ve been waiting a long time for you. Yes, your little brother the Mac Book kept me company for a while but we decided it was time to move on. He’s tired and his memory just isn’t the same after all these years. He’s sluggish and quite honestly, just lacks the same drive you have.  You’re bigger too. I know, I know… they say size doesn’t matter. But Mac, it does. Just sayin’.  Mac, we’re in this for the long haul so you need to keep up. Promise me you won’t quit when things get tough, or lose any of our memories, or worse, just flat out refuse to look at the documents when those folks in PC land send us files to open. Promise me you’ll open them.

Guess who took advantage of MA tax free weekend and hit up the Apple store?

Photo blog day 356, August 13, 2011

Just an easy post today. I caught this water droplet on my Gerbera Daisy’s after watering them. Several weeks ago a coworker showed me an image on Bing several weeks ago that showcased a flower reflected in a water droplet and told me how much he liked it.

I should mention this is the same coworker who suggested that I force forysthia’s this winter, who loaned me the globe from Josh Simpson for the macro shot and the ring of fire shot, and who suggested the seashell macro shot, and who knows how many more!

This one’s for you Phil!