
the day was cold but beautiful

Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged home, Inspiration, landscape, light, nature, Photography, sunset, trees on December 12, 2013| 5 Comments »
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged cuban oregano, fern, herbs, indoor gardening, Inspiration, kitchen, Photography, plants on December 11, 2013| 3 Comments »
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged arts, Inspiration, landscape, light, nature, painting, Photography, urban landscape, urban nature on December 10, 2013| 3 Comments »

Snow began to fall this morning and so I went to the window to check on my so-called copper branches.

These branches drape over a crumbling concrete wall.

The wall is adjacent to a muffler shop. If I were to widen my shots you would see the mountain of tires, metal poles and big blue barrels.

The area is not easily accessible. It is cordoned off on three sides by a metal fence. It is only because I am next door and up high that I can see the beauty over the wall.

One day I may get up the nerve to talk with the manager and convince him to let me into the area, to climb over the tires, so that I can get up close to the tiny rambling woods.

But for now I am happy to shoot from a distance and later play with the images. As different details emerge out of the lovely chaos – a leaf still green, the illumination of paler twigs, and so forth – it feels a bit like painting with light.

Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged beach, charitable giving, Inspiration, kickstarter, maps, nature, Photography, Revere, Revere Walking Map, WalkBoston, walking on December 9, 2013| 2 Comments »

Thanks to friends and family from around the world, I’ve got quite a growing collection of shells. Most of the shells that I have collected myself I have done so along Revere Beach in Revere, MA. That beach has become a favorite haunt to walk for relaxation and exercise. I never know what I might find in the sand and along the water’s edge. Moving forward, I hope to venture further afield into the heart of the culturally rich and diverse community. That is in part why I love and support the idea of a Revere Walking Map being created. I do use them. Watch the video below to understand the behind the scenes making of such a map and/or visit this page to see the opportunities and levels for giving. A great cause especially if you live or travel out this way.
P.S. Here’s how I’ve used a similar walking map to help make my way around Somerville and its parks.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Branches, Inspiration, landscape, nature, Photography, rain, reflections, trees, water on December 9, 2013| 9 Comments »
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Branches, colors, copper, Inspiration, nature, Photography on December 8, 2013| 4 Comments »
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, Photography, Publication Updates, tagged art donation, arts, community service, Evening Light, Inspiration, Massachusetts, Photography, Postcards, Roxbury, stationery, The Art Connection, trees on December 5, 2013| 7 Comments »

Thanks to all of the folks who have been encouraging me to enlarge my photographs. I did so with a print of “Evening Light” and I’m happy to share that it has found a new home at Rockland Street Elderly Housing in Roxbury, Massachusetts. The 18″ x 24″ framed print will hang with many other pieces selected by the senior center with the aid of The Art Connection, a nonprofit organization connecting artists and donors to community service organizations through the placement of original art. But … please do keep in mind that I love my postcards, notecards and small prints that can be slipped into an envelope. So if you’d like a “little evening light” in your home, there are blank cards available here. Have a good rest of the week, folks. 😉
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged abstract, Branches, creative writing, creativity, Creativity Portal, Inspiration, landscape, nature, photo essay, Photography, trees on December 5, 2013| 2 Comments »
… what can be done today? That was one of the thoughts that inspired the photo essay, Branching Thoughts, now appearing on Creativity Portal. To what do I refer? Well, when you have a chance, please read the essay and then you’ll know what I mean. 😉
FYI, there are many other wonderful essays, articles and more to be found on the site. One of my favorite end of year items is a beautiful 2014 calendar designed by Creativity Portal founder Chris Dunmire and available for download month by month or all 12-months at once for “less than a cup of coffee.” Can’t beat that these days. Hope you have fun exploring all the different words and images on the site.
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, house plants, Inspiration, nature, petunias, Photography, roots, soil on December 4, 2013| 2 Comments »

Back in October I wrote about the unexpected success in growing a potted petunia in the house. I imagined photographing white blossoms against the kitchen window with snow falling in the background. Will that come to pass? Well, recently after cutting away all the dead and dying pieces only one green stem remained on the petunia plant. Nothing else. I considered letting it go, but what harm was there in continuing to water that stem. And then one day it bloomed. A single bloom on a single stem on a mostly barren patch of ground. I guess there must be some good roots beneath that soil.

Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Branches, colors, Inspiration, nature, Photography, sunset, tree on December 3, 2013| 6 Comments »