Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, tagged colors, food, food photography, Inspiration, Photography, red, snacks on January 30, 2014| 2 Comments »
Yesterday, I think in response to all the lovely comments about the red strawberries, my eyes kept falling upon other red items in the kitchen. The above image is a bowl of plain hummus spiced with a dollop of red pepper sauce. The image below is of sliced red peppers soon to be dunked in the hummus. It was a good snacking day. 😉
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, tagged blue, blueberries, colors, food, food photography, fruit, Inspiration, Photography on January 30, 2014| 6 Comments »
Posted in Inspiration, tagged design, Inspiration, life, McDonalds, memories, New York Times, Photography, smile, storytelling, urban landscape on January 29, 2014| 1 Comment »
That was my first reprimand at my first paying job as a 15 year old in Lynchburg, Virginia. I believe it was in summer at McDonald’s near the public library. The manager had placed me at a register and was watching me from the lobby. I had learned the manual well of the various phrases from “Welcome to McDonald’s. How may I help you?” to “Would you like some fries with that?” and so on. I was a bit perplexed by the smile comment but I gave it go on the next orders throughout the day. It was midweek and during a block of time when mostly older folk would come in and buy a cup of coffee or tea. And what happened near the end of my shift? Well, as I took a silver-haired lady’s two dollars and gave her some change back, she took my hand, patted it and said, “My dear, you have a lovely smile. You have a good day.” And I said, “You too, ma’am. See you tomorrow.” What brings to mind this memory of making people feel welcome? There’s been an interesting series of articles in the New York Times about people, especially seniors, sitting too long in the fast food restaurant. As with any story, there are many ways to dissect the issues but I think this morning’s article about “lessons learned” from the recent clash presents some good food for thought, not about how a business should be run but more about how over time people operate in the world: The Urban Home Away From Home.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Branches, flowers, Inspiration, light, nature, Photography, serenity on January 27, 2014| 4 Comments »
When I first went up the stairs there were no shadows cast on the wall, no dark silhouettes in the air. Then the sun peeked out for just a short while lighting up my little corner of the world.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged abstract, herbs, Inspiration, lavender, light, Photography on January 25, 2014| 4 Comments »
I have a mouse in my house. Of course, most likely more than one at this time of year. But there’s at least one that I know of who likes to nibble at the herbs and other plants I have in various containers about the kitchen and in hallways. He loves to dig into the roots of the sage and nibble at the leaves of mesclun. He ignores the fenugreek, thyme, oregano and rosemary, although on occasion I’ve seen evidence that he has peeked into their pots. The lavender he seems to ignore completely. The bed of dirt remains untouched and the leaves uneaten. It is the one plant, aside from the African violet, that thrives this winter. The pot sits next to a western facing window. And it is the silhouette of the lavender leaves and branches against the setting sun that I captured in this photo.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Photography, Publication Updates, tagged American architecture, architecture, arts, churches, faith, Inspiration, personal correspondence, Photography, Postcards, religion, stained glass windows, stationery, tourism on January 23, 2014| 3 Comments »
… a lovely surprise appeared at my door. The postcards I mentioned as a work-in-progress in a previous post have arrived. These are images I’ve had the pleasure of taking of the stained glass windows at Trinity Church in Copley Square, Boston, a building considered one of the most significant in American architecture.
These postcards will be available at the Book Shop located in the undercroft (lower level) of the church. Learn more about the parish and current activities here and specifically tours here and about the Book Shop here. In addition to postcards of the stained glass you will also find a few of my other nature-themed postcards like the following. Happy writing! 😉
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged abstract, ice, Inspiration, nature, patterns, Photography, water, winter on January 23, 2014| 4 Comments »
the ice will have melted.
The panes of glass will be mostly clear.
The icy forest will be gone.
And likely I’ll be a bit warmer, but what a way to start the day. 😉
Posted in Branches, Nature Notes, tagged Branches, Inspiration, light, nature, Photography, sunlight, winter on January 22, 2014| 4 Comments »
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged ice, Inspiration, nature, patterns, Photography, water, winter on January 22, 2014| 5 Comments »
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Inspiration, landscape, nature, nature photography, Photography, seasons, weather, winter on January 21, 2014| 4 Comments »
I have to admit I was much more enchanted by the first few winter storms. Now as we batten down the hatches for roughly 10 inches of snow tonight, I’m really, really, really looking forward to spring. I may feel differently in the morning when the sun’s rays strike all the white surfaces. We’ll see … 😉
Words + Images 