March 4th, 2010

To Open Some Day

unopened

Today I was going through old photos—old being last spring—and came across ones that I had taken while on a visit to family in Kentucky. So I spent some time skimming hundreds of captures during my week there in early May…bumblebees on sweet peas, as-of-yet unidentified butterflies and moths, daisy-like flowers that are probably weeds, three-leaved clovers…and I was suddenly overcome with sadness. Through all those images, grief re-emerged over my father, who, unbeknownst to us at the time, had only another six months of life left. I remember taking all of those photographs last spring as I walked the fringes of his small hay bottom, stopping now and then to take in the complete silence and gaze at the old house up the road—the one I had spent my first few years in. I chased flying insects from grass blade to flower head and after returning to the house I remember him asking me what I was doing outside and him not really understanding when I told him I was photographing flowers and bugs…just as he didn’t understand W and me wanting to drive cross country five years earlier. “Why do you want to do that?” he had asked.

Many of his attitudes perplexed me, but at least he was here to perplex.

So I guess that’s how the grief thing works. Time helps heal the wound until one brushes up too closely against its memories.

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February 11th, 2010

Missing The Big Snow

pondandwoods

Don’t hate me. This is the only snow I’ve had to contend with for the past week. Yeah, I’m from the DC area, but as some of you may know, I’ve been away…and there’s usually two feet plus of snow here this time of year. Quite a switch. This is a partial view of my sister’s place where I’ve been staying for the past few days. Serene? Kinda. Behind me is a busy two-lane road with a pretty dangerous curve, one that could easily land a distracted driver in the snow-covered pond in the foreground.

By the way, Amtrak has done me (and hundreds of others) wrong, albeit understandably, and has again canceled routes south of Washington, DC. So, I won’t get to see W, Lucy, home nor multiple feet of snow until Sunday night, at the earliest. Since Mom and I are staying with the sibling, I do have internet access as well as doggie access—two of ‘em…yay!—and the company of a sweet, sweet nephew. So, I’ll try to stay in the loop and hope to see y’all from my usual digs, next week.

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February 9th, 2010

The Neighbor Farm

tatesplace

The neighboring farm of my parents’ place in Kentucky. The painted horse whose photo I posted a while back can be found roaming about here.

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February 1st, 2010

Off The Web February 3-10

kentuckyweb

Hi all. I’ll be away for a week starting this Wednesday and will have veeerrry little internet access, however, photos will go up daily via auto-post. And Lucy will be here, so please stop by if you have a chance—the girl loves visitors. And a new playlist will be up soon—yes, more old stuff.

So, all of you have a great week. Am I the only one who wishes she were back home before even stepping out the door? Geesh, what a hermit…

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January 14th, 2010

SkyWatch Friday: Powerful Sunrise

muckysunrise

A golden sunrise over the hills of eastern Kentucky. The slightly brighter spot rising up from the trees on the left is from a power plant about 20 miles away.

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December 29th, 2009

Do You Know Where Your Cows Are?

cowsontheroad
cowsintheyard

browncow
On my recent trip to Kentucky, these guys would be in the front yard early in the morning…on many mornings. Belonging to the kinfolk up the road, they would mosey on down, stopping at my dad’s yard to graze and leave hoof ruts, among other things…ugh. On each visit we would call Farmer Brown and ask him if he knew where his cows were. After a few weeks, probably tiring of our wake-up calls, he moved them to the other side of the hill where they are now gracing other yards.

Got cows? Need fence.

Truthfully, though, Lucy and I really enjoyed getting up close to the bovines.

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December 17th, 2009

SkyWatch Friday: A Break In The Clouds

breakingclouds
Yeah, another brooding photo today, folks. Actually, this was taken very near the end of the trip I mentioned yesterday. Eight hours of skies, from Northern Virginia to eastern Kentucky, were filled with a rolling boil of purplish-gray clouds, and despite the 425-mile-long blanket overhead, a bright spot welcomed me at the end of my travels. A bright spot in more ways than one.

Go to SkyWatch Friday and find skies from all over the world. While you’re there, why not leave a link to your own skies so all can enjoy?

swftom

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December 16th, 2009

Passing By Woodstock

woodstocksky

This was taken on the day Lucy and I left for our recent trip to eastern Kentucky and is in the vicinity of Woodstock, Virginia, off I-81, 90 miles outside Washington, D.C.

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December 13th, 2009

Silent Sunday: Lucy's New Friend

horse

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December 11th, 2009

Golden Girl

lucyatsunrise

This was taken November 1, at sunrise in my parents’ front yard in eastern Kentucky. Deer, rabbits and cows—yes, cows—have been roaming here and Lucy knows it. She always faces east when she lies in the yard, possibly because that’s where deer usually first appear. Here, she looks as though she has something else on her mind…

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