Friday, December 29, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: "Past Vs. Present"

The challenge this week is "Past Vs. Present". I was inspired by the picture up at the Round Robin site for this one...plus my Wolfie is just so darn adorable!

Wolf is a Shiba Inu, which is a Japanese breed. Shibas are considered a primitive breed and were originally bred to flush birds and small game and occasionally used to hunt wild boar (shibas top out at 25 pounds...are you starting to get the picture?).

They are energetic, bold, spirited, and strong-willed, can be hard-headed & stubborn and are NOT good off leash. Shibas are escape artists extrodinaire (I've seen one climb an 8 foot tall chain link fence!) and will be oblivious to your frantic attempts to call him or her back when an interesting sight or scent catches their attention. They can be manipulative, and many are willful, obstinate, and dominant (they want to be the boss). You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

They have thick heavy coats, which they "blow" twice a year...or more! You will find shiba hair in places that shiba hair should never be LOL! They can be suspicious toward strangers and aggressive towards other animals...they have strong chasing instincts.

This breed does NOT like to be grabbed or hugged or held tightly, and if pushed too far, may react defensively, so if you have small kids, they're probably not the breed for you.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: "Lights Of The Holidays"

The challenge this week is "Lights Of The Holidays". Since I was recently at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, I have some GREAT "lights" pictures!



Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: What you are Thankful for


The challenge this week is What you are Thankful for. That's an easy one; I'm thankful I've grown so much closer to my cousin, Maribeth. She has a blog which she calls Dackel Princess where she writes about her life with her hubby in NH, her dogs, Greta (a "dackel" or as we know them, a daschund, about to have her first litter!) and Fritz (a white german shepherd), their fruit trees and garden in the summer, skiing in the winter and assorted other topics. Check her out sometime, I think you'll like her :-)

I have so many good memories of growing up with Maribeth; she lived on Cape Cod and our families would get together each summer for a couple of weeks, and usually on Thanksgiving and Christmas. She's a year younger than me, but that never mattered. We were happiest on the beach, or riding our bikes, or playing with our Barbies...at least until we were 12 or 13 or so. That's when we started to grow apart a bit. I started wanting to do things with my friends during the summers, but still...every Thanksgiving and Christmas (except when I lived in Japan) were spent together.

Now, I think we're trying to set up our own tradition of spending Thanksgiving & Christmas together; this picture, in fact, is from our Thanksgiving celebration, which as you can see with filled with food (and those were just the appetizers!).

Anyway...long story short...I'm thankful for Maribeth :-)

Monday, November 27, 2006

Knock, knock

Who's there?



Don't open the door, I'm trying to take a picture here!

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: In the Kitchen!

The challenge this week is In the Kitchen! When I saw this topic, I thought...ooh! I'll photograph a meal from begining to end! But alas...the best laid plans...are usually forgotten by me! So ... you get the finished product, the dishes it created and a final thought from my Aunt.


This is a Shephards Pie, modified a bit from the recipe my cousin gave me. Instead of ground turkey (which replaced the beef or lamb), I used leftover chopped chicken from Sunday and chicken stock instead of beef stock. This recipe is the best ever and if you'd like, I'll share it with you :-)


And these are the dirty dishes making this meal generated. Yes, I left them overnight to get a good picture...but I probably would've left them anyway cause it was one of those nights.


This is the last page in a cookbook my Aunt put together...one of my fondest memories is the Thanksgiving meals our families shared together over the years.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

The Old Barn


It was extremely foggy here this morning; this is the old barn in my back yard...it's seen better times, but it sure makes a nice photography subject!

Sunday, November 05, 2006

A shiba and his shadow


He's looking off to the future...which included a back flip ala Max, poor thing! Got a ton of sand in his ear, he was NOT a happy shiba! But he had a great time, as did Max, running on the beach :-)

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: The Creative Side Of You

The challenge this week is The Creative Side Of You! Creative, eh? I always say I'm not very creative...except with cooking, so I guess a picture or two of something I made will have to do!


First up is a blueberry shake! I picked the blueberries and added them along with some sugar to vodka to make a lovely blueberry infused alcohol. For a special drink, I mixed some of the blueberry vodka with some Bailey's...yum!


Here are some scallops I panfried, along with some cherry tomatoes I grew in my garden, with some swiss chard & pasta. Delish!

Monday, October 30, 2006

My Knight in Shining Armor


Lots of bikers dressed up for Halloween in Salem, MA yesterday.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Books and a new look!

How do you like the new template? Heather did it for me, she's so dang talented!

This would be a perfect headstone for me, don't you agree?

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: Very Scary

The challenge this week is Very Scary! Another easy one for me; I love Halloween photos, and Halloween is scary, so voila!

warlock and pet
Took this shot in Salem, MA last Halloween. I'm 95% sure this was all an act...but it still creeped me out. I felt such sad vibes from the 'pet'. It's hard to tell in the photo, but he had a huge rack of tree branches decorated with leaves and pieces of torn black cloth. Very strange. If you view this picture at the original size, you can see many more details, like how the 'pet' is looking at the girl, and the X on his forehead...very creepy!

Here are some others:
deadgirls1
Dead girls on a pumpkin bed (not really dead!)

Wolf and a friendly tree
My dog, Wolf and my friend, Diana, dressed in a camoflage suit

axe murderer
Someone went all out on their Halloween decorations this year!

Big Bad Wolf in Grannie's bed, close up (scary!)
This was taken up in Mason NH at a house where Elizabeth Jones illustrated her version of the book, Little Red Riding Hood. That's the wolf in grannie's clothing in the bed!

pentagram
Saw this in the basement of my friend's condo...it was a girls school before it was a condo and a jail before that!

danger, view 2
Same condo basement...see the hand peeking out around the door?


Great topic, Julie!!!

The Challenge Linking List:

Julie POSTED!
Julie's Web Journal
http://www.barrettmanor.com/julie/journal.aspx

Steven POSTED!
(sometimes)photoblog
http://sepintx.blogspot.com/
Carly POSTED!
Ellipsis...Suddenly Carly
http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com/

Dorn POSTED!
Through The Eyes Of The Beholder
http://journals.aol.com/dornbrau/ThroughtheEyesoftheBeholder

Karen POSTED!
Outpost Mâvarin
http://outmavarin.blogspot.com/

DesLily POSTED!
Here, There, and Everywhere 2nd edition
http://herethereandeverywhere2ndedition.blogspot.com/

DesLily POSTED!
Here, There, and Everywhere
http://journals.aol.com/deslily/HereThereandEverywhere/

Suzanne R POSTED!
New Suzanne R's Life
http://newsuzannerslife.blogspot.com/

Danella POSTED!
Deep Red Style
http://www.deepredstyle.com/

Linda (Lou) POSTED!
Blah, Blah Blog
http://blahblahblog.wordpress.com/

Robin POSTED! ***Welcome New Member***
R's Musings
http://rs-musings.blogspot.com/

John POSTED!
Personal Effects
http://personaleffects.blogspot.com/

rRose POSTED!
WAIT-NOTYET-/
http://journals.aol.com/rrveh1/WAIT-NOTYET-/

Monday, October 16, 2006

Clouds over a sand dune


A beautiful day at the beach!

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Blazing glory


This is what autumn looks like to me...beautiful foliage, pumpkins and blue skies. What does autumn look like to you?

Friday, October 06, 2006

Hunter's Moon


It was a night made for werewolves and ghouls, shadows in cemeteries and black cats...

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: ABCs of Autumn

The challenge this week is ABCs of Autumn. Ahhhh, Autumn! My favorite season, which has my favorite holiday! If think if I went through all my pictures, autumn shots would far outnumber anything else...well...ocean pictures would come close! Here we go!

J is for Jack-o-lantern!
J2
Poor lil vampire girl looks like she had one too many pints of blood, eh?

S is for Sunflower!
bright flame
Sunflowers might be considered a summer flower, but this one is entering autumn in a blaze of glory!

Great topic, T.J.!!!

Linking List:

TJ
Photo Inclusions: Every Picture Tells A Story - Posted!
http://tjexpressions.blogspot.com

Carly
Ellipsis...Suddenly Carly - Posted!
http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com

Karen
Outpost Mâvarin - Posted!
http://outmavarin.blogspot.com

Janet
Fond of Photography - Posted!
http://fondofphotography.blogspot.com

Teena ***Welcome, New Member!***
It's all about me! - Posted!
http://purple4mee.blogspot.com

Nancy
Nancy Luvs Pix - Posted!
http://journals.aol.com/nhd106/Nancyluvspix

boliyou
Percolation
http://boliyou.blogspot.com

Danella ****Welcome New Member****
Deep Red Style - Posted!
http://www.deepredstyle.com

Suzanne R
New Suzanne R's Life - Posted!
http://newsuzannerslife.blogspot.com

Linda (Lou)
Blah Blah Blog - Posted!
http://blahblahblog.wordpress.com/

Kerrin
a new day, a new photo - Posted!
http://kerrinsdailyphoto.blogspot.com/

Gem
Journally Yours - Posted!
http://journals.aol.com/libragem007/JournallyYours/

Julie
Julie's Web Journal - Posted!
http://www.barrettmanor.com/julie/journal.aspx

Steven
(sometimes) Photoblog - Posted!
http://sepintx.blogspot.com

Derek
Through my Eyes - Posted!
http://throughvealeyes.blogspot.com/

_rRose
WAIT-NOTYET - Posted!
http://journals.aol.com/rrveh1/WAIT-NOTYET-/

Gina
Gina's Space - Posted!
http://journals.aol.com/rbrown6172/Ginasspace/

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Friday, September 22, 2006

Monday, September 18, 2006

Pink dog


Someone left their toy doggie behind...

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Comfort

I went to Peaks Island in Maine this past weekend to photograph a wedding. It was a gorgeous day! We took a ferry over from Portland to the wedding and back. On the way back, I snapped this picture:

old and young">

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: Nostalgia

The challenge this week is Nostalgia. What's more nostalgic than a college reunion??? This one took place at Union College in Schenectady NY the weekend of May 19th, 2006.

1951
Class of 1951

1956 wives
The wives of the Class of 1956

1966
Class of 1966

1971
Class of 1971

1986
Class of 1986

1986 banner
From left: Diane, Cherie, Mo & Betsy, who graduated from Union College in 1986. Betsy had joined ROTC in college, and I met her soon after her graduation and subsequent stationing as a 2nd Lt. at Hanscom AFB, where I was worked. Through her, I met and becamse good friends with Diane & Mo.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Leaves are falling all around...

leaves are falling all around
Its time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, Im much obliged
For such a pleasant stay.

But now its time for me to go,
The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain,
And with it pain,
And its headed my way.
Ah, sometimes I grow so tired,
But I know Ive got one thing I got to do,

Ramble on

Friday, September 01, 2006

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Rudy's, Teele Sq., Somerville, MA

Rudy's, Teele Sq., Somerville
Great Mexican restaurant, yummy margaritas!

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Round Robin Challenge: Transportation

The challenge this week is Transportation. What a great theme! I had quite a few pictures to choose from and could not make up my mind, so I thought I'd share a few different modes of transportation!

Ship(s)
ships
A cruise ship is such a fun form of transportation! I took this shot from the cruise ship I was on, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the end of our cruise.

Fishing boat and bridge
Ghost of Cheasepeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
I took this shot from an airplane window, it's a fishing boat going under the Cheasepeake Bay Bridge that spans Maryland and Virginia (it's a loooooong bridge and tunnel!)

Airplane
hellplane
This shot was taken at Castle Island in Boston, MA. Logan Airport is across the water, and you can see many planes landing and taking off from there. Wolf hates this place just for that reason; I think seeing such big things overhead bothers him!

Train
patriotic train
There's something so interesting about watching a train go by; I love to hear the plaintive whistle waaaaay off in the distance. This one, of course, is little and mainly decorative. I took this shot in Meredith, NH.

Horse and rider
horse
A very old style of transportation, that is now mostly done for pleasure! Took this one at Salisbury Beach, MA.

The automobile. It makes life much more convenient, but also pollutes our atmosphere something wicked. When I was searching for photos I'd taken of cars, I noticed these two were the same type of car!
old car
unkempt (Marblehead, MA)
1966's car
well kept! (Union College, Schenectady, NY)