Wednesday, April 30, 2008

the flag marks the spot


the flag marks the spot
Originally uploaded by valcox
While we were shopping for tomato plants on Sunday at the nursery in town, Fred spotted a beautiful pink dogwood tree, but it was bigger than we could get home. He's talked for over ten springs about getting one for front yard (like our neighbors across the street). Pink or white, we talk ahead--but never decided. It was obvious when we saw it.

When we paid, and gave an address, the girl presented a red flag and told us to mark the spot--they'll deliver and plant it sometime this week. That was easy! When we got home, I planted the flag right on the mound where the old plum tree used to be.

That open space where two years ago the tree man with the saw and grinder said I'd never miss it. But I do.

Monday, April 28, 2008

faded magnolia


faded magnolia
Originally uploaded by valcox

our new tomato plants


our new tomato plants
Originally uploaded by valcox
I've never grown tomatoes before, but I figured it can't be that difficult. The pots are huge, Fred had the idea to place them on wheeled platforms so I can roll them around.

I have a feeling this will not be the last blog photo of these plants!

Sunday, April 27, 2008

stretched out


stretched out
Originally uploaded by valcox

this is me this weekend, stretched out on a spring day with all the windows open.

Fred was a sweetheart and came with me to BJ's to do the heavy lifting. I needed household supplies, the pantry was bare. Jumbo sizes of soap, bleach, paper towels, laundry soap, peanut butter and those not-so-fun things we need. I hate this kind of shopping and try to do it only once a year, around this time. He pushed the cart and loaded the truck, but I'm the one who's tired.

Just stretch me out, by a passing warm breeze, and wake me when it's Monday.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Ursa Minor and Butterbean


Ursa Minor and Butterbean
Originally uploaded by valcox
It's spring time and 'lil Bear (Ursa) and Butterbean enjoy the fresh grass and sunshine. Sumo keeps them rounded up to one area--and pounces only when they need to be reminded who is boss.

olivia loves savannah


olivia loves savannah
Originally uploaded by valcox

Friday, April 25, 2008

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

cat roll


cat roll
Originally uploaded by valcox

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

orange dogwood


orange dogwood
Originally uploaded by valcox

val's dogwood branch


val's dogwood branch
Originally uploaded by valcox

win a fish


win a fish
Originally uploaded by valcox
I knew it would happen, it does every time I want to take a little cash out from our bank. The teller asks me what I'm going to do with it. I don't quite understand why she wants to know. Isn't that a little personal? Today I was prepared, I knew she would ask, I had my answer.

But she didn't ask, instead she read my little note on the bottom of my check and had a better idea for me. She suggested I open a 9 mo. CD, they were offering a <-0.75> rate. Now, I can't say I know a lot about banking, but I did notice that negative before the rate--and I'm sorry that's just not very exciting to me. I think instead I'll go buy our new freezer like I had in mind in the first place. Thank you anyway.

Geez, is this life in a small town?

Monday, April 21, 2008

green eyed cat


green eyed cat
Originally uploaded by valcox
if you've ever heard the piercing, raspy meow of a Siamese, you know this sound. The Ocicat breed is in large part siamese, partly in stature, fully in sound.

We love him anyway.

candy land


candy land
Originally uploaded by valcox

So it's Friday night, and the guys have gone camping for the whole weekend. Olivia is 17 1/2 so that I know her social calendar is booked--and I'm not in it. That means if I want to get photos of the town carnival in the farmer's field--I better head over.

The weather is low 70's Pennsylvania perfect and even though I spend the better part of the day rigging up a new housing for my Ansco Rediflex + studio camera, I don't finish until after dark, but I'm reay to go. Wow, so many colors on a grassy ground--kids both young and old, so well behaved and nicely dressed, it's a California photographer's evening dream.

The carnival was made more special with a caramel apple (or three)--These are big Pennsylvania Dutch red apples, buttery caramel, coarse chopped peanuts. I remembered the carmel apples from last year. I had another.


Saturday night, the boys are still gone, I figure I'll head over to the carnival since it's the last night. This time a bit earlier--dusk. It was a great time to go. I park further out and walk up through the side of the farmer's field, spaced between families. The anticipation from the kids, takes me back to the late 1960s, early 1970s, when I'm with my parents and sister going to the Ridgecrest Fair. The night is slightly cooler, sweatshirt weather, overcast skies. Completely different from the month-of-May feel the night before. Classic Pennsylvania spring. I buy two more caramel apples. I eat one sitting on the grassy sidelines, the other is enjoyed with a plate and knife, later that night, while I go through my photos.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Saturday, April 19, 2008

fred and rush go camping


fred and rush go camping
Originally uploaded by valcox
Fred took Rush on his first boy scout camping trip this weekend. They were to meet up at a campground in Connecticut with another 60 fathers and sons from our local troop. And yes, they were prepared! That truck was stocked. Lanterns, tents, steaks, matches, sleeping bags, rain tarp...nothing was forgotten--except a coat, but that's ok, Fred had a spare!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Thursday, April 17, 2008

nine old cameras


nine old cameras
Originally uploaded by valcox
I stayed up late and wrote an article I'd been mulling for a week. The subject was current trends in base cameras used for TtV (throughtheviewfinder) photography. It was fun to write about something other than glass science and art. The article could only accompany one photo, but with 9 cameras to discuss, I used the new mosaic tool--it was fun.

Now I wish I'd taken the time to straighted #8 after the tripod trip. Darn studio camera, my nimble D70--never demanded a tripod for TtV.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

tiptoes


tiptoes
Originally uploaded by valcox
"who goes there?"

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

passing notes


texting teens
Originally uploaded by valcox
Olivia and Justin were doing homework when I caught a day-in-the-life photo. I wonder if they were texting each other--I didn't ask.

Monday, April 14, 2008

my first polyptych!


my first TtVeeptych!
Originally uploaded by valcox
...just messing around! 'My precious' Nikon D70 shuttered its last this weekend, so I'm playing with existing photos until I get it back from the repair shop.

Fortunately I have a back up camera for my daily photos, but it's super heavy--more a studio Nikon. Where's the tripod?

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Friday, April 11, 2008

box of crayons


box of crayons
Originally uploaded by valcox

olivia gets her letter


olivia
Originally uploaded by valcox
She's 17, so the smiles are fleeting, but I know somewhere between her opening the acceptance letter from the National Honor Society, and my running to grab my ttv camera contraption, that there was a smile and giggle of prideful delight--I witnessed it myself!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

sisters, 1963


sisters, 1963
Originally uploaded by valcox
Today is National Sibling Day, so here's a wave to my older sister Sabrina, who carried me through the sticker patches many a time when I forgot my shoes.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Monday, April 07, 2008

three cats


three cats
Originally uploaded by valcox
The first and only photo of our three 'we-hate-each-other-cats' in the same place at the same time. Through the viewfinder (TtV) no less.

One coming, one going, one observing. Me standing on the bed, my shoes were off. Promise.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

hiding


hiding
Originally uploaded by valcox

Saturday, April 05, 2008

strawberries and pears


strawberries and pears
Originally uploaded by valcox

cat on bed


cat on bed
Originally uploaded by valcox
Last night was class two of our yoga 'meditation theme' workshop. It's a good thing she had us keep our journal books there, or I would have forgotten mine for sure. The first assignment before we got stated was to write 20 things we love about ourselves. Now is that silly or what? But because I'm a good student and didn't want to make a fuss, I went along and scribbled what I could.

That's easy until you get to about #12, and you've already stated how you love your own laugh and the way you cook, and you're hoping no one ever read this, including the teacher, who wants the books back at the end. But everyone else is writing away, so you think of a few more to get to number twenty.

bare limbs


bare limbs
Originally uploaded by valcox

Friday, April 04, 2008

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

autumn leaf on a spring branch


autumn leaf on a spring branch
Originally uploaded by valcox

I joined a new yoga workshop last night, with the same teacher who taught the beginning class last January--it was fun! The theme is 'meditation'. We sat in the quiet dark, cross-legged on the wooden floor, a thin folded blanket between us. The third floor of the restored Grist Mill. It was harder than I thought.


when the class started, our teacher turned down the lights, lit a candle or two, and brought out a large shopping bag from Barnes and Noble. Within were blank journal books which she slowly spread on the floor. Each cover art unique, some books hardcover, some soft, some large, some small. About 14 books, 10 people.

She asked us to all come up and select our book--we would use it at the end. Each of us somehow knew which book belonged to whom, though one woman took a long time to decide.

As the painfully long, sitting-in-the-dark session neared the end, our teacher rang a sharp bell very softly, gradually turned up lights, then asked us to write for five minutes in our new journals. She asked us to bring the books back up--promising not to read them--we would use them again on Friday. The book, ours to take and continue when the workshop ends later in the month. I think it's going to be a good workshop!

Tuesday, April 01, 2008