Photo Hunt: Hanging

I love the way these lanterns seem to be suspended in midair. Click to enlarge for a better view.

Find more entries at tnchick.com.

Round Robins: Stuff

Kim of Nekked Lizard Adventures asks us to show an item we'd like to get rid of, but would be too embarrassed to sell on eBay. And therein lies my problem.

Lord knows I have plenty of stuff, maybe even stuff most people would find embarrassing. For example, there is that plaid jacket with the '80s shoulder pads, and my pieces from pottery class are pretty awful. But I have no particular desire to get rid of anything, and I don't embarrass easily. So I just looked around and shot the closest hunk o' junk I could find.










This is the TV in my home office. It's black and white, with a four-inch screen and an antenna. It's also a radio, and it will run on batteries if need be. I've had it for 24 years. Sure it's old, and it's a little banged up, but it's still going strong. (At least, it will be until The Big Switch next year.) But I don't think I'd have much luck selling it on eBay.

Ever since this challenge was posted, I couldn't think about it without remembering this routine from George Carlin:



Yup. Love me, love my stuff.

Click over to the Round Robins home page to see what everyone else found.

Goodbye, Golden Girl

Dorothy: [Sophia is busily cooking] Ma, what are you doing? You're supposed to be resting. Remember what the doctor said?
Sophia: Dorothy, I'm feeling anxious. And when I feel anxious, there's only one thing that calms me down.
Dorothy: I know, Ma. Cooking a big meal.
Sophia: No, making hot naked love in a closet. But hey, you do what you can.

Estelle Getty passed away this week. I knew her only as Sophia, the irascible, sarcastic and hysterically funny octogenarian of Golden Girls. Sophia's best lines were zingers, but there was more to her than that.

In her best episodes, she gave voice to the forbidden thoughts and fears about growing old and dying--and about alternately adoring one's grown children and wanting to kick their shins. Through it all, scrappy, sharp little Sophia was full of life, a force of nature, raging against the dying of the light. We haven't seen the likes of her since the show went off the air.

So. Ms. Getty, Godspeed. And thanks for being Sophia.

Project Black: Parting Shot

Anna has called an end to Project Black, but she's promised a new theme in September. It's been fun!

Project Black: Pensive

This is an older photo of my younger son, taken in the fall of 2005. It's a personal favorite, better in black and white than in color.

See more photos from the project: Click Here.

Photo Hunt: What IS That?

Coming home from a Fourth of July fireworks display, I played with long shutter speeds and taking pictures from the car. This could be fireworks, a carnival we passed, or lights from cars and shops on the street. I really don't recall which. But I do like the abstract quality of it. If you click it, it gets bigger.

For more photo hunters, go to tnchick.com.

On the absence of cows

It wasn't supposed to rain today. I had a full agenda of things to do and errands to run, including stops at the camera store and the library. After that, I was planning to track down some cows.

The cows in question are not your garden variety moosters. In fact, I've never seen any others like them. They would be perfect photo subjects for the Black Project -- that is, assuming the herd is still where I saw them last.

Alas, it was not to be. Halfway through my to-do list it started to rain. And it was clearly going to be the steady, all-day, buzz-kill variety of rain to boot. This is where I reach the limit of my dedication. I will hunt for cows, but I will not hunt them in the mud.

I did stop at the camera place and used a little bit of my inheritance to buy a tabletop studio, something I've wanted for a while now. (Mom loved toys too. Somewhere out there, I know she's smiling.) I wrestled the box back to the car with only a little water damage and made for the library, my favorite spot in town.

So there I was, arms loaded with newly arrived novels and nonfiction, when the real storm hit. The big plate glass windows shuddered under the onslaught, the roof thundered overhead, the doors shook on their hinges ... obviously, there was nothing for it but to settle into a deep, upholstered chair at the end of the stacks and read. In other words, I had a great excuse to do exactly what I really wanted to do anyway.

I spent the best hour of the whole week there, surrounded by books, lulled by the sound of water, relieved of the need to feel guilty. After all, no one would be expected to go out in weather like that, regardless of how high the laundry pile is.

Actually, the storm may not have lasted a whole hour. I kind of lost track of time. But hey, isn't that what libraries and Saturdays are for?

Soon as I find a spot around here that's relatively free of cat hair, I'll set up the new studio and choose a new subject. That light box is much too small for cows.

Project Black: Travel in Style

The wealthy of America's gilded age kept elaborate camps in the Adirondacks, and many went there in shiny, black, private rail cars like this one.

The Adirondack museum has wonderful displays, but they are not camera friendly. Everything seems to have informational posts standing in inopportune places, velvet ropes, dim lighting, and/or glass barriers. By the time you crop it all out, there's not much left.

Anyway, though it isn't black, I thought you might like to see inside the car. Click to enlarge:



For more Project Black entries, go to Anna's blog.

Project Black: Carnival

Thought I'd try something new. This photo of a local carnival was taken on a long shutter speed from a moving car. I kind of liked the effect.

*Click to enlarge.

More Project Black entries are here.

Project Black: Beads

I always loved the tracery of this beaded black collar, but I never thought about photographing it until today.

Check out more Project Black entries here.

*Click to enlarge

Project Black: Where Rivers Are Born

Another shot from the Adirondacks, a high mountain stream that flows to the head of the Hudson.

Note: Flickr.com is going to make me set up a Yahoo Wallet if I order a paid account, and I don't want one. So I guess I'll be uploading to Blogger for a while. Bummer.


See more participants at Anna's.

Project Black: Sunset House

This is a detail from a one-room, historical cottage on the grounds of The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York. It belonged to the village doctor at one time, and was moved here from Forked Lake for all to enjoy.

See more Project Black Participants at Anna's blog.

And with this one, I have used up all my space for the month at Flickr.com. It's either stow the camera for a while or pay up for more space. Decisions, decisions...

Project Black: Traces

This is my first, humble entry in Project Black, a photo meme from Anna at Anna Carson Photography, which I found via JC's blog, Castleruins. There are some stunning photos in the group. Check it out, why don'tcha?

P.S. July 13: This is a view of Indian Lake in New York, taken from the shore. The speck in the upper left is a rather large spider. I tried several times to photograph the web, but couldn't find a vantage point where I could get the camera to focus on it. (Suggestions welcome on shooting spider webs.)

Round Robins: Morning, Noon, and Night

I love watching the light change over the course of the day, and I thought it might be fun to try to capture the different moods of morning, noon, and night. I chose to use my daylillies as a subject; it's kind of a two-fer, since their blossoms come and go in single day.



Morning: An early rain followed by sun peeking out of the clouds. New lillies are waking, but their stamens are not yet unfurled.



Noon: The light is strong, and the lillies are open for business. A little tree frog the color of old copper comes out to bask in the sun.



Late Afternoon: Mission accomplished, the flowers are fading fast. See the pollen on this little hopper?



Night: Today's lillies are spent, their day in the sun at an end. Tomorrow's buds are gathering strength, swelling and rising in the moonlight. A few varieties, backlit by the kitchen window, will live to see another day. Look closely and you might see a few fireflies.



*Please stop by at the Round Robins Photo Challenge to see what everyone else has found. The group is open to all, so why don't you come play with us next time?

Photo Hunt: Support

I had never seen a mama loon ferrying her babies before, and I'm afraid I got a little too excited ... ran back inside to grab my camera, ran back out, and pretty much charged the poor thing to get the picture.


She didn't hang around to see what the crazy lady was up to, just loaded up the kids and made for the other shore. All I got was a grainy shot or two from too far away, from which these are cropped. Still, this was one of the highlights of my summer.

See what the other Photo Hunters have found at tnchick.com.

Photo Hunt: Pointed

We spent over a week in what is supposed to be the moose capital of New York, but this is as close as we came to seeing any. These huge antlers are in the Adirondack Museum.

Check out other pointy things at tnchick.com.

Land of the Free

Happy Independence Day! What better time is there to revisit the underpinnings of our freedom: The Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and its first ten amendments, A.K.A The Bill of Rights.

It behooves us all to read these over once in a while. After all, they're what all the flag waving is about.

The Bill of Rights: A Transcription

The Preamble to The Bill of Rights

Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.

ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.

Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."
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Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
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Amendment III

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
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Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
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Amendment V

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
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Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
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Amendment VII

In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
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Amendment VIII

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
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Amendment IX

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
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Amendment X

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Amendments 11-27
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Note: The capitalization and punctuation in this version is from the enrolled original of the Joint Resolution of Congress proposing the Bill of Rights, which is on permanent display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.

Page URL: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
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U.S. National Archives & Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD, 20740-6001, • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272

Links to the Rest
* The Declaration of Independence
* The Constitution of the United States

In search of the Adirondack ruby

Letters From the Lake, Day Three: The Old Hooper Mine

The guys went on a fairly arduous hike yesterday, which did not sound like a joy to me and my newly arthritic knees. On the trail, they said, they met a nice couple from Massachusetts, Connie and Ken. Connie and Ken told them about a trail up to an abandoned garnet mine, a short and easy climb that they thought maybe I could manage. And anything you found in there you could keep.

Garnets, eh? They had me at hello.

The trailhead to the mine is off the ski lodge parking lot at Garnet Hill Lodge. We pulled in to park, and who should be there but Connie and Ken, just shouldering their backpacks. What are the odds, with thousands of miles of trail, that we'd meet them again? So off we went, with pleasant company to share the day.

Knowing nothing about garnet mining, I was expecting a cave and tunnels. Instead, the path opens at the top of the mountain into the flat bottom of a vast stone bowl, a meadow filled with birch trees and long, whispering grasses. Towering over the meadow are the rockfaces of the mine, enormous slabs of stone in the process of crumbling down. The best hunting grounds are at the bases of the walls, where new stone is constantly falling.

The garnet is everywhere, but it is of poor quality, better for making abrasives than jewelry. Most of what you can pick up is very small. Even larger pieces are made up of clusters of crystals, and they break apart easily. Still, they say there is some gem-quality stuff among the rubble, if you can find it.

We spent hours picking up pretty rocks, competing for the best chunks, and climbing up to the rim of the mine walls. The view from there is spectacular, but hubby is more interested in garnets:



Ken knew a trail that led up to the other side of the mine, and shouted out a Hello from the tallest peak. Not to be outdone, the guys went up right behind him. Look closely under the birches at the peak to see hubby and son playing king-of-the-world:



This was such an amazing day, one I think we'll all remember as long as we live. Ken and Connie, wherever you are, Thanks!