365 Project - Day 10

While I still remember most of the chords of "Swans on the Lake", I wasn't that fond of my piano lessons when I was young. It's hard to pinpoint any specific reason other than, I just wasn't good at it. I enjoy classical music and like listening to and watching piano virtuosos, but I was not to be one of them. As we decided to provide piano lessons for my children 8 years ago, they together with my husband insisted on an electric piano with all of the bells and whistles. I was certain this would be a passing phase (like mine) and we were wasting our money. They argued that an electric piano would be more fun, which would lead to more hours of practice. I believe reality falls somewhere in between.

They still take lessons and play the piano. They practice far less than I would like and yesterday, when neither was willing nor available to take their lesson, my husband asked if I would fill in for them so that we would not lose money on the lesson. Hah! My sons are talented pianists when focused. My eldest has been recognized for both his technique and his passion, receiving outstanding scores in competition. And, recently, he wrote his college essay poetically describing how the piano serves as therapy. Actually, perhaps, reality does not fall in the middle. If tickling the ivories soothes him, then I say, the investment was brilliant.

All my best wishes! ps - surgery is over and I am going to rest now ...

Today's photo: "The Piano"
"Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it." Tom Lehrer

“Sometimes I can only groan, and suffer, and pour out my despair, at the piano.” Frederic Chopin

365 Project - Day 9

I'm not sure what I expected of Connecticut when we moved here from Texas more than 10 years ago, but as I've driven around for our photography club project the last few weeks, I've enjoyed the variety: tiny towns, big cities (yes, with skyscrapers), local vineyards, large and small farms, parks, sheep and chickens in abundance, dense forests and more. The assignment was rural landscape and I enjoyed every moment rambling through western CT. What I am most surprised by, however, is that so many people choose to live deep in the woods. Literally, a single home in 1/2 mile radius enveloped in trees. I couldn't do it - I would hear all kinds of crazy noises, all the time.

My club project was completed prior to the start of this blog, yet I still can't resist turning off the road at the next "farm" sign. I have passed this farm before, but have never seen a single black cow. And, yesterday there were so many! Just hanging out, with all the time in the world. Hmmm.

Tomorrow I go in for surgery to repair my broken leg ... that is weighing just a little heavy on my mind. All my best wishes to you and yours!

Today's photo: "Cow Time"

“Why is patience so important?"
"Because it makes us pay attention.”
― Paulo Coelho

365 Project - Day 8

One week completed! I'm quite proud of this milestone, with or without "the accident". I have no doubt, the next 51 weeks will be a lot easier!

Yesterday as I was preparing to vote, I was reminded of a trip to Berlin a few years ago. This trip comes to mind during every major election season. While I rarely had time to sightsee during my business trips, I went after dinner one evening to visit the Reichstag Building, the seat of Germany's Parliament, Bundestag. It is a fantastic building and I'm so glad I took the time. The Reichstag Building was included in National Geographic's "100 Secret Journeys" last year, an article I happened upon again this morning. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend the tour. The glass architecture of the dome and the views are outstanding. I was also fascinated by the entrances into chamber which indicate whether a member is voting for or against a topic. I loved the visual and the clarity of actually voting with your feet. I stood for a long time staring at those 2 doors, thinking thoughts like what if we were forced to live a life in which the path we took so clearly defined our commitment to something? Because, frankly, IMHO either door meant you were demonstrating a commitment, your personal commitment.

Voting is a privilege, an honor and a responsibility. I have been involved in this whole crazy process since I was 17. While I am not outspoken about it, I do feel an abiding sense of responsibility. If you're a US citizen, regardless of how you feel about yesterday's election, I hope you honored yourself and your fellow countrymen by participating; by voting with your feet. I dare say that in most democratic nations, I believe the flag is symbolic of a like responsibility and privilege. For those citizens outside the US, I implore you as I do my fellow Americans, vote with your feet, engage your privilege and enable your responsibility.

Today, in honor of the US Election Day, I offer "The Privilege":

"Those that have the privilege to know have the duty to act." Albert Einstein


Wie immer, die besten Wünsche!

365 Project - Day 7

In thinking about this project today, I discovered that this is as much about conscious restraint as it is about the discipline of taking photos every day. On an average day, I can easily take more than 200 shots. When faced with the prospect, however, of editing all of those within 24 hours to select the single best and then start over the next day, it dawned on me that I must control my urge to capture every thing around me. I need to look instead for a unique message, composition and dynamic. Now, having said that, there are also days when images seem scarce and I have have to dream up or, said better, "create" the day's project. Knowing I cannot borrow from today for tomorrow, however, makes it clear that there is no point in being reckless.

This image is all about strength. I am intrigued by the scale in this illustration. Building strength requires a first step, commitment to consistent growth and a clear goal. Staying at one level, starting too ambitiously or having no goal will not deliver the powerful results we've envisioned.

PS - comments and feedback are welcome!

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: Building strength ...

"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

"Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle." Napoleon Hill

365 Project - Day 6

The wind was crazy yesterday. I went out mid-afternoon for my 365 shoot and thought I would have a terrific opportunity to get a few pictures of leaves blowing in the wind. The sun was shining and it was what the British refer to as a "crisp" afternoon (which is cold in my vernacular). Since I cannot venture too far from home, I stepped off the porch into the garden. I took more photos of the Japanese Maple. The tree is huge and beautiful and I do feel somewhat obliged to photograph it daily. For something new, however, I shot photos of the leaves on the ground and this one of the shadows of the large oaks in our neighbor's yard, stretching into ours appeals to me. Perhaps because it resembles strong legs, which I am want of at the moment.

Since the leaves weren't blowing as much as I had hoped, I enlisted the assistance of my son, Brooks, to throw a few into the air after his attempts to run and shuffle through a pile of leaves left the pile virtually undisturbed. It did not seem a complicated task to me, but throwing worked slightly better. Just because it's such fun, I thought I would add his photo.

I know this project is to choose 1 each day and in the first week, I've already broken the rule twice, but so be it. It makes me joyful!

Enjoy and all my best wishes!

Today's Photos: "Autumn Strength 1 and 2"

“Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don't have strength.” Napoleon

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

365 Project - Day 5

After laying in all day trying to rest my leg, it finally dawned on me that I needed to get up and get my shot for the day. It's not that I hadn't thought about it during the day. It's more that I didn't have the will. So after it had started getting dark and was raining, I finally gathered the strength and will to step out onto my front porch. As I ventured outdoors, my 17 year old yelled out to me, "Mom! What do you think you're doing? It's dark and raining outside!" To which I sheepishly responded, "Yep, I know, but I need to get my 365 shot in and I'll be careful, I promise." Wasn't that kind of him to worry about me?

The time was 7PMish and there was virtually no natural light available. I took advantage of the porch light. I used my 50mm f1.8 lens, affectionately referred to many as their "nifty fifty" and snapped away at the Japanese Maple at the edge of my doorway. I alternated between leaning on the frame of the house, the pillars on the porch, and on my crutches. This triad left me with a shaky set-up and minimal space to maneuver (like a 3ft square), but I managed. I'm learning to live within my means.

Cheers!

Today's Photo: "Japanese Maple at Twilight"

"The pain that you have been feeling cannot compare to the joy that is coming." Romans 8:18

365 Project - Day 4

For today's blog, I am posting a photo of my son, Brooks, in his Halloween costume. He rocked this bizarre look. When I was about his age, I dressed like a proper, but pudgy bum for Halloween. I still have that picture and he and I had similar attitudes on our respective Halloween nights. He is always looking for a highly dramatic edge and he always pulls it off. I loved seeing myself in him last night. To take this, I hobbled outside on my crutches and leaned on them for balance. Most shots were sharp, however, it's clear in a few that I was not so steady ... my new normal!

Enjoy and best wishes!

Today's Photo: "To Each, His Own"

"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." E. E. Cummings