There's Always Something...

Snow...

One of the pictorial blogs I follow regularly is the one put out by the Boston Globe.

The photos are so darned real that they plunge me into wonderful nostalgia.

I've lived in several snow states: Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, New Mexico, Connecticut, and going way back, Massachusetts - in addition to some that had SOME snow. Lots of fond, snowy memories. Maybe mostly enjoyed around this time of year. 

The romance of it can often blot out the tedious and sometimes violent realities of things that happen in the snow. Watching the recent weather reports is a sobering experience.

We rather enjoy the sunny 60's of the Arizona Solstice. I'm perfectly willing to relish the joy of the Globe's squirrel frolicking in the morning snow - at a distance.

Merry Christmas, friends!

 

Sleep...

I've noticed lately that both of our dogs seem to sleep all the time. Well, most of the time.

Now, what I'm wondering is why I can't sleep all the time. Well, most of the time.

Do dogs know something that we don't?

"Sleep in heavenly peace...

Sleep in heavenly peace." 

And a merry Christmas to y'all.

The Mighty Have Fallen...

This ancient fallen branch in a nearby deserted homestead caught my attention. And my lens as well...

 

What Kids' Photos Reveal...

With the advent of cell phones that take pretty good photos, every youngster becomes a photographer.

For whatever reason, so many of these photos turn out to be pictures of kids acting dumb - sticking out their tongues, smiling through glaring teeth, hoisting beer bottles, hugging each other, etc.

Every once in a while one will come up with something genuinely interesting that they have observed and want to share their impressions of. Almost art, in other words. Something beyond themselves; more than self-absorbtion. 

When I see something like this, coming from the lens of one of their cameras, I must admit that I pause for a moment and experience a moment of thanksgiving and renewed hope in a generation that seems more wrapped up in themselves than in anything else. 

More than that, I look at that particular youngster with a new respect. There's more to him/her than I had thought. "Wow!", I think, "I want to know him/her better..."

Every generation of teens is quite naturally self-centered. Mine was. Yours was. Something of a painful necessity, I suppose. Still, when I see just a few separating themselves from the pack and seeing something good, true and beautiful beyond themselves, I am surprised and inspired.

Our Church...

We go on Saturday afternoons. I can't tell you how nice that is. God doesn't seem to mind.

Vine on Weathered Barn | Seeded Earth

Being an old Wisconsin dude, I always read this page. The Vine on a Weathered Barn image is one I often took in my 10 years in Green Bay. The memory brought gentle tears to my eyes.

Vine on Weathered Barn | Seeded Earth: " BLOG PORTFOLIO RECENT POSTS VINE ON WEATHERED BARN EASTERN HEMLOCK FULMER FALLS BUTTERMILK FALLS RUSTY BRIDGE DINGMANS FALLS ABOVE DINGMANS FALLS RURAL ROAD DISTRACTIONS A SIMPLE LEAF AUTUMN: DECLINE OF DOGWOOD CATEGORIES ARCHITECTURE AUTUMN DOOR COUNTY WI GARDEN HAIKU LIFE LESSONS MACRO MADISON MILWAUKEE WI NATIONAL PARKS NATURE NEW YORK CITY OLYMPUS E-3 PHOTOGRAPHY POETRY QUOTATIONS SPRING SUMMER TRAVEL » NEW YORK CITY WABI-SABI WILDFLOWERS WINTER WISCONSIN BLOGROLL BFK PHOTO BURSTMODE CAPTURE THIS DAILY PRACTICE I HEART FILM IT'S MY NATURE LIFE IN THE BOGS MT OUTDOORS QUINN CREATIVE REDRAVINE RON DUBIN PHOTO SCOTT THOMAS PHOTO STOP AND WANDER SUE HENRY PHOTO SURFACE-SURFACE CONTACT BO SUBSCRIBE VINE ON WEATHERED BARN 10-09-09 Autumn and its Lesson To attain knowledge, add something every day; to attain wisdom, remove something every day. — Chinese proverb There is no hanging on to summer once October shows her hand, cools the air with her breezes, and begins the process of c"

(Via .)

Oliver...

Saguaro...

We went up into the White Tanks on a picnic recently and I caught this Saguaro at rest.

From Above...

This is one of my favorite shots from the deserted goldmine way west of here.

Being a Photographer Isn't Easy...