Day 64 - will you still need me, will you still feed me....

The effects of a long rough winter takes its toll on the neighbors wheelbarrow. Beaten and worn but ready to take on the haulings of another day this wheelbarrow sits propped up against a red barn slowly decaying with the passage of time. I took a walk outside yesterday with the warm air and saw many things I walk by all the time and don't notice. My neighbor has a large yard and at over 80 years of age he keeps busy trying to maintain the whole thing. Having one of these around definitely helps save an aching back.

A simple shot, I like the shots of old barnyards, worn tools. Sitting in the sunlight makes it feel like a warm summers day. And while we are in the midst of winter still this gives you the hope of those warmer ones ahead. So basically I'm saying, this photo creates a sense of warmth with a simple shot of an oh so common piece of yard equipment....

....when I'm 64!!!.....

Day 63 - why don't we peel away......

I love these trees. I had seen one of the home improvement shows where they planted these peeling bark trees which I forget what they are called and noticed them in the neighborhood right behind ours. There are a few homes there that have these unique (to me) trees in their front yards. Another tree picture was on here recently yet it's the time of the year where we are almost through with the cold and nature starts to come alive again with the littlest of hints so far.

I like the shot because I love the texture seen here in the bark. The colors of the dark outside and the lighter colors within all mixed into one eye feasting photo. Sure there isn't a lot else going on in the picture, however I feel it's an intriguing closeup of a different kind of tree and most people would drive by not noticing the intracacies of its bark.

...why don't we peel away into the night.....

Day 62 - someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection....

Such an array of colors for painting. We were visiting Michelle's grandmother last night to show off Brendon. She holds a ceramic class in her basement once a week for a bunch of people so they all wanted to see the baby. While they googlied over Brendon I snapped a few pictures around the room. The paints stacked here are actually on the shelf, the picture is turned sideways. They use these and much more paints for painting all kinds of different ceramic figures, mostly seasonal things for holidays, especially Christmas figurines. She's breaking out the easter things on the shelves now as well.

I like the shot for a few reasons. One I like the assortment of colors in the picture. I left the picture rotated because I think it actually looks better this way having the vertical stripes of the shelves. The lighting was simple due to the overhead fluorescents in the room. It's just a simple shot with a lot of colors that shows of the range of the camera's ability to pick up subtleties in the color ranges.

....the lovers, the dreamers and me.....

Day 61 - she's a brick......

Here stands some old mill buildings down in the Lonsdale section of Cumberland. I think on the other side of this is an old Ann & Hope store that still operates. The building here looks a bit beat down and deserted and the parking lot sure seems that way.

I opt for the architecture pictures when I can , I like the shots with different angles, shadows, and architectural details. In this shot I basically like the rundown building, the boarded up windows, and the general decay of it all. There are so many buildings in so many cities that continue to deteriorate and those make for great pictures in our urban landscape

.....house, she's might mighty.....

Day 60 - ebony and ivory......

One of my favorite trees is the birch tree. I have always loved the simple black and white colors of it's bark and they look especially great in the setting sun. This is a shot taken in Attleboro, not far from the busy Route 1. It's a small park area and this pond which is still nicely frozen from the winter freeze. People drive by this constantly and I wonder how many of them take the time to appreciate the simple, serene setting so close to the urban chaos. I always notice it and this time I stopped to take a breather.

What can I say, I really like this shot. The raw format of the image is even better, I especially like the way the sunlight hits the bark and creates the subtle shadows. I opted for this shot out of my many because of the great lighting I got and the full frame of tree trunk as opposed to getting in the less full branches and more of the background scenery. My goals was to have the tree fill the frame and it occurs with these 3. I've heard things are better in 3s ?

...live together in perfect harmony.....

Day 59 - the sun will come out tomorrow.....

Really lousy day, I wanted to go walking in the rain to look for some dreary shots in the puddles, but we were busy all day getting things for the house and grocery shopping as well. I came back from the stores and was unloading the car and stood under the garage eave for a moment and snapped a shot of my soaking wet car.

Ok, I don't like this shot, I do think it's neat how the water almost looks like a sheet of ice, and the fact that you can see the trees in the reflection. I know there will be much better shots for tomorrow, since i've already taken that one !!!! A little foreshadowing for ya....

...bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow.......

Day 58 - turning japanese, i think i'm turning japanese....

Well the brother made it in here so it's Shadow's turn. He never sits still enough while he's awake to get a good shot so I have to wait until moments like this to get him at his finest. Sleeping! Shadow is a Japanese Manx that Michelle got when he was a few weeks old. Manx are cats that normally don't have tails and the rest of the litter he was in didn't. He was the only one with the tail. A full tail too. Well it's nice to have somebody a bit different. He is such a great cat when he's not getting into things he shouldn't. I suppose that is with all cats, him and Leo get into things they aren't supposed to often, but we love them anyway. Give Shadow a good cardboard box and he is in heaven...

I love the shot I snapped here for the simple fact of the great lighting, the simplicity of having only the cat and the green blanket for colors in the frame as well. Nothing special done here for the shot just the tripod to keep it still and a few tries at the right angle and height that I desired. Let peaceful cats lay!!!

...I really think so.....

Day 57 - I keep the ends out for the tie that binds....

Geometric shapes in architecture always catch my eye. I was heading around the backside of the Emerald Square mall in Attleboro, MA and notices the sunlight hitting some structure and I had to check it out. What it was was one of the parking garages. I drove up and into the garage. I felt a little awkward trying to snap some pictures on the ramps which are clearly not for walkers, but I did anyway. When I was on the top of the garage and walking back up the ramp I noticed the security vehicle approaching, so I casually walked back to my car and drove away. On the way down I snapped this shot

I liked this shot better because of the great lighting created by the setting sun. It's very clean and straight. The metal wires and concrete are such a great industrial look that I enjoy. Those two materials together go so well. It is a simple picture but that's all it takes sometimes..

....Because you're mine, I walk the line....

Day 56 - are you going to Scarborough Fair.....

So what do you get after 6 or 7 hours of cooking in a large stockpot on the stove ? Some of the tastiest boiled dinner you can get. It consisted of smoked pork shoulder which fell right off the bone, along with potatoes, carrots, celery, turnip and some green cabbage. Michelle spent hours preparing and making this great dinner for everyone here to enjoy, even CJ enjoyed the pork and potatoes of it.

I really have been trying to find some better shots this past week and I think I've managed to sneak in a some good with the bland. This shot clearly is a closeup of the vegetables for our dinner. I chose this one over others because of the color contrasts of greens, oranges, and browns and whites. A little reflection of light on one section couldn't be helped as it was from the overhead light from the microwave oven light.....

...parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.......

Day 55 - put me in coach........

Ok, yes there are two pictures. I couldn't help it, I like them both to show off the story. Well these Canadian geese sure made a mess of this baseball field! There were literally hundreds of these buggers hanging out and pooping all over the little league field down in Middletown/Newport RI. I couldn't find any good places to park over near the field so I parked on the edge of it. I walked in carefully avoiding stepping in the thousands of little presents they had left and the geese starting moving towards the outfield. It looks like one of them is rounding first . There goes Lucy heading for second, looks like the other team doesn't know which way to be looking..... So I walked over to the other side of the fence and another group of spectator geese were hanging out there. I couldn't help but remember the scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade where Sean Connery runs at the birds on the beach..... I did the same and ran right at em.. and quickly snapped this shot!

I know it's not the best clarity, but it was priceless to see the whole 20 or so of them head for the heavens as I charged at them and managed to grab at least A shot at them .... The different outspread wings look very neat in the shot. It was fun to take this one to say the least.....

... I'm ready to play, today.....