Good night...

Some days are just better than others. This day was special. When a friend of too-many-years-to-admit flies over 2000 miles just to see you - that is a good day. When you know that friend is staying for a few days to hang out with you - that is a great day. When you and that friend celebrate her first night in town over dinner, talking about all the stuff that makes you laugh – that is priceless!

Mine was the unsweetened iced tea. Hers was much more tasty! May 18th

Over the fence...

Friday the 13th, to many a very unlucky day but, as my child pointed out in a whisper to his music teacher today during the third grade concert, not to Italians. My best friend all through high school and to this day was born on a Friday the 13th and getting a baker’s dozen is always a treat. Plus, good things seem to happen to me on the 13th. Take today for instance: I got to see my son have a wonderful time singing with his friends, then I got to have a wonderful time having brunch with my friends, and in between I got to take a series of images I have been trying to take for far too long.

I have seen these flowers growing for years now and every time that I had my camera the sun was too high or too low. When the lighting was perfect, I was without my camera! Frustrating! It doesn’t help that this scene is only a few blocks from my home. I felt cursed. This Friday, however, I had my camera, the sun was hiding behind some beautiful fluffy white clouds and I got these images! Now I call that lucky! May 13th

I loved the way the late afternoon light was playing off the shapes in this chair. I almost removed the string of sneeze inducing flotsam but considering it and its brethren have been controlling much of my life the last few weeks, I left it. Actually, I liked the way it looked. Pollen still is grief inducing though, cool looking or not. May12th

Fuschia Velvet...

Such deep, rich, colors are out there this spring. I don’t know if it is a result of all the rain but the flowers are so beautiful this year. These lonely blossoms were clinging to life at the end of a branch on a dying bush. That deep green backdrop was a perfect counterpoint. May 11th

Rough and ready...

This tree caught my eye, with all its rough edges and scruffy greenery. Green is abundant this Spring and I love capturing a little of it to save for colder days. Photoshop and I did enhance Mother Nature’s design just a little. I hope you enjoy it! May 10th

The smallest thing...

Sometimes it is the littlest thing that makes the biggest difference. I spent all day on Monday recording the happenings at a Project Ladybug event in North Haledon, NJ. If you haven’t heard of Project Ladybug, check it out here. This foundation was started by Dina Manzo with the express goal to help seriously ill children and their families that are finding hope at St Joseph’s Hospital. The money raised through Project Ladybug is used to ease the burden for these patients and their families in so many ways.

When my friend Terry said she was holding a cut-a-thon at her hair salon last year and asked if I would be interested in helping out by taking a few photos, I was in. When she asked again this year, it was a done deal. Such a small thing, time: 1440 minutes in a day, 10080 minutes in a week, 525600 minutes in a year. What a small thing to share some of those minutes with people who count them so closely. With children who shouldn’t even be thinking about time but now treasure every minute that they live, and pray to live those minutes without pain.

Such a small thing, that little bitty ladybug, but it is the symbol of a great big idea that has the ability to make such an impact. It is a wonderful thing that Dina does, using her celebrity to benefit others. It is a wonderful thing you do, Terry, with your commitment to bringing people together to make a difference. I am so glad I could be a small part of such a grand plan.

These are a few images that caught my eye that day. Head over to my Facebook page to see the image gallery of the event. There was even a horse! Don’t ask, but it was a beautiful animal and just added to the outrageous joy of the day.

Use this link to find out how you can make a difference. Trust me, give just a little, you’ll see how good it feels. May 9th

A walk in the park...

Sunday was Mother’s Day and I had the best time. My son made me breakfast (Eggo blueberry waffles, strawberries and iced tea), we went to mass, then we took a camera safari around a lovely state park (my husband almost made it without saying something about having to wait for us as we took photo after photo), ending with dinner out at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. It was lovely and I did take a lot of photos. How could I resist? The day was perfect: 70 degrees, slightly overcast with very little wind and a sea of flowers and statues and views, Oh My! I used restraint though and I am only posting a ‘few’ of my favorites. Few: adjective- not many but more than one. See it is a few!

Oh and I had to put in an image of my present from my son: a purple flower bracelet! So many of my favorite things rolled into one. I love being a Mom and I am so lucky to be a Mom to this one of a kind, sweet, smart, crazy adorable boy. Yes I am biased but I am also correct. So there! May 8th

Bubble Up...

I think I have to work on the whole ‘capturing bubbles’ thing. Figuring out the focus, playing with the depth of field, trying to get them in the 'right' place and all the other challenges made this one of the most complicated posts so far. I can't believe I couldn't get a multi-bubble image that I liked. I threatened to do it in Photoshop but my 9 year old assistant said I would be cheating. That's what I get for raising an honest son.

Oh well, this might be a summer side project. I do like how the sky and trees are reflected in the bubbles, though, and the look in my son’s eyes is priceless. He loved helping me put today’s post together. I loved spending time with him doing something we both enjoyed so much. It was a perfect day before Mother's Day project. :-) May 7th

Very Ecclesiastical... (Who gets that reference?)

Purple + Flowers = Joy Yes, I know, they are yellow too but I stand by my comment. There really is nothing more to say except maybe that trying to type is much more difficult with a 16 pound, part Maine Coon cat standing in your lap demanding attention. His purrs sound like a motorboat open to full throttle and he is shedding in happiness. I guess we all need a little joy in our day. May 6th

Under the sea...

Went to see my friend, Dolly the Clown, tonight. Brought the camera because I knew what was waiting for me. Oh, I’ve taken lots of photos of Dolly before. You can see some here but tonight I knew what I wanted to see through my viewfinder. Something I’ve seen hundreds of times before and thought about how cool it all looked but never created one image. Crazy really, because I loved what I saw through my lens, I knew I would. I think it looks like a patch of psychedelic sea anemones. All I need is a Rainbow Brite fish to swim in amongst the fronds.

I love how bright everything is especially since it has been so rainy here lately. The paint box and the balloons made great subjects but I had to close out with the flower. It is part of Dolly’s pink hat, which she almost always wears. See, back to flowers! I cannot stop. I think it is an addiction. :-) May 4th

Sidetracked by dogwoods...

I was out prepping a location for a 1st communion session today and saw these blossoms on one of the trees. I know, flowers again, I tried to tell you that flowers are kind of my thing. Flowers, especially wildflowers, and butterflies make me so very happy. What can I say, I am ultimately a very girly, girl. No comments, I still call myself a girl and I can if I want to! So there! Yes I did stick my tongue out for just a brief moment. Composure regained now. Moving on. :-) May 3rd