Say Cheese

Simply delicious comfort food on a cold, snowy, icy New Year's Eve. Just right for a photographer's dinner. Spending this year quietly at home eating a grilled cheese sandwich, just because.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best in 2010.

Funny thing I noticed at the grocery store while shopping after Christmas. Apparently, the world has become so PC that some people are apparently afraid of offending anyone who doesn't celebrate New Year's Day. I was actually wished a "Happy Holiday."

Offhand, I can't imagine anyone who'd prefer an Unhappy New Year to a Happy one. So to you who celebrate, enjoy a glass of champagne, or maybe a shot of Kentucky bourbon, or a glass of your favorite non-alcoholic beverage. To you who don't celebrate ... do you even exist? ... I dunno, life is just getting too strange these days! I suppose as long as there's no "whine" with the cheese it's all good. * lol *

BTW ... Yes, the style of this blog entry is a tad different. I tried being a serious blogger all last year. Tried my hardest. Ended up getting too intimidated to write, a lot of times. In 2010 I resolve to have a lot more fun blogging. :-)

Who knows what new direction this blog may take? Life is an adventure ...

Christmas Quiz

The above photo is called "Christmas Tree Dream" and was taken last year in my apartment lobby.

Picked up this neat meme idea from Jane who runs the blog called "I'm Downtown" at http://imdowntown.blogspot.com/

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Both. That said ... the gift bag sure makes life easier. Went to an anonymous gift swap where we exchanged unmarked packages. Someone picked up mine and asked, "Who brought this Charlie Brown gift?" Yes, the wrapping paper looked that bad! *lol*

2. Real tree or Artificial?

An artificial tree that I once set on fire unintentionally by lighting a purple rain candle underneath it on the coffee table to set the mood while I read "Moby Dick." The tree was only slightly scathed ... I trimmed off a blackened branch and a bit of tinsel.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Used to do it the first Sunday in Advent. Now I don't put up a tree as I travel at holiday time.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Used to do it on the Feast of the Epiphany.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Ick! No way! For several years I tried to force myself to like it. What's the point? Better to go with what you really do like.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

A set of plastic Native American figures in action poses, back in the days when they were still called Indians.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

If they seem hard, they get a gift card.

8. Easiest person to buy for?

A dear friend of mine.

9. Do You have a nativity scene?

In fact I have two of them, a traditional one where the moss falls off the roof of the stable and a modern one with white porcelain figures. Maybe someday I'll use one ... Hopefully next year.

10.Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mail.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

I'm always happy when someone thinks enough of me to give me a gift.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

A Charlie Brown Christmas Special. Okay, so it's a tv show.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Whenever I see something somebody might like, provided I don't give it to them for their birthday first.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Probably, if it's never been used.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Sponge candy. If you never had any, you haven't lived. If you want to try some, get it from Buffalo, NY / Western New York. That's the very best.

16. Lights on the tree?

Electricity and I have a weird relationship, and I already burned one tree with fire. No thanks!

17.Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Travel to the Buffalo, NY area / surrounding region of Western New York.

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Yes! :-)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, and may God bless us, every one!

One Christmas Season, Two Holiday Art Shows ... Or From Narnia to Oz, and Back Again

The day this photo "Over the Rainbow" was taken, August 25th, happened to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz movie release.

What a long, strange trip it's been. Ohio, New York, Narnia, and the Land of Oz. Haven't been blogging due to life being so darn adventurous lately, but in a real good way! Sure have missed everybody meanwhile, and I look forward to being around more ... it'll have to be a New Year's resolution!

Two of my photos are once again on display at one of my favorite haunts, the Market Street Art Center in Lockport, New York. These featured photos are "Mineral Water" and "Welcome to Narnia." The "Deck the Halls" Holiday Show runs from November 21st, 2009 through January 3rd, 2010. Been so busy decking my own halls, writing cards, and wrapping gifts for Christmas that just now do I have time to share this happy news!

You've seen "Mineral Water" before. An abstract image of my favorite frozen pond named Dreamkeeper.

Another one you've seen before, "Welcome to Narnia." Well of course as the self-proclaimed Queen of Narnia I must share winter's finest with the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve in the form of a cold and snowy scene ...

The other big news is, my work is also currently being featured at the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center in Niagara Falls, NY. There I have three photos on display. Namely, "Over the Rainbow," "Morning Pasture in Deep Emerald Fog," and "Stairway to Winter." The NACC Artists & Friends Exhibition runs from November 21st, 2009 through January 9th, 2010.

Somehow in the weird weather combination of strange wind that moved only the British flag while leaving the American flag untouched along with the dense fog on a fateful morning I began blogging about earlier, I apparently was transported to ... could it be the Land of Oz? Perhaps this is where the Horse of a Different Color lives ... in a field not too far from the Emerald City. Thought I heard at least one horse through the heavy fog. Didn't see any Yellow Brick Road, but something felt like a familiar adventure, so I followed that instead. And called what I saw "Morning Pasture in Deep Emerald Fog."

My very favorite season, as shown in "Stairway to Winter." Stone steps hewn out of weathered rock at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Northeast Ohio. The sedimentary glacier-carved rock formations along the Ledges Trail date back 320 million years to the Paleozoic Era.

It's Autumn in Narnia

... and you know what that means ... Winter is on its way! Finally! Yay!

But wait, I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

The best fall foliage in Ohio yesterday was an hour’s drive north at an ominous-sounding Lake County Metropark called “Penitentiary Glen.” On the way, I looked for the entrance I’d found to Narnia three years ago last February … But there was a wedding party nearby, so I went on by.

Having no clue where the trails were, I wandered into the Nature Center to ask. The ladies behind the counter gave me a map. Someone remarked that this was a long way to travel since I was used to hanging out in the Cuyahoga Valley. I answered that I’d come up here before to go to the Holden Arboretum, and Narnia which you could get to from around here.

The mention of Narnia brought an “always be good-humored towards Metropark guests” laugh which was sunny, bright, and cheerful along with being skeptical. I was content with not trying to convince anyone. To their minds I was probably one of “those eccentric artist people” with maybe a touch of the proverbial absent-minded professor thrown in. Carrying a camera with a long dangling broken strap didn't help.

The trail worked out very nicely.

Driving home, the entrance to Narnia was open and empty. Two minutes later, a couple pulled up to see if I was having car trouble. They drove off when they saw me peering intently into the woods with a camera.

Mission accomplished, I got in the car again and turned on the radio. By coincidence, after changing the station several times, a song inspired by The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe came on called “Remembering You” by Steven Curtis Chapman.

And of course, I love the fact that it’s autumn in Narnia, because that heralds winter! Bring on the Snow!! Okay, let’s enjoy the autumn leaves first … But as soon as the last leaf’s fallen … Let it SNOW !!!

The Queen of Narnia has spoken …

For anyone new to this blog, here’s a link to an earlier entry that may help explain things:

http://countrydreaming-countrycorner.blogspot.com/2009/03/okay-i-admit-it-i-am-queen-of-narnia.html

Friday with the Artist

Tower City in downtown Cleveland, Ohio plays host to an event called "Friday with the Artist" every Friday between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from May through October. Last Friday I had the pleasure to participate.

The nice thing is the people who sponsor and promote "Friday with the Artist" provide the display table and chairs. All you have to do is show up with your art, craft, or baked good ... the culinary arts count. Browsing at all the tables is quite popular with both the office workers and shoppers of Tower City, especially over the lunch hour.

You get to people watch all day long and meet lots of friendly mall walkers.

Tables are set up all around a wishing fountain whose water streams in time to the mall music. Mall music includes anything and everything from Yankee Doodle to Phantom of the Opera to jazz to the Skater's Waltz to Pachelbel's Canon.

I plan to return this coming Friday.

It's England in America

It was a surreal morning surrounded by fog with just enough of a breath of wind to lift the British Union Jack but not the American Stars and Stripes. I was staying at a British-themed bed and breakfast at the end of August, the Blacksmith Inn located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Very eerie start to the day.

Off the beaten path, and on the path to mystery, a spider web gleamed in the faint light of morning.

The house through the fog seemed to make reality itself shimmer in and out enveloped in intangibility. Here is a link to the Blacksmith Inn's website:

http://www.blacksmithinn-lexington.com/

Looking out across the lawn into the realm of dreams, the mind conjures up a whole host of possibilities to wonder about. Beyond, adventure awaits ...

The Charlie Brown Craft Show Tent – Of Good Samaritans and Your Tax Dollars at Work

To qualify for the vast majority of outdoor craft shows, you need a 10-foot by 10-foot white canopy tent. I called my friendly neighborhood Pat Catan’s to see what they might have. Turns out they had just one left … the floor model display, and the cost was a whopping … * drumroll please * … ten dollars! An awesome find, since many of these tents cost hundreds of dollars. “Hold it for me, I’m getting in the car right now and will be there as fast as I can drive!”

On entering the store, I heard far-off clinking metallic sounds. I made a manager aware of my presence and mission. Off we walked towards the metallic sounds. Surprise! A couple of employees were dismantling the craft show tent. “Hold it right there,” the manager said, “You can’t take this home free for yourselves. We’ve got a paying customer.”

The tent went into a box with no cover and no set of instructions. At least I was able to carry it to the car myself. I’m small-built, so if I hadn’t have been able to lift it, this saga would have ended right there.

This summer I applied for the Rocky River Fall Arts Festival. Kinda nervous, I called a couple friends to ask if I could borrow their backyard and could they help me practice setting up the tent? I brought them a cherry strudel for their trouble. But between the three of us, there was no earthly way we could stand the crazy contraption up!

The big day arrived. I showed up and explained my predicament. Someone suggested I could live without a tent since it was a nice day. Only, the mayor hosting the arts festival would not like that.

And so it took SEVEN PEOPLE working AN ENTIRE HOUR to help set up the craft show tent! Come to find out, these Good Samaritans included at least one financial tycoon of Northeast Ohio and several high-ranking officials in the local city government! I asked the most helpful one who he was so I could thank him properly, but he preferred to remain anonymous. In fact, nobody gave me their names. Anyway, I am SO IMMENSELY GRATEFUL to everyone who helped me at the first annual Rocky River Fall Arts Festival. Thank you! You know who you are!

Later on, my friends from the backyard came to help me take down the tent … which of course was no problem at all.

As for the fate of the tent, I’m planning to drop it off at the Goodwill store. The good news is, at least it served its purpose on the day I really needed it!