This blog is mostly about images. A photo captures a moment in time and lets us slow down long enough to see the rich texture of the life all around us. It's mostly for my own amusement, but if you stumbled here somehow, please enjoy.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Lancaster County

What is it about a serene countryside setting as sunset approaches that so stirs the heart?  I suppose there's something idyllic in the simpler lifestyles of the Amish and Mennonite communities in this Pennsylvania Dutch area.  And I fancy that my rural family roots may also play a part.  Regardless of the reason--does the heart need one?--it's beautiful in its simplicity.  Or simply beautiful.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Maids of the Mist

Let's acknowledge right up front that Niagara Falls has been commercialized to a great extent.  One does not hike through wilderness to seek this treasure and then bask in the satisfaction of the exertion and the knowledge that few have partaken of it.  (Those experiences are wonderful and I've enjoyed a few along the way.)  Indeed we almost didn't stop at the Falls on this trip because I had somewhat snobbishly relegated them to the often condescending appellation "tourist trap".  That would have been a mistake.

Our children had not seen (or remembered seeing) this great wonder so we included it at the end of our recent eastern trip.   Maybe it was the new camera--which serves as new "eyes" through which to see all kinds of things--but I really enjoyed our visit to Niagara Falls!

This somewhat serendipitous image (I wish I could take artistic credit for capturing the boat just as it passed through the poetic "end of the rainbow") shows both the natural beauty and an enduring staple of the falls experience, the Maid of the Mist boat rides.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Honey Bee

"Busy as a bee" takes on meaning when you see one flitting from flower to flower, harvesting pollen as it goes.  But it's still no match for a 1/2000 second shutter speed!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Trail Markers


Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. (Prov. 22:28).

I can tell you we were very glad to see these blue paint marks along the trail in the Green Mountains around Stowe, VT.  There are many good parallels to draw when one is hiking.  It seems like just when we thought we might have left the trail we'd begin to look for the markers and sometimes it took a little while to find them, especially if we hadn't been paying attention. Other times, just when we needed them most, there they were, in plain sight.  What a blessing that someone went on before us and marked the way.  Who is following you and me and what kind of trail markers are we leaving?

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Stowe Church



First installment of the vacation pix!  This typical New England church sits prominently in the center of beautiful Stowe, VT where we spent several days last week.  We used it several times during our hikes in the nearby mountains to identify the location of the little village...some good food for thought there.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Southwest

Nothing particularly inspirational here.  I just like airplanes. Have I mentioned that?  And Southwest is the best out there.  Their "gate turn" is a well-oiled machine, part of which you can get a glimpse of here.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Focus

Keep your eye on the ball!  If there's something to be said for single-mindedness and intense focus, and I think there is, this Riley fellow has it down!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

A Blessed Man

Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing... (Prov. 18:22).

Yep, that's me!  Blessed to mark 24 years today with my very best friend and the love of my life.