From Modern Art at the Met to Modern Art at KMA

Emma-Caroline and Sophie participated in art camp last week at the Knoxville Museum of Art. They had a wonderful time learning about different forms of art and creating their own works of art. I was impressed with the organization and quality of the art camp that KMA put on and we will definitely participate in several weeks of the camps next summer. On the last day of camp, Emma-Caroline and Sophie invited Howie and I to an art exhibit to view their masterpieces. They were both very proud to show off their work, and Howie and I are proud of our little artists. We look forward to art camp in the future and perhaps some art classes in between.

O'Keefe, and Warhol, and Picasso, Oh My!

I promised more photos from the Modern Art Collection of the Met, so I am here to deliver. I appreciate the artistry in the Modern Art Collection; however, it is not my favorite genre. It is Howie's favorite and, without question, is worth a mention on The Avery House blog. But the subject matter of some of these paintings, OH MY!!!

Just One

Keeping up with this 365 project has been easy at times and hard at times. I feel it necessary to accompany my photos with commentary, something wonderful to say about the image, something profound perhaps to evoke emotion. It seems when it is hard to keep up with this project, the words just don't come. It's not that I have nothing to say. It's just that sometimes, I really just want to put up just one photo, and that's it. If that happens, then you will know that is where I am at for the day. Just one is just fine.

Modern Art

Howie's Favorite section of the Met was the Modern Art exhibit! There were wonderful pieces of art and he really enjoyed viewing each piece and reading about their history. More to come in the Modern Art soon!

Before there was Harry Potter

Before there was Harry Potter, for me, there was Nancy Drew. I used to love to read through the mystery series of the young teenage sleuth, Nancy Drew and her friends. No, the Nancy Drew series never caused a world frenzy of Nancy Drew fans and blockbuster movies, but it did stir a love for reading in the youth of America during it's day, which incidentally was before my day. I gladly read all of the Nancy Drew series as a child, and I am now glad to see that these books are now being enjoyed by yet another generation of readers in our household.

Sometimes This is Just How I Feel!

On the Wings of Faith

 Flying in a plane is both exciting and a bit scary all at the same time. In one walk down the jet way, one step through the door, one click of the seat belt, you put your life in someone else's hands. And yes, you could say you do that in every breath you take. But on a plane, it is never more apparent how really out of control you are in that very moment of your own life. You just trust that the pilot will fly you safely, the crew will take care of you, you will arrive OK on the other side. You take a leap of faith.

The door closes, the flight attendant makes her final check, the plane is backed out, it taxis down to the runway and stops. The engines roar and you feel your heart in your throat as you grip the arm rest while staring out the window at the world you are leaving behind zooming past you faster than you would like it to. But you have faith. It's going to be all right. It's out of your hands now, so you might as well sit back and enjoy the ride.

As the plane reaches it's soaring altitude, you finally take a breath, you settle back in your seat and you allow your life to be out of your control. You know that there is nothing you can do now, there is no sense in worrying any longer. You relax a little, and you enjoy the beauty that you are witnessing on this wonderful journey.

 You marvel at how the world looks from way above the clouds. You marvel at creation. You appreciate all that God has given you and you take a moment to just be in this journey to another place, in this leap of faith.

The pilot announces that you will begin your initial descent and your mind awakens from it's relaxed state. Worry enters in again as you hope that there will be no turbulence, that the landing will be smooth. You try and push back your fears as the plane bumps through the clouds and all you can see is white. You trust that it will be OK, the pilots will use their instruments to guide the plane. You take a leap of faith and then you see the ground below.

Sharing with Finding Serendipity. ISO 200, f4.5, 1/400
 It takes your breath away, this view of the world you love from high above. It's vastness stretches farther than you can see as you crane your neck to take it all in.

 You sigh in relief as you watch the world draw nearer to you with the descent of the plane. You are thankful for this perspective, this journey, this leap of faith.

As the plane prepares to land, you realize that you did it. You put your life in someone else's hands and you made the journey through faith. Isn't that how it is in life. We put our life in the hands of God, we take a leap of faith. We may be scared at times of turmoil, we may feel joyful too but we trust. We learn as we go along that we are thankful for the journey, thankful  for the new perspective that we gain, thankful for the change in ourselves through taking that leap onto the wings of faith.

For the Love of G-Daddy

Emma-Caroline and Sophie sure do love their G-Daddy and with great reason! He is a wonderful granddaddy who gives the best hugs, who will play the endless tickle monster, who is patient, and loving and caring, who teaches them life skills as well as fun things like chirping like a cricket and strumming their fingers on the table. The girls are blessed to have such an amazing G-Daddy and we all love him very much!

Me, Myself, and I

As a photographer, one is constantly behind the lens, snapping photos of little pieces of time that we hope to remember forever. Each photo tells a story in and of itself of a time, a place, a location, a feeling, a memory. It is with great pleasure that I take on the task of being the photographer wherever I am for whatever occasion. It's all a part of documenting the history of life. I rarely step out from behind my lens and hand over the camera to someone else unless they ask me if I would like my photo taken. It's nice to sometimes glance at a photo of myself just in that moment of time. It connects me to the life that I am photographing in that instance of time and makes that memory a little bit more a part of me, myself, and I. I suppose that is why I frequently photograph myself in mirrors, windows, shadows. It's not for the sheer love of seeing myself in photography, not in the least! It is rather a need to be a part of the world of which I am capturing through my camera's lens that I photograph the reflection of me. The following photo was snapped by my step-mom Pam while we were on the Emma Caroline II. I love it because it puts me in that place and documents my being there, Me, Myself, and I.

The Dog Days of Summer

Have you ever wondered why they call the hottest part of Summer the "Dog Days of Summer?" According to Wikipedia, "The name comes from the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, in close proximity to the sun was responsible for the hot weather." You can find out more information on why the hottest days of summer are called "Dog Days" here. For me, as well as many of my canine friends, I could do without the  "Dog Days" in favor of cooler temperatures coming our way in the crisp days of fall. Even my little friend Mickey (beloved Carin Terrier of the Emma Caroline II) thinks its a bit hot for this Salty Dog to stand.

 Soon little guy the Dog Days of Summer will be over and you'll be a much cooler hound!

A Young Couple in Love-Photo Shoot

My sister Kelly and her boyfriend Leif are a wonderful couple who love each other very much. It was very easy to photograph this sweet couple!