Pizza Night

12/365

We often go out for half price pizza night on Wednesday nights. It was mushroom pepper and onion for me tonight. What's your favorite???

The Specs:

Panasonic LX3, ISO 400, 1/15, f2

Water World

11/365

What a mess! This flooded backyard is in Hanover MA......taken during a drive around the area this afternoon looking for photo ops. Normally the fence is several feet away from the river. Look where it is today.......... several feet under the river! There was flooding everywhere I went......some streets were closed, many backyards and front yards look like ponds.

                                                         The Specs:
Nikon D90, 18-200 mm lens, 1/320. f9, ISO 3200

“Over hill, over dale,
throrough brush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
thorough FLOOD, thorough fire,
I do wander everywhere." William Shakespeare

(Guess he must have been a photographer too) :-)

A Wet Schnoodle

10/365

Rudy wants you to know that he is NOT HAPPY with all of this rain. I don't have the heart to tell him that we are expecting another 6-7 inches. He was drying off as I took this shot, and right now he's curled up snuggled at my feet. Life is good at the moment. Let's not upset him.

"Dogs are miracles with paws." -Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy

Specs

Nikon D90, ISO 2000, f5, 1/60

Abstract

9/365

I checked the blog this morning, and realized we are on the second page. We're moving right along! Today was probably the first day that the image didn't just "come to me". I had to go out and look for it, and it was tough to find. I shot some ducks down at a local pond after work this afternoon (let me clarify.....shot with my camera) :-), but the lighting was awful......way too contrasty. I kept reviewing on my screen, and I knew I wasn't going to be happy with them. When I saw this scene, I knew it was going to be today's photo. My "artsy" side came out, and I played around with it in Photoshop, and ended up with this abstract. (reflections from the edge of a pond rotated 180 degrees.)

                                                            The Specs:
Nikon D90, 18-200 mm lens, ISO 500, 1/125, f5

Shower Power

8/365

Who likes to go to Bridal Showers? Honestly? :-) At this point in my life, I get secretly jealous of the bride-to-be. I want a new toaster too you know! After 25 years of marriage, we should all get a second shower to replace those old bath towels with the worn edges and strings hanging off them. Scuffed up pots and pans could be replaced with shiny new state of the art cookware. How about a nice brand new set of silverware....you know.....the kind that all matches? Doesn't 25 years of marriage deserve some kind of a reward? Sigh.........

Congratulations to Lizzie and Mike! Lizzie's Mom Maureen hosted a wonderful shower this afternoon.......very intimate.....very classy.......very good company.........very good food. It was a pleasure!

The Specs:

Nikon D90, 50 mm lens, ISO 800, 1/200, f1.8

It's Sugar Season In New England!

This is the time of year that the sap flows from the maple trees. The ideal conditions for the flow of sap is weather that alternates between freezing and thawing. It was a wonderful surprise to recently find out there is a maple syrup farm in W Bridgewater MA.....an easy drive from my home. http://www.matfieldmaplefarm.com/ Typically we buy our maple syrup in Vermont and I consider myself a maple syrup snob. I know the "good stuff" and don't settle for anything less. Yesterday, I took the folks out for a drive, and we stopped to visit Matfield Maple Farm. We were greeted by the owners (and their adorable little dogs) and were given a sample of their Grade A syrup. I was apprehensive. Surely syrup produced in MA couldn't be as good as syrup produced in VT. Or could it be? Drum roll please..................it was delicious! Honestly, just as good!

I met my llama friend with the reflective eyeball at Matfield Farm yesterday. Delicious syrup, friendly llamas.........a wonderful place to visit. Please support our local farmers!


Which brings me to today's photo of the day. Pancakes and real Massachusetts syrup for dinner tonight. Yummo!!
                             7/365

                            The Specs:
Nikon D90, 50 mm lens, ISO 200, f1.8, 1/25

He's Got His Eye On Me!

6/365

I'm in the eye of the llama. Do you see me in there? I'm the one wearing the pink. :-) It was a fun day out with Mom and Dad today. Where did we go? Stay tuned...........
                                                     The Specs:
Nikon D90 18-200 mm lens, ISO 1600, f5.6, 1/800

The Face Of Haiti

5/365

I would like you to meet Chardin Siclait, a native of Haiti. Chardin has endured great loss over the past few months. The immediate days following the devastating earthquake in Haiti were difficult for Chardin, as well as all of the other Haitian Americans, as they awaited word about their loved ones. With a tear in his eye, Chardin made it to work everyday, and kept a very brave front. Unfortunately, he lost many loved ones in this devastating earthquake. His sister had just delivered her newborn twins in the hospital that collapsed. All 3 of them perished. He also lost 5 cousins, as well as his cousins 2 little children. Just this past week, one of his aunts passed away from complications of the injuries she sustained in the quake. Sometimes life seems so unfair and we want to question why. I guess only God knows the answer.

Chardin has an upcoming trip planned back to visit his homeland of Haiti. He is very nervous and apprehensive about going "back home". I can see it in his eyes. If you are the praying type, please send out a few prayers for Chardin and his family. They really could use it. Donations are also being accepted for Chardin's family.
                                                                       The Specs
Panasonic LX3, ISO 80, 1/25, f2.3 converted to black and white in Photoshop CS3. Vignette added in post

Healthcare Reform

4/365

As President Obama signed the countries first HeathCare Bill today, our country is certainly divided on the issue. I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the whole thing........

The Specs:

Pansonic LX3, ISO 80, 1/25. f2.8, -1/3ev, vignette added in post

Heart Healthy

3/365

One of my duties at work is to do quality control on the patients food. My tray is served and brought up to the floor with all of the other patients meals. I then check the temperature of each item, as well as do a taste test. (Yes, I get paid to eat.) It's a tough job but someones gotta do it!!

I used my compact camera for this shot. It's small enough that I could slip it into my lab coat pocket. Walking around the hospital with a DSLR hanging around my neck is not part of my usual work attire. Discretion is the key here. :-) That's the beauty of having a compact camera. More on that another time though. Oh, by the way.......this really is a heart healthy breakfast........and it was delicious too!
                                                                        The Specs:
I decided to give the food setting on my camera a try. I've never used any of the "scene modes" on this camera before, so it was interesting to see what settings it would choose for me. Do you think it's "cheating" to use those preset settings? I never use them myself, I like to have full control of the exposure, but I know they can be pretty accurate.
Panasonic LX3, ISO 80, 1/40, f2.1

Top Of The Mornin' To You!

                                                                      2/365

Happy belated St. Patricks Day! I met up with some fellow members of my camera club to take some photos at a local St. Patricks Day Parade. I've been viewing this parade for years, and it's always a sure sign of Spring for me. Watching it today brought back so many memories of years past. The kids used to want to take up a viewing spot each year by one of the sewer drains along the side of the road.........well, because.......The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live down there you know!

The Abington MA St Patrick's Day Parade is one of small town tradition . At the end of the parade each year is a sign that says “The end of a $10 bet.” The very first Abington parade started when Jack Bailey, a local business owner, made a 10 dollar bet with a friend that there would indeed be a St Patricks Day parade in town. Mr. Bailey was originally planning on just decorating one of his trucks and driving around town as a joke to win the bet, but like any small town, word spread and other people wanted to get involved. There were about 50 vehicles that drove through town, with people lining the streets to celebrate St Patricks Day. This was in 1980. Since then, there’s been a parade every year. There is now a judging booth and competitions for the best float, best decorated vehicle and best band.
Did you know that the first year St. Patrick's Day was celebrated in America was in 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts?
                                                                     The Specs:
Nikon D90, 18-200mm VR lens, ISO 320, 1/2000, f4.8 and a "corny" green vignette added in post just because! :-)

New Beginnings

1/365

Today is the first day of Spring....... a time for new beginnings. Mother Nature kept her promise and didn't disappoint. Today was one of those days that tickles all of your senses and puts a smile on your face. Spring is here at last! I have been thinking about starting a 365 day photo a day project for some time now, but just haven't followed through with it. Well, today is a new beginning for me, and I am so excited to be posting my very first photo. Only 364 more to go!

Mr. S and I decided to take a walk along the Cape Cod Canal and enjoy this great weather. Today's photo is of the Sagamore Bridge which spans the Cape Cod Canal and connects Cape Cod to the rest of Massachusetts. Construction of the bridge began in 1933 by the Public Works Administration for the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which operates both the bridge and the canal. The bridge opened on June 22, 1935.
                                                                      The Specs:
Nikon D90, 18-200mm VR lens, ISO 200, 1/320, f11