stories, photographs, adventures…the next chapter
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Blue
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Nothing beats the blue found in nature.
Whether it’s the sky meeting the ocean off the coast of Maine…or the sky meeting the ocean somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean during a cruise to Bermuda.
Inspiring one of those I’ll take a different kind of picture moments.
BeckyB: lines&squares
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Circles, Curves and Arches
Exploration…
Discovery…
A day at sea on an anniversary cruise.
BeckyB: #lines&squares
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Rectangles & Squares
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Cars & Trucks
This week’s challenge reminds me of my great grandfather…a proud firefighter in Cincinnati, Ohio during the early 1900s.
Unfortunately I never knew him, as he died before I was born. He suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for many years…which eventually ended his ability to do the work he loved.
This photo showcases a Cincinnati fire truck along with my great grandfather (second from right) and his fellow firefighters.
Inspired by Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Books and Paper
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Books have been an indispensable part of my life – and my life story – since the days of Dick and Jane. The classic first grade learn-how-to-read “Primer” of the 1950s.
After I learned to read, there was no stopping me. A flashlight under the covers at night until I finished a chapter…or two.
Books and stories were often my escape hatch from real life. The Scholastic Book Club in grammar school supplied countless thin paperback story books that multiplied on my shelves at home. Hardcover Nancy Drew mysteries soon followed.
I was fascinated by the biographies of “famous people” at the school library. Of course I believed they were all true depictions of historically significant Americans. However, thinking back, I realize that women and non-white “famous people” were drastically underrepresented. Hopefully that is changing.
As I went through high school, I discovered paperback novels. The thicker the better. In college, I was a member of the Doubleday Book Club for several years – a mail order monthly deal. Later…the actual Book of the Month Club. Vacations always included long stops browsing at local bookstores.
A few books from my childhood survived the drastic downsizing-of-hundreds-of-books that took place 3 years ago when we sold our home. Letting go of books was probably the most difficult “letting go” I ever did.
Despite the massive book purging, I still needed to buy a bookshelf for condo life. There were just too many books I had to keep! They are shelved two deep. In no particular order. After taking the photo for this challenge, I realized I should organize them by subject or author or something. They represent my life stages…all jumbled together.
Scaling down the sheer volume when we moved forced some tough decisions. It is interesting to notice which ones made the cut. They used to be spread out all over the house in different places. Now all in one room…crammed together as if competing for an important spot.
I have read most of them, but there are many I look forward to starting. The anticipation is still exciting.
The only book I have bought since we moved here was Becoming by Michelle Obama.
Otherwise I visit the local library.
Inspired by Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Fashion
I dug into my massive collection of family photos for this challenge…and immediately thought of my grandmother Oma. I remember her closet full of shoes – stacked high on shelves in carefully labeled shoeboxes. Coordinating purses piled nearby. Many with small matching coin purses. Mostly black. She once told me that her favorite color was black – because it matched everything…of course!
As a child I never saw her without makeup on. Hair styled. Stockings (or “hose” as she called them) and heels. Always a dress or skirt.
I used to be a flapper she once told me. It sounded so glamorous…and so cool…and so not the grandmother I knew. Mysterious yet thrilling.
One photo was taken in 1927 at a 4th of July picnic. Twenty year old Oma is in the middle with a girlfriend on either side. (Plus a guy trying shenanigans or photo bombing behind them)
All wearing the latest swimwear (?) fashion.
I admit to being curious about the shirt emblems. Perhaps the CAC stood for Cincinnati Athletic Club…since they all lived in Cincinnati. But I know that women were not allowed as members until over 75 years later (I spent too much time online looking that up…my inner Nancy Drew at work). So were they wearing their boyfriend’s shirts? Or suits? I know there’s a story there.
Apparently for whatever reason, Oma was stylin’ in something completely different.
Somehow I’m not surprised.
Another photo highlighting the fashion of the era is undated, but I would guess mid 1920s as well. My great grandmother and Oma showing off some festive hats…
And not to leave out the men, I found a photo taken in 1923. A group of machine tool salesmen posing after a meeting. I think my great grandfather worked for this company, so he would be the man pointed out in the back row.
It doesn’t appear that men have veered too far from this suit and tie fashion combo in the years since then.
The hats were a nice finishing touch though.
A surprise find for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Fire Hydrants
I was walking downtown yesterday – making my way back from a huge outdoor flea market – on a splintery “boardwalk” along the river. It was low tide in this tidal river and I noticed a huge pipe sticking out of the water. It snaked under the boardwalk path and out to a strip of grass bordering a parking lot.
Much to my surprise…this is what the pipe led to.
If it hadn’t been labeled, I may not have guessed what it was.
Have you ever seen one like this?
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Trees
I am visiting my daughter and her family in Washington DC.
A 3 day celebration of her successful defense of her doctoral dissertation. After 7 years of hard work, perseverance and dedication. Including…as she puts it… “producing a human.” My adorable three year old grandson.
Yesterday afternoon…we enjoyed a brief respite at one of her favorite places.
This is the view…bordering the rear parking lot…behind Politics and Prose.
A bookstore and coffeeshop in one!
We browsed the shelves
Of so many books.
Until time for
Cookies and tea.
Precious time
To chat
With my daughter
The new PhD.
one letter UP ~ diary 2.0 