Crossing the Mississippi

 

Destination:  Bombfire Pizza which lies right behind the minivan-  Trust me it's really good!

 

                           Here's the back of the building where the brick oven bumps out. 

                                       And I love the recycled Micky's tops on the patio floor.

Finding Beauty In the Ordinary

                                                                           RUSTED

                                                              DETAILS OF DECAY
                                            Do you get it?  I find it beautiful and fascinating!

                                                                           BLISTERED

An Afternoon on the River

This river runs right through town. A good friend owns land with access to the river. Last weekend I took the kids down to the river to play. It was an amazing day. The kids played on Turtle Island which eventually resulted in being covered up to their chins in mud and then having to strip down to their underwear in order to get clean. I've finally been enough times to have learned to pack a towel and clean dry clothes.

I spotted this white beauty on the wooded trek down to the river.  It's the first flower in full bloom that I've seen.

 

Looking one direction

Looking the other direction- there's Turtle Island.

Close up of the rivets on the bottom of the canoe.

Complete Serenity :) 

Blog Thoughts And Old Photos

So, I was looking back at all my blog posts and noticed some things. I think my best work is from the first year because of the amount of thought and intention in each one. Many of the pictures are close ups and reflect how in the moment I was and on the smaller details of life. Many photos show how patient I was...how focused I was. I don't know, maybe it's just because I'm personally attached to those experiences? Over the years I've slowly grown away from this blog. I've stepped away and I more able to see the bigger picture in life. It seems like what I photograph is similar.  Maybe not though. 

Today's photos are from my camera roll on my phone. (I desperately need to back these up) They were taken here and there...and screamed "upload me today."  that's why I chose them out of the 1000s on my phone. 

Trees at the bottom of creek.  It was a refreshing downhill climb to get here.

Have you see the movie where the guy goes rock climbing and gets his arm stuck and ends up cutting it off in order to escape? (85 Hours or something like that)This poor snake reminds me of that movie.  He finally made it out after 48 hours. (And he didn't tear himself either.) 

Last fall I spotted this rainbow right outside of my front deck.  It's heavily saturated to show the color but I love it!!

Proud proud moment! 

Drunk in a bar taking pictures of the signage in the bathroom. 

Male tree.

Female tree.

Food Porn And Other Photos

Mississippi River taken last fall.

This old church in the country is now an antique shop. I peeked around in the windows and around the outside but didn't go in and shop.  I may do that someday.  I was just fascinated by its beautiful decay.  This window shot is my favorite.

Same church with added lyrics from Mana's "No te rindas"   These words are so uplifting for me.  I also imagine sending them out to those that forever remain locked in my heart.  Someone loves you.

Dinner last night turned into my attempt at photographing food porn. 

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you.
You must travel it by yourself.
It is not far. It is within reach.
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know.
Perhaps it is everywhere - on water and land.”

-Walt Whitman -The Leaves Of Grass

Chasing Pavements

I remember the first time I heard Chasing Pavements by Adele...it was before she became so popular.    I connected with the lyrics, her voice, the time, and place right away...I haven't listened to it in a long time   but this picture I took last summer reminds me of her voice, the time, the place, the lyrics...

I had to lay down in the road to get this view.  For a brief moment out of my life I took an exciting and risky chance in order to get a clearer perspective of what was mapped out in front of me.  I remember enjoying the heat of the road and the somewhat unfamiliar texture of the cement while intentionally swiping my finger across the yellow stripe...  I love how you can see the two vanishing points where the road forks left and right.  I think a road picture is a good metaphor for life.  So, there you have it!  What do you think?

  

  

Woah~ highly enhanced photo!

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements

Even if it leads nowhere?

Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place

Should I leave it there?

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements

Even if it leads nowhere?-  Adele

Original photo.

Bendito Dios por encontrarnos en el camino
Y de quitarme esta soledad de mi destino.-  Bendito tu luz (Mana)

Soy como el agua del río
y por el camino me dejo llevar
porque aprendí que la vida
por todo lo malo algo bueno te da
Quiero que me mires a los ojos
y que no preguntes nada mas
quiero que esta noche sueltes toda esa alegría
que ya no puedes guardar

"What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it."

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This-n-that from my Camera Roll

My camera roll on my phone is full and I just uploaded 1500 snapshots to my computer. Here are some of my favorites from the last 6 months.




















This is an old barn not too far from home... I added the quote by Dr. Seuss.



Pasos de Gigante: Los Bacilos

No puedo reir
no puedo llorar.
No puedo dejarte de recordar
no puedo decirte nada que tú no sepas.

Tan solo puedo quedarme como un idiota
pensando en cosas que me provoca
hacer contigo en islas perdidas.

No puedo gritar
no puedo exigir.
No puedo contarte lo que sentí,
no puedo decirte nada, tú estás tan lejos.

Y tú que no sabes nada y lo sabes todo,
que me derrites de tantos modos.
Dime pa' donde vas con mi vida...

Carito el corazón
me queda grande.
Cuando yo pienso en ti, yo siento pasos de gigante.
Carito esta canción,
es importante
porque cuando la canto yo juro que estás ahí delante
porque cuando la canto yo juro que estás ahí delante.

Se fue complicando la situación,
y no hay que olvidarse que al corazón,
le puedes decir de todo menos mentiras.

Tú ibas para allá
yo iba para acá.
Y fue tan bonito verte cruzar
al menos por un ratito por mi camino.

Carito el corazón
me queda grande.
Cuando yo pienso en ti, yo siento pasos de gigante.
Carito esta canción,
es importante
porque cuando la canto yo juro que estás ahí delante
porque cuando la canto yo juro que estás ahí delante.
Ahí delante, ahí delante, ahí delante, estás ahí delante...

Lalalalalalalaaa
Lalalalalalalaaa
Tú ibas para allá, yo iba para acá
Lalalalalalalaaa
Y fue tan bonito verte cruzar
Lalalalalalalaaa
Al menos por un ratito por mi caminooo

Carito el corazón
me queda grande.
Cuando yo pienso en ti, yo siento pasos de gigante.
Carito esta canción,
es importante
porque cuando la canto yo juro que estás ahí delante

Porque cuando la canto yo juro...
yo juro
canto yo juro
que estás ahí delante
canto yo juro...
canto yo juro
yo juro
canto yo juro
que estás ahi delante
canto yo juro
Porque cuando la canto yo juro que estás ahí delanteee

Pasos de Gigante