Travel Theme: Light

I think this is my first time participating in Ailsa’s travel theme, though I have enjoyed many beautiful entries over the time since she created it.

I took this photo at Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, TN. The falls are underground and it takes a long time in a close, hard-to-breath-in environment to get there, but it is amazing to see such a big waterfall underground! It felt like a made a mistake with this photo because the flash on my camera reflected off the cave wall, but I ended up liking the contrast. I even like the “water dots” on my camera lens. 🙂

Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, TN

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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Walks

I’m a little late participating for this week, but better late than never! These photos were all taken on my morning walk.

The day started with some rain; as soon as it stopped I went for a walk around my neighborhood. I like to walk a lot in the spring, despite my allergies; it feels so freeing after being cooped up for the winter. It is lovely to walk often and watch the trees, bushes and flowers change as spring progresses.

Walking here is bittersweet for me now as I will soon be moving somewhere else. I love my neighborhood because it is a circle: one way in, one way out. It doesn’t cut through to anywhere. No one comes in unless they are coming for visit someone who lives here so it is peaceful and quiet.

We have sidewalks but we don’t really need them. There is so little traffic you can walk on the road.

I can see my house at the end of my walk and feel a pang.

Rounding the last corner…

If you want to see more responses to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge or you want to join in the fun, click on the icon below:

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Up

This week’s topic is UP.

Yesterday I attended a poetry event at the Fuller Museum in Brockton, MA. The event was free, although there is usually an admission price for the museum. Although it is very close to me, I have never been there before.

This is what I saw as I went UP the steps to the front door.

Fuller Museum Entrance

The architecture of the building is modern, but the shingles give it a rustic feel. It blends well into the grounds; there’s a pond behind it, complete with a swan.

The poetry event was downstairs. Because it hadn’t started yet, I wandered a little in the first floor, and looking UP, I saw this in a hallway:

Close-up of Icarus

The sculpture is called Icarus by Mark Davis. Most people know the story that inspired it. Icarus wanted to fly; he made wings out of wax and feathers for him and his son. But his son soared to close to the sun; the wax on the wings melted and he fell to the earth. It’s about being greed and arrogance; living in dreams and ignoring what is important.

I contemplated the sculpture and thought about the story. I had received rejections on some poems I sent out the other day. Normally, I would have taken this to heart. I was disappointed but I have so many other pressing things in my life I didn’t dwell on it. I decided to go to this open mike event and read them. So though they won’t necessarily be read (right now), they were heard and I was content. Baby birds appreciate life and start with short flights…

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Change

The weekly photo challenge topic is Change.

This yard is in the midst of change: a “winter” deer on one side of the tree and daffodils on the other.

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I Love Living a Small Town Rural Life Because…

This is what you see at the place you get your ice cream.

Peaceful Meadows

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Color

The Weekly Photo Challenge topic is color. As I was driving to my mother’s house, I found my inspiration: the colorful fire hydrants.

I worked at the National Fire Protection Association for over 14 years, and I remembered vaguely that the colors can have significance. (If you are interested in specific information, check out NFPA 291; it is also well-covered here). Simplified, the NFPA recommends that the cap color indicate the flow of the water in gallons per minute (GPM) and also water pressure (PSI…pressure per square inch), indicating whether the water needs to be “pumped.” The colors should give fire fighters information they need when fighting fires in specific areas.

What I noticed during my drive, was that the hydrants also seemed to be color-coded according to the town; the hydrants shown in my photos were all located in a different towns.

As you can see, this one was in a very rural area across the street from a pond; it was completely yellow, indicating it is a private system hydrant.

This one was on the side of the road in a completely residential area.

This photo was also taken in a completely residential area (over the town line from the orange one). This photo is from a little further away because I had to take it from the other side of the road (the SUNNY side of the street).

Finally, the last hydrant was located on a shady corner, near some businesses, one the edge of a sparsely residential area.

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Wordless Wednesday

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Tree Tuesday

Tree at Tower Hill Botanical Gardens

My contribution to Marie’s Tree Tuesday.

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