Blue Ridge blog

Discovery

Ok, no photo today...but I have found some special photo items I care to share with you. First, I have found Mark , a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News. Mark blogs about his job and honestly describes his philosophy of photojournalism and describes in detail how he shoots the shots that he likes. I enjoy and embrace his professionalism and crave to hear and learn more from him. I've never told you that I have had zero, zippo training as a photographer. Everything I know has been learned through books and the burning of tons of film. I bluffed my way through the two jobs that I scored as a photojournalist. I'm still not sure if this is a good or bad thing for the newspapers on which I have served. Although, I will brag and say that mt first year at the Watauga Democrat, I won 5 N.C. Press Association Awards. I didn't even enter--my editor threw together some clips.
I found Mark through the Cyberjournalist website. There is plenty of interesting fodder to sort through on this site.

Next, and most certainly not in second place is the extraordinary photographer Dean M. Beattie . Dean has recently been promoted to the head of digital imaging at the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. He specializes and masters in Black and White photography , ya know, like in the "film" variety. He is quite good and usually offers hints, tips, anecdotes on his blog. He is younger than me...you can just feel this in the freshness of his views. I like him. Don't be put off by the name of his blog...Photosuperstar. It is not intended to be arrogant--he is just another professional passionately doing what he loves. ***A couple of links in Dean's site may be considered NSFW***Tread w/caution.

Both Dean and Mark offer some interesting side shoots to explore on their blogs if you enjoy photography and/or photojournalism.

What must he be thinking?

As I wandered into work this morning and crossed the parking lot I noticed this little guy chillin' out on a painted line. I was inspired to take his mug so I dropped down on the asphalt and pointed my 105mm macro straight into his face. I would have liked him to move onto a better spot, but he didn't seem in the mood. Besides, I am still feeling quilty about killing one of his spider buddies yesterday (yet, I still itch!) so left him to do whatever beetles do in their spare time. From what little research I've done, this is in the order Coleoptera and family cupedidae and looks to be quite an ancient creature.

I itch all over today and I'm not happy about it either. Every night, I generally go into a comatose state around 10pm...and I fall into this dark place just about wherever I am comfortable at the time. Sometimes in my bed and sometimes in my dark brown leather chair w/ottoman. Indeed the chair is comfortable and I keep a throw nearby so that I can wrap myself up in it and fall asleep to whatever boring program was on the television. Last night I was in my chair and the politicians were yammering--certainly a no-fail recipe to put me to sleep.

I woke up with a start as I felt the spider scurry across my cheek and over my nose and to my horror, into my hair. I made lots of girly noises and cursed like a sailor as I violently shook my head. I was upright and saw the evil spider fall out of my hair and onto my beloved brown leather chair. It made a thud...not a great big thud, but it was big enough to make a pop when it landed. I reached down beside the ottoman and found one of my Berks and in a fit of rage killed the sucker. As I cleaned its guts from the chair, the itching started. I now have 9 spider bites on me-from my calf to my belly and back all the way to my neck. Good lord, I've been violated by a spider.

Summer Season

It is Monday. Both my daughters have wandered back to the nest...temporarily at least. Youngest daughter came up with a viral illness over the weekend so she escapes the construction site for at least today. Oldest daughter is busy taking back her life. When not doing laundry she has played the cello non-stop. She and the other campers at the music camp performed with the NC Symphony Orchestra on Saturday. My parents came up to see her play. It was amazing to see high school children completely invested in the love and appreciation of music. They played Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliette's Fantasy Overture...a 20 minute piece. I kept thinking to myself as I watched the 75 children onstage...there is definitely hope in the future.
Yesterday, my parents and I toured several area farms and bought all kinds of goodies: organic potatos, half runners, garlic, broccoli, herbs and tomatos. We paired that food with squash and zuchinni from my buddy Scott's garden. We sat outside on the deck to eat our Fruits From the Farm meal and marveled at the fresh taste of the summer season.

Summer Setting

I believe that these blue flowers are corn flowers, but I could be wrong. If so, please correct me. Despite being pervasive as all get out, they are quite beautiful.

Construction Update: Teenager did the same old, same old job today and was showing more than a wee bit of attitude this evening. This is not good for her health. Hopefully, a cocktail injection of visiting grandparents and best friend this weekend will improve said attitude.

Ever So Humble Amy asked for my recipe for Raspberry-Lemon Granite. It really isn't 'my' recipe, but instead Katherine's recipe. Katherine is one of my two best friends from High School and during a visit to her house in the Hamptons, she made this for me. She used a Pampered Chef Ice Shaver given to her by singer Michael Bolton. This tool is no longer sold by the company. My father found mine on Ebay. Enough name dropping, here is the very flavorful recipe:

RASPBERRY-LEMON Granite

1/2 cup H2O
1/2 cup sugar

Combine in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until sugar is completely dissolved; set simple syrup aside.

1 cup raspberries (or any other berry); pass through a sieve or food mill to make about 1/2/cup puree; whisk into the simple syrup and add...

1/2 cup lemon juice and
1 1/2 cup H2O

Mix well, and freeze

Shave with an Ice Shaver, a bic blade, a blender or whatever tool you find. This is scrumptious!

7am-My Deck

There is nothing like stumbling out of bed, going to the kitchen and being greeted with this view from my deck. Instead of making coffee, I grabbed my 200mm 2.8 lens and framed this shot. I did not use a tripod. Afterward, I made coffee then stepped back outside and rubbed a sleepy Harley head while taking in the scene again. I took several deep breaths. Life is good.

**Update**
North Carolina held it's primary elections yesterday. There was quite an exciting race between Republicans in the 5th Congressional race. It was an ugly race. Incredibly, Vernon Robinson led in the polls. Fortunately there is a run off between he and Virginia Foxx next month. I cannot possibly describe the ads that this man has subjected us to, but you can hear them for yourself. Really, you should go there and hear the man that many, many North Carolinians voted for. Since the Democrats have not offered up any candidate, the winner of this race will represent me in congress.

Fresh Air

I already wrote this post once and detailed the exciting circumstances of the barn photo above. However, I was rudely interrupted by gunshots before I could hit the save button. All previous info/inspiration was lost. The small caliber gun noise made both Virgil and I rise from our computers to see if we could find where the shots were fired and see who was the intended target. I always fear for the fate of Harley or Mr. Man.

After calling for the critters with no luck, we hopped into the pickup to work our way down the road. We found Harley and our neighbor and her dogs happily on an evening walk. Harley smiled at us and gave me a big hug. Upon our return, Mr. Man proudly greeted up by stretching his dirty self on top of Virgil's day vehicle. Truely, gun noises are not something to fear around here...normally it is just somebody up to some target practice. But, it got our attention this evening.

Youngest child learned quite a bit in her construction adventures today. She learned to hold a stick for a surveyor. She learned to sand sheet rock. She learned to pick up nails with a magnet while on the site. She learned that the average I.Q. of a construction worker is something to worry about, yet be thankful for. She is glad that her dad is the boss. She learned that whining makes daddy grouchier resulting in more painful assignments for her...

L. superbum

So the byways of the Blue Ridge are edged with the ever graceful Turk's Cap Lily a.k.a. L. superbum. Not sure of the origin of this moniker, but it must be a doozy. This flower popped from the edge of my driveway this weekend.

I anxiously waited for the arrival of my husband and youngest child home this evening. I knew that there would be stories...just not sure what flavor they would be coated in. You see, youngest child went to work on a construction site with her daddy. She knew that there would be work involved, and no matter how much I prepared her for the eventuality and the reality...it didn't sink in until I woke her up this morning at 7am and told her that her father was waiting on her. She dutifully got ready. I packed her a hearty lunch and told her that I was proud of her and that she needed to do the best job that she could. I felt like I was sending her to meet her maker...

Inspiration

I went to the "Thrill on the Hill" Saturday in the Junaluska community of Boone. It was a line up of Blues talent unseen anywhere for fifteen bucks a head. Root music was the word of the day and Etta Baker was certainly an inspiration. Her Piedmont Blues 2 finger pickin is legendary. At the age of 91 she is still quite able to keep up with the youngins. She has played with the likes of B.B. King, Doc Watson, David Holt and friends. When I closed my eyes to listen to her, she reminded me quite a bit of listening to Chet Atkins...who has been known to visit with her.

I celebrated the return of my youngest from camp on Saturday only to lose her soon to the working world... tomorrow. She has a job working on my husband's construction site earning money while learns the trade.
Eldest daughter is still at camp and has a week more to go. After a performance this afternoon we were able to steal her away for a couple of hours. Already I can tell a tremendous amount of growth in her--she is independent. I guess a month away from the parents will do that. She is a much better musician than the one we dropped off. She also has had the opportunity to see those who came to camp much more prepared . "I have learned that there are people in this world who have the same ambition and drive as me. I am not the only one who wants to be the best," she told me as she was driving to the grocery store to pick up popcicles. She has been inspired by her travels.

What a beautiful day in the neighborhood !

Man oh man! Gorgeous skies, cool breeze and next to nothing humidity is just the weather we deserve up here in the mountains after quite hellish winters. I delighted in traveling about Valle Crucis this afternoon in hunt of photos. I found several. This shot is different in that the hay fields have just been cut so I was able to venture out into the field just past the Mast Store without fear of snakes, poison ivy and the like to grab several photos of this particular view. It is a rare one indeed.
I love the smell of freshly cut hay. I have bailed hay before and it is not fun. In fact, it is hard, hot miserable work. I hope those men I saw piling bales onto the trucks have a great big meal and a soft bed waiting for them this evening...It is easy to romantasize farms when you have never experienced throwing hundreds of bales of hay over your head in a day. Now that is truly a day's work.