334/365-2 Give Thanks for the Holiday Season

"The Season"

Today marks the start of Advent, the beginning of the new liturgical year.  Today is also the eve of World ADIS Day.  Tonight I was honored to play for a service that remembered those who have lost their lives to AIDS, celebrated the accomplishments made by researchers in finding ways to manage this disease, and gave thanks for all those who are living long and productive lives despite being HIV positive.

333/365-2 Thankful for an Early Start

"Home for an Early Start to the Holidays"

Most of the day was spent traveling, but we did make it home in time to attend a holiday party at some friends' home.  It was a nice early start to the Christmas season.  OK, maybe it isn't really early for the rest of the world, but I am so far behind that it feels too early for Christmas to be in full swing.

332/365-2 Thanks for Traditions

Stand Back and Watch"

For me there has been nothing traditional about Thanksgiving this year.  Because of my schedule and things that needed to be done here in Delaware, I have spent my first Thanksgiving away from home and away from the girls.  Weber and I were graciously invited to my aunt's house for the holiday meal.  It was nice to be with them as we have not seen much of each other lately except under stressful conditions.  Still, it was not like being at home.  So, photographing tradition today was kind of tough.

After taking care of a bunch of business this morning, Weber and I went to the beach this afternoon.  It was so cold down by the water.  Weber actually stayed in the car.  I bundled up and headed out with my camera and tripod.  The wind was strong that even with my camera on a tripod, I couldn't keep it steady.  None of today's pictures were very sharp, but unlike the fuzzy photos that I took in Dover, today I know why.

On this Black Friday, I kind of feel like these gulls, watching the crashing waves and being glad that I am standing on the sidelines.  The thought of going anywhere near a big shopping area today was not appealing at all.  I don't like big crowds of people and there is nothing that I want or need that is so important as to necessitate me having to deal with the mayhem that is Black Friday.  I will get my holiday shopping done, probably sitting at home in my PJ's late at night.  I love online shopping!!!

Being on the beach was not without its discomforts.  In addition to the wind, it was super cold.  My hands got so cold that I could no longer feel the shutter release button on my camera.  That is when I had to quit.  Even having bone cold hands that hurt once they were no longer numb was a more pleasant experience than shopping today would have been!

330/365-2 Thanks for a Colorful Scene

"Colorful Cold Sunset"

I am making up here for Wednesday's photo that eluded me.  The weather on Thanksgiving eve was just plain nasty.  Here is Lewes it was wet and cold and gray.  Fortunately we did not have any freezing precipitation, like was the case just a little bit north of us.  Nonetheless, the day was not pretty; there were definitely no colorful scenes to be photographed.  In my current lack of creativity I couldn't think outside the box so that prompt had to wait until today.

It was still quite cold, but the sun was shining.  We took a stroll down to the beach.  The water was so blue.  It actually looked cold to me.  The Setting sun brightened the sky and warmed up the image a little.  The scene is much more colorful than anything I saw on Wednesday!  I particularly like the book dancing across the water.

331/365-2 Give Thanks for Family

"Him and His Coffee"

When your day begins with a cup of coffee this big, you have to think hard about whether or not there is anything else for which to be thankful:-)

I am thankful to wake up and share every morning with him and his coffee.

329/365-2 Give Thanks for Dessert

"Pignolis for Two"

The more appropriate quote to accompany this picture is, "If at first you don't succeed, eat dessert again."

I spent a lovely day with fellow photographers Michele and Peggy exploring  Delaware's capital city of Dover.  We walked, talked, listened and took a few photos along the way.  We ate a tasty lunch and then made our way to a quaint little coffee shop to have dessert and accomplish today's photo prompt.  Dessert was indeed delicious, but my photos were a colossal failure, not just those of dessert but the whole day.  I don't even know what went wrong, but every image was blurry and just plain bad.  I don't know if it was some kind of equipment issue or user error.  I'm really hoping that it was user error because that is easier to address than having to send my camera or a lens off for repair.

The upshot of this was that Weber and I had dessert tonight too so that I had something to photograph.  It was for the sake of art!  Oh the sacrifices...

328/365-2 Thanks for Enough to Share

"Tea For As Many As There Are Cups"

We are beginning the overwhelming task of figuring out what to keep and what to find new homes for  at my dad's house.  Actually, it was my grandparents house and much of what is here belonged to them rather than my parents.

My girls want these tea cups that belonged to their great grandmother.  There are enough of them to share and both girls still have plenty.  The cups have a few different patterns, all of them pretty and colorful.  As I was photographing the cups and thinking about my girls having them, having "enough to share" is not really about the cups themselves, but the fact that they represent hospitality.  My hope is that my girls will always be willing to open their hearts and homes to others, to share the literal and figurative cup of tea with as many people as their are cups.

I chose to process this without color to take some of the focus off of the beauty of the cups themselves.  Perhaps I am being a little too introspective with my photos right now.