171/365-2 Where I Stand

"Standing in the Park"

This is a plaque in the park outside the Lewes Chamber of Commerce.  It recognizes a tree that was planted in memory of my mom.

I am too tired to write much more as we got up at 4:30 to go to the beach and watch the sunrise and then had a full day with family.

This was taken about 5:40am.

170/365-2 Historical Landmark

"This Old House"

This house was built in 1760 to be the home of a Delaware river pilot.  For two hundred years it would serve as the home for three different river pilots and their families.  In 1964, my grandparents bought it and "modernized" it.  They added oil heat, electricity, and indoor plumbing.  The outhouse, however, is still in the back garden.

My dad now lives here.  Though my parents moved in in 1998, I have always thought of this house as my grandparent's house.  And though it has historical significance, I still think of it only as my grandparent's house.

As I sit here writing, realizing that people have spent their evenings in this very spot for over 250 years, I am awe struck.  This house was built when George II was King of England.  It was built before the Boston Massacre or the Sugar Act.  It was built before the Boston Tea Party or Thomas Paine's writing of Common Sense.  The United States had not yet declared their independence.

In the fifty years that I have been visiting this place, I have never thought of it with regard to what has happened in this country during the lifetime of this house.  I'm not sure if that is due to ignorance or simply the innocence of childhood.  It is going to take me some time to truly wrap my head around these realizations.

As I walk upstairs to bed tonight, I will think about the many steps that have been taken up these stairs.  What stories have been told amidst these walls?  Who may have spent the night under this roof?  Who has shared a meal in the dining room?

So much to think about...

169/365-2 A Field Trip

"A New Addition"

It was too hot in Delaware today for any extended field trips.  The best we could do was walk to the pub up the street for lunch and some air conditioning.  On our way home, we were lured into a store along the way by this furry orange and blue critter.  He wanted a home.  We were not convinced that we were the right ones to give him a home, but he was.  Why?  He said it was because the one thing that makes his heart sing are the colors blue and orange.  Based on our attire, he figured that we understood that and would make him happy.  We thought about it for a few minutes and decided that we could provide a good home for him.  

His name is Blueper (already given).  We'll call him Blueper B.  We spent some time this afternoon and evening getting to know one another.  We wandered around town a bit and this evening he went to dinner with us.  My one stipulation with regard to him joining our family was that he had to agree to being photographed.  He is eager to oblige.

Once the adoption was final, we took a walk over to the local church.  Beginning a relationship with a little prayer can't hurt, right?

Blueper and Weber were quite serious about their prayers.  I was serious about photographing them.

Church seemed an OK place to this furry guy.  He felt right at home.

Blueper has already asked his dad to help him set up his own Facebook page so that when he moves to Texas he can keep up with his friends here.  His dad has agreed to help him work on that over the next few days.  I'm sure he will let everyone know once he is online.

I'm also sure that he will make regular appearances here as well.

168/365-2 In A Different Light

"The Catch"

Before I had a real interest in being a photographer, I loved silhouettes.  And when I started learning the technical side of photography, I wanted to be able to take those photos that I had always admired so much.  It has taken me some time to get here, but I think I am finally on the right track.

I have no idea who the little boy is in the above image, but I loved seeing him standing on that rock, line cast, and patiently waiting for the fish to bite.

Today was one of those days where I had several photos that I liked.  It was hard to chose which one was the official POTD.  Here are some of the others from tonight's sunset.

167/365-2 Mobile Home

"Pizza Not At Home"

They say , "Home is where the heart is."  My heart is with this guy.  He is mobile.  That makes him a mobile home, right?

Okay,  I came up empty handed regarding today's prompt.  We went out for pizza tonight and this is as good as today's photos got.  Let's just say that the pizza was a whole lot better than any of the pictures that I took today.

166/365-2 Dear Old Dad

'Father's Day 2014"

I warned dad that he had the honor of being the subject of today's POTD.  His response, "When did you decide to make it your mission in life to embarrass me?" My response, "Um...December 28, 1961."  I  ended up taking paparazzi shots so none of them are very good technically or compositionally; however, this is perfect in the more important ways.   Dad is sitting in his chair doing the day's puzzles from the newspaper like he does every day and reflected in his glasses are his beloved Phillies on TV.  And then there is the Navy sticker on his clipboard.

Weber got to share with dad what life is like with me and my camera on a daily basis.  I'm not sure whether dad took pity on Weber or not.  And we had a laugh over the fact that despite being in the midst of chemo treatments,  dad has more hair on his head than Weber.

I'm glad we were able to be in Delaware this Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day to all of you who are fathers or have been a father figure to someone.  

I pray that everyone had happy moments with or happy memories of their fathers today.

Last Night's Sunset

Sitting on the beach watching the sun set is a object lesson in just how quickly things on his earth can change.  In only fifteen minutes, the sky went from brightly lit to almost completely dark.  I watched as the the bright ball dropped from the sky disappearing below the horizon.  I realize that this phenomenon happens every day, but it is not every day that I make the time to just sit an appreciate how my days are made.  Watching from the beach also adds to the majesty of the sunset.  It was beautiful.

One day this week I will get up early to experience the other side of this.  It has been a long time since I have seen a sunrise on the beach.