178: Snow

White Christmas

177: Natural Christmas Decorations

Snow Berries

176: Boy in Snowsuit

Boy in Snowsuit

175: I'll Be Home For Christmas

Another from the Tent City

I'll Be Home For Christmas

I started to name this "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" as it was a recurrent topic of discussion. The white on the ground is dirt that is over exposed in the reflected sun light, not snow.

174: Fire Place at Christmas Eve

Fire Place at Christmas Eve

There is a lot of controversy among street photographers about photographing the homeless. The discussion centers around exploiting the less fortunate for image impact. Today I felt compelled to photograph these homeless folks to remember a very special event.

This afternoon after it warmed up to the mid 40's I headed out to the homeless tent city to get a picture. But this was not the first time I had been there today. Earlier in the day I had met some church folks to facilitate them delivering some much needed items to the homeless in the tent camp. The items were specific items on a list I made by talking with the guys at the camp.

While I was there, this afternoon, a young couple with 1 2/3 children showed up and wanted to set a time to bring them christmas dinner. The Homeless Guys agreed to any time but 5 this evening because they were going to a Christmas Eve service at yet another church.

The events of the day have proven to be A Christmas to remember for me.

I stayed for a couple of hours and sat around the fire chatting. One comment stuck in my head. They said the they really appreciated all the help they received over the Christmas Season, But they wished some of it could be spread out through the year. So that begs the question; Do we have year round compassion or is it seasonal? Now You Know The Rest of the Story.

May your Christmas be as Joyous as mine and remember we are honoring the greatest gift ever given to man. Happy Birthday Jesus.

*****
ps: Just in case you are wondering that is a pork chop and roll on the grill.

173: School Bus

Happy Days

172: My Christmas Card

Well it can truthfully be said a sequel is not as good as the original. This is the case here. The original is by a young lady who is a friend of my Grandson. Her blog can be found at:
http://picaday615.wordpress.com/

So here is my feeble attempt:

Merry Christmas to All

171: The Cross and a Flag

Most times I go out without a plan today was different I had a plan. The plan was to shoot a Nativity Scene. Guess what after looking for a couple of hours I found 4. Two were in a single yard and were not lit. One was in a church yard and was covered with glitter, not very photogenic. The fourth which you might see when it stops raining. But this lack of Nativity scenes led me to a new train of thought and the image was right by my house.

The Cross lights the Flag

Over the past few years there has been a lot of controversy over the phrase "In GOD We Trust" on our currency. My search this evening lends some insight to this matter. As a nation do we trust in GOD? Seems not, as even churches no longer promote this sacred event outside our closed walls. So to be very blunt I think we ether need to take the lie off our currency or have a REVIVAL. I am praying for REVIVAL, remember what GOD did for the Hebrews when on the occasions when they got their act together, He will do the same for us.

170: Main Street Decorations

Well I have been waiting several weeks for the city to get the electrical problem corrected for the downtown street decorations. Well tonight they were working. I really needed glass that very long or very wide. As I had neither with me as I was not expecting them to be on. So here is what I got.

The City's Snowflake

169: Caught

We have all hear the old expression "Caught with their hand in the Cookie Jar." How about their whole head?

Caught

168: THE House at Christmas

Well I did it for Fall, I did it for Halloween. Here it is for Christmas. Sorry no Nativity Scene.

Christmas Decorations, Missing Something?

167: A Christmas Carol

An older image that keeps coming to mind at Christmas time. It reminds me of Dicken's Christmas Carol.

A Christmas Carol

166: The Sound of Music

Christmas Caroling

165: The Truckers Dog

Went to my favorite health food store for the $2.98 Lunch Special (see image #97 ). 15 days before Christmas and they are a long way from home. But where is home?

Devoted

164: Leaves Under Ice

Leaf Under Ice

163: A Hole in the Ice

Leaves in Ice

162: Streets of Monroe

It is just too cold for this old man to want get out, so how about something from the past

Impression, Downtown Monroe

161: Remembering Summer --Loud

Well no image yesterday as I stayed too close to the fire. Woke up this morning and my feet hit the cold floor, and I started to think about summer. More specific the Fourth of July Parade.

LOUD

160:Natures Christmas Balls

Natures Christmas Balls

Yes that is the way it was, no Photoshop; RIGHT.

159: Last Leaf Standing

The Last Leaf Standing

Well it has been a beautiful fall, lots of color. Now cold weather is upon us and without the vivid colors and plesant temperatures it is difficult to look closer for images.

158: Reflections of Christmas

A Christmas Reflection

As I sit back and reflect on Christmases past There were mostly good ones but there was also a couple of not so good ones. So to each of you I wish you A MERRY CHRISTMAS Season.

157: Chtistmas Decorations

Bulbs on a Rail

As I reflect on this image, I recall Christmas decorations of the past. Far back in my past I seem to recall that Christmas decorations played only a small part at Christmas but was not the focus. Over the years decoration have become more important and are now the focus of many folk's Christmas. As Christians I wonder how much this has caused us to loose focus on the real REASON FOR THE SEASON.

156: The Mascot

The Mascot

Sorry not shot today had to grab something from a few weeks ago.

155: A Face in the Crowd

A Face in the Crowd

154: Happy Thanksgiving

A cold dreary morning and not expecting much photographically. Went to store for a sausage bisket and just down the street from the house was my Thanksgiving image.

Going to Grandma's for Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to ALL.

153 The Barn Yard

The Barn Yard

152: The Gate

The Gate

How often do we put up strong gates to protect ourselves from the the apparent access, but leave ourselves wide open for invasion everywhere else?

151: Street Photography -- Cinderella ?

Cinderella ?

150: Christmas Parade

I have been looking forward to today for several weeks. Christmas parade equals lots of people equals shooting "street". Well "street" was not that great, but I did see something that reminded me of an old story. Someone told me this story so I cannot vouch for its truth. It goes like this:

There was a farmer who was having trouble wit hunters killing his livestock so he got some paint and painted cow on all the cows. He painted horse on all his horses, mule on his mules and so on. One day he went to town, when he returned home his tractor was shot to pieces. The tractor was a John Deere.

Meet the real John Deere

149: A different view

When you have a distinctive landmark it is hard to find a different view. Well I went for my walk a little late today and by the time I finished the sun had set so I thought another day without anything. As I have said over and over suddenly, there was the shot. Seems like when I am patient my needs get met. Not just photographically but in ever need in my life, God provides.

Moon And The Old Courthouse

148: Nature At Work

What Man Builds, Nature Reclaims
Only God Lasts Forever

147: Macro -- Fall Bug

A Matching Bug

146: The Falling Leaves

It is a cool damp dreary day, not a good day for phtography. As I looked out my window:

The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold

Brings back some wonderful memories of two very special people.

145: Street Photography - Spring In the Fall

Thoughts of Spring

We are in the middle of the best fall colors I believe I have ever seen in this area, and someone prefers to paint a spring scene.

144: The Balcony

Over the years I have noticed a drift in balcony usage in modern churches. When I was young small children sat with their parent in church. As one grew older there was a right of passage where you moved down front. Not the very front row, that row was for those making decisions.

After a few years down front you outgrew the "kids", so it was back to setting with the parents or in my case grandparents. As one approached their teen years, came the second right of passage the balcony.



After many days of pestering I was finally allowed to sit in the balcony. I was now officially somebody. Being interested in electronics I sat close to the broadcast booth to observe how it worked. After a month or so, the folks setting around got a little lax in their behavior, but no me I was totally innocent (pause in writing this to duck the lightening strike). Suddenly the place got quite. Then with a booming voice I heard "Mr. John Smith, Mr. Harold Jones (names changed to protect the guilty) and Mr. Elmo Bass please go to the balcony and get your Jack, Henry and Bob as they are acting up and disturbing those around them.

Considering that was broadcast on the leading radio station in town, and the family embarrassment I was not permitted to sit in the balcony again, actually I do not remember asking again. Even more I do not think I have ever sat in a balcony again except for a short period of time I ran the sound system in a church some 25 years later.

So when I come and visit your church and sit in your seat, tough, I am setting on the ground floor you go sit in the balcony.

143: A History of Barns

Years ago I tried unsuccessfully to photograph old structures in a non-documentary style. Several years ago I tried again and had moderate success. I decided to try again.

Barn in the Fall Evening Sun

142: Vetrans Day

Looking up to Vets Standing Tall

141: Dogwood

Fall Dogwood at Yellow House

Up the street from my home is a BRIGHT yellow house. It was the perfect back drop for the dark crimson dogwood leaves. I took the image at the wrong time as the side of the house was in the shade making it sort of dark. The leaves were back lit making the leaves translucent and not as dark. I may shoot this at a different time of day.

There is a legend about the Dogwood's flower. It seems that during the fall it's leaves tell a similar story.

140: Fall Impressions

The Colors of Fall and Life

As I enter the fall of life I tend to reflect upon the past. This image seems to reflect a lot about my life. There are some beautiful spots but the majority are things I thought important at the time but now seem very insignificant and only serve to emphasize the real beauty of the other parts.

It never ceases to amaze me how God can speak to us through the little things around us, if we will only stop, look and listen.

139: The Farm

The Tranquil Farm

Back on image 120 I showed the dust obscured woods during the time this hay was being harvested. This tranquil scene does not represent all the work required to maintain the tranquility. And such is life, work is required to maintain the appearances we are directed to project.

138: Grandpa Tale -- Grapes and Plums

Have you ever wondered why Grapes are always sold in bags? I know, so let me tell you, but to do so I need to tell another memory of my Grandfather.

Grapes and Plums a Memory

When I was a wee lad I used to occasionally go with my grandfather on sales trips. He sold fresh fruits and vegies to grocery stores. One day we were running late and we had not stopped for lunch. As he was taking down an order at a store, he reached down and picked up plum and ate it. Following his example I reached up and grabbed a few white grapes to hold me over. My grandfather noticed me eating the grapes and gave me a strong lecture on stealing and how the store owner would go broke if everyone stole from him.

As the lecture closed I defended my self by stating I had seen him just eat a plum. Without ant hesitation he responded: " Yes I did, but I sold him those plums and knew I would eat one, so I took that much off the price." Therefore, as a result to protect small children, grape are now sold in plastic bags.

Have you ever noticed how many times we as adults make excuses for doing what we tell our kids not to do? I know I do.

137: The Street at Night -- Junk Shop Again

Chair and Lamps

136: Colors of Fall Again

Yellow or Orange

135: The Street at Night -- In the Alley

Up High in The Alley

134: The Color of Fall -- On a Roll

Well all I can say is, I like this kind of stuff and as Mother Nature Shows us this for only a short while, this is what gets my attention.

133: Color of Fall -- More

Golden Fall

132: Street Photography -- The Deacon

Coming home from church today I stopped to chat with one of the homeless guys. He asked how my photo project was going? I replied, not as well as I would like. He said I would get a good one before I got home. Moments later I noticed this stately figure with his Bible tucked under his arm.

The Deacon

If you were alone and had to walk would you go to church?
The deacon and the homeless guy both walked, I drove.
Did you go?

131: Decorations -- Halloween

Back on image 89 I said wait until you see Halloween. Well here it is: (Double click image to really get a view)

Halloween Decorations

130: The Color of Fall

The Color of Fall

129: Put on a Happy Face

Tonight was the last Music on Main for the year. The turn out was low, but street shooting was still good. Actually better than usual as it seem folks are looking at me as more of a fixture than an invader. Even though this was the last for the year we need to remember to Put on a Happy Face

Putting on a Happy Face