Trying to take photos of this Old Silver Back was tricky. Basically I had to do "saturation shooting." That's where I wear down someone's aversion to having their photo taken by taking a lot of them as the day passes. They sort of get "used" to it, I guess like you get "used" to gnats. Eventually I get those candid moments, sometimes from my knee while we talk about whatever.
One of my closet friends, Mark Barill, gestures at the light of the morning sun as a flock of geese pass by. He spoke about light, painting, and life. As he did the shadow of the hill behind us slowly descended into the lake as the sun rose.
On our way to Frew Mills we happened to pass by Cooper's Lake, where Pennsic is held. I'm not sure either of us will ever return to that annual event. For me, I think it's time to explore this new region we live in even more thoroughly than before. Mark made me laugh as he walked back towards the road. "Ehhh, it's kinda shabby," he said in a Bronx/Morgantown accent.
Mark is one of the most talented scenic artists I've ever known. Years ago when we worked at the museum together he had a major hand in creating the dioramas for one of the larger exhibits there. Since then he's been perfecting recreating the textures found in nature. It just so happened that my favorite stretch of stream in all of Pennsylvania is rich in those very textures. I can't wait to see what he creates from this experience!
This is my "spot." This is where I've come for almost 40 years when I need to just sit, think, and relax. Oh how I love my comfy chair. If you know where this is, you're one of my close friends. Let's not mention where though...
How many years now?
One of the best things about staying at a cabin by the lake was being able to have our morning coffee while sitting on the dock. There's really not much more I need to say about that.
On our way into Butler to pick up the kid from Grandma's we stopped at Wind Surfers' Point to just enjoy being at the lake.
My mother & daughter goof around while we get ready to go for a walk. After completing most of my mother's "Honey Do" list I felt it was time to just take the kid for a stroll through my hometown.
All it takes to make the kid happy is to hand her a colorful umbrella to carry.
Over the summer my mother worked very hard on converting her front yard into a garden. No more dragging the lawnmower from out back, down the alley, and then up the street for her! In a few years I expect it should be very grown out, and beautiful.
There's something about the brick lined streets of Butler I've always loved. The sound as your tires roll over them, and the way they look, all seem unique to my town. They're hard to maintain though, and can form ruts and bumps over time that never seem to get fixed. It's a shame that someday they'll all be paved over due to the expense of fixing them.
Freja points out the Halloween decorations on a home near my mother's place.
How to make a great cup of hot coco even greater? Why you just stir it up with a dark chocolate candy on a stick! The kid prepares her concoction in one of the amazing old booths you can find at Cummings Candy & Coffee on Main Street, Butler. We always try to stop here for a treat when we're in town.
How to make a great cup of hot coco even greater? Why you just stir it up with a dark chocolate candy on a stick! The kid prepares her concoction in one of the amazing old booths you can find at Cummings Candy & Coffee on Main Street, Butler. We always try to stop here for a treat when we're in town.
This is Barry, owner of the candy/coffee shop on Main Street. We've known each other for almost 30 years having gone to the same school, and running around with the same group of friends. It was a pleasant surprise to find him in the store as I typically "just miss" him being there on my visits.
I simply love the charm of this old fashioned shop.
Freja had a blast climbing around the tree just outside our cabin. Unfortunately, so did the kids in the cabin next to us as I found out stepping out of the shower only to see them just outside the window...
