They Made Me Do It......I didn't want to Do it ......

Close In On The Cure

Close In On The Cure
fountain at Love Park, Philadelphia, PA turned pink in October for breast cancer awareness

Monday, December 21, 2009

Where there is Smoke ... ~ !

I took this photo on a recent trip to New York City. At the time I took the photo I did not see smoke. I was very surprised to see the smoke when I processed the digital photos. I don't know if there was a fire or not, but I enhanced the photo to give the illusion of fire.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Full of Soup recipe for Pieirogies with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat and Citrus Cream Sauce

This is a great recipe any time of year, but especially during the winter season; it is rich, filling and leaves you feeling all warm and cozy!

The list of ingredients is extensive, but the recipe is easy to make.

What you need:

- Two pound box of Mrs. T's or any frozen Pierogies ( you can make your own Pierogies if so inclined, but for the purpose of this recipe we will use frozen)
- 1/4 cup fine chopped shallotts
- 3 large cloves garlic peeled and fine chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger zested
- zest of one lemon
- 1/3 cup blended oil
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme minced
- skin of one fresh tomato finely diced for garnish (optional)
- one bunch scallions white part only minced for garnish (optional)
- 1 one pound bag baby spinach rinsed and rough chopped
- 2 cans jumbo lump crab, or you can substitute crab claw meat if you are watching your budget
- one pint heavy cream
- 1 cup vegetable stock
- salt and pepper to taste

What you will do:

Cook pieirogies in a large pot until aldente.

Transfer pieirogies from boiling water after cooked with slotted spoon to towel covered cookie sheet pan and let cool at room temperature.

In a seperate large saute or frying pan add 1/3 cup blended oil. Heat oil on medium high heat. When oil is hot, add chopped spinach, garlic, shallotts and ginger; cook til shallotts, garlic and ginger are tender. Add salt, pepper, lemon zest and thyme.

Cook for one minute stirring constantly; add vegetable stock. When stock begins to bubble, add heavy cream; stir occassionally until cream reaches a boil. Reduce mixture to simmer and let sauce thicken while stirring occassionally (about seven to ten minutes).

When sauce coates the back of your spoon add pieirogies and crabmeat.

Garnish with chopped tomatoes and scallions.

Bonn Appetite!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Exposures of Central Park, New York City

This photo was taken at 12 noon; one photo at different shutter speeds and exposures, thereby changing the colors by changing the light. There are no digital enhancements, except to change the middle one to black and white.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

The Pond at Bryant Park, New York City

While on a recent visit to New York City I stumbled upon a park in the middle of Midtown Manhattan called Bryant Park. Never having been to Bryant Park, I came home and did a little research and found that the park once known as a sight for muggings and drug deals, is now a much sought location for concerts, performances, eating, drinking and shopping. It is a park that has apparently been transformed from run down and somewhat dangerous, to a place lined with food delights, hand crafted jewelry and clothing kiosks.

The park sits on several acres and from what I read is known for its French classical style showcasing beautifully manicured lawns and magnificently sculptured gardens in the warmer months. On my most recent visit, in December I noticed the park surrounds a large ice skating rink open 8 AM til 10 PM for public skating pleasure. If you are not a skater, but enjoy watching the skaters and the sheer ambiance of the winter holiday, you can sit overlooking the skaters at the restaurant connected to the rink, and enjoy a delicious bowl of cream of Pumpkin soup and a glass of fine red wine

The park was donated a finely crafted French carousel crafted to compliment its French classical style. Children clutch the wooden horses and rabbits with tiny fingers while their parents snap photos and look on with delight. The carousel sits in the center of the park. All through the park there are chess tables for playing and books for reading.

If you have a chance, while visiting New York City, I highly recommend a visit to Bryant Park.

The Pond at Bryant Park, New York City

Ice Skating, The Pond at Bryant Park, NYC

Friday, December 4, 2009

Lady Liberty's Gentleman

A little humor from New York City; everyone's a star in NYC!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Happy Holidays from New York City, 2009

Santa Baby ~ I was such a good girl ~ now please hurry down the chimney and give me a ride to Henri Bendels.

Henri's Girls


Henri's Girls, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

Henri Bendel's department store, 5th Avenue NYC gets my vote for not only best, but favorite department store.

I was first introduced to Bendels five years ago while on a birthday girls weekend celebration to NYC. My friend Judy was celebrating her birthday and was kind enough to invite two of us along. The department store showcases magnificent designer clothes, shoes and handbags among a vast and varied variety of accessories.

At that time I purchased a Bendel body cream without the matching candle called Tuberose, which was a combination scent of Jasmine and Rose. After about eight months, like any good obsessive girl I wiped the sides of the bottle clean with a Q-tip and was forced to admit my bottle of tuberose had come to an end and not living in New York City I travelled to the local mall in search of a secondary fragrance all the time never forgetting the intoxicating scent of my Bendel Tuberose.

Bendel's which was started in 1895 by Henri Bendel a milliner was the first to bring Coco Chanel to the US and has long housed many of the finest clothing designers. I recently read that Bendel's has made a decision to stop carrying apparel and instead to focus on accessories, cosmetics and home items such as candles, and much to my surprise I read that Bendels would be opening a store in the King of Prussia mall in Pennsylvania.

I recently returned to Bendel's and much to my delight found the same Bendel body cream, but was disappointed to discover they were sold out of my favorite fragrance the Tuberose; but while on 5th Avenue no visit for the holiday season could be complete without a stop to see Santa. So Santa Baby I said ~ could you please stuff my stocking with Bendel's Tuberose this Christmas? Why my child he said I will bring delights to all of the good girls, but just in case you can't wait - ring up that sleigh and head on over to the new Bendels in the King of Prussia Mall.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Let the Holidays Begin!

After the turkey was carved and lips licked clear of pumpkin pie, the dishes washed, a football game viewed and a nap had by many, it was time for making a few holiday plans.

Black Friday arrived and I set off on an excursion with a good friend to New York City. As is always the case when visiting New York, there are so many wonderful places to go, so much to see and even more to do. We decided to spend the majority of this trip in Manhattan, walking from Broadway to Bryant Park, Central Park to Broadway, stopping, eating, drinking and shopping at many wonderful places along the way.

Wherever I go I search for a photo opportunity; and New York ~ the city that never sleeps, the city known as the Big Apple, is a city that never disappoints. New York is a city that never disappoints in delivering the new, the old, the bizarre, the conservative, the trendy, the downtrodden, the rich, the famous, glamour, glitz, rock, roll and rhythm; there is something to be had for one and something to be had for all.

Walking down Fifth Avenue, forever remembering Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, I am continuously fascinated by the haute couture of one design fashion house after another and never more so than when standing before the breathtaking, superb design of the window displays of Bergdorf Goodmans'.

There are many I can write about Sacks, Henri Bendel, and none that disappoint, but for the purpose of this post I will give a brief background ~ researched from the teller of all true tales Wikipedia on Bergdorf Goodman.

Bergdorf Goodman is located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in NYC. The department store a seller of luxury goods, was originally opened as a tailor shop by Mr. Bergdorf an immigrant from France in 1899. His employee Mr. Goodman purchased the store in 1906 and moved it to its present location on Fifth Avenue.

From the early 1960's to the late 1970's the store underwent several changes and some major challenges. To combat lagging sales the store tried opening branch locations, one of which is now its sister store and competitor Neiman Marcus.

The store features boutiques for Chanel, Armani, Gucci, Versace to name a few.

There is no doubt much to see at Bergdorf's, but for me I could not get past the window displays, which are more remarkable than words could ever describe. I must have taken twenty photos, but from those twenty photos, selected my favorites and created the collage below. For a more detailed visual of Bergdorf's windows you can Google Bergdorf Goodman Window Displays, photos by photographer ... and you will see detailed photos of each and every window in this amazing store.

This holiday season if you are in search of a fun filled day with a few rays of some enticing eye candy, take a stroll down Fifth Avenue, grab a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and stop for a stare at the holiday display windows at Bergdorf Goodmans.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

The Faces of Bergdorf Goodman

This is a collage of several window displays taken from the famous department store Bergdorf Goodman in Midtown Manhattan, NYC. Unfortunately it was a very sunny day and the glare was a bit more than expected when processing the photos. Also I was unable to set up a tripod since there were many holiday visitors the day after Black Friday to contend with in NYC.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Lost Love


Lost Love, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

for all of those who have lost someone ~ to someone else ~ this is a very old photo; I took a double-exposure with a Lensbaby; a caracture taken from a vintage matchbox.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Journey of a Lifetime Begins with a Single Step

Doing more posting of photos than writing this month. Always taking new steps toward new adventures with hopefully challenging and exciting outcomes.

For some amazing artwork check out the new blog I'm following Artist Samuel J. Formica at http://arthead40.blogspot.com/. I think you will really enjoy it. Click on the link for portfolio.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Winds of War


Winds of War, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

Oh how this month is flying. It seems now that I have a job I have no time to post or even take photos.

This is a collage I put together ~ an experiment of five photos; two that were taken and intentionally blurred and three focused photos. The photos range in extremes of light from very dark to pure white light and as you can see the subject matter lends itself toward the dark side.

I like to view the basic and whether it be a tree, a flower or a street, I like to present it so the viewer can see a story in the photo.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

When One Window Closes ...


Jaded, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

An end to unemployment ...!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Darkness falls across the land ...

This is the end of a somewhat dark period in life photo; I am posting it as an end and thereby beginning photo. For just as the days of nature cycle from beginning to end, so do the days of our lives go through cycling periods.

I have after five months of unemployment finally become gainfully employed. I did not settle for a job just to sustain myself, but stuck to my convictions and was able to find a position in the realm of employment which I will be able to spend hours upon hours if not captivated by, at least enjoying. So it is with enthusiasm I ask ~ shall we dare to bring on a new day, one that is filled with new adventures and challenges?! :O)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Hello November

I open November's posts with a sampling of Fall's crown jeweled colors. No matter how many year pass I am always amazed at the metamorphasis nature succumbs to with the changing of the season. It seems colors change daily and the changes come almost in rapid succession. The two posts or photos below are a sampling of the changes. Both photos were taken and are original from the camera with no digital enhancements. It is just amazing the color differences from one photo to the next. The photo entitled the Legend of Zorro was taken with a Lensbaby lens; the photo entitled The Crown Jewels was taken with a Lensbaby macro lesn.

The Crown Jewels


The Crown Jewels, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

The Legend of Zorro


The Legend of Zorro, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

This is it

Hard to believe October is past and we are starting November. I start November with one of my first posts as a review of Michael Jackson's "This is it" at theatres everywhere, no matter what country or part of the globe you reside. Now how many films can you make a statement like that about. As usual with Michael the film did not disappoint and was filled with perfection to detail, exalted elements of fantasy and left you feeling filled with a longing to heal the world and make it a better place.

Michael Jackson for me has long been my favorite entertainer and after seeing the footage of what might have been one of the greatest concerts of all time, I was moved to feelings of great sadness. Listening to his soft voice give direction and talk of feeling love for his art of dance and music to his fellow performers and crew, I continue to feel amazement at the force that smoldered inside someone who exuded such a soft and gentle presence. The energy of movement he possessed was remarkably shown when on stage with fellow performers more than half his age. His movements fluid and flawless match his voice, angelic and fevered.

I highly recommend the film "This is it", to be seen not once but several times and even to own. It is something to be savored and cherished. I left the theatre on Halloween night feeling a great sadness for the loss of an icon we have not seen the likes of before and may never see again. Michael we will miss the warmth of your kindness, your spirit and your remarkable talent.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

The Lady of Shalott

 

as mentioned in a previous post...see below
Posted by Picasa

The Lady of Shalott

 

as mention in a previous post...see below
Posted by Picasa

The Lady of Shalott

The below photo, a collage or diptych was initially taken as two separate photos. I will post both after this post. I would love to know how you feel about the photo. Do you like it as a diptych or would you prefer the photos individually?

Both photos are Lensbaby photos, with the nature of the Lensbaby to have only a portion of the subject focused and the remainder blurred; however the flower of the open rose which although resembling a carnation, I am told belongs to the rosebush family is a Lensbaby macro photo. The other photo which to me resembles a face of a woman is a Lensbaby photo, taken at 50mm; this photo of let's call her the woman, I tried an experiment. On a chilly, but sunny beautiful Fall day I pointed the camera at a scene of color, and instead of a perfect clear focus, dragged the camera in a vertical position resulting in a blurr of color. Then in digital post processing, upon seeing the two photos decided it would make an interesting diptych.

I will post both individual photos, let me know what you think, thanks.

The Lady of Shalott


The Lady of Shalott, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

Four gray walls, and four gray towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I sold flowers; I didn't sell myself. Now you've made a lady of me, I'm not fit to sell anything else.

Eliza Doolittle ~ My Fair Lady 1964

...and the queen, believing that she had eaten Snow White's heart could hear the trees whispering to each other...



stepping before her mirror she asked mirror, mirror, on the wall, who in this land is fairest of all.

Often times when I photograph trees and flowers I find myself trying to capture the true essence of their beauty as I see it. Many times I am disappointed at my outcome if I only have a still image with no sense of an inner-life. I often photograph with macro lenses, double and triple exposure and sometimes collage the images. I think in my mind's eye it brings more life to my subject matter. Somehow I feel if I can give a sense of movement to a still image I will have blended and molded myelf to that image thereby giving a truer representation of the image. It is almost as if I am trying to have a relationship with my subject matter. Would love to know what you think?!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

It's hard to find good neighbors these days!

just a little Halloween humor. Not feeling too prolific this weedend, so thought I'd post a photo or two. :O)

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

"Cleave to no faith when faith brings blood" ~ Arthur Miller, The Crucible

THE END

It was a time for moving on and move on we had to. Emily Anne, Jimmy and most of the kids from our eighth grade class went to high school at the local high school in our town. I later found out Jimmy didn't make it past tenth grade, had to be sent to reform school; rumor had it he tried to steal money out of the bakery's cash register, and when old Mr. Sorensen the owner grabbed his arm Jimmy hit him in the face. Lost touch and didn't hear much about Emily Anne.

Jason and I went to a school outside the town and became very close in the years that followed. I took mamma's advice; I studied hard, went to college and worked hard for many years after that. Never got married or had any kids. After the summer of my freshman year at college, Jason and I came home from the shore to find out mama and daddy were getting a divorce; seems daddy and Jason's mom Mrs. Cumberlink -well - they were just quite neighborly. I don't think mama ever recovered; she loved daddy so much despite his indiscretions.

Looking back, seeing forward, remaining the same ~

what though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind ...

from William Wordsworth's poem "Ode on Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood".

Sunday, October 18, 2009

to be continued ... FYI

To bring together the fictional story "See the children..." in chronological order: go to the bottom of one entry of the story, click on the label for the post "to be continued", and the story automatically falls in order, and can be viewed all posts together.

Thank you Blogspot! and yet again I live and learn!

The Natural Architect


The Natural Architect, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

The beginnings of life after a Hard Drive CRASH ...

Continuation of short story posted from draft of October 9

Prior to the Hard Drive CRASH of October 9 I was working on a draft of the short story "See the children"; I published that today, however it seems it is listed below yesterdays post "Hard Drive Crash and is listed as an October 9 posting. Sorry for any confusion this may cause.

In retrospect and review I see many changes that need to occur on the blog before I will escalate to the popularity of one of Blogspots #1 blogs :0); but as they say "live and learn". I do promise however to do the following in the future in any short fictional story so as to increase the number of followers and to enhance their reading pleasure:

1. I do solemnly swear not to start a short story in July and finish it close to November. I do realise this inhibits any sort of suspense and leads a reader into a succession of delicious yawns and short naps, not necessarily what I am looking for in the prospect of an exhilarated audience.

2. I promise to earnestly consider my readers and not write backwards; I just have to figure out how to do this, as following the Blogspot template makes it a bit challenging unless I only want to write fiction.

3. And ... first and foremost I promise to try my hardest to keep my readers interest in mind!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Absent Again

The last time I posted, eight days ago I was feeling quite exhilarated at the prospect of completing my first story in almost fifteen years. I was thrilled at my dedication and determination and success at writing almost every day for both September and October and I was distracted from the arduous and debilitating task of looking for a job.

However, infrequently through my writings and uploads during October I would receive flashing warnings "Ckdsk Dirty Files on Drive C" and then the internal workings of the Microsoft cyber-wizards would crawl relentlessly up and down my bright blue screed saying "ckdsk complete" and I would think everything was alright; but again it would happen and I wondered why can't these dirty files keep themselves clean.

Then, thankfully after and not before one of my final posts of the short story "See the Children ...continued" ... I had just pushed "publish post", when the screen went black and would not boot! Oh what a terrible feeling!! I pushed and prodded and cursed and ranted and finally with trepidation and great angst I called Dell. It took one brief diagnostic tool and one heated lengthy argument on why I should not have to pay $50 for that one brief diagnostic tool to find out the hard drive was dead and I would need a new hard drive.

It took eight days and much lost data, many lost photos and the loss of my precious Adobe Photoshop CS3 program which is buried somewhere in a storage Pod after a house move which took place on July 29; but I am up and running.

I have missed writing; I have missed photo editing; I have missed posting, but one thing I have not missed, that writing a blog is a great distraction from is the never ending, unrewarding, vacuous job of finding employment!

Hard Drive CRASH!


Broadway, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

So lonely - so empty - so lifeless .... that has been the last eight days since the computer shut down, the hard drive crashed and there was no more; but patience prevailed, a smart technician worked tirelessly while the blogger wined and pouted, but at last we are up and ready once again!

Friday, October 9, 2009

...continued see the small children...

Never really knew who had the idea first to swing from that old rope, whether it was Jimmy or Herman; never knew how long that rope hung there or even who put it there; but never was there a rope there after that night; all the years later when I was growing up and even when I went back as a grown man, there were still kids swimming and playing baseball, but never did a big, thick, old sturdy and twisted rope swing from the old Poplar tree ever again.

It wasn't like we ever used that rope much, in fact hardly at all, actually almost never. None of the girls ever used it, most of the time the girls wouldn't even swim, just use to sit on the edge of the creek with their feet in the water; and us guys we use to just splash around, hiding behind the rocks teasin each other; sometimes if somebody had the baseball, we would grab it from em and throw it in the water and tell em go fetch it you dog and we'd laugh.

I guess that's what brought us all to the creek's edge the night Herman Miller mounted the rope. Herman went first. Thinking back his small, thin fingers grabbed the rope, and one after the other in rapid succession his hands clasped hand over hand til he was just about half way up the trunk of the old tree. For many years I could still see his smiling face excited and proud he had scurried so quickly up the rope, like a spider crawling the ropes of his web, his slight body, but sturdy muscular legs wrapped round the rope, just hanging there, ever so soft and gently, swinging back and forth, ready to swing out, jumping to the cool and restful waters of the creek that were waiting below for him.

I remember just before he pushed off the rock with his foot for his big swing and jump, he glanced over at Emily Anne and smiled with a hint of sarcasm, as if to say watch this and she blushed and of course looked at the ground and he was off. He swung out and jumped, we heard a loud splash and we waited -- and waited -- and waited--, but Herman never came up; turned out the water wasn't as deep as we thought, or I guess we really never thought much about deep the water was. We found out later Herman had hit his head and drowned. He was only one month from his fourteenth birthday.

I can't remember who told us Herman was gone, if it was the police, the neighbors, mama or who; that part has never been clear to me.

Nothing was ever the same after that. We all finished eighth grade together and all prayed for Herman every time we went to church. Mama said he was in a better place and God would take care of him; but we began to scatter. That final year in eighth grade we didn't go to the field to play football or baseball and none of us swam in the creek that summer. Emily Anne spent all of her time in dancin school and with her girlfriends.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Windows of the Soul


MAN, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

is the truth revealed

...continued see the small children...

Bout six weeks later, when it was closer to gettin back to school it was a real hot summer night, the kind where ya feel like your skin is sticking to itself and ya get so thirsty all ya can think of is water, drinkin it, swimmin in it and playin in it. It was windy that night too, the kind of wind that plays tricks on you. The kind that's peaceful one minute, and fore you know it, it kicks up real hard and could pretty near knock you over, the kind of wind that usually makes you think one of those rolling thunderstorms are marching their way toward you. It was the kind of wind that always made the creek mean and looking like it was ready to eat somebody.

We were all at the baseball field; guys weren't really playing, just tossin the ball around, practicing their swings, no real runnin or anythin. There had been a lot of tension between Herman and Jimmy. Emily Anne and Herman seemed to be gettin along real well now. Kids would see em around town together, gettin ice cream, sittin on the porch, there were rumors they was kissin and stuff and I heard Herman was even thinkin of asking Emily Ann to the 8th grade winter dance. I was just glad they could finally look at each other, always seemed so stupid before, sneaking glances at one another. Anyway Jimmy didn't like Herman much anymore, didn't even talk to him; this made Emily Anne real nervous, because even though she use to get on my nerves with all of those girlie ways of hers, I guess she was a nice enough person. She had a lot of fun with Herman and all the kids liked her, cause she was always helping somebody; they would laugh and when she would come to the field she would actually sometimes try to toss the ball around. Now more times than not it was Jimmy who was either sitting in the bleachers, or moping round the field, or gone off swimming by himself in the creek and Emily Anne was always trying to include him in whatever it was all us kids was doing. That made him mad too.

So on this one hot summers night Herman and Emily were playing cards in the bleachers, I was close by talking to Jason about everybody else, a couple kids were having a catch, when Jimmy drippin wet from swimmin in the creek, looking so handsome and muscular for his young years walked up to Herman and asked wanna go for a swim. You could have heard the grass grow; no one breathed or said a word. It had been awhile since Jimmy said anythin to Herman let alone wanna go for a swim. Just as surprising, Herman, eyes glancing toward his feet said sure. None of us knew at the time that a swim would change our lives forever.

Let's go now Herman said fore it gets any later; my folks will be worried if I get home to late. Let's try that rope that's hanging from the big old oak tree.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Twisted


Twisted, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

...continued see the small children...

See after the parade was over when the nighttime came around we all went to the fireworks. Most of us went with our parents and sometimes all the families would meet up together and sit out on the lawn chairs just coolin off from the heat of the July day, listing to the crickets and watching the colorful, crackling explosion in the sky.

So this one Fourth of July Jimmy had it in his head he wanted to ask Emily Ann to his house for barbecue and then they could go to the fireworks together; but Emily Anne, well her mother was one of the teachers that ran the dancin school and she thought it would be nice to invite Herman Miller's family back to their house for barbecue, because Herman's little sister took dancin classes at the school, and sometimes other years after the big parade was over, she would invite the parents and the kids of the classes back for a burger and a dog.

So just as the the big float got to the end of the parade and Jimmy was just waitin with a big grin on his face, white teeth sparklin, blue eyes dancin, all dressed up in a clean tshirt for Emily Anne to get off you could hear Emily Anne's mother yellin Emily Ann ask Herman if he and his family want to come back to the house. Well it seemed this was the chance Emily Ann was waitin for, cause it finally gave her an excuse to look at Herman rather than at the ground where she was usually lookin when she was trying to look at him. So when the float stopped, she looked directly at Herman and well he ran faster than a jack rabbit to help her off that float; and Jimmy, well he ducked between the neighborhood folks, scurried out the back of the crowd, ran around the back of the church and that was the last we saw of him that Fourth of July. He never came to the fireworks, never ate any barbecue, and none of us kids knew where he went that night.

It was shortly after this that strange things started happening both at the baseball field and down by the creek. ...to be continued ...

Monday, October 5, 2009

PANIC Disorder


PANIC Disorder, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

A break from our story ...see the small children...to be continued...

Friday, October 2, 2009

...continued...see the small children...

Now Herman Miller, as I sort of mentioned before, was I thought, kinda shy. He had big blue eyes, that when you looked into them, sort of reminded me of the creek in our neighborhood. Sometimes you would look in his eyes and they would be shining; they would sparkle like the reflection of the sun upon the water on a sunny day, and other times those eyes looked like there was a storm brewing in them, just like the creek did when the winds blew and the thunder and the rain came.

We all lived pretty close to the creek. Momma and daddy told me growing up that we lived in a really old neighborhood; a neighborhood that had a lot of history. We lived in what they called a mill town, daddy use to say. All the men back then went to work at the mills. I think daddy said there was a yarn mill and a woolen mill.

Now we didn't live by the creek or the mills, but we lived closer to Mr. and Mrs. Cumberlink's which was over by the railroad trussell, which ran over top the creek and on either side of the baseball and football field. Mama said we lived in a nicer part of town because daddy had a little bit more money than the others; not that we were rich she'd say, just made better use of our money, didn't waste it on anything that wasn't a necessity. I could never figure out why she didn't think Mr. Cumberlink had a respectable job, or that they were respectable people when the Cumberlinks lived so close to us.

Well anyway, one hot July, not that long after the fourth of July, not that long after the fourth of July parade, the parade that ran all through the towns, so as we could have a party to honor the birthday of the country; well this particular fourth of July was when ever thing started gettin real uncomfortable.

See Emily Anne, she went to some fancy dancin school classes and every year the teachers that ran the school had a big float all decorated with ballerinas and fancy dance shoes, the kind with those pieces of metal on the bottom. Well she was at the top of the float, just sittin up there like a fairy princess. She had a sparkly crown on her head and one of those fancy ballet costumes with lots of puffy net attached to it. That float ran all the way down the main street of the town and when you got to the end there was free ice cream, lemonade and soda just waitin for ya; and in Emily Anne's case there was also Jimmy and Herman waiting for her.

...to be continued...

Continued from July post...See those children down there ...

But the Spring came and I didn't feel anymore like battin a ball than I did throwin a football in the fall weather. Daddy was alright with it though; he'd pat me on the head, grab his whiskey glass and say, well maybe your mamas'right; just go play in those books of yours. Every once in awhile - and I hated this - he'd say why don't you call up that cute little girl that's always hanging around the baseball field, what's her name - Emily Anne and ask her to come over to help you with that math homework of yours. He'd always slap his hand on mama's shoulder, give her a kiss on her cheek and chuckle when he said this. Mama would laugh too and say oh hush up daddy and let the boy be.

Now I just down and out hated Emily Anne. She reminded me of Mrs. Cumberlink. She had a similarly sick sweet smell; not like that Lily of the Valley though, more like burnt carmel coated popcorn. She was the smartest girl in the class; but to hear our teacher and the principal talk you'd think she was the smartest girl in the world. She was good at science, never forgot a date in history, knew the capital of every state and knew everything there ever was to know about math. She would help anyone and everyone with their math homework and I mean everybody. She helped the girls and she helped the boys, and I think she helped the boys more and the boys helped her. Why prett-near every time we went to the baseball field to practice for a game she was there. She'd bring her books and her girlfriends and they'd sit in the bleachers a yappin. One was either too hot, or too cold, or wanted to catch the baseball and above all they all wanted to talk to Jimmy. Come to think of it she even looked like Jimmy. She had that pretty blond hair just like he did; only he seemed more interesting to me than she did.

Of all the girls, she probably was the least interested in Jimmy, although she had no trouble askin him to help her with her shoe, or fetch her sweater or whatever else she cold think of; but I really think she liked Herman Miller. Couldn't prove it by no one though; every time Herman looked at her she looked at the dirt by the diamond on the field and Herman well he'd look right away at the same time. Seemed stupid to me; but guess that's because I was trying to get some sort of interest in the dumb game by watching Jimmy. I couldn't help but wonder how'd Jimmy's hair get as long and curly and pretty as hers when she was just a stupid girl.

Now the problem was Jimmy; the problem was always Jimmy and that temper of his. Ya see, I use to watch Jimmy at those games; and Jimmy, when he wasn't watching the baseball, use to watch Emily Anne. Seemed to me Jimmy use to look at Emily Anne the same way daddy use to look at Mrs. Cumberlink; but Emily Anne - when she wasn't yappin with the girls, or pickin at a fingernail, or somehow getting her homework done, well - she was watching Herman Miller.

Now Herman Miller ... to be continued

Continued from July post...See those children down there ...

Autumn Pleasures

 
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Thursday, October 1, 2009

Forgotten Marquis/Historic Lansdowne Movie Theatre ~ next to TheRegency Cafe


Forgotten Marquis, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

Forgotten Marquis/Historic Lansdowne Movie Theatre ~ next to TheRegency Cafe


Forgotten Marquis, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

Forgotten Marquis/Historic Lansdowne Movie Theatre ~ next to TheRegency Cafe


Forgotten Marquis, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

The Regency Cafe

I am so grateful for the small, well actually mid-size cafe which sits on Lansdowne Avenue next to the now closed but petitioned to re-open Lansdowne movie theatre. This cafe has become my home away from home as a solace from an extremely slow internet and a jumping cursor that would rival any young grasshopper.

I was born in Lansdowne and having returned due to rather unusual circumstances was delighted to stumble upon the Regency Cafe at its former location across from the Lansdowne train station. I use to grab my cup of - may I just say - more than delicious coffee and head for the Media local. Always I was amazed that such a cute and innovative cafe was located in Lansdowne and not the city. The owner is among the finest bakers I have ever encountered. His cherry almond scones, blueberry muffins and lemon sugar cookies, oh and the vanilla cupcakes are an orgasmic experience for any pallet. His quiches of all varieties and there are several are light and fluffy, both egg and cheese as well as crust, a true party in your mouth.

There is entertainment once a week, I believe on Thursdays; although I have not had the fortunate experience to attend yet, and there is thankfully and blessedly for me the internet access. I come to this cafe once or twice a week to write, edit my photos and eat; and although I sometimes resemble a potted plant, sitting at a table in the corner, computer plug with its teeth grinding in to the socket they provide for me, everyone is always nice, feeds me well and hasn't chased me yet. As a distressed girl on unemployment who could ask for more than this; oh except maybe a job!

I end todays post with my recommendation as a former owner of a food business to definately visit this creative and unique cafe. If you visit now you can not only access the internet, not only eat until your tummy sings to you, but you can visit the WorldWide Photo Print Exhibit organized by one of the exhibitors John Kelly Green, with outstanding photos by other exhibitors, among my favorites Becky Baxendell and Maura Ciccarelli.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Benjamin Franklin ~ Famous Quotes ~ What do you think?


Benjamin Franklin, originally uploaded by prudencebrown121.

Benjamin Franklin ~ Famous Quotes ~ What do you think?

Recently I had an opportunity to visit Philadelphia's Franklin Institute. Inspired as always to snap some photos, I was amazed to see a huge statue of Franklin himself sitting in the entry way of the building. I was not amazed it was Franklin who sits at the entrance, because after all it is a building dedicated to the memory of Benjamin Franklin, but amazed at the sheer size and elegance of the statue.

After snapping my photos and doing a little digital shuffling, I realized my memory of American history was not all that it should be, and did a little research on one of our founding fathers.

It is probably a bit disrespectful to wrap up 84 years of a brilliant man's life in a nutshell, but the purpose of this post is dedicated to what I believe to be four of Franklin's greatest quotes, not a biography of the man's life; I believe the historians have already done an excellent job of writing their history on that subject.

So one of so many things American history can boast of, was a man who lived from 1706-1790; he invented the lightning rod, bifocals, and I'm sure there are many of you out there cursing him for that invention; the Franklin stove and odometers. He formed the first public lending library and fire department in Pennsylvania. He is noted for many other scientific and historical contributions, but as I mentioned earlier this is the encapsulated version of a great man's life.

The following is a list of my favorite quotes of Benjamin Franklin ~ what do you think?

"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest".

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight".

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at a tempting moment".

and my very favorite:

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write something worth reading or do things worth the writing".

Benjamin Franklin, sir ~ thank you and anyone for kite flying? :O)

Full of Soup's Split Pea with Pistachio Soup

Fall has long been my favorite season and never more so than when everyone would venture home from the lazy hazy days of summer to Full of Soup's soup kitchen at The Bellevue Hotel.

The chef Jeff Davis, never without creativity and invention had everyone talking with his creation of Split Pea with Pistachio soup. Forever we had folks requesting a recipe for the soup ~ well here goes!

Split Pea with Pistachio soup

what you need ~

8 quart stock pot
1 bag Split Peas
3 14oz cans vegetable stock
3 14oz cans water
1 medium size onion chopped
3 medium size fresh garlic cloves
juice of one half fresh lemon
one half jar chunky peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon fresh ginger
2 generous tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
roughly 1/4 lb finely ground pistachios (possibly less depending on preference)
dash of hot sauce to taste

what you will do ~

saute garlic and onion in olive oil until golden brown.
add washed split peas and three cans of vegetable stock and three cans of water; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and let cook.
add juice of 1/2 lemon, thyme, ginger, salt, pepper, brown sugar. add peanut butter and stir until peanut butter is dissolved. continue to cook and when peas are almost soft add dash of hot sauce and finely chopped pistachios. continue cooking until peas are completely soft.

puree to a smooth consistency or leave as is.
garnish with finely chopped tomato

Bonn Appetite! :O)

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009

Floral Fantasy

Just wanted to post a few words about Floral Fantasy. It often seems when I set my schedule for a photo shoot the most unusual events occur and I never arrive home with what I expected on my memory card. On one of the few remaining hot days of the summer last week and with not much time, I set off to photograph the neighbors blood red foxgloves. Every morning I admire these foxgloves as my eager beagle runs me through the neighborhood on my early morning daily walk. So last week I grabbed the Nikon and set off to do a few macro shots. What I did not expect to find upon my arrival of the neighbors foxgloves however, was a half dozen or so yellow jackets engaged in what seemed to be a United Nations gathering of bee colonies. I stood there in amazement never expecting to have my afternoon plans altered by several of mother nature's most annoying creatures.

Now many photographers actually would see this as an excellent opportunity for a few amazing macro photos; you know those photos where the insect legs are so large and hairy they look like they could use a good shave, or the sort of macro photo where the eyes protrude as if they are giant marbles, the kind that are so large and scary they resemble a UFO. Well, let me just say I am not one of those photographers. Given that one must get within two to three inches of their subject to take a good macro shot, I just can not bring myself to cozy up with my Nikon reversal macro ring two to three inches from an afternoon gathering of yellow jackets.

This brings me to today's photo post Floral Fantasy. After doing the doge and weave dance with the yellow jackets who were not happy enough to only annoy me with their afternoon infestation of my photoing foxgloves, I moved to photo a few autumn colored inpatients; the problem was my new friends the bees moved to the liriope, which of course were next to the inpatients. This left me, dare I say rather impatient! So what was left ~ nothing but the marigolds, several generic leaves and an unidentifiable pink flower, at least it was an unidentifiable pink flower to me.

Not wanting to end my day in frustration and despair, I decided to snap a triple exposure of the three non bee visited perennials, the marigold, one of the many green leaves and the unidentifiable pink flower. The triple exposure of the three is the base of this photo. I then did an overlay with the help of Picasa and the computer and the top photo is a single exposure of the pink flower.

Maybe if someone is reading they might want to identify the unidentifiable pink flower and the bees ~ well they are resting peacefully this evening discussing where to follow me next.

Floral Fantasy

 
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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Sharing Spaces, Sharing Places

 
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A Tribute to Mom

I believe that one day when I turn on the computer, go to my favorites and click on the link to The New Life blog , one day I will have several hundred followers. I believe this not because I am positive, not because it will most likely happen, not because I am a fabulous and gifted writer, I believe this because my mother, the most avid and probably only reader of my blog says so.

I may complain about many things in life and often do, but one thing I could never complain about are my parents, but for the purpose of today's post I will concentrate on my mother.

Mothers come in all psychological shapes and sizes. There are the ones that hate the boyfriends you love, and love the boyfriends you hate, the ones that love and admire your style of dress and the ones that criticise the latest of chic trends, the ones that whatever you do is ok, because you are the most magnificent and gifted child on earth and the ones that whatever you do is wrong; because you are incapable of making an intelligent decision; and then there are the ones that fall somewhere in the middle, the ones that admit they are just trying to be the best parent they can.

In the beginning it was hard. I was an only child who went to a private school and was the youngest and smallest in my class. Having one of those birthdays that falls at the end of the year I started school early and had a difficult time with reading and math. I quickly fell behind and suffered the feelings of inadequacy at an early age; but my mother, always on top of my every move, never missing a moment, noticed my failings and escorted me from teacher, to tutor, to counselor, to therapist to whoever would listen and help. When I felt inadequate due to poor grades, she would send me to my father for review of English and she would work on math; she'd say - just keep trying. If you can't do anything else in life, you can keep trying ~ look at Abraham Lincoln she would say. When I worried I was so small and skinny she would say good things come in small packages.

Recently I watched the funeral of Ted Kennedy and was struck by the story his son told of the time his father left money for a guest room attendant in a hotel room. His son, paraphrasing Kennedy's words said you have to tend to allot of rooms to make a living, they need a little extra.Well my mother not necessarily the biggest fan of Ted Kennedy, and a self-proclaimed Republican, but who I secretly believe to be a closeted and disguised Democrat has always exemplified this principal. Whether it be a waitron at a restaurant, or a boyfriend with a problem, or a criminal with a horrid past, or a lost or abused animal, everyone with my mother gets at least one chance and maybe a second and possibly even a third. There is rarely a judgement passed and always a little extra kindness, consideration and listening to go around, along with some good old fashioned motherly advice.

Now don't get me wrong not every one is perfect and we all make mistakes and have disagreements, but if you have a problem and need to wake someone up at 3 or 4 in the morning to discuss it, that person would be my mother. There has never been a time, in all of my years of life on this planet, that I could not wake my mother, at whatever time of the day or night and know unequivocally that she would not only listen to me, but would be interested in what I had to say. Now honestly, how many people do you know like that . We may disagree on politics, or religion, or the confeit on a dinner plate, but she is always willing to listen, debate and learn and above all she is always willing to lend a helping hand!

Now that I have been unemployed for four months and dilligently writing the blog, photoing as I go, I know that with each day that passes, there will be my mother reading each entry, looking at each photo, telling me what a wonderful writer and photographer I am. I try to convince her the only reason she thinks this is because she is my mother, but she insists that I cannot get discouraged, and again, as so many times before, she says look at Abraham Lincoln. When I say I think I will put a paypal account on the blog and I will pay each reader a $1 to read a post she says, the readers will come.

So in ending todays post I just want to say, you only get one set of parents, so whatever you do feed them, water them, drink with them, enjoy them and most of all listen to them; sometimes, actually often times those old folks just may save your sanity!

This one's for you mom! :o)

Wednesday, September 23, 2009