Phav Photo...

I feel fall in the air.  Summer's last hurrah is upon us. Which means....break out the tailgating supplies, Penn State football this weekend!

"Summer's End"

--Kathy

Out of the Blue...

Not sure where I heard this, but someone told  me the bluest skies occur after a hurricane.  I thought that might be an old sailor's tale, but it looks like they weren't exaggerating.

Black Eyed Susan

Beads of sweat glimmer to the ground

Golden tears shimmer, soft and round

Throwing small shadows

I catch those that fall at my feet

Black-Eyed Susan dancing in the breeze

"Orange is the happiest color," Frank Sinatra (really?)

And one more Black-Eyed Susan photo for a new venture..."Texture Tuesdays" with Kim Klassen.  This week's theme is "orange".  I'm not sure I EVER combined the colors blue and orange together before in either my wardrobe or decorating.

Actually, I do remember my Oma knitting my sister and me sweaters for Christmas one year when I was in elementary school.  We opened up our presents Christmas morning and it's been a family joke ever since.  There in glorious techni-color were MY olive green and orange sweater, and my SISTER'S blue and orange one.  Gag!  The joke was that my mom promptly unravelled the yarn from both sweaters and recycled it into some other craft project.  Those sweaters and color palettes have been our family's joke and our measuring stick for everything considered in bad taste since that Christmas morning.

But these flowers are more of a yellow-ISH orange.  After last week's earthquake AND hurricane...I'm just gonna leave the outdoor decor and color palette to Mother Nature's very good judgment, and not my Oma's.

--Kathy

Travel-scapes...Spin art in Pisa

Aside from making the trek home from a childhood fair with a plastic baggie full of goldfish I had won, that somehow never managed to survive beyond a week...my favorite place to hang out at a carnival was the "Spin Art Booth".  

For a quarter, you could create the most magnificent artwork AND be dizzy enough to not be able to walk straight afterwards.  Art and entertainment all in one.  A long row of squirt bottles with different colors of paint lined the shelf looking like a rainbow.  A piece of paper was attached to the spin art machine that would spin at such a high speed it was only a blur. Careful consideration was needed in choosing which color paints to combine to create the masterpiece you saw in your mind's eye.  Squirt a color onto the whirling dervish canvas and the color would spin out and cover the paper in various patterns, with the excess flying off and splattering onto the sides of the machine. You never truly knew what your creation looked like until the motor slowed the spinning and the blur morphed before your eyes. Actually, you also needed to regain your equilibrium before being able to focus on it too.

As an adult I travelled to Pisa, Italy and discovered the Arno River was apparently nature's spin art machine.  The combination of the clear reflection of multi-colored Italian store and house fronts bouncing off the waters of the Arno, and then caused to swirl, spin and morph by the paddle of a kayaker cutting through the surface, produced the same effect that 25 cents use to buy me.  

And many a goldfish life was saved in the process.

"Spin Art in Pisa - Uno"

"Spin Art in Pisa - Due"

Ciao!

--Kathy

Instant Click...

Goodbye Irene.  It's been nice knowin' ya!

"After Every Storm the Sun Will Smile"

Ambler, PA

Where:  

My backyard

When:  

Sunday evening, 7:15 p.m.

Sound: 

The creek rushing by at higher than normal levels, the buzz of a chain saw in the distance, kids tired of

forced indoor confinement and set free to play and laugh in the street.

Smell:   

"WET".  Not sure I can define that, but it is a definite smell and Irene left it in her wake.  Wet ground, wet trees, mushrooms sprouting in the dampness.  But very happy I have to go OUTSIDE to experience

it, and the smell of mushrooms and dampness is not INSIDE my home.

Wearing:  

Muddy flip-flops

Pondering:  

How thankful I am that we all got off relatively unscathed and unharmed from the wrath of Irene.

Very grateful I do not live in Florida and have to deal with hurricanes more than once or

twice in my lifetime.  And relieved that I do not have to watch "The Weather Channel" anymore 24/7!

Marveling at how wicked mother nature can be, and then turn around and produce such beauty as a sun flare filtering thru the greenery of trees.  Typical woman.

--Kathy

                   

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (#5)...

(**disclaimer:  no you have not entered a time warp.  Altho this is Scavenger Hunt SUNDAY, I'm posting on Saturday. As Thing #2, who is visiting from Cincy, so eloquently stated over a couple glasses of wine last night "Who IS this Irene character?"  I think we will all get the answer to that tonight and tomorrow.  So while I still have electricity, I will take advantage and go ahead and post for Sunday. Now....excuse me while I yet again take advantage of electricity and go blow dry my hair before an onslaught of "bad hair days" are upon me.)




Another Sunday and you know what that means....Hurricane Irene AND Scavenger Hunt Sunday!!!!  It's been an exciting week here in Philly.  First we had an earthquake that rumbled all the way up the eastern seaboard.  Which lead to two observations:  yes my house can actually bend, and Thing #3 didn't think it was so funny when I told her she had to wear a helmet in the house (she REALLY needs to learn to take a joke!).  And NOW??!!??  A hurricane is taking aim at us. I'd say "when it rains it pours" but I don't want to curse my sump pump at the moment.

Hoping my electricity and internet connection hold on long enough so that I can enjoy my normal Sunday morning routine of perusing "Ramblings and Photos"  Scavenger Hunt Sunday with a couple cups of coffee.  This week's prompts were REALLY difficult for me.  My creativity took a serious bruising. I'm looking forward to seeing how other photographers answered the challenges, and I anticipate admonishing my computer screen with "Why didn't 'I' think of that!" quite a few times.

So, without further adieu:

1.  Music

"I really should have studied flute,

Harmonica, or chimes.

A clarinet is nice and light;

A fiddle would be fine.

But I had to take piano,

And my teacher is a brute.

He lives up seven flights of stairs.

(I wish I played the flute.)

-Shel Silverstein

2.  Sun

"People are like stained-glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in,
their true beauty is revealed
only if there is a light from within."

--Elisabeth Kubler Ross

3.  Old and New

Peek-a-boo!  I love how these "new" daisies are peeking around the corner of the "old" stone pillars.

4.  Cheesy

Seriously, WHO would want to paint their walls in processed "American Cheese"??????  Benjamin Moore must believe there is a certain demographic who wants to have a nice glass of wine and  meat/fruit plate to pair with their walls.  

5.  Night Photography

This was a new challenge for me.  My better half didn't even notice I was missing during the 5th inning of the Phillies game when I grabbed my camera and snuck out into the night to experiment.  At first I played around with shadows cast by the moonlight.  But then my Knockout Roses in the front yard caught my eye.




Given that Irene has invited herself to my home and I have no idea how long she is staying...how about a "flooding" or "downed trees" prompt for next week's Scavenger Hunt???  Thanks for stopping by and as always...feel free to leave your thoughts.  And....let's be careful out there!

--Kathy

Linked to:

Out of the (greenish) Blue...

I had the whole day to myself.  Thing #1 has vacated the premises and is back at law school (of course he "forgot" to make his bed before he left!).  Thing #3 was pounding the boards at a theatre camp. And Thing #2 is living in Cincy and boy do I miss watching our reality tv shows together (it's just no fun trashing "The Bachelor Pad" alone...sniff!).  Lots of laundry to do but you know what they say..."WHY?!?!"  Am I the only one who says that?

So, when laundry called I did what came naturally. I treated my camera to a little joy ride and wound up at a local park.  This is one of those places I drive by daily and keep making mental notes to stop in one of these days when I'm not rushing everywhere.  Well, it was one of those days.

Seriously, I had no idea I'd wind up tip-toeing thru goose poop...GROSS. The sacrifices I make to not do laundry! But it was totally worth it because I found a hidden treasure AND my "Out of the Blue" for the week  Both courtesy of an old painted and peeling park bench sprouting LICHEN.  I guess it is more of a "greenish" blue actually (think Tiffany box). But seriously, take a look at that texture and character.  Mother Nature is one fine artist.

This might just be my new favorite place to dodge the laundry...sans goose poop!

--Kathy 

Photochallenge: Pets...

"He's Just Not That Into Me"
Dog #1

Trying something new this week and linking up with iheartfaces  for their photochallenge which is....drumroll puhleeze....PETS!  Good thing I have a couple of those.

Look at those big soulful eyes on Dog #1.  They just make me melt into a puddle.  Which also breaks my heart because unlike Dog #2 who follows me around constantly, comes before I call, wants love and affection, and aims to please.....Dog #1 is just not that into me.  He loves playing hard to get and I'm sure gets not so secret satisfaction seeing ME follow him around and begging for attention. Geez...am I still in high school?!?

Check out iheartfaces to see some fabulous pet photography.

    

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (#4)...

Perspective is an interesting thing.

Growing up I always viewed Sundays as an ending. Sunday nights meant my mom flipped on the black/white television, adjusted the rabbit ears and switched on "The Wonderful World of Disney".  It signalled the official end of a week for me.  Being the "end" meant Sundays always had a melancholy feel to me.  Another week gone by, time for reflection.  What did I or didn't I accomplish....blah, blah, blah.  I usually came out on the short end of the stick in my post-mortems. I'm not sure when my shift in perspective began, but I now view Sundays as a beginning, a new start.  Funny how some things don't change tho. Now "I" punch in Bravo TV on the remote Sunday nights and "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" means....an entire fresh week lays before me (okay, my television viewing habits have deteriorated!).  I also look forward to Sundays because it represents a brand new week of photo challenges....Scavenger Hunt Sunday!  So many possibilities lay before me.

So here are my interpretations. Enjoy!

1. Collage

No, I didn't jet off to explore Paris this week.  But this prompt DID finally push me into dipping my toe into exploring the world of collages on Adobe Photoshop, using a photo taken last November.   Don't let the simplicity fool you...this took me FOREVERRRRRR to figure out! haha. Thanks for the push Ashley, altho I'd rather be exploring collages IN Paris.

2.  Hanging by a thread

To pack away my Christmas tree ornaments for the majority of the year, or just hang them on my dining room chandelier to avoid the trek to basement storage....that is the question.  Noooooooooo,  not really!  I just hang them by their threads.

3.  Brushstrokes

Everything I learned in life, I learned in Kindergarten. Like...painting with bright colors is awesome, and wax paper makes a sliding board go REALLY fast.  Oh yeah, and NEVER forget to put the "red stop sign" on the lavatory door or you'll develop a life-long paranoia of public restrooms and boys named "Brian",  just sayin'.

4.  Geometry

The only math I like to use is figuring out how much the "take an additional 20% off" sale is going to save me on that pair of leather boots I've been eyeing.  So GEOMETRY????  Just go ahead and shoot me now! I seem to remember converging and intersecting lines is geometry? So here you have it....spaghetti.  My thought process is scary sometimes.  Just ask my better half.

5.  On the dotted line

As a result of moving in the past year, I've signed enough "on the dotted lines" to make me blurry-eyed.  My first reaction to this prompt was cringe-worthy.  So I opted for plan "B".  And, since THAT was a bust...plan "C" (try, try again). It was Dog #2's lucky day.  LOTS of treats.  I want to tell you that initially there was a looooooong dotted line of treats in this photo.  My plan was to shoot this with a greater sense of perspective.  But as usual Dog #2 could care less about plans, is short on patience and VERY hungry for a snack! What do they say about dogs resembling their owners?

So excited to see what Ashley has in store for us this brand new week, yaaay (which also means it's "Real Housewives of New Jersey" tonight...yaaay again)!  Thanks for stopping by, and check out the "Scavenger Hunt Sunday" link below for some other photographers' interpretations of the prompts.  As always, I enjoy reading your perspective too so feel free to leave a comment!

--Kathy

linked to:

I learned: it's okay to play with your food...

Just stating the obvious here but, I do love photography. It has taught me so much beyond the mechanics and techniques of shooting a photo (which are the two things I know the LEAST about!). Probably the biggest lesson I've learned is that there is beauty in the everyday mundane and ignored. All you have to do is...notice it.  

Yes, my family can attest to the fact that I notice ALOT of unnoticeable things.  And, I'm pretty sure I am the "Queen of Mundane"...just ask my kids.   Can't imagine WHY Thing #3 rolled her eyes when I said to her "hey, come look at my spaghetti pictures...they look like an amoeba!" Which lead to the inevitable...dinner was late because mom was photographing it!  You know, sometimes it's just okay to play with your food.

My fascination with the spaghetti was the accidental end result of a photo scavenger hunt prompt that had me breaking out in a cold sweat...GEOMETRY!!!  

My last encounter with Geometry was in the 10th grade with Mr. Walter Staller.  My mind worked overtime in that class...chiefly trying to figure out how it was possible one man could sweat that profusely!  The only geometric patterns that kept my attention were his daily God awful combos of plaid polyester pants that he paired with various clashing patterned ties. Mr. Staller did give me a passing grade tho, barely!  But I'm pretty sure it was pay off for promising him I wouldn't take another math course...ever.

Fast forward to my freshman year at Penn State when I was informed my toxic relationship with math would continue. This time my tears just didn't work on the professor.  I was enrolled in Math 35, aptly named "Mathematics for the Non-Mathematically Inclined Student".   We spent the semester figuring out which pocket a billiard ball would go into, related to the angle the ball was hit. FYI, my pleas for help resulted in alot of cursing from the guys who lived on the Engineering floor below me because...they couldn't understand it either!  Seriously??!!??  I barely passed THAT class too. But I was DONE with math, or so I thought.

As I was pondering dinner the other night and pulled out the mundane and usually ignored box of spaghetti, a light bulb went off and I started playing with my food. Converging lines and angles...voila!  That IS Geometry, isn't it?  Mr. Staller would be so proud...if he remembered me at all.

Which also provided me another valuable lesson...math can be beautiful, despite profuse sweating and questionable fashion choices.   It only took me a lifetime to notice THAT!

--Kathy

AHA! Moment...

Have you ever had an "AHA!" moment?   You know, the  kind of moment that if you were a cartoon character an actual light bulb would appear drawn over your head?  (FYI...I'd be Judy Jetson.  Which means no lightbulb but perhaps a lasar shooting over my head).

I travelled to Germany with my better half in 2005.  I was armed with only a pocket digital camera that my husband had to tutor me on over, and over and over again.  Sometimes things just go in my one ear and right on out the other, without ANY sort of obstacle to slow it down along the path.  This mysterious phenomenon occurs when the info has to do with anything technical...I mean ANYTHING!  Don't even get me started on how to turn on the monstrosity of a television the better half had installed in our basement. I swear the remote control sits on the coffee table laughing at me.  My eyes glaze over whenever a lesson on "how to turn on the television" is on the agenda.

Wurttenberg, Germany

This trip was the first time I used a camera for anything other than taking photos of Things #1-3 in many, many years.  It wasn't until we returned home and the better half downloaded all my photos onto the computer (I TOLD you I didn't listen to anything "technical") that I took a gander and realized WOW...I could possibly be "okay" at taking photos.  It took another 5 years, and LOTS of aggravating prodding from the better half,  for me to give up my pocket digital for something a little more elaborate. I just saw no use for anything bigger with more options (truth be told it just plain old scared me).  I was content with a  pocket digital that I could throw in my purse and not have to worry about carrying when my arms were meant to be used for seeing how many different bottles of wine I could carry back to the hotel at the end of the day.  Yes, I do love my comfort zone.  

Wurttenburg, Germany

These are the two photos that provided me MY Aha! moment and propelled me on my journey.  And I have been remiss and very tardy in thanking my better half for providing me with both the newer camera AND the extra arms to carry those bottles of wine, since mine are now full.  So thank you, and I GUESS if you want me to learn how to turn on the new television I could try to pay attention more seriously...but could I please have a glass of wine to help calm me?

Wishing you many AHA! moments of your own...

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (#3)...

WOW!  A week sure flies by when you spend it with a camera around your neck.  Some might consider that an albatross, but I loved the fashion accessory...not so sure my family did tho.  That's what happens when Ashley decides to give some challenging prompts for this week's "Ramblings and Photos" Scavenger Hunt.  Again, I was forced to think outside of the box on a few...but boxes are highly over rated anyway.  Hope you enjoy!  And check out the link if you want to see some amazing interpretations by other photographers.  

1.  Frame within a frame

I swear I wasn't driving while I clicked officer!  When corn fields are your only company, it's pretty safe to just stop in the middle of the road.  Afterall, I could see waaaaaaaaay behind me in the rearview mirror in case a groundhog snuck up on me.  Safety first!

2.  Against the light

I always try to avoid shooting directly into the light, so I'm not very good at it.  But I kind of like how the bristles of the cat tail shine when viewed with the sun as a backdrop...I think.   Gorgeous clouds this day!  Jury is still out on how I feel about this photo tho.

And because I'm not totally satisfied with this week's photo, I'm opting to pull one out of the archives.
It is a more literal interpretation of "Against the Lights".   Street lights against the City of Lights. That's Lights x 2!

3.  Best part of your day

I don't believe in love at first sight, but shoes?  THAT's a different story.  I am the legal guardian of a fairly extensive shoe collection.  Which just goes to prove I have lots of love to give.  The favorite part of my day?  Well, it doesn't happen often enough BUT it is the time of the day when I get to dress up and step out in some patent leather pumps for the evening.  Truth be told, there are more days that I just gaze longingly at them in my closet than actually get to wear them....and I have to admit I kind of like that part of my day too.  Yes, they jack my height up to 5'10", and it is probably no coincidence my favorites are "Phillies" red....but who wants to blend into a crowd?

4.  Buttons

You really didn't want to see MY belly button did ya?

5.  Ink

Ink was a stumper for me.  That is, until I started going thru the boxes of family photos that I SWEAR I am going to organize for my cousins one of these days.  There spread out on the table in front of me were lots, and lots, and lots of old GERMANS...in ink!  Talk about thinking "out of the box" (sorry, couldn't resist!).  I felt it screamed for a splash of red, so out to the garden I went. I'm enamored with my great-grandfather's sister in the lower right corner with the fox stole and muff....the lovely Hedwig.  I'll bet she would have loved red patent leather pumps too!



I got a real sense of accomplishment with this week's collection. It really forced me to look for photo-ops where I thought none existed. To see things in a way others might not have noticed.  It reminded me what it is about photography that I love.

Thanks for visiting and please feel free to leave comments!

--Kathy

Phav Photo of the Week...

"Alarm Clock"

Dog #2

It's all in the eye of the beholder.  And this is what MY eye beholds first thing every morning...Dog #2.  And yes, my camera is on my bedside table (no comments please!). It's a morning routine I've grown quite accustom too. First comes the warm dog breath on my face, followed by this view thru my squinting eyes.  Personally....it's my favorite kind of alarm clock.  If only it came with a breath mint!

--Kathy

Out of the Blue...

- I've Got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day -

I was going to  hold off  posting these photos until next week when I had more time to go thru and tweak them a bit. BUT as I sit at my computer I can hear the rain bouncing off my windows.  It's pretty grey and dreary today.  I could use a little sunshine and blue right about now, so sometimes ya just gotta throw your plans out of the window. Which will ALSO be my explanation when my better half gets home from work today and discovers he STILL doesn't have any clean jeans to wear!

This past weekend we headed back to the old stomping grounds in Berks County.  For those unfamiliar with Berks County, it's the land of corn fields, Amish, apple dumplings and everything Pennsylvania  Dutch.  We lived here for 25 years and just relocated to Philly last year.  But Thing #3 had an ortho appointment and I decided to take my camera and use the visit to traipse thru some corn fields.  Can you believe Thing #3 would rather have her brackets tightened than join me???

I know, some think I'm crazy for wanting to move away from this.  But 25 years of corn fields is a LONG time!  And sometimes you just don't appreciate the beauty until you are removed from it.  Sort of how I felt when I was re-introduced to the Sephora store and Trader Joe's near my new home!

These were GREAT roads to bike on, something I haven't found yet at my new home.  Altho, can't say I miss the adventures of dodging groundhogs on many of those rides. FYI, those buggers are AMAZINGLY quick  and have a very warped sense of humor!

Country roads, take me home...

 Thanks for visiting!  Comments always welcomed and appreciated.

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (#2)...

It's Sunday which means....scavenger hunt time.  Thanks to Ashley at Ramblings and Photos for this week's challenges.  Check out her link if you want to see some AMAZING contributions!  Some of my interpretations of the scavenger hunt items might be a bit of a "stretch'.  But HEY!  Isn't that the sign of a true genius and creative thinker...thinking outside of the box?  Or, it could just mean I was scrambling.  Either way...here it goes:

1.  Seeing Double/Two

This was fun!  Anyone who knows me is aware I MIGHT have a baseball or two laying around the house, and a son who I swear was born with one (or TWO) in his hand.  Thing #1 was a bit bummed that he only got to hold two baseballs as he swears he can fit FIVE of them in his paw.  If "fives" ever come up as a scavenger hunt item I know where to go and he can prove it to me...stay tuned!

And because the subject was "doubles", I do believe that gives me cart blanche to include TWO photos of baseballs. Which happens to work well because I just couldn't decide between these two shots!  I love antiqued treatments on baseball photos...they go together like peanuts and popcorn.


2.  Sweet

Honestly, this ISN'T a stretch here!  If you are a Phillies fan you KNOW Chase Utley is one heck of a SWEET player.  And if you aren't a Phillies fan, all you have to do is just look at him...saaaaaWEEEEEEEET!!!!!



3.  Bright

I drove to my parents home in Elizabethtown, PA on a bright and sunny day this past week.   Let me clarify...a  VERY bright and VERY sunny day.   As I passed by the E-town movie theatre the shadows on the marquee caught my eye immediately and I pulled in for some photos.  Look how crisp and clear those shadows are!  You know...I COULD have used this for my "Seeing Double/Two" category too.  That should be worth bonus points!


4.  Space

When I was little, my parents had a record case for their collection of 45's that I use to steal and keep in my bedroom (do I need to explain what a 45 is?).  I loved playing those records and singing along.   My favorite was a Perry Como song who's main line was "Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day."  Whenever I see these sun flares shining thru trees I immediately think of that song. They look like falling stars shooting down from space.


5.  Whatever

I have to admit this one stumped me until the very last minute.  I had a couple of different ideas brewing, before I shot this photo of Thing #3 today while she was immersed with her cell phone during lunch.  If I was going to be ignored, I decided to use my "alone time" to experiment with some different camera settings.  It REALLY irked her to be my subject, which made us even because I was REALLY irked she was on her cell phone!  My last minute scramble to find something to satisfy "whatever" is probably my favorite this week.  I love the imperfect nature of it.  Thing #3 will probably look at it, roll her eyes and mutter...WHATEVER!

Thanks for stopping by.   Please feel free to leave comments.  It makes me feel like I'm not talking to myself...you mom's know what I mean!

--Kathy

Travel-scapes... Beware! Black cats crossing

The rain in Spain doesn't fall mainly on the plain...it apparently falls non-stop in Germany when Thing #2 and moi are there!  There IS a positive tho, it forced us to learn strategic photo taking skills.   Afterall, there's a fine art to balancing an umbrella and eating a Brat in one hand, while clicking away on your camera with the other.  The problem lies in trying to down a German beer at the same time...which will require another trip to Germany to perfect the technique!  This kind of multi-tasking I like.  We also found that we could survive two weeks together without any serious bodily or lasting emotional damage to each other. Which also taught us to never underestimate the magical powers of German beers and Rieslings!

Zeller Schwarze Katz (Zell Black Cats)

Zell, Germany

One of our stops was the village of Zell, Germany along the Moselle River.  Zell achieved local wine immortality when three wine merchants were negotiating to purchase the town's best wine at a local winery.  The winery's black cat, without prompting, leaped atop a wine cask, spitting and hissing at all who approached.  The wine merchants had found their wine and it made them immensely wealthy.  Today Zeller Schwarze Katz (Zell's Black Cat) is one of the region's top-selling Rieslings.

Everywhere you look in the town of Zell, black cats look back at you.  Statues, signage, wine labels, restaurant and store names.  Sort of Zell's smaller equivalent to Budweiser in St. Louis, and Guiness in Dublin.  But cutest of all are the town's "Zeller Schwarze Katz", a group of little girls dressed as black cats who sing a welcoming song upon arrival at local wine events.  I came upon these little cats as they prepared to perform and the leader was busy shooshing them all together in an attempt to organize.   Apparently little girls all over the world are the same....they are easily distracted by the allure of having their photo taken.  Definetly a black cat I didn't mind crossing my path.

--Kathy

The best thing to do when it's raining...

...is JUST LET IT RAIN!  Especially when the rain comes out of the blue.

There's no fighting Mother Nature, she's a woman hell bent on a mission this summer! As if  Philly folk don't find enough to complain about on our own:  pot holes (ouch!), Howard Eskin (HATE him!), traffic on the Schuylkill (just shoot me!), Andy Reid (get him another cheesesteak wit whiz...STAT!), PECO energy bills (ouch again!), Met's fans (haha!) .... NEW JERSEY (with the caveats of the shore, tomatoes, peaches and my Jersey cousins)....whew!!

We're pretty hardy H-H-H (hazy, hot and humid) veterans here.  But THIS summer Mother Nature has upped the ante and outdone herself with a long string of record breaking temps into the 100's (without the heat index).  Everything is parched, the well-manicured lawns are golden and brittle as straw, the dogs won't go outside without a shove, air conditioner units are groaning under the workload, and PECO profit ledgers are grinning.  Where is a Good Humour truck when you need one?  No such thing as a good hair day...just twist it up into a clip,  put on the sunglasses and no one will notice both your hair and make-up melting, or at least pretend not to.

So when the sun decided to take a power-nap out of the blue last week, it was glorious and I headed out with my camera to...just let it rain.  My hair was already twisted up and the make up had long ago melted, so what was a little rain gonna do to me?

"It's raining, it's pouring..."

"Flowers never bend with the rainfall"
- Simon and Garfunkel

"When the rain comes down in the summertime, 

the leaves start dripping when the sun starts to shine"

-America

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens"

"When it's over, so they say...it will rain a sunny day.  

I know, shining down like water."  

- Creedance Clearwater Revival

Thanks rain, I was getting REALLY tired of having to water my flowers anyway! 

--Kathy