When you can't see...

...but you can envision.

"The Last Rose"

Ambler, Pennsylvania

Breaking the rules can sometimes result in a happy surprise.  Just don't tell my Things I copped to that.   It flies directly in the face of everything I've drummed into them their entire lives.

Rules say don't shoot a photo directly into the sun.   This is the one rule of photography I love to break.  And break often.  The last rose of the season. The sun was so bright, I couldn't even see an image when looking into my camera.  I was completely blinded.  But I could envision it.  I knew it was there, and that it was going to be a definite rule breaker.  

The last rose of the season.  But not the last rule breaker.  

(disclaimer:  only the complete lack of abiding by rules was used in the making of these photos...no textures or overlays were utilized)

Here's where I "link up" today.

(click on image for description of Song-ography)

Next Tuesday's Song-ography title is "Small Town" by John Mellenkamp.

Come back and link up!

"I am a great and sublime fool...

...But then I am God's fool,

and all His work must be contemplated with respect."

-Mark Twain

"April Cometh"

April 1st.  April Fool's Day.  Go forth and celebrate the foolish things you do with enthusiasm.

Here's where I "link up" today.

Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.

This week's song title is Pharrell Williams' "Happy".

Song-ography, the "Here Comes the Sun" edition...

Welcome to the "Here Comes the Sun",  (doo, doo, doo, doo) edition of Song-ography.  Preparing this a few days early 'cause I will be Jersey Shore-ing it this weekend..fist pump!  Hoping both the sun is shining AND the hotel I'm staying at has Internet, like they claim they do, so this link-up posts on time.  If that happens, then I say it's alright (doo, doo, doo, doo).

So many different ways to interpret this song title.  So many new photographs I could use. So I did. Just so happens the sun has been in crazy hazy, hot, and humid abundance around here lately (doo, doo, doo, doo).  Soooo, here comes the sun little darlin'...

"Sun Dresses"

"Sun Flowers"

"Sun Bathing"

(It's so easy finding my sun whorshipper around the house, just look for the sun spot)

"Walking on Sunshine"

(Thanks to the Better Half for calling me outside 'cause he found a photographic spider for moi, when he REALLY should have been weeding!)

"Morning Sun"

"Taking Aim at the Sun"

Can't wait to see how everyone interpreted George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun".  But before linking up, take a look at next week's song title. After the easy-peasy one this week, I'm going to challenge you a bit.  I think you can handle it...

"Lean on Me"

Bill Withers

Just a reminder, you can interpret the song titles ANY way you'd like.  I post the video to the song just so you can hear it, doesn't mean you have to interpret it literally.  Take creative license.  Also, if you have a suggestion for a song title you'd like to see here on Song-ography...send me an email or post it in the comments.

An InLinkz Link-up

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (3/17/2013)...

Welcome to the Saint Paddy's Day edition of Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  Let the Irish proverbs and blessings prevail.  After all, we are ALL a weeeeee bit Irish today.  Hoist a pint...Slainte.

The prompts this week are:  Irish, Lucky, Daylight, Pot of Gold, Clover


1.  Irish

"Shamrock Shot Glass"


I-rish you a very nice place to live,
I-rish you God's greatest gifts he'll give.
I-rish you health, and wealth and more.
I-rish your smiling face were at my door.

2.  Lucky

"Lucky Girl"

New Hope - Lambertville Bridge

May you always walk in sunshine,
may you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings,
right beside your door.

3.  Daylight

"May the Sun Shine All Day Long"

Lambertville, PA

i-phone (no filters)

May the sun shine all day long,
everything go right, and nothing go wrong.
May those you love bring love back to you,
and may all the wishes you wish come true.

4.  Pot of Gold

"Pot o' Tulips"


May flowers always line your path
and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you,
every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you,
in a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day,
your whole life thru.

5.  Clover

"Irish Bling"

For each petal on the shamrock

this brings a wish  your way.

Good heath, good luck, and happiness

for today and every day.

Happy St. Paddy's Day, Erin go bragh...

--Kathy

linked to:   Scavenger Hunt Sunday, Weekly Top Shot, Sunday Snapshot, Simple Things, Sundays In My City

The streets they shine like silver...

"Philly at Dusk"
Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA

SOMETIMES being in a rush helps.  SOMETIMES the circumstances are just right.  SOMETIMES you just have to ignore the family unit when they are being swept away in the crowd and you want to take a photo.  SOMETIMES it takes no talent beyond simply jumping up on the top step and sticking your camera above the throng of people exiting the Academy of Music after seeing "Les Mis".  SOMETIMES, it just all works because..."the city streets they shine like silver".   Okay, maybe they just glowed a bit.

--Kathy

linked to:  Tuesdays Around the World, Tones on Tuesday, Our World Tuesday, Sweet Shot Tuesday

Thankful...

"Just Be"
Berks County, PA

Drove up to Lancaster County to visit with the padre.  As so often is the case, I never know what to expect once I walk thru the doors of the memory care facility.  The drive up is usually a stressful two hours of anticipation, and yes....often dread.  I am only able to visit with dad for about an hour.  Which is then followed by the two hour trip home.  Stress replaced by extreme sadness and helplessness.

As I was driving home down the turnpike to the strains of Les Mis'  "On My Own", via my playlist for such occasions appropriately entitled "Oh Woe is Me" (because I obviously can never have enough angst or sadness at times like these)...passing sown cornfield, after sown cornfield, after sown cornfield, brown, brown, and more brown...I happened to see something.  AND, even MORE amazing...I happened to notice it without it being too late to safely pull off the side of the road.  AND, even MORE amazing...there was an official emergency pull off with plenty of room so I didn't even have to risk my life getting out of the car on a berm.

And there it was.  A brilliant spectrum of light shining down thru the clouds on the dieing corn field.  Blanketing the sea of brown and whithered.  I stood there for quite some time looking up at the sky and the whole canvas in front of me.  And instead of sadness I felt thankful.  And a little less helpless.  Just like the Grinch (wrong holiday, but ya get my drift), I do believe my heart grew a bit bigger that moment.  Sometimes you have to "Just Be" in the moment to see a gift.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends.  I am going to take a few days off from blogging because I will have a home full of Things and the Better Half, the madre, the siblings and their fams, and of course DOGS.  Yes, I am thankful.

--Kathy

linked to:  Our World Tuesday, Inspiring Photography, Tuesdays Around the World, Sweet Shot Tuesday, 52 Weeks of Happiness,, Tones on Tuesday

Sometimes the day shines just a bit brighter...

"A Brighter Day"
New Hope, Pennsylvania

Today is one of those days that seems just a bit brighter than usual.  So proud of Thing #1.  Today he gets sworn into the Pennsylvania State Bar Association.  Yep, he passed his bar exam (the legal kind).  And he isn't even making me call him "Esquire", at least in public.  Heading up to the courthouse later this afternoon to beam just a bit brighter as a proud mom who takes credit for teaching him everything he knows about "arguing" a point, ad nauseum.  We are two peas in a pod when it comes to this, especially with each other.  One of his favorite things to say to me when we are in verbal combat is "Just swimming laps in your head Mom".  And it's soooo true.  Love ya Thing #1, proud of ya Thing #1, so glad I'm your mom Thing #1...and that ain't no swimming laps.

--Kathy

linked to:  This or That Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things,

Morning Has Broken...

"Morning Has Broken"

Ambler, PA

--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