365 Project: June

"Mine is the Month of Roses; yes, and mine
The Month of Marriages! All pleasant sights
And scents, the fragrance of the blossoming vine,
The foliage of the valleys and the heights.
Mine are the longest days, the loveliest nights;
The mower's scythe makes music to my ear;
I am the mother of all dear delights;
I am the fairest daughter of the year."- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune, And over it softly her warm ear lays." - James R Lowell

"In summer, the song sings itself." -William Carlos Williams

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June." -L. M. Montgomery

You can see a slideshow of the 30 June photos here or view all of my 2010 photos to date here.

The three groups to which I contribute are 2010/365, EdTech 365/2010, and Project 365.

365 Project: August

"August rushes by like desert rainfall,
A flood of frenzied upheaval,
Expected,
But still catching me unprepared.
Like a match flame
Bursting on the scene,
Heat and haze of crimson sunsets.
Like a dream
Of moon and dark barely recalled,
A moment,
Shadows caught in a blink.
Like a quick kiss;
One wishes for more
But it suddenly turns to leave,
Dragging summer away."
- Elizabeth Maua Taylor, August

The month of August offered a satisfying blend of classic culture and pop culture, going places and just hanging out at home.

As in the past, the pictures which seem to attract the most views are those which feature my husband's artwork



A labeled display of his reloading accessories also proved popular. I'm lucky to have a spouse with such exceptional skills and interests!



It's very difficult for me to select favorites, since each photograph has its own special significance. For August, I choose "Plaid Memories" for nostalgia



and "The Mighty Hudson," a nature shot



This year, I won't be returning to my position as a school teacher/librarian. And, although I'm thoroughly enjoying retirement, I will greatly miss my colleagues and, most of all, my students.

When we visited the Washington County Fair last week, my relatives were astonished by the number of students who greeting me with a smile and a hug. So I close this month with one of their happy faces



"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." -Annie (Film)




You can see a slideshow of the 31 August photos here or view all of my 2009 photos to date here.

The two groups to which I contribute are 365/2009 and 2009/365.

365 Project: July

“Green how I want you green. Green wind. Green branches.” -Federico Garcia Lorca

Our summer came late this year. By July, I hungered for sunshine, flowers, and outdoor living. And the color green: many of my photos for this month contain a sprig, a splash, a dollop of green.

The most viewed photo was Crandall Park Pond, which showed the progress of a painting as it was created by my husband.



Surprise hits were Raindrops, which was favorited by 3 people



and Before and After, announcing the completion of my kitchen renovation.



Since I love the odd angle and unexpected capture, one of my own favorites this month would probably have to be Twist.


“If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come.” -Chinese Proverb


You can see a slideshow of the 31 July photos here or view all of my 2009 photos to date here.

The two groups to which I contribute are 365/2009 and 2009/365.

365 Project: June

The month of June brought many changes, not the least of which was my retirement.

Knowing that my career as a teacher/librarian was drawing to a close, I decided to include more pictures of students and school life. Flowers and holidays also appeared in some of the daily photos.

By far the most viewed image was Good Bye! As buses pulled out of the parking lot on the last day of school, elementary teachers gathered to give their students a rousing send off


I decided to include two "bonus" photos, one from my college yearbook


the other from a staff picnic/retirement celebration


since both images are associated with major changes in my life.

My favorite photos this month were The Visitor, because it was totally unplanned and unexpected (I didn't even SEE the insect until I cropped the photo!)


and A Grand Old Flag. This little girl is the first member of our extended family born in the 21st Century


I hope her life is as interesting and full of adventures as mine has been... and I'm not done yet!




You can see a slideshow of the 30 June photos (plus 2 "bonus" pix) here or view all of my 2009 photos to date here.

The two groups to which I contribute are 365/2009 and 2009/365.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

10 slides representative of my summer activities:

• I read the latest Harry Potter
• Went on a family trip to Yankee stadium
• Helped my daughter prepare for her wedding
• Attended a French & Indian War reenactment at Crown Point
• Photographed water lilies and other flora and fauna at Hovey Pond
• Worked on my blog and other online projects
• Wandered through an outdoor art exhibit in Congress Park
• Encountered an outdoor "Battle of the Bands" rehearsal while checking in at school
• Shopped
• Cheered on the horses at Saratoga Racetrack