Reflect

May your reflections 

of the past year

be bright,

and the tides of life bring you 

health and happiness in the New Year.

Recover

Recover is the last word of the year for the One Word at a Time Blog Carnival. I decided to participate,  because I feel guilty for always visiting the site and never contributing and after my knee surgery four weeks ago, recover is something I really want.

I've been fortunate in that I don't know what it is to recover from anything except for a broken collar bone as a child and the usual bouts with the common cold. In my 54 years of life, a torn meniscus is my biggest problem. I will recover.

I can say that because I want to walk and kneel and maybe even run again. I have the desire and drive to see that it will happen. It was just two days ago I started going down steps one leg at a time. It wasn't pretty, but it was one leg at a time.

I know that in order to recover, you need support. Family has picked up the slack around the house. Co-workers have given their words of encouragement and understanding. Most of all, I'm sure I've been the subject of a prayer or two. It's funny how I can feel some other force (not the right word) helping me along.

That's how I plan to recover; support, desire and prayer.

It will all be alright, I will recover.

Merry Christmas

 

“I am the light of the world. 

Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Well decorated

I can't help but thinking of those serving in the military around the holidays. 

How lonely it must be for anyone not to be with the ones they love at such a special time. 

January fourth, Jackie, a friend of mine is being deployed for her fourth tour of duty.  

Special prayers for all those who put on a uniform with the aim of protecting and serving.

Where has the time gone!

Sorry about the long hiatus from blogging. I never realized how much time a photographer spends on his knees, or using his knees or just plan needed working knees.  

Last week I went for a walk along the beach. Actually, I should say I took a feeble attempt at walking on the beach. Even though the good doctor has said my recovery is "a head of where it should be," I'm still disappointed with progress on steps (down) and kneeling. Soon I guess.

Today's post is from last Thursday. This is a group of photographers that volunteered their time to make family portraits for the less fortunate . This happened through an organized effort Help-Portrait and a great team leader, Joanne Henig  (Standing second form left). 

Yes, that me, kneeling down on my good knee. I really needed this to feel the spirit of the holiday this year.  I recommend it to all of my blogging friends; with  and without cameras. There's so much that needs to get done the more help the better.

P.S. Photo credit belongs to Mr. Henig.

Evening drive home

First, it was the color of the sky that I wanted to photograph, but the power lines were in the way. Then I pulled up to the intersection and the light turned red. 

So I made the photo  and used 

the lights 

and 

lines and sky. 

Just fun.

Trains and Christmas

I had to photograph a toy train display at the Town of Babylon Museum. They expanded an exhibit for the holiday season. 

When my boys were younger, we always set-up a train at the base of our Christmas tree. 

We haven't set it up in a few years, space, time and the boys being older all take a little of what makes it special, away.

 I also had to photograph a USO dance at a senior center. Many of the seniors wore uniforms and brought memorabilia from the wars. It was awesome.

Fog

Alcotts Pond in the fog. 

The unseasonably warm weather gave us fog this evening.  As I passed Alcotts Pond I had to turn the car around to make this photo.

Jet fuel

I passed this carrier truck and had to slow up to grab the photo as he passed me. I was really wondering what the driver behind me was thinking. 

Well, there's no jet fuel for me, but a friend of mine tells me to eat my greens... it will speed up my recovery. So greens will be my jet fuel.

700

I'm finding it difficult to bend to make the kind of photographs I like to make. And with stitches in my left knee, there's no kneeling.  

I went back to work on Monday, and of course I would get a job for Thursday to tour the local waterways by boat. I went out to photograph canals that are in need for dredging, The ride wasn't too bad. The water was calm and the weather was mild. I tried to sit on as much of the ride as possible. Yesterday I had a tree lighting which was all on my feet. 

I'm feeling a little less ok than I was yesterday morning, so I decided to take it easy today. So with my leg up and iced, college football on the tube and a good book to read; I'm all set for the rest of the day.

I can't believe that today's post makes number 700.