I spent New Year's day walking around a beautiful park and found myself marveling at the rich colors and textures to be found in the heart of winter. While the sun was out, there was a richness to the colors that you don't find in warmer seasons.

Christmas in Vermont

I know, I know. I've been dreadful at this lately. I'll try to fix that in short order. For now, let me share a few shots from my visit with my family over the holidays. Vermont is cold in Winter, but it is also beautiful. Only then do you se the branches, heavy and glistening with ice, arched over roads. And there's something magical about the smell of baking ginger bread  when the outside world is shrouded in white.

Elegance

I had the privilege of working with Regina of Bleu & Fig this past weekend for a tour of homes fundraiser with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to raise money for breast cancer awareness and prevention. While I only shot in one home, it was impressive to see the amount of care put into making a house look its finest for visitors. It was nice to see how even small details can make such a nice impression with Regina's talented eyes and hands.

Vermont IV

One of my favorite places to visit in "the kingdom" is Wheeler Mountain. A large structure made by Mother Nature of solid granite, it is at times a very gentle hike, and at other times a formidable crawl. Trying to figure how to tackle some areas on the way to the top is half the fun of getting there. Two observations that I came up with a long time ago come to mind every time I see Wheeler Mountain. These observations extend far beyond climbing a mountain.
1. When you are walking in the woods, stop and look around. You will almost always find a mushroom nearby if you look hard enough.
2. What I have learned from my camera lens is that something is always in focus, you just have to point it in the right direction.

Vermont III

These are some shots from my visit to Vermont when a few of us went apple picking. There was an assortment of apple varieties, and some of the trees have been around for decades. It's nice when you can pick an apple from each tree, taste it, and marvel at how very different each tastes. This is obvious, to those who make apple pies regularly. Some apples are best for eating, while others stand up well in pies. Either way, this is one of those moments in the year you wish you could press the pause button for weeks.

Vermont II

When you visit Vermont in the summer, there is one thing you must do a lot. Walk. And when you do walk, around every corner waits a small surprise, a little gift. Apple trees punctuate the roadside, weathered barns with rusted hinges can be found on any dirt road, and dandelions are making their last proclamations before the maple leaves turn gold and red. This is summer's last sigh for you to witness. But it's not just in Vermont. It's everywhere, so go, listen to it sigh.

Vermont I

I am fortunate to have grown up in a beautiful place. The rolling hills, the abundance of food fresh from the garden, dew that covers everything in the morning, the way people move to the rhythms of the seasons ... it's all rather bucolic and somewhat removed from ordinary life as I know it. I think people, urban and rural, are beginning to appreciate these things more and more. While urban tastes and lifestyles are taking root in unlikely places, so are rural values. Stop. Breathe. Look.

 

Stay tuned for more from a visit to my childhood home.

Flaneur

If you look up flaneur in a French dictionary, you might come across a definition that seems less than flattering, making reference to someone who likes to loiter, stroll, loaf or lounge.  When I was taking my last photography class, I was invited to be a flaneur. To loiter, and stroll. To loaf and lounge luxuriously. The idea was to slow down, stop even, and notice the little things around you. Depending on where you choose to loiter, you are going to notice very different things. A busy city street will yield something very different than a country lane or a farmer's market. Either way, it's worth checking out. The things that buzz and hum, or blare and trumpet. Go ahead, loiter. Let me know what you see.

Seventh Son Brewing Co.

There's a new place in town, called Seventh Son Brewing Co. If you live in Columbus, Ohio, you'll find it on the corner of 4th and 4th. (If you don't live in Columbus, you will still find it there, you just have to come to our town.) It is housed in what used to be a car garage for most of the 20th century. It's not like a dark bar, but a light place with big windows, places to sit in front, and a patio in back. They don't really serve food, but they invite a food truck to park in the lot where patrons can enjoy delicious Indian fare. The beer? That's good too. If you have difficulty deciding, order the flight of five beers and you're going to strike gold with one of them. My favorite for now is the American Strong. Come thirsty. Puppies permitted.