All That Glitters....

Magnolia seed pods decked out for the holidays.....seen at River Farm, headquarters of the American Horticultural Society

Be the Light

December Rose

Photos Selected for 2018 Gardeners of America Calender

It's rather nippy outside right now, but I am looking at photos of tulips indoors, as I just received notice that two of my spring photos will be included in the 2018 Gardeners of America calendar.   A pleasant start to the week!

2nd Place Best in Show Winner

As I sorted through emails yesterday afternoon after a morning working at Mount Vernon, I glanced through one from a gallery in Los Angeles where one of my photos is in a juried show.  The show is titled "Small Towns and Rural Places".   I had to take a second glance....as I realized that my photo was awarded the 2nd place Best in Show.  I am honored.

Metallurgy Day at St. Albans

A couple of weeks ago, we participated in the 4th annual Metallurgy Day, at St. Albans.  It's always a lot of fun and is our only demo where we are guaranteed to hear odes on metallurgy performed next to the coal fire....   It is also one of our few demos where the students are allowed to help Jeff forge.  This year, Jeff made an entire set of cooking implements, which will be taken on a journey to Alaska by one of the school's professors.   

Jeff's Demo at Claude Moore Colonial Market Fair

Here are some scenes from a lovely day:

 

 

52 Frames -- Freeze the Action

My submission to 52 Frames for the theme: "Freeze the Action".

Unity

My submission for Week #40 in 52 Frames -- Unity:

"Every particular in nature, a leaf, a drop, a crystal, a moment in time is related to the whole, and partakes of the perfection of the whole."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

A New Photo Project

I decided to join the 52 Frames community for a new photo project -- every week, there's a new theme and everyone (and it's a huge community!) submits to a shared photo album that he/she has taken in the week.   Last week, the theme was "Path".

This is the photo I chose...

And, this was the runner-up, which I love, but it didn't speak to me as clearly on the theme as the other one did.  Choices, choices...

All told, I probably had several hundred photos on the theme by the end of the week.  It's a total myth that photographers, or writers, or painters...don't revise, edit, and re-do!  

A Pot Rack Becomes a Back-Pack Rack!

Jeff made this pot rack a couple of years ago, but we've never used it for its intended purpose.  This fall, though, we discovered a wonderful use for it in our entry way!

It's Never Simple...

We have a blacksmithing demo this Saturday, but Jeff, his truck, and his trailer were rear-ended Monday evening.  This is the state of things... and we always make sure to get to our work, so we've figured out an answer!

Jeff's Demo at Manassas Civil War Days

Here are some scenes from Jeff's demo this weekend at Liberia Plantation for the Manassas Civil War Days: