Time

This image says a lot to me. It's all about quiet, time passing in silence, waiting for the next train to come along. I'm feeling contemplative today about time. It's December 1st already! Where did the year go? It seems a lifetime ago that we rung in 2009, and now it's the last month of the year. Just a little reminder that we need to use our time wisely, we don't get it back. Enjoy each moment, even if we are just quietly waiting for the next train.

Colorful and Crisp

It is a grey, cloudy, rainy day this morning and I just needed some thing with bright color to post! So here it is, a nice little fall market shot, from the market in Padua. Doesn't it just make you want to eat a crisp, juicy apple or pear?

Inspirational Light

We've seen a lot of churches here in Italy. Some are giant, some are smaller. Almost always overwhelming, you can't take it in from one angle or without craning your neck up. Most are dark inside. Beautiful stained glass windows catch your eye and it's nice and cool on a hot summer day, but otherwise dim and uninspiring in my opinion. I need the light. Except, for this one day in a church in Verona, where the warm afternoon light was coming in and illuminating the pews. Beckoning the visitor to sit down in the light and ponder the nature of our existence. Or at least, capture the beautiful light and shadows it creates. That's my personal kind of pondering.

Lines

Sometimes a photo is about a subject, but other times it's about the light, or color, or shape of something. This one is about lines. I'm finding as I look back through my photos that I like lines, especially diagonal ones. It's also about grape vines, growing on a hillside in Bacharach in the Rhine River Valley. But mostly it's about lines. Alternating light and dark green across the frame. Squint your eyes, what do you see?

Up and up and up

This photo is all about moving lines. I love the swirl of the stairs up the tower. I didn't love climbing them, however! These steps are in the Torre dei Lamberti in Verona, and Laurie and I climbed up the 368 steps to the top of the bell tower. We were rewarded with a fantastic view of Verona, and the need for a rest when all was said and done.

By the way, my haircut came out great! See my new profile photo for the result. One of those "I should have done this a long time ago" things.

Thankful

We recently had a challenge in my online photo group for "what you are thankful for." I posted this picture of Patrick and Brandon. I'm thankful for my guys. It has been an exciting, wonderful, amazing year... that's also been a stressful, frustrating, tiring year. It's been a big change for us that has resulted in lots of ups and downs. But I can't imagine being here without them, it wouldn't be nearly as fun!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family today! We miss you.

Simple Joys of Childhood

One of the simplest joys of childhood, and maybe in life, is swinging... the breeze on your face, the momentary feeling of weightlessness, the view from the heights. When we see a park while we are travelling, we usually have to stop for some good swing time for Brandon. This was taken in Bacharach, Germany during our trip to the Rhine River Valley in July.

Today is a momentous day for my Italian adventure: I'm finally getting a haircut! After almost 8 months of putting it off, and not being able to get in with my stylist during my December trip to Corvallis for work, I am braving the complicated discussion of hair that is too thick, lengths, layers, styles. It's just gotten to the point of unmanageable, as you've probably seen in random pictures on Patrick's blog.

Reflections of Venezia

Venice, and the islands of Murano and Burano, may be one of my all time favorite placees to photograph. There is so much history and texture and reflection in the place. Every where you turn, every change in light, there is a new image to capture. Even with all of the tourists, you can imagine it in its grand heyday. The tacky trinket stands can't cover up the inherent elegance of Venice. I like this image, because it captures a quiet calm and very simply gives you a sense of place.

Color and Texture

Anyone who's looked through my albums knows that I love window shots. This one from Burano, a small island near Venice, is particularly interesting for the color and texture. Such a rich blue. Such a touchable texture. I could look at this all day!

Happy Monday to everyone!

First Photo a Day: Coffee as Art

Coffee is a passion in Italy. You can't go more than a block without running into another "bar" that serves caffe (coffee) and a wide variety of brioches (crispy croissants with some sweet filling). Cappucino is served here only in the morning as a breakfast drink, and the designs in the foam are an art form. You don't get a 12oz latte to go here! While I don't like coffee myself, I appreciate the beauty and ritual of it all. This cappucino is one that my sister got on our visit to Padua a couple of weeks ago. You can actually see her reflected in the spoon, how cool is that!

What's this "Photo a Day?"

In my online photo group, some folks try to take a photo a day. It's a wonderful way to see life in the everyday and keeps you in the photographic groove. I'm not up for taking a photo a day necessarily, it seems like "one more thing to do," but I've decided I'm going to try to POST a photo a day here to the blog. OK, I fully admit it might end up to be more like a few photos a week. :) I have taken so many wonderful pictures this year that I haven't edited and shared, that I thought this would be an easy way to share a few. And you'll also hear from me more often!

Where is the rain?

Have you ever bought something new to wear, and the weather will just not cooperate? I found some cute rain boots in Venice last weekend. I'm ready for the rain, and can now walk Brandon to school without getting soaking wet. So where did the rain go? I want to wear my cute new boots! I love these!

A self-portrait op presented itself, at the front door of our apartment building. Me and my Italian look, except I should be wearing black boots and not colorful rain boots. That's just me. :)

But maybe when it rains buckets for a few days I'll see more of the Italian rain boot fashion out and about. There are quite few rain boot choices for women here. Much better than in Oregon, where you would think you could find cute rain boots...

Family Visit!

Yesterday my mom, sister Laurie and cousin Heather arrived from the US for a week long visit. They arrived at our house midday, and after they had showered and rested a bit we went to Bergamo for a few hours, to walk around and keep them awake. We came home for a nice dinner of Minestrone soup Patrick had made and drank a couple of bottles of wine while we talked and got caught up.

Today everyone slept in and we finally headed out of the house into Milan in the afternoon. We had at 3:45 reservation to view Leonardo da Vinci's painting, The Last Supper, so we ate some lunch and then headed there. On the way back home we visited the duomo and then rode the Metro home. There is a whole story around a run-in with the officials on the Metro - I'll let Patrick tell on his blog, since he has the pictures, so be sure to head over there to catch that little escapade. :)

We are having fun! It's nice to have visitors here.