Happy Halloween!...

An Autumn Morning...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just some random shots from the kitchen one morning...looking for inspiration...thinking about how October is already nearly gone.  I love this month for its colors of orange and yellow and russet and red.  I love it for its apples and pears, and pumpkins and candy.  I love it for its sunny, crisp days that insist you have to stay outside and for its rainy, raw days that bring you indoors...

Portraits...

Another assignment for photography class was on taking portraits.  Mr and Mrs R were kind enough to be my models for an afternoon.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I happily made my favorites of the day into a mosaic to join others at Mary's Mosaic Monday at  Little Red House...

Outstanding in the Field...

For a combined Mother's Day and Father's Day gift this year our daughters gave us tickets to a treat of a lifetime...reservations to a dinner sponsored by Outstanding in the Field.   Founded by a Californian artist, Jim Denevan,  the mission of this group is to re-connect diners with local food, the land it is grown on, the farmers that grow it, and the artisans who prepare it.   This was the first year that a dinner was held in RI and only the lucky ones who had heard of it early were able to get tickets...they sold out fast.  Our dinner was held at the Aquidneck Farms in Portsmouth, RI which raises grass fed beef and is situated on the Sakonnet River.   My words can't describe how beautiful the evening was but maybe my photos will...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we arrived we were first greeted with sparkling wine under this wonderful old tree...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We waited there only long enough to gather enough people for a hay ride around the farm with one of the farmers discussing how the farm was run and answering questions...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...We met some of the farm residents...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...then headed towards the river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here there were more servers waiting with local wine and the first courses...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The workers live on a bus for the five months that they travel around the country presenting these meals...

To get to the dinner table we walked towards the water...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...and there it was.

 

 

Long enough for 150 people...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The view was breathtaking...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

....The food was served family style and was simply amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Denevan sat across the table from us for part of the meal...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr O and I enjoyed ourselves completely...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We managed to miss a rainstorm and capture a small rainbow just as it was turning dark.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the meal ended with dessert wine  the candles were lit ...and the mosquitoes came out...Time to go home...

This was such a wonderful gift!...Thank you to my wonderful daughters!

Hallelujah...

 

As I was walking through the woods this song played through the ipod...the sound of the music, the smell of wet pine needles and leaves, the feel of crisp autumn  winds all mingled into a spiritual moment...

 

My favorite version of this song is Leonard Cohen's  most recent recording which can't be imbedded here...but I first heard it this way...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hallelujah indeed...

 

Leonard Cohen's voice can bring me to tears...Although this song has been covered by many, the only one to come close to Cohen's version is k.d.lang...in my opinion...

...

Hallelujah
from The Essential Leonard Cohen
LYRICS

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew her
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Black and White...

This week's assignment for photography class was black and white photography...I have occasionally converted a color pic to black and white but I have never used my camera's setting for black and white...It was fun and challenging to try something new...

...but I think I will continue to use color....

Maine 7...

Cadillac Mountain is well known for its beautiful sunrises...it is the first place on the eastern coast of the US to see the sun.  For me, however, it was much more reasonable to try and see some sunsets.  Sunset on the top of the mountain is a joyous event with lots of celebrants...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...it was well worth joining the crowd for...