Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Christmas Lights and a Silver Slivered Moon
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Cold Snap: String the Lights
We don't have snow but are experiencing the cold snap that is blanketing 50% of the country in snow. I put the lights on the blue spruce at the corner of the yard last night. Took some pictures early this morning. I like the hint of the moon's silver sliver.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Selecting a Kitchen Color Palette: A Place and Time for Everything - Everything in its Time and Place
How do you define a color palette for decorating a kitchen makeover? In an 1896 New England farmhouse? With consideration to a goodly wife with a penchant for cooking and baking and with a French heritage?
In years past, I had torn up the floor for a room where we eventually intend the kitchen to be, replaced with more sturdy floor joists, and then tiled the floor in a diagonal pattern with 12 inch square french farmhouse tiles. I had wanted some tile that had the look of old travertine but was less susceptible to dirt tracking and retention and would clean up fairly easily. The original intent was to move and upgrade the kitchen to that area.
But time has passed.
My wife has said more than once that we tend to collect items before we build the house or room to put the stuff in. I am guilty as charged. But recently, she had wanted one additional cabinet for our existing kitchen to gain some efficient storage and requested an added butcher block counter-top for one corner of the kitchen to add some counter space for a baking center. The project has since taken off in a completely unexpected direction and commitment after that initial request. Kind of superceding the "other" projects we had agreed to currently work on. Aaaah, me.
On a special birthday many moons ago, [Hint: My wife is perpetually 26 years old]...I bought a wonderful, porcelain-covered, combination wood-burning, coal, and gas-fired stove for her. To complement, not replace, her modern efficient stove, of course. HEAVY cast iron! Four burners. Oven. Overhead warming ovens. At a yard sale in town, no less. Great price.
It had a memorable provenance in that it was used in a family-restaurant business in MA and upstate NY. Allegedly, the restaurant had a famous chili dog relish recipe. There was nothing I could do to cajole the recipe from the owner, however. I have been seeking unique chili and relish recipes ever since to add to the stove's patina.
It is a World War I Victory Stove having been patented Independence Day July 4, 1916 in Taunton, MA not many miles from our homestead. This is beating swords and cannons into plowshares.
Manufactured by Barstow Iron Works.
It is a green-and-cream porcelain. The intent was eventually to build a kitchen around it. I think that project has started in a manner different then I had initially intended!
The stove reminds me of the old dairy farm our family visited in Ashby, MA when I a child. They had a similar wood-burning stove in the kitchen that was the farmhouse's sole heat source. When my sister and I would return home from the farm visits, we would hook up hoses and "milk" the wood-burning stove at our house as if it was a milking machine. Just like they milked the cows at the dairy farm! There are some old black and white photos depicting the humorous scenario buried somewhere in the family archives for which I don't have access. The memory image is in my mind's eye and deserves a painting some day.
We have since acquired numerous cast iron skillets, stove top toaster, stove top waffle iron, bean pots, etc. to accessorize the stove. A tin bread box was bought at some point. At that time, black would not have been my chosen color choice for a bread box.
At a later special (again, 26th) birthday, my wife received a Kitchen Aid mixer with all the accessories. In a color to match her old-fashioned kitchen stove. Green-and-cream, and stainless mixing bowls, porcelain pitchers, and matching utensil purchases like the whisk and flour sifter have accumulated over the years.
Years ago, we had purchased a set of dishes from Pier One Imports with a pleasing color palette that was suitable for French, Italian, American, spring, summer, fall, and winter cuisines. It was named Alexandria.
I had always thought I would like a kitchen with a color palette that would go with the dishes. Maybe even stenciling a similar pattern around the kitchen. Seemed of French heritage. Like my dear wife and daughters.
Then, this year, my middle daughter, Little Bit, and I went on the Boston Beacon Hill photo jaunt. The color palette of black, white, yellow, red, green, and gold was forged back into my memory as a pleasant combination. And reminiscent of the New England heritage. I tried a few palette combinations with online tools. Bought some yellow paint reminding me of farmhouse butter. Painted one wall. My girls didn't like it. It didn't resonate. It wasn't superb. A minor stall point.
Then we went to a store closeout to buy the butcher block counter top my wife wanted, and, after some protracted negotiations, ended up buying a store display shelf unit that was tomato red. After re-sizing it to fit our application, we found we liked the color and decided to not re-paint it to see how it looked. Nice against the green-and-creme mixing bowls. Highlights a pumpkin pie nicely.
A pleasing sight to display our canned tomatoes from the summer harvest. Spaghetti with home made sauce served weekly.
Years prior, we had bought a rural farmhouse picture with the entire palette in use in "When I Lay Me Down to Sleep, I Count My Blessings and Not My Sheep..." replete with a black and gold trim frame. But we had placed the picture in the wrong location and context and we had not given it prominence until recently. Once we refocused on it, this was used as the originating artifact as we tried to steer and aim at and nail down the palette selection for the kitchen.
We had purchased black braided rugs years ago with the picture to hide the accumulated dirt tracking in the high traffic farm kitchen. They matched the dishes and the picture frames.
So we went back to the design board, got more color swatches, and my wife and I worked out a more pleasing combination of the entire palette selection, not just the yellow. We balanced the intensity of the various colors better. Bought the paint. Painted a wall and a cabinet.
Bingo. We liked it. Got kind of excited about it. Started painting more. Building and changing cabinets some more. Liked it better. Started making other design decisions in the existing kitchen. Experimented some more. Yikes. It's progressing swiftly now as a Work-In-Progress.
Since we have started down this path, I realized that I have bought other things in the past that depict the palette. It's like Christmas uncovering the objects and rediscovering that I liked the palette all along.
I had bought a Punch Studio stationery set with file folders in a chinese and french pattern in years past.
I had bought three Watkins Washing Compound mugs purchased at yard sale this past summer. And using them frequently with my green tea and wheat-grass improving my health and maintain an alkaline metabolism.
Annually, my Mom would cut a few sprigs of bittersweet in season for me from her 1700's farmhouse property the last few years and drop it off during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. With her passing way this summer, this year I had to source it locally. It's basically a varmint vine and most folks try to eradicate it as a nuisance weed. Until it blooms in the fall! The kitchen emergent plan reminds me of my Mom's annual bittersweet endeavor much as life, and death, are bittersweet at times.
And lastly, I had an old lithograph from a yard sale or flea market with a bible verse inscribed and suitable for a kitchen. "Trust in the Lord and thou shalt be fed." Psalms 37:3. Suitable encouragement and promise of simple blessings during these days of unemployment. Had all the right colors. The frame seems old and original and the matte board is actually a dimpled gold not just yellow. In taking pictures of it for today's blog, though, I think I should replace the glass front with a non-glare glass to get the best effect of the lithographic color intensity.
So I have had affirming evidence from my previous jaunts and purchases and memories to affirm the color palette for our kitchen makeover. Memories. Objects d'Art. A historical portfolio of decisions and selections. Finally arriving at something that pulls it all together. This is many years in the making to arrive at this point this year. Serendipity. The Artistic Endeavor. The Creative Pursuit. The Journey. The Daily Walk. Living the Moment.
I have just a small inkling of happiness as we put together this personal space of a kitchen where we spend much of our family time. It's nice to be working this as we come into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.
In years past, I had torn up the floor for a room where we eventually intend the kitchen to be, replaced with more sturdy floor joists, and then tiled the floor in a diagonal pattern with 12 inch square french farmhouse tiles. I had wanted some tile that had the look of old travertine but was less susceptible to dirt tracking and retention and would clean up fairly easily. The original intent was to move and upgrade the kitchen to that area.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Diagonal French Tiles
But time has passed.
My wife has said more than once that we tend to collect items before we build the house or room to put the stuff in. I am guilty as charged. But recently, she had wanted one additional cabinet for our existing kitchen to gain some efficient storage and requested an added butcher block counter-top for one corner of the kitchen to add some counter space for a baking center. The project has since taken off in a completely unexpected direction and commitment after that initial request. Kind of superceding the "other" projects we had agreed to currently work on. Aaaah, me.
On a special birthday many moons ago, [Hint: My wife is perpetually 26 years old]...I bought a wonderful, porcelain-covered, combination wood-burning, coal, and gas-fired stove for her. To complement, not replace, her modern efficient stove, of course. HEAVY cast iron! Four burners. Oven. Overhead warming ovens. At a yard sale in town, no less. Great price.
It had a memorable provenance in that it was used in a family-restaurant business in MA and upstate NY. Allegedly, the restaurant had a famous chili dog relish recipe. There was nothing I could do to cajole the recipe from the owner, however. I have been seeking unique chili and relish recipes ever since to add to the stove's patina.
It is a World War I Victory Stove having been patented Independence Day July 4, 1916 in Taunton, MA not many miles from our homestead. This is beating swords and cannons into plowshares.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Independence Day WWI Victory Stove
Manufactured by Barstow Iron Works.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Barstow Stoves Taunton MA
It is a green-and-cream porcelain. The intent was eventually to build a kitchen around it. I think that project has started in a manner different then I had initially intended!
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Green-and-Cream Porcelain Wood Cook Stove
The stove reminds me of the old dairy farm our family visited in Ashby, MA when I a child. They had a similar wood-burning stove in the kitchen that was the farmhouse's sole heat source. When my sister and I would return home from the farm visits, we would hook up hoses and "milk" the wood-burning stove at our house as if it was a milking machine. Just like they milked the cows at the dairy farm! There are some old black and white photos depicting the humorous scenario buried somewhere in the family archives for which I don't have access. The memory image is in my mind's eye and deserves a painting some day.
We have since acquired numerous cast iron skillets, stove top toaster, stove top waffle iron, bean pots, etc. to accessorize the stove. A tin bread box was bought at some point. At that time, black would not have been my chosen color choice for a bread box.
At a later special (again, 26th) birthday, my wife received a Kitchen Aid mixer with all the accessories. In a color to match her old-fashioned kitchen stove. Green-and-cream, and stainless mixing bowls, porcelain pitchers, and matching utensil purchases like the whisk and flour sifter have accumulated over the years.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Green-and Cream Kitchen Aid Mixer and Accessories
Years ago, we had purchased a set of dishes from Pier One Imports with a pleasing color palette that was suitable for French, Italian, American, spring, summer, fall, and winter cuisines. It was named Alexandria.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Pier One Imports Alexandria Dishes
I had always thought I would like a kitchen with a color palette that would go with the dishes. Maybe even stenciling a similar pattern around the kitchen. Seemed of French heritage. Like my dear wife and daughters.
Then, this year, my middle daughter, Little Bit, and I went on the Boston Beacon Hill photo jaunt. The color palette of black, white, yellow, red, green, and gold was forged back into my memory as a pleasant combination. And reminiscent of the New England heritage. I tried a few palette combinations with online tools. Bought some yellow paint reminding me of farmhouse butter. Painted one wall. My girls didn't like it. It didn't resonate. It wasn't superb. A minor stall point.
Then we went to a store closeout to buy the butcher block counter top my wife wanted, and, after some protracted negotiations, ended up buying a store display shelf unit that was tomato red. After re-sizing it to fit our application, we found we liked the color and decided to not re-paint it to see how it looked. Nice against the green-and-creme mixing bowls. Highlights a pumpkin pie nicely.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Green-and Cream with Tomato Red
A pleasing sight to display our canned tomatoes from the summer harvest. Spaghetti with home made sauce served weekly.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Tomato Harvest With New Shelves
Years prior, we had bought a rural farmhouse picture with the entire palette in use in "When I Lay Me Down to Sleep, I Count My Blessings and Not My Sheep..." replete with a black and gold trim frame. But we had placed the picture in the wrong location and context and we had not given it prominence until recently. Once we refocused on it, this was used as the originating artifact as we tried to steer and aim at and nail down the palette selection for the kitchen.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 When I Lay Me Down to Sleep
We had purchased black braided rugs years ago with the picture to hide the accumulated dirt tracking in the high traffic farm kitchen. They matched the dishes and the picture frames.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Braided Rugs
So we went back to the design board, got more color swatches, and my wife and I worked out a more pleasing combination of the entire palette selection, not just the yellow. We balanced the intensity of the various colors better. Bought the paint. Painted a wall and a cabinet.
Bingo. We liked it. Got kind of excited about it. Started painting more. Building and changing cabinets some more. Liked it better. Started making other design decisions in the existing kitchen. Experimented some more. Yikes. It's progressing swiftly now as a Work-In-Progress.
Since we have started down this path, I realized that I have bought other things in the past that depict the palette. It's like Christmas uncovering the objects and rediscovering that I liked the palette all along.
I had bought a Punch Studio stationery set with file folders in a chinese and french pattern in years past.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Punch Studio Stationery Set
I had bought three Watkins Washing Compound mugs purchased at yard sale this past summer. And using them frequently with my green tea and wheat-grass improving my health and maintain an alkaline metabolism.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Watkins Washing Compound Mug
Annually, my Mom would cut a few sprigs of bittersweet in season for me from her 1700's farmhouse property the last few years and drop it off during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. With her passing way this summer, this year I had to source it locally. It's basically a varmint vine and most folks try to eradicate it as a nuisance weed. Until it blooms in the fall! The kitchen emergent plan reminds me of my Mom's annual bittersweet endeavor much as life, and death, are bittersweet at times.
And lastly, I had an old lithograph from a yard sale or flea market with a bible verse inscribed and suitable for a kitchen. "Trust in the Lord and thou shalt be fed." Psalms 37:3. Suitable encouragement and promise of simple blessings during these days of unemployment. Had all the right colors. The frame seems old and original and the matte board is actually a dimpled gold not just yellow. In taking pictures of it for today's blog, though, I think I should replace the glass front with a non-glare glass to get the best effect of the lithographic color intensity.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Trust in the Lord and Though Shalt Be Fed - Psalms 37:3
So I have had affirming evidence from my previous jaunts and purchases and memories to affirm the color palette for our kitchen makeover. Memories. Objects d'Art. A historical portfolio of decisions and selections. Finally arriving at something that pulls it all together. This is many years in the making to arrive at this point this year. Serendipity. The Artistic Endeavor. The Creative Pursuit. The Journey. The Daily Walk. Living the Moment.
I have just a small inkling of happiness as we put together this personal space of a kitchen where we spend much of our family time. It's nice to be working this as we come into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
First Snow: Snapshots of the Early Season
I just can't shake the feeling that I am not yet ready for the winter season. The snow has held off this long thus far and it hasn't been terribly cold for mid-November. I have been able to extend my working season outside to get some projects accomplished that I otherwise might not have finished.
First snow fall was this week. Very light but wet. So I captured some serendipitous pictures. Snow melted fast.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Global Warming
Some of the yard accessories and play equipment are not yet taken in for winter storage. My youngest daughter, Itsy Bit, and her friends are still playing earnestly after school days when they can be outside. I continue to intend to use the fire-pit some evening and burn up some small bits of construction wood. The days are just too busy to relax. Perhaps this weekend or next week during the Thanksgiving holiday when my college-age nursing student comes home. Family around the warm fire with cocoa or hot cider. Sounds like fun to work the catch-up conversations.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Sliding Out of Autumn
I recently added a tall casement window over the kitchen sink with a view out into the back yard. Here's a view out of the window below. A nice abstract with a touch of snow cap remaining. I would paint in a bright red cardinal singing to its mate though for a spot of color. Would make me think of my Mom. She always looked for the winter cardinals and counted them. Thanks Mom for the memories.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 A View Out the Back Kitchen Window
This coming week and weekend portends to have some mild days also. Maybe I can continue to play catch-up with my yard and cleanup errands. In the rush of daily living, today's pictures are my small attempt to stop and see things around me.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Tiepolo's Allegory of the Planets: Secondary Figures at Cornices
I am always reviewing art history on the web. This morning I found some figures by Giovanni Domenico Battista aka Tiepolo. The ceiling painting is The Allegory of the Planets. Detail views of the painting may be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art online collection.
I am particularly interested in the secondary cornice figures. The modeling, coloring, and shadowing is appealing to me. I have an unfinished larger painting from early in my journey that I have been wrestling with the approach for the figures. These examples are a quiet inspiration.
Details below are working from top-to-bottom and from left-to-right in the corners of the larger image above. I have chosen to retain them in their orientation rather than rotate them to lose the context in the larger painting. The photos below that I have captured are in a cool palette.
My objective is to have the figures pale as spirit figures but I will need to allow for reflected light from the environment for cohesiveness in my intended painting.
Onwards in the Daily Walk.
Internet Fair Use - The Allegory of the Planets by Tiepolo
I am particularly interested in the secondary cornice figures. The modeling, coloring, and shadowing is appealing to me. I have an unfinished larger painting from early in my journey that I have been wrestling with the approach for the figures. These examples are a quiet inspiration.
Details below are working from top-to-bottom and from left-to-right in the corners of the larger image above. I have chosen to retain them in their orientation rather than rotate them to lose the context in the larger painting. The photos below that I have captured are in a cool palette.
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Upper Left - Side
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Upper Left - Top
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Upper Right - Top
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Upper Right - Side
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Lower Left - Side
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Lower Left - Bottom
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Lower Right - Bottom
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Lower Right - Side
The three remaining pictures are in a warmer palette of selected views.
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Figure 01 Warm Palette
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Figure 02 Warm Palette
Internet Fair Use - Tiepolo Cornice Figure 03 Warm Palette
Onwards in the Daily Walk.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Serenity: A Morning Fog
This morning's sunrise was a quiet, peaceful fog. It felt restful after cleaning the yard and garden over the last couple of weeks. The neighbor's house was bathed in grey and framed in dark red foliage.
The last of the year's corn was gleaned from the edges of the garden. The stalk's are silhouetted against the morning fog.
The deep yellow corn and husks were wrapped for the squirrel's delight at the bird feeding station. The dried kernels were still sweet when I nibbled a few.
The roses continue to bloom against the arbor trellis. Brilliant against the emerging grey morning. With the playhouse in the background.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Bathed in Grey
The last of the year's corn was gleaned from the edges of the garden. The stalk's are silhouetted against the morning fog.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Corn Stalk Silhouettes
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Sweet Squirrel's Delight
The roses continue to bloom against the arbor trellis. Brilliant against the emerging grey morning. With the playhouse in the background.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Late Brilliant Blooms
The swing set for my youngest daughter, Itsy Bit, is in quiet repose in the morning fog. The girl's are all snug in their bed's on this Veteran's Day holiday morning and still collecting their beauty sleep. This is Itsy Bit's favorite play activity as stated in her second grade written essays. I have many images of moments in my mind's eye of feet kicking up high, long tresses flying, and happy, cyclic singing and chanting. It was a freebie from a yard sale last year having been brought up from a Texas playground originally. We are the third family to utilize its glee. Someday we will pass it on. I lament the sad future when Itsy Bit is too old to use it. Maybe there will be grandchildren by then to extend the fun?
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Swing Set in Quiet Repose
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 A Quiet Swing
The blue spruce in the corner of the yard has received its annual trimming and is ready for a Christmas light garland later this weekend.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Christmas Tree Readiness
Idle Acres appears to be moving towards some semblance of order in the autumn season for which I am thankful. My mom's dad, James Pearly Rines Sr., born in 1892, had used "Idle Acres" for his humble corner lot in Lunenburg, MA. The property was anything but idle. It is pleasing to me in remembrance to be able to use the moniker for our humble 1896 farmstead.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Idle Acres
But, of course, everything is not finished for the season. There are always just a few more things on the to-do list to be tidied up and finished on a farmstead. Always just one more project to be inserted into the finish line. The lamb's ear is still poking though the leaves in the rock garden. There is still some leaf gathering to be done to complete the vegetable garden bedding. Aaah me!
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Lamb's Ear Rock Garden
So I think the selected color palette of autumn bittersweet from the harvest season for the 1896 farmstead kitchen may be a good one. Barn red cabinets, yellow yarrow walls reminiscent of sweet squirrel corn, and artichoke green accents complemented by old oak and pine wood trim and black and gold highlights in the picture frames. A warmth and coziness to the color scheme fitting for a farmstead.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 New England Bittersweet
I offer a quiet and warm salute to our readers at the end of another harvest season on this Veterans Day holiday. I pray that each of you also have some achievements and blessings and memories and peace to celebrate in your life today.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Beautiful Autumn Days: But Winter is Coming
The fall foliage is waning.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Fall Foliage Waning
With twisted trunks leaning against the elements.
And leaves with dramatic curves in contrast against the sky and the conifers
.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Twisted Trunks
And leaves with dramatic curves in contrast against the sky and the conifers
.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Contrasting Foliage
The dark nights are filled with hazy full moons.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Full Hazy Moon
There is always so much to do to tidy the yard for the change in seasons.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Getting the Yard Ready for Winter
Seventy dozen bulbs have been placed and mulched into our corner garden in memory of my Mom's passing this year and my late Aunt Elaine from eight years ago. My favorite women who have influenced my life and my thinking and my values. Tulips. Daffodils. Grape hyacinth. New fritellaria, both vulpis and meleagris mix. Scheduled for early, middle, and late spring blooming. There should be great joy when the new life emerges after a season's repose in the cold, dark earth! How Mom and Elaine loved the flowers, color, and the birds in springtime!
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Seventy Dozen Bulbs Resting Till Spring
The garden has been pulled up, weeded, roto-tilled, and laid to rest with a bed of shredded leaves. I had a few sprigs of late broccoli, leaves of swiss chard, baby carrots, beet greens, and, lo and behold, there was a handful of late season raspberries! The only thing left for continued use is the kale.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Garden at Rest
My wife wanted an additional cabinet to organize in the kitchen and display some of the canned tomatoes and peaches. We bought the base cabinet to match the rest of the kitchen, modified a display cabinet from a store closeout for the upper tier, and added a butcher block top. Our design journey included selecting a palette for the kitchen which includes a yarrow yellow wall, an artichoke green, and the barn red for cabinets. Picture frames in black and in gold leaf on the walls. All the colors of the bittersweet vine. It's befitting for both American and French country decor. It matches our European style plate ware. It makes me think of our jaunt through the Boston Beacon Hill area last month. One of our visiting young friends looked around at the yellow walls and declared it "cheesy"! The double meaning is endearing!
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Palette of Bittersweet Vine
These decisions help us get started on a brief kitchen makeover. I added a window over the kitchen sink looking into the back yard this past weekend. We will see if we can spiff up the kitchen and finish before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The nights are turning colder so a gathering around the fire pit is soothing for mental health and family conversations.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Warmth on a Cool Night
These are beautiful, unseasonably warm autumn days in New England. But winter is coming and I am not ready. Trying to Live the Moment. But I am unsettled.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Simmons Spire: Been Watching This
Took a brief excursion into Boston the other day. Walked through the Simmons College campus and took a photo of this spire. I had seen it from other perspectives from the street side while on the move in the car. My daughter is going to school elsewhere in the vicinity so I have had frequent opportunities to view this.
But I enjoyed being able to capture this perspective at a closer view from the campus quadrangle during a walking pace.
But I enjoyed being able to capture this perspective at a closer view from the campus quadrangle during a walking pace.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Simmons College Spire
Friday, November 7, 2014
Blogging: A Devoted French Assistant
I can't say that the pursuit of happiness is something that has ever really been on the top of my goal list. As I get older though, there are some things from which I derive some momentary pleasure. Blogging is one. Spending time with my devoted French Assistant is the other. She quite obviously enjoys being fully involved with every event in my life. She wants to go everywhere I go.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 My French Assistant 01
Sometimes it is difficult to get any typing done.
Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Total Devotion
Although still abounding in youthful excitement, she exhibits separation anxiety from the family members. She is one of my life's simple unexpected pleasures.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)