Monday, July 30, 2012

About Me











My name is John. A longtime blog reader, the only reason I started a blog of my own is that Susan bugged me to do it, with the lure that I might learn how to take photos like hers, which I secretly collect.

I live in a small seaside New England town in a small house, which I adore. I live with my daughter, whom I will refer to as 'Anonymous', and a sweet but not cuddly, petite, black cat named Shady, who thinks she's a shoe. I have grey hair. "That means you have to listen to me," aimed at my high-school-aged daughter, not you, dear readers.

My mother's mother taught me to appreciate gardens. So I have a native perennial garden with ponds in the back. Last summer the entire back wall of my living room was made glass, with French doors that bring the sounds and smells from the garden and ponds into the house. Smart move. A second garden of more cultivated plants along the south rock wall is currently experiencing a phlox-plosion. For the first time I have a vegetable garden just down the street at our local Community Gardens: three raised beds, 3 x 16 feet each. Some of what I grow, I eat, and the rest goes to our local food pantry. It wasn't until this year that I had any success growing from seed. Radishes are freakin' awesome! There will be much more seeding in my future.

Although we are a small town, we have two public libraries and a Bookmobile. I prefer the smaller branch because of the drive through the woods to get there.

I chose to accept my assignment: read Jenna's blog, read Susannah's blog, put my little point-and-shoot camera near my car keys so I'd remember my photo assignment. For the first time, I took my camera lawn-mowing, and I took a photo of my hair, which was both strange and exciting. So far, so good. What happens next, Susan?

Sunday, July 22, 2012

NYC, June 2012

Here are some scenes from my cat/plant/house-sitting trip in Long Island City, Queens.

The wards: Max as in Maxine, and Icky as in Ichabod, both girls

The lovely Mlle. Max

Ickster, on a diet and taking matters (Greenies) into her own paws

Chess players at Union Square Park

Hoops at Washington Square

41 Cooper Square, at the Cooper Union