Life is What Happens...

While settling in to work on a few projects, the alert in my gallery rang (and rang, and rang - how many people just came in, anyway?). I went downstairs to respond and found a lovely family, looking for some music, and it turned out that Riley, the seven year-old, happened to be an Irish step-dancer. Alright, then, let's get out the fiddle. Lovely!

 

Holden, Riley, and Cooper

Monday Night Downtown

I took a walk into town last night. Things have definitely been quieter the past few days, and downtown has a different feel - dark earlier, fewer people, with a nostalgia in the air. Bittersweet. It happens every year.

 

The popular catamaran Mad Max, homeward bound.
I swear, some of these people seem like zombies to me. Is the apocalypse upon us?

A Little Night Fishing

I caught up with a couple of family members and a friend fishing for bait at Anthier's last evening (real fishermen catch their own bait). And, happy to say, the 50mm f/1.2 did a great job of turning night into day.

 

Boots and a hand-painted sword - essentials in any good fisherman's list of gear. 
Taking in the delights of the first cast, which included a mullet or two. 
Clinton, a fisher by name and by trade.
And the circle comes 'round again. I also have a photo of Clinton's grandfather Sandy fishing for quahaugs in this same spot (found it, see below - taken in July 2007 when Mr. Fisher was 91 years old).  The final result: a handsome bass. 

Rainy Sunday Morning

I happened to be out and about this morning, camera in hand of course (sporting my favorite 50mm lens), and was lucky enough to catch these gems. Some days I come home with nothing - people see me with my camera and say, "Oh, are you out taking pictures?" "Nope, just taking a walk but I always have a camera with me, just in case." 
Rose, Plantingfield Way
Clematis trailing all over town means September is close at hand.
Rob Coad, seemingly just waiting for someone to come along and take his picture.
Memorial Wharf
Drat it all, I wasn't fast enough for these girls, not with an umbrella in my hand, anyway. I like this one nonetheless.

Walk at Waskosim's

On Saturday afternoon I had a hankering to get out of town, and since I also had my 2022 calendar on my mind, and having recently done a family photo shoot at Waskosim's, I had a specific shot in the rocky field I wanted to try out. I headed up in the late afternoon, loaded only with my EOS R and one lens - my 35mm (my 15-35 is on its way!) - and hightailed it down the blue trail to where I thought I would find the field of stones - funny, even though I was able to find it easily a couple of weeks ago, this time I got off track a bit. Apparently it was only by sheer luck that I did not lead the family I was photographing, including two small children, on the wild goose chase I found myself on yesterday. 

I enjoyed the walk, nevertheless, and am pleased that at age 70 I am still able to manage hilly, root and rock-covered trails with confidence. I will say, though, that walking back to the trailhead after sunset, all alone - not pitch black but dark enough - was a little spooky, and thoughts of Hansel and Gretel and wicked witches, and trolls hiding under bridges were looming large in my imagination. 

I also realized, while wandering through the field of stones, why I like Waskosim's so much - the ancient boulders, the wind, the solitude are so very much like Ireland. Waskosim's is the Vineyard's version of the Burren in Co. Clare, my very favorite place to spend time and photograph. 

It was a great hike. Did I get what I wanted? Maybe, but I do think I'll have to revisit this place with my new, wider lens.

 

DaQuan and His Drum

So one day I'm out on the porch and I see a young man walking by with a Remo drum slung over his shoulder (a two dollar drum from the thrift shop, I would learn), so I call out to him, Hey, bring that drum right up here and let's play some music (my big bass Remo was still on the porch, left over from my morning music session with the children), so he did, and we did. DaQuan Rashad Sugar is his name (his real last name is Sugar - don't you love it?) and we had some fun, including a little metal tongue drum/bass drum improv. I love my porch. "Be like a Piazza - open, welcoming, and engaged with the world." (Sister Angela Merici)