Photography

Table with a view

~ MaryG ~ 5 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What’s the most money you’ve ever spent on a meal? Was it worth it?
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The idea of “girl dinner” came up in a recent post by Singing Gecko and it stuck in my head to the point where I ordered “cheese and charcuterie” as my meal in a restaurant which had many normal/traditional entree options.

It was $38 and it was huge! My husband had some of it, but he had a steak on the way, so it was mostly up to me. Having recently doubled my cholesterol medication dosage, I felt I was up to the task.

The description said “house jam, cured meat and cheeses, local honey, NH mustard, crostini”

Obviously, I got a cocktail too, followed by a glass of Prosecco. (Girl dinner includes alcohol.)

A delicious vodka-based concoction invented by a creative bartender

We had a table on an exterior deck and the weather was perfect.

But the best part was the view. I would describe it as “bucolic New England farm.” The landscape was dotted with wildlife including sheep, finches, butterflies, and the occasional soaring bird of prey.

And as the sun set over this beautiful landscape, and they boxed up my leftover cheeses, I felt that my expensive appetizer (a.k.a. girl dinner) was a great choice and was definitely worth the money.

The restaurant

Related post:

Experiences over stuff

Stained Glass Window

~ MaryG ~ 6 Comments

I drove about an hour yesterday to visit a dear old friend from work. It was great to see Dina. She made me lunch and then we took a short ride to her church. Like me, Dina sings in her church choir and I’ve been hearing about her church community for many years. I wanted to see the building so I could picture what she’d been talking about all these years.

It was a lovely, well-maintained, stone church dating back to the 1890s. Inside was dark wood throughout with many stained glass windows. There was one new window, which was dedicated to the women of the church. I really liked it. Instead of biblical scenes, it featured New England flora and fauna including an owl, a squirrel, a cardinal, a blue jay, a chickadee, a rabbit (or two), a fawn, and a big old turkey.

I met the minister (referred to as the “rector” in Episcopalian churches) and he explained that a large part of the window was intentionally left clear so that people could see out into the memorial garden.

It’s not often you see new stained glass windows in old New England churches. This one was completed in 2018.

Mini vacation

~ MaryG ~ 4 Comments

Describe your most memorable vacation.

Sometimes a one-nighter in your own area can be fun. I haven’t spent much time in Boston since I left my job, so it’s good to be back in the city.

The view of Cambridge from Boston’s Back Bay. The Charles River is reflecting the pink fireworks. That glowing dome on the left side of the horizon is M.I.T.

Happy Birthday to all Americans. We are 248 years old today. Long may we run. 🇺🇸

Art History 102

~ MaryG ~ 9 Comments

What’s your definition of romantic?

This prompt is giving me flashbacks to my college art history survey: the darkened auditorium, the slides of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Renaissance to the 20th century, the occasional nap. I got a B in that class. Not bad.

The Romantic Period in art (late 18th century to mid 19th century) was characterized by “a focus on emotion, individualism, and the sublime. Artists of this period often emphasized intense feelings, dramatic compositions, and the beauty and power of nature.”

The first example of Romanticism in Wikipedia: “Wanderer above the Sea Fog” by Caspar David Friedrich, 1818

Based on that definition, I’m going to have to say that the Grand Canyon is the most Romantic place I’ve ever been.

My best Romantic photo from the Grand Canyon. It needs a title.
Here’s another one. Note the bird.

Pretty darn sublime, right?

Bucket List

~ MaryG ~ 8 Comments
Daily writing prompt
What countries do you want to visit?
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Speaking of buckets…way to go Boston Celtics! 🏀☘️ NBA championship #18.

This morning’s Boston Globe

I started a Bucket List (I’ve heard some say “Life List”) in the notepad app on my phone a couple years ago. I update it whenever the mood strikes. Sometimes a TV show, movie or book will shake up the order. For example, I read a book called “Independent People” by Haldór Laxness (a Nobel prize winner in literature) which resulted in Iceland getting booted from my list.

Here’s the latest version:
Grand Canyon ✅
Paris ✅
Finger Lakes & Hot Air Balloon ✅
Tanglewood
Yellowstone National Park
Ireland
NYC comedy club or SNL
Southern Italy (Naples; Amalfi Coast; Cinque Terra) and maybe Sicily
Sweden
Return to Paris in warmer weather and see the sites we missed
Argentina?
Return to SoCal – LA/San Diego; Santa Monica; Venice Beach; Yosemite; Joshua Tree?
Key West
Austin TX
Greece
Acadia National Park

An image from my last trip to LA (you know, the city that’s won 17 NBA championships)
The year was 1988 and George H.W. Bush was on the ballot.

My friend Julie (the eventual artist) made sure we visited the Watts Towers in South Los Angeles.

The famous Watts Towers in LA—a renegade 33-year folk art project by Italian immigrant construction worker and tile mason Simon “Sam” Rodia
Apparently some part of it was closed that day, but we got the idea. It’s very cool—a labor of love.

Watts Towers State Park

Waxing gibbous

~ MaryG ~ 8 Comments
Daily writing prompt
How do you want to retire?
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Waxing gibbous moon around 4:30pm yesterday

From WikiHow:

  • During the waxing gibbous moon phase, the moon’s illumination is increasing with more than half of its surface being lit up. This is the phase before a full moon.
  • The waxing gibbous moon signifies the final stretch of completing a project. It is the phase for knocking off tasks and tying up loose ends.

Maybe this is a good metaphor for retirement. Try to go out on a high note—building to your full power. Maybe retirement should be the time when you become the best, fullest, most authentic version of yourself.