Category Archives: Macro

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Ending

Time to share the rest of the images that were rejected for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. Some of these are similar to ones included in the calendar. They come from a wide range of projects. From auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT to alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE to some just good old flowertography


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There is still one more post about the 2024 calendar left. Then we can put it to bed or up on some walls.

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Beginning

Time to share the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. The December image. It is an image of an abandoned (methinks) church I found in northeast Iowa on a THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trip:


2024 Calendar - December
DECEMBER

I chose this image for December because I usually like to either use a cold picture or some religious imagery for the December image. This picture might not scream “Christ is born!” but it is of a church. Not a lines are straight.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: August 20, 2022 – 12:34 PM
LENS: 28-75 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
EXPOSURE TIME: 1/5000
ISO: 100

It was converted to black & white in Photoshop.

That is it, that is the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. But while those 13 images were selected for the calendar, they weren’t the only ones considered. Not by a long shot. There were 73 other images considered and not included. But I would like to give them some love.

Here is the first collection of reject images:


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There still another 36 images that didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean that won’t make the cut next year. The cover image for the 2024 Calendar was rejected for the 2023 calendar. Share the rest on Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday.

To Find You

Time to share the September image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of grass taken at Ledges.


2024 Calendar - September
SEPTEMBER

I selected this picture for September because it suggests fall.

CAMERA DETALS
CAMERA: SONY ILCE-7M4
DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2023 – 5:08 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 20mm
APERTURE: f/8
EXPOSURE: 1/1000
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the October image!

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You were staring at your bedroom wall
With only ghosts beside you
Somewhere out where the wind was calling
I was on my way to find you
I was on my way to find you

And you were racing like a cannonball
And roller skates and sky blue
Or in the backseat watchin’ the slow rain falling
I was on my way to find you

Gotta find out who I’m meant to be
I don’t believe in destiny
But with every word you swear to me
All my beliefs start caving in
Then I feel something’s
About to change

So bring the lightning
Bring the fire, bring the fall
I know I’ll get my heart through
Got miles to go but from the day I started crawlin’

I was on my way to find you
I was on my way to find you
I was on my way every day
I was on my way to find you

-Written by Gary Clark
Performed by Sing Street

This is the 3rd song from a John Carney movie to be used as a journal entry title. It comes from the movie SING STREET. I think this is the weakest of the John Carney movies, but it is still pretty great.

The plot of the movie follows Conor who starts a band to impress Raphina, a girl he barely knows. A common theme. Dudes getting into art to impress chicks.

I won’t cover the rest of the movie. But I highly recommend it to anybody that loves music from the 80s.

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography session is dedicated to irises:


Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Mad with Joy - 2023

Next Thursday will involve more irises!

Lost Stars

Time to share the March image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It was taken in Chicago while I was there for a work trip for the Computer Mine:


2024 Calendar - March
March

I took this image of Chicago’s The Bean after having a meal of Chicago Style Pizza with Kim and Lowell and Tony. The Bean was one of those rare touristy things that doesn’t disappoint in person.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M2
DATE: April 19, 2023 – 6:48 PM
LENS: Tamron 17-28 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm
APERTURE: f/2.8
EXPOSURE: 1/60
ISO: 8000

Tomorrow I will share the April image.

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Please, don’t see
Just a boy caught up in dreams and fantasies
Please, see me
Reaching out for someone I can’t see

Take my hand
Let’s see where we wake up tomorrow
Best laid plans
Sometimes are just a one night stand
I’ll be damned

Cupid’s demanding back his arrow
So let’s get drunk on our tears
And, God, tell us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It’s hunting season and the lambs are on the run

Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?
Who are we?
Just a speck of dust within the galaxy
Woe is me

If we’re not careful turns into reality
Don’t you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow
Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer
Turn the page
Maybe we’ll find a brand new ending

Where we’re dancing in our tears
And, God, tell us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It’s hunting season
And the lambs are on the run

Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

And I thought I saw you out there crying
And I thought I heard you call my name
And I thought I heard you out there crying

Just the same
Oh yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah
God, give us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It’s hunting season and this lamb is on the run

Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

-Written by Gregg Alexander, Danielle Brisebois, Nick Southwood, Nick Lashley
-Performed by Keira Knightley or Adam Levine (depending on the scene)

The song “Lost Stars” comes from the John Carney movie BEGIN AGAIN. The song is in some ways the center of the movie, even though the character that performs it at the end of the movie is not one of the main characters.

BEGIN AGAIN is the only John Carney movie that has famous actors in it. And it is loaded with famous actors… Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener… But also plenty of famous musicians like Mos Def, CeeLo, Adam Levine… Even James Corden who is kind of both.

BEGIN AGAIN is the story of Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a music producer that is an alcoholic that has lost his job and his family. He has decided to kill himself when he hears Gretta (Keira Knightley) playing her song “A Step You Can’t Take Back” at an open mic night she was drug to by her friend Steve (James Corden).

This is Gretta’s last night in New York City. She is planning to return to England after she has broken up with her newly minted rock star boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) who was cheating on her.

When Dan hears the song he decides he wants to sign Gretta to a record deal. He convinces her to go audition for Dan’s old partner Saul (Mos Def) at his former record label. When Saul decides to pass on Gretta, they decide to just record the album themselves in the elements of New York City. Partially because they have no money to rent a studio. Partially because they want the city to be part of the music. They record on a roof top, in Central Park, in a subway station and some other interesting places.

The song “Lost Stars” is central to the movie. When Gretta was still with Dave and she was too poor to buy him a Christmas present, she writes the song “Lost Stars” and gives it to him. He in turns the ball into stadium pop. Dave comes back into Gretta’s life after she has recorded her album and plays for her his version of “Lost Stars”. She is mortified because he has “lost the song in the production”.

Dave tries to win Gretta back and begs her to come hear him play the song at the Gramercy. She tells him not to play it like that.

For the rest of the movie, well… you’ll have to watch that yourself.

I won’t pretend I love BEGIN AGAIN like I love ONCE, but it still is a great movie that I highly recommend.

But Thursdays are for flowers. These flowertography images were taken in my yard:


Unceasing Effort - 2023

Unceasing Effort - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Girl in the Blue Skirt - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Solace of Ordinary Humanity - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Last Penny - 2023

Through Dirt - 2023

Through Dirt - 2023

Lost Stars

Lost Stars

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will probably feature a flower I don’t particularly like.

Minnesota Independence Day Road Trip – Day 2

Time to share the February image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of a strawflower bulb that was taken in my yard:


2024 Calendar - February
FEBRUARY

This image was placed in February as February houses Valentines Day and I like to think that flowertography is considered romantic.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: June 7, 2023 – 7:43 PM
LENS: 105mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
APERTURE: f/2.8
EXPOSURE: 1/125
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the March image!

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My second and final day on my Independence Day Road Trip to Minnesota involved going to the Mall of America amusement park. But it started with breakfast:


Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

Independence Day Minnesota Trip - Day 2

It was a great trip! I should have stayed longer. Next time!

Falling Slowly

I don’t know you, but I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me and always fool me
And I can’t react

And games that never amount
To more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
And moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black

Well, you have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
You’ve made it now

Falling slowly, sing your melody
I’ll sing it loud
Oh

Take it all

I played the cards too late
Now you’re gone
-Written and performed by Marketa Irglova & Glen Hansard

The song “Falling Slowly” is from one of my absolute all-time favorite movies, ONCE. Those of you that have had the courage to watch it, know of its greatness. It is a movie made by the Irish filmmaker John Carney. The songs for the next 3 Thursdays will also come from John Carney films.

All of his films have the same basic themes. People that have been broken by life meet in a chance encounter and begin making music together. Through the act of making music they begin to heal themselves and each other.

ONCE is the story of two struggling musicians that meet in Dublin. Guy a busker at night and Girl a Czech immigrant that is fleeing an unhappy marriage. Together, they start writing songs and record an album and maybe fall in love.

When Guy asks Girl is she still loves her husband.

She responds: “Miluji tebe”.

What does that mean? You’ll have to find out that for yourself. Cause I won’t give any more of the movie up.

The music in ONCE is phenomenal. The stars of the movie are actually musicians and not really actors. They toured for awhile as the band The Swell Season. I saw them one time at First Avenue in Minneapolis. One of the best concerts I ever saw in my life! Nobody in the world has a voice like Glen Hansard.

“Falling Slowly” is not my favorite song from ONCE. That would either be “Leave” or “Say It to Me Now”. But “Falling Slowly” is definitely the most romantic song in ONCE and the song that most people know from the movie. It would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Maybe the best song to ever win the award.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography collection is from my hard:


Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Nature's Amen - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Happiness Shared - 2023

Next Thursday’s flower collection will also be flowers from my yard.

Bring My Flowers Now

Bring my flowers now, while I’m livin’
I won’t need your love when I’m gone
Don’t spend time, tears, or money on my old breathless body
If your heart is in them flowers, bring ’em on

All the miles cast a long shadow
I’d take a couple back if I could
I’d’ve learned to play guitar
Told my daddy more I loved him
But I believe, for the most part, I done good

There’s always sunrise and rainbows and babies
And the little things I cherish on my way
Even though one day
They’ll bury me and Jessie Mae
I just know we’re gonna ride again someday

The days are long but the years are lightning
They’re bright and they will never strike again
I wish I’d been a better friend, a better daughter to my mother
There’s no goin’ back when your back’s against the wind

So if you got love, then you’re sittin’ on a gold mine
And you can’t take it with you when you go
So don’t wait to help your sister
Forgive your brother and your neighbor
We all think we got the time until we don’t

Bring my flowers now, while I’m livin’
I won’t need your love when I’m gone
Don’t spend time, tears, or money on my old breathless body
If your heart is in them flowers, bring ’em on
If your heart is in them flowers, bring ’em on
-Tanya Tucker

I said last week that this song would not be a Brandi Carlile song, but it would still be related to Brandi Carlile. This song was written by Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, and Tim Hanseroth. The song was produced by Brandi Carlile for the Tanya’s comeback album that Brandi produced. The production of the album was documented in the movie THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER.

The song features Tanya Tucker singing and Brandi Carlile playing piano.

Some background on the song from The Wiki:

The songwriting process for “Bring My Flowers Now” began when Carlile suggested that Tucker finally finish the song she had been trying to write for 30 years. While Tucker was initially apprehensive about it, the track actually came about pretty easily. Tucker explained, “So I went into the restroom to think—I do my best thinking there—went back out, and [Brandi] was in the panel room. And we wrote this song in about 30 minutes. And then we walked in there to the vocal booth, and the band came in, and we recorded it.” Tucker would later admit in interviews that she “would have liked to change a few things.” She said that Carlile didn’t want her to, saying that this album was about Tanya the singer, not Tanya the performer. Carlile told her, “This song sticks. This is what came out of your mouth, and that’s the way we’re gonna put it on there.”

The song would win the Grammy for Best Country Song and the album “While I’m Livin'” would win the Grammy for Best Country Album. The first 2 Grammys of Tanya Tucker’s career.

But Thursday’s are for flowers. This flowertography collection was taken at the Gray Rose Garden. Unfortunately, I definitely missed the prime flowertography season for it, but it was still worth the trip:


Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Gray Rose Garden

Gray Rose Garden

Gray Rose Garden

Gray Rose Garden

Gray Rose Garden

Gray Rose Garden

Gray Rose Garden

Gray Rose Garden

Next Thursday’s flowertography will involve flowers from my yard. The song will actually have nothing to do with Brandi Carlile, but will have everything to do with one of my favorite movies of all-time.

Throwing Good After Bad

I know you’re leavin’ me
I know I’m not your home
You want a movie dancer
You want blood from a stone
But I’m on to you
And you will pour your heart into
Any shimmering fad
Throwin’ good after bad

People get addicted to
The rush, the chase, the new
Just hopin’ that all that chaos
Will lead to somethin’ like this
I’ll get over you
But you won’t be whole until you do
You won’t find what you had
Throwin’ good after bad

And I’ll always feel a little left behind
But that lyin’ wind that calls your name
Will leave you flyin’ blind

I know you loved me once
You were somethin’ to prove
I was an unfinished song
You were nothin’ to lose
I’m a dandelion
And when my color suited you
You allowed me to grow
But you know when you know
And now the party’s over
And you’re dancin’ alone
You’ve been spinnin’ ’round for hours
The band have all gone home

And you’re fantasizin’
You’re takin’ us for granted
I know you’re bored
You always say I’m heavy handed
You got a beautiful mind
And the soul of a coyote
Hunger drivin’ you mad
Throwin’ good after bad
Hunger drivin’ you mad
Throwin’ good after bad
Hunger drivin’ you mad
Throwin’ good after bad
-Brandi Carlile

This is the final Brandi Carlile song (for now) that I’m going to use as title for our little flowertography sessions. I have plans for the future journal entry titles. Going to just walk down the road of some of the greatest romance songs of all-time. But next week’s theme will still have a Brandi Carlile twist to it.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This collection of flowertography images are from the State Center Rose Garden. This is the final collection of pictures from the State Center Rose Garden I have to share from this year:


Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Next Thursday I will share more rose pictures, but those roses will come from a different rose garden.

Sinners, Saints and Fools

Where the winds of change were blowin’
There lived a God-fearing man
He was turning through his Bible
When he came up with a plan
He painted up a sign
And held it high above his head
Waved it proudly in the air, and this is what it read

You can’t break the law
There are reasons for the rules
I keep things safe here for everyone
The sinners, saints, and fools
The poor and huddled masses
Who are hungry and afraid
You gotta do it by the Book and there’ll be
No exceptions made

To the weary, desperate souls
Who washed up on the sand
He said, “We hadn’t seen your paperwork”
And he withdrew his hand
You know he never felt any safer
All the peace he hoped he’d find
And up until the day he died
He never changed his mind

By the time he got to Heaven
It was surrounded by a wall
The pearly gates were locked up tight
The golden chains and all
They said, “We cannot let just anyone
Walk in here anymore
You didn’t do it by the Book, ”
And then they pointed to the floor

You can’t break the law
There are reasons for the rules
I keep things safe here for everyone
You sinners, saints, and fools
The poor and huddled masses
Who are hungry and afraid
You gotta do it by the Book and there’ll be
No exceptions made
-Brandi Carlile

I particularly like Brandi’s answer to what this song was about in that Stereogum interview:

CARLILE: To me, there’s nothing on planet Earth more maddening than the religious right’s rejection of displaced people. It’s just baffling. It could only be from a place of abstract evil, that there would be anything Christian about the concept of rejecting someone who’s had to leave their home, which no one wants to do for any reason, war, hunger, unrest, economic impact. For any reason that a person should become displaced and then systematically rejected is just antithetical to everything… I won’t even use the word “Christian,” but everything Gospel-based.

STEREOGUM: How do you personally stay close to faith, if you will, when there’s such a prevalence of people acting like the “god-fearing man” you describe in this song? The man who thinks he’s living according to scripture, but once he gets to heaven, it’s surrounded by a wall.

CARLILE: Well, because I realize that’s the powerful delusion. I realize that the powerful delusion foretold in scripture will be a complete rejection of love and generosity and enduring patience, tolerance, mercy, that it’s the faith revealing itself in ourselves every day. And it’s renewable. We can fix it. We can change as a species if we want to. It’s not hurtling towards some fiery end. It’s a living, breathing faith.

I was like 19, and I went to Urban Outfitters, and I saw a T-shirt with Jesus on a Harley, and I bought it. It said, “What the fuck is a Christian?” And you realize Jesus did not know what a Christian was. He didn’t know what the Bible was. Jesus is a concept of mercy and enduring love, not love, the feeling, but love, the action. And I subscribe. I follow. Anything you like about me, it’s because of that.

STEREOGUM: That’s pretty deep for Urban Outfitters.

CARLILE: Thanks, Urban Outfitters. You’re more likely to find Jesus in Urban Outfitters right now than you are in church.

Preach!

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography collection came from a trip to the State Center Rose Garden with Nader:


Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Still more rose pictures left to share from this day!

Stay Gentle

Stay gentle, keep the eyes of a child
Don’t harden your heart or your hands
Know to find joy in the darkness is wise
Although they will think you don’t understand

Don’t let the world make you callous
Be ready to laugh
No one’s forgotten about us
There is light on your path

Stay gentle, keep the eyes of a child
And wear your heart on your sleeve
Know to find joy in the darkness is wise
Although they will think you are naive

Don’t let ’em lower your shoulders
Love ’em more while they try
Grow younger while you’re growin’ older
Be amazed by the sky

Darling, stay wild if you can (if you can)
The girl with the world in her hands (in her hands)
The kingdom of Heaven belongs to a boy
While his worry belongs to a man

Stay gentle, stay gentle
The most powerful thing you can do
Oh, gentle, unbreakable you
-Brandi Carlile

I’m going to share what Brandi said about this song in that Stereogum interview because it references “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.

Well, it’s like this. One of the things that’s been the most enriching about this point in my life, and, buddy, I know I’m in for a world of heartache, but my friendship with Mavis [Staples] and Kris Kristofferson and, God rest his soul, John Prine, and Joni Mitchell, and basically the great pillars, the way-pavers, the elders, the beautiful souls that gave us the narrative of our lives, whether you’re a musician or not, they are all in this place of gentleness. It’s the same gentleness I see in Elijah, my three-year-old, that I’ve always seen in her life.

But it just seems like this big rainbow of a lifeline where you start out so gentle and funny and innocent, and you don’t care if somebody thinks you’re naïve. You ask whatever questions you want to ask. And then, at some point, you sort of shut it down, and you become a bit brutal. And then you get gentle again. And it’s like why can’t you just stay gentle? What is it about the world that sort of steals our gentleness and then gives it back to us just in time for us to realize that we should’ve just stayed that way? Again, it’s biblical, and it’s referenced many times in my faith. And yet none of us are able to do it. I’m fascinated by that, and I just feel like nobody’s written a song as gentle as “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” since “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Two great songs! However, Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography collection is from the State Center Rose Garden:


Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Sorrow and Gladness - 2023

Still plenty of pictures from State Center left to share!