SOMETHING MISSING, 36/365

I think this is grafitti on grafitti. Did a second guy with some paint come along and obliterate the head/face? Did the original artist decided it was better with less said? Who knows. Whatever it is, there's "Something Missing," Theme #295.

(Same image, 1 a little closer to give you a better look at the work.)

SECURITY, 35/365

One of the ongoing aspects of cancer for Mr. Lorri. PET/CT scans. Seems there is a concern that PET patients might set off the radioactivity sensors being used in some airports and government buildings. This little card is supposed to give him--and everyone nearby--a sense of "Security," Theme #272 if he sets off an alarm.

I'll bet nobody wants to sit in the plane seat next to the guy who set of the radioactivity alarm. And you just know they're not going to blame a flock of birds if they have to land that plane in the river.

The tangible reminder of the toxicity that has entered his life doesn't really bring a secure feeling to either of us. (Although I suspect he has a secret desire to try out his temporary status as a toxic waste site by seeing if he does set off the airport sensors.)

WINTER, 34/365

It's "Winter" on the farm, Theme #363

IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, 33/365

I've moved but I go back to visit and it's still home, still my neighborhood.
When I lived in the neighborhood, over a year ago, she lived on the streets. The shelters weren't for her; "not safe" she would say when someone asked. When the weather turned bitter, she would slip into the church late in the evening and sleep in the basement or in a pew. There were people who didn't seem to know she was there, looking right through her as she sat on the bench in the corner. There were others who objected outloud to her presence. She was dirty; there were places for "people like her" to go.
On a recent visit to my old neighborhood, I had my camera out for a shot of the skating rink as we drove past. When I looked up, there she was, trudging down the street with her wagon in tow. I snapped the picture through the car window knowing it would be a mess. I thought maybe I could digitally clean it up. When I looked at it later, though, it struck me that this is the lens, the window, that many people see her through. Dirty, an unpleasant mess. Or as a kind of blur off on the side of their lives.

"In My Neighborhood," Theme #157. Here's hoping we can all clean our windows and see things through a more compassionate lens.

BLUE, 32/365

Something that's been sadly absent the past month or so, a sky of "Blue," Theme #28.

MUSICALLY INCLINED, 31/365

Our favorite guitarist joins her pals, The Woodstove Flapjacks, onstage at their CD release party. Who knew those years of dusting the mostly unused piano and insisting on flute practice before going to the mall would produce a young woman who is "Musically Inclined," Theme #193.

9 a.m., 30/365

The weather earlier in the week forced a reschedule of a job interview. Today brought a gloriously sunny but still ice covered morning. I allowed extra time to get to my 9:30 appointment, arrived early and was able to explore the nearby countryside . The sun through the icy trees was brilliant around 9 a.m., Theme #2.

LOOKING DOWN, 29/365

Filled the feeder, placed my camera on the tripod, sat near an open window until my fingers were numb while I watched the birds and the squirrels come and go. Turns out the photo was below the feeder. An icy, snow covered tail there with the icicles. I should have been "Looking Down," Theme #177.

TRIO, 28/365

Yesterday's four inches of snow-turned-into-last-night's-half-inch-of-ice-turned-into-today's-five-more-inches-of-snow. In the early hours of the morning I could hear the dear crashing through the frozen woods and the ice breaking as they crossed the small creek. They must have given up the risky creekway because this Trio, Theme #339, was spotted casually strolling along the railroad corridor late in the day.

FRUITS OF THE SEASON, 27/365

No, it's not my lunch. I'm strictly a meatasaurus. Well, to be honest, I did suck the chocolate off the almonds before I threw them in the bowl. This is a little high energy bird attractor I've mixed up for the feeder. Grapes, bananas, dried cherries, blueberries, peanuts, almonds, dried cranberries. A little (not the recalled brand) peanut butter.

It's my snowy-winter-weather-you-birds-need-a-boost-and-I-want-some-pictures mix. Here in the depths of winter this will bring up the colorful winter feeders from the woods...cardinals, the titmouse, bluejays, juncos, woodpeckers. I like to think of it as the "Fruits of the Season," Theme #114.

ANTIQUE, 26/365

At the top of the curvy hill, right on the last bend in the road, is one of my favorite places. On autumn weekends the place is crawling with urbanites who've ventured out for a rural experience with the hope of scoring a treasure here at the trading post/antique store.

Antique, Theme #12

CURVY, 25/365

A couple of inches of snow can bring life to a crawl here. It really cracked me up when I first moved from an area where snowy winters are expected--and then I get back on these rural roads, in the nooks and crannies, up on the hills and deep down in the gorge areas and I realize why what I consider a dust of snow is enough to close the county.

It's steep and "Curvy" out there, Theme #72

LOCAL LANDMARK, 24/365

The Murphy Theater. Built in 1918 by Charles Murphy, then owner of the Chicago Cubs. Apparently Mr. Murphy desired a memorial to himself in his hometown. These days it's been restored and is used for concerts, holiday shows and other local features.

With it's bright lights, big city feel the Murphy is a Local Landmark, Theme #174

SUNRISE, SUNSET..., 23/365

Winter returned today. Cold temperatures, snow flurries and dreary gray skies ruled much of the day. The sun broke through the clouds as we headed home late this afternoon. Thankfully Mr. L. is pretty game about chasing the light and shadows with me these days so he didn't skip a beat when I hopped out of the truck in the final moments before the sun disappeared.

"Sunrise, sunset," Theme #311

CIRCLE, 22/365

Looks like some far away galaxy but it's just the ice on our little water garden. The circles are caused by the moving water of the recirculating pump down below. Even yesterday's little blast of warmth was not enough to thaw this one.
"Circle," Theme #50

ABANDONED, 21/365

I remember watching last spring as this nest was being built. And then early in the summer, watching the baby birds make their first flights.

Being empty nesters in the truest sense of the word, the parent birds have moved on.

At least somebody got out of here for the winter.

This little summer home is "Abandoned," Theme #5

RED, 20/365

I think I know why my first inclination is to take my camera out of the house to get a picture. It's easier. Really it is. Indoor lighting, shadows, cluttered counters...all of these things work against me in the house.

I liked the REDness of the apples I was peeling tonight. Their brilliant REDness was a noticeably cheerful point of color in a winter filled with day after day of endless gray.

Indoor shots are difficult for me because I'm essentially a lazy photographer. My usual mode is see it, like it, shoot it. Planning doesn't usually enter into the equation so deliberately attempting to capture the REDness of the apples was a stretch for me. I'll continue to practice this skill.

Maybe I'll try a shot of the apple pie when it comes out of the oven.

For now, though, I want to end the day with some color. I'm tired of the shades of gray that have been this winter, tonight is "RED," Theme #255.

FENCES, 19/365

Having found companions who seemed to share my disgust with the weather, I lingered at the pasture. Sun, snow, sun, snow...the day just couldn't decide. Bringing home a collection of mostly bleah shots was a little disappointing but I liked the way the fence row seemed to come out of nowhere across the back of this photo.

This weather has me feeling fenced in so I'll go with that thought and post this one under "Fences," Theme #98.