Friday, May 08, 2009

Thursday 13: My Town

This is my time of year. The greens and pinks of the universe remind me that things are unfolding in their own time, as they should be, and I'd best be both observant and appreciative or I'll miss it all.
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Add my new camera to the mix and I'm wandering around in search of simple pleasures. The following shots were all taken within a mile of my house. I've never lived in a semi-rural town before. I moved here three years ago. The community is made up of colleges and farms, professional and working class folks, solid buildings and plenty of open space.
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For example: 1. Forgive me for starting with my new mailbox. It is sturdy and wide and protective and receptive and when I see it outside my kitchen door, I feel as though I and the mail are both getting a fresh start. It's been a hell of year or more for me, a wild roller coaster ride of emotions I can't say I've handled very well, and I guess I kind of identify with the new mailbox.
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2. Hahaha, the kitchen window tells all. This part of the world is famous for its asparagus, harvested just this week and placed in a little water to keep fresh. Plus one vine grown tomato. And then there's my favorite card from my pal Studio Lolo, and another from my dear JB. And far to the right, a rubbery picture of Donald Duck, with exactly the same pouty and indignant expression I have when I am pouty and/or indignant.
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3. And just below the kitchen window, this note greeted me when I came home from work. I like nothing better than having a local friend who knows it's okay to steal my dog for noble purposes.
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4. It's a light purple azalea dropping its flowers like confetti. How beautiful is that? .

5. Two rhubarb plants came with the house. Their leaves will each grow to almost two feet wide, and the "pod" in the middle is a mystery to me. Does anybody know what it will do or look like? And another question: will this be the year I actually make rhubarb pie?
. 6. This is the landscaping to the left of my local bank's parking lot. That's right: the bank arranged for a bit of beauty beside its parking lot. It's a small regional bank, and I suspect that's a factor in a business taking the time and interest to pretty up the community.
.7. Okay, so not everything survives. Normally I hate dead plants and shrubs. But I think this row has a certain character to it--kind of like tolerance for diversity and communal support of the less fortunate.
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8. Here's the local hardware store. I've never stopped by and not found what I needed. When I first moved to town, I saw this building and realized I was indeed in small town America.
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9. And here's a corner of the town center. My father was a mason and bricklayer and I always think of him whenever I see a brick building. He used to tell me, "I'm not like some guy who paints walls: my work will last forever." I think my dad would like this building, and so many more like it scattered all around town.
. 10. Ta Da! What's a small town without a barber shop?
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11. And a stunning church?
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12. And a house just about secluded by towering trees?
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13. And a statue of a proud woman, whose name and story I cannot tell you because I only discovered her today on my drive home. I love the way she holds her hand: that's how I know she's proud.
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One of these days I'll include more of an urban "city" view of this place I live in Western Massachusetts in the Pioneer Valley in New England on the East Coast of the USA. For now though, you can be sure I am reveling in the season of Spring, shaking my head sometimes at all I fail to understand, but thankful for the beauty of it all.
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With love from
kj babe (smile)

32 comments:

  1. I adore your photo walks. I really must visit. So, picturesque and frankly, I've never seen a purple azalea before! What sort of camera did you buy? I'm doing a photo course with my Canon 400D in June so that I know what all the knobs are for! Aww your capture is "gasing" and I am! What a gorgeous town.

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  2. Life is sometimes about making the mundane special. I loved your photowalk, the tidbits about things like your dad, the dog walk and the azalea like confetti.

    You are a fortunate woman to be there, to savor life in a small town and then to share it with the rest of us...green = spring = envious, lol

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  3. Don't you find that you see the whole world differently through the lens of a camera? You have captured the beauty of your lovely town so well kj.

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  4. I will admit to a more than a little longing and a wee bit o' jealousy of you and that small New England town.

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  5. Enjoyed my walk with you, smiled at your bit about your dad - I'm married to a bricklayer... they have a habit of giving buildings a once over - must be their occupational eye or something lol*!*

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  6. Thank you for providing a window into your town. It's beautiful. The accompanying descriptions you write, add another depth to the beauty.

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  7. Love your mail box and thanks for the town tour. I have been to florence once not that long ago. it is nice to live in a sort of rural area. i think your rural is more populated than my rural though. enjoy the spring beauty.

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  8. KJ babe! What a beautiful, quaint neighborhood you live in! So beautifully New England. You are very lucky. Rhubarb! All I know about rhubarb is that the green part is poisonous.

    Miss KJ, I apologize for Emily's behavior. I have indeed talked to the police and was able to soothe any ruffled feathers from the hare raising incident. Curiously, they gave me a little hare clip in a plastic baggie to give to Emily. I'll put it on the next slow boat. :)

    Oooh, looky here! Word verification is: promis

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  9. baino, i'm starting to think of you when i do these photo walks. i'm so glad you like them. i got a canon power shot sx10 is for christmas and that is what i use. i only know to leave the knob on automatic but it has a 20x zoom lens and that is what makes all the difference for my snapping pleasure! and yes baino, someday i will show you new england. maybe even maine... xoxo

    teri, i think you are a very wise and kind woman and i am glad to get to know you. i like the simple things you say, like making the mundane special.

    hello kate, yes, how true. a camera, a bike, a walk, an airplane: how perspecive can change. why don't i 'get' that more often? :)

    walking man, i have no doubt from the looks of your sweet pony tail that you would love this area. and it would love having you!

    annie, my father was so proud of his work. there's something so permanent about laying bricks. i'll bet your husband feels the same way. always nice to hear from you, annie. xo

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  10. hello kay (my friend chief), thanks for commenting on the writing commentary! you know i like hearing that. :)

    suki, ahahaha, your rural is definitely more rural than mine! and suki, you were this close? we should perhaps talk about that for the future.... :)

    bella, oh thank you for handling this matter. i don't know where emily got the idea to lie on the floor like that. i haven't checked the comments on her weekly post so maybe i will find a clue from that.

    promis. promise. promiscuity. or
    pro mis bella. i like the last one best. xoxoxo

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  11. Do you know what I love the most about your local 'walks" through town? That I'll be doing it with you,JB and Stella one day! I think an Autumn stroll is in order ;)

    I had to laugh about your dads comment because my father was a house painter!! My dad would have punched him in the nose, for sure ;)

    I loved seeing the hardware store and the barber shop. Those are the New England places that touch my heart and make me miss home.

    I didn't care for the dead shrubs KJ, sorry. And why do people flatten to tops?? That's just wrong imho. To each his own, I know.

    Beautiful 13 KJ. I loved it! Love you as well :)

    word verif...comsi...come see?

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  12. lo, yipee!!

    funny about your father--i thought about insulting all the house and wall painters of the world when i wrote that! my father was a working class guy, 4th grade education, honest to a fault. i'm pretty sure they would have liked eachother. xo

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  13. hey kj babe:

    Beautiful. Your town is gorgeous. I love when you show us this and I love your two cents added to each picture.

    It is nice to see your life.

    Love Renee xoxox

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  14. KJ -- I feel like I just drove down the street with you after a session at BY! :) Thank you for all of these ... have a super weekend and happy, happy Mother's Day. xo

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  15. It's so great to be able to visit different areas of the world via the blogs.Loved seeing what you see on a daily basis.
    I think the camera helps US to focus too,,,leave out all the extraneous,,get focused,,,get the beauty,,,filter the 'noise'.
    Very enjoyable post, kj!

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  16. moon sister: i was thinking i would like to see some of your life also....

    melissa, yup, you know the street about half of these shots come from.

    babs, i'm amazed at what the camera can do. you're right: it turns the mundane into the magical.
    xo

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  17. Lovely Post Miss KJ - just gorgeous. I also never lived in rural America till I moved here - and I was/am amazed at things like the 4th of July parade - featuring the girl scouts and marching bands and the like. I'm used to it now...but there is still something about a big new york city apartment building and cement sidewalks that are near and dear to my heart.

    Hey, Miss Em seems to be on vaca for awhile, she's been popping in and out but hasn't stuck around - don't know why! But rest assured...she's still there...

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  18. kj,
    The rhubarb pod made me curious so I Googled "rhubarb flower". That's what it is, a rhubarb flower sprouting up. If you plan to eat the rhubarb you might consider cutting the flower spike off as some gardeners do. Otherwise the growth energy will go into producing the flower and not into the red stalks.

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  19. D'OH! Chewy beat me to it! LOL
    I would feel very at home in your town (surprise, surprise) so I loved all the shots, but the Azalea made me dizzy with thoughts of the magnificent spring in the northern hemishere - its like no where else!

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  20. KJ...

    I love photos..Like visitng and vacationing without leaving home...I think everyone she venture out and visit around them and look at it all with a fresh eye....Makes you feel alive...

    I agree with LOLO...why cut the tops off of the bushes? looks like a bunch of lil boys with butch cuts ...poor lil guys....

    Love the Barber shop..my Dad did Barbering and I have been a hairstylist my whole life..till 4 yrs ago and gave it up..when ppl IRK ya to the point ya wanna stab skulls with shears and not cut hair..time to go...The beauty in the art I love died....But the memory is wonderful....

    Love the book darling....

    Smiles,
    Sonia ;)

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  21. mim, i know what you mean about loving cities. how easily i could live in new york or paris. and as much as i like the farms here, i miss the ocean. please say hello to ms. em for me. i just loved marianne's post on your book. as soon as i can buy one for myself, you know i want to and will!! xoxox

    thank you ms. chewy google green thumb. funny because a friend told me the same thing tonight when he saw my rhubarb. so tomorrow i will cut the pods and flowers. :)

    lavender, you know, for some reason this year i see the light and the vibrant colors so much more deeply. it IS gorgeous here. but, lavender, you have the birds... xo

    sonia, you have me doubled up just thinking about you sticking those shears in someone's irritating head!! hahaha. good that you got out of the business. and just so you know, i would NOT give my shrubs any butch cut, no how no way :)

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  22. I could totally coze myself up in that chair off of your kitchen right now.

    Can you believe it. It is snowing outside. Waaaahhhh.

    Fuck off already.

    Love Renee xoxo

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  23. Hi Karen, a big thank you, your book as arrived today. So looking forward in reading this. My eldest daughter
    is going through some difficulties with her sexual preferences. I think this book will be good for me to help understand her and for Hannah also. Your right about not knowing were to place your beliefs and upbringing into accepting this and I have accepted Hannah because I want her to feel loved and happy.
    She did try and take her life a few months ago and I nearly lost her. Would not for the life of me would wish to go through the pain of losing her.
    I had a very hard shock of realizing how important life the way Hannah needs it to be. I for one should love and support her. Your book is such a great timing for us here. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and look so forward to reading this love story and letting Hannah read it also.

    Luv and hugs!

    Julie-ann

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  24. renee, if you were cozing up in my chair off the kitchen, i would be beaming and squealing with unbridled delight. i would say,
    holy shit, my friend renee is here! and i would know it meant my friend renee was hopping and bopping into and through her healthy happy life. THAT is an image i will now hold on to. shelly, jacquie, will you and renee come visit me if i cook good food, give good hugs, and assure wild and wonderous laughter the whole time?

    :)

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  25. oh julie-ann, life is so ironic. i was actually concerned that you might be uncomfortable with my book--just not sure how your wonderful faith and religion might affect your beliefs. instead i am so glad that you and hannah will meet alex and lily and their love that means no harm, may even be destiny.... i will follow you and hannah in my prayers, julie-ann, and of course i want to know what you think of my love story.

    xoxo to you...

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  26. oh and renee, laurel would be waiting at my kitchen door with her arms stretched wide ready to welcome you.

    :)

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  27. kj sounds wonderful. Laurel and I will fly at each other like the ravens we are.

    I am sorry to say that the other 8 sisters will want to tow along, especially if there is good food and good laughs.

    I couldn't believe your Mom was one of 15. Awesome. Must have been a Catholic family.

    Love Renee xoxo

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  28. what beauty, what quaintness, what a pretty place to live...love that row of shrubs, don't pull those ut, just let them die and stay there....as for your comment on mim's post about the atc cards and maggie. well i have never laughed so much....multiples...how do you do that??? i'd be hapy just to have one these days!!!

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  29. soulbrush, hahaha just about anything is possible, you know. and you're very creative....

    (love you!)

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  30. That's a gorgeous azalea.

    Maybe the banks shrubs would have lived if they had not pruned them so harshly? I think there a metaphor there.

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  31. Wow! Lovely photos sharing of your town. So many different themes on it. And mostly with greens, I just love it.
    Your town is a wonderful town!
    Thank you for being our tour guide:)

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  32. Wonderful pictures and peek into your life.....

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