One of my favorite places to be is the Ringling Brother’s Museum, in Sarasota, Florida. I plan on doing a travel blog on the museum at a later date, so please stay tuned for more!
The instant I saw this painting I thought, “they are sisters”, and sure enough…
“The Sisters” by George Watson, oil on canvas 1810
It reminded me of me of my sister and I. I’m 6 years older than her and could immediately feel the closeness between the two. My little sister, is currently on a Caribbean cruise and I am terribly jealous, which is very much a sister thing too! 😆
P.S., the photo is definitely not my best but it will have to do 🙃
I’m not sure if this is the correct way to do this week’s challenge on exposure and I certainly don’t know all the technical jargon but here goes!
Pretty In Pink
Loved this Swan on the pond and just thought she would look “Pretty In Pink”
Sunspot Baby
This shot is looking up at the sun through the branches. I love the colors!
Out There
I was doing a shoot several years ago in an old abandoned building and it’s walls, as you can see had many layers of paint. There was a faint image that I thought looked like a woman from the 1920’s with her back to me. I enhanced the image with Picasa (an older photo editing tool), and added a window from another shot in the same building. The image looked as though she was pointing out, so gave her something to point at.
Just playing around here with color
Things Unseen
I really love the way this one turned out! It’s a beautiful stream in the North Carolina forest. 💜
And talk about being Exposed!! Lol 😆
Hope you all liked my choices for this challenge! Some of my older photos have my old name (Kepp), on them but it’s still me.
And remember, always keep something wonderful focused in your lens ~
Shot with my Samsung Flip 4, standing on my front deck looking out across the drive, I was greated with a foggy bare November morning. Just cropped no filter or editing, the fog took care of it all ~
There stands a castle in Versailles, on a long stretch of highway 38 miles southwest of Paris. It seems to appear out of nowhere and takes you by surprise if you don’t know it’s there. This is blue grass horse country with rolling hills as far as you can see, so it’s kind of the last thing you would expect.
The Kentucky Castle, (I’m sorry, did you think we were in France? 😊), sits on over 100 acres to the west of Lexington, Kentucky.
“Southern hospitality within the walls of a Castle!”
The Kentucky Castle, courtesy of their website
On a spontaneous weekend we took off to Lexington, Kentucky without any real destination plans. My husband Terry wanted to show me this castle he had passed a hundred times before but was never able to stop at. He says he has seen all the attractions across the United States, well their exit signs anyway….as there is little stopping driving a semi tractor trailer.
He pulled in through the gate and said, “well here it is”, as he started to circle back out of the parking lot. “Wait!” I said, “I want to get a picture!” So he pulled into a parking spot and I hoped out. I took a couple of shots of the outside front area and then said, “lets go in.” He looked at me from over his glasses and said “we can’t go in, we don’t have a reservation!”, I said, “it’s a public place they won’t kick us out.” Slightly hesitant and yet completely knowing me….we headed inside.
The entrance completely took our breath away! It was exactly what you would want it to be, so very elegant.
Despite immediately feeling completely under dressed, I asked if it was alright to take a peek around. The young lady at the front desk was so sweet and happily welcomed us in. She said we could take our time and look all around except for the second floor which contained the guest rooms. She also suggested we go up to the rooftop.
You could just imagine a twilight party on the rooftop with the twinkling lights and music playing.
The views were wonderful! I can only imagine how beautiful it must be in the summer.
A greenhouse and raised beds can be seen on the grounds, as The Castle, also offers fresh farm to table fine dinning.
Besides what I’m sure are gorgeous overnight accommodations and soothing spa packages; weddings, anniversaries and princess tea parties I am positive are hosted here!
The Kentucky Castle, is the perfect romantic venue, in the most beatiful if not unlikely location.
Gift shop treasures
A big thank you to The Kentucky Castle, for letting us take a quick peek around, my hubby for surprising me and always indulging me! And thank you, for coming along on my unexpected adventure!
Till next time, keep something wonderful focused in your lens~ 😉
My cell pic this Sunday is the old drive in of my youth. As far back as I can remember up until my kids were almost grown, it was open.
“Son of a gun it’s Refreshment Time!” Was the announcement between movies. The concession stand was always busy selling popcorn, hotdogs, pop and candy. There were speakers on stands outside your car that hooked to you window but later you could pick up the sound through your car radio.
So many memories flood my mind about this place. It was always so exciting as a kid. Mom would pack a cooler of sandwiches and pop and there was a playground at the base of the screen where play until the movie started.
As a rebellious teenager, my friends and I would often sneak in through the cornfield on the backside of the property and join up with the one friend with a car that had drove in.
As a young mother my kids loved it too. They sat out on the hood of car or the bed of a truck in the late summer nights.
There was just something special about being outside at night watching the big screen light up!
I hope you enjoyed my selection and maybe it brings you special memories too~
Joining Dawn’s Festival of Leaves 2022, is an ode to a season passing ~
I hope you enjoy them 🍁🍂
“One more time before their gone, before the winter wind is strong, to all the colors bright bold, another seasons story told”,
“Before the sky turns dark and gray, a burst of color to brighten the day, holding our memories that beg for us to play, one more time with Autumn on display”, 🍂 🍁
Wow, what a challenge this week is! If you could only see how many photo’s I have of flowers…to try to narrow it down is insanity, but I will try to limit it to just the ones that really mean something to me personally. So…here goes ~
First, has to be this adorable hand full of love (and poor mommy’s garden), from my granddaughter while visiting in Arizona.
My husband’s Rhododendron. He planted it as just a starter beside our steps and it now stands over 6ft tall and at least that much or more around. I personally love this photo, it turned out better than I could have imagined not much editing at all.
City Flower, is one of my all time favorite shots! I was living in a little cottage in Portsmouth, Ohio, first time in my life living alone after 45 years. This beautiful strong flower grew out of a drainage lid on my sidewalk. Reminding me that there is still beauty to be found even in tough situations.
Dandelion, some will say its just a weed but to me it’s like a happy little smile everywhere! They also have many medicinal properties and every part of the plant can be consumed. Healthy and Happy 😊
Every time my husband was out on the road working he would always bring me home a bouquet of flowers. Always different, always beautiful and always full of love~
This is “Growing Old Gracefully” a reflection that beauty lasts even when it’s fading
And I will end with a photo of my Grandmother’s “Pink Lady” Lily. Special because she loved them and they will always remind me of her~
Hope everyone liked the set and thank you for the challenge!
The first stop in my Travel Blog series has to be my hometown of Portsmouth, Ohio, Scioto County, USA. The word “Scioto”, is a Wyandot Native American word for Deer, of which we still have in ample supply. The area is a true deer hunters paradise, whether you shoot with a camera or otherwise.
Beautiful buck in my yard
This area where the Ohio and Scioto River valley meet, has been inhabited since about 100BC. The Hopewell Native American Earthworks, a once huge mound complex that spanned across the Ohio River into Kentucky, was discovered here and dated back to that period. Only the Horseshoe Mound, remains and is located in what is now Mound Park.
Portsmouth Floodwall Mural, Ancient Earthworks Mound ComplexHorseshoe Mound, Mound Park Portsmouth, Ohio
Alexandria, was the first settlement established in 1799, on the west on the Scioto River, where it meets the Ohio. The area was prone to flooding and the settlement was abandoned. Eventually they moved to higher ground that is now the city of Portsmouth. Alexandria Point, has been dedicated as a beautiful park and is the perfect place to sit, relax, have lunch and watch the barges slowing make their way along the river.
Alexandria Park, Portsmouth, Ohio
Portsmouth, was founded in 1803 and named after Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which I’m sure was named after Portsmouth, England. We sit on the north side of the Ohio River, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. A tri-state area and a once thriving port and industrial river town, we have seen many changes in our over 200 years. Ohio steel and coal from the West Virginia coal mines, ran up and down the river and railways, to the Great Lakes, and beyond. Coal still moves along but unfortunately the steel industry here is long gone. Portsmouth, was also once the epicenter of shoe manufacturers in the USA, of which many of my family members once worked, now a renowned shoe lace production facility Sole Choice, is still providing products worldwide.
A forgotten relic of Portsmouth’s Steel industry
From being a route on the Underground Railroad, to the devastation of the 1937 flood. To the triumphs of being home to national hero’s, cowboy movie star Roy Rogers, and Branch Rickie, who signed Jackie Robinson, the first African American man to play major league baseball, Portsmouth, has seen it all!
Our story can best be viewed by visiting the Portsmouth Floodwall Mural. Artist Robert Dafford, was commissioned in 1993, to paint the story of Portsmouth. The mural covers 2000 years of history from our earliest begins of the ancient Adena and Hopewell civilizations on through our industrial age. It took 3 years to complete a section that spans 2000 feet of the flood wall that surrounds the town and additional work still continues today. It is a fascinating pictorial account of our history and a must see for anyone coming to town!
Portsmouth Floodwall Mural
Portsmouth, has certainly had its ups and downs, as has many small towns in rural America, but we are in the mist of a revival and renewing our commitment to preserving our history. A new generation is stepping up and investing their time and talents to the revitalization of our downtown historic area and encouraging the whole community to get involved! In 2018, Portsmouth, came together for a “Town Cleanup” event, repainted light poles and curbs, power washed sidewalks and at the end of the event, set a world record for the most plants potted at one time! More recently in 2019, Portsmouth, was voted “Hallmark Hometown Christmas Town”, and was enter into the Guinness World Record Book, for the most presents wrapped simultaneously. The positive influence this has brought has been contagious and you can see it everywhere!
Our downtown historic district is called Boneyfiddle, no one is sure why or what Boneyfiddle really means but it was the one of the first commercial areas that was established in town. Most of the first settlers here were of German decent and this area has been referred to as one of the first “Euro-American”, settlements in Scioto County and you can see it in the architecture. One of the founding families that migrated here from Germany, still live and work in the area. Starting with a hardware store in Boneyfiddle, in 1847, the Glockner family went on to become the first automobile dealership in Ohio and one of the earliest in the entire country and are still going strong today.
Our first annual Glocktober Fest, was a huge hit with beer tasting, and large host of food venders. The Final Friday Project, is also a hometown favorite with live music, food and fun every last Friday of the month during the summer. September, is “River Days”, a weekend carnival on the river bank with live entertainment, art and crafts, rides and of course the best carni food around!
Yummy!Market Street, Boneyfiddle Historic DistrictMarket Street Market Street CafeThe Washington HouseCandy Land Children’s MuseumBoneyfiddle, Market Street area
We have antique shops, farmers markets, bakeries and cafes! Everything from our own hometown brewery, The Portsmouth Brewing Company, to our new Patties and Pints, a micro-brewery. The Irish Pub, and our hometown favorite the Scioto Ribber. But our “little jewel” hands down is the Dairy Creme, on 2nd Street that has been there since the 1950’s if not longer. A must stop for the best footers and shakes in town!
Portsmouth Raceway Park, to the west features a three eights quarter round, world championship race track. Campers and spectators come from all around to what is called the “best dirt track racing” in the area. To the east is KD Motorsport Park, that host an 1/8th mile drag strip, with tires burning and smoke rolling, an exciting place to be!
Portsmouth Raceway Park, courtesy of The Portsmouth Daily Times
Scioto County, its self encompasses roughly 616 square miles of mostly wooded areas. Shawnee State Forrest and Park, to the west of Portsmouth, is the states largest with over 88,000 acres and two lakes. It is called the “Little Smokies of the North”, and is abundant with nature, trails, camping, fishing, boating, hunting, horseback trails and a beautiful lodge for fine dinning and overnight stays.
Shawnee State Lodge Shawnee State Cabins“The Little Smokies, Shawnee State Park, West Portsmouth, Ohio
We are the strong, hard working and caring people of an Appalachian river town. We are rural country America with ties that go back to the ancient native American cultures and the European’s who traveled here wanting a better life. We are home to the Shawnee State University Bears and the Vern Rife Center, that houses our Art and Theater productions. There is so much history and so many interesting events that have taken place here and perhaps at some point I will have more stories to add to My Hometown blog. For now though, thank you for coming along with me on our first travel stop in Portsmouth, Ohio. Please enjoy the slideshow of photo’s, from my hometown to yours…
Coal barge, Ohio River
Alexandria Park, Portsmouth, Ohio
The Hurth Apartments
Scioto River
My drive, St. Rt. 348, Scioto County
Mound Park, Portsmouth, Ohio
The Ritz, Time for Homecoming Prom
Market Street, Boneyfiddle
Almost the perfect shape of the state
Shawnee Lodge
Raven Rock mural inside Shawnee Lodge
Market Street
Stone Stable, remains
Authors Note….I had a surprisingly hard time with this first travel blog. I wasn’t sure if I should just stay in town or encompass the area? I don’t know if my slidshow is working? Also I’m not sure how long a blog should be, or how many photos I should use….so with that said, I invite your input and suggestions. Help a newbie out! Thanks
If you are so inclined, the link below is a video I made a while ago, “A Walk Around Town”, in no way “professional” 😀
Sherry'sLens Photography 