We ran errands yesterday: recycling; stopping by our local farm stand to get some fresh veggies, including the best sweet corn I have ever had or will ever have and I’m from the Midwest where corn is king; running into the supermarket in the rain.
When we got home, I checked the mailbox and there was nothing in there. We sighed and chalked it up to a slow mail day. Not until I happened to open the front door around 5 pm did I see a stack of boxes and mail. Whoops! Lori must have brought it all up to the porch, stashing everything on the far side of the steps leading to the front door to keep it out of the rain.
Anyway, most everything was for Don. One box contained new business cards he designed which are really cool – you can see them on his IG account. But the biggie was a box that came all the way from South Korea. Inside it was another vintage camera that Jean André had recommended. It’s a press camera called the Mamiya Universal Press and it’s much lighter than the Crown Graphic. They stopped production of the Mamiyas in 1969. After a couple of conversations with Jean André, who said his is the workhorse of his street-polaroid-portrait-photography, Don found one on eBay.
It took forever to unwrap it – the seller had done a great job of packing.
Don amazes me. He has grasped so much about the workings of the Crown Graphic and he immediately applied that knowledge to the Mamiya, so he had the whole thing figured out pretty quickly.
Yours truly was put to work as test model in the sweltering humidity.
You can see that it’s much smaller. The Crown Graphic is the star, of course. It never fails to stop people in their tracks and countless conversations with strangers ensue. But the Mamiya is great for the times that the Crown Graphic becomes a bit too heavy or you just want to change it up a bit.
Yes, those are leaves on the roof of the porch.
I’m not ready.
Don’s new endeavor is the perfect thing for him. He’s passionate about photography. Loves vintage. Loves people. And it’s flexible and can work around and with any future acting jobs.
He’s in the living room right now, researching something about the Crown Graphic.
Meanwhile, between shots I wandered around the property with my camera.
Hello, zinnia.
Variations of purple.
Tried to capture this little bug on camera, but he was too fast for me!
What has turned out to be my favorite flower/plant combination this year.
We watched The Man with the Golden Arm last night on TCM. It’s another of those movies that I’ve always known about but had never seen. Wow. Frank Sinatra is simply stunning in the role of a guy fighting heroin addiction. Kim Novak and Eleanor Parker are also excellent. It was directed by Otto Preminger. We were riveted.
I know that Frank Sinatra was a good actor, but we usually think of him – understandably – as a great singer. But he made a lot of films, among them, From Here to Eternity (he won the Oscar and he breaks your heart), The Manchurian Candidate (one of my all-time favorites and all too similar to the puppet residing in the White House) and this one. Countless musicals, as well, but the movies I’ve listed really show his acting chops. The scenes with him going through heroin withdrawal are harrowing.
So here we are, trying to find things in the day that take us away from the toxicity in Washington and the country, doing whatever we can to keep some semblance of sanity, trying to find moments of peace amidst increasing despair. So we take pictures, read, clean, water flowers, watch movies, watch bunnies and birds and laugh whenever we can.
Happy Thursday.
oh, i love a happy mail day and am glad you and don just had one (and that you have a thoughtful mail carrier who helped shield your mail from the rain)!
also glad that you two have many interests to help balance out the awful things of the world … and that you share some of your talents here. i hope what you share leads to more wonderful adventures and opportunities for you and don. i know what you share adds moments of beauty that i may never otherwise see and reminds me to look for beauty in this world – because it’s still here, too. thank you, claudia and don!
happy thursday!
kathy in iowa
ps: thanks for mentioning the movies; they sound good. hope to be able to see one of them this weekend.
You’re welcome, Kathy!
The flowers in your garden are things of beauty! I just love them and thank you, once again, for sharing them through your photos.
Oh my, that camera! I saw it on Don’s Instagram yesterday. I truly wish I had my daddy’s Argus. Cameras have always amazed me. I do have my grandpa’s camera. It is an Imperial Six Twenty Flash Camera by Herbert George Company. I remember him taking pictures with it when I was very young. I don’t have any info on how to work it though. It is on a shelf for now.
Those business cards of Don’s…well, they almost made me cry! It makes him an official photographer!
You both are so amazing!
Hope you both have a wonderful day.
How wonderful that you have your grandfather’s camera! Wish I had my grandma’s Brownie. That was a fixture of my childhood.
Thanks so much, Debbie.
What a lovely day you had and I predict many wonderful hours for Don and his new to him cameras. I am trying to get away form the horribleness of every day too. It is difficult, but taking breaks is good for our mental and physical well being. xo Laura
I was so enraged this morning reading Twitter, that I had to pry myself away from my laptop. Thanks, Laura.
I love the new camera and also saw it on IG. Don is getting good with this new project and I’m so happy for him. Your plants are looking good. Not much going on this week. Lots of rain and I’ve felt under the weather as I’ve either caught a summer cold or I’m having side effects from a Prolia infusion I had last week for bone loss. I’ve a call into my Dr to see what she thinks. Body aches, no energy and runny nose could be either. So more rest and reading if I can stay awake.
I always thought of Frank Sinatra as a singer but he was an amazing actor as well. Once I started seeing his movies I was wowed by his talent. I hope you have a good day and like you I’m trying to stay away from some of the horrible news. Hugs!
Oh, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Rest and take it easy my friend.
Isn’t the best time of year; the flowers are at their peak and everything is humming! But those pesky leaves are the harbinger of the next change of season (boo hoo). Here in Northern California, the oaks started to drop their acorns and the leaves aren’t far behind. Embrace the dog days of Summer!
Cheers,
Deborah
I’d be better able to embrace them if it wasn’t raining and humid! Thanks, Deborah!
I completely understand; during my short stint of living in Massachusetts, I couldn’t acclimate to the humidity. This California girl understands “dry heat” but couldn’t get past the constant “damp glow”, one was during an Eastern summer. Hang in there, fall is around the corner.
Cheers,
Deb
I grew up with it in Michigan but I couldn’t handle it even when I was a kid!
Another camera! What fun for Don! You will become such an experienced model, Claudia. Typical summer weather for our area today…fog and cool in the morning leading to warm but not too hot afternoons following by cooler evenings. I don’t mind since it means it’s still summer!
I’m so uncomfortable being a model – if I looked like I did when I was in my thirties, I’d have a better attitude!
Thanks, Wendy.
Another camera means more pictures for us to enjoy…Have fun with it Don!…Claudia I love that purple zinnia!
Isn’t that a pretty color? Thanks, Nancy.
Another cool camera….glad it arrived safely. Don’s really improving in his
photography skills. You can see the difference already…he’s a quick learner.
Diversions of all sorts are welcome around here. Be it movies, books, or those glorious coleus. Love that coloring. I have two pots of coleus mixed among my hostas…and they really stand out. Makes such a difference in the garden. Have you two been able to have coffee out in the secret garden…or has it been too rainy?
So….enjoy your day….and any or all diversions! ;)
Not for the last two days – rain and rain forest level humidity. It’s miserable here.
a beautiful post today!
just trying to live our little lives the best we can with what we’ve got. :)
I read an article this morning about Paradise Banking. or should I say off shore Tax Evasion.
by the very rich. it blew my mind. how rich do people have to get??? !!!
and it’s all over the world now. and people and groups you’d never believe doing it.
it makes Herr Trump’s intrigues look like amateur city! and that takes some doing!
Oh, but he’s part of those intrigues. Money laundering, work with the Mob since he was a young man, and his father before that. Russian money launderers living in Trump Tower. It goes on and on. People in NYC and NY know that he’s been tied to the mob for years and years.
good grief.
i’m feeling though that all this might be the beginning of the end in many ways.
in the article it was likened to the French Revolution. finally people are getting wise.
to think that deceit and money grubbing self serving secretive stuff is going on
and little children right here in this country are going to bed hungry.
and programs cut. and the cost of medical care. it’s all so despicable.
thanks for the heads up on his affiliation with the mob. why am I not surprised?
yet another ‘secret.’ but the mega rich ‘families’ (getting richer)have a lot to answer for too. thank heaven for courageous journalists. btw… it was a reliable source.
so much out there now is just fluff and flack and lies!
xo
do you know the title of that article or the source/publication, please? it’s not my first choice of topics, but in these scary times i feel a strong need to be more informed to help fight and protect …
thank you.
kathy in iowa
More important than ever to have a Free Press. Thank heavens for them.
it was sent to me by someone I also trust.
https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/paradise-papers-exposes-donald-trump-russia-links-and-piggy-banks-of-the-wealthiest-1-percent/
Launched in 1997 by the Center for Public Integrity, ICIJ was spun off in February 2017 into a fully independent organisation which includes more than 200 investigative journalists and 100 media organizations in over 70 countries who work together on “issues such as “cross-border crime, corruption, and the …
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Consortium_of_Investigative_Journalists
Thank you! xo
Ah yes, The Paradise Papers. Thanks for the link, Tammy.
thank you, tammy!
yes!
kathy in iowa
yes!
you’re welcome. :)
Those flowers are gorgeous. That camera is a beauty.
Marilyn
It is, isn’t it? Thanks, Marilyn!
Claudia,
I’m enjoying “The Revenge of Analog” and I think you & Don would like the book, too. I’m just past vinyl records and paper & starting the section on film.
I’m going to check that book out, Cara! Thank you. Don would definitely love it!
My pleasure, Claudia!
You know, the country is a mess, but people are wonderful and caring. I get up every morning with a decision to be happy, to help someone and find joy. Now I may be too simple but I live on a positive note. I can’t change anything but my local community and my feelings. I get thanks for my pleasantness and smiles. I deal with construction workers, delivery people and workers all day as we are rehabbing and building. We have happiness together because we want happiness. I love your photo/ camera stories and the way you two are choosing to make new full lives. I can see Don on the street providing an interesting conversation and the gift of an incredible photo. The one of the young couple is an award winner.
We have to send love out whenever we can, wherever we are.
Thank you, Gayle!
It’s good to hear of anyone finding their balance in this glorious life but trouble-strewn time. You’re doing a lot of perfect things.
I’ve been thinking a lot about when I was most happiest in my life (which doesn’t say a whole lot about the present, I guess!) and what was it that made me happy? I want some of that back! It’s almost not so much ‘happy’ as feeling well-rounded and (again) balanced. I feel I live around too many machines, too many headlines, too many choices, too many problems. So, how to simplify, which can be a very ‘individual’ thing, of course. Clearly, happier times were when younger with fewer adult responsibilities which, unfortunately, just come with the territory as we age.
But, see, you dig in the dirt (gardening; tactile); you and Don get out and talk to ‘real’ people; you connect with each other as a couple as well (like watching a movie together, going on photog jaunts together, etc.). You roll dough and bake with Stella. You get out yarn and crochet. We need to use our hands for something other than scrolling on a digital device; we need to move our bodies and walk in the air; put bare feet on wet grass. Make a salad with greens from our garden rather than a sack of prewashed store greens from who knows where, with the potential of possibly contaminating us. More than ever as these months go by, I want to scale things further down; it’s the unoriginal thought of simply ‘getting back to basics’. A quieter, less stressful life. It’s about all I can handle right now. It HAS to be the antidote for that very toxicity you mention.
I still can’t over the 2018 documentary (“Ride”) I saw on PBS about the Albany Carousel. Google it. Watch for a repeat of that documentary. Fascinating story of Oregonians revitalizing their town of Albany with a hand-carved, hand-painted carousel utilizing a vintage mechanism (for its rotation), with hundreds of volunteers, in large part my age (seniors) getting a new lease on life by being part of something big, something important, where they can learn a new skill and make new friends. I kept saying to myself, “I want to be there. I want to do that!” How fun, to work on a carousel horse. It’s so almost off the wall. I was mesmerized. For all our worried world, there’s some amazing things going on out there, with amazing people.
On another subject, with so many interesting developments for Don, how is he doing with those sore legs? In the month away from Margaritaville and the cessation of dancing, climbing a lot of stairs in a day (although I know you have some in your home), is he in less discomfort? Is the body recovering as well as the mind (in terms of endings/beginnings, missing his cast, moving forward)? Is he feeling more rested? Has he decided to keep the beard and longer hair even though the show is over? (Curious minds wanna know!)
It’s one of those nights and I’m still up at 2am. Too curious, so went over to Don’s Road Trip. I’ve never seen his I/g. I don’t ‘do’ I/g but glad I can be allowed in to read and see. This is a whole different side of Don. He is the MOST likeable person! What a sparkle in his eye and great personality when he’s looking into the camera and performing, just for the I/g post, I’m not even talk’in the musical. He plays the ukulele and guitar very well; and he sings well, too. This is a guy to know. I enjoyed seeing the photos of both of you on his I/g. Did I know he could surf? (Throwback La Jolla/San Diego photos.) Had you mentioned on your blog that he surfed? If so, I’d forgotten. He DOES have a natural eye for photography; his street studio is going to have great success. I loved the photo of Don with Beau Bridges; Beau is one of my favorite actors. And by the way, once a Broadway cast with AMAZING voices sings you a Happy Birthday, everything else on other birthdays will pale in comparison. I just LOVED listening to that Happy Birthday song from them!
Well, this was fun. Between the two of you, you’re a hit with me on the web, for sure.
He is extremely likeable! People love him. You can see why! He can’t really surf. He got up and he conquered it for a minute, but he’d have to have more opportunities to master it. He can boogie board, though!
I love that post with the cast singing Happy Birthday to him. What he said, that you didn’t hear (it’s on another video) was that he couldn’t imagine not seeing them every day. Very moving.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Vicki!
I think he’s just darling; you both are, or I wouldn’t come here every day. It’s no leap to understand why you both are so in love with each other. Beautiful! Am I gushing? Remember how you said when you met (nice photo at your friend’s place in SD), how his eyes kept catching yours around the room that day? He’s got great eyes (window to the soul); gives me a pitter-patter. I can see why you couldn’t resist.
He has beautiful hazel eyes. I love looking in them!
Everyone is trying to find balance. The balance between too much media and high tech and simplicity. We are constantly trying to find that balance here at the cottage. I understand.
Don’s legs are better. He hasn’t really complained about them for a while. He still misses the show and the cast and if he didn’t have the camera to engross him, he would be feeling that even more acutely. I had a wave of missing the show, missing him living his apartment life in the city and knowing that he was singing and dancing and loving it. We’re not over it. We’re just trying to adjust with some grace. It is what it is. It was heartbreaking, but you have to move on – there’s no choice, really. He loves his beard and longer hair and, until he has to cut it for some role, he’ll keep it. I, on the other hand, wish it was longish but not as long as it is and I told him his beard needs trimming. Hah!
Yeah, I grow hot and cold with beards. My husband came with a neatly-trimmed beard/moustache when I met him; his hair and beard were dark brown then and I thought he was darned good looking (the quintessential tall/dark/handsome). My most fave photo of him is with that dark beard. So many times in our marriage, my husband will grow a beard but then winds up shaving it. I’ve long anticipated that when he soon retires, the beard will return. But it’s white, and he looks like a thin Santa Claus. A guy in town who was the most significant ‘ex’ of any of mine (I didn’t get married til I was age 35, so there were a few!), has grown this ratty beard to the middle of his chest and he looks absolutely awful (worse than Dave Letterman!!!), like some hermit in a cave or maybe even a bad guy. I probably ranted about it before in another comment on a similar topic. It perplexes me! I told my husband if he ever does that, I won’t be in the house or anywhere near it. It’s when my supposed tolerance for individual expression goes out the window.
(I still think this other guy I’m mentioning is very handsome even as he’s pushing age 70, so why does he want to hide[?] behind such a hideous look? I would think a beard like that could be dangerous, like it could get caught in something. Yuck. He was the same guy who said he didn’t want to wear a wedding ring on his finger because he didn’t want it around machinery. My beloved French language teacher [I took French in school for six years, heavily involved with French Club and French Honor Society, and she was my teach and advisor for most all of that – – very no-nonsense, dedicated, WONDERFUL instructor/mentor who was, by the way, 100% Italian] got her hair caught in a machine when she worked in a factory during WW2 and lost an arm as a result, so I’m always super-aware of this kind of thing.)
I did notice on his I/g because I went thru a lot of it, like til my eyes were burning a hole in my face from late-night eye strain, how different Don’s life has been over the months in the big city. There are so many people on the streets. So much activity. I try to imagine what that must be like – – for instance, just walking and hearing a zillion people all talking at the same time. I don’t know if it might make me feel claustrophobic. I’d probably want to feel like looking for cover somewhere; anywhere for less busy-ness and noise. (Hence, the wider spaces of the parks or the privacy of the community gardens; definitely would have to provide respite for me and my personality.) He goes right from that mega-urban environment to pastoral and quiet life in the country; a big diff. So, to me, it’s a dual thing for Don to transition out of/from – – that hyped-up lifestyle he’s been living on the personal side, as well as the fully-engaged professional life, night after night. How do you come down off that? Smartest thing EVER, to go right into the camera work.
Glad he’s feeling better; the legs probably just needed a little change from the repetitive abuse they were getting.
We can’t leave you out of the equation. You’ve lived and breathed Escape to Margaritaville, too. His pain is yours. That’s the thing with marriage. But his new joys will be yours, too. (“Twice the joy; half the pain.”)
It’s a huge adjustment and I’ll be frank and say that I’m not doing too well with it at the moment.