Here we have yet another picture taken down New Point. I was planning on sharing some delightful pictures I took today from Haven Beach, but I am unable to due to this: Dial-up internet and this ridiculous computer will surely be the reason that my blood vessels finally burst from the pressure, and I am hauled off to Riverside Walter Reed Hospital (fondly referred to as Guinea General by some locals--no offense to Guineamen or Walter Reed employees intended). Or rather, I am getting error messages when I try to upload new pictures. It will go away but in the interim causes a drastic increase in my blood pressure.
Therefore, please enjoy this photo--which looks like every other photo I've put up here this week--that I had no intention of showing you today, or ever. It was loaded up earlier so it's my only option for now.
A long time ago, I bought a book called "Talk to Me: 2,507 Questions." It's meant to inspire conversation, to facilitate sharing of your life experiences.
One of the first questions in the book is, "What things do you consider beautiful?"
Most of what I consider beautiful is found in nature, which is a very broad answer but for me very true. I also find beauty in imperfection, which is something I have only recently discovered. (I also find humor in imperfection, usually my own, but we're not talking about humor, we're talking about beauty. I think.) Sometimes, nature and imperfection merge together, like in my pictures of the old houses around here being taken over by Mother Nature. I find them absolutely gorgeous. Haunting, yet gorgeous.
Today I startled myself by finding beauty where I least expected it: down Haven Beach, which is now very brown and very stark, with leafless trees and dead pine trees sticking harshly out of brownish gray marsh grass and oh when will this Chesapeake Bay Woman snap out of this depressing sentence?
And yet I found so much beauty there I must have taken 50 pictures.
Hopefully, if I don't end up in Guinea General due to dial-up-internet-induced stroke, I'll be able to share some of this winter beauty with you.
Otherwise, just trust me when I say there is beauty in our winter terrain here in Mathews. Also trust me when I say that if I can't upload pictures tomorrow, there will be a mushroom cloud forming directly over the Hudgins, VA, vicinity.
And perhaps one more patient in Guinea General (with all due respect to Guinea, its natives and Walter Reed Hospital).
___________________________________________
P.S. For non-locals, Guinea deserves an explanation which is far too lengthy to share here and is better served in a separate post. Or, perhaps, a separate blog. (With all due respect to Guinea and its inhabitants. Again.)
26 comments:
This is a bad time for you to be getting error messages when you upload photos. I guess this mean your not putting a Mathews Calendar together for us to buy? I mean how are you going to finance a new wifi laptop? Santa is busy helping bail out the Big Three....or at least I wish it were him, but it's us.
I personally love wintery pictures. They seem raw...I like raw. Ok, I'm tired as if you couldn't tell.
I just love your blog - it always makes me smile! that book sounds handy.
Ahh, Guinea ... I knew some people from "down Guinea". BHE's middle sis doesn't live too far from there now.
CBW
Hmmm
What things do I consider beautiful?
A well written post from a favourite blogger.
Bear((( )))
I don't know what to say other than you always leave me giggling!
And also - my husband thinks you could make some money off of your photos. Even the winter ones. Notecards, small matted prints, souvenir calendars - think about it. Get yourself on Etsy. It could just result in the extra cash you need, so you can avoid making difficult decisions, such as: Wine or... oh wait, that's not a difficult decision, because I would never not choose the wine.
Ramble much??
GJ - I would put a Mathews calendar together, but I am not sure how profitable it would be. Actually, I am sure it would not be profitable. Wal-Mart will charge me $17 to make one--with my own pictures, mind you--and I don't know too many people who are going to pay more than 10 bucks for a calendar. If there are cheaper/easier ways, someone let me know.
Val - thank you!
Cool Breeze - Thanks for that tidbit on BHE's Middle Sister....I wonder if that's the one I met at the auction? I also had a very good friend who lived in Guinea. I spent many weekends with her. She had a pony named Satan, but I'm sure that was not related to being in Guinea.....
BN - You are too kind. Far too kind.
Soup - You must be easy to make laugh today, because not only did I not have my photos loaded, I had nothing to write about. Nada. Nil. The big goose egg. My brain is reaching the end of year holiday phase and really wants to shut down until 2009, but I'm forcing it along. I'm afraid if I don't keep making it work, the few remaining functional brain cells will crawl off and die. As a result, there are likely to be many Nothing Posts coming. Thankfully I have a few guest posts on the back burner, so that will help CBW's brain a bit. And her readers...
Happy Friday.
You might try the good old-fashioned method of just shutting down your computer and restarting. I know sometimes I get those problems and it "cures" them. Thanks Gates for making life easier and harder at the same time. I look forward to seeing your pictures all the time. I think you really should consider doing a Chesapeake wisdom/photos coffee table book--I'd definitely buy it!
...I went outside and didn't see a mushroom cloud forming in that general direction so I'm assuming you're doing okay?...lol... ;o)
...Yeah I too find beauty in nature and the strangest of things CBW - it's a gift I like to think... Oh and, when you said "Guinea, its natives...", my imagination ran out and started me thinkin' about tribesmen in loincloths, cannibalism, etc...lol... Whew! I'm okay...:oD
...Can't wait to see more photos but don't hurt yourself over 'em ;o)...
...Blessings to you...
NO, it was the way you presented the "nothing" that made me giggle. Some people would write, "I have nothing to write today." But you take that and riff on it and damn if it ain't funny!
Or maybe I am easily amused.
Or, possibly, both are true.
It it time for wine yet??
Autumforest - That is precisely what I did earlier this morning and it worked. For now anyway. I at least have 3 pictures loaded (it "only" takes 15 or so minutes PER PICTURE to load, yes, I am insane).
TJ - You're not far off the mark, especially with that word "cannibalism." OK, I'm just kidding, the people of Guinea are wonderful. I love people from Guinea. I say this because I value my life. Oh, and because it is true. (Sorry to any of you non-locals...this doesn't make much sense. I'm sure you're used to that by now if you are repeat visitors.)
Soup - I think you're easily amused, but that's just fine with me. Oh yes, it is wine o'clock for sure. Enjoy yourself.
You crack me up, nature girl (no offense to nature or girls intended!).
I think there is something inherently beautiful about the coast in the winter time...something about it's starkness and harshness that appeal to me.
Oddly enough, speaking of wintry photos...those are my best sellers when it comes to my photography business. All of my lighthouse winter time scenes tend to be more popular than the spring and summer and even autumn ones.
I'm with Grandma J though...seriously, if you put together a Mathews Calendar, I'd be one the first to buy it!
You should go watch the puppies for a little while. My blood pressure was at a record low at the doctor today, and I give all the credit to the puppies.
Kaffy - You must be really bored, girl. Check out Facebook, I've given a hint as to what what will be posted here on Monday.
Auds - I just always assumed that the green and other colors of spring and summer were more appealing, but I guess I never looked at things through these eyes before, which is strange because they're the same eyes I've had all my life....If you have any suggestions on a way to reproduce a calendar that would be profitable, let me know. I'd give you one for free. Actually I'd probably give everyone one for free, which is why the daggone thing will never make money no matter what.
MPM - If I didn't have the darn dial-up I might...but it takes too long and that, in turn, does nothing to help my b.p. Good idea, though.
I anxiously await the Guinea post.
Word verification: henclogr
Hen Clogger
Not that has anything to do with Guinea. Or Satan.
BHE - You're making me laugh, girl....but if anyone from Guinea is reading this, I'm not laughing.
you are worth high speed intranet. dial up can mess up a person's everything.
your so cute. why don't you come to Mississippi for a visit. I'll take you around and give you some new beauty to photograph. Actually it is just an excuse to invite you. I love all your pictures. Funny stories and just you.
What could there possibly be to laugh about? Do you have the Guinea/English dictionary?
Please delete this message after you read it. I don't want any hate mail. Um..K? Thx!
KD - Thank you so much. I'd love to visit, especially if you'll be cooking up any of that chili of yours. Big Hair Envy and I are discussing a bloggers get-together here in Virginia if you'd like to make the trip....
BHE - We will laugh nervously and never mention Guinea again. (Until the blogfest when we can explain things in person.)
You are the only person in the whole world that still has dial up internet. Seriously. Can you get a better kind? I love your pictures. They thrill my soul! How pretty are those clouds? Seriously? How pretty!
No, Rebekah, there are two of us. I am the OTHER person in the world who still has dial-up. I'm using it right now!!!!!
CBW - Deal.
LWK - I was going to say that there were two people who still use it, but BHE beat me to it.
Once I find out once she does, I'll follow suit. Because I'm not a trailblazer in the world of technology, just ask Grandma J.
Thanks for your kind words.
BHE - We'll need to add "Technology" to our list of agenda items for the blogfest. Grandma J. can lead the discussion on this topic.
Once I found out "what" she does....
I met a new blogger today. She was where I was, and I won't tell until I post. She has taken her blog and morphed it into a bonafide business. We need to get her to the Blogapalooza to tell us how to market ourselves. She told me she would come:) I'm tired of the 9-5. Are you?
BHE - Hallelujah. I'm not only tired of the 9-5, I want to kick it to the curb. But for now I have to be nice to it since it is my only form of income. Definitely put her on the conference agenda.
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