Sunday, December 30, 2012

The Photo Bin - December 2012


Another year ends. But don’t be lookin’ here for a “year in review” or a list of goals for the new one. I’ve come to the point in my life that I don’t spend too much time dwelling on what’s past or pondering what’s ahead. Now I simply strive to breath deeply of each day, knowing that what’s here and now is all that’s really promised. So looking back just a month is far enough, especially when I get to do it by flipping through my “pile” of pictures for these Photo Bin posts.

One of the joys of December, around here, is that the low hanging sun traces a daily arc, visible, sunrise to sunset, from our perch on the ridge through our large south-facing windows. We wake with it peeking through our toes and, if we wished to, could languish in bed and watch the distant ball of fire sweep the sky until it disappears in a blaze of color. The photo above gives you an idea of what we see.

Yeah, I know. More bare trees. What can I say?


A whimsical window of another sort. Snow on Christmas; not something this southern boy has seen often. We traveled Chicago-way to spend the holiday with the grandkids (and their parents, of course) and I caught the fine flurries through a front port window. I thought the nested frames needed a little twist and an odd crop. No, I had not been in the eggnog before I composed it. But shortly thereafter...


And speaking of windows, this little guy gave me his best pissed-off, WTF glare after beak-planting into ours. He was stunned enough to let me pick him up, smooth his ruffled feathers, and place him at the edge of the deck, but coherent enough to give me a nasty look after I did it. Serves him right for fighting with himself in my truck's side-view mirrors and pooping on the doors.


More bare trees. This lovely thing sits next to my sister-in-law's recently completed quarter-acre Indiana farm pond. We visited for an early Christmas gathering of Mary's family and, while there was no snow, it was foggy as the dickens. I caught the first fish taken from that pond, earlier this year. Though none were stocked, the pond suddenly came alive with bream; how they got there, a complete mystery. But no one's complaining and I'll now be spending some of my future warm-weather Hoosier visits with a 2wt in hand.


A little more of that light Chicago snowfall. I like this picture of the kids' neighborhood back courtyard for the way the angles of building, tree, and railing pull the eye around image. I am told real photographers consider such things in their work. Who knew?

Oh look. More bare trees.


Finally, inside, away from The Hawk, there's a mean game of pong-pong going on. (And yes, I do mean pong-pong.) Here's the grandson about to unleash his devastating no-look CB smash.


Take that, Grandma.


Well, that's it, 2012. Here's hopin' for a safe and Happy New Years to all, no matter how far ahead you wish to look.


17 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I'm no writer. I have hopes, but miles to go. Miles. But I look at where I started and at what is beginning to find its way to the surface now and I am encouraged. Your feedback, in this regard, will always be appreciated. " = equals perceived self image?

"He was stunned enough to let me pick him up, smooth his ruffled feathers, and place him at the edge of the deck, but coherent enough to give me a nasty look after I did it. Serves him right for fighting with himself in my truck's side-view mirrors and pooping on the doors." = this is a genius collection of words that only comes to great writers.

Thanks for the Blog

Rich
Bozeman MT

Mike Sepelak said...

Thank you for the kind thoughts, Rich. I truly appreciate it. And I find that any collection of words that include the verb "pooping" have the potential for greatness. :-)

e.m.b. said...

I agree with you on the verb "pooping." ;) Is that juvenile of me? I truly hope so...

And may we all keep the lookout for beauty and mysteries such as non-stocked bream in the coming year!

Mike Sepelak said...

You can be as juvenile as you wish here, Erin. Actually, it's encouraged.

And that's mighty fine advice for the coming year. Beauty and mysteries. One couldn't ask for more.

Happy New Year. May the next be as exciting for you as the last, though perhaps a bit less frenetic.

Anonymous said...

“I've lived out my melancholy youth. I don't give a f**k anymore what's behind me, or what's ahead of me. I'm healthy. Incurably healthy. No sorrows, no regrets. No past, no future. The present is enough for me. Day by day. Today!”
― Henry Miller, Tropic of Cancer

Seems to be a running theme this year, only Henry wrote it 80 years ago.

Funny how they try to make new buildings in Chicago look like the buildings I grew up in. Give them a hundred years and for sure they'll look like what I grew up in.

I'm making that venison chili recipe tomorrow that calls for a bottle of Guinness, so I bought some. I just may have to make a dent in the other five.

Happy New Year Mike.

Mike Sepelak said...

Thanks, BT. Doing these posts are fun.

Today's the day, Ken. For sure. And I like that Chicago is trying to keep that Old Town flavor. And speaking of flavor, enjoy the chili. And the stout!

cofisher said...

wonderful as usual Mike. I love the fist picture.

CathyB said...

My bluebirds are equally rude poopers, Mike. A few years back, one fixated on his reflection in the storm door fronting my front entry door. Poop everywhere. I finally dissuaded him by taping newspapers to the glass, thereby removing his reflection.

Happy New Year!

Unknown said...

"Foggy as the dickens". Nice Christmas reference, Mike.

THE RIVER DAMSEL said...

Great post... I am thinking of doing the month to month planning too. A lot less stressful! Happy New Year to you and here's to many fishy days ahead!

Mike Sepelak said...

Thanks, Howard. That sunset is pretty striking.

I love having the bluebirds around, Cathy, but, as you say, they're rude. We fledged 28 of them this year in the boxes around the house so we'd better get used to them.

Well done, Greg! I wasn't sure if anyone would catch that.

And many to you as well, Emily!

Steve Zakur said...

Happy New Year, Mike! One of the memories I will treasure from the past year is our drive over the Smokies to fish the Hoslton with Marc. A wonderful trip though, sadly, the trees were not bare at the time. That would have made it doubly special.

Mike Sepelak said...

A highlight of my year, as well, Steve. We need to do that, or something like it, again. Soon.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Matt Smythe said...

All the best to you as well, Mike! Looking forward to catching up at some point this year.
Be well.
Matt

Mike Sepelak said...

We have to make that happen, Matt. No doubt about it. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

"Now I simply strive to breath deeply of each day, knowing that what’s here and now is all that’s really promised."

Happy New Year, Mike! Just trying to catch up on my blog reading so I am a little late with the wishes. I really appreciate the quote above. Seems like you and I are seeing the world through similar eyes.

Mike Sepelak said...

"Seems like you and I are seeing the world through similar eyes."

Thanks Mel. That's comforting... I think. :-)