3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

memories

Day 7/365: Vintage Christmas Tree Ornaments

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Decorating with Vintage Christmas Tree Ornaments

Choosing today’s picture was tough, I have so many memories of my Christmas tree. While many have a color theme and coordinating bulbs and garland, my tree tells a story. Every ornament has a special meaning.

Vintage Christmas tree ornaments

So I’ll start the story with this vintage ornament.

When my parents first got married they bought a box of bulbs for their tree. Although their 40-year marriage had it’s ups and downs, this gold bulb is a reminder of my Mom and Dad who passed away in 1995. Both are gone now, but my Mom gave me their vintage Christmas Tree ornaments.

I have only two, just a few survived over 50 years. When I was a child there was a certain order to placing the ornaments and stories that went with each one. As children, my brother and I weren’t allowed to handle these vintage ornaments, for fear of breaking them.

Now I hang them, out of reverence, and tradition.

Start your own Vintage Christmas Tree Collection

Kurt Adler Glass Reflector Ornament, 60mm, Multi-Colored, Set of 5Kurt Adler Glass Reflector Ornament, 60mm, Multi-Colored, Set of 5Festive Season Vintage Style Christmas Tree Ornament Balls (Set of 12, 60mm)Festive Season Vintage Style Christmas Tree Ornament Balls (Set of 12, 60mm)Merck Family's Old World Christmas Bride's Tree Ornaments & Metal Display TreeMerck Family’s Old World Christmas Bride’s Tree Ornaments & Metal Display TreeKurt Adler Early Years Mini Glass Ornament, Set of 24Kurt Adler Early Years Mini Glass Ornament, Set of 24

The 365 Day Photo Challenge

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A Favorite from Last year

This is it. I’m officially starting the Project 365 project. That means everyday for the next 365 days I will be taking a photograph representing a day in the life in Nebraska.

Why? Why stress myself out? Add one more thing to my day? Many reasons, and I’m going to list them, just for the simple fact that I’m justifying this project.

  1. I love photography.
  2. Improve my photography skills. (hopefully)
  3. Expand my “daily box” outside of work.
  4. Expand my creativity and eye for art
  5. It will be fun, I hope, … (remind me on day 300)
  6. Widen my social media circle and skills.
  7. I love a good challenge me. (Ask me again at day 200)
  8. Give me a vast array of entries for the County Fair (smirk)
  9. Give me a reason to carry my camera with me all the time (I often miss great pictures, because it’s sitting at home)
  10. Improve my Photoshop skills.
  11. Give me a reason to update my blog and use the quick update function.
  12. Create a calendar theme for next year.
  13. Did I say I love photography?

Flickr has various Project 365 groups and here is my 365 Photos- A Day in the Life, Nebraska Style album. I’m sure that when day 30 hits I’m going to be wondering why I started this endeavor. So, comments, hints, tips and encouragement is welcome.

Sorcerer’s Apprentice-My Experience

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Sorcerer's Apprentice

Being from Nebraska I don’t get to see filming of major motion pictures very often. Yes, the picture to the left was taken by me and it was during the filming of the new film The Sorcerer’s Apprentice starring Nicolas Cage.

I was in New York City near the end of May 2009, the local high school choir had been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall and I was a trip sponsor.  Watching this was one of many trip highlights.

Trucks started showing up in the early day, fancy expensive cars, Maserati’s and Ferrari’s  you know, the ones the guys drool over. It wasn’t until about midnight that the shooting began.

This particular scene was shot right below my hotel window at the Marriott west of 7th Avenue south of Central Park. One would think that a Hollywood set is exciting and bustling, but it’s apparent there is a lot of waiting. All day there were rumors that Nicolas Cage was going to appear, but the film staff said “No, these are scenes without Cage, he isn’t in NYC right now”. I’m sure it was to discourage gawkers and fans, but it didn’t work.

Fans and film buffs were in abundance taking pictures of anyone who looked important. I really wanted to see Jerry Bruckheimer , but I didn’t know what he looked like, so just snapped away. Below are some pictures from the shoot, a chase scene was being filmed down Broadway and rumor had it there was a curse on the film. There had already been two crashes where people were injured. Nicolas Cage was even reported to have hired a voodoo priestess to remove the curse, only in Hollywood.

Enjoy the pictures.

Nicolas Cage

Good N’ Plentys

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Food, or sometimes candy has the power to invoke memories and connect you to a person or an event.

I probably wouldn’t be a fan of Good & Plenty candy if it weren’t for my Dad. A month before he died I went to visit my Dad in the hospital. I wanted to give him something that would make him smile, and there wasn’t anything in the gift shop that met the criteria, except for a bag of Good & Plenty Candy.

Black licorice was his favorite candy, and I had this long ago memory that he liked the pink and white candies, that they were special to him.

As I laid the bag on his tray he looked at me and smiled. He poured them out and proceeded to separate the pink and white candies. Then he pushed the pink ones to me. I smiled as our eyes met. When I was a little girl he would share his Good & Plenty candies with me, the pink ones, because I was his little girl.

Now I eat them and remember my Dad, and smile.