"Magic"

1000 years ago, the Vikings found hope and strength in the evergreen tree. The warriors would chop down a fir tree and bring it inside in hopes that would help them survive the darkest days of winter.

I'm certain the lighted wire structure--the tree decoration on top of Dorsey's Knob--would never have fit the bill. But this December day was warm and pretty and there were several tall spruce trees on the trek up to the knob to enjoy.

Journaling: "You brought some of the Christmas tree's magic into my life by taking me with you on a Sunday assignment to Dorsey's Knob."

Ghost Alphabet

Coloring and adhering acetate letters is a challenge to me. I tried dye sprays and acrylic paints on these and did not like the look. I loved the look though of the Krylon "Make it Stone" finishing spray, added to the top side of the letters. I've used it on beach pages before, but I thought it added that "sparkle" to this December page.

Winter Sky

"Even on the shortest days of the year, the rising and setting sun, against the blackened sky, sheds a brilliance that warms the soul." I arrive at work before the sun rises and was thrilled to see the gorgeous morning sky through the cafeteria dining room windows. I rushed to my office to grab my camera. Knowing how quickly a few seconds can make in the lighting, I did not take the time to don a coat and gloves. On that December 23rd, it was near zero degrees. When the helicopter created additional winds on landing, I about froze. But it certainly was worth it. The lower left shot was taken from our front deck on Christmas evening--another pretty, but much warmer day.

Christmas Once is Christmas Still

I waited as long as I could for the weather to cooperate so that I could visit my parents. It was 52 in Morgantown and raining. In Westernport, it was 32. My parents' driveway was a solid sheet of ice. As I was leaving, we turned so I could get a picture of us together on this Christmas Eve. Journaling: "My Mom and Dad gave us the best Christmas ever 50 years ago and that loving feeling still remains." Excerpt of poem by Phillip Brooks in Ideals Magazine:

"The sky can still remember the earliest Christmas morn.
O never failing splendor! O never silent song!
Still keep the brave earth dreaming of deeds that shall be done."

Holding on. . .

It was near freezing
on this November trip
to Mom's--cloudy,windy
and cold. Yet there
were still colorful
leaves holding on to
the trees at Deep Creek.
My mood could drop
easily in this
gloomy season, but
searching for pretty
things--some "color"--
keeps me holding on too.

Tokens

You gather shells from the river bank at Harpers Ferry to keep as a remembrance of a special place and time. My favorite keepsake of this trip is this picture of you, content and loving everything in the moment.

Always Pretty Here

Nearly 40 years have gone by, and my Mom & Dad's "back yard"--the "field"--has changed only a little. No ponies, no pool, only one outlining fence. But most things haven't changed: Dad always keeps the acre and a half cut (with a little help from my brother & nephew). They still grill on the car port. They walk the tracks every Sunday. There 's a garden behind the stable. They feed the birds in the winter. And on a warm afternoon, they sit on the swing and reminisce. In the eyes of their children. . . it's always pretty here!

"If nothing ever changed"

I'd already made a 12 X 12 inch page of the "Painted Lady" butterfly, but still had some good photos of other butterflies and embellishments to make another page. I'd seen 12 X 6 inch pages in magazines, and thought that would be a fun size to try. I used a Photoshop filter--the colored pencil--on a closeup of the same photo to make the corner design. The quote "If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies" is printed on a Cosmo Cricket line of fall papers.

Closeup of Stitched Page Protector

I love making unusual size pages, but did not have a sheet protector to match this 12 X 6 inch page. I took a 12 X 8 1/2 inch page protector and pierced it at 6 inches deep. I then hand stitched through the pierced marks prior to cutting the protector to fit the page. I was pleased with the result.

62 Years a Team

My Mom is 83 years old and emails me everyday. I saved one of her emails from October, 2006 and paired it with this photo taken August, 2008. Here are some excerpts: "These are your parents, Jim and June. We are doing fairly well for our age. We as a team can do well. I do well that I can still drive. Dad keeps the dishes done. I keep the washing done and fold the clothes. Some of the blessing with his eyes is I get to drive and he can't see the dirt." Mom and Dad were married 62 years in September.

"54"

This year
you turn
54.
In 1954 you
were born.
Off the top
of my head,
here are
54 reasons
I love you
(lift flap):

"54" (Inside flap)

Excerpts from "54 Reasons I Love You":

1. You love what you do.
10. You take care of us.
13. You are a great speaker.
14. You have a sense of humor.
23. You find the beauty in everyday things.
24. You like to photograph working people.
24. You are a great teacher.
38. You enjoy my scrapbooks.
43. You are my partner in parenting, housekeeping, finances . . . everything.
54. We both fell head over heals in love when we first met and that feeling hasn't changed!

There are many more . . .

Another 32 Years

Labor Day Weekend was early this year but still the best weekend for our anniversary trip. My Mother's birthday was Sunday August 31, so we stopped at her house to deliver a beautiful cake, then drove Rt. 50 to Winchester, Va. We stopped at the Virginia Farmer's Market then drove north on Rt. 522 to Berkeley Springs, WV, where we ate lunch at Tari's. We checked into our hotel just in time to watch WVU football. By half time, we were relaxing in the jacuzzi tub. After WVU was way ahead, we went to the canal in Hancock, Md., to a part we'd never been before. How pretty the reflections were--a nice ending to a full day of being with each other. Think I'd like to do this another 32 years! (text modeled after a page by Elisha Snow in Simple Scrapbooks Magazine)

Polar Plunge

We dropped off the teenagers (Chris & 2 girls) at Kennywood Park and went to a place more our style--the zoo! The 2 sites are actually only 9 miles apart and the plan went well. The animals at the Pittsburgh Zoo seemed happy and playful and to our delight, showed off for we human onlookers. Our favorite animals were the Polar Bears. They have a whole new habitat with a deep pool where we could actually see under water. Bob & I were both able to get spots near the glass (I knelt down by lots of kids) and got pictures from different angles.

"They take the plunge one at a time,
Majestic bears like verse in rhyme,
They leap and bound and soar up high,
Spread their paws and close their eyes.
Like kids they play and enjoy the chill,
And we at the zoo remember the thrill."

Georgia On My Mind

We didn't stay at the more expensive host hotel, but we really enjoyed ours. This one reminded us of a New York City hotel we'd stayed in many years ago. The room was by itself, around the corner at the end of the hall. The ceilings were high. The white ceiling fan along with the thermostat set at 65 provided a retreat from the 100 degree temperatures outside. The double mirrors in the elevators reflected our images to infinity.

Evolution of a Vacation

I got this idea from a layout in Memory Makers magazine by Tracy Austin. Her layout was "Evolution of a Couch" and I thought the hinged photo arrangement would work well for describing something from each of my vacation days. While on vacation, we left town for just 2 days. On the cover of the photo journal is a shot from the Arts on the River Festival right here in Morgantown. Journaling: "We didn't have to leave town to enjoy sights & sounds of a big city. We listened to the bands, viewed the art displays & enjoyed the sights on the riverfront."

Hinged Photo Journal Closeup fromVacation

This was the 6th day of vacation and the 2nd day we were out of town. Journaling from this day: "There was a concert on the Pavilion and many photo opportunities in the railroad hub of Old Towne Manassas. We enjoyed an Americano in the coffee shop & photographing each other."

I Believe in You

"I believe in you,
Beside me, watching over me,
Coloring my world."

We'd photographed the partial rainbow already.
When I noticed the rainbow was clear across the sky,
I told Bob, but he was busy photographing a young man
in a confederate soldier costume on the streets of Gettysburg.
I should have know, he'd turned to catch me photographing the rainbow.
He's always there, watching over me.

Every day

"My love for you grows stronger."
The quote on the wall at the
Gettysburg Civil War Visitor's Center
could not be more appropriate to
my love for you.

Already There

Bob arrived home from work the other night and pointed out that there was a nice light over my flower bed in the front yard. So I grabbed my camera and went out to capture the light while I had the chance. Who could argue that there wasn't a higher being to create such gorgeous plants, light and melodies to complement our lives?

Journaling: (Words from the song by Lonestar)
"I'm already there, Take a look around.
I'm the sunshine in your hair,
I'm the shadow on the ground.
I'm the whisper in the wind,
And I'll be there to the end."

Sewing (Pages about my childhood)

Though I saved mementos from my early years, I do not have a lot of pictures. Occasionally I go back to a place of significance, take a photograph and journal about days gone by. This is one of those "Me" pages.

Journaling: "This is the former Singer store in Keyser where I took sewing lessons as a young teen. Great Grandma Mullan was a seamstress, and that skill would be passed to all of us. Kathleen Wilt was the owner & teacher at the store. I did some of my sewing at Grandma Marie's home next to Mom's. In high school, I made many of my clothes. It wasn't uncommon for me to put together an outfit the night before an event. This was good preparation for my core Home Economics classes at WVU, though I no longer make clothes."

The Man Behind the Lens (Father's Day 2008)

When Bob saw the picture I took of him photographing Greg and Chris on Greg's graduation day, he said he wanted me to make a collage comparing these pictures with a similar arrangement I made in 1998. On that fall day at Deep Creek, I photographed Bob making a portrait of our boys for our Christmas card. While the page is titled "Dad--the man behind the lens", I added the line at the bottom "top photos by Cindy--the woman behind the men".

The Builders

When Bob & I met in 1973,we often photographed abandoned buildings. We both were intrigued by this building on our walk on the rail trail May 2008. It appeared to be an office building for an old tire company. When I studied the brick work and vines surrounding it, it transported me to another time and even country.

The excerpts of poetry are by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:
"All are architects of fate
Working in the walls of time
Some with massive deeds and great,
Some with ornaments of rhyme.

In the elder days of art,
Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part;
For the Gods see everywhere."

Remembered (Favorite Summer Page 2007)

People not only remember your pictures, they remember you--the Dominion Post photographer, the one who took their picture when they were working, playing or sharing a special moment. You've made many a person's day by putting them in the paper. They remember you.

Fall Rides (Favorite Fall Page)

My favorite rides are always those spent with Bob. My favorite of this season was the one returning from Oakland, Maryland when he heard a train whistle, stated "We're about to have a race", and made a U-turn in the road to beat the train to the underpass.

What will 2008 bring? (Favorite winter page)

I've had so many good things in my life--my husband, my sons, my family, my colleagues, my health. . .I know things can't always be perfect. But whatever happens, I'll always have memories, I'll always have hope & gratitude, I'll always work & create. One fuels the other & keeps me going.

Dances (Favorite Spring Page)

"For oft, when on my couch I lie in vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye which is the bliss of solitude:
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
and dances with the daffodils."
--William Wordsworth

Michelle

She's the light of Greg's life and also one of our shining stars. She's sweet, intelligent, a great conversationalist & a joy to be around. I'm so glad she's become a member of our family.

Like Mom

Even though my Dad has macro degeneration, he took a great picture of my Mom and I on Mother's Day 2008. I definitely came from the same mold as Mom!

Healthy Cafe

I manage the "Healthy Cafe" at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center. We have a power point presentation posted on wholegrainscouncil.org website and were the recipient of the whole grains challenge award in the health care category. I have been a speaker to an international group as well as 2 state organizations. While I am not a "speaker" our work and photographs speak for themselves. I am fortunate to have a hard working staff that make the healthy recipes I create look and taste good and who provide excellent service.

Charming

Our son Chris is only 15 and every bit as successful as his brother. He will finish his freshman year at Morgantown High School this year. He is truly a "Charmer".

Do What You Love

Our son Greg received his BS degree in just 3 years. We were so proud of him graduating in Computer Science from the College of Engineering and Mineral Industries at WVU. He is now a graduate assistant, working on his masters.

Cindy's Pages in Time

"I want everyday of my life to be creative"

is a quote I heard on CBS Sunday Morning just yesterday. It's my passion as well. So this Memorial Day, 2008, I begin my blog.

My husband is a photographer and we met in the darkroom 35 years ago. Today we spent the afternoon with cameras in hand walking the rail trail and photographing old buildings. I will always enjoy doing this.