16. Group Portraits

Today twenty nine 52 Week Photo Challenge participants got together for a luncheon to meet each other and put faces to blogger names, to share experiences, and chat about what we love about the challenge and photography. Before people started leaving, we gathered outside to take a group photograph. Unfortunately one of our bloggers, Julie Alejos, had to leave early, but another blogger, Patricia Reed, took her place unexpectedly!

When Mary Nell Moore approached Patricia Reed and me about doing a photo blog, I never imagined we’d form so many new friendships.

Click here to read the story that appears the East County Observer about our luncheon.

Pictured left to right, front row- Betty Beckham, Marie Lough, Diane Broda, Julie Zimmerman, Ida McBride, Mary Nell Moore, Mindy Towns and L.B. Blanchard. Second row- Clara Gingrich, Jackie Arrick, Debbie Aitken, Carolyn Eliason, Weezie Eaton, Marc Schweitzer, Ron Owens, Liz Cantarine. Back row- Amanda Sebastiano, Susan Piper, Roxana Walters, Bobbi Aitken, Melody Martin, Pirjo Toivanen, Cathy Smith, Erin Mulvihill, Reijo Toivanen, Vinnie Veneruso, Terry Klopstad, Patricia Reed and Bill Mills.

44. Someone Working

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Indiana was the day I got to spend with my Dad. When I was a young girl my family used to take canoe trips together. My brother and I were little and had to sit close to each other on the bottom of the canoe wearing our bright orange life jackets and matching CPO jackets.

Dad told me that he had been wanting to take the canoe down the river from a place near his home in Woodburn, Indiana to my sisters house. She lives near Antwerp, Ohio in a house that has property that backs up to the river. I eagerly agreed. I was looking forward to taking photos of the fall colors and reliving a great memory from my childhood with my Dad. But as the saying goes, “Even the best laid plans of mice and men go awry.”

The leaves really hadn’t changed color much and the weather was much colder than anticipated. The canoe was heavier than I had planned for and it was much further to the river from the road than I thought it would be. Both Dad and I were so excited to get started that he left our boat cushions (flotation devices), his jacket and his hat in the back seat of his pickup truck. It wasn’t until we had already begun to float away that we realized it. Dad thought the trip would in total take between 2 1/2 – 3 hours. He kept talking about how after we passed the bridge we would almost be there. Well after  3 hours and with no sight of the bridge I finally dug out my iPhone and brought up my google map app. Imagine the look on my face when I saw the little blue dot was only about half way to our destination. Thank goodness for modern technology… I didn’t remember how similar all river banks look… and how hard it is to find a house along the river before the leaves fall!  Our trip that day took us 6 1/2 hours. My brother in law was surprised we made it that quick. I guess next time we should talk to someone about the distance between point A and point B. And look at google maps BEFORE we launch the canoe.

The first photo is of my Dad working hard at rowing our little canoe. He’s smiling in this photo because it was taken when he still thought we were ‘almost there’!

 

4. Bright Idea

A few weeks ago I received an email from a community volunteer coordinator. He was asking for people interested in being team ambassadors for the 2014 IBCPC Dragon Boat Festival being held at Nathan Benderson Park. I wasn’t sure exactly what the job would entail so I had the bright idea of asking if being an ambassador could be a team event! I thought it sounded like a great project for my book club. We call ourselves the DEARS. That stands for Drink, Eat and Read Sometimes. Heavy on the sometimes…. Secretly I have to admit that I thought if we did this event it would be another excuse to not read. 🙂

The women who participated in the dragon boat races were all breast cancer survivors and traveled to Sarasota from all over the world. Teams came from as far away as Australia, Italy and Singapore. Our teams were both from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  As team ambassadors it was our responsibility to answer questions before our teams arrived and then help them navigate the event and answer questions once they arrived.

In DEARS fashion we wanted to do just a little more to make our team feel welcome. We made signs and greeted our teams at the Tampa airport, we attended the opening ceremonies, the parade of nations, cheered for our teams as they raced, the closing ceremonies and a group send off as they left for the airport.

It was one of the most fun things we have done as a group…. and one of my best bright ideas!

 

6. Bridge

I have to be honest, I am 3 posts behind and tomorrow is our photo blogger luncheon. Now I find myself in a mad rush to get caught up. This is just the motivation I needed to get myself focused… 🙂  I have the photos taken I just need to make the time to write my posts!

This bridge is in Indiana near one of my childhood homes. I can remember going to the Covered Bridge Festivals as a kid. I can vividly remember when the bridge turned 100 years old in 1973. Wow, I feel old when I start to do that math!

I visited Indiana a few weeks ago and I made sure that I took the time to stop by the bridge to take photos with this blog post in mind.  I was also reminded while taking the photos just how friendly the people are in Indiana. As people approached the bridge they all stopped before entering to make sure they weren’t getting in my shot. One nice man even rolled down his window to see if I needed any help.  Such a nice place to have spent my childhood…

This bridge is located in Spencerville, Indiana. It was built in 1873. It is the only remaining covered bridge in DeKalb County. It was placed on the National Historical Registry in 1981.