The Mystery of Gooney Manor

Another in the series of Retro-posts, this was first posted September 22, 2009.
**********************************************************************

(Cue spooky theme music.)

On my trip this weekend, I spent two afternoons at the Shenandoah National Park, meandering aimlessly on Skyline Drive. Alright, maybe not aimlessly because I was there to take photos, but it was a nice 35mph saunter through the mountains. I entered the park at the Front Royal, VA gate, and went as far as Thornton Gap, I believe, on my second visit. The first afternoon, I drove past a beautiful outlook twice. For some odd reason, something drew me to stop for a shot, but it was getting late and I wanted to get back to my hotel before dark. I was not in the mood to navigate the hot mess that was road construction in Tyson's Corner at night again.


I hadn't planned on going back to SNP, but the mountains had other plans.

I thought I was going to have to make a trip to Ocean City, MD for a friend, so when it turned out I didn't have to, I decided to go back to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive. I was closer than I would have been if I were coming from home and figured, "why not?" To drive the full length of Skyline Drive, according to the park website, takes about three hours. I wasn't going to do that, but I did decide to go a little further than I did the day before. I drove past Gooney Manor overlook, thinking that it was interesting, but not what I was looking to photograph. I kept on driving.

After a couple of hours, I decided to head back and begin my 4 plus hour drive back home. I got some shots, but none that particularly "wowed" me. As I made my way back North on Skyline Drive, a tree in the distance jumped out at me. (No, I didn't hit it. You know what I mean!) I pulled into the circle and got out with camera in hand.

I got some of the best shots I'd had all day. Satisfied, I got back in the car, and pulled out to go home. As I drove away, I caught the sign in my rear view mirror. It read, Gooney Manor Overlook. The place I'd passed over several times.

Mulder was right.
 

Retro Post 2

Here's one of my personal favorites! Enjoy! This originally posted on September 16, 2009.

****************************************************************************
MooOOOO Cow!

Sitting here, not quite in the wee, small hours of the morning (give it about thirty minutes, however, and we're there!) fixing to do some editing. For those of you not from the South, "fixing to do" something is the step before you actually do that something you are fixing to do.

Are ya'll still with me? Good. At least one of us needs to keep up. :-)

Kind of in a reflective mood tonight. I just returned from a trip to Texas to take care of family business and to go to San Antonio to visit my husband's cousin. I also wanted to do a session with them so that they would have some special photographs. I think I captured some special moments for them. I won't post them because it's not why I did the shoot, and I don't want to invade their privacy. But I've gotta tell you - it was a great and very comforting visit.

I didn't just see family while I was in the Great State of Texas. (Yes, we're all required to say that. I know. I know.) I did make two new friends on my visit. (See above.)

I went up to New Waverly and Old Waverly, Texas, to take a look around. I'd wanted to go to Lake Conroe to take some shots, but that wasn't going to happen because the state got a much needed end to the drought and they'd locked up the park. (The rainstorm, obviously, took place after meeting my two bovine buddies.) I was making my way back to New Waverly from Old Waverly when I happened upon these two beauties.

Here is where I make a small confession. I like cows. I think they are cute. I used to say, "mooOOO cow!" every time I'd pass a pasture in the car with my parents. For years. And years and years. Here's another confession: I still do it. I even got my husband to do it. I leave you with the image of two grown, absurdly well-educated adults saying, "mooOOO cow!" every time they passed a cow pasture.

OK. Got it? Moving on...

It was a small country road with NO traffic. I parked the rental smack dab in the middle of the road and got down partway into the ditch to take the shot. I'd thought about using a fill flash for a brief minute. Here's a tip: think long and hard if you really want to use a strobe that might startle an animal at least four or five times your BMI when you are less than two feet away. Think. Very long and very hard.

So fill flash was out of the question.

Of course, as I'm taking fashion model, "you've gotta WORK" shots of Elsie and Elmer, the one person I've seen on this road in HOURS decides she wants to come down the opposite side of the road. No problem; I just shut the driver's side door. I have to tell you I wish I'd gotten a shot of the look on her face as she passed. Sort of a cross between "she's escaped from the loony bin and I need to lock the car doors" and bless her heart, she's done lost her mind!"

What can I say? I like cows.

I should also add that I'm not sure if it was Elsie and Elmer or Elsie and Eloise. I'm thinking the later, but who am I to assume?

One last thing: Borden milk is the best milk EVER, especially ice cold, and so is Blue Bell ice cream. Pecan. And the state tree for the Great State of Texas is the Pecan tree.

OK, that was three things.

Fill The Boot

Everything old is new again! I'm transferring this post from my original blog because supporting your local volunteer fire department is always important and bears repeating. So, enjoy!

The original date of this post was October 17, 2009.

*****************************************************************
Where has the time gone? I realize that it's been almost a month since my last blog post. I wish I could say most of that time was taken up with photo shoots, but again I had busywork to do. The recent task was calibrating my monitor. I did, however, get to shoot some very special images on Saturday, October 10. I was honored to be able to donate a piece and participate in a charity auction for the Kendall Park, NJ, Volunteer Fired Department.

The auction was in memory of a volunteer firefighter and organized by her sister. Meredith's sister gave countless hours of her time, dedication and devotion to the fire department and to the community at large both as a firefighter and an EMT, and although it was a sudden illness that took her far too soon and far too young, Meredith's big sis did what many don't have the courage to do. She, like all fire fighters, policemen, and EMTs, was one of the ones who ran in when most were running out. All the time, every time.

The thing that is so remarkable, especially in the case of this fire department and others like it in other towns and communities, is that these men and women volunteer to put themselves in danger to save other people's lives. And it's important to remember that even though these brave people volunteer to protect people they don't eve know; the equipment and other things necessary to do their job and to keep them safe isn't free. Volunteer fire departments are charitable organizations who literally rely on the kindness of the strangers they protect to operate.

Thank you, the men and women of the Kendall Park, NJ Volunteer Fire Department, for allowing me to share these images with people who read this blog. Thank you, Meredith, for letting me be a small part of the wonderful tribute you held in your sister's memory. I know you'd rather have her here, but I have no doubt that she's very proud of you. And thank you, Kendall Park Volunteer Fire Department and your sister and brother fire fighters everywhere for keeping us safe.

And, Gentle Reader (as the saying goes), the next time you walk past a fire station, don't forget to fill the boot.