Things have been so busy lately and in particular the past week. I photographed a wedding on the 22, and spent the week editing the files.  I picked my very favorites to post here, I had to, the finished cd had over 225 photos. Enjoy :)

preparation 1, preparation 2, preparation 3, preparation 4, last minute advice, I do, You may kiss the bride, future plans?, sneaking a kiss, don't be shy,  a break from the heat trying to get the entire wedding party in the gazebo, balcony, not all of the craziness was INSIDE at the reception....,feeding one another, cutting the groom's cake, wedding cake topper, toss away bouquet close up, first dance, money dance, bride and groom,  the bride and her brother, cutting the cake, Cynthia on the stairs, finishing touches and window seat

I have just been in a creative slump. Although it's broken and I may just start posting regularly once more :)  father's day rainbow and father's day rainbow 2. This photo is ok, I don't like the setting but there wasn't much I could do when I wanted to catch this dragonfly. mushroom and mushroom 2.

and at last.
Butterflies. But to be specific, many shots of one very cooperative swallowtail.

span, touch colored,swallow tail, again,  swallowtail faded, feeding, front, side,  side,and another  side.

And it wouldn't be a trip to the gardens without flowers.  purle heart, five point faded and hover.

I had uploaded him but forgot to add the popup to the last post. The monument to the Confederate Dead

Well, the last, perhaps. Finally. :)  I still don't know which are my favorites but here they are in no particular order other than alphabetical of course...

Reaching for the cross Rice Rose Rust To My Cross Trio Trio 2 Trio 3 Upward  Watchman Watchman 2 Wentz

The second instalment of the photos from Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans. Try as I might, I could not completely
avoid powerlines and the like. Enjoy :)

Etheridge Faceless Family Tomb Fixate Flowers Fountain Fractured Freese Garland Gate Hamilton In Memory Lamb Maby Petal Petal 2 Peter Peterson Pillar

It has taken sometime indeed for me to comb through my photos of Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans, and after deleting those I didn't like or were duplicates, I find that I still have close to 50!  It seemed a little much to expect anyone to read through a post quite that long, and so I will be kind and break them up.  They will not be grouped together in any particular order, other than alphabetical. That way I could keep track of what I had uploaded without losing my mind. (Too much at least.) I hope you enjoy....


Aloha ambience angel edge Aristioe Baroni Before the Cross Brinkmann Brinkmann Close  Broken Cross Carrau Cheneville Ella Embrace Engrave Deuts and Dyad.

The other night my daughter and I took a short walk. It was pleasant, the air was cooler than normal, and I was able to find my entry for natural light. The sunset was unbelievable that evening.

I can't help but offer a teaser, I am still (slowly) working on my photos from Greenwood Cemetery so here is a small sample.

Happy Mother's day ;)

I've been wanting to visit this cemetery for some time. But it isn't really near any other cemeteries, and it got pushed aside on our last visit.  This time I was determined, I had seen pictures of a shrine and I wanted to see it for myself.  I knew the neighborhood wasn't very good, but I still wanted to go.  I simply wasn't expecting what I witnessed.

I wish now I would have taken pictures to preserve the moment, but at the time it just didn't seem right.  I watched the coverage of the rescuers going in after Katrina, riding down "streets" on the boats. I watched them spray paint the houses, and knew what it meant.  And what I wasn't expecting was to see the houses...to see the spray paint.  The X meant the house was checked. Other obvious abbreviations used...K9 in back, etc. One stuck in my mind. "Cat rescued :)" And there is no forgetting the sight of the boat still sitting on the grass median.  But...hindsight is 20/20.

Within a literal stones throw of these homes you find St Roch Cemetery.  If you travel straight down the main row you come closer to St Roch's Chapel. On the other side of the impressive cross are a large pair   of hands.  To step inside the chapel you will find St Roch and another statue of St Roch and his dog.  

To your right, behind an iron gate you will find the shrine to the healed. And  here is the other side of the shrine.  Outside of the chapel all alone the outer wall of the cemetery itself, they have an entire series of incredible statues, also, kept behind iron gates which makes it a challenge to capture them. 1, 2, 3,  4, 5 and 6.  

St Roch has more than it's share of the tombs that one sees in New Orleans, but some stick out more than others.  Although not everyone has a tomb, others are buried in raised graves.  Most crosses were more typical although we did see one or two that were unusual. And there were statues that weren't behind bars, although it was more than a little difficult to try and avoid telephone lines in the background.  Weeping Child, prayer, bowing angel and embracing the cross.

We crossed another street only to find St Roch 2, although it's far newer there were places of interest and beauty.

For my daughter's 13th birthday I wanted to do something different.  She has this theory that other countries are far more exciting than the United States. That the US is boring.  And so it began, the wheels in my mind were turning and I came up with the brillant (or not so much) plan to take her to New Orleans for her birthday.  What an education! Besides not feeling well (she is recovering from a URI) we had a wonderful time.  My first post (oh come on did you think I would visit NOLA and not go to a cemetery or two?) is several random shots about the city.

There is no shortage of felines (I know the shot isn't that good because of the reflection in the store window, but it was so funny to see it asleep at the foot of a mannequin!), they seem unphased by the morning after events of a night on Bourbon Street.

This shot of Andrew Jackson's statue was taken in Jackson Square. I purposely positioned myself so the sun was behind the statue, and lowered my angle so the sunlight shot through the bottom.  I took advantage of the early hour and took two photos of the St. Louis Cathedral before the crowds settled in. It seemed a shame not to incorporate these flowers into the shot.

This cross is on the roof of a house on Dumaine near Bourbon.  This ironwork caught my eye which was located on a gate.  This picture of
devastation  is located on Canal Street. And this is simply a piece of history.

We went to the Piazza D'Italia, which is dedicated to Italian heritage. Those photos are here,  2,3,4 and last, but certainly not least, the birthday girl.

We just reached our four year anniversary, short on money, we found free things to do. It also enabled me to create a butterfly series 1, 2 (desaturized),3, 4(touch colored), and5. A flower or  two or three. And took a rest just in time for a snack.

And later we left Mercer (would you expect it to be anywhere else?)and went to feed the ducks here and here.

I bet I'll have something for the challenge this weekend as we (insanely) go to New Orleans for the day on Saturday. Cross your fingers for good weather!

At last I have gone through the last of the pictures from the drive last weekend and we find ourselves in front of the gates for Willow Creek Cemetery.  The view was peaceful, we seemed to have gone at the right time because the shadows simply added to the mood.  

Many plots were in various stages of disrepair, this headstone fell so long ago it is now part of the ground.  Some headstones are being propped up and another which is splitting and more examples of being broken.  

Obviously this headstone was put in place before the tree  grew and some seemed pushed by some unseen force.  Some of the stones are so similiar you wonder if they were family.  Some are shaped unlike others diamond, and octogon. It took a moment to realize this had a  dove on top.   Some were rather simple or offered a place to rest.  This caught my eye, and brought a certain amount of sadness.

And last. But not least.  roses that will never die. Never fade.

On our trip to find abandoned buildings we passed a road called Roberts Cemetery Road. Intrigued....we drove down this road, and were delightfully rewarded.  Several headstones had a very loving quality to them as it appears as though they are handcarved- Easter, Frizer,  Phillip, poor Sallie looks like her headstone is being uprooted by a tree, and Walter.
The cemetery is in disrepair which can be seen  here and the upkeep in general although it is hauntingly beautiful.  Strangely, for being called "Roberts Cemetery" I only recall seeing one Roberts but maybe I wasn't looking hard enough?  It was a little strange to see this in a graveyard, but maybe it is just the thing...Nicer than a simple stone bench to rest on I would think.

And a run down of the remaining headstones that caught my eye and lens: Anna,  Bauer, Eckie, Ella, Hier, iron cross(light played with to create this effect), Mrs Emma, and Oran.  

We didn't see strangers... but we weren't  alone.

Saturday I gave in, suffering from withdrawal I went to the botanical gardens and I was not disappointed.  sun kiss, rosemary surrounded,  pixie pipestone day lily, oxeye daisy ,  oxeye daisy 2, blackpepper day lily, and blackpepper day lily 2.

Sunday we went for a drive finding two cemeteries and several abandoned buildings. The cemeteries will wait for another post, but the buildings can be seen here, here, a shed, dont park in front of door, I thought this one looked like a carry out window, Froehlich's Hdw, Froehlich's Hdw 2 and Rosehill Motor Co.

A day late and a buck short, actually more like a couple thousand. Still I saw this yesterday when I was leaving work.

A man made pond in the parking lot of the building where I work.
reflection. Now I just have to work on the new challenge yes?

I finally gained limited permission to walk over this bit of property that is absolutely filled with buildings and old trucks. My access is limited only because they are afraid that the buildings might collapse, but I am permitted to return any time I like.

I found a lot of old equipment 1,  2, and  3. Some things are at least familiar antique ringer washer, oven 1? oven 2?, wheel and these.

Many things were just left,  unused.. Some were quite large and I don't really know why all of them were left there. This obviously fell because it was rusted through.  

The buildings are in different  stages of disrepair. It's strange how people will dump anywhere. Some provide air as well as   light.  

And this was a combination of two views of one photo, and I even prepared a little rental blurb for you entertainment. "This rustic apartment is within walking distance of Historic Old Town Spring. Rich foliage blocks the sound of nearby roads. Unique windows offer the view of historic buildings and a lovely lullaby is often provided by passing trains. The apartment offers all natural plumbing. Installation of Lightning rod suggested in order to channel electricity for power. Stairway is out of order, a ladder may be provided upon request."

And for those of you who have been following me ;) I have a spot of good news. I finally got a job :)