Springtime pinks

pink tulip and bike, originally uploaded by jahansell.

I said I wouldn't overdo the flowers... but I like the matching pinks of this photo! I'm spending a lot of time in the garden, and a lot more on bikes too!

Battle of the Bands

battle3, originally uploaded by jahansell.

I spent last evening at the local high school watching "Battle of the Bands" -- and I didn't even have a kid in it! Not surprisingly, there were some impressive musicians - what really did surprise me was the quality of the songwriting, especially from a group called Windowbox Failures. (I'm guessing they got the name from one of those random name generators! (I tried it and came up with Dangerous Cucumber, Bizarre Boar and Bisque Feather.) They won second place - both first prize and audience choice awards were given to another excellent band called The Elevator Ladies.

Daffodil circle

daff circle, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Daffodils are in full bloom - in the last few days I've seen azaleas, tulips, fattening buds on lilac trees - after that endless dormant period where nothing changes for days, weeks, months, it's all moving at freight-train speed now!

After a week and a half of blazing sun, it's finally raining a bit now with more forecast over the next few days. Just in time for emerging gardens.

All this week, I've been places - lovely and interesting places - and not had my camera with me. Why? Maybe because I know, somehow, it's time for this blog to change. I know others have stuck with the daily commitment and I admire that. But right now it doesn't seem possible. I posted daily, mostly, for two full years. As an art project, a social experiment, a way of promoting Sharon, a way of being a part of a global community, I am so glad I've done it. But I don't want to keep failing to keep that commitment and I know I can't do it every day anymore. Maybe that will change, but for now I am going to commit to only this:

I will continue the blog, posting as I can. I hope never to let a week go by without a couple of photos, but I don't want to post a boring or repetitive photo just for the sake of posting, either. I've been invited to photograph at some interesting homes and gardens, so that will provide fresh opportunity, and there's always something new to do and see and shoot - I will continue to do that, and to bring photos of Sharon to all who have come to rely on this blog for a taste of life in our beautiful corner of the world. I appreciate all your thoughtful comments, and so often when I've thought of quitting, it's you, the readers and visitors, who have kept me going.

Sometime soon I will post a new header reflecting its "non-daily" status. I'll keep the URL as so many have it bookmarked.
I welcome your thoughts and feedback!

TV Turnoff week

tv turnoff, originally uploaded by jahansell.

This week in Sharon has been spectacularly beautiful. I have even had some time to enjoy it, in between evenings spent at the enjoyable TV Turnoff week activities sponsored by the local Parent Teacher organization. (This one was "game night" - there was also a swim, a bingo tournament, and PJ's story hour at the school library.

I haven't been posting this week, and that has led me to a decision that I think has been coming for a long time. About which, more tomorrow.

How do we look?

how do we look now, originally uploaded by jahansell.

You may remember my beloved sheep photo, which I chose as the best of last year (and therefore reposted on New Year's Day.)

They recently got a haircut, and look pretty spiffy! The coats apparently are to keep them clean, not warm, and just add to the elegant effect!

Just this once

look who showed up, originally uploaded by jahansell.

I promise I won't overdo it with the spring flowers this year. But these daffodils are so happy! Today it was 80 degrees and perfectly sunny - we cleaned up the garden, assembled a trampoline we bought in December, and had our first cookout of the season. Perfect!

Sheep shorn

sheep parade, originally uploaded by jahansell.

I have got to get out this weekend and pay a visit to my sheeply friends - they recently had a serious haircut and I want to admire their new do! This was taken of the Pine Hill Farm sheep, from afar!

Spring training

spring training, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Put me in coach, I'm ready to play!

Turn your back for a moment...

spring tree, originally uploaded by jahansell.

and Spring appears! Thank you, Denton, for keeping the blog going while I was in Costa Rica for a week (link to photos to come within the next few days) - meanwhile I came home yesterday to find trees and daffodils blooming all around! Hooray!

If you just can't wait another minute for spring

Then pay a visit to Roaring Oaks and take some fragrant bouquets home with you.

Snags

Dead trees are just as important in the landscape as live ones - they make important habitat for birds and insects, and are very impressive looking too.

A Comeback?

This was taken from very far away - I don't have a long lens like Abraham Lincoln. But I think it's a kestrel - a bird that used to be fairly common but isn't often seen these days.

Dr Seuss lives here

OK, not really, but don't these remind you of Troffula trees? Here's another look at them.

Everyone needs a home

This is actually almost the same shot as yesterday, only from a very different, lower vantage point. I think the house is for a wood duck. (Feel free to correct me!)

The Valley Below

This is the last shot of the series from Twin Oaks Field - it's the view looking down from the top of the hill. It was a lovely day - warm and sunny, a stiff but not chilly breeze blowing.

From the other side

I never took the time to climb all the way to the top of the field and shoot the trees from the other side, and now I know why - it's not nearly as impressive. A tree that looks glorious and colossal from below, silhouetted against the sky, looks insignificant when it blends into the hillside beyond!

Tangle of branches

Yesterday I showed you the twin oaks field from my usual distance but I wanted you to see how gorgeous the branches are - they're not like any other tree.

Tiny Photographer

In my ongoing project to photograph the twin oaks field at every season, I returned up to the top of the hill to get the early-spring view. Regular visitors to this blog have seen a version of this shot in midsummer, lushly green, and midwinter, when every branch was coated in snow. I had a helper this trip, and one of her functions was to help make sure you got a sense of the size and scale of these trees!

The beginning

At this time of year, all things are possible.

Opening Day

Opening night, originally uploaded by jahansell.

The baseball season is underway - and so is blooming season. Three cheers for the home team!

behind the school

behindtheschool, originally uploaded by jahansell.

One of the many lovely things about our local school is the view from the playgrounds - rolling fields to the farmland behind. It's such a peaceful environment to play in and to see out the window when your mind wanders.

I had a great visit with the fifth grade today - Mrs. Klisch brought her class to see my show for Women's History month - I was the Woman Artist for the day. I shared some of my photographs, some of how I came to start the blog, and talked about what it takes to be an artist. I asked them a lot of questions and the conversation wandered here and there - I never did explain to them why I started asking them about " selfishness" - so, fifth grade, if you read this, here's why I brought it up:

You have been taught not to be selfish, and as girls, especially so. But to be an artist you have to be a little bit selfish. You have to believe that doing art is worth your time, and insist on taking the time to do it, even when others are trying to pull you away, and when you are expected to help and take care of everyone else around you. Of course you still have to be a good and kind person, but you have to believe, really believe, that your art is as deserving of your time and attention as anything else in your life, even when you're just starting out and not very "good" yet by whatever standards people around you are judging art!

Birdwatching

birdwatching, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Can you see the men working up there?

First turtle of spring

first turtle, originally uploaded by jahansell.

Coming out of the mud where they spend the winter sleeping, they are looking for a spot of sun. Yesterday was warm and wet - today is sunny and back to windy and cold. I hate April - it gets your hopes up and then dashes them, over and over and over! Each year I vow not to be taken in, suckered - I vow to keep those sweaters out until the end of May - but then April comes and I can't stand to look at wool anymore - I just want to wear something soft and light - so I do, and I shiver all day long!

April Theme: Water

The theme this month is " water." As I wandered around Sharon yesterday thinking about what to show you, I came across this sign, posted at one of my favorite spots on West Cornwall Road. It makes you pause for a moment and realize that Sharon isn't beautiful by luck. We have this gorgeous landscape to live in and appreciate thanks to the many people and organizations that manage it - the land trusts, the departments of parks and environmental conservation - in short that combination of government agencies, private non-profit organizations, dedicated individuals, both staffers and volunteers, and businesses who help pay for improvements, who all work together to protect, conserve, and beautiful this land for the benefit of all of us. So here's to them - thank you!

As of this writing, 178 blogs have signed up for the theme. Of course depending on time zone they may post earlier or later (I always post mine early and leave it up a few extra hours!). Travel around the waters of the world by clicking below, or visiting the portal, the City Daily Photo site, where the brilliant Igor and Demosthenes have created a page where only the monthly theme pictures are posted - you can see them appear, starting in the far east and Europe, spreading slowly westward!

theme day id=13

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Gordio, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,