Category Archives: Slice of Life

Loving Cleveland

I love seeing a place through the eyes of people who live there. They help you find what makes the place special and unique as they tell the stories of living there.

This was my week to visit Cleveland, Ohio. It’s one of the cities that I had never visited–in fact, never even had a plane stop through. But I think I will be back! There were so many interesting places to visit, new sights to see…and of course, there were the people…

Here’s a few of my favorite experiences:

1. Beautiful downtown Chardon. This is a quaint little township with an iconic town square. Historic homes line the streets and there is a park, complete with a gazebo, right in the middle of town. Of course, my son loves the antique store on the corner, there is everything a person could ask for in a small town…right outside a big city.

2. Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Who has a town that features a picturesque waterfall? That is Chagrin Falls. Another beautiful small town, and this one with natural falls right in the center of town. I’m told the stairways down can be closed when the weather is icy or wet, but on a warm day in late May, it was a perfect place to take photos and enjoy the uniqueness of the venue.

3. Hot air balloons. As a part of its Blossom Time Festival on Memorial Day weekend, Chagrin Falls holds a hot air balloon rally. What I loved best was the “commentator” (this event was held on the local high school field) who explained all the ins and and outs of hot air ballooning. I learned about how they use cool air and super hot air to get the balloons off the ground…and while I’m not quite sure what made this a rally rather than just balloons in the air, it was fun to watch them rise. And who would imagine that Chagrin Falls in northern Ohio is the second largest hot air ballooning area—next to Albuquerque, New Mexico—in the US?

4. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, downtown Cleveland. Everything you didn’t even know you wanted to know about the history of rock and roll is housed in an amazing building designed by the same architect who designed the Louvre in Paris, I.M. Pei. The iconic pyramid-like shape offers incredible views of Lake Erie while housing everything from stage props and costumes of the most famous bands and entertainers we know, to hand written lyrics of rock and roll pioneers.

5. Free Stamp. I love public art…those interesting sculptures that live in parks, drawing attention from locals and tourists alike. They always seem to draw controversy, some people like the artwork and some hate it. Apparently, the Free Stamp in Cleveland has such a history. My brief research gives some conflicting stories of its significance. But then again, that’s what I like about art, we get to figure out for ourselves what makes it meaningful.

6. Historic architecture. I love old buildings…and churches are the best when it comes to historic buildings! We happened upon this one as we drove through the city of Cleveland to find a place for lunch. I couldn’t resist shooting a photo through the car window because of the interesting color and shape of the building. I honestly don’t know anything about it, but it looks cool!

7. Cleveland Museum of Art. It’s so clever to build a building around a historic building to preserve the architecture and expand the museum. They have a wonderful collection at this museum (that we raced through in an hour!) that includes some wonderful contemporary art and some old pieces as well. Out front is one of Rodin’s Thinker sculptures that was damaged by a bomber in 1970. I loved the idea of displaying the damaged art and thinking about the role art plays in our society.

8. A Frank Lloyd Wright house. You might remember that my son and I enjoyed scouting out and photographing a Frank Lloyd Wright designed house (the Ennis House) in Los Angeles a while back. FLW also designed a home outside of Cleveland…which just happens to be on the same road we took to visit my son’s father-in-law’s business. I wish I had gotten a closer look at the Louis Penfield House, I understand it has a magnificent view of the forest and river behind it, but I am happy that I walked up the long gravel drive and got a peek at this historic treasure.

9. Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light on Lake Erie. When my son and daughter-in-law said we were going to the beach, my first thought was, “how far is it to the ocean?” And then I remembered that lakes have beaches too! Lake Erie is huge…and this particular part of the lake is a favorite place for swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, boating, jet skiing, and enjoying a holiday weekend. We walked along the water’s edge, searching for colorful beach glass and noticing interesting rocks. Driftwood littered the beach and we even found a tree stump being lapped by the waves. We climbed the jetty and walked along the uneven rocks out to the end where an old lighthouse sits. There’s a salt plant that sits nearby too…I wish I had the opportunity to snap a few pictures there too!

10. And the highlight of the weekend was the reason we came…to celebrate my daughter-in-law’s graduation from medical school. We got to stay with her family and see their place, Cleveland and the surrounding areas, through their eyes. We were surrounded with warmth, hospitality, and friendship…and enjoyed every minute of celebrating this milestone event that means so much to both of our families (or are we now just one big extended family?).

I’m already looking forward to my next visit to Cleveland! There was so much that we didn’t get a chance to see and experience…and we can’t wait to go back and spend time with these very special friends/extended family. My son and daughter-in-law will be out our way for residency…maybe we will get a chance to show off our city to her family one of these days!

Summer Enters, With a Twist

Up Close

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It takes time to get close, to people and to flowers. You have to pay attention, using all your senses, in order to really see. Sometimes the prickly spines are the first things you notice, and you move away. But then you are likely to miss the beauty and the unique qualities only visible when you get up close…nose to nose.

Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven’t time, and to see takes time – like to have a friend takes time.
Georgia O’Keeffe

Whenever I get my macro lens out, I think of Georgia O’Keeffe and her flowers. I love the way she captured the inner beauty of flowers rather than the view most people see. My camera helps me do that. You may notice that I have a tendency to photograph the same thing over and over again. I notice it…a fascination that keeps bringing me back to a particular subject. It was definitely like that with dandelions. (When I searched my blog for dandelions, I came up with 6 posts!)

In the past few weeks it’s been prickly pear cactus that keeps catching my eye. Prickly pears are common in these parts. And mostly they are ordinary flat round green pads with sharp spines. Some people like to deface them by carving their initials in them, scarring the plant for a very long time. And right now, they are in bloom, sporting beautiful yellow and pinkish blossoms and they’re beautiful!

So each time I see a prickly pear blooming, I find myself capturing a new photo. I watched a bee dive headfirst into a bloom over the weekend…and seem to disappear deep inside. I noticed yellow and pink blossoms on the same plant.

And then I got up close. Using my macro I leaned in close and got to know this magnificent plant in new ways.

Each angle revealing something new.

I looked from the outside in,

and from the inside out.

And even this dried up blossom, well past its prime, displays the hints of past glory in its dignified demise.

Getting up close to the prickly pear reminds me of my students in the springtime. They are blooming too. And I’ve had all year to get up close, beyond the spines, and get to know them and support them as learners and people. And I wonder if nobody really sees them either…they are so small, as Georgia O’Keeffe points out. And the abilities of children are often underestimated. It takes time to get up close and really see each student as a complex, beautiful, unique individual who will bloom on her/his own timeline. Luckily, I get that chance in my classroom, even without my camera!

Fire!

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Palm trees, the Pacific ocean, mild temperatures, sea breezes…paradise in so many ways. But this week we are reminded that even in beautiful southern California, there are risks and dangers that make us all feel powerless and frightened.

High temperatures, low humidity, Santa Ana winds…and extreme drought conditions… combine to make the scariest of conditions for us this week. This is fire weather.

And yesterday…with temperatures into the 90s on the coast, the worst happened, a fire erupted. In these conditions, the smallest of sparks is fanned into a raging inferno. With a single fire yesterday, all fire resources were focused on battling that fire. My husband watched air drops from his office window. Schools were evacuated, residents were evacuated…no buildings burned and that fire is at 50% containment.

Today it was already more than 80 degrees when I woke up…and was warming quickly. Before the end of our minimum day, as I spent time observing reading groups, I noticed what appeared to be clouds in the sky. As I walked out to take a closer look, and take a photo, I noticed the dark smoke in the distance and headed to the office to find out if there was more information about nearby fires. I had heard earlier that there were fires on Camp Pendleton (a nearby military base), but this new smoke was much closer…a few miles from home.

Shortly after students left, we had an announcement that our staff meeting was canceled and we were free to go to our homes–with many teachers living close to areas threatened by the fire. The thing about fires is that they are unpredictable. They aren’t easily controlled and they turn in an instant. Winds whip them this way and that and they create their own weather systems within the fire itself, fanning the flames and generating tremendous energy that seems to spin the destruction in all directions. 100 degree temperatures didn’t help the firefighters, but water drops and the expertise and courage of these people manage to keep devastation to a minimum.

At one point this afternoon there were at least 7 active fires in the county…most in north county. Some houses have been lost, but human life at this point has not. School has been cancelled for tomorrow and uncertainty prevails. I’m fortunate, my family and home are safe…for now, but we are watchful and vigilant because this is not yet over.

Here are a few photos of the fires…courtesy of some of my friends who shared them on social media.

Bernardo fire, Tuesday (photo credit: Abby)

Oceanside fire, today. Photo credit: Janis

Carlsbad fire from Encinitas, Photo credit: Laura

Like tornados and earthquakes and floods and storms, wildfires are scary. They make you feel helpless and vulnerable…and they reveal all the weaknesses of our urban systems. Traffic jams up, electricity capacity is compromised, and we often realize we do not have the plans in place that will serve us best in an emergency. My bags are packed…just in case…and the cat carriers are ready if things change and we have to leave our home.

In the meantime, thank you firefighters for your amazing service, expertise, and dedication. I hate fire weather, but I love this place. I understand that wildfires are a natural part of our ecosystem, made more difficult because of urban development, but it doesn’t make me like them. It does make me more wary about fire, and more vigilant about paying attention to fire safety advisements and preparation.

So, stay safe San Diego, take care of yourself and each other. It’s supposed to be hot again tomorrow…and then cool off. I hope tomorrow brings good news and containment!

A Mother’s Day Adventure

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Sometimes one invitation creates space for new adventures and unexpected opportunities. And for me that invitation led to today’s Mother’s Day adventure.

Tomorrow I will attend the 100Kin10 Summit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco–an effort focused on improving STEM teaching by bringing interested stakeholders in lots of different fields together to support teacher development and retention. But more about that later…

So this morning I was on the move, heading to San Francisco on Mother’s Day to spend the day (and night) with my son and daughter-in-law. And all of today’s travels were adventures…trying some new ways to getting where I needed and wanted to go.

I started my morning on an airline I hadn’t flown before. I made my decision based on both price (of course) and on my need to fly into SFO. There were lots of choices…and Southwest is usually my go to airline for short jaunts like this. But this time I decided to try out Virgin America. Advantages: same cost as Southwest, secured seat assignment (no worries about checking in exactly 24 hours before your flight to get your line-up number). It also has a very different vibe…feels a bit “retro” and “hip”…especially the safety features video (a music video piece…quite amusing!). The purple light decor and the music that played during the boarding process added to that feeling.

My flight arrived early into San Francisco…another plus, and I headed off to find the BART. Today I would ride the Bay Area Rapid Transit system from the airport to my son’s house in the east bay. I’ve ridden BART before, but not from SFO and not to my son’s house. And you probably know, when you don’t do something very often, each time feels like something new. Figuring out how to buy the ticket was probably the trickiest part of my journey…and it wasn’t too challenging.

I spent the BART ride people watching and taking photos of the scenery passing by. While the train was relatively empty when I got on at the airport, it continued to fill as we headed from station to station toward the city. There were travelers with luggage, young people with backpacks, families…a cute family with three exuberant boys got on at one point, the young couple with the bouquet of flowers for her mom, the guy with the electric bike that he positioned between his knees so he could sit and work his crossword puzzle for the journey, the older woman who was off to spend the day with her son, the cute older couple who held hands as they found seats, and more…

I took this shot by shooting out the window while we traveled at a fast pace through a tunnel, capturing the reflection of people in the car with me.

It was fun to watch and notice and recognize the different communities along the way, from the colorful houses on the hillsides between the airport and the downtown area to views of the oil rigs and shipping containers outside of Oakland, and then the expansive hillsides of the suburban east bay communities. I arrived as scheduled, ready for my son to pick me up.

After being treated to lunch out with my son and daughter-in-law, we had a relaxing Mother’s Day, hanging out at their house, catching up and talking, and playing with Roscoe…their Corgi. We were still on the move as we headed out for a walk into the sunny and warm afternoon, giving me an opportunity to explore their neighborhood.

And…it gets better…my son cooked a delicious dinner for us! The perfect ending to a wonderful day filled with adventure, movement, and love. I’ll be back on BART tomorrow, commuting with my son this time, as he heads in to work and I head in for the conference…

Haunted Wedding Selfies

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Last weekend I attended a haunted wedding. Okay…maybe not a haunted wedding, but a wedding that took place in an old southern mansion…that just might be a little bit haunted. The Riverwood Mansion is located in a residential neighborhood outside of Nashville, TN. There are the requisite beautiful tall old trees, long gravel driveway, and stately old architecture complete with a pillared front porch. (You can see a photo of the mansion in yesterday’s post, here.)

Don’t get me wrong, this was a lovely wedding. The early evening outdoor wedding in the garden area enjoyed a warm gentle spring breeze, sunlight just beginning to settle down into the treetops, and of course a gorgeous bride walking down the aisle to join my nephew in marriage. And the idea of haunted really didn’t cross my mind—at least consciously at that point. I knew the wedding would take place at a venue that was an old plantation house, and of course all things southern come with lots of history (and often a ghost or two!) as well as rich, and often complicated stories..

It wasn’t until the reception that ghosts and haunting crossed my mind. The sun had set and candles and twinkly lights accompanied the softly lit reception room and the house itself. We headed up the stairs for the buffet and found ourselves in front of an old, elegant floor-to-celling mirror. I immediately wished for my phone/camera (the downside of women’s dresses—most, including mine, lack pockets) as I saw the four of us in the mirror. Luckily, Geoff had his phone and snapped a picture of us in the mirror. As I looked at the photo, I kept expecting to see the image of a ghost in the background—like the hitchhiking ghosts on the haunted mansion ride at Disneyland.

And I couldn’t resist. After dinner and the toasts by family and friends, I headed off with my phone on a photo walk. I found old upholstered furniture with that velveteen fabric and intricately carved wooden backs that seemed to be so popular in the past.

And an interesting staircase with solid wood banisters leading to rooms above with a stained glass window highlighting the landing below.

I peered out a window into the garden where the wedding took place and noticed the archway lit up with tiny lights. When I went to take a photo…an apparition appeared…me!

And from that point on, every photo I took seemed to capture my own reflection…in windows, in mirrors…

And then I had to pose just one…I dragged my husband back to that mirror I described before so we could pose in that silvered, antique mirror. And the result seems to me to be a new (or old and new) version of the famous American Gothic painting with the man and woman and the pitchfork. Our version replaces the overalls and farm clothes with wedding finery and the pitchfork with our cellphones…and I love the result.

My poor husband…I’ve been spending time over the last week or so working on improving my selfie skills—most with him included. And then, without even thinking about it, the wedding created unplanned selfies. I think I will call this series of selfies the Haunted Wedding Selfies.

Have you taken any haunted selfies? Or maybe just unexpected selfies? How are they different from your intentional selfies? Or is all of this just an exercise in narcissism and vanity? It probably is…but it’s also fun. I’d love to see an example of an unexpected or haunted selfie from you…share please..and link back to this post!

Breaking Into Spring

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Seems like spring has gotten a lot of attention this year. Maybe the especially harsh and strung out winter in so many parts of the country has made people long for warmer weather, blue skies, flower blossoms, and baby animals. Here where I live, winter forgot us this year…and yet, the yearnings for spring remain.

And this is spring break week for me. People who know me well know that it is hard for me not to work, even when I have a week off. But I am trying to make each day a bit of a treat. Luckily, with some family visiting, that hasn’t been too hard to do.

Today’s treat was lunch out followed by a walk on the beach. Since I spend plenty of time at the beach, taking pictures that are somehow different from those I have already taken becomes a priority. We managed to hit the beach at low tide, and tide pools were exposed. I came across this bivalve still attached to a piece of algae, opened–making it evident that the creature who once lived inside had left (or became some other creature’s lunch!). These pools of water are fun to explore, especially while walking barefoot.

And I always love sandpipers. They are such energetic birds, and when they gather it reminds of a party. They flit here and there, seeming to engage in small talk as they poke their long beaks into the sand for a tasty tidbit. For a bit of variety, I played with filters and used a sepia tone on this version of the picture.

Even though it was warm today, into the 70’s even along the coast, sea breezes make the air feel cool and it’s evident that the trees along the shore deal with harsh breezes regularly. As I looked up through this tree, I noticed the halo around the sun…an effect of the cloud cover.

I’m enjoying a beachside spring break that isn’t about tropical drinks and sunbathing…although both sound appealing! Instead, taking time on the beach is an opportunity to commune with nature, to appreciate the natural beauty, the cool breezes, the relaxing sounds of the surf and the chatter of the sea birds, and enjoy the company of my son and daughter-in-law. Spring break is off to a great start!

The Threshold of Possibility

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Long skinny boats, a sunny and cool spring morning, and enthusiastic college athletes…and so began my spring break.

I’ve never been to a crew event before, even though the Crew Classic happens in my hometown every year. I’ve watched rowing on TV and seen it during the Olympics. But recently, my nephew, a college sophomore became the coxswain of his college crew team…and their team was participating in our local event. So I had to go…and who wouldn’t enjoy a morning on the beach in beautiful San Diego?

The long skinny boats lined the beach, propped up upside down until each team carefully lifted the shell up over their heads and carried them down to the water.

There are interesting traditions within the sport. Coxswain are smaller and lighter than the rowers–and charged with keeping the rowers on cadence. They wear high-tech equipment, magnifying their voices above the wind and water for the rowers to hear. Apparently coxswain don’t wade out to the boat (or carry it either), and are lifted into the boat by a rower on the team. I caught this picture of the coxswain being lifted to his perch at the front of the boat…or is it the back?

I find myself thinking about all these young people on the threshold of adulthood. I know they are technically adults, after all, all of them are 18 or older. But I also know they are still in the process of figuring out how they will live their lives as grown-ups, separate from their parents. And it seems that the camaraderie and teamwork from sports and other team-oriented activities in college support these young adults as they find their way to independence. And it was fun to see the families cheering their young people on…and delighting in their efforts, even if the result of the race was 4th out of 4 or the boat came trailing in much later than the others in the race. It isn’t about winning or losing…it’s about playing, being together, learning together, figuring how to be a team.

My spring break is bookended with two threshold events: cheering on my younger nephew as part of his rowing team and then celebrating the wedding of my other nephew at the end of my break. They are both embarking on new chapters of their lives, figuring out their places in the world.

And there is something about standing at the edge of water on a gorgeous spring morning, the threshold of my spring break, that suggests possibility, play, and learning for me too. Sometimes just taking the time to try something new or explore a new aspect of my hometown is enough to break up the routines of the ordinary. I can’t wait to see what these days ahead will hold for me.

What thresholds are on your horizon? What inspires new beginnings in your life? How do you breathe possibility into your everyday life?

Playground Life

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I spend three mornings a week out on the playground watching children play. These early morning duties are generally calm, giving me an opportunity for reflection and observation.

I notice children making up games, resolving their own conflicts, and through their play, improving their coordination and fitness. I see the same early arrivers most mornings and watch the seasonal changes in the sports of choice.

Balls are always popular, the current favorite ball games are wall ball, basketball, and a blacktop version of baseball that requires no bats or mitts and involves a large rubber ball.

I wasn’t sure this morning that the kids would get to go out and play. We had a rare rainy day and I ran my windshield wipers all the way to work. But by the time kids arrived, the sky was still dark, the ground was still wet, but as long as no drops are falling, the kids can play.

The day turned out bright and sunny–and I am doubly glad that I stopped to capture this wet, cloudy moment of children at play. And so this becomes my Street Life for the Daily Post’s Weekly Photo Challenge.

It’s supposed to rain again tomorrow. We need the rain so badly that I’m not complaining about the inconveniences of rainy day schedules. Instead, I’m looking for the silver linings…

Butterflies

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Taking photos has taken me out of doors much more often and kept me alert for interesting things to photograph. I find myself taking new routes to and from work and pulling off the road when something interesting or unusual catches my eye.

This exercise in paying attention has the side effect of feeling playful and fun and has me noticing small details that might have escaped my gaze otherwise.

Yesterday’s walk on the beach was a bit different than usual. We had started off for a hike, but a detour changed our plans and sent us down the road to where my husband lived in college. We found a parking place (never easy in beach communities) and headed to the beach. We met very near this place many years ago when we were both undergrads…and walked this stretch of beach on the evening we met.

As we walked we noticed the changes on the beach and in the buildings along the shore. Temporary lifeguard towers have been replaced by permanent buildings and some modern designer homes have replaced beach cottages.

The sun was shining, but it was cool and breezy as we walked. There were still the die-hard sun worshippers tanning in their bathing suits along with dog walkers, joggers, and other beach strollers like us. Kids played in the water and dug holes in the sand. Sandpipers feasted and seagulls squawked as the bombardiers–the pelicans–cruised the skies above.

And then we saw it. Nestled between some rocks on the sand was a butterfly-shaped shell. And I had to stop, get low, and capture that unusual sight. Perfectly shaped by the sea’s tumbling waves, the shell was smoothed with its original curvature creating the illusion of wings in flight.

Butterflies are amazing creatures, light and airy, delicate and beautiful. It’s hard to believe that they begin as caterpillars crawling on leaves and end up winging their way through the air. Butterflies always feel like good luck to me, representing life and bringing life as they pollinate plants they visit on their travels.

This butterfly, carved by nature from a shell, seems to celebrate the long-term, complex, and happy relationship my husband and I have shared since we met that evening when we were in college. It represents our growth, our ongoing evolution as a couple, and the freedom we feel together. And maybe it also reminds us to be playful, to continue to explore and to learn, and to enjoy the moments.

The butterfly is resting on a shelf now…reminding us…