cherub in the sky.

This little guy looked warm even though the temperature outside was in the teens. 

Ah love. ❤️

Photo of second floor of Halladay Florist in West Chester, PA. Always a challange.



breakfast with elvis.

Elvis has not left the building. At least not here at the Market Street Grill in downtown West Chester, PA. This local spot has a natural knack for pumping out amazingly creative breakfasts and lunches. Fantastic vibrant art on the walls reminiscent of Andy Warhol help establish this place as one of West Chesters true gems. Even though I tried to time my visit in between breakfast and lunch, I had a difficult time trying to get a shot of a counter with no patrons.

Always a challenge.



dark alley.

My husband and I love spending time together when our mismatched schedules allow. Here he is following me down a back alley of my hometown while I shoot. He’s an amazing sport, and handsome to boot.



the queen.

yeah. She pretty much owns the bed. We just seem to borrow it at night. 😻

Always a challenge.





can’t elope.

Couldn’t resist a slight play on words on the one year anniversary of my marriage. 

Obviously this is a close up of a cantelope. The texture of the skin almost makes it look like the surface of the planet Mars. With my love of cooking, I thoroughly enjoy perusing the produce bins. What a sensory experience of visual and natural color. Selecting. Picking up. Turning. Smelling. Giving a slight squeeze. Licking. Biting. Okay, I got caught up and thought I was reading a beach trash novel on the last two.



ball of light.

This ball of light fixture drew my attention at a new local eatery in West Chester called “The Couch Tomato Café.” Its a satellite location of their highly successful venture in Manayunk, Philadelphia. So many healthy choices, a BYOB, and a beautifully restored place full of that brick wall-industrial feel. Welcomed by an uber-friendly staff, my husband and I shared a handmade wheat crust pizza topped with pulled BBQ chicken, green peppers, caramelized onions, and an amazing balsamic drizzle. A quinoa topped salad and warm crouton-topped corn chowder as we were seated by a glass filled front overlooking the charmed sidewalks of downtown West Chester, rounded this perfect winters night date! The Couch Tomato Cafés extensive menu includes: gourmet pizzas and stromboli’s, specialty salads and wraps, signature sandwiches, Paninis and homemade soups. They have an upstairs outdoor eating area that I’m certain will be packed in warmer weather. We’ll be back!





green.

1. Bell pepper, also known as sweet pepper or a pepper and capsicum, is a cultivar group of the species Capsicum annuum.

Green is good. Green is pretty. Always a challenge.



the ties that bind.

I probably should have my ties more organized that this photo illustrates. Actually, I do organize them by color about once a quarter. Afterward, I usually realize that I buy too much purple. I guess I like purple. Who knew. It’s just one of those quirky personality traits that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Sort of like schizophrenia.

This whole camera/photography/hobby/passion/obsession/compulsion thing has me shooting anything or anyone that’s not tied down. I seem to gravitate toward subjects that show color. And are indoors. Most likely because when I have a few hours to shoot, it’s usually 8 degrees outside with a wind chill of minus skin and I can’t seem to hold the camera steady. It makes me look like a part time Parkinson’s patient. I’d apologize to Parkinson’s patients, but in reality, they probably don’t read many blogs. Especially this one about photography. On the oft-chance that I do offend, I’m sorry in advance. I think.

Back to these colorful (and stylish) ties on the back of the bedroom door. I wear them every day to work. They are the only thing I can use to “personalize” my wardrobe of bland business suits. I wanted to get a silver nose bar piercing to give myself some individualization, however, the company apparently frowns upon those types of dress-code statements and frankly, it would look ridiculous on a 58 year old.

This morning, I should be purging and making my “tie rack” easier to navigate, instead of writing and editing this blog post. Or maybe I should be grocery shopping, or walking the dog. Oh wait, we don’t have a dog. Here comes that schizophrenia again.

This shot was taken from the floor of the bedroom. While I was down there, I did manage to find a stray straight pin, and a dried bug of some kind that the cat must have played with. We do have a cat.
Always a challenge.

the hyacinth.

Once again I bought a flower (ing bulb). Hyacinths always remind me of Spring. For some reason I am looking particularly forward to Spring this year. It’s coming!



wood.

Felled and cut long ago, this wood is still beautiful in its texture.
Westtown Lake, Pennsylvania.
Always a challenge.